Teacher Tip Tuesday

It's that time of the week.... a quick tip/idea....

I know every county/district/state has different requirements when it comes to lesson plans. I usually utilize a smaller plan book for my own pacing and quick planning before I write my formal plans. However, as life has become more hectic that seems to be just one.more.thing. on my long list of things. ;) 
But, if I just go with the formal plans then I am left with a lesson plan book that ends up looking something like this by the end of the year:

source

It's huge and cumbersome, and not something I can easily keep on my desk. 

So, I have started utilizing clear plastic page protectors Washi-taped to my desk. 

 They are easily accessible to me when I am trying to see the page number we are supposed to be on. 

They can be easily viewed by administration if they walk through. 

I have layered the page protectors and tape to fit the 3-4 pages my lesson plans take up. I can easily flip back and forth to the class period I am teaching, they are taped to my desk so they can't get lost with other papers ;), and at the end of the week I just slide them out and place them in the big binder. 

I have also utilized the same method at my small group table. I have my groups and checklists taped up there so I can easily call students and make notes.

This is just what I have come up with and seems to be working. I know some of you have different/better methods and I would love to hear them! 

create. teach. love life.

~Jenny~

0

Teacher Tip Tuesday

Hope your week is treating you well. I'm back again for a quick teacher tip.

File Cabinets. Those big ugly metal boxes that take up so much room. I have seen those cute and creative ideas on Pinterest to use the sides for magnetic letters (and such) for centers. I love the idea and actually used it when I taught kindergarten. 

But here is a new one for you.....

Don't mind the mess around the cabinet... this one is in our workroom.

Is your small group table by your file cabinet? Now you can utilize it as a 'white board' as well as a magnetic surface. Is it in a corner 'out of the way'? Utilize it as a word work surface during centers. 

So it is no longer a box in the way, taking up space. Now you can take your file cabinets, small groups, and centers to a new level. 

Obviously, I would suggest testing your file cabinet in a corner first to make sure it erases well. ;)

create. teach. love life.

~Jenny~

0