First Grade Teacher Tips

School is just around the corner! I know, I know…you don’t want to hear it.  Hopefully filling your head with some great tips will help ease your mind about the start of the school year!

I’m teaming up with my good friend Jen over at Sparkling in Second to share three of my favorite first grade teacher tips.  Actually, these are 4-6 of my favorite tips because Jen shared my first three. Kidding…but great minds think alike so make sure to read her tips too!

{There will be a link to more tips at the bottom of the post.}

First Grade Teacher Tips

Tip #1

I’m sharing a secret with you! Like s-e-c-r-e-t with you.  And I share it with my students every year during the first week of school and I tell them they can’t tell ANYONE!

Why do I do that?  Is it really a secret?  Nope!  But by telling them it’s a “secret,” it makes them think it’s super important and therefore – they remember it!

I tell my students that the secret to super straight lines is to stare at the head in front of them.  I mean fixate on that ponytail or the braid or the bun or just the short hair. Think about it…if students are starting at the head in front of them then they are not staring at the sky (what’s up there anyway?) or walking into poles or talking to their line partner.  Their lines will be straight!  It works wonders.

If my students start to drift, or look their lines look curvy like a worm, I ask them to remember the “trick.”  Within a few seconds they are straight and I am back to singing their praises.

Now I know that some people do not believe in making students walk in straight and quiet lines at school.  But the reality is that some schools do require this…so if you happen to teach at one of those schools…this tip was for you.

Tip #2

This next tip was taught to me by one of my favorite professors from my Masters in Education program.  It can actually apply to any grade and I’ve even used it on intervention groups.

Tell your class they are the BEST class you’ve ever had.  If you’re not a fan of lying, cross your fingers.  KIDDING!  Think about it: in some way, some how, they are the best class at ___ you’ve ever had.  It forces you to see the best in them (even after one of those days) and it also gives them the confidence they need to meet that “high bar” you have set for them.  Just try it and see how their faces light up.  They are shocked.  They are delighted.  And they are excited to keep pleasing you because they don’t want to lose that “spot.”

Tip #3

This last tip relates to bulletin boards!  I shared this on Instagram a few weeks. But since back-to-school is the most popular time for bulletin boards, I thought I would share it on here too!

I like to use push pins and a level app when hanging bulletin boards!  I use the push pin to find the perfect placement without having to staple, unstaple, and restaple.

Then, in order to make sure that the paper is straight, I move the paper up and down while holding my phone (with a level app open) against the paper.  Once the level shows that the paper is straight, I staple!

The app I’m using above I downloaded for free from the AppStore.  It’s called iHandy Level.  HOWEVER, someone commented on my Instagram post with a secret that will BLOW YOUR MIND!

(I know, you’re getting a fourth tip, suprise!)

Are you ready?

• If you are an iPhone user, open the preinstalled “Compass” App.
• If you don’t know what folder you put it in, go to your home screen and pull down.  In the search bar type in “Compass” and then click on it when it shows up.
• Once the compass is open, swipe left. TA-DA!  A level!

I hope you have enjoyed my first grade teacher tips!