Hope you are having a great week! We are exactly 7 school days away from our Spring Break! Unbelievable! This year has flown! I don't know about y'all, but this time of year makes me a little nervous for my kiddos! I want them ALL at a second-grade level NOW!
So, on to what works for me...I just have one today because it's pretty lengthy!
HELPERS!
***I wish I had more pics for this post...
***I wish I had more pics for this post...
I have tried a dozen different ways to manage helpers in my classroom.
What works best for me:
1 Daily boy helper and 1 Daily girl helper
PLUS
Everyone has a 9-week job.
Let me explain. Each day, one boy and one girl are the class helpers. They are responsible for monitoring the restrooms, alternating leading and caboosing the line, running errands, passing out papers, etc.
This works well. No fancy chart needed here! And...another glare!
ALL students have full-time 9-week jobs. Below is a list of the jobs in my classroom. I marked the number of students who hold each position for a 9 week period.
**Note: Because some jobs are much easier than others, some students have more than one job. For instance, the student who changes the Daily Helper chart clips also helps make sure the closet is clean.
1) Gathering and sharpening pencils at the end of the day (We just received a Classroom Friendly Sharpener! Love!) (2 students)
2) Putting all the behavior clips back to green (We use clip up/down chart.) (2)
3) Setting up and taking down the class store on Friday afternoons. (3)
4) Changing the clips on the Daily helper chart (1)
5) Making sure the student staplers and tape dispensers always have staples and tape (1)
6) Changing Date Stamps daily (1)
7) Straightening the Reading Center (2)
8) Straightening the Daily Five Table (2)
9) Straightening the Math shelves (2)
10) Making sure the closet stays clean (This includes letting classmates know when their bookbags or jackets are on the floor, etc.) (2)
11) Turning on and off the SMARTBOARD (1)
12) Turning on and off overhead lights and lamps (We have quite a few lamps.) (1)
13) Throwing away teacher trash at lunch (They came up with this, not me.) (1)
14) Recording lunch count-marking trays or boxes. (We use magnetic name cards to choose lunch box or tray.) They're actually very good at this job! (2)
15) Taking down magnetic names from the lunch count board at days end (1)
16) Taking sidewalk chalk and other playground "stuff" out to recess (1)
17) Taking the trash cans to the custodian when she walks to the door (We have 4 trash cans.) (2)
Pencil Sharpener-#1 Behavior Chart-#2
Our lunch check-in names-#15 above
All students are responsible for keeping their areas neat. Everyone gets to use our mini brooms to sweep!
My tips for you:
I have students fill out an application stating what jobs they are interested in and why. I "hire" students according to these job applications.
We add jobs as the need arises. Very often, a student will say, "That should be a class job," and we just make it one.
We add jobs as the need arises. Very often, a student will say, "That should be a class job," and we just make it one.
Do students ever get "fired?" I am sorry to say, "Yes, they do!" Some students also quit if the job is not everything they dreamed it would be. When that happens (just like the real job market) the student has to take whatever is out there.
I hope some of this makes sense to you! Implementing our 9 Weeks Job Program has made my life SO much easier! AND- the kiddos love having the responsibility of a "real job!"
Have a great week!
