What a great week! I worked with my buddy teacher to 'over haul' the morning routines. Then with a great collaborative brainstorming session the students came up with their 'Important Morning Checklist' and then couldn't wait to come to school to start the next day...I am so proud of the way they have taken on their new responsibilities.
We made this chart and it is hanging at the door as a check, students love checking what they have done.
Conference Day: Four students meet individually with me during read-to-self time(silent reading) each day. This is a great time to refocus on goals and achievements as well as giving special chat time.
Checking in to school: Students log their attendance on our database program.
My first day back at school after an extended absence. I had an extra two weeks away before school finished (for 4 week mid year break) due to knee surgery, needless to say going back into the classroom today was a reality check! I was thrilled to see all my lovely little people however I was not so thrilled to see what lay ahead to get us back into a 'clean and ready to work classroom'!!!!
It was time for Mystery Piece!!!
I use a strategy for cleaning up that I call 'Mystery Piece' it works like this....
I ask all the children to tidy/fix things in the classroom that need to be picked up ...pencils on the floor...books...papers...chairs pushed in ... tell the students that I have chosen a 'mystery piece' and then set them up to tiy/fix the room while I count from 10 backwards (and help with the tidy/fix up)....by the time I get to 0 they need to be back at their seat or sitting on the mat. I choose one student - the one who has chosen the item I have chosen.
I like to spead the 'winner' around so that everyone has a turn so I do keep a checklist so I can manipulate the winner if needed.
I give clues as to who the winner is using Language and Math concepts...and students sit down if the clue doesn't apply to them...eg this person has 6 letters in their name...they are wearing long sleeves....
The winner is the student left standing...the prize varies but I like to do things that the students love ...being the first to leave the room at the end of the day - with a friend they have choosen .... sitting in the special Golden Chair for 'Read to Self' time.... Line leader with a friend they choose....
All classes have things they like so the reward is easy...and I have an easy way of getting the room tidy!
I don't have any photos of the before and after....maybe next time....
I have been teaching for more than 20 years in a variety of schools. When I first started teaching in Grade One, I had a huge class of 37 students, there were a number of fellow teachers who would jokingly comment about me 'playing' with the littlies. My silent motto quickly became 'Not Just Playing'...then the more I thought about it the more I started to believe that if the students were learning and had the same happy feeling they had when they were playing then that would have to improve their learning outcomes....so this is my story!
I hope to post here a collection of ideas and experiences to share and would love to hear your comments.
