FUN Hallway Behavior Management Idea

 

 

Fun Friday Linky Party...on a Sunday night?

Better late than never I hope.

 

I had a post planned for Friday to link up with sweet Kelly over at Teaching Fourth but when I got home from school Friday I was all kinds of exhausted.  Seriously wiped out.

 

And then yesterday got off to a productive start.  We went to the grocery store EARLY and put groceries away, cleaned a little, and walked the dog all by 10 am.  Then...I participated in a little retail therapy with my momma at the Loft (30% off  everything...yes please!).

 

After that...the productivity came to a screeching halt.

 

The rest of the day consisted of football, buffalo chicken dip, and naps. 

 

So today I have been extra busy preparing for next week!

 

Last week was a giant success.  I love my new students.  They are sweet as sugar and excited about EVERYTHING.  The jitter juice was definitely a favorite but they were seriously thrilled about everything we did. One sweetie actually said..."Yay! A sheet!"  When I passed out a little dot to dot paper.

 

  I love it.

 

I wish I could share more pictures (especially their giant smiles while they were drinking jitter juice) but I was too busy snapping photos of their cute faces that I forgot to take many that I could share on my blog.

 

Here they are playing "Roll it to the Top."

 

Never have I ever introduced a math game on the second day of school but I thought they could handle it...and I was right!

 

 

You can download "Roll it to the Top" for FREE from my TPT store.

 

It is part of a Back to School Math Game Pack with lots of other games that you can play at the very beginning of the year with your first graders (or all year long with your kindergarten kids!)

 

Click here to check it out.

 

We also made these cute Chicka Chicka Boom Boom trees with our names.

 

 

 

And to top it off...their parents rock. 

 

I got all "beginning of the year" forms back and signed on the first day along with their take-home folders and homework sheets signed each day.  This is not the norm for me so I was giddy!! 

 

There are a few cuties definitely testing the boundaries but overall I am pretty darn excited to spend the next 176 days with these sweet kids!

 

OK...now for some more FUN!

 

I just wanted to share a quick, easy hallway behavior management system I use that really works!

 

I went ahead and introduced this at the beginning of the year, but this is also a great thing to pull out after Christmas break or something when hallway manners start to "slip" a little.

 

Let me introduce you to the "Mystery Walker."

 

 

On a little shelf beside the door, I keep a box of plastic counting chips (bought them at Staples in the "teacher section"...but you could use anything) with the kids names' on them. 

 

Anytime we go out in the hall, I pull one out (reaaaallll sneaky-like and dramatic of course) look at, it and put it in my pocket....except on those days when I wear things with no pockets in which case I almost always lay it down by the copier or in the lunchroom and lose it. 

 

If I DO have pockets, they usually end up on my washing machine at home because I forget to take them out at the end of the day.

 

I suggest having some back-ups for such occasions.

 

This person is my "mystery walker" all the way to our destination and back.  I am watching this person to see if they have perfect hallway maners.  The beauty of it is that all of the kids think it is them every time so they do a pretty darn good job of walking in the hall (usually).

 

When we get back to the room...they all are dying to find out who the mystery walker was and I only tell them IF the person did a perfect job. And if they did, they earn a "ticket" which is what I use for my behavior management system. 

These are from Creative Teaching Press.

 

Anytime the kids are "caught being good" in some way, shape or form...they earn tickets. 

 

If the person did not earn a ticket, I don't call them out...because, well, that just seems kinda harsh.  I just say something very teacher-ish like...

 

"Well...unfortunately my mystery walker had a hard time keeping their hands to themselves and their voices off in the hall.  That's too bad.  I really wanted to give them a ticket. I hope they'll do a better job next time..."

 

Or some sort of similar guilt trip.

 

And sometimes I forget who my mystery walker was because I'm just scatterbrained like that. 

 

So I make it up. Yes I do.

 

Shhh. Don't tell.

 

Have a fabulous week.  Happy teaching to you!

 

 

 

 

 

Odds & Ends, Jitter Juice, and Lots of Freebies!

This post is all over the place because that's been ME today. :) 

 

Hang in there (or scroll down and ignore my toad story for some FREEBIES!)

 

It was drizzly and dreary all day today (and I was secretly content with that because I didn't feel the least bit guilty about spending all day inside with the pup working on laundry, laminating, and LOTS of school projects).

 

The only time I stepped foot outside today there was an...incident.  It involved finding a dead toad in the backyard.  Dis-gus-ting.

 

Andy is at work and I simply couldn't deal with it (and was afraid the dog would find it...gag!)

 

...so I did what any sensible adult would do.

 

I called my dad.

 

Yep, called him right up. 

 

You see...I have..issues...with dead things.  If that toad had been croaking and hopping around the backyard I would have been fine. 

But since he actually...croaked.  Nope. Can't do it. 

 

Dad to the rescue.  Don't know what I would do without that man.

 

I spared you a picture of that...incident.

 

Instead...here is what the REST of my day looked like.

 

 

 

Lots and lots of laminating.  I don't know how I lived without this thing.  Y'all kept talking about yours during "Teacher Week" and I decided I had to have one to see what the fuss was all about and I'm so glad I spent the 30 bucks. 

 

I totally thought they were more expensive than that but I got this Scotch one on Amazon and have been very pleased with it!

 

There's something quite therapeutic about sending those plastic sheets through.

 

Ahhh...

 

I needed some laminating therapy after the toad fiasco.

 

Anyways.

 

Tomorrow is my first day back to school with kiddos! 

 

I don't think I'll ever stop having the excitement and jitters I have on the night before school.

 

Speaking of jitters...

 

I know everyone's heard about this sweet little book, right?

 

 

I got Abby's awesome Fun With Firsties Back to School pack last year and LOVED so many of the activities in there...especially making JITTER JUICE to drink to get rid of all our "first day jitters."

 

I knew I definitely wanted to do that again.

 

There are tons of ideas to use with this book floating around the blogworld and on pinterest!

 

Last year I did sherbet and sprite and it was yummy but it took a long time to scoop the sherbet myself and pass it all out.  Plus, I think it lost some of it's pizzazz when the kids saw my tub of sherbet and sprite so I wanted to make it a little more fun this year by making these fun labels!

 

 

 

This year, to keep it simple...I'm just doing sprite and SPRINKLES (cause honestly...they make everything more fun!)

 

 

And a bonus...the carbonation makes the sprinkles dance around!  Super duper fun!

 

If you would like the jitter juice label...feel free to grab it here.  I know a lot of you have already had your first day back but you can tuck it away for next year. :)

 

I just cut a piece of black construction paper in half and taped the overlapping halves on the bottle like this...

     

 

And then glued the fun Jitter Juice label on.

 

I know some little stinker is going to burst my bubble tomorrow and say "Heyyy.. this is Sprite!!"

 

But I will deny it.  It is jitter juice.  The end.

 

I also managed to get my reading strategy cards mounted on black construction (I am a firm believer that EVERYTHING looks better mounted on black construction paper before hanging on the wall..) and laminated.  Along with Cara's cute (and FREE) writing display.  So darn cute.

 

 

These are the reading strategy cards that I made that are absolutely free as well.  You can get them here with or without the "reading buddy" animal clipart. Don't forget to grab the headers too if you want to display them on a CAFE board or something similar.

 

Here is a little closer look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notice Sawyer in the background looking EXTRA bored.  Poor buddy...just wanted mama to stop laminating and throw his blue ball one stinkin' time. 

 

 

Besides all that...I worked on some birthday goodies (because wouldn't you know I have a cutie with a birthday the SECOND day of school.  I thought I had some time to procrastinate on that but he's keeping me on my toes already!)

 

Here are a couple other back to school things that I made today.  Again, I know these are a little late but maybe you can save them for next year.  Or better yet...make a "back to school" board on pinterest and pin these right on there so you'll be sure to get to them when you need them!

 

This is a simple little printable that I like to have my students complete on the first day to avoid the "nothin'" answer when their parents ask them what they did at school.  It would be a fun keepsake to remember what they wore and how they wrote their name at the beginning of the year. :)

 

This will guide them and serve as a sprinboard for discussion and questions about their day, I hope! 

 

Plus, it is super fun to see the scary pictures of me in the "This is my teacher" part.  Yikes.

 

Grab it here or click on the pictures.

 

 

 

And finally...this is nothin' fancy by any means...but I always like to get my kiddos to complete this activity during the first few days to help me understand their family dynamic a little bit better.  Sometimes it's hard to understand who lives in the house with girlfriends, siblings, grandparents, etc. and it can be touchy to ask too many questions.  This activity is quick and simple and tells me a lot.  First, I tell them to draw whoever lives in their home in the box.  Then...they can add any other special family members in the space around the box.  This gives them a way to include a parent or sibling that they don't live with while still helping me understand more about their home life.  You could definitely just do this on a blank piece of paper, too! 

 

If you'd like a copy of this one...just click here. 

 

It is past my bedtime!!  Have a fabulous (short) week and best of luck to all of you starting with me tomorrow!

 

Happy Teaching to you!

 

I just saw this on one of my sweetest teacher friend's facebook pages and had to share...

 

"I pray for our students. They are the walking heart and soul of their parents. They are cherished, adored, and understood. Give teachers the eyes to see each one as You do, and to see them as their parents do. We can never replicate a parent's love, but we can remember that each child is fearfully and wonderfully made."

 

What an awesome job and responsibility we have to teach, love, and care for these little humans!

 

Goodnight friends.
 

 

Classroom Photo Tour!

I just finished up my teacher work week and am spending the long weekend getting ready for my new kiddos to come on Tuesday.  I got to meet most of the munchkins during an open house this week and I am EXCITED to get started with this sweet little group. I have super sweet parents who are anxious to pitch in and help and the kids seemed genuinely excited to come back.  Yes!

 

 I always have anxiety leaving on Friday before the first day of school because I know the next time I walk in the kids will be on their way!  I am afraid I am going to get home and realize I forgot to do something HUGE! I bet no matter how many years I teach, the feeling will always be there on that day.  Too funny.  Anybody else have "issues" leaving their room the day before the kids come??

 

I also know that is the day that my classroom will be the cleanest and most organized it could EVER hope to be during the year.  So...a perfect day to take pictures of course!  I do NOT have a great camera but hopefully you can get the idea!

 

 

 

Here is a first look when you walk in the door.  The covered cubbies house some necessary but not so pretty things like testing materials and extra teacher manuals.  The blue shelf is our community supply shelf. The black bulletin board above it will soon be a place for some writing charts we will create together.



 

This is a closer look at our community supply shelf.

 

 

Here is our calendar and math board where we begin each day.  The yellow "table" is just two desks pushed together with fabric over top.  Inside the desks and under them are more "hidden" storage areas!  The crates on either side of the table are for whiteboards and clipboards.

 

 

 Yikes! Don't look!

 

 

 

 

 

This is a generic pocket chart that is labeled "Work Groups"  I use little plastic, colored counters

(I can usually find them at Staples)

and write names on them so that I can easily slip them in the pocket chart and change groups around for games, projects, etc.



 

 

 

Here is the front of my room and chalkboard....freshly washed! 

 

 

 

Here is an up close view of the pocket chart I use to organize the Daily 5 (or Daily 3 as I like to call it...more on that soon!)  It is hard to read but it has a spot for read to self, read to someone, listen to reading, work on writing and then my name (for small group) and our reading teachers' names for kids who are pulled out during some reading rotations.

The itty bitty table is just a regular round table that I took the legs out of.  The kids love to sit and read or write on pillows at this table.  So cute.  The shelf on the table is just a cheapo shoe shelf that I painted this summer with baskets to hold odds and ends.

 

This is my desk and filing cabinet area.  The bulletin board above the striped table will soon hold our reading strategies!

This is another shot of my little corner.  The pink shelves are just two more of those cheapo shoe shelves painted and stacked on top of each other.  I keep worksheets and materials for each subject in each of the colored baskets.



Here are my new blue shelves that my sweet fiance made for my book baskets!  These books are organized by authors/series.



 

 Here is one of the little reading areas that kids love to go when we are reading.  The pink basket holds seasonal books on CD and the yellow basket underneath has personal CD players for listen to reading.

One more shot of the main classroom library! (mostly because I'm lovin' those blue shelves so much!)

Here is where most of the "magic" happens!  This is our little meeting area where we do most of our whole group instruction.  The pocket chart is hot glued to the wall.  I hot glue EVERYTHING to these cinderblock walls. :)  The black bulletin board behind my chair will soon have tons of anchor charts!

Here is our smartboard.  She isn't the prettiest thing but I don't know how I lived without her. :)  The black crates and baskets underneath are mainly for hiding cords (which I detest!) but they also come in handy for holding things that I use a lot in my whole group teaching.  There are also some tennis balls (much better for moving things on the smartboard so that all of the little sticky fingers don't get on it) and some fun pointers (from the dollar tree) in there.

Here is my word wall where our dolch sight words will be displayed as we study six new ones each week.  The little table in front is one of those cheap laminate "dorm room" style tables that I painted.  This is another favorite workspace for the kiddos!  The yellow shelves are ones that my dad made a couple years ago. The white baskets on them hold books divided by subject (plants, space, fish, etc.)  and the book boxes on top are from Really Good Stuff.  These are the childrens' individual book boxes for our Daily 3!  They also keep their headphones in there for listen to reading. 

 

 

Here is the back corner of the room where the bathroom is loated.  The bathroom door and black board to the right will soon be filled with math vocabulary and anchor charts.  The blue drawers hold materials for word work (stamp pads, etch a sketches, unifix letter cubes, sandboxes, etc.)

 

 

 

 

These are plastic placemats (from Big Lots I think...)  that we use for "sorting mats."  The "stickiness" of the plastic helps all the little paper pieces from flying off their desks!

 

Isn't that little elephant bench precious? I got it at Target several years ago.  It is a perfect spot for the kids to do "read to someone."  It makes me a VERY happy teacher to see two kids engaged and reading a book together on it.



Here is my small group teaching area in front of our cubbies.  The boxes above the cubbies hold seasonal things and supplies that I don't need to get out very much.  They are just the fabric drawers that you can get just about anywhere.



The shelves to the right of the sink hold math games and manipulatives.  The sterilite drawers on the sink counter are for student mailboxes!

I started using velcro dots and laminated name plates inside of cubbies instead of contact paper so that I could easily switch them around in case I accidentally gave any little bitties the TOP cubbies. :) Plus...contact paper drives me up the wall.

 

 

Ta-da!



Here is a view of the room from my "teacher corner."  I change the desk arrangement around a lot during the year, but this will be a good starting point!

 

And on the desks....my "must have" for the first day...Play Doh!  It requires NO directions, NO supplies, and I think it relieves some jitters for my babies on the first day.  I also laminate construction paper to use as mats so that the play doh doesn't get all over the desktops.

 

 

 

 

Homework folders all ready for the first day!

 

Here is a "New Student" bag that I put one "extra" of everything in so that when a new student walks in my door...I can pull it out and cut down on (some) of the chaos that comes with getting a new student on the first day or in the middle of the year. :)


 

 

 

 

I use these little baskets as "drawers" in their desks. They put their pencil pouch and any "loose" tools in there to keep their desk nice and tidy.

 

 

 

Whew...sorry for the picture overload!!! I'll be back soon to tell you more about this....

 

 

 

 

For now...I'm off to try to mark some things off of my GIANT to-do list while my sweetie is working.

 

 

 

We are BOTH missing him.

 

But don't worry...Sawyer is sending text updates of all the college football scores to his daddy at work. :)

 

Enjoy your long weekend!