“Teacher Hacks”
I don’t like to consider these as hacks rather than tips and advice. Remember not everything is meant for everyone but I like to share what has made my life and colleagues life easier.
- Cutting Down Grading Time
Grading can be one of the most dreadful things after we assigned something for a grade. I have heard many ways to help with this like assigning 3 assignments and choosing only one to grade and submit. I didn’t want my students to think their work was not going to be a grade, so I decided to find something that worked best for me. I give all the work I want to be submitted and I make it due on Fridays. In order to differentiate packets, I always make the first page a different color in order to help students reference their packets as well. Ever since I started implanting turning in all of the week’s work as a packet, I cut down grading time, late work and input time. I submit the assignments on Infinite Campus as a packet for “blank” week rather than many individual assignments.
Note: If they took an assessment or a quiz it will not be inside their packet (Project are also not to be in the packet).
Classroom and homework can be grouped in my classroom, but if it cannot for yours just make sure you find what works for you (making two different packets, or one week placing it as classroom and the next as homework).
2. New Seating Chart or Partners
When students are lined up or coming in the classroom we would give a card to the student, they were then instructed to find the chair that had the matching image. A colleague of mine used playing cards, and I used Spanish Animal cards that I created (available to download for free). Doing this saved us time in coming up with seating chart or were perfect for days were we wanted students to work with someone different. This was also perfect for partner and group projects (we had seats of 4 per group). This way students did not spend a long time finding a partner, or always working with their favorite person in the classroom.
How can you get ahead before the school year starts? Or you return from break?
3. Organization is Key
Many of us still rely on hard copies because they are essential for the subject we teach. I believe that organization will save you tons of time when it comes to having copies! I like to advice new teachers to create folders dividing each lesson they will teach throughout the year. During the school year the copy machine room can get crowded and busy, save time by spending a day or two making most of the copies you know you will need for the entire school year.
However, if you do not know what you will be teaching past the first month it is okay; you can still get ahead and have all the copies and materials ready for that one month. If it causes you stress to plan ahead, then this method is not for you. For some of us knowing ahead of time what we plan to teach the entire year gives us a piece-of-mind. Planning does not mean you have to still to the original plan, as the year progresses you will have to change it up, or sometimes assign implementation activities based on your students needs. These are the things you can’t always predict, but having a general idea will already have saved you time and make you feel like you have got this school year down!
4. Organization Part II
Being organized will definitely save you so much time and stress. I created a free resource for teacher to download in order to help. There are also many Teacher planners now that have a similar layout and include categories that pertain just to us. Which categorizes do I refer to? Categories like responding to e-mails, calling parents, preparing for conferences, early release, late start, assemblies, field trips, winter break, picture day and many other concepts that revolve our teaching world. Feel free to download my material or purchase my hard-copy stickers for your planners. There are also many teacher Planner out there: Erin Conrad, The Happy Planner etc. My absolute favorite is My Next 90 days which I will talk about on my post about women with ADHD.
5. Plan head
Have PowerPoints and Lesson Plans done ahead of time. This way you only add as needed and do not have to worry about starting from scratch. Being prepared will save you so much stress.
6. Google Drive
Google Drive will save your life. If for some reason you didn’t backup your files, at least back them up on Google Drive. This is a drive you can access anywhere! If you have emergency subs plans on there and bam! You provide the Sub with the link and students have work to do. If you move to another school, or your computer crashes you have a nice backup!
7. Lastly, here is a quick list of the essential I always needed! This is a list for yourself, but in all honesty many students will ask you for these things I would keep a stash for my emergencies. (Make sure these are not within student needs).
- Chapstick (never take it home)
- Gallon of Water (for those days you forget your water bottle).
- Lotion
- Bandages
- Tylenol
Remember to leave these items in the classroom, NEVER take them home. If you have the possibility of having an extra charger that is also a good thing to get and just leave in your classroom.