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Community Relations
1. Student community service projects
2. Complete a project for an outside
business/organization
-Websites, store promotions, and statistics from opinion surveys.
3. Outside business/organizations
evaluating students
-Community members and business people enjoy this.
Provide a rubric for consistency.
4. Create a book for elementary students
5. Plan a parents’ night out
-Opportunity to raise money for class, club, sports team, etc.
Permission from administration is often needed.
6. Sponsor a community dance
-Another opportunity to raise money.
Builds relationships with the community (taxpayers).
7. Invite a parent into your class
-An effective bargaining tool with a student.
8. Phone home good news
-Intended to enhance communication with our greatest ally; parents.
9. Plan an open house
-Parental contact with something less formal than normal.
Pizza parties, orientation, themes, etc.
10. Organize a classroom news letter
-Design a template that includes class updates/news.
This will catch the attention of parents.
11. Organize a career day
12. Research community history
-Contact your local historical society.
They will be excited to work with you.
13. Invite a politician to your class
14. Email the press
15. Construct a class website
-There are FREE tutorials on the internet to get you started.
Check with your district tech support for advice.
16. Invite a school board member to class
-They can judge/evaluate work, explain a policy, talk about their
profession, or observe.
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Motivation
17. Career of the day
-post a daily career on the board and relate it to your curriculum.
85% of available jobs are unadvertised (careercruising.com)
18. Web scavenger hunt
-Use the internet for constructive research.
19. Create a collage
-An excellent supplement to a presentation.
A picture is worth 1000 words.
20. Class games
-Keep it fun, keep it relevant, and keep learning.
Search your home, rummage sales, the internet, bookstores, etc.
21. The perfect quiz
22. Challenge another teacher/classroom/school
-Take the learning outside of your classroom.
Essays, simulations, debates, quiz bowls, etc., yield accountability
and relevance.
23. Oral quizzes
-Divide students into groups and give them prep time.
Ask the individuals in the group questions.
Offer BONUS points if entire group reaches a set goal.
24. The wheel of projects
25. Market a school sports team
-Base marketing on specific subject you teach.
Business-flyers/commercials, Art-posters/graphic design,
Accounting (Math)-bookkeeping, English-revision.
26. Assignment for student with nothing to do
-Provide student with paper and a dictionary.
Student chooses a word for each letter of the alphabet and defines.
them. Ideal for study hall duty.
27. Videotape student presentations
-Presentations, judging, awards; just like reality television.
Be sure to obtain parent, principal approval.
28. Start a book club
-Could be a credit bearing course, after school activity, or a class
supplement.
29. This day in…
-You fill in the above phrase with your topic.
Place a daily quote, historical fact, etc., in a designated
area of your room.
Begin class with questions/discussion based on item.
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Student Trust
30. Have students grade your performance
-Students write a critique of class.
Do not overuse...it may seem as if you wish for their acceptance.
31. Creative grading
32. Student taught lessons
-Goal is to prepare them in gathering and analyzing data.
Be sure to have guidelines and/or a rubric.
33. Peer evaluations
-Students perform when expectations and accountability rise.
As always, establish guidelines and expectations.
34. Journals
-An effective method to improve writing skills.
Entries can be assigned daily, weekly, or monthly.
35. Creative discipline
36. Power lunches (with students)
-Great way to check the "pulse" of your students, their peers, and the
school community in general (meet as often as you like).
Establish ground rules in regards to respect and speech.
37. Volunteer for a duty
-Another way to develop trust with students.
38. W.W.Y.D? (What Would You Do?)
-A method that gives student the opportunity to feel in control.
May also be used at completion of course (idea #30).
39. Free time
-Provide students "disguised" time when they feel free (end of class).
Extra credit and current events work well.
40. Flexibility
-It is important to visualize the big picture concerning education...
take advantage of "teachable moments".
41. Student set expectations
-This creates a sense of ownership in the classroom.
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Real World
42. Writing to a business/organization
43. Field trips
-Acts as a "refresher" for both the teacher and students.
They are a short-term change in the learning environment.
44. Ethics Bowl
-Contact a local college/university organization to co-sponsor
a debate between high schools.
I use S.I.F.E. (Students in Free Enterprise) and Elmira College.
45. Guest speakers
-An excellent method to help keep classroom material relevant.
Be careful who you ask.
46. Presentations
-Speaking in front of people is a common fear.
Students can overcome fears with classroom practice.
47. Share news
-Have students provide daily news headlines for the class.
48. How to make money
-This captures the attention of students.
Topics can include business startup, investing, and even
career research (speakers included).
49. “Richmondville”
-This stresses the importance of decision making in society.
Contact me for details.
50. Political cartoons
-A great way to have fun learning current events.
Try "googling" Dr. Seuss and political cartoons. You maybe surprised.
51. Enter a contest/simulation
-Makes learing relevant and fun.
52. Culture day
-Designate a day for students to share a family custom or tradition.
Why not celebrate diversity? As always, check with administration.
53. Write an editorial to the local newspaper
-Provides more relevance in assignment. Blogs work well too.
54. Pen pals
-Teach students to communicate in a controlled environment.
Many "how to" sites online.
55. Extra Credit
56. Setup your class as a business
-Based on The Company Classroom.
57. Make a resume
-All students can benefit from learning to "market" themselves.
58. Design T-shirts
-Students love rewards/prizes. Have shirts printed.
59. Current events projects
-Sharing news (idea #47) and political cartoons (#50) are
a great place to begin.
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Peers
60. Team teach
61. Idea sharing with other teachers
-Talk to other teachers and share ideas. See "new ideas"
62. Multi-discipline project
-This cross curriculum approach shows relevance between disciplines.
63. Meeting before school
-Early morning meetings offer quiet time and show commitment.
64. Become a “Looper”
-Long-term solution to teacher boredom.
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Fun
65. You are the joke
-Do not be afraid to be the basis of a classroom joke. Adds to class
environment/atmosphere.
66. Food day
-Everyone loves to eat. Use this as an incentive.
67. Movies
-Visualization is an important concept when learing.
Helps to personalize content.
68. A morning show
-Build a television studio.
Contact me for details.
69. Form a club
70. Random Seating
-Purpose is to focus on classroom learning, not friendships/alliances.
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Professional Growth
71. Present or attend a conference
72. Create an elective of interest to you
73. Teach without a textbook
-This personally keeps me involved and stresses relevance.
74. Take a class
-Find an interest and sign up (try online).
This may lead to a new elective.
75. Apply for a grant
-Lack of funding is barrier, not an excuse.
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Click here for "Other Ideas"
submitted by educators
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