Rules of the Game
By · CommentsFor those of you who have been following my blog for a while (thank you!!) you know I had a bit of a struggle with my class last year. They argued and talked incessantly! No matter what I did, they still talked! I eventually came to terms with it and did the best I could….my class just didn’t “gel.” Fast forward to 2010…my group this year is 100% different. I’ve always heard when you have a rough group, the next year it will be the opposite and it’s true! This year my class is quieter and (so far) are getting along well. I think this has something to do with who they are and the expectations I have for them. One huge key to this is having consistent discipline and classroom rules.
Do Unto Others
Every classroom must have a set of classroom rules. Don’t assume the children know the rules after going over them one time. They must be reviewed again and again (especially in the beginning of the year) for consistency. We are in the fourth week of school, and I still start each day by going over the rules. I do it a little more quickly than in the beginning, but by doing this I show my class rules are important and must be followed. How many rules to have? A general guideline is to have 5-6 rules. You don’t want to overload the students with TMI (Too Much Info!) To make it even easier for my kindergarten students to understand the rules, I purchased a rule pictures card set. It also comes with manners which I display on the wall, but I don’t necessarily go over these every day. You can purchase this at any teacher supply store or online. The rules are simple and concise. They are illustrated in an entertaining manner, with animals displaying the desired behavior. The ones I use are:
This is the "Manners" rule set I use in my class! Great tool for primary teachers.
Listen.
Share.
Take turns.
Help others.
Keep hands and feet to yourself.
Put things away.
Simple, right? Simplicity is best….I also add one more (which is related to the “Listen.” rule: “Don’t talk when the teacher is talking.” My class last year loved to do this (it drove me crazy!) but now my class is doing incredibly well. Just having the rules and going over them every day is not enough, however. You must also make sure they are being followed and when they aren’t, take action. Make sure the students receive some form of feedback when a rule is broken. I usually give a warning, but if I see the misbehavior continue, they receive a consequence. It’s of utmost important to be consistent. If you follow these tips, you will have a well behaved class who respect not only you, but each other as well.
The Sense of Sight Words
By · CommentsToday’s post is all about sight words (also known as Dolch words.) Just what is a sight word, exactly? It’s a common word which cannot be sounded out, but instead must be memorized. Words such as the, she, or this. As soon as kindergarten, students are required to begin learning the sight words. It helps them gain confidence as they learn to read. As they enter each succeeding grade, the sight words increase in difficulty. For some students, remembering the sight words can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help your students memorize these common words.
Using a word wall can be a great tool for reinforcing sight words.
- Only assign 1-2 sight words per week. You don’t want to overwhelm them with too many at once. Send the words home so the parents can go over them with their child.
- Drill the words daily. Have them written on index cards and each day, have the students read the word, spell the word, then read the word again. Quiz them on the words as you add new ones each week.
- Display the words on the “Word Wall.” Do assorted word wall activities to go over the words periodically. I like the “flash light” game. Turn off the lights and shine the flash light on a word. Have the students read the word and spell it. It’s a simple activity, but the dark makes it oh so fun!
- Use sight word readers containing the sight words and easy decodable words. (See below for this set on Amazon.)
- Have them write the sight words 4-5 times each for homework.
- Go to Starfall.com and allow the students to pay the sight word games. Games help them retain so much information! You can also purchase the Starfall game. I have it in my class and it’s great for reviewing letter names, sounds, and sight words.
- Go to hubbardscuppard.org and print out the sight word booklets (FREE!)
- Use sight words during modeled writing time and encourage students to use them in their writing journals.
- Use sight word worksheets, such as the one pictured below in the Amazon box.
Whew! That was a lot of tips….hopefully you can use some to help your students become fluent sight word readers! What works for you in teaching sight words? Please do share by leaving a comment below.
Start Your School Year Right
By · CommentsWhew! It has been a very busy few weeks! School began here in Florida and it seems like there’s always something to do! I even brought home a ton of work to do. Are you the kind of teacher who brings things home to work on? Or do you stay late just to finish? I must admit most of the time I do neither (I get it all done on time 
, but lately I have had to stay late on many days, and bring a lot home too. For many of you up north, school hasn’t begun yet, so I wanted to share a few tips for new teachers (and the experienced ones too, for that matter.) These tips will make the start of your school year run smoothly. Here goes!
Switch-A-Seat Smoothly
If you have tables in your classroom instead of desks, you may find it difficult to move a student’s place because you have taped their name tags to the tables. I have a solution! Instead of taping their desk tags, I velcro them. This way I can easily remove their name tag and put it at a different table if need be. This works great for when they start to get too “comfy” with each other and the talking gets out of control! You can get velcro strips or pre-cut squares (my preference) at Walmart, Target, or the teacher supply store. It’s quite easy!
Three Cheers for Table Points!
Here’s something else you can do to make procedures easier in your classroom. This can work whether you have tables or desks in clusters. I always label each table with a number: table 1, 2, 3, and 4. When I call the students from the tables to the carpet for lessons or stories, I call each table one at a time. This alleviates 20 children going to the carpet at one time. I also reward the tables by giving table points. This works great for transitions. For example, when we are finishing up writing time, I have them clean up and the table who cleans up first and is the quietest get the most points. I also give points to the other tables who are quiet but they don’t get as many points as the first table! I also give points to the tables working quietly during work times. At the end of the week, we count all the points (I write them as tally marks, another opportunity to teach within something fun!) and the table with the most wins a great prize. I usually go to the Dollar Store to get snacks or school supplies which come in packs of 4-6 so I maximize my money. Table points are so motivating for the students because they love to win the special prize!
Here are a few pictures of my classroom setup (as promised.) If you have any questions about how I configured my classroom or would like to share tips on how you set up your room, feel free to leave a comment. Sharing is caring!
My classroom setup
The classroom library- a comfy place to snuggle up with a book.
How to Set Up Your Classroom
By · CommentsI just wanted to write a short post because guess what….it’s the first day back to school for teachers! I am gearing up for meetings, meetings, and more meetings! Just kidding, I will also be able to get back into my classroom and start the process all over again. I’m going into my seventh year teaching, so with each year, it gets easier. I remember when I was a rookie teacher and I stepped foot in my classroom for the first time. I took one look at the empty walls and furniture all over the place and wanted to either:
A. run
B. cry or
C. all of the above!
But now it’s basically a breeze…things become easier with time, practice, and experience! So if you’re a new teacher just starting, here’s a good place to begin with an empty room:
Draw a map of your classroom and play with design (draw where you want the tables, desks, centers, etc.) In this room, you’re the interior decorator so you’re in charge of how to set it up! Once you have the design in place, move the furniture according to your plan. It’s always good to have a written plan so you don’t end up having to move things too many times. If you end up not liking the placement, you can always change it up.
Once I have my room set up, I will share a picture so you can see what I’ve done. I will be teaching kindergarten again so my set up will be to promote cooperative learning and social development. Both important things for a new kindergartner, wouldn’t you say?
So to all the returning teachers, I have this to say to you: Have a wonderful first day and a fantastic school year full of reaching and teaching young minds. I also found a great quote to share with you about education, just to remind us that although we are important, school isn’t everything!
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” Albert Einstein
Happy first day of school, teachers!
Back to School!
By · CommentsIt’s that time again! For many of us down south, it’s back to school time. Teachers in my area return to school on Monday and students return the following Monday. I’ve found a great resource for teachers as we return to a fresh school year. Check out TeachHUB for an awesome back to school guide! From first day activities to a beginner’s guide, TeachHUB covers it all and shows me why they are my favorite teacher helper site! Please check it out…it might give you a few life saving tips!
Tax Free Weekend
In some states, when school is about to return, there is a one weekend “tax-free” break for clothing purchases! This makes a great way to freshen up your teaching wardrobe while saving a few bucks. I know it’s something I usually like to do before going back to school. It’s also good for getting the kids some new school duds! The dates differ for various states, so google this to find yours (just add your state in): “tax free weekend.”
Back on the Kindergarten Train
On a side note, I found out I am going to be teaching kindergarten again and I am thrilled! I look forward to a new school year leading my little ones.
It's that time again...
