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emma - Welcome everyone to tonight's student teacher chat.
emma - Tonight's meeting is moderated by Emma McDonald and Dyan Hershman. Our site is called Beginning Teachers' Tool Box and can be found at http://www.inspiringteachers.com
emma - My teaching partner and I are with Inspiring Teachers. We do a lot of mentoring for new teachers.
emma - Tonight's meeting is about Organization.
Dyan - Hello everyone! I am Emma's partner, Dyan.
suzieQ - tonight's meeting is about organization? What kind of organization specifically?
Dyan - SuzieQ- Classroom organization - how to keep organized as a teacher, and keep your students organized for a smooth running classroom
Rose - What would be the basics for a first time teacher?
Dyan - The more organized and efficient the teacher is, the less discipline problems he/she will have and the students will function better in the classroom. Students can sense when their teacher is off balance or unprepared- and they act up!
emma - Well, as a new teacher, you want to make sure that you get a grip on the massive amount of paperwork that comes into your classroom.
dino - I make sure all my paperwork is done before i go home
emma - One suggestion that we have, and use, is to read all memos immediately, mark the events or info. on your calendar and then throw the memo away. Make sure to get ALL of the important information off of the memo before you trash it!
Dyan - A great way to keep organized is to have a desktop calander - and write ALL important dates, events and district requirments on it - then you can throw those memos away and they don't pile up on you!
emma - Dino - what kind of paperwork do you deal with on a daily basis?
dino - just grading and reading their work
Rose - I sub so I see a lot of classrooms--most of them look like organized chaos.
emma - You are so right Rose. It is hard to keep up with the various aspects of the classroom without it looking like chaos.
Rose - How much of your time do lesson plans take? In mos Texas areas they have to be turned in.
Dyan - Another great way to keep organized is by creating a stand up file system on your desk, with DAY OF THE WEEK FOLDERS in it. One folder for each day of the week in a different colored manila folder. You put your lessons plans, materials, copies, etc... in this folder. That way, it is easy for subs if they come in unexpectedly, you also include your sub folder in the day of the week folder every night before you leave. That way, you are all prepared for the new day!
emma - I keep a separate file for work to be graded and work to be handed back. On my desk I have a standing file organizer and I place these files in separate bins to keep track of them.
dino - some classrooms are equipped with so much stuff, books, manipulatives and euipment, the room IS organized chaos
Rose - I would like my classroom to look a little neater-I'm a natural organizer--is that possible
emma - Rose - lesson plans can take a while to develop if you want to have good ones.
Dyan - Rose, lesson plans should not take more than a couple of hours each week! But make them detailed and organized, so subs can read and understand them. We have a whole chapter on effective lesson planning in our book - SURVIVAL KIT FOR NEW TEACHERS! Our suggestions are REALISTIC to the everyday classroom!
emma - Rose - yes it is possible. Dyan and I both were in the habit of making sure that the room was neat & the desk clean, & ready for the next day.
dino - Dyan- I keep day of the week folders and it works great!
Dyan - Dino - EXCELLENT!
Rose - I've heard some teachers refer to using other teacher's lesson plans as "cheating" but I think if you find something that works you should use it.
emma - I always get my board ready, set out the materials, and place my lesson plans in my day of the week folder before I leave for the day.
dino - Filling the folders every night after school with every thing that I am going to use the next day makes my day seem more organized!
Dyan - Rose - use all of the help you can get! We included lesson plans that we use in our book! Teaching should be about SHARING for the benefit of the students!
emma - Rose- All teachers take good ideas and use them. We are in the business of educating children and we want to do it the best possible way. Take the ideas from other teacher's lesson plans and adapt them to meet the needs of your students!
suzieQ - did the two of you team teach?
Dyan - Dino - that is so great what you are doing! Don't you find your day goes so much smoother, because you took that little extra time to get organized for the new day, the night before!
emma - Dino - That is so awesome! I feel the same way. You feel like you're ready for the next day to begin instead of starting in confusion.
Rose - I saw a K teacher use a color coding system that enable her students to keep the room organized
emma - How many of you have an organized system for filing your ideas and units?
dino - yes! I got the idea from my cooperating who I am student teaching under right now.
Dyan - Yes - teachers can use anything they feel comfortable with to stay organized and keep their kids organized - we must adapt ideas to fit our own needs
dino - I have started a file and it has began to grow!
Rose - I organize my info and lesson plans I find on the internet for college assignments and future classroom use
emma - Rose - I grouped my students with tables. Each table had a color & a box of supplies. The first thing they did each day when entering the classroom was to find their supply box. Color codes work great for all ages!
dino - I get on the internet a lot to find ideas on subjects to teach or theme units when I am in a bind.
emma - Dino- how do you organize them?
emma - The internet is an excellent source for ideas & plans.
dino - I have a file for bullentin boards, a folder for every month, every subject etc.
suzieQ - my lesson plans are filed according to subject, math, reading, etc, but i also have them grouped into themes like animals, community helpers, etc
emma - Has anyone here thought of using 3-ring binders?
Dyan - As a student teacher, it is important to keep the new ideas that you learn about organized, so you don't forget them when you are a frazzled new teacher!
emma - SuzieQ- nice system.
Brutus - Organizing all my files. I teach K-3 sp. needs and have LOTS of stuff.
Rose - Emma, tons and tons of three ring-binders- that and a filing cabinet, and those see through boxes for all of the "stuff" you collect
emma - Are the ideas & theme units in manila folders? Make sure you get those organized in your filing cabinet as soon as you get your classroom! That will be your saving grace!
suzieQ - Dyan, I totally agree with you. There are so many things that I wish I would have organized better from the beginning. It is so hard to go back and reorganize.
dino - I have 3-ring binders I used in college to create future files.
emma - Brutus - I would strongly suggest that you sift through all of your stuff right now & categorize it.
Dyan - Don't forget to jot down discipline strategies for your use when you are a new teachers! I would suggest using a folder or three ring binder labeled discipline or classroom management to keep track of the great ideas you see during your student teaching!
emma - Then, you need to set aside a 3-ring binder for each "category" - ex: Discipline, Spec. Ed Strategies, Theme units, etc.
Rose - I've gotten a lot of great ideas for subbing. If anyone is still in college-if you have days off during the week think about subbing-it's great experience
emma - Use tabs inside the binder to further organize the category.
emma - Brutus - Have you got your student files organized? That is the most important for you. You need to be able to have those IEP's & other important information where you can easily access it.
emma - I would organize by grade level & then by class & then alphabetically.
suzieQ - keeping everything organized can be very intimidating
emma - Roe - do you find that subbing makes you want to have your own classroom?
emma - SuzieQ - take it one step at a time.
Rose - What do you think of those student mailboxes inside a classroom--where teachers put papers until their ready to be taken home. Does that work better than just folders?
Dyan - Suz - you are so right! It is a monumentous task - but sooo worth it!
dino - but being organized helps you be a successful teacher also!
Brutus - Yes. Each student has their own folder. I include any important info., parent contacts, their IEP ect.
emma - Oh YES!!!! I use student mailboxes and they work wonderfully! I've used them with 5th - 8th grade students.
Rose - Emma--I can't describe how it feels to have that longing-Every time I walk into a classroom I start thinking how I would handle my own class
Brutus - I guess I just was wondering how specific everyone gets with their filing system.
dino - Yes!!!! The mailboxes work great! My class I am student teaching in now has them and when I am finished grading I put them in there. They know when it is time to get ready to go home to always check their mailboxes for graded papers, important letters to parents, EVERYTHING!!!
emma - For the older students, you could use hanging file folders instead of tubs. Each student has their own "mailbox". I use them to pass back papers (saves class time) and for students to store classwork, books, etc.
Dyan - We used mailboxes in our classrooms! They are very handy! Each child had their own hanging folder inside of a crate! An awesome way to keep the students organized - they put their journals and stuff we didn't want them to lose in there!
emma - Rose - that is fantastic. Just keep role playing things in your mind. You will be so much better prepared.
paula - how old are the student you use mailboxes with?
emma - Dino- One thing that Dyan and I do is that we have set procedures for students to follow when entering & leaving the classroom. The first thing they do is to check their box.
dino - emma-good idea!
emma - Paula - I've used them with high school students before! You have a lot more mailboxes & need counter or floor space to keep them, but they work great!
Rose - emma-right now, It can scare me because I think about all the things I do wrong for lack of experience. I just hope those teachers aren't thinking "don't send her back to my classroom"
Dyan - Brutus - I was very specific with my filing system - that makes it easier to find things in a pinch! Things like parent communication forms, discipline forms and strategies, lesson plan ideas filed by subject or by thematic unit, etc....
paula - I am looking at young children 3rd grade and younger.
dino - being very specific in your filing makes it much easier and quicker to find something, if you can remember what file you put it under! : )
emma - Rose - if you do you best & try to keep the classroom running smoothly, you shouldn't have any problems. It is always hard having a sub - on everyone. However, most teachers are only upset by subs who cuss, mistreat the kids, etc.
emma - Paula - You can use mailboxes with the younger children. You just need to be specific about your directions & have a poster with instructions printed in large letters.
Rose - Cuss? I can't believe some of the things I here. There was a sub in Houston that taped an elementary students mouth shut!
Dyan - paula - I taught in third grade and used mailboxes. Instead of hanging file folders in crates, we had an office file where each child had their own box with thier name on it. It was great - they kept their dear book in t here, as well as journal, and graded assignments, etc..
emma - Make sure to be consistent with having the students check their "mailbox" each morning & afternoon.
suzieQ - Dyan, did you find yourself spending so much time after hours keeping organized?
paula - thanks Emma
emma - Rose - those sorts of things happen all the time!
Rose - What do you use for Mail boxes. I've seen pre made and hand made. where would find things like that?
emma - Suzie - if you can get it organized before school ever starts, you'll find that it doesn't take much effort to keep it up.
emma - Rose - I bought 3 plastic crates from Wal-Mart and two boxes of green hanging files from OfficeMax.
Dyan - Suz- well, I didn't leave at 3:30 everyday, but I was usually home by 5:30 or 6! I spent a few hours grading papers, getting my Day of the week folder ready for the next day (making copies and getting materials ) and also planning for the next week. I really enjoyed the quiet time in my classroom. Also, Emma and I would get together and share ideas! It is great to have a good teaching partner!
emma - Put each child's name on a hanging file & place them alphabetically in the crates. They work as fantastic "mailboxes"and don't take up a ton of room.
paula - I am not sure what to put in a portfolio, any ideas.
Rose - I've seen those but I've also seen these wall units that have slots for each of the students
suzieQ - when i student taught, we were supposed to be in Kindergarten, after the first week of school, they told my teacher w/11 yrs experience that she would have to be moved up to the third grade because they didn't have enough students enroll in the Kindergarten. It was a very interesting experience watching her try to organize on short notice.
emma - The thing about the wall units is that they don't hold a whole lot. If all you want is a place to return student work - they're perfect. However, the hanging files work great when you want students to keep their logs, folders, books, etc. in one place
Dyan - Suz - Wow! I bet that was interesting! You can still a lot of the same things for every grade level, just adapted up or down! I taught third and then was moved to fifth! I was scared to death, but I love it!
Julia - I am trying to work on organization now with all the ideas and projects that I see...any suggestions?
emma - Julie - organize your ideas with 3-ring binders. Categorize your ideas & also use tabs to further organize each "cateory". For example: Lang. Arts, Discipline, Spec. Ed., Theme units, etc.
Dyan - Julia - make notes immediately of the great ideas you see! That way you won't forget. Ask your mentor for extra copies of plans, materials, etc.. Organize your ideas and strategies in folders or binders!
Julia - Dyan--I have lots and lots of folders, trying to organize them more!!
emma - Try to write down the specific instructions, how the teacher handled the class, etc.
suzieQ - a personal computer can be a good way to organize. I have all of my lesson plans on disk from college, i have an ideas file too. At work, I use microsoft outlook and it is better than any paper system i have ever used. I just don' t know how a teacher would incorporate into his/her system.
Dyan - Suz - Yes! Excellent to keep all of your plans on disk! Emma did that and it worked great for her to pull up lessons and units she had done in the past!
emma - Suz- Dyan and I organize all of our lesson plans on the computer. It really saves time. We make a folder for each six weeks, then inside that - one for each week, then the lesson plans & other typed materials. Each week all we have to do is save the old lesson plans as something new, change only the specifics and then you're done!
Ann J - Wow! That covers just about everything. (Except the babies of course. I'm supposed to come up with some writing ideas for third graders. This class is struggling with the use of adjectives and don't have a lot of confidence in their ability roll with ideas.
Julia - As student teachers, how should we be preparing for when we DO have our own classroom? Is there anything that we should be doing NOW to prepare, organize, etc? Especially if we don't know what grade we may teach?
emma - Julia - what you need to be doing is this - get the ideas organized in an easily accessible way. I used 3-ring binders and found that they were the best. Manila folders are hard to get to & put back. However, a big binder clearly labeled is easy to find.
emma - For example: Language ARts: tabbed sections of four blocks, adjectives, poetry, how-to, mystery novel, etc. Youknow that you are looking for lang. arts ideas & this way all of them are right in front of you. You don't have to search through ALL hundred or so manila folders to find what you need.
Julia - Emma--Do you put everything in these binders, including worksheets?
emma - One cute site is called Tales to Tell. http://www.thekids.com/kids/stories/
emma - Julie - Yes! Everything! Place the handouts along with the unit that they belong to, or make a separate tab(s) for handouts.
emma - The more specifc your tabs get, the better off you will be. It takes a bit of time up front, but afterwards it is a breeze to keep up with!
Julia - Emma--I see lots of work ahead...=)
emma - Unfortunately it never ends. Just imagine what your teaching life would be like if you weren't organized from the beginning. Can you imagine having 10 boxes of files & not being able to find that great unit you know you had? It happened to me & it is not a pretty site!
Julia - Well, I need to go...Thank you all for your great ideas.
Ann J - I have almost that many boxes and can't find a thing. Thanks for the tips
emma - Well, gotta go! Good luck everyone and we'll see you next month!
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