Teach Like a Champion Tuesday

Hello!  Beth and I decided it would be great to start highlighting some different strategies from the book "Teach Like a Champion".  If you have not read this book, you need to put it on your must read book list!  It has some amazing (yet simple) strategies to use in your classroom to help it run a bit more smoothly.  This past year, we worked on implementing four of the Teach Like a Champion strategies into our staff development time and then during our observations, our principal was looking to see these in action. 

Today, I want to highlight SLANT!  Slant stands for:
S: Sit Up
L: Listen
A: Ask and Answer Questions
N: Nod Your Head
T: Track the Speaker

This is a simple yet very useful tool to use in the classroom.  My goal this year is to start from the beginning of the year and it will become habit before long and this way I know that I have will the full attention from my students (and it didn't take much time to get them attentive).

Check out this website for more detailed information: http://daviskm2psy3010.wordpress.com/slant-strategy-three/

I have attached a FREEBIE SLANT poster that Beth made for our staff this year!

Click here to get it for free!!

How Do You Control Noise Level in your Classroom?

As another year has ended, I take a look back and ask myself what things I could have done better or changed to make things run a little more smoothly.  I always struggle with noise level and what is appropriate.  I know that I am more accepting of noise than some other people but I also know that there is a time and place for it to be quiet in my classroom.  I really worked hard this year on my expectations for Lit Stations and also the noise level associated with that.  This morning, I came across an adorable sound check visual that I think I will be making this summer.  Thank you so much to Totally Terrific in Texas for this great idea.  Head over to her blog to get this freebie!!

Click on the picture to be taken to Totally Terrific in Texas' blog for this great resource!