Back to School Welcome Door
I made this welcome door decoration and have really enjoyed the colors, and the way it makes the kids feel special and happy at school. Each letter has a different pattern in it. Very easy to make.
1st & 2nd Grade Class Library
I admit it. I am a children's book collecting junkie. For the past year, I have been attempting to stop buying so many books at thrift stores, its not easy. When I see one of my favorites in good shape its like I have little shoulder angels arguing on on whether or not I should buy it.
"I love this book, its wonderful, I can't just leave it here. It's only 50 cents!" "You already have a copy of this book." "I know, but two students could read it at the same time if I got another one. And what if my other copy gets damaged? It would be good to have a spare!" "Don't do it, you can't fit anymore books."
Sometimes the book horder wins, sometimes the common sense wins, you never know. So anyway, I have cut back some on my compulsive book buying!
When you have so many books it is very important to organize them in such a way that the children can easily find books that are right for them. This is why I do not organize by genre, but by the level of the book. It's easy and its free.
To find the levels I use http://www.arbookfind.com/. Search for the name of the book and it will give you different information about it. I use the BL (book level) number and write it with a sharpie on the bottom right corner of the book. Then I used dish tubs with labels for each level.
Not all books are listed, but most of them are. For the ones that are not I make a guess on the level based on other books that are a similar difficulty. I grouped all of my science/animal books separately. That is one genre that does do better on its own.
At the beginning of the year I start all my first graders with 0 & 1 level books. My second graders start at 1.5 to 2.5. As the year goes and their abilities change the progress to reading more difficult levels.
I let them take home one book at a time to read at home. I give them each a zip-lock bag with their name on it. Each day they choose a book and put it in their bag to take home. At night they read the book, write down the title, and the number of minutes they read. At the end of the month I award prizes for those that read 300 minutes or more.
If you would like a copy of the form click here: Reading Log.
They really love reading the books, and are usually very good about bringing the books back..And if they don't, well, I can always buy more!!
"I love this book, its wonderful, I can't just leave it here. It's only 50 cents!" "You already have a copy of this book." "I know, but two students could read it at the same time if I got another one. And what if my other copy gets damaged? It would be good to have a spare!" "Don't do it, you can't fit anymore books."
Sometimes the book horder wins, sometimes the common sense wins, you never know. So anyway, I have cut back some on my compulsive book buying!
When you have so many books it is very important to organize them in such a way that the children can easily find books that are right for them. This is why I do not organize by genre, but by the level of the book. It's easy and its free.
To find the levels I use http://www.arbookfind.com/. Search for the name of the book and it will give you different information about it. I use the BL (book level) number and write it with a sharpie on the bottom right corner of the book. Then I used dish tubs with labels for each level.
Not all books are listed, but most of them are. For the ones that are not I make a guess on the level based on other books that are a similar difficulty. I grouped all of my science/animal books separately. That is one genre that does do better on its own.
I let them take home one book at a time to read at home. I give them each a zip-lock bag with their name on it. Each day they choose a book and put it in their bag to take home. At night they read the book, write down the title, and the number of minutes they read. At the end of the month I award prizes for those that read 300 minutes or more.
If you would like a copy of the form click here: Reading Log.
They really love reading the books, and are usually very good about bringing the books back..And if they don't, well, I can always buy more!!
Thank You Note Time
Today we made thank you notes for after Christmas. It seems that kids really don't practice taking the time to write thank you notes very often, so they really enjoyed it. The writing part gives them the format on how to write the note, and then they drew a picture of the gift they received. They came out pretty cute!
Free printable for you! Hope you enjoy it. Thank You!
Random Acts of Kindness
These random acts of kindness cards are a great way to discipline children in a positive way. Instead of writing mindless sentences or standing on the fence during recess, try this instead. If the child has been unkind to another student, have them choose a random acts of kindness card. He or she must do the kind thing for the student that they were unkind too.
What I really love about it is that it teaches the child how good it feels to be nice, or helpful. It helps them to think about changing instead of just rolling their eyes and getting their punishment over with. Its a great way to create a spirit of peace and friendship in your classroom.
Download it free here: Bee Kind!
What I really love about it is that it teaches the child how good it feels to be nice, or helpful. It helps them to think about changing instead of just rolling their eyes and getting their punishment over with. Its a great way to create a spirit of peace and friendship in your classroom.
Download it free here: Bee Kind!
Making Tens Game
I invented this fun little game to make practicing math facts a lot more thrilling. :)
This is the board, you can download it free here: Making Tens Game Board (Directions are included with the download.
This is the board, you can download it free here: Making Tens Game Board (Directions are included with the download.
1. To set up you will need to purchase 8 1" wood blocks from the craft store. You can use anything to be the little tokens, I used animal counters.
2. Make 4 sets of dice with different colors for each set.
3. On one cube write the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. On the second cube write 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
4. You can play taking turns, or everyone can roll simultaneously.
5. Players roll their dice and if the two dice add up to ten, they move their token forward one space. First player to the middle wins.
Field Trip Form (Editable)
Easy form, type in the details for your trip for a professional look.
To get the form click here: Permission Slip
Download into Microsoft Word, Edit and Print.
The Challenging Child
Every year brings a child a two that try my patience, but last year I experienced a student that had the potential to destroy me. This disruptive, rude, self centered child was nearly my undoing. Because I teach both first and second grade, I knew that I would be facing him again the next year too. I considered getting a job at the Dairy Queen!
My second year with Marcus is almost half way done and we have made a lot of progress, although we do have some more room to grow.
Here is what is working for me, I hope it helps you too.
One morning at the start of the day I called Marcus over for a friendly little chat. I wanted the conversation to be respectful and positive on both sides, so my tone was calm and thoughtful. I explained to him that one of things that he was doing regularly, and told him as a team we were going to work on that behavior.
"Marcus." "There is something you do that we need to work on." "Very often you start making these groaning, growling noises because you want attention from me." Then I demonstrated an example of what he does. "You need to understand that you do not need to have attention all the time. The next thing that happens is I ask you to stop making noises, and you always say "I wasn't making any." " Marcus of course said "No I don't". "Marcus, do you really think that I just randomly come up to you when you are working quietly and tell you to be quiet?" He kind of looks at me like, hmmmm. "Marcus when you say "No I wasn't" to me, that is back talk, and it is disrespectful. Today I want your goal to be instead of arguing with me, just say "ok" and stop making the noise."
Marcus agreed to the challenge. Sure enough, an hour later, he is making the noises. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised and said. "Marcus, please stop making those noises." He immediately started "I wasn't..." "oops, I'm sorry Mrs. Markoya."
It was a beautiful moment. He actually was able to see himself and what he was doing. He could see that he was in fact, doing the behavior I described. Awareness, and a willingness to try to change have begun. I didn't have to yell, I didn't have to punish, we set a goal, and are moving forward.
The next day I did the same thing with a different goal in mind. I promised him that if he didn't scowl (I demonstrated the face he always makes) at anyone or say anything mean for a whole hour I would give everyone in the class a little piece of candy. He did it. He was so proud. "I didn't make faces at anyone!" The whole class was proud, especially me. We have hope, and little by little we're going to get there!
My second year with Marcus is almost half way done and we have made a lot of progress, although we do have some more room to grow.
Here is what is working for me, I hope it helps you too.
One morning at the start of the day I called Marcus over for a friendly little chat. I wanted the conversation to be respectful and positive on both sides, so my tone was calm and thoughtful. I explained to him that one of things that he was doing regularly, and told him as a team we were going to work on that behavior.
"Marcus." "There is something you do that we need to work on." "Very often you start making these groaning, growling noises because you want attention from me." Then I demonstrated an example of what he does. "You need to understand that you do not need to have attention all the time. The next thing that happens is I ask you to stop making noises, and you always say "I wasn't making any." " Marcus of course said "No I don't". "Marcus, do you really think that I just randomly come up to you when you are working quietly and tell you to be quiet?" He kind of looks at me like, hmmmm. "Marcus when you say "No I wasn't" to me, that is back talk, and it is disrespectful. Today I want your goal to be instead of arguing with me, just say "ok" and stop making the noise."
Marcus agreed to the challenge. Sure enough, an hour later, he is making the noises. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised and said. "Marcus, please stop making those noises." He immediately started "I wasn't..." "oops, I'm sorry Mrs. Markoya."
It was a beautiful moment. He actually was able to see himself and what he was doing. He could see that he was in fact, doing the behavior I described. Awareness, and a willingness to try to change have begun. I didn't have to yell, I didn't have to punish, we set a goal, and are moving forward.
The next day I did the same thing with a different goal in mind. I promised him that if he didn't scowl (I demonstrated the face he always makes) at anyone or say anything mean for a whole hour I would give everyone in the class a little piece of candy. He did it. He was so proud. "I didn't make faces at anyone!" The whole class was proud, especially me. We have hope, and little by little we're going to get there!
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