Behavior Chart

I have seen so many behavior charts when observing different teacher's classrooms. Probably the best one I have seen is the one that looked similar to this one:


The clips can be moved both up and down the chart so there is always room for improvment in the child's behavior. And a child can have more than just "good behavior". The website this chart is featured on even has free acess to teacher reports you can send home with the students.

http://sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/2011/07/clip-it-up.html

This chart also seems to be the one that pops up the most when looking at different behavior charts.

I'm Done Jar

After searching many different classroom management techniques for ideas on what to have students do when they are finished, I found a great post on a blog called Teaching Blog Addict (http://www.teachingblogaddict.com/). The blogger has some wonderful ideas for just about everything, but I found just what I was looking for: An "I'm Done" jar.  The blogger wrote some activities on a popsicle stick and added a picture on the back of the activity. I love this idea! It keeps the student's behavior under control while other students finish their work and it is educational. In my classroom, I think I would put a different jar at each center (math, science, reading, writing, etc) and have the activities coincide with the subject of the center.  For more information on the "I'm Done" Jar here is the website : http://www.teachingblogaddict.com/2011/04/im-done-jar.html.

Bulletin Boards

One of the hardest thing I have found can be deciding on clever bulletin board ideas...so i did a little searching and found some great ideas, especially for the fall & winter months! These are some of my favorites that I found!


"Don't Get Snowed Under" Bulletin Board
http://bulletinboardideas.org/652/dont-get-snowed-under/


"I Like Winter because..." Hot Cocoa Bulletin Board
http://bulletinboardideas.org/3068/i-like-winter-hot-cocoa-bulletin-board/



"If I lived in a snowglobe..." Bulletin Board
http://bulletinboardideas.org/3087/if-i-lived-in-a-snow-globe-winter-bulletin-board-idea/


"To make a Grinch grin I would..."
http://stepintosecondgrade.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-31T16%3A48%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=7


Turkey Door
http://pinterest.com/pin/62839357270274505/


I can't wait to try some of these ideas!

Dry-Erase Alphabet & Number Practice Cards

I found this great product at Educationaltoys4kids.com. It is a set of 26 giant, illustrated letter cards!Kids can practice their letters by practicing tracing the dotted line. The best part about them is that they are reusable. They can be found at http://www.educationaltoys4kids.info/dry-erase-alphabet-practice-cards/ for about $20 if you want to buy them. However, after looking at how simple these are and how they will mainly be used for children who need extra practice with the alphabet, writing, and sounds, I think you could just make them! I mean we are on a teachers budget. You can use microsoft office to make your own alphabet & number cards and have them laminated. Then just use a dry erase marker to have the kids trace it! Simple as that and much more cost efficient. This will be a homemade tool I'll use in my classroom for extra practice for sure!