teaching aids - The Learning Center

Students, Back to School and Identification

It’s back to school time. Students know they are going back to school, and they are ready to see their friends. Parents are excited for a return to a stable schedule. School organizations are in the process of planning for back to school events, fundraising and autumn activities. Although some of us are a little more hesitant about returning to these tasks, we should all prepare for what is to come.

We understand that teachers are facing the time of back to school setup and organizing their classrooms. Parents may be shouting for joy during this time; however, one of the hardest things teachers must do is prepare their rooms for students to return. So, we are here to help teachers and other educators prepare their supplies for back to school needs.

Students sitting in a classroom for going back to school in style.

Back to school needs are everywhere, from books to pencils, pens and note paper. Kids need all sorts of supplies to start the school year off right and prepared. While we don’t offer these items, don’t underestimate the importance of name tags and identification for your classroom.

A Teacher’s Guide to Engaging Students

You may think having students who want to be at school and learn from their teachers sounds too good to be true. But that’s what schools that focus on increasing student engagement are seeing. More than coming to class and turning in homework, engaged students are enthusiastic about their education and desire to excel in their classes. So if you want to see your students succeed, you must figure out how to engage them in the learning process.

Whether it’s for the first day of school or needing to know how to make a lesson plan, this information is for everyone in the education field. Even students can learn from these tips. From how to use identification products in the classroom to advice on setting up storage for the school year, find everything you need here.

Motivating Students and Recognizing Individual Excellence

As a leader and a teacher, you have a responsibility to make sure that your students know how much you care about their learning and retention. When you celebrate even small achievements, you are helping your students see their excellence. This recognition will help them understand what their education is all about.

Engaging with your students will help to motivate them to do their best work. Take the time to recognize individual achievements so you can manage engagement, help reduce stress and increase productivity among your students. Motivation naturally comes when everyone is involved in staying productive and on task.

Recognizing individual excellence can build an educational culture that retains the best students. However, the truth is that no one can be successful alone. You always need help somewhere along the way. Most anyone can learn a skill, but not everyone knows success is all about how you prioritize people and talents.

Teaching Tools and Personalizing Your Classroom

Learning is more effective and stimulating when using teaching tools already in front of you. It is up to teachers and other school staff to ensure every student has the tools they need to learn. When students know what tools they have available and how each works, they are more apt to pay attention and, in the long run, learn what they need to succeed.

We are here to help you know how to personalize your school and use these teaching tools. From the classroom to the counseling center, we have custom products to make your school run smoothly. Use these great teaching tools to help your teaching and instruction.

Here’s a fun idea: when giving out welcome gifts to your students, wrap them with fun ribbon rolls. Your students are guaranteed a great first impression when handed trinkets with personalized ribbons wrapped around them. And, maybe they will even behave a bit better as a way of saying thank you for your thoughtfulness.

NAME TAGS

Most teachers have so many students that it is hard to remember everyone’s names. Name tags are great helpers that make remembering names easier. And the students will love the personalization and knowing there is a specific space just for them. Using these tools can also help students get to know each other.

There are many times when these name tags will come in handy. For example, career days, Grandparents’ Day and other school events. From adhesive badges to a more permanent solution of engraved tags, when you need your students to wear their names, these teaching tools are great to have available. Student name tags are also useful for labels around the classroom. For example, you can use them on a pocket chart to identify each student or use name tags to create a display for student jobs each week on your whiteboard.

Cognitive Engagement Strategies

Motivate your students to do their best by creating learning objectives for your class. Learning objectives show your students what they can achieve if they pay attention and complete assignments. Once they understand how your class benefits them, they will take it seriously.

Part of keeping your students engaged mentally is giving them a chance to unwind. To make this easy, customize name tags with various mental breaks (e.g., sing a song or play rock, paper, scissors) and put them in a jar. Then, when it is time for a mental break, take a tag out of the jar and have your students do that activity.

PHOTO ID BADGES and LANYARDS

Quickly identify students, staff and visitors in your school using photo ID badges and colorful lanyards. These tools help with identification, security, classroom aids and extracurricular events.

Photos, along with names, titles and logos, are presented on these badges in a way that provides extra security at your school. With these elements, you can quickly identify those who belong wandering the halls. So, provide photo ID badges for teachers and school staff to ensure the proper people enter and exit your building.

Several students wearing name badges and lanyards for a school event.

Whether hundreds or thousands, it doesn’t matter how many kids come back to your school this year; security is always an issue. Yes, there are name tags and photo ID badges for the teachers. But how do the children keep their things safe and secure?

Lanyards are a convenient way of displaying identification and other things while at school. And these lanyards don’t have to be boring. Choose from a variety of colors to match your school and mascot.

Help your students stand out from the rest with bright colors, logos and messages custom imprinted on these lanyards. These lanyards are also perfect for fundraising events, sporting meets and any other time your school gets together.

Learn even more about incorporating Custom Lanyards into your teaching tools.

BADGE RIBBONS

Badge ribbons are always fun to collect, especially when your favorite teacher gives you one as achievement recognition. Many students enjoy decorating their desks with these fun ribbons. Or they use them as bookmarks. No matter how students collect each ribbon, they will always take them home to display these awards proudly for all to see.

A student wearing a name tag and badge ribbon for a school movie night or other event.

These ribbons are so incredibly versatile that they are also great for labeling things in the classroom. Customize each ribbon with memorable quotes or other text as well as graphics to match the uniqueness of your needs. You can also choose from many different colors (both ribbons and imprinting).

So, help each person at your school see just how important they are with these incredible ribbons. Whether for a new teacher in your school or a way to identify different grades, badge ribbons are the best solution ever. With double-sided tape ready to stick to anything (like a name tag), these ribbons are super easy to use.

Use these wonderfully versatile ribbons in just about any school setting you can think up. Custom (and stock) ribbons are essential in your classroom and available for your students. Choose from an abundance of ribbon selections to meet most any need you might face in the classroom.

Extra Teaching Tools

Now and then, teachers need a little help and guidance to help enrich their teaching styles and the education of their students. These articles will feature helpful hints and tidbits on how to run a classroom and so much more. So, if you’re struggling to get things done and help your students or just want to add to your teaching toolbox, these education tools are for you!

Teaching Tools for Success in the Classroom

Whether it’s using tablets in the classroom or providing visual aids for students to learn, every educator needs reliable teaching tools.

Learning is more effective and stimulating when you are using teaching tools that are already in front of you. It is up to teachers and other school staff to make sure that every student has the tools they need to learn. When students know what tools they have available and how each one works, they are more apt to pay attention, and in the long run, learn what they need to succeed.

Every lesson taught in a classroom will affect each student’s life. Whether it’s the immediate result of homework, or a life lesson learned while studying. And, when equipping teachers with the right teaching tools, these magical learning moments come effortlessly.

Teaching Tools

When you bring real things and authentic daily life situations into the classroom, listening becomes discovering, interest becomes wonder and passive learning becomes active exploration. Lessons come to life with touch, motion and sound. Teacher resources, insights from fellow educators and personalized support help you teach every subject, from reading to coding, in ways that kids really get.

teaching tools can include things like technology and creative aids

Filling Your Teacher Toolbox

Veteran teachers typically already have their toolbox set up and rather full. They can be a great resource to new teachers and those that are still developing their teaching tools. And, isn’t that the main idea? To use every resource you can find? So, reach out to your colleagues for a bit of guidance in setting up your toolbox. This way, you are guaranteed to have aids and materials that are proven to work.

Other teaching tools you can add to your toolbox include textbooks, bulletin boards and even art supplies. Get the teaching tools that will stimulate your students. Whether that is a textbook or a box of ribbons, it doesn’t matter. Just know your tools and how to use them. Here’s a great example.

Roll with the flow in your classroom with custom ribbon rolls.

custom ribbon rolls are great for adding into your teaching tools

From creative bookmarks to classroom decorations, ribbon rolls are sure to prove useful. And, don’t forget to customize these ribbons. Add a room motto or a teacher’s name to each roll, then use them as a border for bulletin boards. Or, make unique gifts for each student to use throughout the school year. Custom ribbons are also perfect as thank you gifts for support staff at your school.

Using Old School Teaching Tools

Pen and paper are the simplest of tools you can have as a teacher. From making your students take notes to grading papers, that pen is mightier than any sword. Your pen can create so many worlds and provide a vast amount of knowledge. So, make sure that your students know how to use their pens to benefit their learning.

From writing things on a chalkboard (or whiteboard) to using index cards for studying, these tools are fit for every teacher’s toolbox. No matter the size of the paper or writing medium, use its space. And use it well. Bring your lessons to life with posters. Create a stimulating learning environment with colorful drawings and words that explain why you are using this teaching tool.

Other old school techniques include one on one time with each student. During an average day, teachers often don’t have time to speak individually with every student. But, it is crucial to make sure that each pupil knows that they are valued. Students thrive when their teacher knows what they are good at and how they may struggle. And, while you may not have time every day to reach out to every student, make it a point to reach out to a few of them each day.

Classroom Etiquette

Get to know your students before that first day back. If you need to, find their class picture from last year so you can know what they look like. Then, memorize their name and face. Every student is sure to feel shocked and pleased that you know who they are. They are also more likely to behave well when they know you are that observant.

Greet every student, every day. While this may at first seem daunting, your students are sure to see your effort to make them feel welcome. And with this comes the respect for your ability to see them as individuals. Some teachers go as far as creating secret handshakes with every student. While you don’t need to take that much time, make sure every student knows you respect them as a person.

Teaching Tools Should Include Technology

While most of the time technology use in the classroom is looked down on, from a teacher’s perspective, it can be useful. Take a classroom set of tablets, for example. By using these computers, you are encouraging the growth of young minds while they explore educational games or other monitored activities. Not only are the students learning how to use technology, but they are also learning concepts that need to be covered in school.

Often schools have computer time or classes they offer to the students. These classes teach students how to work with a world that is full of technology. So, while cell phones might be an unwanted distraction, having structured time on monitored technology can be helpful.

From learning about 3D printers and their uses to using immersive environments that only computers can supply, technology does have its place in the classroom. And don’t forget about online teaching tools. Use Google to teach students how to perform research for projects and online exploration. The internet is continuously helping teachers, so why not help students as well.

25 Teaching Tools For The Digital Classroom

The use of smart phones, tablets and other tech items in the classroom do not necessarily have to have a negative impact on student achievement. On the contrary, the increasing accessibility and growth of technology presents teachers with the unique opportunity to take advantage of those once distracting gadgets, and use them to facilitate academic achievement in new and innovative ways. In this capacity, teachers do not need to be constantly fighting for student attention, but can freely accept it, by introducing a new educational environment that will automatically encourage student participation.

Using Identification as Teaching Tools

From name tags to ribbons, custom identification is here to help every teacher create and sustain their toolbox. These items not only help with providing direction in the classroom or school, but they can also help with learning. Students can use name tags for a hands on approach to learning about colors, dimensions and so much more. Ribbons are perfect for creative projects. Use ribbons to create a bright and friendly environment for your classroom.

These are only a couple of items and ideas on how to use them. But, don’t forget that there are so many more options: signs, lanyards, plaques and badge holders. And each item has boundless uses. A teaching aid is a tool used by a teacher so that students can learn inside a classroom. So no matter what that tool is (example: ribbons), every teacher needs to know how to use it in multiple ways.

Upgrade your Classroom with Custom Signs

custom signs are great to add to your teaching tools

From bulletin boards to homework stations, signs are a convenient way to get decorating started. Use them to help students know where to hang their coats and backpacks. Place a sign on a desk for an easy sign in for volunteers in your classroom. They are also the perfect tool to help create order in the chaos of a supply closet.

Update your classroom’s look with new decorations using signs. Customize them with nearly any message you can think up. Add your favorite quote with a suitable graphic to hang on your wall. Or, create a custom sign to hang on the outside of your room door so others can enjoy it as well.

Teacher Specific Resources

Don’t underestimate the importance of attending professional development classes. They are there to help teachers in their progression toward a practical toolbox. These courses teach where to find teaching tools and how best to use them. Just remember that not all tools will work for every classroom. So, pick the tools that will work best for you and figure out the best uses for your students.

For your students to continue learning, as a teacher, you must also continue learning. When talent is shared or practiced, it becomes stale and useless. Expand your brain so that your students can expand theirs. Personalized learning is an essential part of engaging students. So, use your tools and make sure that your students feel valued in your classroom.

There is no doubt that these teaching tools play a prominent role in each student’s learning process. With more tools in your toolbox, the better your students will learn. So, what are the easiest ways to connect with students? Find the tools that work best for you and best for your students. These tools may work one way for one student and a different way for another. The important thing is to remember that each student needs a personalized education that only you can provide.

Other Online Resources

25 Great Online Education Tools Modern Teachers Love Using

Teacher toolboxes in the modern teaching environment are many and diverse. Most include trusted standbys like Evernote, Google tools, Edmodo, Wikispaces and others. Of course, everybody has their own favorite sites and tools, but the fact remains teacher toolboxes need terrific education tools. If you’re looking for something different, though, you might be interested in them.

Instructional Tools

A variety of tools can be used in the classroom to support student learning, ranging from traditional to high tech options. Examples include the whiteboard, index cards, posters, audience response systems (e.g., clicker technology), Google collaboration tools, 3D printing and wikis. Depending on course learning goals and outcomes, instructors may choose to use one or several of these tools to augment the teaching and learning environment in their classroom.

6 Cool Educational Technology Tools for Teachers

Educational technology tools hold great potential to improve the classroom environment. But simply adding them to your classroom isn’t enough — consider the context, your students’ needs and your reasons for wanting to use a particular technology.

Teaching Aids and Instructional Materials

Psychologists, designers, educationalists and many professors around the world work on improving the quality of education because a lot depends on the education of a whole generation. The resources a teacher uses while teaching play a role in how students learn. Motivation, stimulation, retention, interest, actionable learning, etc. can vary based on how the act of teaching occurs.