Teacher Hacks #fromteachersforteachers
When asked about the best teacher hacks, tips and tricks, I was amazed and awed by the overwhelming amount of responses I got from educators. Undoubtedly, it takes a village to really have a great pool of ideas so I’ve added links to other teachers’ social media or blog posts. So what are we waiting for?! Sit back and get ready for some awesome teacher hacks and tips!
1. First, an absolute MUST HAVE teacher item… HOT GLUE! Don’t have it? Grab it! Don’t use it? Start now!! Check out what @alliethegypsyteacher has to say about hot glue! Want to know another MUST Have teacher item?! Two words. Packing Tape! @fifthismyjam knows ALL the love that is packing tape! If you don’t use packing tape for pretty much everything… you should check out her page because it’s important to realize why you should!
2. The next tip are some great ways to motivate students to track while they read! Witch fingers are a cheap and GREAT way to get excited, especially this time of year!
Not to mention, these can be found in the Target Dollar Section!
3. Additionally, teachers came through with some GREAT hacks and tips for whiteboards, erasers, and their storage. Click on each picture to read more about the idea!
Similarly, store whiteboards in a basket with markers INSIDE their sock erasers! It’s genius!
Next teacher hack is an oldie, but goodie! Pom poms on the tops of dry erase markers are so easy and effective. Stick them on with a bit of hot or super glue and you’re good to go!
Another eraser type… sponges!!
4. Bookmark Teacher Hack: Laminated Astrobright strips! Talk about another easy, super cute, and INEXPENSIVE idea, especially if you’ve got scraps all over the place if you’re anything like me! Thank you for this wonderful tip @all.about.the.abcs . You could even draw on them, write messages or have students decorate before laminating.
5. Undoubtedly, hanging things on different types of walls can be frustrating. Insert wall hanging hacks: Hot glue as mentioned earlier is usually foolproof, but see the brilliant way @rocketdogteaching does it instead!
6. Who doesn’t love IKEA? I mean everything in there is cute and multifunctional. To illustrate, here’s a cool and creative way to use the IKEA Tolbsy Frames!
7. Looking for ways for students to manage themselves? Below are some creative ways to have students help make your life a little easier by taking attendance, going to the bathroom, lunch count, and more! Click on each picture to learn more!
Another way is to have a dry erase board on the classroom door- one side kids write their name on if they leave the room & where they are going, the other side for dismissal changes that day. This helps you know where kids are at all times! Thanks to @mrsmamallama</span></a> for this teacher hack!
8. Do you hate when you’re trying to laminate small pieces and when you lift the sheet to put it in the laminator, the pieces slide? Here’s a helpful tip- use a little glue from a glue stick on small pieces to keep them from sliding around! If you have not tried this yet, it helps SO much!
9. Some classrooms don’t come equipped with enough bulletin boards. Well you can no longer fret about that! You can MAKE your own bulletin boards!! Say whaaat?!! Watch this video below to learn more!
10. Have trouble hanging letters straight?! To conclude this dilemma, use this AMAZING hack! Use blue painters tape to get the letters exactly how you want them before stapling them to the bulletin board. You can even step your game up if you hate seeing the staples! Pins and Colored staples to the rescue! Learn more by clicking the picture below!
Is decorating the classroom your jam? Here is a great POST all about how to hang classroom decor easily and with less trouble!</span>
EVEN MORE TEACHER HACKS
11. Task cards awesome resources and they can be used in so many different ways. Here is an innovative one from @mrs_cornetts_corner! Putting task cards in Dollar Store photo albums! All students need is their book and a marker. You can click on the link to learn even more!
Certainly a great reusable option!
12. Check out this entire YOUTUBE video full of great hacks and ideas such as printing and copying hacks, and one that helps keep desks and tables together!! After all, you can never have too many ideas right?
13. Annoyed by the glare from laminated sheets? With THIS spray, you can get rid of the glare FOREVER! Grab the Amazing Work Coming Soon signs FREE below!
14. Command anything is amazing because they’re so quality and how adorable are these command clothespins to hang anchor charts?! Can we say mind blown!
15. Two words…. Trash basket. They can be used in so many ways! Here is a post that show how helpful these little baskets can be!
16. Using pins and binder clips, or clothespins and tacks, to display work on bulletin boards is a great idea! It makes changing things out so much quicker.
17. Not sure where to house with all those adorable classroom pointers?! Look how @kimsteachingcorner stores hers!
18. Furthermore, another AMAZING hack that I will DEFINITELY use and never thought of… shower curtains instead of fabric on your crate seats!! This is cute and sanitary!! You could probably even get away with a clear liner over your fabric if you already have yours made!
19. This hack is PERFECT for social distancing right now! Use colored tape to help students establish their own space!
20. Word walls are essential but have you ever tried a magnetic one?! It’s a GREAT way for students to be able to interact with the word wall and easily put the words back!! I will absolutely be using this one FOR SURE! Thank you @teach.joyously
THE TEACHER TIPS DON’T STOP!
21. Trouble making your own anchor charts? Want to make them beautiful but struggle with handwriting and drawing? I know I do! Here’s a great tip for creating Pinterest worthy charts. First, you can create anchor charts in Google Slides or Powerpoint then project it on the board. Then, lace a piece of anchor chart paper over the top to trace! You can also press the “freeze” button so it won’t move and trace it! Check out an in action video HERE!
22. Here’s a great and easy way to display standards- Use page protectors to simultaneously easily change and keep them displayed! It also opens up the option to circle or underline key words with a dry erase marker!
23. Ever dread the chaos of unleashing paint in a room full of little ones? Guilty! But fear not, there’s a nifty hack for taming the paint pandemonium! Start by collecting cans with plastic lids and grab some sandwich bags. Cut a hole in the lid, insert a bag with its end folded over the top, pour in the paint, and voilà! Kids can dip brushes into the lid hole to paint, while mess is contained. Cleanup’s a breeze too – just rinse the brushes, discard the bag, seal it, and any leftover paint stays fresh for next time! It’s a game-changer for hassle-free painting sessions!
24. If you still have virtual students but want students to still participate in think, pair, share activities, how about sending beanie babies, or other small stuff animals, home with your students so they can always have a “partner”. The “partners” can also serve as reading buddies for the year. Thanks! @kellics_firstgrade
25. Want to keep the room smelling fresh but aren’t allowed to use candles, diffusers or plug ins? Check out this wonderful hack from @thelittlelearnmaid ! Keep a cheap can of carpet fresh on hand and sprinkle a bit in the trash bag each morning. In the event that a kid throws in trash, it stirs the scent and freshens the room all day!
26. One hack that I use EVERY year is numbering students. If you provide students with a number, you can then use that number for just about EVERYTHING- bins, cubbies, pencil boxes, etc. As a result, the kiddos learn their numbers easily and the best part is that everything with a number can be reused year after year! Grab your own labels HERE!
27. All in all, hacks that simply make your life easier are essential in the educator world. HERE is a wonderful post with 10 tips and tricks to make that happen!
28. Want creative and inexpensive ways to decorate bulletin boards? Once in a while, why not switch up the old butcher paper with materials like fabric, dollar store table cloths, or wrapping paper?! These are just SOME of the many inexpensive ways so you can really get creative!!
29. Want an undeniably great way to display and organize anchor charts?! HANGERS FOR THE WIN!! Teachers are so smart.
30. Need another wonderful idea to motivate students and get students excited to be called on? Check out how this teacher is using these cute little ducks to do just that!
I hope you enjoyed these teacher hacks and tips! These are NOT even close to all the cool tricks out there. Additionally, if you want to continue this learning, @lifebetweensummers shares a #teacherfollowfriday every Friday with a brand new teacher and a brand new idea! In the meantime, DO YOU have any must know hacks to share? Drop them below! Check out these posts below if you loved this and want more!
Top 5 Classroom Management Hacks for Back to School
Easy Must Know Classroom Setup Hacks
5 Must Have Tools for Organization
And speaking of hacks, I’ve got the ULTIMATE organization resource for YOU! Check out this bundle that helps you organizing EVERYTHING in your classroom so students are thriving independently and your stress levels stay low! It’s a growing bundle so when you purchase now, anything added later on, you are able to download absolutely FREE! Grab it below!!
Classroom Organization GROWING Mega Bundle
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Thank you for sharing!
Love these ideas! I tried to pull up the little whiteboard hacks from @mrsmamallama and couldn’t find it. I’d love to know about those but can’t message her. Do you have links for it?
Thanks Michelle! If you email me, I can try and do best to answer any questions you may have!
These are awesome! Thanks for sharing! I have a tip: I laminate my student login cards (Kinder uses QR codes), put a magnet on the back and have them store it on the side of their metal desks! Always within reach, never lost in the desk, and saves me time passing them out!
That is a GREAT hack!! Thank you so much for sharing!!