FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

FAQs about dealing with adults
FAQs about classroom procedures
FAQs about instructional strategies
FAQs about website content

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6/10/04: I have been adding TONS of new stuff to the site in the past few weeks and anticipate adding quite a bit more soon. This site menu is unfortunately out of date in the meantime. It does not cover the revisions to the centers, homework, more classrooms, planning, years end, job interviews, or standardized testing pages. Everything else here should be accurate! Thanks for your patience!

Home

Why I started this site
Poll- What are teachers saying about...?

Standardized Testing

Preparing Psychologically: "Why are we doing this, anyway?"
Preparing Academically: "Will this be on the test?"
During Testing: "Can we take a break now?"
After the Test: "Is it over now?"
Ideas Submitted by Other Teachers

Classroom Tour '02-'03

Full tour of everything in the classroom last year

Classroom Tour '03-'04

Updates on new things added this year
Schedule and objectives display
Job chart
Math centers
Clip boards and TV trays

Our Schedule

Morning Warm-Up
Reading block schedule
D.E.A.R. (Independent Reading) procedures
Handwriting curriculum
Making time for all subject areas
Lunch and recess routines

Homework

How and why I changed my approach to homework
Link to Michael Moore's homework program
4 components of my homework program
Independent reading HW
Choose-A-Chart HW
Link to More About Choose-A-Chart page
    9 reasons to convince parents and principals that Choose...
    Download of Why Choose-A-Chart reasons and follow-up letter
    Keeping charts organized
    Using tracking forms
    Link to download of Mr. Moore's tracking form
    Leveling charts
    Photos and examples of charts
    How this method is different from the original Choose-A-Chart program
    Link to photos of Mr. Moore's language arts charts
    Link to photos of Mr. Moore's math charts
Poem of the Week HW
Link to Mr. Moore's Poem of the Week page
Home Learning Projects
Download of my September Home Learning Project
Link to Mr. Moore's Home Learning Project page
First week of school homework
Late and missing work policies
Requirements for parental signature
How homework is checked and graded
Making sure kids know the correct assignment
Photo of old homework assignment sheet
Download of old homework assignment sheet
Download of new homework assignment sheet

Centers

Pictures (photos) of some of my centers
Link to my guidelines for introducing centers to your class
Link to labels for centers
Inexpensive, easy-to-make, and fun literacy center ideas
What's at Wal-Mart for centers

Classroom Management

Link to my page for Managing the First Weeks of School
    2 mistakes back-to-school resources usually make
    How to prepare for teaching routines and procedures
    Recommended types of rules and consequences
    Download of Problem-Solving Sheets
   Link to my page The World's Easiest Token System
        Photo of token system
        What the system does NOT require
        How to set up the system
        How to introduce it to your class
        How to use and maintain your system
        Alternatives and ways to extend your system
        Examples of tasks that can be assigned using tokens
        Combining the system with Classroom Helper routines
        Examples of assigned monthly jobs
        Examples of Star of the Week priveleges
        Examples of tasks that can be assigned using tokens
    Guidelines for choosing back-to-school activities
    Links to internet resources for back-to-school
    When to start teaching academic concepts
    When to start teaching reading groups
    Link to my page How to Begin Your Reading Block
        How to introduce reading group and center routines
        Links to labels for centers
        Center ideas
    What to do if you forget a procedure or routine
    Poll: What Teachers Are Saying About...
Dismissal procedures and bus pocket chart
Bus list display
Organizing transparencies
Organizing lesson plans
Organizing consumables
Magazine organizer
Bathroom sign-in
Bathroom procedures
Storing communal supplies
Storing non-communal supplies
Making the most of hidden storage
Packing up to go home
Supply requests
Late slips
Missing Work forms
Download of Missing Work forms
Download of old version of Missing Work form
How to hang posters over windows
Organizing coats and backpacks
Filing student work
Lunch count
Breakfast procedures
Water fountain (drink) procedures

Behavior Management

Establishing who is in charge
The World's Easiest Token System

Lessons

Transition tips
Calling on students
Keeping all learners engaged
Using manipulatives effectively
Passing out and collecting papers
Facilitating reading group rotations
Cleaning up after lessons
Cooperative learning
Partner work
Brain breaks

Top 10 Tips

Don't feel like you have to spend money out of your own pocket
Don't give candy and prizes
Never say anything bad about anyone in the school system your first year
Pick one confidante at the school and tell only that person your problems
Pick your battles with administration
Treat your students' parents like your customers
Document E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G
Don't do anything yourself that students can do for you
Never give a worksheet, book report, or writing assignment when...
Try never to leave students with more than 30 seconds of nothing to do
Bonus tip: Accept the fact that teachers are...

Other Classrooms

Photos of other teacher's classrooms in my school

Teacher's Biography

My background and experiences in teaching
Link to my classroom (web page for students/parents)
Link to my school
Link to my school district

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

FAQs about dealing with adults
FAQs about classroom procedures
FAQs about instructional strategies
FAQs about website content

Links

Best Teaching Idea of the Month
Best classroom photos
Best classroom descriptions and details
Best message boards/ forums
Best printables
Best lesson plans/ideas
Best sites for students
Best tools for teachers
Best tools for class websites

View Guestbook

See what others have written about this site

Sign Guestbook

Tell me what you think about this site and my classroom

Awards

Awards this site has won
3 ways to earn Ms. Powell's Excellence in Teaching Resources award
Award requirements
Award application
Previous award recipients