SUPER-SIZE IT Math teacher Monica Simmons of Toledo, Ohio, suggests an easy way to make customized full-sized posters for the classroom. On her computer she enters information that she would like to display (such as class rules) and prints it out on a regular 8½ x 11 sheet of paper. She then takes it to her local copy store to be poster-sized. It is a great way to display student work as well, she notes.

SUITCASE SURPRISE Pack a small suitcase with a map, brochures and stories about a faraway destination, such as another continent, suggests Deb Cousino of Petersburg, Mich. Students will love to explore and read about the place with a friend. Include a post card so they can write to someone about their “visit.” It’s a great extension of social studies, she notes, and it’s her number one center among students.

BINDER BRIEFCASE To keep up with important documents pertaining to your students, use an inexpensive binder and a supply of tab dividers, suggests Pam Black of Walton Beach, Fla. In each student’s divider she will include assessments, IEPs, parent conference forms and other documents needed to evaluate student progress throughout the year. This information makes a great impression during parent conferences and keeps everything handy, she says.