"tips" and suggestions have been provided by high school special ...

I have learned that if I am patient and wait at least 3-10 seconds for students to respond toa question, they usually come up with the correct response. Some days it is hard toremember the 3-10 second rule, but it seems to work. I do have to remember that studentsprocess information at different rates.Don’t ever have students do a journal just to keep them busy and quiet. Writing shouldalways have student purpose.-High School Resource English TeacherWhen you write information on the chalkboard/whiteboard, draw boxes around groups ofsimilar ideas. The boxes help students visually zero in on the information.When you create a test for your students, space-out your questions and answers. Morewhite space on a page helps many students focus better.Greet students at your classroom door every class period. This will create a warm, invitingatmosphere and you can also check for IDs and dress code compliance at this time.Have a “bell-ringer” on the board at the beginning of every class for students to work on asyou take attendance.Create a “Substitute Binder” that contains class procedures and expectations, a schoolmap, the school crisis plan, a school phone number list (with the most important numbershighlighted - i.e., APs, Security), referrals, hall passes, MAC passes, class lists andanything else that may be important for the sub to have. The substitute binder can alsocontain emergency lesson plans in case you are out unexpectedly.Encourage your students to understand what they will be facing in the future. Also, relayyour own personal experiences of high school to them as examples. Tell your students theyare no longer “students” when they engage in science experiments. Rather, they are all“scientists”.-High School VAC Science TeacherWhen my students enter my room, I already have their first box job sitting on theirdesk. Students go right to work and don't have time to focus on other things.-High School VAC TeacherBe consistent in whatever you do. It may be hard from the beginning, but you’ll spend lesstime re-teaching something when you are consistent.-High School ABLE TeacherFirst, fall in love with poetry no matter what subject you teach. Second, read and know thestories you teach, along with some interesting "juicy" background information on the author,or the time period. This gets students interested. Third, hand out awards to students as theylove to receive praise. My prize bin has won over reluctant learners. Visit the Dollar Storeand load up once a semester. Students in my class earn tags to write their name onthroughout the period and then I draw one or two names/tags at the end of class. It is greatto walk around and monitor positive behavior, or good work and give them a tag (slip of