Pi R Scared

  I wanted to implement PBIS into my classroom while teaching life skills so we started a classroom store. The students were given a banking log to keep track of their money. Each month the students had to pay bills such as electricity, rent(desk/seat), and groceries. The students also got paid in regular intervals for good test scores, excellent contributions to class discussions, and recall of previous content that connects with current content. They could earn bonuses as well for various tasks such as practicing a skill to a higher percentage than required, tutoring a peer, or completing additional practice with high accuracy. It was a slow start but the kids started to pick up on it and we saw kids doing more math and willingly helping each other out. They could spend their classroom money on food items, such as Grandma’s Cookies or fruit snacks , on material items like tech decks , or they could use it for assistance on a test. The Grandma’s Cookies were incredibly pop...

As we end the 1st month of school, try giving the students and yourself a boost by giving out a student of the month award. It may sound simple but I started a student of the month award in my classroom with a mini trophy. Prior to giving out any awards I outlined what it would take to win it. My student of the month didn’t have to earn A’s all the time; to qualify they needed to work hard, seek help when needed, be responsible for your actions, and be respectful. Each class had 2 winners per month. When you won student of the month you received a certificate, mini trophy, and some classroom cash. The criteria to win allowed me to recognize students who would often go unnoticed in a classroom because they weren't the top student but they also never caused behavioral problems. I emailed parents of the winners each month and the parents were excited to see that their child was being seen in the classroom. Since every kid could possibly win, students who were struggling started to sh...

  Engaging yet guided activities such as a drag and drop allow students to work at their own pace but not become overwhelmed. Domain and range is a topic that is often difficult for students to grasp and the last thing I want is a free response form where they aren't getting quick feedback.  A drag and drop activity is a great way for them to check their understanding.  When using a drag and drop activity the students have a limited number of answer choices and thus if their answer is not there, they must seek help or rework the problem.   As a teacher a drag and drop is a quick check they can share their response with you and you can look over it quickly and discuss any changes that need to be made. In the classroom, I would print this on 2 slides per page and have them complete it as a cut and paste.  The benefits of using 2 slides per page reduces the amount of paper needed but also limits their choices for each question.   Drag and drops are e...

    I love having my students work on activities and games instead of a traditional worksheet.  Creating or finding just the right activity to fit what I'm looking for can be a challenge.  I started making activities that my students enjoy and that allow me to pull students away for small group help.   These resources are all free to use in your classroom.       A walk around is a great activity to get the students up and about while allowing them to check their own work.  By using a walk around, students can work at their own pace, be out of their seats, and check their work.  They each start at a different problem, once working out the equation, they find their solution on another paper and complete that problem.  The students complete the problems until they end up back at their original problem.  Here is a  One Step Equations Walk Around .        A maze is a self paced activity w...

Simplify the juggling of multiple activities and different paces of students by using a voice and choice board. A voice and choice board starts by asking a question. Students who answer correctly are sent to the voice and choice board where they have the freedom to choose what activity they complete.  The students love being in control of their assignments.  They are excited to do the work because they picked it.  I've found that I may be met with added enthusiasm if I put a regular worksheet or activity on this board instead of on its own. For the students who get the first question wrong, they are sent to a remediation video.  After watching this video, the students get a second chance.  All of the students who get it correct are sent to the voice and board.  Students who get it incorrect are sent to the teacher for help.  This method quickly gets you the students who are in need of the most help in a small group setting.   The beauty of th...

  A custodian's job and work often goes unnoticed until there is a problem.  Starting in my first year, I got to know the custodians as they cleaned my classroom every afternoon.  I’ve tried to make it a point each year to get to know the custodians who ensure my classroom is clean and looking nice and it has paid off.  My first three years, I can remember the custodians walking by my classroom to check on me throughout the day to make sure I didn’t need anything.  One day in particular I was teaching at the board and I noticed someone dancing by my classroom door window and it was them.  I always found that they were going above and beyond in my classroom and I thanked them for all they were doing and tried to do my part as well.  Last year, in my 10th year, I did a cut and glue activity which always results in a mess however, this level of mess was one I had never seen before.  I tried to clean my classroom but little pieces were EVERYWHERE and ...

  After 10 years of teaching and writing thousands of bathroom passes I found a system that is simple, quick, and hassle free.  I bought these hooks and lanyards from amazon.   I use 1 of each color to represent a different location a student may ask to go.  I wrote on a piece of paper the location the lanyard represented and slipped it into the lanyard pocket.  My locations are library, nurse, boys bathroom, girls bathroom, office, guidance counselor, locker and water.  When a student wants to go to one of those places they fill out the clipboard which hangs beside the passes, grab the lanyard, and go.  The students and myself know what each color represents so if the blue water lanyard is missing, a student wanting to go get water knows they need to wait.  This simplified passes and highly decreased classroom interrupts from students wanting or needing to go places. If you are looking to add supplies such as these to your classroom and need f...