Being a teacher has its perks when it comes to life as a working mom. One of the best parts is that I don’t have to change my language when I come home to talk to my kids, considering I spend all day saying things like, “Make good choices,” “Calm your body,” or “Be friendly when sharing.” But it recently occurred to me that there are many more aspects of school life that I should be integrating into my home life. Here’s my round-up of five great teacher tips you should try at home:

1. Cubbies

I like things to live in the right place, as I am an aspiring neat freak (notice I said aspiring). When your kiddo is off to school, he always stops at his locker or cubby and drops off his jacket, lunch box, and backpack. Why not try this at home? By having a special spot for your kids’ stuff, transitions can become so much easier.

2. Visuals

Most kids learn by seeing things — by being visual learners. Creating visual tools is my go-to strategy when I’m struggling as a parent. Bedtime is a challenge? Make a book or chart. Not getting out the door on time? Look at your schedule! Visuals allow your child to be in charge of her own transitions without you yelling, “Now brush your teeth!” every five seconds. I make my visuals with simple drawings, or if I’m feeling fancy (and desperate for a change) I use Google images for some help, too.

3. Schedules

Screen Shot 2015-07-28 at 11.00.22 AMOn days when I’m home with both kids, I rely on a schedule to help us all stay calm and happy. Writing it down and adding pictures helps, too. This allows the day to have some structure, with snack time, play time, and activities all built in — and without my girls asking for food or certain activities all day long. I was recently struggling with my eldest daughter’s constant pestering about watching more television. Finally, it occurred to me to make a schedule (a visual that hangs on the fridge) of our after-school activities and fun. So far, so good!

4. Visual timers

Do you see a theme here? At school we are always trying to help kids be independent, but at home this is harder. Truth be told, we are not using timers regularly at home (daily in my classroom, though!), but it is a goal for me. There are so many fun ways to help kids manage time so they can be self-sufficient!

5. Calming corner

We call it the “calming corner” in my classroom, though each of my colleagues has a different name for it (typically chosen with the class), like the “chill-out zone” or the “rest stop.” This comes from a fabulous social thinking curriculum. Why not try this at home? In our house we have books in our calming corner, and though I have yet to make a “calming box,” when I do I’ll fill it with calming jars, silly putty, etc. (check Pinterest for ideas!). This allows you to either send your child there, have your child choose to go there, or even put yourself in the calming corner when you know you need a break. This creates a space for children to recharge without feeling like they’ve been banished to time-out.

What has your child’s school inspired you to try at home?