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.

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.

Research has shown that when students are enthusiastic about what they are doing and feel an ownership over their education, they are much happier and more enthusiastic. Happy children, who are focused and on-task, make it much easier for you to do your job as their teacher. They communicate positive feelings about school to their parents. This helps develop a strong relationship between home and school. When colleagues and administrators walk into your classroom and see the students attentive to their tasks, it reflects well on you as a professional.

But, how do you make that magic happen?

Implementing any one of the tried and true strategies for increasing student engagement below will help quite a bit. Try combining several of these ideas and you will start to see magic happen in your classroom!

This blog post will suggest 10 strategies for increasing student engagement and empower elementary teachers to maximize student learning and fully engage their students using recommended resources.

10 Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement

Below are 10 strategies for increasing student engagement.

1. Procedures and Routines

Clear expectations and consistency in your daily routines set the stage to engage. When you take the time to practice procedures, the students will know their roles and take comfort in the familiarity of events. This allows them to focus more energy on the tasks at hand. Learn more about procedures and routines!

2. Frequent Discussion

Frequent Discussion Opportunities

Many children struggle to be active listeners. Asking children to be attentive when not participating makes it easy for them to lose interest. An easy way to keep them involved is to assign each student a “talking partner.” During read alouds and lessons, ask questions or have them chat together about a point you are making.

Talking Partners

Another effective option is to not only assign a partner, but also designate each student as either #1 or #2 in the partnership. Pause frequently during lessons or after giving directions for an assignment to say, “Ones explain to the twos what the instructions are” or “Twos tell the ones, in your own words, what I just said.”

3. Hands-On Activities

Avoid Lectures

While the discussion tips above do work wonders when you are delivering direct instruction, student engagement will increase greatly if you limit lectures and instead have them touching and doing more often. Always challenge yourself by asking, “How could I teach this concept in a discovery-based manner?”

Use Manipulatives

Using hands-on materials not only helps children to better understand what they are learning, it also gives them something to do physically. This helps them maintain attention during lessons and learning experiences. Learning more about hands on learning and the importance of using elementary math manipulatives.

4. Small Group Instruction

Close Proximity to the Teacher

I’ve never seen a child look disinterested when working in a small group situation. Being within close range of the teacher makes each lesson feel personal and results in greater participation. This is one of the best strategies for increasing student engagement!

Individual Attention

Small group learning situations allow for personal attention. You are able to interact with your students on a more personal level. The activities tend to be more customized and designed for the individual students.

Differentiate Instruction

Small group instruction centers around differentiated instruction. When instruction is differentiated to meet individual needs, students tend to be more engaged in learning. Learn more about differentiation in math!

5. Movement

Gallery Walks

A gallery walk is an instructional method that gets kids moving and discussing topics at the same time. Present several questions and stage them in different areas of the classroom. Place the questions on chart paper tacked to the wall, dry erase boards around the room, paper at different tables, or by using technology such as computers or tablets. Groups of students move through the classroom, much like you would a gallery or museum. They look at and discuss the thoughts and ideas that the previous group or groups left. Then they add their own thoughts.

A Workshop Model

I personally have found that using a workshop model that combines independent student assignments, hands-on learning opportunities or games, small-group teacher instruction, and reinforcement of concepts through reading or technology, is the key to consistent student engagement. It works well for several reasons. All of the activities are delivered in shorter segments of time. Students have opportunities to move regularly. Instruction and activities are differentiated to align with individual ability levels. The workshop model balances independent work, discussion-based/group activities, and teacher-directed activities, which makes it structured and predictable, yet also varied to keep interest levels high. Learn how I use math workshop in my classroom in this guided math workshop guide!

6. Games

Teacher-Created Games

Using games in the classroom is a time-proven way to turn tedious tasks like learning math facts or reviewing for assessments into something exciting. The added element of competition, mixed with the excitement of thinking they are playing instead of learning, is motivating to students. This is such a great strategy for increasing student engagement!

Student-Created Games

Let your students design their own games to showcase their knowledge and skills. Provide guidelines about the content and encourage them to display their understanding of a concept in a creative way. This is a strategy I have used with great success for years and it continues to be one of the best tools for not only engaging students, but also assessing them in a much more creative way than a paper and pencil test. Have the game creators share their products with the class and allow time for them to play together. This is such a fun way to increase engagement in your classroom! Check out this student-created game resource!

7. Student Choices

Presenting your students with options within the classroom holds so much power. When they have an active say in what they are learning, and how they are learning, student engagement deepens. This is one of my favorite strategies for increasing student engagement. Here are just a few simple ways to add more student choice into each day.

• Let them pick their own books instead of assigning them.
• Use flexible seating options.
• Allow them to pick their own partner (when appropriate).
• Instead of assigning the same project to the class, present them with a menu of project choices.
• If there are ten math problems on a page, tell them to pick the 8 they want to answer.

8. All Participation Responses

Don’t Ask Only One Student

When you pose a question to the class, chances are the same five kids will always raise their hands to answer. If you use methods (such as drawing names written on craft sticks) to call on students equally, you run the risk of getting a very lengthy, drawn-out answer or you may need to spend more time than you planned on to coach the answer out of a child. Instead, ask questions and have the students all respond by discussing it with their “talking partner.”

Use Dry Erase Boards

Ask students to record their answers on a board and hold it up to show you. This works best for math problems or responses that you pose as multiple choice. Students love writing on dry eraser boards!

Ask for Hand Signal Responses

Say things like, “Give me a thumbs up if you agree or a thumbs down if you disagree.” This keeps kids on their toes because everyone is expected to participate. You could also say, “Hold up one finger if you think the answer is true or two fingers if it is false.” I’ve also had students use sign language for multiple choice questions (they love learning sign language!). This is one of my favorite strategies for increasing student engagement! Learn more about using classroom hand signals!

9. Reward Teamwork

A proactive behavior management strategy that has always worked well for me is to reward the class for teamwork and collaboration. I personally like to avoid group behavior plans that have consequences. I find it results in students showing resentment towards classmates if a consequence is issued. The benefit of teamwork rewards is that students encourage and remind each other to refocus and meet the classroom expectations. Below are two of my tried and true strategies.

Teamwork Bingo

Kids love teamwork bingo! As a reward for working together, such as getting a compliment from another staff member or all participating in a lesson, a number is drawn. That number is colored in on a 10 x 10 grid. When the students get a number of squares in a row they earn a predetermined “prize.” This is a great motivator!

Paper Chain Challenge

The paper chain challenge works the same way as Teamwork Bingo, but instead of earning a number on a grid, they earn a link to a chain (paper strips stapled together). When the chain touches the floor they earn the prize. Students love this!

10. Strive for an Organized and Well-Managed Classroom

Increased Time on Task

So much time is wasted looking for misplaced plans, books, and lesson materials. Any bit of down time can take a child off task. Having what you need at your fingertips eliminates unnecessary opportunities for lost focus and interest.

Makes the Day More Peaceful

Disorganization causes chaos. Not having what you need at your fingertips causes an unsettled feeling. Having to remind kids where to find or put things is exhausting. Not knowing where something is or having a messy space when a parent, administrator, or colleague is present is stressful. Being organized puts you and the students at peace which makes for a more enjoyable and productive day. This in turn results in higher student engagement.

Enables the Teacher to be Present

When the classroom is organized and you know where everything is, you are able to constantly be “in the moment” instead of planning out your next step or thinking about where to find something. It’s a total game changer! Learn more about classroom organization!

In closing, I hope you found this list of strategies for increasing student engagement helpful! They worked really well in my classroom. After implementing them, my students were more engaged than ever before. My classroom ran smoother and my students’ standardized test scores skyrocketed. I hope you find the same success!

If you found this post helpful, then you may also be interested in this one all about increasing increasing student engagement in math.

The post 10 Strategies for Increasing Student Engagement in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

3 Tips for Creating a Library Book Organization System

Below are 3 tips for creating a library book organization system in your classroom.

1. Designate a Library Return Bin

The first tip for creating a library book organization system is to purchase, create, or designate a library return bin. This will be where the students place their books that are ready to be returned or renewed from the library. I made a sign which I printed in color, double-mounted, and laminated. I then used my corner rounder to give it a finished look. Next, I punched 2 holes on each side, threaded ribbon through them and tied it to a milk crate. 

2. Create Library Book Renewal Sticks

The second tip for creating a library book organization system is to create library book renewal sticks. In place of the sticky note, I made “renewal bookmarks.” The students can write their number with a dry erase marker directly onto a bookmark and put it into the book to signal it needs to be renewed. I printed the renewal sticks onto card stock and laminated them.  Next, I used a Pringles can to store them. I love repurposing containers to create cheap, yet cute items for the classroom. Then, I selected a piece of construction paper that matches my classroom color scheme to cover the can.

A simple trick I discovered to make this process easier is to wrap the paper around the can and secure it with elastics and/or binder clips. I leave it like this overnight and the paper adheres much better as it holds the shape of the can. A second trick I used was to solve the problem of the renewal bookmark being a bit shorter than the can. Simply stuffing the bottom of the can with some construction paper provided the perfect lift. Now the bookmarks stick up over the edge of the can and are easily seen.

3. Use Ziploc Bags as Library Bags

The last tip for creating your own library book organization system is to use Ziploc bags. They are a cost effective tool to use as student library bags. They protect library books in students’ backpacks. You won’t have to worry if a student’s water bottle spills in their backpack or if they have a bunch of crunched up crayons at the bottom of their bag. You may need to replace them during the school year, but you could ask families for donations.

In closing, we hope these tips are helpful as you create your own library book organization system for your classroom. If you enjoyed this post, then you may also be interested in my classroom organization course and these other posts:

• Classroom Library Organization Ideas for Elementary Teachers
• Back to School Read Alouds for Elementary Teachers
• How to Set Up Your Classroom

The post Library Book Organization System for Elementary Teachers in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.