Time Management
It is important for teachers and students to have a sense of time management in the classroom. There isn't enough hours in a day to teach everything planned. Managing class time well results in completion of learning the given criteria in a limited time frame. Teachers must balance instruction, activities, planning, and any additional happenings.
Brain Breaks
Brain breaks are a simple one to two minute period of students actively moving and taking a break from instruction. Brain breaks help students regain focus and are engaging! Students participate in brain breaks together, building a stronger community. There are numerous games and resources of effective brain breaks. Brain breaks should be utilize throughout the day. Student focus and engagement will improve dramatically during instruction just by giving them a break for a couple of minutes. When taking brain breaks, it refreshes student thinking and influences problem-solving skills.
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Classroom Agenda
Having the class schedule written for all to see (whiteboard, chart paper) with the times and content within allows for teachers to keep on track and gives students the idea of what they will be doing for the day. Posting the agenda for the day is a strategy teachers use that students are able to learn and internalized. It includes students on what they will be learning that day and assists with students knowing what materials they will need in order to fully participate. For the early elementary grades, providing a simple list of the day is a great way to start. In the upper grades, writing the agenda in more detail is more specific to students. Agendas can be facilitated in any way that is productive and supports managing class time.
Material Management
Organized learning materials is essential for a well-managed classroom. During the day, students have a numerous amount of materials for the different subjects, content, specials and more. Creating opportunities for students to become responsible for their materials promotes students to be prepared for instruction. Teachers can give students the tools and resources to assist with organizing materials, but it is the students' responsibility to maintain an organized learning environment. Students must also have a deep understanding of why materials should be placed in a safe, organized place when not being used. Allowing students to brainstorm ideas for organizing classroom and home learning materials is essential for a deeper understanding of material management.
Supply Bins
Supply bins are small containers placed on student tables, desks, or designated area of the classroom that includes pencils, glue, scissors, colored pencils, markers, etc. Having supply bins for each group table allows students to be responsible for the materials at their table. Students will have experience with keeping materials in good shape and available, or there might be a time where they need a specific item and it will not be available. Students also take time to resupply materials. Students are unable to use dull pencils or dried-up glue. Students at each table will take account for making sure materials are ready for the day.
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Student Agendas
Agendas/planners are a great organizational tool to promote self-management in students! Some schools may provide agendas to students in the upper grades, however, teachers can adjust to other circumstances. Students can use agendas provided to them or a regular composition notebook. Teachers must scaffold an effective way to use agendas. Strategies can be from when to write in the agenda and how to format the space. Students may benefit from writing in pencil, or some even may enjoy color coding! Agendas are useful for documenting daily assignments, long-term projects, and important dates. Students may review their agendas at the end of the day to decide what materials they will need to bring home to complete assignments. Also, teachers typically have agendas of their own, which would be an effective tool when scaffolding how to use an agenda to students.
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Binders/Folders
Students are constantly receiving mass amounts of worksheets and papers throughout the day for all subject areas. To assist with students organizing work by content area, notify parents prior to the school year to purchase X amount of binders or folders that are different colors. Color coding the content area may support students managing their materials successfully. It will be easier for students to find worksheets, notes, or other important papers when they are filed in an organized manner. Students are responsible for putting materials in the correct place, however, may need assistance at the beginning. Have a set color for each subject for students to follow will support a well-run day. For example, blue binders/folders will be for math, green for science, red for social studies, and yellow for ELA.
Ingoing Basket & Student Mailboxes
Providing a space for worksheets, homework, or other important papers to be placed supports a self-managed and well organized class. Teachers collect a number of papers from students throughout the day and it may become overwhelming and disorganized. Having an Ingoing basket for students to place their homework and daily assignments allows students to be accountable for their learning materials that need to be checked by the teacher. This also is time sufficient by having students bring up work individually, or one student from each table, in replace of the teacher or another collecting individual work. Teachers can model this by having an effective system for organizing papers. The use of student mailboxes is for students to collect work they will need for that in order to be prepared for next class. Each student has their own mailbox, which allows the teacher to place specific content for students in their mailbox. It is crucial to be aware 0f how accessible the mailboxes are to every student in the class.