With all the sites for educators available a person could spend all day every day online reading and looking at ideas from educators who share their success stories. Here are a few basic, easy-to-implement ideas that caught my eye.
(1) Ask students to pass papers sideways across aisles or to the back of the room. That way they can see them coming.
(2) Use sort bins students have access to for their homework and turned-in assignments. Also use desktop mini-bins for students daily used materials (pencils, glue sticks, scissors) rather than having students keep them in their desks.
(3) Institute a call and respond saying to get students to stop, focus on you and sit quietly. You may use longer chants (One- two: how are you…Three-four: feet on the floor…five- six: pencils fixed…seven eight: papers straight…nine-ten: let’s begin). Or, try brief ones: All set?: you bet.
Make up your own to meet your needs, but having a call -response is better asking students to listen. [Some school use clapping patterns as well. It stops work since students are expected to clap in response. A commonly used pattern is clap, clap, clap-clap-clap.]
(4) Circle the number of a problem or answer that needs a second look. When the student checks the item, ask her to add a second circle so the number is double-circled. With the problem remedied, add a “K” after the circle which turns the circle(s) into “OK”.
(5) Keep backpacks off the floor. The shoulder straps create a tripping issue. If you have hooks or cubbies available use them. If you do not, have a designated place for backpacks that keeps them out of the way. Remember, putting on/taking off backpacks requires additional space to avoid hitting another student or bumping into other students. Think safety!