What materials do you have in your classroom for your students to play with? We end our day with Discovery time (free play) and I am always looking for new items to add, the more open-ended, the better!
I LOVE school supplies! I get excited at the beginning of each school year as much as my kindergarten students do about using new supplies.
What is your favorite teacher supply or item? Something that you use all the time that others may like to know about?
How do you organize student data?
I have several data recording sheets I purchased online to help me see each of my students' growth over time and keep those in a binder. How do you store and keep track of anecdotal notes or informal observations you make?
How do you use your PLC time? How is it structured? What roles to different members have and how does your meeting time flow?
What is the one thing you wish you knew as a first year teacher?
I wish I knew that it was okay to be firm and consistent with my students (classroom management 101!). Start the year by being firm and consistent with your students in your decision making, classroom expectations, etc., and that will pay you back all year long!
Last year, I had a bulletin board up outside my door with questions for each grade level. Since moving rooms, I don't have as much room outside my door so I was looking for some ideas on how I can engage students. I was thinking of doing some of these boards with questions. I love the idea of them proving me wrong -- that was the premise of what I did last year too. Have you used something like this before? Any suggestions or tips? (It probably goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, this is not my photo.)
Beginning of the year activity -- turned test prep strategy!
At the beginning of the year a few years ago, I decided to play 4 corners with students with get to know you questions. I put up a slide-show with questions and the 4 possible responses. I set out the rules (no running, must choose one of the answers, keep within your own space, etc) and labeled each corner. When they made their selection, they could talk with another person or in a small group, why they choose that answer. Then they could share if there was another one they would have picked. If only one student was at a corner, I would go over and talk with them.
What I realized a few weeks in was that I could also do this with math multiple choice questions for practice (I taught primarily math at the time, but you could do it with other subjects too). Students then had to show their work for the answer or explain how they got it. I occasionally would throw in a question that had multiple right answers and would share that up front with students. They then could discuss in their groups if they thought any of the other answers were correct and how they knew.
From the elementary school lens: one of my favorite beginning of the year brain-break/ice breaker activity is the idea of Stand Up-Sit Down. You put a statement on the board: Stand up if: I have pet. Students then get to see who in the class has a pet and who doesn't. You can allow students to share with a partner or the whole group about their pet or if students don't have one, what pet they might like to have. This helps students move and also get to make connections with others in the room! I usually create a slide show presentation with some statements and use them throughout the first week. That way students don't get bored and gives time for discussion if that's what you want to facilitate!
I have just moved into a new role as a STEM Coach for this upcoming year! I am excited about the next step in my educational journey, and of course, I'm anxious about the transition.
Our district level Science Coordinator gave me some great ideas for reading about coaching. One of my favorites is the book Arise by Elena Aguilar because it relates so much to teachers being human and remembering that in our conversations. Elena also has a podcast called Bright Morning Podcast which I would also recommend.
I also read and loved The Essential Guide for Student Centered Coaching by Diane Sweeney. This gives more of the nuts and bolts of what it means to be a coach. I loved this one and will dive into Student Centered Coaching: The Moves after I finish Arise!
Any other great reads or podcasts you would recommend as a new coach?
How do you organize your classroom library in your Kindergarten classroom? Do you sort books in bins by topic or some other way? What are your most popular titles?
With the focus on Science of Reading, have you found any decodables for beginning readers that you really like?
I am ready for a new classroom theme! Any suggestions for a theme that is calming and has more muted colors?
I was introduced to Magic School over the summer. Have you used it with your students? How have you used it? I learned how to app smash it with Book Creator, but I am looking for some other suggestions.
Are you able to have live classroom pets? What are some good suggestions for classroom pets?
We are not able to have any pets with fur due to allergies, other than our school therapy dog. Several of our teachers have fish or turtles.
Do you use desk pets? How do you organize them and how do your students earn them?
How do you manage behaviors in Kindergarten?
I use a warm fuzzy jar and LOTS of modeling of behaviors that I WANT to see happening. Students earn warm fuzzies as a class for following classroom routines and expectations and when we fill the jar, we choose a no-cost, school appropriate reward such as extra recess, extra play time, dance parties (10 minutes), extra time to read/draw/paint/build/etc. Each time a student models the correct behavior they earn a warm fuzzy. As we move through the school year, it takes more to earn a warm fuzzy and they are given out less and less.
I am searching for some new dramatic play themes for my kindergarten classroom this year. Any suggestions or ideas I should try?
I have already decided that I will add in:
-coffee shop
-weather station
-garden center
So, it has been a while since I have been on this platform as a coach. I did not want to seem like a hypocrite. I have been teaching a long time and this year seemed to be extremely difficult all around. I felt that if I were to give advice, it would be hollow and just mundane. However, while I was reflecting on my year and cleaning my room, I happened upon a box, a time capsule if you will. In it were my goals that I set as a first year teacher. There were also notes and cards from students and parents. One particular note was from a student who thanked me for listening. He wrote that he never felt heard until he was in my class. This letter renewed my spark into a flame.
As you reflect on your teaching, remember why you decided to teacher. My focus became about me and I reminded myself that the students are my focus. My goal should be to help at least one more.
Teaching is a tough job. But the rewards outweigh the struggle. I almost lost that hope. Stay strong teachers!
