The Pigeon HAS to Go to School

The first day of school is HUGE!!  It is a day full of excitement, worries, nervousness, happiness, and just feeling unsure of what to expect that first day and new school year.  As teachers, we feel a lot of these same emotions just like the kids!  I know I do!  In Kindergarten, some of the kids have been in a preschool before, but there are some that have never been away from their families.  It can be so frightening for them, and there can be lots of tears.  

At our school, the parents are allowed to walk them in the classroom during the first week.  This can be comforting but sometimes can be hard not only for the students but also for the parents.  It is hard letting go!!  I know it was for me when my own kids went to Kindergarten.  And 1st grade.  And 2nd grade.  Ha ha!  It's hard to let go!  

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Crate Seats and Lap Desks

I have been doing traditional seating for part of the day and flexible seating for most of the day, but this coming year my class will be much bigger, so I am going full on flexible seating.  I have a few different seating options, but without spending a lot of money, I wanted to make crate seats to have as another option.  I began this project knowing somewhat how to make them, but I was excited to find Lindsay's blog on the how to:  http://sweetnsauerfirsties.com/2019/05/30/diy-storage-crate-seats/

She kept it simple and easy to follow!  

I also watched Miss Chruma's video on how to add a dry erase board or flip to use as a lap desk.
Her video is https://youtu.be/XxrmUS3raEE

Both of these were soooo helpful in getting started, so check them out.  Let's get started!

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Cranky Cream and Other Magic Potions

Why do I love teaching the little ones?  They are so sweet and are amazed at the littlest things!  Some days we have kiddos that come into school and had a bad morning or didn't get enough sleep.  Some days WE as teachers do, too.  Not every day is a fantastic day.  I started using Cranky Cream when I had some students feeling stuck in their mood.  I know that life is harder for some, but sometimes we need a little something to bring on a better attitude and smile.  Sometimes it can be a simple fix for that moment.

They rub a little cranky cream on, and most of them time they suddenly start to feel better.  It works wonders!  This bottle of lotion is Hempz (just becuase I had it at home).  I have used several different ones.  I like to use scented lotions when I can, but I get unscented as well.

I have also filled up a clear salt shaker with glitter and taped the top so glitter won't come out.  This can be used as Magic Sprinkles- getting their brain ready to learn or happy glitter.  I "sprinkle" some on them, and like magic- they are thinking and working much better.

Some have used lotion for Boo Boo Lotion.  You know those invisible hurts and boo boos that really don't need a visit to the nurse?  I always have a few that think they need to go to the nurse about EVERYTHING.  Sometimes it only needs a bandaid over the invisible spot. Let them rub a little lotion on that spot and magically it begins to feel better!

These are simple tricks and ways to make it all better and continue on with your day.  And they look cute, too!  We could have different lotions for all kinds of things depending on your class - happy, brain power, calming, friendship, smart choices, reading superpowers (just to name a few)!

I have the Cranky Cream label in my TpT store as a FREEBIE!  Let me know how it goes!

Click here  to get this freebie.  

Leave me a comment if you try it OR if you have another trick similar to this that works in your classroom.

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Books, Books, and More Books!

One of my favorite parts of summer is being able to read fiction books but also professional development books.  I just can't get enough.  Summer is a time to refresh, recharge, and reignite the spark and magic of teaching.  I don't know about you, but for me, it is SO hard to turn my brain off.  I feel like all the shiny things are all around me, and I want to go to each one!  Hmmmm.  Too much!  Soooo I started my summer with the book Where the Crawdads Sing - this is a MUST read!!  If you read any fiction book, read this!

For professional development, I decided to focus on Reading and Phonics.  I have several books on my list, and I may not finish all of them, but I am going to try!!  A few of them I have read, but I like to go back and reread certain books that I know I can get more from after reading it again.

The first book on my list is Letter Lessons and First Words by Heidi Anne Mesmer.  This is such a great book for teaching phonics for Pk-2nd.  It is easy to follow, and there are videos to watch throughout the book of her explaining in more detail as well as teaching short lessons and putting it in action.  Videos help me so much in putting it all together!  She talks about what engaging phonics instruction looks like and provides tools to use in the classroom.  She also gives a scope and sequence of what to teach, quick assessments, a lesson framework, and units of activities.  This is an excellent book if you want more direction in teaching phonics effectively.

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Classroom Management Rewards

I'mmmmm back!!  This year has been so busy and flown by for me!  I have missed writing here and sharing the activities we are doing.  I posted most of them on IG, so follow me there for more!

Regarding classroom management - I do NOT like color charts at all!!!  I honestly can't stand them.  There is too much focus on what color they are on which I don't like everyone knowing that in the class.  What some student is working on is none of other classmate's business!  I feel like it focusing on the negative, and I wouldn't want my behavior up for display at a staff meeting.  Right??

At carpool- what is the first thing a parent asks... what color were you on?  Not- "how was your day?", "what did you learn?", or  "what was your favorite part of the day?"  I don't like that at all.

What works best for me?  I use a super improvers wall similar to the Whole Brain Teaching model.  I have cards for each student, and they move up in color as they improve academically or behaviorally.   This WORKS!!  We celebrate each other as they move up.  When there is improvement or a child or group of children are doing what they are supposed to be doing, they can earn a star on their card.  When they earn 10 stars, they move up to the next color/ level. 

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