Teaching Assistants in the Classroom

Do you ever feel like you have given 50 examples and students still don't understand?  Well, I really don't ever give 50 examples.  I actually tell my students "statistics show" that after three examples, they should pretty much understand all or most of the steps.  At least, that is what one of my college professors said.

Anywho! I know it can seem a bit discouraging when you have given your students examples, notes, hands on activities, etc. and yet, some still do not understand. The reality of it is that you can try and give them examples until you are blue in the face and guess what? Some of them will say they STILL don't get it!  That's why I delegate some of my students as teaching assistants.

Now, I just don't give this job to anyone! They have to earn it by proving that they have mastered the skill.

This is how I do it in my classroom.

First, I introduce the lesson. You know, the usual. I explain what the skill is, tell them if they have prior knowledge or if it's brand new to their grade level, provide a real life example of when and where they might use it, etc.

Then, I provide notes, examples, and a step by step explanation.  After the third example, I have students (shoulder partners) take turns explaining how to solve one problem each to one another. Partner A explains their assigned problem to Partner B, who listens and only helps when needed. They they switch roles, and Partner B explains a different problem.

After each partner has solved and explained a problem each, we regroup as a class and talk about it.  I then allow them to try a couple on their own as I walk around, monitor and answer any questions they might still have.  At this time, I am also checking answers of students that have completed the problems.

Finally, I give them an independent assignment. During this assignment, I might be monitoring or working with a student that needs one-on-one help. As students complete their work, they turn it in, I check it and if they showed all of their work and answered correctly, I "hire" them as teaching assistants. My students love it and they get to wear one of the "Ask Me!" badges that I created. I then announce to the class the name or names of the students that are my teaching assistants.

I also assign the job of teaching assistants during other activities that take place in the classroom. This is really handy during a large class.

I don't really know how I should take it when I see so many hands go up after I have announced a teaching assistant's name. Yet, I know how some students prefer to ask one of their peers for help. It's a win win situation!  My teaching assistant understands the skill/concept so well that they can teach someone else, other students (shy or otherwise) get to hear it from someone different that might help them understand better and I get to help other students while this is going on!

It really works well in my class. It also gives my teaching assistants a sense of pride and respect, knowing that other students trust them enough to ask for their help.

Here are some of my teacher assistants helping out during a Loop Game.

Here is a close up view.  If students didn't hear me announce the teaching assistants name(s), they know to just look for a student wearing an "Ask Me!" Badge.

Every time I go to a conference or training, I save the plastic badge holders.  I printed out the "Ask Me!" label, cut it out and slipped it into the badge holder. So all I paid for were the glitter stickers! Not bad, huh?  :D

I hang them underneath my clocks by my desk for easy access. If I forget, my students see them and remind me. Imagine that! Seventh graders reminding me about the "Ask Me!" badge because they want to wear it when they help their peers!  I love it!

You can get a free download of a similar "Ask Me!" badge

HERE

One last thing!  I always make it a point to have my students thank the teaching assistants if they have helped them in any way. It becomes more meaningful. At least I think it does.  :D

Nailed It!!!

As teachers, there comes a time when we have to do what we have to do to grab our students' attention, right?

Sometimes, you try to point something out to your students and they just don't know what you're pointing at, whether it's on the document camera or during small group instruction. Other times, well, they just aren't looking.

Well, my wonderful friend Sandra, who is an amazing teacher, took it to the next level and she NAILED IT!!!

Check it out!!!

She had her nail tech paint an arrow on the nail of her pointer finger!  What an attention grabber!  I love it!

Here is another angle.  Isn't this creative?

I had to share this amazing idea with everyone.
This will definitely get students "pointed" in the right direction!!!

Thanks for letting me share it Sandra! And thanks for being such a great motivator to your students. They are so lucky to have you as their math teacher!!!

Great Classroom Management Tip!

Imagine this--

You are conducting small group instruction and the rest of your class is working on another activity. Then, it happens. You hear from the other side of the room, "Miss! I need help!" or "Sir, can you come over here real quick?"  Well, you go on over and this is what they ask you, "Can we write on this paper?" or "Is this for a grade?" or maybe even "I forgot how to do this step. Can you show me?"  

It can seem like your a constantly back and forth and not much instruction is given to your small group.

Well, this happened a whole lot in my classroom years back. It felt like a tug of war.  But then I remember seeing something like this either in a book or online.  I wish I could remember, but it was a long time back.

Students are instructed to ask three other students their question before they can ask the teacher.  If no one knows the answer to their question, THEN they can ask the teacher. 

It prevents lots of unnecessary interruptions and as a teacher, you can get more accomplished during small group instruction.

I made this sign and have it posted at the front of my classroom as a reminder to students.

Yes, sometimes they forget. It wouldn't be normal if they wouldn't forget, would it?  LOL  So I just point to the sign and they remember to ask their partner or neighbor.

Here's my sign!

You can download the sign for free HERE.

I hope this is a helpful strategy and you can use it in your classroom!

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful day!!!

Ready for a New School Year!

Summer has come and gone and a new school year is upon us. I have been spending several hours preparing my classroom as many other fellow educators have been doing.  Organizing, arranging, throwing out, and putting in items to make it look and feel like a safe, suitable, comfortable learning environment for my incoming 7th graders. Let me give you a tour.

Here is the display space outside my room.  It's simple but with a great message. "Your attitude determines your direction.  Make it a good one!"  At the beginning of every class, students will line up in front of this area.

Welcome!  7th Math and a little motivational sign I created.

Here is a close up of the sign.

Just a reminder that it's truly all about them!

Am I the only one that thinks that this is the cleanest my desk will be all year?  BTW, notice the emoji taped to the corner of my computer.  It's a note to remind me that I have morning and afternoon duty all week, the first week of school.

Front view of my desk with my name on the pennants.  You think my students will actually call me this instead of "Miss" this year?

Side view of my area. You can see how I make my table skirt HERE.

"Cell Phone Parking" using a shoe organizer.  Because, when your two-period block class becomes a 45 minute class from one year to the next, "ain't nobody got time for that" phone!  Well, only when it's incorporated into the lesson.  ;)

I started this last year.  Both types of clocks, analog and digital, to help students practice telling time.  Yes, many seventh graders still do not know how to tell time on an analog clock.  I blame it on the digital era.  Underneath my clocks are "Ask Me!" badges.  Students that prove they have mastered a skill get to wear this and act as my "teaching assistants".  They love it!  They get to teach/help other students in the class and let's face it, sometimes students would rather ask a peer for help then ask the teacher for help.  It's a WIN, WIN!

Focus/Agenda board ready!  Love the cute pencil shaped dry erase board eraser.  Dollar tree item!

My closets actually closed!!  Just kidding.  There is still room in there.  Last door: I'm challenging my students to "change their mindset" this year.

Math Reminders! Because, sometimes they need a little reminding!  I adjust as needed throughout the year.

Journals go here. And they WILL be put away neatly.  They WILL I say!!!

F.Y.I. board.  The "Missing Parts" pocket in the lower left corner is a lost and found for station pieces. It's a life saver!!! Find more info on it HERE.

Group trash bins are upside down with the corresponding group tool kit.  Trash bins are great when students need to cut pieces from paper.  Just wad up scraps, place in trash bin and when it's time to put away, a designated student "takes out the trash".  It's easier than picking up papers from the floor.  Tool kit contains color pencils, glue, scissors, pencil sharpener, etc...you know, school tools.

That's all folks!!!

If you are interested in some of the motivational mini posters and pennants, you can find them in the links below.

Posters, Group Trash Bin, Mini Posters and more!

Pastel Colored Pennants

Bright Colored Pennants

If you are interested in anything else you saw, just contact me and I'll be happy to help you out!  :)

I hope this tour of my classroom was helpful!  Thanks for looking and I hope everyone truly has an amazing and productive year!!!

Happy New School Year!!!

I hope everyone is excited about starting new!  It's like a clean slate. I love it!

Anywho! I just wanted to share a few things that I do at the beginning of the year to prep my classroom management.  I'm sure everyone has their own kind of "magic", but I'm just sharing mine in hopes that it could help a fellow educator.

GREETINGS! - Welcome students and tell them a little bit about yourself.  A funny story about yourself will let them know you are human. Then let them share a little about themselves using an icebreaker.  I usually use the "Beach Ball Questions" method. I'll share directions for that later.

SEATING - Make a seating chart and seat students in alphabetical order.  This helps with memorizing their names.  I'm sure it's easier if you have a self-contained classroom, but when you don't and have more than 100 students and you're my age, it's quite a challenge. So alphabetical order is the key for me!  I also arrange desks in rows and columns making sure each has a "shoulder partner" for sharing/discussion activities.  

EXPECTATIONS - I present classroom expectations and school rules and have them posted for students to see.  Throughout the first week, review and repeat. When reviewing, I do a "Pair Share" activity because I know students would rather hear rules and expectations from a peer than from the teacher.  ;)

 MATH JOURNAL - Prepping the math journal!  This consists of numbering pages, gluing in resources pages and foldables, explaining how to fill in the table of contents and most importantly, when using glue...DOT, DOT, NOT A LOT...LINE, LINE, MAKE IT FINE!!!  I do plan on allowing glue sticks this year, but cardstock and construction paper just stick better with white glue.  Finally on this topic, I inform my students of the "magic words" to listen for when prepping, cutting and gluing foldables into their journals, or any other activity that requires the same.  Here is what I do.

1. Demonstrate but make sure everyone is watching and listening. They must have their hands flat on their desks when I am demonstrating. I also break directions up into steps so it's easier for them to follow.
2. After each step, I clap my hands and then wave them around as if to perform a magic trick and then I sort of sing the "magic words", "NOW YOU!"  Yes, I teach middle school, and yes, my kiddos love it. As a matter of fact, sometimes I forget to say the magic words and students will just sit there with their hands still flat on their desks, then I hear someone whisper, "Miss, the magic words."  It's so cute, I love it!  It would be AMAZING if EVERY student would follow this rule and not all do, but I'm proud to say that majority do.

BRAG - I love to tell my students how great they do at the end of the day. I also love to tell them when I brag about them to my fellow educators.  They love to hear it as well.  Do they do a fantastic job everyday?  Well, lets just say that there are more wonderful days than not. From cleaning up their area very well to participating and completing assignments on time.  They need to hear how amazing they are!

EXIT - I don't let my students line up at the door five minutes before the bell!  NOOOO!!!!  Yes, I've seen it happen.  I teach bell to bell. What does that mean?  That means I'm always trying to keep their gears turning.  For example, they will put away materials at five minutes before the bell, but they return to their seat and then we play "Around the World" with facts or vocabulary. Sometimes I just ask them to "share something with your partner that you learned today". Another one is "Touch Down, Take Off" where touch down means false and take off means true and I give true or false statements as a review of skills learned.  Finally, I dismiss a row at a time.  Yes, I'm that teacher. The teacher that doesn't want a stampede or injuries occurring as my students leave. I also tell them that I am looking for the best row to dismiss first.  Believe it or not, they sit up straight and face forward in a flash!  Some of them even before I make that statement.

Alright. There you have it. Only some of the things I do to make my classes easier to handle. I didn't want to bore you too much.  :D

I truly hope this was helpful. I didn't come up with these overnight and some ideas I got at trainings and from peer teachers. Sometimes I also change it up a bit when I have to. It's called adapting.

I know everyone has their own approach. I'd love for you to share some of your tips in the comments!  I think others will benefit from our sharing with each other.  :D

Thanks for reading and have a extraordinary year!!!

Tired of "No Name"?

This song is an oldie but goodie, but when sung with these words, it helps solve the "No Name" problem!  Even though it was released way back when my 7th grade students were about 3 or 4 years old, they are still familiar with it.  

When it's time to turn in an assignment, I project this image on the screen.  Believe it or not, some students actually sing it out loud.  Yes!  They sing the words on the image!  I'm okay with that, because they are reminding everyone else to make sure they wrote their name on their paper.

When I forget, they remind me to show it to the class.  

The results are great!  Now when assignments are turned in, I rarely get "No Name" papers. 

Click HERE, download and print if you would like to try it out in your classroom!  It's FREE!!!

Hope this is helpful!

Permanent Marker Hack!

If you like to number your desks but hate it when students start peeling off the sticker or tape that the number is written on, THIS HACK IS FOR YOU!

 1.  Use permanent marker to write numbers on your desks. I have done this and the numbers stay on for quite a while. Longer than numbers taped to the desks!  That's for sure!

2.  When it's time to change, erase, or redo numbers, just grab a dry erase marker! I find that a black dry erase marker works best.

3.  Use the dry erase marker to completely cover the number written in permanent marker. Let it dry completely.

4.  Wipe off the dry erase marker.   

4.  Voila! It's all gone!

But wait! There's more!  

This trick works on laminated materials also!

If you accidentally wrote on a dry erase board with a permanent marker, this trick will fix that too!

Who knew? Permanent doesn't always have to be permanent.

Please let me know if this was "Funny", "Interesting", "Cool" or "Helpful" in the reaction boxes below!