6 Winning Items That New Teachers Need For The New Year


   
     No one can empathize with a new teacher better than a veteran teacher. We know what it feels like, both good and bad, to begin a teaching career. Our "If only I'd known then what I know now" conversations are rich with wisdom and experience,

     To help out any newer teachers that are cracking open their first, second, or third year of teaching, I've put together a list of 6 things that I wish I'd known about during my first years. A couple of them might not have been invented then, but they're winning tools, just the same!

     This list has a theme: Organization! This concept can make or break any teacher. It's actually not about how cute or color-coordinated your stuff looks. It's about whether you can find it when you need it. Here's the list:

1) Organizational Storage

You can never have too much. As you shop for the new year, buy whatever your budget will allow. You'll need:

  • large containers like Sterilite drawers on wheels
  • smaller plastic drawer units 
  • buckets
  • bins
  • containers that close with a lid, good for stacking 
  • square containers like crates 
  • smaller containers like pencil cases
If you can, overbuy. You'll almost certainly find a need for them.

2) 3-Ring Binders

Three-ring binders have been a life-saver to me. I learned the hard way that laying papers down in piles - and forgetting what was in the pile - spelled certain disaster. 

I learned to store things standing up. When binders with clear plastic covers were invented, it was even better! Acquire binders for every topic that works for you. Make a cover for each one and don't forget the spine! It'll save you so much time pulling out binders looking for titles.

3) Sticky Notes

Slapp a sticky note on your to-do list, a pile of papers, or your purse and you'll save yourself time and energy. In addition, they are a marvelous teaching tool. Kids can use them to answer survey questions, to quickly share opinions or answers, to give feedback to classmates, and for personal organization.

4) File folders and labels

This amazing duo is another super organizational tool. You can print off multiple sets and have them ready when you suddenly need a new set of student folders. You can create folder games, organize center materials and directions, and keep yourself organized.

5) A great electric pencil sharpener

Yes, they can be pricey, but my life changed for the better when I could finally shell out for one. Sharpening pencils each day was faster and quieter. My kids did fine using it, but consider making your pencil sharpener off-limits to students until they can prove they'll be careful with it.

6) A Go-To Book

There are so many times during the year when you have just a few minutes before the next task and you want to spend it wisely. I remember times like just before lunch or a class change, having to hold students in class for a few minutes for an unexpected reason, or when you need revitalize the class with a brain break. 

The books I always depended on included joke books (especially math jokes), critical thinking books with short problems to solve, a book with trivia-type facts on different subjects, and great poetry books by authors such as Shel Silverstein. Having books like this improves the quality of your instructional time and can improve your classroom management.
Share this list with any new teacher you know. They'll appreciate having a place to start!


Growing Grade By Grade
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Generate Great Conversations With Math Graffiti


I love to hear what children think!  I learned to combine my love of comics and math with kids' need for math conversations. Enter: Math Graffiti! It was as simple as could be - if you take into account how hard it was to find and download math comics from the Internet...20 years ago!

I hunted down some great math comics, focusing on "Calvin and Hobbes". I love Calvin's attitude on almost everything! You shouldn't have any TOU issues if you use one copy in your classroom for educational purposes.

I made a simple display on the inside of my classroom. I laminated a  piece of construction paper with a "Math Graffiti" header. I taped the current comic onto the laminated sheet and added a pen. I asked a specific question each time, but students were allowed to make other comments, as long as they were appropriate. In reviewing the ones included here, I noticed the word "stupid" a time or two. I guess they missed the memo.





I left each comic up for a week and tried to find time by Friday to have a whole-group conversation, sharing some of the comments.

My kids loved Math Graffiti! They loved "writing on the wall", getting a chance to share their thoughts and the comics! I highly recommend Math Graffiti as a regular, or occasional, part of your math program.

How do you solicit students' thoughts in math conversations? I'd love to hear your ideas!

We're all in this together!
Growing Grade By Grade
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Hair Scrunchies: A Fun Data Collection Idea


Data is my jam! Data collection, display, and analysis is one of my favorite math topics. It opens up so many different ways to have fun in math and the knowledge transfers to so many other subjects. I was heartbroken when Common Core took the majority of data from 5th grade and moved it to 6th. 

A really fun challenge is to find different ways to collect our data. I learned so much from PD connected to the TIMSS Study (remember that?) and it was a great springboard to other strategies. Here's one that is easy, inexpensive, and very visual.

Take a paper towel tube or several bath paper tubes. I covered them in white paper to make them more attractive. If you use a paper towel tube, cut it in 2-3 pieces as needed.

 


Make the appropriate signs for the data you're collecting. My 3x5 index cards are lifesavers to me and it's easy to decorate them a bit.
I bought a package of 36 small hair scrunchies for $1 at the Dollar Tree and laid them in front of the display.
My students see this display and know the question is: Do you prefer lemonade, sweet tea, or cola? If you're training students at the beginning of the year, you can write out the question and directions on the board or a sheet of paper.
Students answer by putting a scrunchie on the appropriate tube. Ta-da! You're done! Now, you can talk about the data: compare, contrast, make analysis statements, transfer the data into a table, and transfer the data onto a paper copy with different graphs. So fun!

How do you collect data? I'd love to hear from you!
Growing Grade By Grade
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