As you gear up for another exciting year of learning and fun it’s always a good idea to have a few tricks up your sleeve to help you through the school year. Whether you’ve been teaching for a while or are new to the classroom, having these teacher hacks in your back pocket will help you stay organized, manage your classroom, and integrate technology seamlessly into your classroom.

Organization

Streamline your space and time with these teacher hacks.

Student Numbers

One of the easiest and most effective classroom hacks is to assign each student a unique number. This number will be used for various purposes, such as labeling their textbooks, workbooks, worksheets, and even their lockers or cubbies. It will be included in their homework and utilized for lining up or speaking in class. If students go to a computer lab their number and their number is five, then they will sit at the fifth computer. By incorporating this system, you’ll streamline many classroom tasks, making your life significantly easier as you can use the number for virtually everything.

Weekly Plan

This hack helps you stay prepared for the entire week ahead. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! It’s quite simple. All you need is a plastic five-drawer tower, with each drawer labeled for a day of the week (Monday-Friday). Once you’ve written out your lesson plans and gathered your materials, all you have to do is place them in the drawer that corresponds with the day of the week for the lesson. No more last-minute scrambles to find activities or worksheets on the day of your lesson; everything will be neatly organized and ready to go in its designated drawer.

To-Do Jar

Turn your to-do list into a manageable system by implementing a “To-Do” jar. Write your tasks on a slip of paper and pull one out anytime you have a few extra minutes. This is a great way to tackle those small tasks without feeling overwhelmed. Plus, you’ll find that by doing this regularly you’ll be able to check off tasks quicker and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Color-Code Everything

Implement a color-coding system for everything from files to student groups to help save you time. Assign distinct colors for different subjects or activities—blue folders for math, red for reading, and green for science, etc. This system reduces the time spent searching for materials and helps students quickly locate and organize their work.

Classroom Management

Create a positive learning environment with these teacher hacks.

Morning Meeting

Start your day with a morning meeting to help set the tone for a positive and productive day. Use this time to greet students, discuss the agenda of the day, and address any concerns. You can also use this time to check in on how everyone is feeling. This will help build a sense of community as well as help students feel valued and prepared for the day ahead.

Sit Spots

If you’ve ever had trouble with your elementary students behaving while on the carpet, the “sit spots” classroom hack is just what you need. It’s as simple as placing a sticker on the carpet to organize where each student sits. This hack helps students understand personal space by having them sit on their designated stickers. They can easily see how each sticker is positioned to ensure everyone has enough room without crowding. The stickers can be anything that you like, from assigning each student a specific color or animal to sit on, to even using their student number that’s written on a sticker. It’s easy to do and not to mention, looks adorable.

Flexible Seating

Incorporate flexible seating options into your classroom such as bean bags, standing desks, or floor cushions. Allowing students to choose where they sit and what they sit on cannot only increase their comfort but also their engagement.

Punch Cards

Consider using punch cards to help encourage positive behavior. Each student gets a card, and they earn punches for good behavior, completing assignments, or helping classmates. Once their card is full, students can trade it in for a reward like a homework pass, eat with the teacher pass, or a prize from the prize jar.

Tech Tools

Enhance learning by using these tech tool teacher hacks.

Canva

Canva is a popular, versatile tool that allows you to create visually stunning presentations, posters, and classroom materials. It’s user-friendly and offers a wide range of templates that can save you time.

Podcasts

Podcasts can be a fantastic tool to introduce students to new topics, provide additional resources, or even as a project where students create their own podcasts. It’s a fun and modern way to enhance learning while keeping students engaged.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom has revolutionized how teachers manage assignments and communicate with their students. You can post assignments, give feedback, and keep everything organized in one convenient place. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with other Google tools making it a must-have for teachers.

Kahoot!

Bring some fun into your lessons by using Kahoot! This interactive platform allows you to create quizzes and games that students can participate in using their devices. It’s a great way to review material and keep students engaged in a fun and competitive format.

Bonus Hacks

Turn-In Tub

When I said you’d use student numbers for everything, I wasn’t kidding! These numbers can also help you organize papers that students turn in. Create a “turn-in tub,” which is essentially a basket that holds file folders. Each student writes their number on a file folder and places it in the tub. When it’s time to hand in assignments or notes, students search through the folders to find their number and place their papers into their folders. This hack not only keeps your papers organized but also eliminates the issue of students forgetting to write their names on their work. Genius!

Sub Tub

Make substitute planning a snap by creating a “sub tub”. This involves taking a plastic container and filling it with everything a substitute teacher might need. Include schedules, procedures, class lists, activities, worksheets, lesson plans—anything that would help a teacher replace you for the entire day. You never know when there will be an unexpected emergency or sick day and this sub tub can save the day.

These teacher hacks are designed to make your life easier. Find what works best for you and your students. Cheers to a great year ahead!