I have been focused more than ever on my data and getting a routine and schedule established for Room 5! As well as learning about my new students :-)
I have already implemented IEP Work Bins very similar to a previous post...I have purchased large wash tubs that include many activities for students to work on during IEP time including independent activities (such as puzzles or reinforcers) to keep them busy, on task and in-seat while we work with all students individually. I have all of their data sheets on clipboards in their bins. For each academic goal, I write the objective in the most left column on a chart with additional columns for each day of the week. In each box I try to make the data as easy as possible (ex. for sight words, # correct, # incorrect, and %). Daily visual schedules and behavior goals are tripping me up this year because they are SO HARD to measure (even though they are supposed to be written measurable, observable, etc...they aren't always easy to interpret) so I have been leaving those boxes blank to take notes each day in. I have decided to do IEP work time right after breakfast...to make sure we get to it no matter how crazy the day is and the kids seem more ready to go right away instead of later on in the day-especially after lunch.
I will have to take some pictures as I am getting my room organized for ideas on how to keep everything in sight and easy to access. I have been doing a few projects :-)
But, my post today is directly related to the deadline I have on Friday: getting a classroom schedule and substitute folder turned into the office with lesson plans, etc.
I worry about EVERYTHING and substitutes in my classroom, for whatever reason, makes me worry. I know GREAT substitutes and it is not about their ability...but my ability to prepare them for the students and the classroom. Also, thinking of these things has helped make some resources that I will use in the beginning of the year also!
I typed up a "quick info" sheet on each student to put in their IEP binder (a binder for each student with quick info, information from home, current IEP/ETR, previous IEP/ETR, progress reports, data sheets and work samples and misc.) This quick info sheet has come in handy for my instructional assistant and I in getting to know our students at the beginning of the year. It has their names, birthdays, age, parents names, address, phone numbers, additional contact information, student ID #, bus information, allergies, diagnosis, behaviors, strengths/likes, weaknesses/dislikes, and important information to know: student is a runner, student can only eat soft foods, etc. For the substitute folder, I have simply copied these sheets and stapled them together with a cover page that says confidential quick student information to review before the students come into the room. I think this will help to give them an idea of what types of students they will have in the room.
Also, some of their quick info is written on an index card and placed in a library card pocket on the bulletin board behind the teachers desk in case they, I or the instructional assistant need to grab it for quick reference. Below the bulletin board is a communication/data 5Star notebook in which each student has their own paper section to write up any quick information to document or any communication with the parent over the phone, in person, etc. Each student also has a colored file folder in an incline sorter next to this notebook for copies of any communication sent home that is not written in their notebook. It's all about easy and convenient, but making sure you are documenting everything going on with these kiddos.
I made a chart of our basic weekly schedule and hung it in plain sight. Specials are color coded to see easily. I typed up "blurbs" about a typical day and typical activities like circle time, math and reading/writing. I also typed up a sheet called "Emergency activities in case the teacher has left NOTHING!" which includes a lot of hands-on, involved tasks to keep the kids bodies and minds busy during the day to make it hopefully a stress free, easy going day. Let me know if you want a copy. I was finding it hard to get "Emergency sub plans" on the internet since most of my students don't hold a writing utensil let alone respond to writing prompts...
And finally, for each basic activity/routine thing that we do each day, I created a file folder:
And inside the file folder...to help myself at the beginning of the year and any substitute teachers:
The basic lesson plan for that area. This is circle time. It includes lyrics and tune helpers for all the songs we sing, how we identify things like the month receptively and expressively, what the objectives are for the class and where to find materials, etc. I try not to be wordy because who has time to read while teaching?
And finally, as I said each student has a color in the classroom (their colored file folder for communication) so I typed up their IEP objectives and highlighted them in their color, printed them and cut and pasted them (real cut and paste lol) according to subject and put them in a protected sheet cover connected with brads in the middle of the file folder. It's a quick way to glance and see that you are covering that student's IEP objective in the group lesson.
Hope this helps teachers when they are setting up and preparing for a substitute...even though we NEVER want to be out of the classroom, it HAPPENS so it's best to be prepared and organized!
Be looking out in the next couple of days (let's be real-weeks) for posts with pics of my classroom organization ideas and receptive identification ideas (I am learning a lot about very intelligent, non-verbal students) and other ideas that I am doing...and PLEASE...POST COMMENTS-your ideas, suggestions, what is your classroom like in these first couple of weeks, do my posts make sense-like/dislike?
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