Successful Strategies
Tips and Tricks for Daily Classroom Instruction
A Shared Database of Successful Classroom Practices
as Submitted by Teachers at INTC Beginning Teacher Conferences
Browse, search, and add your own recommended strategies. The most recent additions can be found at the top of each category's list. If you find something useful, please be sure to add a rating or comment to let others know how you used the strategy and how well it worked for you.
| Title | Grade Level | Activity or Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rest Stop Quizzes with Reflection (taken from Lisle MS) | High School | Whenever we cover standards, the students are given rest stop quizzes. These quizzes have... |
| Create Your Own Review | Middle/Junior High | On the board as a group, do a a review problem. Address any issues/questions. Explain to students... |
| Fitness War |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Two teams. Each member meets an opponent in a Hula Hoop with a card. High card wins. Whoever has... |
| Pre- and Post-assessment to Measure Student Learning | Intermediate | Day 1: After introducing, modeling, and offering guided practice of a new concept, I often times... |
| Vocabulary context clues using highlighters | High School | When students take vocabulary test for the week, they need to fill in the correct vocabulary word... |
| Scrambled Eggs Pippins Activity |
Middle/Junior High Intermediate |
Students work in partners and choose one egg at a time. They open the egg, solve the question on... |
| Free-type | High School | I would give the students a topic (i.e. favorite vacation, dream job, etc.) at the beginning of the... |
| Fishbowl | High School | This is a student-led discussion maintained by a small group. The rest of the class is not allowed... |
| Check Point |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Create 1-3 questions to assess what students should be learning (should be no longer than 1/2 sheet... |
| Retake Checklist |
Middle/Junior High High School |
Create a small form to attach to tests or projects to motivate the kids to take care of the retake... |
| End of Year Suvey | Middle/Junior High | At end of year, hand out a survey that is 3 pages long: 1 page evaluating teacher, 1 page... |
| Review Challenge | High School | (1) Hand students one numbered card upon entry (cards can be numbered 1-6); numbers denote group... |
| A Conversation With... | High School | I ask the students to have a conversation with an author about a particular topic. They must write... |
| Picture Books to Introduce a Topic |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Preview a novel or introduce a new content area topic with a picture book to build on students... |
| Title | Grade Level | Activity or Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
| Maintaining Respectful Relationships with Students | Early Childhood/Primary | I had two specific students that had an exceptionally hard time following expectations and adapting... |
| Lining Up at the Door |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
This suggestion from my coach helped me a lot--to give me a procedures to follow with students for... |
| Stickers and Checks Classroom Management Plan | Middle/Junior High | Students will have sticker/check chart on their desks. When students are behaving (when others may... |
| Question of the day / fad of the day | Middle/Junior High | Post a question or fun fact about the day as the students enter. They go to their seats and begin... |
| Expectations chart: a way to monitor behavior |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Have a discussion with the class about expectations for a specific activity, and from these will... |
| BINGO Board Behavior Activity |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
When the students did something positive, I rewarded them by spinning the BINGO numbers. If a... |
| Items Around My Room |
Middle/Junior High High School |
I had my students create posterboards that had 5 classroom rules written on the posterboard. We... |
| Title | Grade Level | Activity or Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Work Wall |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate |
Keep a Fantastic Work Wall to showcase about 2-4 pieces of student work at a time. Change out... |
| Seating, Materials Storage using Color-coding |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
After preparing all in advance, explain system to students--color-coded tables, individual storage... |
| "While you were gone..." binders |
High School Middle/Junior High Intermediate |
I have a designated section in the back of my room where I place the "While you were gone...... |
| Creating Productive (Band Instrumental Music) Lesson Groups | Intermediate | 5th and 6th grade band. Once you have a roster of students signed up to participate in instrumental... |
| Pencil Garden |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School Early Childhood/Primary |
Pencil Garden is a bulletin board with pencils in pockets or pouches decorated like a garden (or... |
| Emergency Sub Tub | Early Childhood/Primary | This covers 5 full days. Sometimes you are too sick to come in and set up for a sub! This tub is... |
| Organized Library |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Each student will have their own number. When they visit the "library" (in your... |
| Morning Message/Turn to Your Partner |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
This is a morning check-in/connect with peers activity. It started out as an activity to encourage... |
| Title | Grade Level | Activity or Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning of Lesson Activity | High School | Show the PPT slide of objectives and have each student try to answer them. It does not matter if... |
| Thirty Second News Broadcast | High School | I use this as a review/summarizing tool at the high school level. It works particularly well for... |
| Slap-it Review Game |
Middle/Junior High High School |
To review vocab, print out a list in large bold font on colored cardstock. Cut the words out into... |
| Fantastic Work Wall |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate |
Keep a Fantastic Work Wall to showcase about 2-4 pieces of student work at a time. Change out... |
| Talking Stick | Early Childhood/Primary | Procedure taught with talking stick. The talking stick teaches kindergarteners how to listen to... |
| Student Philanthropy | Early Childhood/Primary | Students discuss the importance of philanthropy and brainstorm ways that they may donate their time... |
| Historians Perspective Journal (HPJ) |
Middle/Junior High High School |
At the beginning of class each day introduce the HPJ question. The question should be high-level,... |
| Think, Pair, Share Math Talks |
Middle/Junior High High School |
This activity is a good way to begin a lesson and engage students in the day's topic. Have a... |
| Taxes: Tax debate/election | High School | This can be a 2-3 day activity. Hand out tax packets with information on different taxes. Get... |
| Creating a Relationship with Students | High School | Talk with students one-on-one about relevant and non-relevant topics. Whether it is for 30 seconds... |
| The Human Barometer (Used to introduce new material) |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Have some statements that students can agree/disagree with that pertain to the topic you will be... |
| Create Your Own Review | Middle/Junior High | On the board as a group, do a a review problem. Address any issues/questions. Explain to students... |
| Maintaining Respectful Relationships with Students | Early Childhood/Primary | I had two specific students that had an exceptionally hard time following expectations and adapting... |
| Classroom Meetings | Intermediate | During class meetings, the teacher begins by informing students of behavior successes for the week... |
| Appropriate Clothing for Weather |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Can be used each morning. Discussion of weather, what type of clothing would need to be worn for... |
| QR Code Review | Intermediate | Take 15 minutes to state instructions/objective. This can be used for any subject. During March,... |
| Scooter Race Statistics | Middle/Junior High | My classes met in an unused gym for the day and we had three students at a time race from one end... |
| Foreign Language Reading | Middle/Junior High | As a 1st or 2nd level middle school language teacher, I try to use cross-curricular reading goals... |
| Reports/Presentations | Early Childhood/Primary | Have the students create a report presentation using Pic Collage. This can be used in many... |
| Vocabulary in Popular Songs |
Middle/Junior High High School |
(1) Allow students to listen to / watch song with vocabulary word(s) in it. (2) Discuss with... |
| Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Read the story "Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street." The students observe a staff... |
| Junk Box | Middle/Junior High | Students divide into groups of 3-5. Each group is given an activity, problem to solve, object to... |
| Snowball Fight |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Getting to know you. Have students write 3-4 things about themselves on paper. Each student... |
| Foldables - Rock Cycle |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Introduce the rock cycle in a visual/kinesthetic way. Create a foldable (I did a five-fold for each... |
| Element Superhero | High School | Students choose an element from the periodic table. Students then created a superhero based on the... |
| Louder than a Bomb! An Intro to Poetry Analysis | High School | I preface the first clip with background information about Louder Than a Bomb and I inform the... |
| You can't battle my brain, Mr. Haynes! | Early Childhood/Primary | I would break my class into four groups. I would then draw three lines down the board vertically... |
| Weekly Reflections |
Middle/Junior High High School Intermediate |
Each week, the students filled out a weekly reflection form. The weekly reflection form prompts... |
| Literature Circles | Intermediate | While students are working with me either individually or in small reading group setting, my other... |
| Scrambled Eggs Pippins Activity |
Middle/Junior High Intermediate |
Students work in partners and choose one egg at a time. They open the egg, solve the question on... |
| Five Minute Beginning Class Journal Writing |
Middle/Junior High High School |
When students enter the room, they grab their journals off the counter. Once in their seats, they... |
| Free-type | High School | I would give the students a topic (i.e. favorite vacation, dream job, etc.) at the beginning of the... |
| Picture Vocabulary |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Assign a word to each student. Go around the class and discuss each word and give the meanings.... |
| Fishbowl | High School | This is a student-led discussion maintained by a small group. The rest of the class is not allowed... |
| Virtual Stock Exchange | High School | Have students research different stocks and choose a minimum of ten to invest in to diversify their... |
| Interest Inventory |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
This activity should be done at the beginning of the year. This helps build relationships with... |
| Power Towers |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate |
This game is based off of the the popular cup stacking game. Use this game to review vocabulary... |
| Poetry Folders | Early Childhood/Primary | Every Monday morning, students receive a poem. In a shared reading format, the class reads the... |
| Circle Graph Survey Activity | Middle/Junior High | Students will conduct a survey about a topic of their choice. They will display data by making a... |
| Egg drop |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Each student receives an egg. The students need to create an order form of the supplies after... |
| Notes Foldables |
Middle/Junior High High School |
Daily notes. Day 1: Help students put together their books and explain the organization of the... |
| Hendren Helper | Middle/Junior High | Pass around during bell time. Students volunteer to sign up for a day. They are my "helper... |
| Math Journal (daily) | Middle/Junior High | At the beginning of every class, students get their math journals. The teacher should have the... |
| The Presidents | Intermediate | Students will work in groups of fours to research and present the information to the class via... |
| Daily Oral Language | Early Childhood/Primary | ...and throughout the day. There is an incorrect sentence or praragraph on the board. I ask the... |
| Morning Message/Turn to Your Partner |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
This is a morning check-in/connect with peers activity. It started out as an activity to encourage... |
| Categorize by a Statement |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
In helping a student create a research paper, assist the student in topics that he would like to... |
| Post It | High School | Present a question to the students at the very end of class. The question should be able to be... |
| Life Skills Notebook |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Create a pre-skill prediction list (what do you think you will have to do; list predicted steps);... |
| Quote of the Day |
Middle/Junior High High School |
Write quote and have students copy it. Discuss the quote and relate it to your lesson. |
| "Newton" Stations |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
I set up laptops around my room with the videos pre-loaded on them. The students watch the videos... |
| Picture Books to Introduce a Topic |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Preview a novel or introduce a new content area topic with a picture book to build on students... |
| Title | Grade Level | Activity or Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
| Student-led IEP Meetings |
Middle/Junior High High School |
One of the most important things for a student with an IEP is to understand his/er own needs and... |
| Thirty Second News Broadcast | High School | I use this as a review/summarizing tool at the high school level. It works particularly well for... |
| Online Jeopardy Labs.com | High School | Activity can be used to teach new concepts, review for a test, assessment to gauge knowledge. 1-... |
| The Human Barometer (Used to introduce new material) |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Have some statements that students can agree/disagree with that pertain to the topic you will be... |
| "I Am Finished" Folder |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
For extra work time. When students finish their assignment, they go get their personal "I Am... |
| Scooter Race Statistics | Middle/Junior High | My classes met in an unused gym for the day and we had three students at a time race from one end... |
| Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street |
Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Read the story "Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street." The students observe a staff... |
| Foldables - Rock Cycle |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
Introduce the rock cycle in a visual/kinesthetic way. Create a foldable (I did a five-fold for each... |
| Vocabulary context clues using highlighters | High School | When students take vocabulary test for the week, they need to fill in the correct vocabulary word... |
| Social Skills | High School | I would keep the school social worker up to date with what was going on with my students. From... |
| Weekly Reflections |
Middle/Junior High High School Intermediate |
Each week, the students filled out a weekly reflection form. The weekly reflection form prompts... |
| Use Shared Docs to Your Advantage |
Middle/Junior High High School |
Use Google doc's to share information about kids with special or differentiation needs.... |
| Picture Vocabulary |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
Assign a word to each student. Go around the class and discuss each word and give the meanings.... |
| Fishbowl | High School | This is a student-led discussion maintained by a small group. The rest of the class is not allowed... |
| Morning Message/Turn to Your Partner |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High High School |
This is a morning check-in/connect with peers activity. It started out as an activity to encourage... |
| Lit Circles to Graphic Novels | High School | Takes 3-4 weeks. Students choose novels and work in small groups based on the same novels.... |
| Title | Grade Level | Activity or Strategy Description |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Newsletter | Middle/Junior High | Add all the email addresses into Outlook by putting them into a group. Each week create a... |
| Family Interaction |
Early Childhood/Primary Intermediate Middle/Junior High |
This binder becomes the students' daily take home folder which possesses all of the important... |