Two-Minute Tips

NEA Today, Mar 2005 by Auman, Mellanay, Melillo, Aimee

Classroom Secretary

As a middle school teacher, I try to get my students to take on leadership positions in class. One way to do this, and keep accurate records of class activities, is to assign a student to be class secretary for the week. That student takes notes in our class notebook, writes down homework assignments, records pages we read in class, and helps students who are returning from an absence.

This has cut down on the questions I get from absent students, because I have a running record of what transpired during a lesson and what goals we met. New students also transition easily into our procedures because they have a weekly buddy to help them catch the classroom flow.

Because I teach five classes of the same subject, the class notebook also helps me see what I've covered in each class. Students earn extra credit for being the secretary. They look forward to being my co-teacher for a week.

-MELLANAY AUMAN

Tucson, Arizona

Clean Desks

To remove ink from desks, try using hairspray. It works wonders! Just spray the ink and wipe it away immediately.

-AIMEE MELILLO

Brick, New Jersey

Have a good tip?

* Send it by mail:

NEA Today

1201 16th St., N.W.,

Washington, DC 20036

* Send it by e-mail:

neatoday@nea.org