Optimum Organization: Who's the Leader? (with a FREEBIE!)

It's Saturday, which means it's time for some more:

This week I'm going to do a little *updated* flashback to a post I did HERE about things I love BUT I'm adding a little freebie this time to go with it! So be sure to check out the freebie at the end!

Managing papers and materials can be a hassle. I remember during my first year of teaching feeling like so much time was wasted in passing out papers and materials, so I thought I'd give four papers to one person at the table to pass out. Brilliant, right? I thought so...until I couldn't keep track of who I gave the papers to the last time and you all know that when that happens-it's just going to go downhill! I don't do whining very well in my classroom, so after hearing "When will I get a turn to pass out the papers? It's not fair that he always gets the papers..." I decided a solution needed to happen and happen quickly!

One of the values at our school is creating leaders, so as I thought about this value and thought about my little big problem of passing out papers and materials. This was the solution:

Here's how it works: Each group of tables has their own "Who's the Leader?" owl. (You could do any animal or sign that works with your classroom theme, just put a magnet on the back of it!)

The owl starts on the first desk and on that day the student gets to be the table leader. The table leader is the one that passes out all of the papers and materials for the day. For example, when I pass out papers, I hand four papers to the table leader and they pass them out to their table. Or if we need math manipulatives, the table leader gets the manipulatives for the whole table, passes them out, and puts them back when they are finished. 

At the end of the day the table leader then "flies" the owl over to the next student's table (we go in a counter clock wise motion):

I have the rule that students can't play with the owl on their desk or fly it until the end of the day. If they do play with it or move it before the end of the day, they lose the owl and don't get to be the table leader the rest of the day. Trust me, you only have to take the owl away once and you don't have any more problems with students playing with it!

Also if a student is absent the person who would be the table leader next, gets to be the table leader for the day!

Here's why I love table leaders:

-the students manage all of the papers and materials

-it maximizes our time as teachers and allows for smoother transitions

-the daily rotations allows for frequent leadership opportunities and rotation is student managed, which means its an easy system to maintain

-kids LOVE being leaders and can't wait to get to be table leader!

-it helps eliminate the whining and "life isn't fair" syndrome when it comes to passing out papers and supplies :)

If you'd like to implement table leaders into your classroom this year I have made you a "Who's the Leader" FREEBIE!! I've been loving all of the CUTE chalkboard themes going around, so I gave it a whirl--I hope you like it! :)

Clipart from: Graphics from the Pond and Hello Literacy!

All you will need to do is just print these, cut them, add a magnet to the back of them, and WA-LA you're ready to begin implementing table leaders!

What are some ways that you organize your classroom? Be sure to link up HERE for this great linky party!!