The following 35 "tips" and suggestions have been provided by ...

The following 35 "tips" and suggestions have been provided by elementary specialeducation teachers in Arlington ISD. The tips are a reflection of what has worked wellfor themselves and their students over the years.Post and practice the following phrase with your students: "I know you can, I expect you to,I will help you".-Elementary TeacherHave high expectations for all your students.Make friends with the custodians in your school. They are an invaluable resource. They willtake care of you. (ie. repair desks and provide extra chairs, trash bags, paper towels, etc.)Keep 2-3 quick educational activities on the corner of your desk just in case your first lessonruns short, you have an emergency arise, the students are not ready for the first lesson youintroduce, or you have a surprise visitor.Write a quick thank you when people help you at school. Positive notes are great to receive.I have a reward system for my elementary students. Each student has an index card withtheir name on it taped to my wall. Each time they are good for the class they get a sticker toput on their card. When a student collects 5 stickers they get a prize from my prize box.-Elementary TeacherI have a colorful carpet in my elementary classrooms with letters, shapes, numbers andcolors. My students come in and know to sit on a letter. This helps with organization in theclassroom. Also, we play games that reinforce their learning of colors, numbers, shapes andspelling words.-Adapted PE TeacherIn my class, students have a set routine for the first 5-10 minutes. Then we begin theactivity of the day. [Routine: stretches, sit-ups, push-ups, educational facts dealing withanatomy or nutrition, and then a short aerobic activity] This routine helps to get the studentson track and ready to work. It also helps reinforce the life skill of staying fit.-Adapted PE TeacherIf you have teaching assistants, use them for station work. This keeps everyone moving andpracticing many IEP goals. Break down your goals and progress with them by usingstations. (Ex. Jumping rope, jump up and down on a dot, jump on a mini tramp, jump apart,jump together, hop scotch, swing arms in motion of throwing a rope while jumping, etc.)-Adapted PE TeacherPartner students when possible. They really encourage each other.Get your students excited about class no matter what it takes. My newest find is to use thePhoto Booth and Comiclife programs for creative writing, for making picture schedules andeven for rewards. My students have written stories with two characters and their pictureshave been used for both characters. They love it!-Elementary Teacher

crayons, protractor, etc.). The specificity of lists is very helpful to students who havedifficulty organizing.In my class, I have an incentive program. I have red tickets that I use when I want to rewardstudents. For example, I may give tickets to students when they are participating well ingroup activities or to encourage group participation. Also, I may hand out tickets to studentswhen they turn their homework in on-time. At the end of the week, students can collect areward from me with the tickets they have acquired over the past week. I usually havemechanical pencils, erasers, happy meal toys, and items from the Dollar Store to hand tostudents. It does require a little money, but it is well worth it!-Elementary Resource Math TeacherIt is extremely helpful to have students learn a routine when they come into class everyday. For example, in my class every student knows they are going to get a dictionary andwrite the vocabulary “word of the day” and then move on to their “mountain math”. Thishelps the students learn independence and frees me to move around the room to thedifferent groups of students. My students seem to like knowing what is expected of thembefore we move onto the lesson for the day.-Elementary Resource Math TeacherIn my classroom, I have a symbol schedule of the activities each day for the students. Aftereach activity I take off that picture or have a student take off that picture. Also, I vary myactivities so that the students don't sit for too long at one time. My activity rotation for atypical day is: circle time, motor skills, small group/art time, centers and afternoon circle.-PPCD TeacherDon't tape things on the chalkboard. Instead, use sticky-back magnetic strips for posters.Sticky-back magnetic strips can be moved/removed easily. The magnetic tape is not strongenough to cause a problem cleaning the chalkboard. However, the magnetic paper is hardto pick off with your fingers initially, so get the placecard sized magnetic strips from WalMartin the office supply section.Have your students do a skill review warm up at the beginning of each class period.For my reading classes, I read aloud 5 to 10 minutes a day with a book that is on theirenrolled grade-level (not reading-level). During this time, I ask my students high level/criticalthinking questions regarding the reading. These thinking skills roll over to their independentreading-level with greater ease.-Elementary Resource Language Arts TeacherConsider giving each student their own folder or location to keep supplies. This reduces theneed for students to want to roam the halls looking for items. In turn, this increases time thestudents are engaged in instruction.I teach a high level vocabulary word each week (ex. gargantuan, plethora) and use itconsistently with my students for the remainder of the year.-Elementary Resource Language Arts Teacher

Review classroom procedures with the kids daily.In my classroom, students follow a picture schedule so they know what's expected duringthe day. Each student has their own schedule on the wall in the order of what they're doingfor the day and they cover up the picture of what they have completed. My kids have theirown schedules, however you could have one picture schedule for all of the class. You couldeven have a student assigned the job for the day of covering up or removing the picture ofwhat the class has completed.-Deaf Ed Pre-K TeacherVelcro is a must-have supply in your classroom!