I'm a middle school counselor. Whenever I go in the classroom, I usually assign/request tasks to the more distracted kids. For instance, if I have a PowerPoint, I usually take the most disruptive kid and have them press the next on the slide. I usually say "I need you to listen so you don't get fired from this job, I'll get someone else". 😂, 9 times out of 10 it works
During independent work, I let students use headphones. Called it "Coffee Shop Mode" to encourage calm and also because I needed it to be chill for my own sanity (I had undiagnosed ADHD at the time, so yeah).
For upper elementary kids and handling behavior issues when they first came back from online last year, I implemented a point based game that allowed the kids to work toward a goal while targeting unwanted behaviors. I also enjoy putting a fireplace on the board during independent work times to bring about a coziness to my classroom.
I've started implementing a timer during our 'Do Now' time at the beginning of class and it has definitely helped us to move into class mode. I"m an elective teacher so sometimes if I give a task the kids will get sucked into it and not realize they need to move on to the actual assignment. I've also started using a traffic light to help control volume level, it doesn't always work with specific groups but I've noticed my classes that rotate every nine weeks, tend to get into the flow of it right away.
I teach preschool with special needs. I always put peaceful calming songs with display from RU-vid. It helps the students some look and see the TV. We have a visual schedule, and have circle time related to theme songs, and a few toys that we rotate each week. I try to make the toys related to the theme and season as well as the sensory and arts and craft.
Reynolds! My biggest regret is that you don't speak French... You are such a big inspiration! I would invite you to my events, interviews, etc., that's for sure! Thank you for your generosity, it's so wow to have known you here! 🤩
As someone who teaches high school kids, I always have smell goods in my class and at the end of the day I open a window. I love my students but not the smell.
Thanks VERY MUCH for this video. This year, I fist-bumped each of my students with a smile daily. I also set up ambient 'fairy lights' along the top perimeter of our classroom. Furthermore, I had unbridaled energy and a huge level of excitement for teaching the students and using lots of personal anecdotes and stories to parallel events in our literature. Our mantra in class is "The Scholar is Sacred".
Good to see ya! I appreciate your energy and passion! I thought my strangeness in the classroom was just because I went to art school. I am glad to know I am normal.
We do have a podcast! It’s called Teach Your Class Off Radio you can find it anywhere podcasts are! Right now our weekly live, Sunday night teacher talk is on there. Our goal is build it out more this year!
@@CJReynolds My entire semester has been made! I have about a 40 minute drive each way! Glad that I will be able to get my mornings off to a great start!
I teach English lesson in a vocational high school, here in my country (Indonesia). To be honest, it was hard at first. However, I watched some of your tips and tricks video. I do some of your tips and tricks in my class as well, it was totally fun! 😃
I spent the last year teaching high school which I loved. Today is my first day teaching middle school and this video definitely calmed my anxious heart. Thank you so much
This is so helpful! Thank you! I teach middle school and am so thankful to have this reminder as I am preparing for the start of school. My goal is to have better rhythms in my class this year. The timer idea is perfect.
While I have always enjoyed your videos and you have wonderful advice, I would make sure that I didn’t have students that are sensitive to smells. I am referring to your idea of the Glade plug-in. I had a student in the past that could not tolerate perfume, lotion, or candles. They would automatically get a headache and the smell would make the atmosphere incredibly distracting to them. But your idea of “short chunks” is a wonderful idea to get kids moving!! Thank you, peace.
You have such a beautiful classroom! I’m curious about the “you belong everywhere” drawn and/or painted on the wall. I see this cropping up more and more and I’m wondering if it’s a “safe” statement to use broadly considering I think it’s important for our kids to know that while who they are is important and enough they actually don’t belong everywhere and that’s okay. What I mean by that is there are spaces due to racial and/or cultural reasons that students may not have access to and again I believe that’s important for them to know. Your thoughts? I hope this makes sense.
Do you mean spaces that are URM-only or gender-specific? He teaches at a predominately Black (might be all-Black) male-only school, so I think that part is covered by design
@@Heyu7her3 that makes sense and I figured he did! However I am assuming that message is supposed to sink in on a deeper level and it’s not just applicable within the classroom or school since it says everywhere. But I actually mean though that there are sacred spaces that belong to other people of races, genders, and cultures (and even then you could pose the question do human beings truly belong everywhere that we find ourselves or the places that we inhabit)and that I think sometimes those of the western world (myself included) feel as if we should have access to because of our sheer existence. I am definitely thinking on a broader scale and trying not to do some from a lens of nagging or being nitpicky but to (potentially) open up a greater conversation especially as I see these “you belong everywhere” posters and signs popping up at more and more schools including my own which is a predominantly white school of immense privilege. It just gives me very “first world” colonizing vibes which of course is the opposite of the intention but something about it has continuously rubbed me the wrong way. Again I hope that makes sense. Thanks for your response!
Interesting. I appreciate the dialogue on the subject for sure. For me it’s connected to a sense self worth, meaning I’m of value, what I think and feel are worthy. We are talking about teens, most deal with feelings of insecurity and feeling unsure of who they are and if they “belong” “You Belong Everywhere” doesn’t mean entitlement. It doesn’t mean you can physically be or do whatever you want in life.
@@CJReynolds As someone who also works with teens I completely understand the underlying sentiment. As mentioned above I predominantly work with children who inhabit wealthy spaces of immense privilege and so I can admittedly be overly (no doubt to the point of being obnoxious) critical of blanket motivational or inspirational statements with no contextualizing conversation. Thank you for your response, all you offer to the world of education, and wishing you the loveliest of lovely school years!
I'll be teaching high school English from a cart this year--this is my tenth year teaching, and I've only taught middle school and HS Creative Writing until this year. How do I create a positive learning environment, create class routines and build classroom community in a shared space? I'll be floating between three classrooms.
I will be teaching in the US very soon...just waiting for my Visa...😅😊and watching your videos does help me prepare for my new journey as a foreign teacher...and I thank you for that😊
I’m in the process of becoming a Teacher, im in college freshman, but I have a question, can I play Country music in my classroom? The reason why im asking because I had teachers playing country all of the times
Hey Jonathan, you can join our private Facebook group for educators. Its a great place to ask other educators questions and get help. It’s called Real Rap With Reynolds Teacher Talk on Facebook!
