| A fabulous set of files to have in your classroom | | | | drop the follow-up form into your January tickler file, |
| school office are called 'tickler files,' including ones | | | | and of course, it includes the department chair's |
| labeled January - December. Here are some ways | | | | name, phone number, and email, as well as notes |
| you can use this type of tickler files to support your | | | | from your first phone call in September. |
| follow-up. | | | | 4. You have agreed to serve as a mentor for new |
| | | | teachers in your building. During the summer, you |
| 1. February is Black History month. Each year, you | | | | attended a workshop for mentors and many of the |
| strive to make that month have a powerful impact | | | | ideas will be useful in your new role. The workshop |
| on your students, nearly all of whom are white. As | | | | was organized around the periods of the year and |
| you find articles, think of ideas, etc. that will be | | | | what new teachers experience (back to school, after |
| helpful in your planning for that month, you drop | | | | the first month, end of their first nine weeks, etc.). |
| them in the February hanging folder. If the item is | | | | You want to be reminded to follow up on these |
| too large to fit in the folder (e.g., a notebook, or a | | | | ideas so you drop the idea sheets that correspond |
| full journal with ideas) you just drop a follow-up form | | | | with these various periods into the appropriate |
| in the folder telling where the larger item is located. | | | | months. |
| 2. Three of the students in your class are hearing | | | | 5. Your district has adopted a sabbatical leave option |
| impaired. Each month, their advocate comes in to | | | | for experienced teachers. The proposal form was |
| meet with you about the students' progress. She has | | | | announced via email today. Although you are not |
| a special form that she likes to have filled out at the | | | | interested in applying for this next year, you are |
| beginning of the month. You drop a copy of the | | | | interested in being considered for the following year. |
| form in each of the upcoming months' files, with the | | | | Therefore, you print out the email that has the URL |
| students' names already filled in. | | | | for the proposal form, and drop it in the file labeled |
| 3. In September, because you were planning ahead | | | | with next year's date. |
| and trying to be thoughtful of other people's | | | | Just designate a drawer (or a crate) in or near your |
| calendars, you called the local college to ask for a | | | | desk. Purchase hanging file folders that you label |
| speaker to come to your Biology class in March or | | | | January, February, March, April, May, June, July, |
| April. The college's Biology department chair said that | | | | August, September, October, November, and |
| it would be better if you called in January, because | | | | December. You want them to be handy so you can |
| then she would know all the professor's schedules | | | | access them easily while you're doing your thinking, |
| and would be able to recommend those who weren't | | | | creating, and filing. |
| teaching at the time you needed a speaker. You | | | | |