The Tips for Creative Teachers
Teachers have the difficult challenge of squeezing a jam-packed
lesson full of projects, exercises, examples, and explanations into an
hour or two time slot. It is massively overwhelming for the beginner
teacher, but it doesn't have to be. I've provided six of the best
tips for newbie teachers who want to efficiently run an organized
classroom while creating a learning environment where students want to
read.
Invest in a Timer
I would not be a good teacher if I didn't have a timer. Once you gain more experience, you'll notice how students are still learning the concept of working quickly. A timer holds the teacher and the students accountable for the work they do. If I have a lot of material I need to cover, I've got to allot each section of my lesson to a specified time such as 5 minutes for the warm-up and 15 minutes for the introduction to new material.
Folders for Everybody
Label a two-pocket folder for each student. Allocate a folder for each student for that student's personal papers. Many teachers use this folder as a make-up work folder for absent students. The teacher takes the role at the beginning of class and places work in the student's personal make-up folder.
They are then responsible for completing the work in that folder when they return to school. This folder can be used in a variety of ways, but I find that having organizing systems for student work (especially when they are in elementary or junior high) helps teach students how to be organized and responsible for their own work.
Experiment with your Creative Side
It is important to get used to being crafty as a teacher so you can make or build items that you can use in your classroom with minimal help. I've seen teachers use the built-in drawers they were given for students turned in material. Other teachers have bought their own dividers at teacher stores or an organizational store like Office Depot. You don't have to spend lots of money. Get creative and imagine what you could create with materials you already have.
Avoid Confusion
Label turn-in area in big, bold letters to avoid confusion. Make sure you label the slots so students clearly see where to turn in work. Before I was highly organized, I would always get student work from another class. It makes it easier to grade and that saves you a whole lot of time looking for what was actually turned in by which class.
Get Kids Reading
Create a comfortable reading area in your room. Literacy rates are dropping for our kids in this nation. To foster a love of reading, you've got to showcase how much you personally love reading and learning (even if you're a math or science teacher), by creating a special space in the room for reading. There are many benefits for creating a reading area.
I have a favorite area in my home for relaxing and reading, so why not create a comfortable space for students to enjoy reading time? My school provided a lot of great reading materials, but I also bought inexpensive books from Half-Priced Bookstores and garage sales that my kids love. I would also place high-interest novels on the top shelves with figurines to get the kids interested in stories and new places.
Organize Cabinet Space and Bookshelves
Do you have cabinets? What will you place in there? If you're a new teacher, there's a likely chance that the previous teacher left a whole lot of junk in those cabinets. Go look in your cabinets when you get to your classroom. Are they still full of junk? I would assess what can be thrown away (if anything) and give it away to another teacher, throw it away, or ask to store it somewhere in the building. Really good teachers keep a copy for a later date, but dispose of items to make room for more important materials. Make sure you know where you want to store your supplies, extra books, etc. As an English teacher, I know the challenge of getting students to read more. Many students love going to the library because it's engaging and fun, so this is something you should emulate in your own classroom. When students feel that learning and reading is fun, they won't fight you when it comes to read.
Invest in a Timer
I would not be a good teacher if I didn't have a timer. Once you gain more experience, you'll notice how students are still learning the concept of working quickly. A timer holds the teacher and the students accountable for the work they do. If I have a lot of material I need to cover, I've got to allot each section of my lesson to a specified time such as 5 minutes for the warm-up and 15 minutes for the introduction to new material.
Folders for Everybody
Label a two-pocket folder for each student. Allocate a folder for each student for that student's personal papers. Many teachers use this folder as a make-up work folder for absent students. The teacher takes the role at the beginning of class and places work in the student's personal make-up folder.
They are then responsible for completing the work in that folder when they return to school. This folder can be used in a variety of ways, but I find that having organizing systems for student work (especially when they are in elementary or junior high) helps teach students how to be organized and responsible for their own work.
Experiment with your Creative Side
It is important to get used to being crafty as a teacher so you can make or build items that you can use in your classroom with minimal help. I've seen teachers use the built-in drawers they were given for students turned in material. Other teachers have bought their own dividers at teacher stores or an organizational store like Office Depot. You don't have to spend lots of money. Get creative and imagine what you could create with materials you already have.
Avoid Confusion
Label turn-in area in big, bold letters to avoid confusion. Make sure you label the slots so students clearly see where to turn in work. Before I was highly organized, I would always get student work from another class. It makes it easier to grade and that saves you a whole lot of time looking for what was actually turned in by which class.
Get Kids Reading
Create a comfortable reading area in your room. Literacy rates are dropping for our kids in this nation. To foster a love of reading, you've got to showcase how much you personally love reading and learning (even if you're a math or science teacher), by creating a special space in the room for reading. There are many benefits for creating a reading area.
I have a favorite area in my home for relaxing and reading, so why not create a comfortable space for students to enjoy reading time? My school provided a lot of great reading materials, but I also bought inexpensive books from Half-Priced Bookstores and garage sales that my kids love. I would also place high-interest novels on the top shelves with figurines to get the kids interested in stories and new places.
Organize Cabinet Space and Bookshelves
Do you have cabinets? What will you place in there? If you're a new teacher, there's a likely chance that the previous teacher left a whole lot of junk in those cabinets. Go look in your cabinets when you get to your classroom. Are they still full of junk? I would assess what can be thrown away (if anything) and give it away to another teacher, throw it away, or ask to store it somewhere in the building. Really good teachers keep a copy for a later date, but dispose of items to make room for more important materials. Make sure you know where you want to store your supplies, extra books, etc. As an English teacher, I know the challenge of getting students to read more. Many students love going to the library because it's engaging and fun, so this is something you should emulate in your own classroom. When students feel that learning and reading is fun, they won't fight you when it comes to read.
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