Posts Tagged ‘Creative Classroom Ideas’

Reminder Binders

Sometimes we wonder where the school year goes. Time seems to fly. Teachers start to think, “Are the children even aware of all they have learned and experienced by January, or even June for that matter?” To aid their memory, have a reminder binder to browse through throughout the year and especially at the end of the year. It is fun and triggers a lot of memories.

There are several ways of implementing a reminder binder.

1. At the end of each week or day, pick one or two students who will be responsible for choosing one particular event, activity, or lesson. Have them write a brief description and illustrate it. These are then filed in one main binder titled “The Reminder Binder.” They should share with the class their choice when they finish.

2. At the end of each month, students brainstorm the month’s important events, activities, and lessons. Try to get at least one per student. Write them on the whiteboard. Each student picks one and describes and illustrates it in “The Reminder Binder.” Students who finish early can do a second one. This repeats monthly. Both ways get students thinking about what they have learned and experienced, either daily, weekly, or monthly. At the end of the school year, it is exciting to go back and remember all the great learning that took place.

Tip: Instead of a binder, students can write their activity on an ice cream scoop shaped note and build a giant cone that hangs in the room. Any shape will work, such as a school bus, tree with leaves, or an ocean of dolphins. It is nice to have this visual for quick reference and review. There are also ready-made memory albums that parents and teachers can purchase as gifts for their students to fill in throughout the year.

Are some students not participating enough? Are the same students always participating while others just sit? Try a tally device to make the teacher and students aware of how often they are participating in whole-class activities and/or discussions.

For each activity, place three of anything on each student’s desk—right in front for easy access and visibility. Sticky notes are good, because they aren’t interesting enough for students to want to play with them, they stay in one place, and they don’t end up on the floor. Every time a child participates in the activity, take one sticky note off his or her desk. Students left with sticky notes are quickly aware of how little they are involved.

A fun way of introducing the activity is to put the notes on each desk, but do not tell students what they are for. Just say you will be removing them, and that it is a good thing to have them removed. It is up to them to figure out why they are being removed. Students will soon figure it out. Once they understand the concept, the teacher can start over with another subject area.

This is a really helpful way for a teacher to pinpoint those students who avoid participation. The teacher will also be able to see a pattern—one student may always participate in reading, but rarely during math. This can be valuable information.

For more tips on how to get students participating in the classroom, check out Creative Classroom Ideas: Ways to Motivate, Manage, and Spice Up Your Daily Routine — and please feel free to share any tips, thoughts, or questions you may have on student participation in our comment section.