Getting Ready for a New School Year!: Setting Up a Homework Tub at Home

Okay, so I will quickly admit that this post has nothing to do with what most people would

consider technology; however, considering that at one point in time, pencils and pens, staplers, and binder clips were "new technology," I'm going to try to get away with this post.

I would encourage all teachers to share this post with parents at Back-to-School night as a way to show them how they can help their children be more organized when it comes to doing homework each night. I'll provide a shortened URL and QR code to make it REALLY easy to share. There will be a link for teachers to PRINT at the bottom of this blog post.

Both of my children know that the dining room table is the place to do homework.  In our dining room, I've always kept a "homework tub" with all the supplies they've needed to quickly get down to the business of doing their work. 

The contents of the tub have changed a bit over the years -- for instance in kindergarten, Margaret Alice's word flashcards were kept in the bin. When each of my kids were working on Rocket Math facts, math addition and subtraction flash cards were kept in the bin.  This year, I've added a ruler and stapler into the mix as these seemed to be items I kept running to the closet to grab last year.

This homework tub doesn't have to be expensive.  I found the container in the Target dollar bins a few years ago, but I've seen them elsewhere -- including Family Dollar. The school supplies I stock up on during August Back to School sales, so they also don't break the bank.   

The smaller containers are mason jars and old candle holders I had laying around the house. 

To keep the jars from sliding around as the kids push the homework tub back and forth across the table, I use putty on the bottoms of the jars. 

Finally, the bin itself is kept in a cupboard in the dining room. 

What exactly is included in this small homework tub:

• Colored pencils
• Markers
• Crayons
• Glue
• Glue sticks
• Small stapler
• Extra staples
• Ruler (it's rubber, so it bends to fit inside the tote)
• Scissors
• Highlighters
• Pencils
• Pens 
• Large eraser
• Post-it Notes

Teachers: Click on the link below to print a handout for Back-to-School night or to send home with students during the first few weeks of school.

Organizing a Homework Tub Handout

--Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Secure Printing

You may have noticed that with our new computers, when you print a document, it is no

longer automatically using Secure Print.  This can cause issues with multiple people using one printer -- you can end up getting your documents printed on card stock, colored paper, or even "designer" paper.

You CAN add secure print to you print jobs.  Below is a short video showing you exactly how to do it.  Keep in mind, you'll need to do this every time you want to print a document -- similar to how we have to change the print to "color" each time we want something to print in color.

Any questions, as always, just let me know!

-- Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Online Lesson Plan Book with Planbook.com

I've been using this online plan book for three years now, and I absolutely love it! For a mere $12.00 a year (not much more than the cost of a paper lesson plan book) I have quick and easy access to all my lesson plans!

What do I LOVE about planbook.com?  Let me list the reasons:

1. I travel between buildings. Having an online plan book means I don't ever have to worry about leaving my plan book at the wrong building. It also means I always have it available at home.

2. If a lesson runs long and I need to extend it to another week, it's simple to do -- simply click a button! This is also very helpful when a class gets canceled because of a field trip, assembly, or snow (cold) day.

3. I can easily copy and paste lessons (I don't have to rewrite them by hand) for multiple classes with the same lesson plan for the week.

4. I can attach files, website URLs, etc. to the lesson plans, so I have EVERYTHING in one place.

5. It's EASY to print the lesson plans out for a sub when my kids are sick -- and that ALWAYS happens at the most inopportune times, doesn't it?

6. It keeps my lesson plans from previous years. So, if a lesson went particularly well, I can go to the previous year's lessons, and simply copy and paste the lesson, materials needed, files, etc. in a couple of clicks!

Below is a screen shot from my plan book from LAST school year.

Screen Shot Of My Plan Book from Last School Year

There are so many reasons to love this inexpensive and easy-to-use resource!  I am not getting any kickbacks or commissions from planbook.com for advertising their product. It's simply a product I love. It's made my life so much easier, and I want others to know about the product.  

If you have any questions about this product, how to use it, etc. just let me know! They do have a free trial option. That's how I started. I tried it for a month for free, but to be honest, I knew after one week I would purchase it.

To check out more, go to www.planbook.com!  Happy Planning!

Jenn McMahon, Library Goddess

Adding A Printer

I've had a few people ask me how to add a printer to your new laptops.  Below is a short video that will walk you through the VERY quick and easy process.  

Steps for Adding a Printer:

1. Make sure you at in the school building where you would like to add a printer (For example, to add the Roosevelt printers, I had to physically be AT Roosevelt. To add Tullar printers, I had to physically be AT Tullar. You cannot add a school printer from your home.)

2. From your doc, click on the Self Service App.

3. Log into your Self Service App when propted.

4. Along the right-hand-side of the screen, you'll see a category called "Printers." Click on that.  You'll then find all the printers for that building.  Simply click on "Install" or "Add Printer" next to the picture of the printer.

5. If for some reason you do NOT see the printers listed, try restarting your computer while you are in your building. 9 times out of 10 this will solve any issues you may be having not being able to "see" printers.

Video for Adding a Printer:

As always, if you have any questions, just let me know!