3 Classroom Hacks

Manging all of the responsibilities of a teacher can be overwhelming and time-consuming. So as teachers we are always looking for ways to save time and make our classrooms flow smoother.  Here are three of my favorite classroom hacks. 

1. 
   No Name Parking - Since the dawn of time, students have forgotten to put their names on papers to the frustration of teachers across the globe. I created a poster in my room that I call "No Name Parking". When I get an assignment without a name on it I write the class period (if I know it) and tape it to the poster.  Students are responsible for checking the board to see if they recognize their work. When the poster begins to get full or when I pass out progress reports, I remind students to check the board. At the end of the grading period, I will throw away the papers on the board. I recommend not putting grades on these papers before you hang them up. I had some sneaky 8th graders try to claim papers that were clearly not theirs because they assignment had a good grade on it. 

2. Absent Work Folders - On one of my bulletin boards I put folders that are labeled with the class name or grade level.  When students are absent, I fill in a half-page that tells them what they need to make up and staple any handouts to that page.  I then put that in their class folder. Students should then pick up their copies when they come back. Even if students forget to pick up their missing work, this system helps me to remember to make sure the student retrieve their work because I have a visual cue. 

3. Spread Sheet Gradebook - I believe it is still important to keep a hard copy of your grades. Sometimes mistakes can be made in data entry, and having a written copy allows you to check if a question arises.  Also, I taught in a district that brought down by a ransomware attack. We lost the whole first quarter of grades right before the end of the grading period. Teachers who didn't keep a written record were scrambling trying to figure out what to do. That being said I do not like traditional grade books.  So, I create my own using a simple spreadsheet.  I put in my student's names and create a basic chart and print one out every time I need a new page, and I don't have to buy a grade book. I also like doing it this way because when I get a new student it is easy to add them and keep my students in alphabetical order. This spreadsheet can also be used to keep track of attendance. I worked with one teacher who had her own specifically for attendance. I just like to mark the assignment the student missed so I know not to count it late. 

What time-saving tips do you have to share? Please leave them in the comments.