Building Relationships

I've thought about this quote many times this school year. My class this year is not like my class last year. Oh, how I miss my class! I see their smiles, hear their "Mrs. Parker!" and wish that they were still mine. Although, they will always be mine in my heart, I have a new class to love. 

And, that's exactly what I've tried to do. Love each child for who they are. It's not always easy; even when they are 5. I've had many sleepless nights wondering how to connect with a child so that I can help improve their behavior. Wondering how we will survive the next 100 days if we can not get behaviors under control.

But, I have learned that before I can teach them, I must build a relationship. Talking, learning about their interests and listening to them. The power of creating a relationship is limitless. I witnessed this  at conferences, when a child told his mother, "She loves me." It didn't matter what I had taught him, that was all he wanted her to know. 

So, as I sit here writing this, I know that I am doing the right thing; one child at a time. Creating and building relationships with kids and families. That's the most important work I can do as an educator. 

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Beginning of the Year Centers

We are embarking on our fourth week of school.  We have spent a lot of time just learning about learning. We are learning to become independent learners.  My class can work and stay engaged for about 15 minutes.

As a result, I have planned centers that build upon their learning needs but also keep them on task.

Puzzles, board games, and easy to prep centers are among the activities that I am using during center time. During literacy centers, the groups have no more than four students.  Whereas, during math time, children work in pairs.

During center time, I am monitoring students or working with a group.  In many cases, it depends on how the class is responding to their independent work.  

We are taking small steps but we are heading in the right direction.  It will only get easier as they mature and learn.

How is your class going?

Happy Teaching!

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It's All About the Details

I think one of the trickiest things about teaching is planning for classroom management and organization.  This is especially true when your audience is five year olds!

I want my kiddos to be as independent as possible as soon as possible.

Here are a few things that I do to help me and them.

First, each child is assigned a number. This saves me time from having to write the child's name on a myriad of supplies and items.

Another thing, I do is to assign each table a shape.  As students complete their assignments, they place their completed work into the "I'm Done" box based on their seating.  Students at each table are responsible for distributing the work at the end of the day to take home.

To save time and arguments at listening center, everything is labeled.

How do you keep your classroom organized? Share your teaching wisdom.


Happy Teaching

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A New Journey Begins

Tomorrow is the first day of school.

My classroom is as ready as it can be.  I am sure that I will "tweak it" as needed.

This is my door.  The name owls will later be used to display student work and the door will be used during Word Work.

This is the view as you enter the classroom.

Our whole group space is ready for lots of learning to take place.

Our alphabet chart and Letter Factory Cards are displayed just below our main white board area.  I am planning on adding our monthly words and our writing anchor charts here.

My tables are grouped in varied sizes.  These are the only supplies we'll use (crayons and golf pencils) until the others (scissors, glue, highlighter, dry erase marker) are introduced.  Those supplies will go in their Grab and Go Boxes.

Book Boxes and office supplies are ready to go.

Now, all that is missing are the children whom I look forward to meeting and getting to know over the course of the school year.

Happy Teaching!

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Classroom Essentials

As you prepare for back to school, I thought I would show you some of my "must haves" for the classroom.

Books, Books and More Books!

This display holds our thematic books and teacher read alouds.  

Here is a small portion of some of our library.  I hope to replace these book boxes with some from Really Good Stuff.  Any suggestions?



Storage Containers

The numbered ones are from here.  They are the perfect size for most centers.  The colored boxes are scrapbook boxes that I use to organize some of my math manipulatives as well as to store centers once we've used them.

On top are my students' Grab and Go Boxes.  These numbered boxes keep some of their school supplies such as scissors and glue.  I like that they are portable and can travel with the student anywhere in our room.  On the bottom are our Book Boxes; ice cube buckets.


Technology
I can't imagine teaching without it anymore.  My classroom comes equipped with an Elmo and a teacher and student computer.

To make better use of our one student computer, this headphone adapter comes in handy. I was able to turn it into a instant listening center. I numbered the headphones and adapter to keep us organized.

Thanks to Donors Choose and a generous spouse, I have two iPads which my students can use.  I really hope to integrate this tool a lot more into my classroom.



Teacher Created Resources

Teachers are amazing, creative people who know and understand what kids need.  They have become my go to resource when it comes to planning.

They have also inspired me to create for my classroom as well.  This Parent Friendly Common Core resource is one of my favorites.

Our Future  

No classroom is complete without them.  It's amazing how each year I pour my heart and soul into my classroom for them.

What are your "must haves" for the classroom?  

From my classroom to yours,

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