Teacher Resources

For the new and seasoned teacher, the Internet is a great place to choose sample resources. There is a great variety and most sites offer free samples. However, it is easy for a new teacher to quickly become overwhelmed as s/he takes everything in. I remember as a first year teacher printing hall and bathroom passes from a well known site only to find out that my new school didn't have a such a policy and it would be hard for me to implement on my own.

So before you start downloading and printing, keep in mind the two main things: the school policy and your students. What kind of resource tool works best for your goals?

The ideal situation is to come to the classroom as eclectic as you can. But this is not always feasible. So what teacher resources are available?

Get to Know Excel

For many years, I spent hours calculating a student's average on paper. Not any more! Excel is a fast friendly easy to use tool that will generate a student's average for you. No more calculators! Use a spreadsheet for recording and calculating the grades. This site has free printable samples of different kinds of spreadsheets for all types of resources and needs.Check out these spreadsheets for parent teachercontact.

Other Teacher Tools from the Internet

Internet 4 Classrooms - check out this site.

Scholastic has an excellent resource department

An Oldie: Befriend Your Teacher Gradebook and Planner

In a rapidly technologically changing world, teachers still feel comfortable using the pen and paper routine of a planner. It is actually recommended that a new teacher still do so for the sake of remembering all the new events! Check out this planner that has everything in it. There are seating charts, a week-by-week schedule, birthday information pages, grades, schedules, parent contacts and unit planners. It is a bit bulky, but I carry it with me and randomly add or check things off as the day progresses. I photocopy the attendance lists and stick them in substitute packets for any unexpected absences.

Over to You

Which teacher resources do you use more - online or offline? What are the disadvantages and/or advantages for both? What other teacher resources have helped you with your organization? What areas of teacher resources are you interested in learning and using more? Have I left something out? Please share!

Final Words

In the end, it is important to choose from all this multi-media genre and unlimited availability of teacher resources, what exactly works for you.