1. Dry Erase Boards
If I could request that the walls in my room be made of dry-erase board I would probably do it. I use them to track rewards the kids have earned. The picture on the left, shows where the kids can sign-up to "sit in the teachers chair" etc. I also have one attached to by bulletin board to explain the project that is being displayed. I have small table top easels to display with sculptures and I use them as a center for free draw.
2. Make the kids do as much work as possible...
This is an idea I thought was going to be a big flop, but I was wrong. This bulletin board has a artwork label for every kid in the school. I hung a pair of scissors and some glue sticks from the board as well. When a student finishes they can go find their label and attach it to their art. No more last minute labeling before the art show!
3. Story-Gami
You'll find them in this blog that I only have access to circa- 2005 technology, but I make it work. Do you have kids that are obsessed with origami? Do they always want you to interpret origami books for them? Well, origami is not really my jam, but I aim to serve. This handy dandy DVD is perfect. It has a series of instructional origami videos that are simple. They are accompanied by catchy little stories that make the instructions even easier to follow. The kids can use it totally independently. I have had kids as young as 1st grade use it. It is perfect as a center or for early finishers.
4. Use pictures when possible...
I was finding that my littles had trouble remembering where they sit from week to week. I tried numbers, but the poor things have sooo many numbers to memorize between lunch codes and computer passwords. Turns out random pictures on the tables trigger their little brains better. Problem solved.
5. Label everything, BIG!
"Art teacher, can I use a ruler?" "Sure." "Where are they?" "In the drawer labeled rulers." "Where is that?" "Where I'm pointing" " I can't find it" AHHHH! So... BIG numbers. "They are in drawer number 14." Much easier.
