Science Education Idea Exchange

 I just found a free URL shortener I wanted to share: tinyurl.com. Normally, I use a Google add-on, but the one I had been using has been compromised. 😐 I believe this is one of the more popular ones, but I could be wrong. If you're not familiar, this is a great tool that you can use to shorten long web addresses. It makes it easier to get students to a site and saves on space. A word of caution: the website does include advertisements, so be wary of encouraging students to use this tool.

 I must be in an organization mood because I wanted to write another strategy that I use to keep my classroom organized: file folders! I discovered early on that the simpler you keep things, the better. I labeled folders for every class period (and would place them in separate parts of the room to prevent students from turning in papers to the wrong class). I have never separated late work, missing work, and on-time work. I'm a bit too type A for my grading not to get done as soon as possible.  Photo by  Maksym Kaharlytskyi  on  Unsplash Benefits of this system: 1. I rarely was accused of losing papers because students placed it in the folder and I would grade them from the folder. (When things were done being graded, I had magazine holders for each class period to pass back at the beginning of the next class period.) 2. Students had an easy place to turn papers in. 3. Students were given a little more privacy on what they handed in versus a bin. 4. I could take the folder home and

 I am not good at blogging consistently, but man is life busy! Anyway, knowing that life is busy, I decided to share what I have ready for guest teachers in my classroom. The template can be downloaded for free from my Teachers Pay Teachers site. It's here to serve as a reminder of important things to include and hopefully make this crazy season a little more restful for you.

 I published an escape room with a Halloween theme last night. I know this has been a tough year, so I'm hoping this will help soften the blow for kids. You can find it here .