IDEA: Classroom cleaning supplies

If each classroom had cleaning equipment:  dust mop, broom, dustpan, feather duster and whiteboard cleaning supplies, our classrooms could look much better with a few minutes at the end of every day.

IDEA: Hosting a lunch

Lunch with a small group of students and a tablecloth.  Very simple: just provide juice or chocolate milk.  Maybe a bit of ritual or a chant.

The purpose is to promote the value of meal-time conversation and to spend time with students simply as a human being and as an adult. .

Setting the Table

If I had my way, every meal would be set with a complete setting:  forks, knives, spoons, napkins, salt, pepper, and water glasses.  The food would be all ready to go.

I don't think I'm a culinary snob, but I like to enjoy the people and the conversations around the table.  I don't like to talk about the food, unless compliments are in order.   I especially don't like to wonder where to start, and what special faux pas I am about to commit.

In the same way, I want to set the table in my classroom so that every time my students walk into the room they know what to do and they can focus on the learning and the conversations and the ideas of math and science.

The Tools of Education

There are certain classic learning tools that I want to incorporate this semester:

1. MAPS:  Maps set the context for so many experiences.  The best are self-made, or at least marked up by the user.
2. TIMELINES:  Timelines are another tool for setting context. 
3. PORTFOLIO:  A portfolio distills a whole block of learning, such as a semester, and provides opportunities to reflect on what has been learned.
4. NOTEBOOK:  I want my students to create true notebooks this semester, with notes, examples, inserts etc.  It is the textbook they create as they learn.