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Tuesday Teacher Tips: Phone Call Interruptions

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Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Tuesday Teacher Tips: Phone Call Interruptions
Tuesday Teacher Tips: Phone Call Interruptions
Every Tuesday Michelle, from Teach 123, and I had a new installment of my favorite post, Tuesday Teacher Tips!
Click here to see the previous weeks.

This week's tip is about not losing your valuable teaching time for every single phone call!
 
Yes, I'm that old, not only did our family have the exact same phone in the picture, I use to teach in classrooms without phones! 
I KNOW, RIGHT? CRAZY!
As much as  I want to make you laugh about it, I am definitely not saying I want to go back to those days without a phone in the classroom. But, with the luxury of a phone comes a few problems....like the phone ringing off the hook, especially when I use to be the team leader. Best trick I ever learned was to let my students answer the phone, it helps them learn some phone manners and it helps to keep your teaching momentum rolling! 

 I learned that many times, the person on the other end of the call didn't really need to talk to me, but simply wanted to give me a message. So they could tell the student something like.... "This is Mrs. Baker, tell Mrs. Smith to swing by my room after school." Or, if it was important, the student could had me the phone. My students would answer the phone, "Hello, Mrs. Smith's Classroom, this is Suzie, how can I help you?" I even made a simple poster for you to print and put up in your classroom.
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Tuesday Teacher Tips: Phone Call Interruptions
BUT, this example doesn't help unless your name is MRS. SMITH! The FREEBIE I created for you is an editable PowerPoint.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kl48pisypbz15em/Fern-Smiths-Classroom-Ideas-Help-For-Students-Answering-The-Phone.pptx
  Click here or on the poster to download this freebie!
{At Dropbox, select DIRECT DOWNLOAD. If you just select download, Dropbox will convert it to a PDF and it will not be editable.}

The font is by Kimberly Geswein.  It is free for personal use. 
Click here or below to download the font.
Looking for more tips? 
Click on the picture below to go to my Terrific Teacher Tips Pinterest Board! This is where I've been pinning all of our Tuesday Teacher Tips!
I would ♥love it if you would follow it too!
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Terrific Teacher Tips
  Michelle has some great tips about interruptions and what has worked for her in the classroom that she would like to share with you, too.
Be sure to head over to her blog!
Teach123's Tuesday Teacher Tip
In addition to our tips each week, we are hoping that you will share some of your ideas in the comments below!

Do you have a great classroom "stop the interruptions" tip to share?


 
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Tuesday Teacher Tips: Classroom Helpers

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Sure, you see all sorts of great Classroom Helper Tips and Resources on Pinterest and TeachersPayTeacher. Twenty jobs all over a bulletin board, with jobs like Line Leader all the way to Shoe Lace Manager. Sure, it looks wonderful, but when you see everyone in action, it usually turns a teacher's wonderful day into pure chaos. Try my simple plan that has proven successful for over twenty years. By Fern Smith from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
 Tuesday Teacher Tips: Classroom Helpers

Previously, every Tuesday Michelle, from Teach 123, and I had a new installment of my favorite post, Tuesday Teacher Tips!

 This week's tip is about classroom helpers. 
Sure, you see all sorts of great things on Pinterest and TPT. Twenty jobs all over a bulletin board, with jobs like Line Leader all the way to Shoe Lace Manager. Sure, it looks wonderful, but when you see everyone in action, it usually turns a teacher's wonderful day into pure chaos.
Sure, you see all sorts of great Classroom Helper Tips and Resources on Pinterest and TeachersPayTeacher. Twenty jobs all over a bulletin board, with jobs like Line Leader all the way to Shoe Lace Manager. Sure, it looks wonderful, but when you see everyone in action, it usually turns a teacher's wonderful day into pure chaos. Try my simple plan that has proven successful for over twenty years. By Fern Smith from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
I've had a simple plan for over twenty years. If you are new to following my blog, I've spent most of my career in Title I schools. Absenteeism due to a variety of reasons is usually our biggest problem. If you are constantly absent, you just don't receive a full, quality education.

 The system I use for helpers really helps cut down on absenteeism. I have two helpers each day. I go down an alphabetical list, two at a time. 
Sure, you see all sorts of great Classroom Helper Tips and Resources on Pinterest and TeachersPayTeacher. Twenty jobs all over a bulletin board, with jobs like Line Leader all the way to Shoe Lace Manager. Sure, it looks wonderful, but when you see everyone in action, it usually turns a teacher's wonderful day into pure chaos. Try my simple plan that has proven successful for over twenty years. By Fern Smith from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
At the end of the day, when everyone is in line I move the pins down to the next two students and I turn to them and say, "Anna and Calvin, you have to be here tomorrow, you're my helpers." And then I give that day's helpers a piece of candy....yep, ONE ENTIRE PIECE OF CANDY...no one else. They've been excited to help all day and the candy is just a little extra thank you. When I was in a "no food reward" school in Texas, it was a sticker, an eraser or a pencil. Use what you like, just make it something that only your helpers get. 

 With two helpers a day, everyone usually gets a turn every two weeks. Last year's class loved to count down the list at the end of the day and figure out what day would be their turn.

 For this to help with absenteeism, you have to be a little bit firm, if they miss their turn, they have to wait until it cycles back to their name. Now, if the poor kid broke his arm, I might say to the class, "Since Calvin was a the hospital yesterday, we're going to go back up to his name." Then everyone agrees and it helps to foster a sense of kindness too.

This system also keeps your instructional time flowing smoothly.
  • Someone needs to go to the clinic, send the two helpers.
  • The office needs some forms picked up, no need to have hands waving in the air, pick me, pick me...just sent the two helpers.
  • Line leader is the first name, door holder is the second name.
  • Who gets to get their lunch first? The helpers!
  • Who gets to go to recess first? The helpers!
  • You need some books returned to the teacher across the hall? Send the two helpers!
This helps you, the teacher, not have to stop a lot to make decisions, and your instruction time can just continue to flow!  
Pin For Later
Sure, you see all sorts of great Classroom Helper Tips and Resources on Pinterest and TeachersPayTeacher. Twenty jobs all over a bulletin board, with jobs like Line Leader all the way to Shoe Lace Manager. Sure, it looks wonderful, but when you see everyone in action, it usually turns a teacher's wonderful day into pure chaos. Try my simple plan that has proven successful for over twenty years. By Fern Smith from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
 Looking for more tips? 
Click on the picture below to go to my  
Back to School Time Pinterest Board. 
I would ♥love it if you would like to follow it too!
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Back to School Time Pinterest Board
 Michelle has some great tips about classroom helpers and what has worked for her in the classroom that she would like to share with you, too.
Be sure to head over to her blog!
Teach123's Tuesday Teacher Tip
In addition to our tips each week, we are hoping that you will share some of your ideas in the comments below!
 Tuesday Teacher Tips: Pencil Management at Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas
Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog to get a $10 shopping trip. We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post. The winner for today, July 22nd will be announced on the July 29th post. 
Tuesday Teacher Tips: Classroom Helpers
Do you have a great classroom helper tip to share?
Please be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you're the winner of the $10 shopping trip.
 
More Tuesday Teacher Tips For You!

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Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts

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Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts at TeacherspayTeachers.

 If you've followed me for some time, you know I live in Florida. Fall in Florida means those few days where the humidity doesn't drain the life out of you! If and when you study Fall and the seasons with your students, I have a fun way to incorporate a little math into your seat work, morning work, homework or center time.

 Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts has ten pages and ten answer keys. Perfect for school or even your emergency Sub Tub!
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts at TeacherspayTeachers.
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts at TeacherspayTeachers.

Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts at TeacherspayTeachers.
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts at TeacherspayTeachers.

Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Color By Numbers Fall Math Addition and Subtraction Facts at TeacherspayTeachers.
 Have a wonderful night friends!
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas

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You Will Love These Alphabet Matching Centers

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Alphabet Matching Centers With a Cute Fairy Tale or Classic Story Theme - Perfect Task Cards for a variety of games, concentration, match game, go fish, gin rummy, scoot, read the room, small group, even perfect for assessments from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.

Looking to add some excitement to your center time? These highly engaging alphabet matching center games are quick and easy to prep and can be used for a variety of games, concentration, match game, go fish, gin rummy, scoot, read the room, small group, even perfect for assessments. You can even differentiate your centers for each reading group.


Three ways to play, capital letter matching, little letter matching and matching capital letters to little letters.

Alphabet Matching Centers With a Cute Fairy Tale or Classic Story Theme - Perfect Task Cards for a variety of games, concentration, match game, go fish, gin rummy, scoot, read the room, small group, even perfect for assessments from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
Alphabet Matching Centers With a Cute Fairy Tale or Classic Story Theme - Perfect Task Cards for a variety of games, concentration, match game, go fish, gin rummy, scoot, read the room, small group, even perfect for assessments from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
Alphabet Matching Centers With a Cute Fairy Tale or Classic Story Theme - Perfect Task Cards for a variety of games, concentration, match game, go fish, gin rummy, scoot, read the room, small group, even perfect for assessments from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas.
Do you have a theme you love? Leave me a comment and I can add that to my TO DO LIST to create for you!
Alphabet Matching Centers With a Jack and Jill Theme - Perfect Task Cards for a variety of games, concentration, match game, go fish, gin rummy, scoot, read the room, small group, even perfect for assessments from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas at TeacherspayTeachers.


Terrific for an Emergency Sub Tub or a Hands-On Homework!
Click here for ALL my Center Games!

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Tuesday Teacher Tips: A Back to School Game

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Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Tuesday Teacher Tips: Back to School
 Tuesday Teacher Tips: Back to School with a
Getting to Know You Game! 
Every Tuesday Michelle, from Teach 123, and I will have a new installment of my favorite post, Tuesday Teacher Tips!
This week's tip is for one of my favorite games ever because it requires absolutely no advance prep. It is perfect for the first day of school, it includes everyone and they have a chance to stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down...well you get the picture! If you ever have to watch the cafeteria for a few minutes before dismissal, or the class in the library that you don't know...even a bunch of Girl Scouts you have never meet in your life, you can pull this game out of your magic box of Teacher Tricks and everyone will enjoy it!
Click here for a FREE printable direction sheet!
Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas Tuesday Teacher Tips: Back to School Have You Ever Game
Click here to see all my Indoor Recess Activities. You can print them and place them into a binder for brain breaks, substitute help, Boy Scout Meetings...the possibilities are endless!

Looking for more tips?
https://www.pinterest.com/fernsmith/back-to-school/
 Click on the picture above to go to my Back to School Pinterest Board. I would ♥love it if you would follow it too!

More resources for Back to School!
{Click here if you are reading by Bloglovin' or e-mail and can't see all the widgets!}
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