I recently received these photos from our reader Chloe the Velcro Gal! She was not to be outdone by Keith the Rubberband Man!
All teachers I meet are on a quest for an efficient tool to carry as they teach, monitor, grade, plan, call, meet and so on. . . They search high and low for that ONE thing to always have on hand. . .the adult version of the once-perfect Trapper Keeper.
Introducing. . . Chloe the Velcro Gal! I recently met Chloe at a Boston workshop and I loved her ingenuity. She told me,
I velcro-ed my organizational system because I love having the option of having both pieces connected. This way I have everything in one place and I am only carrying one small thing around with me all day. However, there are points in my day where I only want one in my hand (when I am tutoring/teaching) or when I want to be able to see the front of both (during my Weekly Round-Up) so it is very convenient to be able to pull them apart easily.
Chloe laid out these steps to keep it all accessible and available, all the time.
Step 1: The conundrum for all of us. I need:
- A binder of some sort for my time and to-do’s (affectionately called a Flexy)
- A clipboard for my lesson plans, behavior trackers, and more.
It is just too much to always remember to grab both items. . .
Step 2: So, I’m going to VELCRO the Flexy and the clipboard together.
Step 3: Smash together. . . go forth and teach!
Together Teacher CONTEST [enter by Dec. 21]: What are your 1- 2 must-haves that you carry with you during your workday to juggle all the papers, notes, pens, attendance, student notes, and more?”
Three lucky winners will receive our newly created Together Teacher lanyards, designed to niftily hold your keys, school ID, pens and more! Our design was carefully tested by MR. Together Teacher (aka my lovely husband, a middle school ELA teacher) and has a removable clip PLUS a cool carabineer for easy key attachment. See model Sarah M.-E. below.
Please limit your response to 300 or fewer words, and include your first name and last initial.
I use an A5 Filofax Cuban Zip (http://www.filofax.com.au/store/organiserdetails.asp?sizeId=5&rangeId=120&dsizeId=5) – a well-cherished gift I received when I began studying education. I print and holepunch my own calendars/planbook/gradebook/etc; it has my (new, but I’m getting there!) Together Teacher system, pens, gradebook, emergency info and parent contact details, reward stickers and referral slips, and a tear-off notepad for when I need a piece of paper all in one handy spot. That I can zip it closed means that none of the notes and scraps I collect throughout the day go missing before I have a chance to sort them (I travel not just between classrooms but between campuses, which adds an extra challenge to being organised).
I use an A5 Filofax Cuban Zip (http://www.filofax.com.au/store/organiserdetails.asp?sizeId=5&rangeId=120&dsizeId=5) – a well-cherished gift I received when I began studying education. I print and holepunch my own calendars/planbook/gradebook/etc; it has my (new, but I’m getting there!) Together Teacher system, pens, gradebook, emergency info and parent contact details, reward stickers and referral slips, and a tear-off notepad for when I need a piece of paper all in one handy spot. That I can zip it closed means that none of the notes and scraps I collect throughout the day go missing before I have a chance to sort them (I travel not just between classrooms but between campuses, which adds an extra challenge to being organised).
Am a coverage teacher who teaches technology to students with autism using the Smart Board. My most important item to carry is my flash drive! I also need my glasses, my caramex lip balm, my water bottle and my “bag of tricks” for table top activities (sensory toys/worksheets/books etc.)
Am a coverage teacher who teaches technology to students with autism using the Smart Board. My most important item to carry is my flash drive! I also need my glasses, my caramex lip balm, my water bottle and my “bag of tricks” for table top activities (sensory toys/worksheets/books etc.)
Fashion and function: I always have a sweater/hoody with pockets.
In pocket A, I keep my dry erase markers (they tend to disappear when left at the board) and a few pens and pencils to lend out to my forgetful students. In pocket B, I keep Mishleau Money and School Merits (one is used in-class, the other is used school-wise) to reward awesome students, along with my Do-Now stamp (so I know students completed their Do-Now’s within the three minute window.
Fashion and function: I always have a sweater/hoody with pockets.
In pocket A, I keep my dry erase markers (they tend to disappear when left at the board) and a few pens and pencils to lend out to my forgetful students. In pocket B, I keep Mishleau Money and School Merits (one is used in-class, the other is used school-wise) to reward awesome students, along with my Do-Now stamp (so I know students completed their Do-Now’s within the three minute window.
This is going to sound absurd but I keep a set of middle eastern worry beads in my pocket. Whenever I do my weekly roundup and regular reflections, I take out the worry beads and use them as a fidget toy. This helps bring focus to what worked well and what still needs improvement. I also use them when planning or dealing with student issues.
This is going to sound absurd but I keep a set of middle eastern worry beads in my pocket. Whenever I do my weekly roundup and regular reflections, I take out the worry beads and use them as a fidget toy. This helps bring focus to what worked well and what still needs improvement. I also use them when planning or dealing with student issues.
I carry my iPad with me for everything!! It holds my calendar, my contacts, all information.
I carry my iPad with me for everything!! It holds my calendar, my contacts, all information.
I clip a pen to my lanyard, keep tickets for my behavior system in my pocket, carry chapstick in my pocket, and always have a clipboard at hand.
I clip a pen to my lanyard, keep tickets for my behavior system in my pocket, carry chapstick in my pocket, and always have a clipboard at hand.
I just the good o reliable Fanny Pack……..Holds my pens ( red and blue), mini post-its and my tic tacs!
I just the good o reliable Fanny Pack……..Holds my pens ( red and blue), mini post-its and my tic tacs!