Thank You... Secret Walker

One of my biggest pet peeves is a noisy class running by disrupting every classroom in its' hurricane of noise.   I can't explain why it grates my nerves so much, but it does.  Probably because as I listen to the stampede of pounding rubber on linoleum floor and the flutter of high-pitched squeals and giggles I lose all train of thought - my fabulously organized and animated lesson replaced with my ever-famous blank stare (my physiological response to any type of sudden confusion).

So...  I really want the class left in my charge to follow appropriate hallway etiquette: quiet, facing forward, hands at your sides, etc.  I might even be on the cusp of militant on this point, but again it's a personal quirk.

Thanks to Amy over at What Happens in First Grade, I found the simplest and most effective tool in managing students' behavior in the hallway: The Mystery Walker.  I called it My Secret Walker, but what's in a name?

It was amazing how well this worked, without purchasing a thing (at first).  The first day I implemented My Secret Walker I explained to the students that I was thinking of a number between 1-18, the students each had a designated number in the classroom.  If the coinciding student behaved appropriately in the hallways and during special, they would earn 5 minutes of free-time for the class.  What an immediate effect!!!  I turned and stifled a laugh as 18 tiny faces transformed into set determination... they really wanted those 5 minutes.    So off we went, in perfect formation, to gym.  As we entered, the students waited patiently for directions rather than running wildly about the open space.  With a simple nod of my head they found there designated spots and sat down.  When the gym teacher threw a questioning glance my way, I quietly explained the rules of "My Secret Walker."

I've used the strategy ever since, even when I substitute teach... amazing!


We Work for Compliments!!!

I love when another adult enters my classroom and says, "Wow, we didn't realize there were students in the room.  Everyone is working so quietly."  Or, "Your class was the best behaved in the cafeteria today!"  Any kind of compliment makes me feel like I achieved something even though it was my students who were successful.

To encourage this feeling of achievement, I tell my students that we work for compliments.  Yes, it is their job, but it's the easiest one they'll ever have.  I explain that all they need to do is follow the rules and adults in the school will notice.  After receiving a few compliments by following directions, I always look at them and say, "I told you so. Easy, Peasy."  The only catch is that I cannot be the one delivering compliments - of course I think their wonderful, so it's not really fair.  The trick is to show everyone else in the school how great they can be. 

Usually I have a Compliment Chain I hang over the door.  For every compliment I add a link with the date and the person's name who delivered the compliment.  Once the chain reaches the floor, I give the whole class a reward: Fun Friday, Munchkin Party, Movie, etc. 

Though I love my chain, it's so easy (and cheap).  I'm visually drawn to Miss Molly's Compliment Jar.  Same idea, just seems a lot cuter.




 

Literacy with Popsicle Sticks

I love popsicle sticks!  If I had known how useful they would be in my career I wouldn't have carelessly thrown them away all those years.  Silly, silly, Ms. Q for not thinking ahead. I love educational games for the classroom and popsicle sticks seem to be one of the simplest ways to do so. 

So here are a few ideas...

1. ABC Order: write spelling, high frequency words, or vocabulary words on the end of each stick.  Have the students place them in ABC order.

Over Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, she has a list of different games to play along with worksheets.  They're $5 at TpT, but may be worth it.

2. Sequential Order:  Write sentences on the sticks and have students arrange them in sequential order.  Use key words like First, Then, Next, and Finally to practice How-To's and beginning, middle, and end. 

3. BAM!: Or Bang!  Write high frequency words, spelling words, or vocabulary words on the end of each stick.  Include some popsicle sticks with the word BAM!  Students each take turns pulling out a stick and if they can read it they can keep it, but if they pull out a BAM! stick they have to put ALL their sticks back. 

4. Rhyming Jars, Word Families, and Word Sorts:  I LOVE this idea over at First Grader... At Last! 

First Grader... At Last Word Sort

She doesn't use popsicle sticks, but you definitely can. 

5. Parts of Speech: This is another sorting idea.  Write different parts of speech on the end of the sticks and have students sort them into nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. 

6. Build a Sentence: Write different words on the sticks and have students practice building sentences.  As the year progresses the students can practice building longer more descriptive sentences.

7. Story Prompts:  Color code sticks to represent different parts of a story: people, places, and problems.  Have the students randomly draw one of each to create their own story prompt.

8. Sight Word Puzzle: Place 2 popsicle sticks together and write sight words, or spelling words, across both. The students then have to match them up.  Quick, easy, fun way to practice site words.  Click here.

9. I'm Done: For fast finishers write different activities they can complete on the sticks and place it in a cup.  They can come, pick a stick, and work quietly.  Team V's First Grade Fun has a list of activities you can include.



10.  Organizing popsicle sticks.  This is why I created this blog, to keep track of all the great ideas I come across on my never-ending search for teaching ideas.  There was a post, somewhere, at some time, that I rummaged through where the author organized all her popsicle stick activities by unit.  She labeled each jar and had them ready as the students progressed through the year.  The moment I re-find the wonderful post I will appropriately give her credit for a fabulous idea... 'til then...

What the Kids Want: Persuasive Writing

I love to give students real world examples when writing, gearing prompts to some type of relevance to their lives.  Persuasive writing seems to be a perfect time to teach students how to correctly and effectively argue their points of view.   The topic can be changed according to the seasons, ex: If you were a pumpkin persuade someone to pick you.  Current popular trends.  Why should everyone listen to One Direction?  But, I love this idea.  Use travel brochures and have students write a persuasive piece convincing their parents to take them to their favorite vacationing spot.  It exposes students to different types of print and practices a writing skill. 


Thanks to Caitlyn at Kindergarten Smiles.

Reading A-Z With Style

In the district I currently work with, Reading A-Z is a much-used resourced.  I, still a substitute, am not privy to my own secret password, but have perused the site  Shhh...don't tell anyone.  Actually, this became vital in my most recent position because the school lost most of its textbooks, workbooks, supplies, library books, etc. as a result of Hurricane Sandy.  We all scrambled for materials to use in the classroom.  What I sought most were leveled books and Reading A-Z had plenty of them... thank goodness.

Which is I why I loved this idea so much!!! It's a cute and decorative way to organize all those great resources offered at Reading A-Z. 

Kaitlyn, at Wicked Fun in First Grade, explains how she laminates the cover page and then adds colored duct tape to the edge.  She not only protected them for future use, but color coded them according to levels.   Brilliant!  There are so many possibilities... classroom library, Daily 5 "good fit" books, or as Kaitlyn did - leveled homework reading. 

Touch Math

I love the idea of TouchMath, some students simply need the tactile approach to learn.  I was only introduced to this during the last several days of my 1st grade position and felt my students were at a great disadvantage because of my ignorance.  More than a few students would have greatly benefited from this concept had I known. 

The basis is that the numbers 1-4 have a single touch point the students touch while they count, the numbers 5-9 have double touch points.  By having the students touch these points on the number while they count they build number sense and an understanding that a number has a value. For more information click here.  This seems like a great idea for pre-school or kindergarten students, but can really benefit students who are learning to count on or need practice with basic math facts. 

Now, the other aspect I love about TouchMath is how you can personalize the concept to fit nicely in your classroom,  From examples I've researched you can use wikki sticks, stickers, or add texture to the touch points.  Over at Little Adventure Preschool, kiddos use do-a-dot markers to fill in touch points.

Simple Math Do-Nows

I'm a big fan of simple Do-Nows the students can complete when they enter the classroom, as we transition from one subject to another, or after lunch/recess.  I feel it helps the students switch gears and prepares them for the new task to come.  I'm always looking for something simple, but I also want a sense of repetition for students who benefit from some structure in their lives. 



I found this worksheet on Pinterest and thought this would be a perfect daily math do-now or something to do with calendar time, especially for our little learners.  The best thing is that the worksheet is free over at TeachersPayTeachers.  Click here.

This was another similar idea thanks to Jody at Confessions of a Kinder Teacher!

For older students or accelerated learners I also found a great worksheet that uses a "Number of theDay."  The worksheet has the students write the number in expanded form, word form, adding to the number, subtracting from the number, and much more.  Click here.

I Love Hand Signals!

Hand signals... simple, quick, and a great management tool.  My previous experience used hand signals and it saved so much time and kept the classroom running smoothly with minimal disruptions.  How many times is there an engaging discussion only to be forced off track with a fervent hand waving through the air, not to add information or answer a question, but rather to request permission to use the bathroom.  Or you're working with a small group, keeping students focused to manage the precious seconds you have on the given task, you look up and see a student (who should be working) staring at you intently with their hand in the air.

"Yes (insert student name here," Ms. Q.
"May, I go the bathroom?"
"Yes, hurry back though," Ms. Q.

Stop.  Refocus.  Now the student at your small group table has to re-read the selection because you've been distracted.  Half-way through the re-read your eyes wander up and you see another hand in the air...

"Yes (insert another student's name)," Ms. Q.
"My pencil broke."
"Well, you can trade it in for a sharp one if you need," Ms. Q.

Breath... glance at the guided reading book you're currently working with and ask a relevant question regarding the reading selection, even though you never actually heard the student read.  As a student attempts to answer... another hand goes in the air.  Another bathroom break needed and you are dangerously close to losing all your small group time answering students' requests about sharpened pencils, bathroom breaks, drinks, etc. 

Not with hand signals.  You assign a different signal for every request and instead of disrupting the class you simply give a nod or shake of the head, never once losing track or time.  Simple, effective, and a must in classrooms. 

Over at Clutter Free Classroom, a hand signal was created for various classroom necessities:

Bathroom, Tissue, Water, Pencil, and Questions.  By implementing hand signals,  so much time is saved throughout the day.  Instead of answering questions, you could focus on your small group or 1-on-1. 


They also implemented a hand-signal system during discussions, which I thought was genius.  How many times are you thrown off track because a student decides to add a random story nowhere related to the current topic.  Now a sea of hands shoot in the air adding to the off-topic or to deliver their own funny anecdote.  The lesson on proper nouns has veered into Timmy's pet poodle and his recent adventure with a raccoon.  That is definitely not part of the Common Core, but most likely what the students will remember.  Well, Clutter Free Classroom also implemented hand signals used to manage small and hole-group discussions.  The students can either Answer, Comment, or Question.  Again, genius.

Notes to Nemo

My biggest classroom management issue, my downfall, is the students' need to tell me everything and my inability to turn them away!  New shoes, fights with siblings, sports events, broken toys, jokes, songs, tattling... you name it, they tell me.  Usually, at the wrong time.

With so many things to talk about and so many students I was at a stump as to what to do.  I love the students' excitement and their trust in me, but if allowed each student to tell me every important detail in their lives (a play date with a friend is as important to a child as a reunion with an old friend is to an adult) learning would never take place.  I had to find a way to listen to my students, each of them, without interfering with our classroom time. 

My first strategy was to designate snack time as chat time, allowing students the time to tell me any tidbit they wanted to share about their lives, but that failed.  I had a line of students waiting to talk and no one eating their snacks.  I also realized that some of the quieter students would never meander to the line willingly though they had their own stories to share.  I had to scrap that idea.

Next, I tried to organize a daily rotation.  Each day certain students had the opportunity to come and tell me whatever they wanted for a few minutes.  However, sometimes students had nothing to share on their day or another had something really important they couldn't wait to tell me.  This strategy, no good.  (I do use it to make sure each student is getting a little extra attention throughout the week).

Finally, and something that actually worked, was a variation of the Tattle Monster.  The teacher I replaced in the beginning of the year had the same idea and by the time we met she already created the perfect variation... Notes to Nemo.  I  decorated an old shoe box, added some writing paper, and included some fancy pens and viola! A perfect solution to my problem.

What I loved about Notes to Nemo, was that it included everything... not just tattling!  I learned about

Very blurry picture of Notes to Nemo...sorry.

the students and their lives without having an all day group meeting.  The shyer students had an outlet for any concerns, the more verbose students filled page after page creating diary entries, letters, or even illustrations.  The students could sign their names or leave it anonymous, whatever they chose.  At the end of the week I would empty the box and read through all of their notes.  It surprised me how these little people, even at such a young age, had so many valid concerns in and out of the classroom... and so many reasons to be excited!

Teaching Philosophy, Ideas, & Thouhghts

Well, I've been told repeatedly I need a teaching philosophy - a page or two of my thoughts on teaching and learning.  They asked me to create my personal philosophy during my own education. Being the obsessive and overachieving student I am,  I spent hours hypothesizing, researching, creating, editing, and compiling an articulate article of my teaching expectations.  Now after some experience, I do realize the importance of a teaching philosophy, but see it in a different light. 

My teaching philosophy is no longer two double spaced pages of argued ideas.  It's merely a few words used to ground my beliefs and behavior in the classroom.   The key character words I hope to demonstrate everyday.

1. Enthusiasm, I hope to remain enthusiastic about the learning process.  Passing this passion and eagerness to my students.

2. Creativity, I hope to remain creative in my teaching approach.  Not to settle for mediocre, but continually strive for new and unique ideas to motivate and engage students.

3. Organization, I hope to find and maintain an organizational strategy in the classroom that eliminates wasted time.  I want to teach, not rifle through lost papers and search for missing items.

4. Flexibility, I hope to remember that no amount of planning and organization can account for life surprises.  Breath, relax, have a giggle, and move on with another fantastic idea.

5. Compassion, I hope to always remember the unique differences of my students and meet their needs with heart and humor.


The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.  ~William Arthur Ward