As teachers, we have all faced such moments. You start your day with the perfect lesson plan and enthusiasm, and then suddenly everything goes haywire. Perhaps the internet fails, the projector doesn’t work together, or an unexpected interruption curtails your class. So when your perfect day hits a snag, what’s your next step? Enter Amy B’s ingenious solution: the Change Plans Box.
Hack: Keep a “change of plans” box in your classroom filled with backup activities in case of unexpected schedule changes.
Reading teacher Amy B. has devised a simple and effective solution for seamlessly continuing learning: the Plan Change Box. With this handy resource, you’ll always be prepared, no matter what the day’s surprises are. Whether it’s an unexpected meeting or a paraprofessional intervention, you can rely on the attractive change-of-plan box to keep classroom momentum flowing.
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What is included in the plan change box?
Amy B. describes her trash can as a treasure chest filled with games and activities that are easy to deploy. Here are some ideas for the younger generation, not just pre-teens and teens.
Bin ideas for elementary school teachers:
Engaging Games: Easy-to-set-up board games like “Spot It” are great for spontaneous fun. See more recommendations from teachers here. Read-aloud books: By combining carefully selected picture books with corresponding activities, any adult can have an enriching session. Reader’s Theater Scripts: These scripts give students the opportunity to perform dramatic readings and get creative. Variety of puzzles: Puzzle combinations are suitable for different age groups and challenge students’ problem-solving skills. Creative Supplies: Stock up on art materials for improvised drawings and crafts to foster creativity and fine motor skills.
Bin ideas for secondary teachers:
Brain Teasers and Puzzles: Challenge your students with more complex puzzles and logic games for older age groups. Pro Tip: Print out these riddles ahead of time for high school students. Interactive reading material: Contains interesting short stories and articles, as well as discussion questions to encourage thoughtful conversation in the classroom. Writing Prompts: Provide creative and thoughtful writing prompts that students can work on independently. Subject-specific content: Stock review materials for a variety of subjects that can be used as a review or preview for upcoming lessons.
What does a classroom replanning box look like?
Amy, a reading teacher, shared some photos of what her trash can looks like in her room.
Amy B. Amy B.
It looks like Amy’s bin is full of ready-to-use activities in case plans change. When change-of-plan notebooks were required to be kept in classrooms, the notebooks had to be neon-colored, easily visible to anyone who might need to observe the classroom for a few minutes.
Tips for creating your own plan change box
Preparing your own plan change box is easy.
Choose different activities. Fill your bin with different games, puzzles, and books that tackle different themes and appeal to different interests. Include both individual games and activities the whole class can enjoy together. Include flexible activities: Amy B wants to add “elastic” activities that can adapt to any time from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, giving her the flexibility to effectively manage different times. I am proposing it. Be sure to have activities that don’t require electricity or Wi-Fi. Organize efficiently: Organize your trash so that you can quickly and easily find what you need, whether you or someone else is accessing it. Keep it up-to-date: Update the contents of your bin regularly to keep it interesting and relevant, and keep your activities engaged and exciting for your students.
Why you’ll love it too
The change plan box is more than just a backup, it provides peace of mind. Having this resource at your disposal will reduce your stress and allow you to focus more on your passion: teaching. It is also very useful for substitute teachers and students completing tasks at different times. Why not add this layer of preparedness to your classroom? With the Plan Change Bin, you can turn any disruption into an opportunity to create an engaging and enriching experience. Your future self will thank you, and your students will love the unexpected activity.
