Teacher’s Brain

Author: teachersbrain

Educator

Why You Should Be Using Classroom Jobs For Your Students

Classroom Behavior Management, Teaching Tips

In all of my years of teaching, one of my favorite classroom management strategies is assigning classroom jobs. While it’s not a method of tracking behavior directly, it does improve it and generally, the operations of the class run smoother as well. 

What are classroom jobs?

Classroom jobs include things like “line leader”, “cubby inspector”, “attendance”, “caboose”, etc. These are simple jobs that students of any age can complete with little guidance or assistance from the teacher. 

So why give students classroom jobs? 

There are so many reasons! Classroom jobs are an amazing way to grow a classroom community. It gives students a sense of belonging and importance as they are contributing members of the classroom. 

Having assigned duties helps students make new friends and develop those valuable social-emotional skills that are so important in early elementary. It also builds leadership skills because they are taking responsibility for their own job and leading their classmates in the process.

Another huge benefit is that it takes some tasks off your plate! I always loved seeing how proud my students became of the work they do. They felt important and valued, and when students feel valued, they perform better in the classroom. 

If you can’t tell, I love classroom jobs. That’s why I created these editable classroom jobs chart cards. 

classroom jobs

These classroom job cards are made with PowerPoint which makes them easy to edit to fit the needs of your class. You can use them on a pocket chart, wall, or magnetic board to easily edit and rotate your students to new jobs.

classroom jobs

Here’s everything included in this resource

  • 52 Editable PowerPoint slides 
  • Black and white slides with or without images
  • Cursive and print for intermediate or primary classrooms
  • Blank cards for editing as needed
  • Directions with suggested fonts
  • Picture Cards include Line Leader, Greeter, Caboose, Folders, Lunch, Teacher’s Aide, Pet Care, Book Monitor, Sweeper, Kindness Keeper (Make a list of who has been kind), Door Holder, Schedule Helper, Attendance, Lights, Cubby Inspector, Hand Sanitizer, Backpacks, Music, Meteorologist, Computers, Pencils, Bell Ringer, Recycling, Absent Keeper (write a note to those absent). 

I love that these are so versatile. If you think of something you really want to include as a classroom job, you can easily add it! They are flexible enough to meet the needs of each individual teacher. 

Do you assign classroom jobs to your students? Let me know in the comments!

classroom jobs pin

 

Why You Need A Visual Schedule In Elementary

Back to School, Classroom Behavior Management, Classroom Decor, Teaching Tips

We all know how important it is to get our students in a good routine for a smooth running classroom. Students thrive when they know what to expect for their day. 

Studies show that a good routine helps with behavior management issues in the classroom. It also helps your students feel more safe with the consistency that it brings. 

When I was in the classroom at the start of the year, I tried to ensure that I go over the schedule and break down the entire day for my students. This included what we do when we come in for the day, what subjects we work on when, when we transition to lunch and specials, how we transition to lunch and specials, and the pickup/ going home procedures. 

I found it to be beneficial to have a visual for younger students who may need extra help remembering the daily schedule and procedures. 

visual schedule

I created this Classroom Visual Daily Schedule to help smooth out the transitions and give students the peace of mind that comes with knowing what comes next every day. 

visual schedule

 You can use these cards on a pocket chart, wall, or magnetic board to easily edit and move your schedule around. You can even allow students to take a card to the next task if they have trouble transitioning.

This resource is a digital, editable PowerPoint so you can edit it to fit your needs. You can also personalize it if desired! 

visual schedule

Here’s everything I included

  • 42 editable PowerPoint slides (*Make sure you have PowerPoint)
  • Black and White with Clocks (moveable hands and text boxes provided)
  • Cursive and print for intermediate or primary classrooms
  • Blank cards
  • Directions with suggested fonts
  • Pictures cards include ( A+, apple, backpack, chalkboard, books, bell, lunch, milk, glue, globe, clock, crayons, owl, grad hat, paint pallet, paintbrush, bookworm, bus, pencil, pen, check, bell, stars, scissors, beaker, music, paper airplane, protractor, data journal, music, magnets, locker, glasses, light bulb, ruler, flask, heart, sun, tent, music notes, tie, flashlight, plant, tie, test tube)

I would put these at the front of the classroom on the board or in our Calendar Time area. I noticed how much of a difference it made in my students when we had a clear, easy-to-understand schedule. 

What do you do to teach students your daily schedule? Let me know in the comments!

visual schedule

 

Writing Prompts For Every Day Of The Year

Teacher's Pay Teachers

One of the most important things we teach in elementary school is reading and writing. These skills provide so many valuable benefits for students. Being able to express yourself, your thoughts, and your ideas is a great way to share and communicate. 

writing prompts

These skills will continue to be important as they write resumes, emails, cover letters, articles, or whatever else their future careers require of them. Developing these skills early is crucial to success. 

Writing takes practice, and a lot of it. Our younger students aren’t necessarily naturals at telling stories. It is up to us to teach them about a beginning, middle, and end. We must also remember to teach them the importance of adding details to their writing for better reader comprehension. 

With lots of practice and direction, students will eventually become great writers, readers, and better communicators. 

When I was in the classroom, I made time for writing every day, no matter what! It was important to me that my students got ample time to practice and hone those writing skills. It was amazing to see the progress they have made with their writing skills at the end of the year! 

To keep writing exciting, I provided fun and creative prompts for them. Having something different every day would spark their imagination, creativity, and keep them from getting bored with it. 

This lead me to create these writing prompts for every day of the year. 

You read that right- every day! 365 writing prompts so you can always add variety into your writing time. These writing prompts are themed to go along with the month so you’ll get some Halloween and Christmas writing prompts too. 

writing prompts

Each month comes with a journal cover that students can color and make their own. Each journal has a rubric, self-checking list at the bottom of each prompt, a word bank, along with the decorative cover. Just print and staple!

 You can use them as quick writes or add a second page of extra lines in between each prompt to encourage more writing. One of the student’s favorite activities with these writing prompts is when I asked for volunteers to read their writing to the whole class. I only picked a couple a day because of time, but it is what motivated them to become better writers. They knew someone might hear their words. It gave their writing meaning.

writing prompts

There is a themed word bank in front of the journal with room for students to add their own words. This allows them to feel ownership when they get to add their own words. I would also have students use the Self Check off at the bottom of each page to remind them of their writing expectations. Then, I asked them to each take a green crayon to highlight their capital letters, and a red crayon to highlight their punctuation.

Happy Writing!

 

The Best Winter Writing Activities For Elementary

Winter, Writing

Around the holidays, I usually like to try and come up with some really unique holiday or winter writing activities that will be different from the stuff that students have become used to. Adding in a variety of lessons, crafts, and activities never fails to get students excited and engaged in our writing practice. 

With many teachers and students still learning virtually this year, I have been thinking about winter writing activities that students can get really engaged with whether they are learning in person or online. 

winter writing activities

This Trapped In A Snow Globe writing activity has to be my favorite this year! 

Students will get to create a photo of them trapped in a snow globe and write about it. It comes with 14 background slides to choose from and 4 slides of movable parts to add. Just choose a background, palace a picture of your student “trapped”, and then add your accessories! 

After that, there are 6 slides for students to brainstorm, organize thoughts, and write a story about their snow globe. What I love about this is that it is designed for distance learning so you can easily add gifs in place of photos. 

You’ll also get black and white slides for students to digitally or handwrite their stories. You can choose from narrative, persuasive, or opinion writing. You’ll get 4 writing prompts to choose from or 2 pages that are left blank so you can create your own prompt. 

There is also a Google Form so you can do a “Favorite Design Contest” with your students! 

Step 1. Choose a background

winter writing activity

Step 2. Add your photo or gif

winter writing activity

Step 3. Add your accessories

winter writing activities

Step 4. Write about it! 

winter writing activities

Afterward, you can create a slideshow with music that includes all of your students’ creations! 

Another fun twist to this activity is that students can all trap the teacher! Add your photo to each of their designs and they can write about how you got trapped. 

Check out the video here

What are your favorite winter writing activities? Let me know in the comments!