Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Giving THANKS for Teacher Time-Savers!

I’m teaching half-time this year and still feel like I never have enough time to do everything I’d like to do! I’ve figured out a few ways to save time as a teacher and they really help me fit it all in. Here are some time-saving tips that you might be able to bring to your classroom!

1) Create your own forms for anything you create on a regular basis.

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad Lesson Plan Template

My lesson plan format saves me SO much time every single week. (Pick up free planning template and lesson plan tips here.)

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad Data Form for Teachers  Luckeyfrog's Lilypad Data Forms for Teachers

Here are my data forms from last year and this year- so worth the time investment!

2) Don’t give yourself too many things to change each day or week! Remember- keep it simple!

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad Must Do Board     Luckeyfrog's Lilypad Center Rotation Wheel

This Must Do board was so easy to change out each week for Daily 5 Accountability, and back when I did more traditional “centers,” having a rotating wheel was SO much easier than moving a ton of cards! (I even kept centers as simple as I could, like the Word Detective center—free in my store if you don’t have it yet!)

3) Do things ahead of time!

                            Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- student birthdays

Okay, maybe this isn’t exactly saving time, but I like to set myself up for success later. Rather than worrying about morning work copies each week, do them ahead for a month or two. Rather than having to prepare birthday certificates and things one at a time, fill out all of the certificates in order for the year at the beginning, and then stick everything together in one spot so it’s easy to grab that morning!

4) Use Post-It notes to move seating charts.

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Post-It Seating Charts

It’s so much easier than moving a million desks- and bonus, if you make your seating chart in a file folder and stick it in your sub folder, it’s one less thing to worry about for a sub!

5) Use your storage to minimize transition time!

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Supply Storage

This year, as a reading specialist, the two of us who share our room put together this little supply station. It’s right next to our table, so it’s easy to grab the basket we need and put it where students can easily access supplies.

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Supply Storage     Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Supply Storage

Last year, in the classroom, I concentrated a lot on making manipulatives easy to hand out quickly. (Shower caddy for our math journals and reading response notebooks, and Target Dollar Spot boxes for place value blocks- I can let one student from each group get their supplies and it’s quick and easy!)

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Supply Storage     Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Supply Storage

Cups, bowls, recycled materials, and of course Target finds worked really well for easy, cheap, stackable storage. The ones below were perfect for when my students played games—everything they needed in one easy grab!

                                            Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Supply Storage

6) Put frequently dialed, important numbers right on the phone so you never have to look them up!

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad- Teacher Time-Savers

Also PERFECT for subs- just in case someone gets sick or they have a question.

What are your time-saving teacher tips?

Link up your time-savers with Blog Hoppin’!

2 comments:

  1. I make labels for everything. Then it's just peel and stick. Assessment labels, student names, RtI labels, special ed accommodation labels, ESL accommodation labels, etc.

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