It doesn’t matter if you teacher first grade or fifth grade, when a kid’s birthday rolls around it’s a big deal to them. In many places, the days of bringing in cupcakes to share with the class are over with, but it is nice to acknowledge their special day in a small way. This post highlights 3 simple tips for celebrating students’ birthdays in the classroom, 10 ideas for a birthday gift for students, and a teacher-favorite resource for celebrating students’ birthdays. Check it all out below!

3 Tips for Celebrating Birthdays in the Classroom

Below are 3 tips for celebrating birthdays in the classroom.

1. Plan and Prep All of the Materials at the Start of the Year

If you decide to give a gift to your students on their birthday, you’ll want to get ahead with this. I recommend purchasing, printing, copying, and cutting all of the materials you need for the school year before school starts. This will take so much pressure off of you during the school year! I also recommend you sign the cards and place each student’s materials into a paper lunch sack that is still flat. Next, decorate the outside of the bags with markers or stickers. Finally, label each with a student’s name and place them in chronological order. I store all of these in a birthday gift bag. When a student’s birthday arrives, simply pull out the bag, open it up (so it’s no longer flat) and either staple the top or tie it with a ribbon. You’ll be good to go!

2. Keep It Low Cost

Celebrating birthdays in the classroom is a great way to build a learning community where students feel valued. You do not need to go overboard to make students feel special however. Incorporate free (or at least cheap) ways to recognize students on their special day.

3. Think about Sustainability

When deciding how you are going to celebrate your students’ birthdays in your classroom, you are going to want to keep it simple enough that you will be able to replicate it for all 15-30 of your students. Your future self will thank you for deciding to forgo an elaborate celebration!

10 Birthday Gift Ideas for Students

What you don’t want to be doing is scrambling around just as the bell is about to ring because you forget that one of your little cherubs happened to have been born on that day. So my suggestion is to prepare during the summer for a year’s worth of birthdays. In addition to a smile and a “Happy Birthday,” you can add in some simple, low-cost ways to celebrate the student. If you plan to present each child with a small “gift,” you can streamline the process by preparing each student’s trinket at the same time. Below are some ideas to give you some inspiration!

1. Special Song

Singing happy birthday is one of the most common ways to celebrate someone’s birthday. There are tons of songs out there that you can find online that add a special twist to the traditional song. You can also create your own.

2. Helper of the Day

Another birthday gift idea is to have the birthday student be the helper of the day. This is a free option that will be a big hit among your students.

3. Birthday Pencil

Pencils are a fun, cheap way to celebrate students’ birthdays. You can find them at Walmart, Target, your local teacher store, or Amazon.

4. Crown

There is just something about wearing a crown on your head that makes you feel extra special. The best part is that when students and teachers see the student walking down the hall, they will know it’s their birthday and will wish the student a happy birthday.

5. Stickers

Stickers are another fun and cheap way to celebrate students’ birthdays. You can find them at Walmart, Target, your local teacher store, or Amazon.

6. Homework Pass

Not only will students love this gift option, but it’s also a great way to ensure students have time to celebrate their birthday with their families. It will help make the night stress-free for families.

7. Card

You can either buy a card or make a hand-made one out of construction paper. If you opt for this option, then consider having all of your students sign their name.

8. Bookmark

A bookmark is an inexpensive gift that encourages the child to read. Whenever they use the bookmark, they will think of you!

9. Line Leader

Having the birthday student be the line leader of the day is a free and super easy way to make the birthday student feel special. They will be so proud standing at the front of the line!

10. Class Book

A birthday book is an inexpensive way to have your whole class celebrate the birthday kid, while also practicing their writing skills. Parents will love this keepsake!

Celebrating Birthdays in the Classroom Resource

Learn all about this resource for celebrating students’ birthdays in the classroom below!

What Is It

This student birthday celebration bundle includes everything you need to celebrate birthdays in the classroom. The download includes printable resources that will make it easy to acknowledge the students’ special day and integrate learning activities without distraction from learning. It is also available as part of the classroom management bundle.

What’s Included

This resource for celebrating students’ birthdays includes the following:

• editable birthday certificates
• editable birthday student book covers
• differentiated writing and drawing pages for the student gift booklet
• editable classroom birthdays charts
• birthday tally charts
• birthday bar graphs

Why Teachers Love It

Below are just some of the reasons teachers love this resource!

• The printables in this bundle will make your students feel very special when it is their birthday.
• Students will practice math and writing skills without even realizing it.
• They will have something special to take home to share with their family.
• It can be differentiated using the editable options and is an open-ended task so all students will feel successful.
• It includes editable options for customizing the resources.
• Students will enjoy creating class books for each other so they will be engaged in their learning.
• It will save you time and money as these resources have all been made for you for less than the cost of the materials to make them.
• It is a low-cost way to acknowledge each student’s special day.
• There is a variety of colors to choose from.

How to Implement It

Print one writing page for each student and one cover page. At the beginning of the year, model how to write a birthday book entry. Post it in the classroom for students to reference. As each student fills out a writing page, the birthday boy or girl will color the cover page. When students are finished, staple the pages together and have the class present it to the student at the end of the day. Invite the birthday kid to read it to the class and bring it home to share with his or her family.

In closing, we hope you found these ideas for a birthday gift for students helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Birthday Display Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• Activities and Lesson Ideas for the book The Perfect Birthday Recipe
• Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers

The post Birthday Gift for Students: Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Even when there are no money transactions involved, the classroom teacher is often still responsible for communicating a lunch count to the cafeteria. The goal should be to decrease the amount of class time used to collect lunch orders and to create a system that limits disruption. Below are some school lunch count ideas to help with that!

3 School Lunch Count Ideas

Below are 3 school lunch count ideas for elementary teachers.

1. Communicate with Families

Explain the procedures related to taking school lunch count at the open house and send a letter home explaining it as well. This will alleviate any confusion and help the process run smoother in your classroom so all students get what they need.

2. Consider How You Need to Report Lunch Count

Consider how the cafeteria requires you to report the lunch count. Do they just want the total number of students ordering each choice (i.e. 5 hot dogs, 9 pizzas, 2 salads and 1 milk)? Do they need to know each child’s specific choice (i.e. Joe Smith: pizza, Carly Jacobs: hot dog). The answer to those questions will help you find a system that work best for you. I do recommend that you find a method that is non-verbal and prevents disruption to the morning routine once students start reading or completing morning work.

If you are required to record the lunch choice together with the student’s name you will want to save time by keeping their selections in the order in which they are listed on your roster. In this situation, a printable chart works best. Students can check their choice or you, a volunteer or a student helper can be in charge of doing it. You can also save time by taking attendance and lunch count at the same time.

3. Make the Menu Choices Visible

Make the menu choices visible so you do not need to read a list and repeat yourself often. Using a white board, projectable menu, pocket chart or poster will allow students to see the choices on their own. It is helpful to add pictures to the posted choices. This can be done using clipart, images found online or actual photos taken in your school cafeteria.

In my classroom, I posted the lunch choices on the board next to a hanging display reading choice 1, choice 2, choice 3, lunchbox and milk. The students selected their choice using a clip with their name on it. You can grab all of the printables I used for managing my lunch count in my classroom management bundle or by themselves in my lunch count resource.

We hope you found these school lunch count ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Create an Ideal Class Meeting Area for Read Alouds
• Classroom Paper Organization Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• How to Improve Classroom Management Using Hand Signals

The post School Lunch Count Ideas for Elementary Teachers (Grades 1-5) in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What are Schedule Cards?

Schedule cards are printables that communicate the sequence of events taking place during the school day. They often have the content area or event on them in writing and represented with pictures. They should be displayed in a place in the classroom where student can easily see them. Oftentimes, teachers put them on the front white board or bulletin board.

What is a Visual Classroom Schedule?

A visual classroom schedule is a classroom display made up of schedule cards that communicates the sequence of events taking place during the school day.

Why is it Important to Post a Classroom Schedule?

A classroom schedule establishes routine and structure for your students. It represents the big picture. Having a visual schedule for children to reference will allow them to predict what will happen next which enables them to feel prepared and secure. Children are more likely to be engaged, attentive and able to learn when they know what to expect. A posted schedule also helps the teacher manage the time and keep the day progressing as planned.

How to Make a Visual Classroom Schedule Display

Below are the steps for making a visual classroom schedule display.

1. Download this Schedule Cards Set

Download my Schedule Cards from my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store. They are available by themselves or as part of my classroom management bundle.

What’s Included in my Schedule Cards Resource?

This schedule cards resource includes the following resources:

• 76 Different schedule cards
• 76 Editable schedule card templates
• 6 Different “kids with clocks” analog clock time cards
• 30 Programmed digital time cards (hour, half hour, quarter hours)
• Blank digital time schedule cards
• Checkmark cards
• Mounting templates

Why Teachers Love These Schedule Cards

• A classroom schedule establishes routine and structure for your students.
• It represents the big picture.
• Having a visual schedule for children to reference will allow them to predict what will happen next which enables them to feel prepared and secure.
• Children are more likely to be engaged, attentive and able to learn when they know what to expect.
• A posted schedule also helps the teacher manage the time and keep the day progressing as planned.
• Schedule Cards provide structure. Students thrive on structure and routine and behavior issues decrease when children know what to expect.
• These schedule cards make it quick and easy for you to create a visual display outlining your day.

2. Select the Pages You Want to Use

This schedule cards resource is packed with options to choose from. Select which ones you feel work best for you and your students.

3. Customize the Schedule Cards Templates (Optional)

This resource includes editable templates that you can customize to fit your needs. This step is optional because this resource already includes 70+ schedule cards that have been created for you.

4. Print and Laminate the Resources

Print out the resources you selected. Consider printing them on card stock and laminating them so they are more durable and can be used year after year.

5. Post Your Visual Classroom Schedule

Now that all of your materials are prepped and ready, post your visual classroom schedule in a place where all of your students can see it. Teachers often put them on their front white board or bulletin board so they can easily reference them during morning meeting. No matter where you choose to post them, keep them in a consistent spot so students know where to find them.

When deciding how to post them, consider these two options. The first option is to use a pocket chart. It makes it very easy to switch the activities around. Hang it a bit lower than normal so that your students can be in charge of changing it up each afternoon. You can leave a bit of space to the left of each schedule card to place small colored cards that can be flipped over as we complete an activity. The second option is great if you have a whiteboard that is magnetic. Peel and stick magnets like these on the back of each card. This makes it so easy to move around the cards on the whiteboard.

In closing, we hope you found this information about posting a visual classroom schedule display helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• 6 Things Elementary Teachers Need to Know about SEL
• How to Improve Classroom Management Using Hand Signals
• 20+ Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers

The post Visual Classroom Schedule Display for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

3 Tips for Managing Trips to the Nurse

Below are 3 tips for managing tips to the school nurse from my managing nurse visits resource.

1. Know Your Students’ Allergies and Major Health Issues

First and foremost, it is important to be familiar with any allergies and major health issues such as diabetes, asthma, etc. Know what to look for and how to respond. Each child with a diagnosis should have a health plan, so check in with your nurse or administrator.

2. Take it a Case-by-Case Basis

You’ll quickly get to know your students and their patterns. For the most part, without a medical degree and having never done a residency in a hospital, you will be able to look at a student and determine if something is actually medically wrong or if they are demonstrating attention seeking or avoidance behaviors.

Teachers will often send kids to the bathroom if they say their tummy hurts or will tell them to go get a drink of water if they say they have a sore throat. I found it was best to handle things on a case-by-case basis. Some kids need breaks. Find a way to give them a break, but try not to condition them to say they have an ailment to get a drink of water.

3. Send Home Notes with Students

Send home a note each and every time a student asks to go to the nurse. This will cover you in case the child does in fact have something wrong. It will also quickly communicate to the family how often he is asking to go and his reasons. Often they will discuss it at home and it will help prevent otherwise chronic askers from asking. Students are less likely to request a nurse visit that isn’t necessary if they know their parents will be notified.

What is the Nurse Pass System?

The nurse pass system is a collection of printable resources that will help you effectively manage trips to the nurse. It includes the following resources:

• Black and white school nurse passes
• Colorful school nurse passes
• Nurse visit report checklist
• Nurse visit report narrative
• Donation request sheet
• Classroom first aide kit label
• Accident report

Why Elementary Teachers Need It

The goal as an elementary teacher is to avoid sending a student to the nurse unless there is just cause. There are two reasons for this. First and foremost, the nurse’s office is a busy place and she has a lot of responsibilities (and often paperwork) to tend to. Out of respect for her time, always try to run interference. Secondly, if kids are sent to the nurse’s office each and every time they complain about an ache or pain they will be conditioned to think it is an easy option.

Elementary teachers love these printable nurse resources because of the following reasons:

• The packet makes documenting student visits to the nurse a quick and simple process.
• You will have documentation of students who are frequently requesting to leave the classroom. This is important information for parents, teachers, and school officials.
• You will save money and not need to spend your personal time shopping for bandaids and other first aid items with the quick and easy donation form.
• Having a classroom first aid kit on hand will prevent students from leaving the classroom and increase time on learning.
• It includes all of the resources you need related to managing nurse visits.

How to Implement the School Nurse Pass System

Below are suggestions for how to implement a school nurse pass system in your elementary classroom.

1. Download the Nurse Packet

This nurse packet is available in my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store as an individual resource or as part of my classroom management bundle.

2. Read the Tips and Ideas Included in the Packet

This managing trips to the nurse resource is packed with tips and ideas for elementary teachers. Be sure to read through these before implementing the resources.

3. Select and Print the Materials from the Packet

This resource includes several printables to choose from. Select which ones work best for you and your students and print them out.

4. Make Copies of the Materials

Next, make copies of all the materials included in the packet so you are covered for the full school year.

5. Use the Resources as Needed

Implement the resources as needed. Some resources will be used every week like the school nurse pass, while others will (hopefully) only be used once per year (or less) like the accident report. With the help of this resource, you’ll be ready for whatever situation arises.

We hope you found these tips for managing trips to the nurse using a school nurse pass system helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Improve Classroom Management Using Hand Signals
• 30 Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers
• 5 Ideas for Managing Student Behaviors in the Elementary Classroom

The post School Nurse Pass for Elementary Teachers (Grades 1-5) in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Parent surveys are a great tool for getting to know your learners from the parents’ perspective. You’ll be amazed at how much information you can gain about your students when you ask their families to share some details. Learn all about back to school parent surveys and how to implement them in your classroom below.

What is a Parent Survey?

A parent survey is a tool for teachers to use to gather information about students and their families. The time parents invest into completing it, the way they describe their child, and the goals they list for their child will allow you to infer how involved they will be and help determine how to best work with them throughout the year.

Your students’ families are the most important partnerships you will have each year. Therefore, it is imperative that you take the time to establish strong relationships with them. Sending home a parent survey is a great way to do this.

Why are Parent Surveys Valuable?

Parent surveys are a valuable tool for elementary teachers to use to get to know their students at the beginning of the school year. Below are reasons teachers love parent surveys.

• Parents appreciate when you ask for their thoughts and ideas. They are putting a lot of trust into you to nurture their child.
• Sending home a parent survey shows you care about their children and want to know all you can so you can work with them effectively. It will instantly help earn their trust.
• You’ll be able to tell a lot about the parent(s)/family by the way the questions are answered. This will guide you in future conversations.
• Knowing a parent’s hopes and concerns up front will allow you to work towards helping them throughout the school year.
• You’ll learn a lot about the student from the parents’ perspective.

What are Good Survey Questions for Parents?

Your back to school parent survey should be short. Limit it to 1-3 pages. In this survey, you’ll want to collect basic information about the student as well as some helpful insights their parents can provide. Some examples of things you could ask the parents to share are:

• Favorite sports and activities
• Favorite holidays
• Adjectives that describe them
• Strengths
• How they learn best

How Elementary Teachers Can Use Parent Surveys

Below are 3 ways elementary teachers can use parent surveys.

1. Back to School Parent Survey

One way elementary teachers can use parent surveys is as a tool to get to know students and their families at the start of the school year. This new school year parent survey is a great tool for this purpose!

2. New Student Mid-Year

A second way elementary teachers can use parent surveys is as a tool to get to know a new student who joins the class in the middle of the school year. It’s a quick way to make a connection with the new family and gather information about the student. This parent survey is a great option for this!

3. Collecting Feedback

A third way elementary teachers can use parent surveys is as a tool to quickly get feedback from parents. Whether you are looking to get feedback on how homework is going or if they are finding the class website helpful, a parent survey is a great way to quickly get insight on how parents are feeling.

How to Implement a Back to School Parent Survey

Below are 3 steps for how to implement a back to school parent survey in your elementary classroom.

1. Download this Back to School Parent Survey

You can download this parent survey from my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store. It’s available by itself, as well as part of my classroom management bundle.

2. Make a Packet for Each Student

Make copies of the parent survey and staple the pages to form a packet for each student. Some students may need two copies based on their living situation.

3. Send Each Student Home with a Packet

Consider sending them home on a Thursday. That way, families can work on them through the weekend and return them on Monday. Again, be mindful that some students may need two packets based on their living situation.

4. Collect the Packets

As packets come back to school, keep them in one place so you can go through them all once you have received one from every family.

5. Review the Packets

Once you have gotten back all of the packets from your students’ families, take time to closely review all of the parent survey packets. Jot down notes on them using sticky notes and keep them in a safe place so you can refer to them as needed.

In closing, we hope you found this information about back to school parent surveys helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• 20 Tips for Increasing Parent Participation in Math
• 10 Read Aloud Tips to Share with Students’ Families
• How to Improve Classroom Management Using Hand Signals

The post Back to School Parent Survey: A Tool for Getting to Know Students in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Jobs in my classroom have evolved over time. I started with an elaborate system involving a rotating sunflower which took me an absurd number of hours to create. The system involved students receiving new jobs each day. I’ll skip all the middle stages and tell you about where I am now.

In my classroom, everyone has a job. However, they are gainfully employed in that position for a very long time. I no longer rotate the jobs so that each student does every job at some point. Instead, students are matched with jobs that they express interest in and I feel is a good fit for them. This allows me to take the time to really teach them how to do the job well and it becomes a routine for them. This means your classroom will run very smoothly.

When I rotated jobs too often, my friends would forget to do their job or else wouldn’t know exactly what the role involved. The consistency of keeping the same job means that everyone has a special part in helping our room to function. They are ALL responsible for cleaning up the classroom at the end of the day when we play Find It Fix It. I also have a “helper of the day” and that person does everything else for the day (help with odd jobs, erase the white board, etc).

When I do change jobs (maybe 3 times a year), each student is responsible for training their replacement. I couldn’t be more happy about this system.

I do still have a classroom job chart. It just doesn’t change very often. Learn more about it below!

What is a Classroom Job Chart?

A classroom job chart is a display that communicates what students’ jobs or responsibilities are.

What is Included in My Classroom Job Chart?

My classroom job chart resource includes the following:

• tips for managing classroom jobs
• photo instructions for easy assembly
• 30 programmed job cards
• editable job cards
• editable student name cards

Why Teachers Love Classroom Job Charts

Teachers love classroom job charts because of the following reasons:

• Classroom job charts empower students to be active members in the learning community.
• Students learn responsibility and to clean up after themselves.
• Students feel good that they are helping the teacher and contributing in some way.
• They appreciate the work that the adults do in the building (custodian, lunch staff, etc.).
• Using it helps keep classrooms looking neat and organized.

10 Tips for Managing Student Jobs

Below are 10 tips for managing student jobs.

1. Keep it simple.

Classroom jobs should improve the function of your classroom and provide children with a sense of being helpful. If you create a system that is too complicated or changes too often you run the risk of the jobs actually creating more work for you along with unwanted chaos.

2. Consider what you need help with.

Select classroom jobs that will be useful to your specific classroom needs.

3. Think about safety and school policy.

Having an “electrician” in charge of plugging in an overhead or a “table washer” using cleaning products with chemicals might not be allowed in some schools. Always use caution. If you include tasks like this you may want to consider drafting a parent permission slip before assigning the job.

4. Don’t start classroom jobs the first month of school.

Don’t start classroom jobs until you get to know your students each year. It’s very helpful to match students with jobs that best suit them as individuals.

5. Think about ways a job may benefit a child.

Encouraging your shy student to be responsible for being the classroom greeter or answering the phone may help to bring them out of their shell. Having your spirited little guy be your messenger would be a great way to work in some movement breaks throughout the day.

6. Think about ways a job may benefit you.

If you have a student that needs monitoring more than others, make them the line leader. This will keep them close by and limit off task behavior in the hallways.

7. Don’t let your job chart consume too much prime wall real estate.

Students don’t need to be able to see it all the time. In fact, it can be a distraction as kids love knowing what others are doing and reading their peers’ names. Find an out-of-the-way location that students can access when they need to.

8. Match students with jobs that are appropriate.

A job requiring increased responsibility and organization should be completed by a student possessing those skills (i.e. managing the classroom library). Students who struggle in that area would be better suited for a job that is completed without remembering (i.e. turning off the lights when you are going to use the Smartboard).

9. Be aware of confidentiality.

Although it may seem like a good idea to have students put stickers on corrected assignments or check in homework, it exposes them to others’ work and progress.

10. Take the time to write out a thorough job description that makes your expectations clear.

Much like having a procedures and routines manual, this will be a valuable document in ensuring that everything gets done as intended. It will also be an asset to a substitute teacher filling in for you.

How to Make a Classroom Job Chart

Below are simple directions for how to make a classroom job chart.

1. Download the Classroom Job Chart Resource

This classroom job chart resource is available in my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers store. It is also available as part of my classroom management bundle. Download it to access tons of printables, tips, and ideas!

2. Read the Tips and Ideas Included in the Packet

This classroom job chart resource includes tons of tips and ideas to help you create your classroom job chart. I recommend starting there!

3. Gather Supplies

Gather the following supplies: A package of library pockets (these come in so many colors and patterns), colored card stock, hot glue gun/glue sticks, framed cork board, fabric, and ribbon.

4. Customize and Print the Materials

The resources included in this classroom job packet are editable. Use what’s already included in the packet or customize it to fit your individual needs.

3. Assemble the Display

Print out the job titles and attach them to the library pockets.

Although the pockets are usually self-adhesive, they don’t really hold in the long term. Prior to “committing” them to a location on the board with hot glue, use a single staple to hold them in place.

When you are happy with the alignment of the pockets, glue them all down and remove the staples.

Finally, add the title at the top. To use the chart, simply slide cards or popsicle sticks with the students’ names or numbers into the pockets.

We hope you found this post about how to implement a classroom job chart helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers
• First Day of School Read Alouds for 1st-5th Grade Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Read Aloud Area in your Classroom

The post Classroom Job Chart for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is Student of the Week?

Student of the week is a great way to spotlight each of your learners. Each child in the class gets a turn that involves a week-long celebration. It can take as little as 5-10 minutes per day. During the week, you can grant the child special privileges and celebrate in a variety of different ways.

Why Teachers Love Student of the Week

Putting the spotlight on a different child each week helps your children get to know one another better and provides each individual with a special experience. Often, new friendships are formed when the kids learn they have things in common they didn’t realize before.

3 Tips for Implementing Student of the Week

Below are 3 tips for implement student of the week in your classroom from my Student of the Week packet. Get ALL of the tips and printables by downloading the packet!

1. Be Consistent

Teachers often start the school year with the best intentions, but as things get busy and time goes on, it is not always easy to maintain some of the special activities. Student of the Week means A LOT to the little ones so it is important that all the children have the same opportunities.

2. Keep It Simple

The easiest way to stay on top of things is to keep it simple. Avoid things like changing out a bulletin board weekly, committing to lunch with them or dedicating lots of class time to sharing things brought in from home.

3. Be Aware of Shortened Weeks

A child (or their parents) may feel slighted if their week falls on the week of Thanksgiving and they only get three days instead of five. Try to only schedule students for five day weeks.

3 Ideas for Celebrating the Student of the Week

Below are 3 ideas for celebrating the student of the week in your classroom from my Student of the Week packet. Get ALL of the ideas and printables by downloading the packet!

1. Share their Favorite Book

Ask the child to bring a favorite book from home. It can be a picture book or chapter book. They can read it to the class (especially if it’s a shorter book) or you can read it for them.

2. Offer Special Seating Options

Allow the child to sit at a special seat or the teacher’s desk. It’s so fun to see how they proudly sit in this seat throughout the week!

3. Invite Classmates to Write a Special Message

Have the class complete a page for the child during writing on one day. The pages can then be assembled into a book for the child to take home. You can get the printables to do this in my Student of the Week packet.

How to Do Student of the Week

Below are some simple directions for how to do student of the week.

1. Download the Student of the Week Packet

Scoop up the Student of the Week packet from my Clutter-Free Classroom Teachers Pay Teachers Store. It’s available by itself or as part of my classroom management bundle.

2. Read the Tips and Ideas included in the Packet

This packet includes tips and ideas to help you implement student of the week in your classroom. recommend reading those before jumping to the rest of the resources included in the packet.

3. Determine How You are Going to Celebrate the Student of the Week and Print the Activities and Printables You Want to Use

The next step is to determine how you are going to celebrate the student of the week in your classroom. Are you going to offer a special seat, necklace, pencil or sticker? Which of the printables from the student of the week packet are you going to implement. There’s a lot to consider! Once you decide, print all of the resources you’ll need. Better yet, employ help from a parent volunteer.

4. Make and Send out a Calendar to Families

Create and send home a copy of the scheduled calendar so families know in advance which week they can look forward to. It will give them plenty of time to pull materials together.

5. Send Home the Resources with the First Student of the Week

Take a peek at your calendar. Who is the first person on the list? Send that child home with all of the materials they need. Be sure to communicate a deadline with the students’ families with a buffer just in case a family forgets and you need to send home a reminder.

In closing, we hope you found this information about how to implement student of the week in your classroom helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers
• How to Plan a Field Trip from Scratch
• 20 Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers

The post Student of the Week: Everything Elementary Teachers Need in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Now, there is a difference between a class that is chatty and a class that has academic conversations going. Both may sound similar to an outsider, but the effects it has inside the classroom can be very different. If you have a class of chatty kids who want to talk non-stop, or just that one child who loves to shout out over everyone during your lessons, it can be very stressful for both you and your students. This creates an atmosphere that no one wants to be a part of. 

A classroom where students are free to talk whenever they want about whatever they want can have many negative repercussions. This is not something any of us want, but unfortunately is happening all across the country. As a teacher, you want to show three things. First, you have control over your students in your classroom. Second, your students can be respectful individuals. Third, learning is happening inside your classroom. Below are some strategies to make sure your class has positive academic conversations going on and not uncontrollable non-stop chit chat.

8 Tips and Strategies for a Chatty Class

Below are tips strategies for a chatty class.

1. Use Attention Getters

The first on the list of strategies for a chatty class is attention getters. They are an essential part of teaching. On the first day of school, introduce an attention getter as one of the first things you do. Below are some different strategies you can try out!

Clapping Rhythm

We all know this one and we all have probably used it at some point in our teacher lives. You notice that the volume in the class is getting a bit too loud, or you need to get everyone’s attention to give them new directions, so you empty your hands and clap a rhythmic beat that kids mimic. Since this strategy is pretty universal, it’s quick and easy for you and your students to pick up. After the clapping is done, kids are quiet and you can say what you need to.

Call Backs

I find these to be the most fun. You say a word or two and the students respond to you with a phrase before being quiet and listening to what you need to say. Examples include: “1, 2, 3, eyes on me….. 1, 2, eyes on you!”, “Hocus Pocus!… Everybody Focus!”…. or “Peanut Butter!…. Jelly Time!”. There are hundreds of these to use! You can find them on websites like Pinterest. You’re sure to find one that fits your classroom atmosphere and your personality comfort level. 

Give Me 5

This strategy works with just your hand and no speaking (aside from saying “give me 5”). Children see your hand in the air as you slowly count down from 5 to 0. At 5, they listen, at 4, they empty their hands, at 3, they need to be still, at 2, they need to be quiet, and by 1 they need to have their eyes on the speaker ready to go. The best time to use this strategy is during a transition when kids tend to talk the most. 

Music

Need kids to quiet down and transition to something else? Play a song! Teach kids the procedures that go along with the song and the expectation that by the time the song is over they are in their seats and ready to move on.

Instruments

My friend used a wooden frog with ripples on its back and a wooden stick that ran up the back to get students’ attention. It made an interesting sound for sure! I’ve also seen bells, tambourines, maracas, and chimes used before. All of these allow you to save your voice too which is a big benefit. Just make sure you keep the item close to you. This will prevent you from having to run up front quickly to get students to quiet down.

2. Explicitly Teach and Monitor Noise Levels

At the beginning of the school year, explicitly teach what different noise levels sound like and when they should be used. Below are some ideas for how to do this!

Traffic Light

In previous years, I had a poster and a working traffic light displayed in my room. The poster said “keep on track with your chat” and explained what each color meant. If the activity was a silent activity, I turned the traffic light to red. If the students were allowed to whisper, the light would be yellow. A green light indicated students could use their regular inside voices while working. It helped kids see a visual of what volume was expected. 

Noise Control Apps and Sites

I love the websites and apps that display things like bouncy balls and move based on the amount of noise in the classroom! Kids turn it into almost a competition to see if they can complete their work without any of the pictures moving.

3. Never Talk Over Students

Although it may seem like the best thing to do is to ignore it when a student shouts out or starts a conversation while you’re teaching, it can actually signal to the students that it’s okay to not listen to you and what you’re saying isn’t important. When a student starts talking while you’re speaking, calmly stop talking (mid-sentence has a great effect), and stare at the student. Don’t change your body posture though or make sarcastic or frustrated sounds. This can have a negative effect of its own. Wait at least three seconds after the child has stopped talking (don’t break eye contact), and continue with your lesson/speaking.

4. Practice Transitions

If you expect transitions to be quiet (such as when they put away binders and pull out a book), then you must practice the transition over and over again with it quiet. Even if one student talks, you have to stop everyone and try it all again. They’ll eventually get frustrated with having to repeat the same thing over and over again. They’ll catch on and realize they shouldn’t be making a sound while doing the transition (or task). You may feel that it wastes a lot of time in the beginning of the year to teach these kinds of procedures. However, if you master it all in the beginning, you won’t be paying for it all year long.

5. Utilize Proven Strategies and Resources

One important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. We have all had classes that challenged us because of their chattiness. We’ve also all googled strategies for a chatty class! If you try something and it doesn’t work right away, that’s ok, just keep trying! There are many ideas out there that will help you keep a manageable class of kids who just bubble with excitement and want to share their thoughts with you (and their classmates).

If you need additional strategies and resources to help you better manage your classroom, I encourage you to check out this classroom management guide. It has everything you need to have a streamlined and focused classroom! I hope you found these ideas and suggestions to be helpful as you prepare to conquer another year in the classroom!

6. Use the Chattiness to Your Advantage

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em! Last year, I had a chatty group of kids. It seems like every year they get chattier! I decided to take the chattiness to my advantage by guiding this talkative energy into collaborative learning opportunities. Below are some ways that I increased academic conversations in my classroom.

Whole Group

This will take some practice and a good classroom environment where kids feel safe. I once visited the Ron Clark Academy. I was amazed to see students who would stand up to share their thoughts without raising their hand and without interrupting anyone. It showed that student input was valued and that students respected each other enough to not interrupt one another. I’m not saying you need to allow students to get up and stand on a chair to share their thoughts whenever they want. However, the idea behind students sharing their thoughts in a polite way that contributes to the conversation is great. Students feel they have a voice and a place in the discussion without fear of being ridiculed or wrong.

Partner Work

How many times have you gone to a professional development training and in the middle of the presenter speaking, you turned to tell your coworker something about what was just said? I can think of countless times I’ve done this! I see it all the time with adults, so why are we not realizing that kids need to do the same? Kids need to process what is being taught and they have responses or questions about what they’re learning. We need to provide ample opportunities for them to share their thoughts with a partner after pieces of information are given. Provide sentence stems for how they’re supposed to talk to their partner, monitor as they’re all speaking, and give only a short amount of time for discussion in between (30 seconds to 1 minute is plenty).

Small Group Work

In the morning, my students wanted to come in and socialize instead of following their morning procedure and bell work. It frustrated me daily! I did research on “how to get kids to stop talking” or “how to get kids to move faster in the classroom”. I felt like that morning time was being wasted. Instead of having students come in first thing in the morning and work silently on a reading passage, I used some bell work cards.

I designed these bell work cards to challenge them academically and collaboratively. Each group will choose a card from the basket in the morning and TALK to each other about their answers. After the time is up, each group will share their response with their classmates. This gives my kids time to talk, but it gives the control back to me because I’m providing opportunities for academic conversations. The cards include creating their own math word problems with given names and numbers, hypothetical questions that reveal character traits, and lists of materials they decide what they can build with it. I’m hoping it has the desired effect I want with kids using their voices for a greater good. 

Your students have great ideas that are just bursting to come out of them and you should provide plenty of time for them to converse with a group of people about those ideas. Whether it’s a team building exercise to get to know their classmates at the beginning of the year or when they move to a new seat, or during a group project, it’s crucial that kids get their time to discuss ideas with their peers. This time will teach them many social skills and teamwork that are absolutely necessary in today’s world.

7. Utilize Hand Signals

The seventh on this list of strategies for a chatty class is to use hand signals. Non-verbal communication is a great tool for students to be able to share their ideas and thinking. It creates a much calmer and quieter classroom learning environment. These classroom hand signals are great for whole group instruction and are part of my classroom management bundle.

8. Get Creative and Make It Fun

The last on the list of strategies for a chatty class is to get creative! Bubble Mouth is an example of a creative strategy you can implement to help your students walk quietly in the hall. At my school, students must be silent in the hallway. I have them “catch a bubble” in their mouth. This means they blow up their cheeks and close their lips as if they have a bubble in there. I’ve also seen kids in the lower grades put their pointer finger over their mouth as they walk. This is the universal quiet symbol.

A second example of a creative strategy you can use to help your students walk quietly in the hallway is Secret Walker. Before we leave the classroom, I always select a “secret walker”. I tell students I will be paying extra close attention to that friend as we progressed to our destination. When we got to the destination I revealed the name of the secret walker. However, I only told the class who it was if the secret walker met all the expectations for the entire walk. The kids loved this and it was highly effective! Get all of my tricks for students lining up and walking in the hall!

In closing, I hope you found these tips and strategies for a chatty class helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Classroom Behavior Management Systems for Elementary Teachers
• Ideas for Managing Student Behavior in Your Elementary Classroom
• 3 Behavior Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers

The post 8 Strategies for a Chatty Class at the Elementary Level in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

10 Classroom Morning Routine Ideas

Below are 10 classroom morning routine ideas for elementary teachers.

1. Greet Students at the Door

Whenever possible greet each student individually. Use eye contact, smile and let the children know you are happy they are there. For many children, the transition to school is challenging (even many months into the year). The greeting not only welcomes them back to school but also makes a connection and shows that you care. It is also an opportunity for you to assess each child’s mood and be proactive in addressing a situation that could otherwise impact their learning for that day.

Ideally, I recommend standing in the doorway and greeting each child as they enter. Position yourself so you can see both the students in the hallway and the students who have entered the classroom already.

As the students are settling in and doing their morning work, you can walk around and briefly chat with each child. With some kids, you will need to ask specific questions because “how are you” typically elicits “fine” or “good” even if it isn’t true. Instead ask, “What did you have for breakfast?” or “Is there anything you want to tell me about what happened since I last saw you?”

You could also start the day by saying, “Show me with your thumb how you are feeling this morning.” A thumbs up indicates they are feeling great, a thumb down represents that things aren’t good and a thumb to the side means something may be wrong. Alternatively, you can make this part of the morning routine where children automatically greet you as they come in with a “thumb signal.” This will let you know who you should check in with. The discrete, non-verbal nature of the act often enables kids to open up even if they weren’t prone to approaching you to share the news.

2. Play a Morning Soundtrack

The second classroom morning routine idea on this list is to play a morning soundtrack. There is always a buzz at the start of the day. Students have to put things away. They want to share stories with you. They have tasks to complete to be ready to learn. It can be chaotic. To “calm the chaos” I implemented the use of a “morning soundtrack” and it worked great!

As the children enter the classroom, I start a song. They have until the song ends to complete the process of unpacking and getting settled. They became familiar with the songs and anticipate how much time they have. This system not only allows students to pace themselves, but it also gets our day started in a very timely manner.

I play a different song each day of the week. I consider the following criteria when selecting the songs that are played:

• Use songs that are appropriate for the classroom.
• Pick songs that appeal to the developmental age you teach.
• Create a playlist that is upbeat and catchy to set a positive tone and fill the room with energy for the day.
• The song(s) should provide just enough time to get everything on the morning to do list checked off and get settled and be ready to start the day.

3. Have a Place for Everything

Some teachers have the kids go directly to their locker, cubby, or the coat closet. I, however, do not recommend this because space is often tight. It can be too crowded and the noise level may get really loud. I find it is better to have the students proceed straight to their seats where they have a bit more room to spread out and get settled. In my classroom, the students walk to their table and take their lunch boxes, snacks, homework, folders, and library books out of their backpacks. They then take off their outerwear and put hats and gloves into the sleeve of their coat to keep everything together. The children are then responsible for putting everything in the designated spots and starting their morning work.

You should have designated spaces that are consistent for each of the following:

• homework
• parent communication folders or binders
• snacks
• lunch boxes / lunch money
• library books
• outerwear
• backpacks
• musical instruments (if applicable)

Each of those should be clearly labeled and consistent and you may want to assign select students some specific jobs to ensure the morning runs smooth and that everything is organized.

It’s important that the children have a few moments to chat with their friends which means you will need to find the perfect balance of time to accomplish the necessary tasks and still be settled in for morning work.

For me, the morning song mentioned above really helps to define the allotted timeframe and when used in conjunction with clear and consistent expectations of the unpacking routine, the classroom runs itself and each day begins on a positive note.

4. Take Attendance

It is important to keep accurate attendance records not only for documentation on report cards, but also to ensure a child has arrived safely at school.

Taking attendance is something you will need to do as soon as possible each morning. I have experimented with many different methods for taking attendance and have found that in addition to being a mandatory task, it can also be a great activity to help you get to know your students better or to embed some math practice.

5. Collect Homework and Notes

To simplify the steps of the morning routine, you can set up a “check-in” station. Below is some advice for how to do this.

• Set yourself up at your small group teaching table.
• Have a clipboard for lunch count and attendance.
• Put out a container for communications from home (dismissal changes, parent notes), a container for forms and money (field trip permission slips, book orders.), and a container for homework.
• Have each student approach you as part of the morning routine. Greet the student personally, check their folder, place items into the sorted container and take their lunch order.

This process moves quite quickly yet enables the teacher to take care of all business while still connecting with the children. It also increases accountability for turning in homework which in turn increases the likelihood that a child will complete the homework. This method will also let you make sure students who have brought a lunch from home remember to place it into the laundry basket.

If you decide to try this method, a great option is to use plastic drawers that slide all the way out of the box. You can place each on the table for the students to put their things into and then slide them into the box to save space and stay organized.

6. Update Dismissal Info

The sixth classroom morning routine idea on the list is to update your dismissal information. Be sure to notify the office and update your classroom dismissal chart when a student brings in a note with a change in dismissal. If additional changes come in via email or a phone call during the school day, you will need to update them again.

Always confirm that the child knows about the change as soon as you learn of it. Just because a student hands you a note stating he is not taking the bus home doesn’t mean his mom remembered to tell him. Check with the child as soon as you read the note and review the dismissal changes just prior to the students leaving the classroom.

7. Take Student Lunch Counts

Oftentimes, the classroom teacher is responsible for collecting and communicating the lunch count to the cafeteria. The goal should be to decrease the amount of class time used to collect lunch orders and to create a system that limits disruption. Read this post all about classroom lunch count ideas for elementary teachers.

8. Start Each Day the Same Way

Oh my goodness… Aside from dismissal, this has been the time of day that I have tweaked more than any other. I found that each of the following had an important place and time in our classroom, but first thing in the morning just wasn’t it:

• journals and writing prompts
• math morning work
• unfinished work from a previous lesson
• free choice
• math vocabulary work

Instead, consider having students complete a spiral review math activity, followed by independent reading.

9. Hold a Morning Meeting

The ninth classroom morning routine idea on this list is to hold a morning meeting. Having your entire class routinely come together to begin each school day is essential to creating a strong classroom community and a positive learning environment.

Now, with that being said, I truly believe there is no right or wrong way to hold a class meeting. Instead, it is a matter of finding what works best for you and the cohort of students in front of you each year. That means that now only will your meeting be unique to you, but it may also look different each and every year.

10. Review the Schedule

There are so many benefits to displaying a visual schedule in the classroom. I have found that it not only keeps me focused and on track but also greatly decreases behavior issues by reducing the anxieties some students feel when they don’t know what to expect.

I feel it is important to not only have your schedule in view of the students, but I also think it should be interactive. Consider the following advice:

• Discuss the plan for the day at the close of morning meeting.
• Note any specialists or changes to the routine that may occur.
• Reference the schedule throughout the day by reminding students what will come next.
• Mark the schedule like a visual checklist to show what has been accomplished and what is left to do.
• Review the schedule and reflect on the schedule at the close of the school day just prior to dismissal.

Once you and your students have completed each of the steps listed above, you can start your day, roll up your sleeves, and jump into the instruction, activities and everything else that makes the day productive and meaningful.

In closing, we hope you found these classroom morning routine ideas helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• 20 Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Whole Group Meeting Area
• 8 Things Elementary Teachers Need to Do on the First Day of School

The post Classroom Morning Routine Ideas for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

Putting together a classroom management plan, thinking through the details and creating classroom resources to make sure the room runs smoothly is a big undertaking. I’ve spent months putting together resources that will save you a lot of time while improving your classroom management skills.

What is the Classroom Management Bundle?

The classroom management bundle is a collection of resources for elementary teachers to help them effectively manage their classroom. It includes a classroom management guide, editable teacher workbook, and 30 individual classroom management resources.

What does this Classroom Management Bundle Include?

This classroom management bundle includes the 80-page Clutter-Free Classroom Guide Management Made Easy, 57-page Editable Classroom Management Teacher Workbook, and 30 individual classroom management products. It is filled with tons of tips, ideas, and printables that will help you perfect your classroom management skills.

Classroom Management Guide

This guide not only lists out everything a teacher will need to manage, but also describes in detail tried and true methods for managing each that have been used successfully in real classrooms for years

Teacher Workbook

This workbook complement the guide. It will walk you through the process of thinking about classroom management via prompts and reference to the eBook. It includes designated space for organizing your to do list and supplies needed to put the plan into action. There are even notes in the workbook directing you to the pages in the eBook specific to that topic as well as a note identifying when there is an included product to help you.

30 Individual Classroom Management Resources

These 30 classroom management tools are some of my best-selling resources. These tools have been used in many classrooms with great success. Most of these resources include multiple versions so you can elect to use one with clip art or not and the majority have editable components to enable you to customize them for your own classroom.

Why Teachers Love this Management Bundle

Some of the reasons teachers love this classroom management bundle include:

• This bundle reduces student anxiety and maximize student learning time because of the consistent routines and procedures suggested in it.
• Implementation of the resources results in an easy transition for students when a substitute teacher is there because the classroom runs itself.
• It includes the tools and information you need to be a more less stressed, productive and efficient teacher.
• It streamlines all of your classroom management procedures.
• There are editable resources, so you can customize them to fit your needs.
• It provides a comprehensive collection of resources so you won’t need to purchase other classroom management resources.

How to Implement this Classroom Management Bundle

Fill out the workbook and use it to reflect on your current and future practices. Read the classroom management guide and apply tips and ideas to your classroom. Print and post 30 printables in your classroom. Teach classroom management procedures and routines.

In closing, we hope you found this information about these classroom management tools helpful! If you did, then you may be interested in these other posts:

• Classroom Management Strategies for Elementary Teachers
• Classroom Procedures and Routines for Teachers
• Helpful Ways Teachers Can Use Timers

The post Classroom Management Tools for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.