Classroom Coupons UPDATED

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with good ideas for classroom coupons. So I’ve searched for the 20 best coupon ideas I could find. Here they are (in no particular order):

Wear a hat
Sit at the teacher’s desk
Sit in a special chair at your desk
Use a pen
Piece of candy
Choose your classroom job
Sit with a buddy
Bring a stuffed animal
Read a book to the class
5 bonus points
Skip one night’s homework
Positive note to parents
10 minutes free computer time
Late work pass
Bring a show and tell item
Lunch with the teacher
Choose a song to play during end-of-the-day clean up time
Choose your spot in line
Go to lunch 2 minutes early
1 free word on a spelling test

Here’s a sheet for you to use for your classroom Coupons. I recommend printing out this page and then writing your desired rewards on the page before copying it. You can write your initials on the “signed” line or just use a special teacher stamp to make sure the coupon is authentic. When I taught sixth grade, as a matter of principle, I never signed them ahead of time. If a kid chose a coupon as their prize from the prize box, I would write their name on it and sign it then.

Click here for the free printable PDF: Classroom Coupons PDF

Emergency Sub Plans

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Every teacher/class needs emergency sub plans. These are for the day when you’re too sick, stressed, caught off guard to write sub plans… *gasp!* Things you must have in your emergency sub plans:

Substitute Folder Checklist
Use this checklist to prepare a notebook for substitute teachers. It will ensure that
your classroom runs as smoothly as possible in your absence.
____1. Fire Drill Procedures
____2. Evacuation Procedures
____3. Emergency Situation Procedures/Key Codes
____4. School Discipline Plan (including names of teachers the sub can contact if they need help with a student)
____5. Classroom Discipline Plan (including notes about students with unique circumstances, and something to help the teacher gauge how much to use the plan/what warrants certain rewards)
____6. Discipline Forms (referral forms, detention forms)
____7. CURRENT Seating Charts with essential student information included for all classes and students who come in your room (photos if possible)
____8. Emergency Procedures
____9. Daily Schedule (with duty location, parent helpers who come in weekly, special classes, etc.)
____10. Bell Schedule
____11. List of contact people (helpful students, staff members)
____12. Lesson Plans for the week–or–suggested activities to reinforce
concepts and/or skills

Numbers 9 and 12 are the zingers in my opinion. How do you keep updated plans in your sub folder and how can you write a schedule when every day is so different!?

Here are some tips:

A. Use old math assessments (from the previous units or grade). Chances are most kids will have seen them before. When you finish a math unit, stick a class set of the unit test in the folder. Even if you never have to use it when a sub comes, you can use the copies at the end of the year to review for testing.

B. Writing activities. Choose a fun writing activity (that includes an example and good instructions). Leave directions for how to publish the final draft (does it get glued on colored paper? Does it need to be accompanied by a picture?)

C. Just do it. Some teachers put off gathering sub plans and then they regret it. Just do it at the beginning of the year, and then set yourself a reminder (in your planner, Google calendar, whatever) to check it every month. It’s always better to prepare than to repair.

D. Put the sub plans in an obvious place and let your team teacher know where they are also. I put mine in a neon pink binder with huge letters labeling it “Emergency Sub Plans.”

E. Extra milers will prepare plans for each day of the week. Many schools have weekly schedules, where days of the week vary because of fine arts classes, computer lab times or library schedules. Save yourself some time and do it all at the beginning of the year. Again, anything you don’t use during the year can be used for end-of the year review and activities.

Also make sure that your sub plans satisfy the requirements of your school and/or district. Good luck!

Student of the Week Ideas

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Here are some clever student of the week boards I’ve seen recently:

Submit your ideas or photos squareheadteachers at gmail dot com.

Tracking Student Goals

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

One huge part of motivating students to accomplish a goal is to help them track their progress. Here are some ways I’ve seen elementary school teachers track student progress. Submit your photos or ideas to squareheadteachers at gmail dot com.

Tracking reading goals

Tracking reading goals

Tracking multiplication and division timed tests

Tracking reading goals

Tracking math facts

Do Your Students Know You’re Proud of Them?

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I saw this cute idea in an elementary school classroom a few months ago. It’s super easy to make, and sends a great message to your kids.

Buy a dollar store picture frame (8″ x 10″ is best)
On a piece of cute, light color paper, write “I am proud because.” Add stickers, etc if you want. Cut the paper to 8″ x 10″ and put it in the frame.
Use a ribbon attached to the hook on the back, attach the frame to your file cabinet or a nail on the wall.
Write with a Visa-Vis pen (or other overhead marker) what makes you proud.
Write a small note in your planner every few days to remind you to update the frame. In addition, you may want to attach a class list to the back of the frame so you can keep track of who you’ve featured on the frame and who you still need to acknowledge.

Make Your Own Calendars… helpful website!

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I just found this website that provides downloadable calendar blank templates for Microsoft Word and Excel. You can choose from weekly, monthly calendars and yearly calendars for specific years. To quote the website, “Why spend millions developing what Microsoft has already spent Billions developing?”

5 Finger Retell (summarizing strategy)

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Many kids have a hard time retelling/summarizing a passage or story. This simple hand trick helps them tell only the most important parts of the story. One teacher I know keeps these two hand cut-outs on the wall near their guided reading table, so the kids can refer to it often. She says it’s really helpful for tons of her students.

5 finger retell

If you wanted, you could have each student trace their own hand and label each finger at the beginning of the year. You could put them on the wall to, or glue them to the front of a folder or reading journal, etc.

Lesson Objectives Signs (free signs!)

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Squarehead Teachers

I saw a great idea I thought I’d copy. The teacher laminated signs and used whiteboard markers to write the lesson objectives each day. They were posted at the front of the room.

So here are my copy-cat signs… one for math, one for reading and two blanks for whatever you need. They’re made to fit on a regular 8.5 x 11″ piece of printer paper. Make sure you laminate them before you write on them so you can re-use them! Enjoy!