Hot Tip Tuesday- 12th Edition

Hot Tip Tuesday

Each week I bring to you helpful tips to become a more effective educator on the Always A Lesson fan page on Facebook. (Give it a quick like by clicking here!) I decided to start grouping my social media posts into a blog post in case you didn’t catch it in your feed. (Want more? Simply type in ‘Hot Tip Tuesday’ in the search bar on my blog to easily find past editions.)

Time to get caught up:

1. Getting to know your kiddos can happen all day, every day, and throughout the day. Don’t feel you have to plan a special activity. Just talk to them during downtime, listen to what they talk about and join in when they’re having fun!
2.  If student energy is high with the upcoming holiday…1) break up your lesson into smaller chunks 2) build in more collaboration and movement.
3. Create a small group binder to house important planning notes and documentation (ie. student roster, data sheets, student groups, skill schedules).
4. Catchy tunes are easy to remember. Use music to teach your most important concepts.
5. Create “File” and “Grade” sections on your desk and empty them daily. This takes time in the moment, but saves a tremendous amount of time in the long run.
6. The cold weather doesn’t have to keep you from getting out and about. Learn in new spaces around the school building (hallways, stairwells, or library).
7. It’s important to greet students at the door by name every morning so that they feel acknowledged and important, but also so you can set the tone for the learning that day. *Add a Twist* = appoint a student to be the greeter daily!
8. Organization is key to efficiency and peace of mind. Create individual spaces on a table or desk for lesson plans, copies, materials, etc. Use the same space daily, just swap out old materials for new!
9. You have time for self-care while at work. 1) Pack easy, healthy snacks. 2) Include light exercise while you complete simple classroom tasks. 3) Bring your ipod to tune out noise during student breaks and hone in on you!
10. How you present an assignment makes all the difference in students’ desire and motivation to complete it and do it well. Be excited, encouraging and hopeful!

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What tip can you add to our list so educators can continue to grow in effectiveness?

About the author, Gretchen

I am a teacher trainer and coach. Working elbow to elbow with teachers and teacher leaders to ensure instructional proficiency and student achievement soar lights me up. We have a real need in our nation for strong educators to remain in the field. My blog, book, podcast, courses and instructional materials are geared towards empowering teachers (and those that lead them) to receive the support needed to grow and thrive today, tomorrow and always.

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