The school year is coming! I've spent the last couple weeks attending new teacher induction within my new district, followed by some professional development on technology. After weeks of information, I'm approaching the jump off from being a middle school teacher, straight into the primary teacher pool! I'm so nervous, anxious, and excited to start the school year! I've worked hard to create a space that would be warm, welcoming, but not too overwhelming for students! I realize a "Pinterest Worthy Classroom" does not make a better teacher or learning experience, but I also realize that classroom community is the foundation to the school year. The first person students see is me, but this room is also something to be excited about! They will be spending more time awake, moving, learning, and creating in this classroom then they will at their own home (plus I enjoy creating the space for them).
To welcome students back to school, I made this bulletin board for our hallway space! Each of the polaroid frames has a student's name on it, after we take some pictures on the first day students will really be able to 'picture themselves in the first grade'! It can be found in my Teachers Pay Teachers store for you! *This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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I love finding a great bargain and a chance to personalize items, the Target Dollar Spot is always a great place to find affordable things that leave room to be creative. Here are just a few of the items I scored this year!
The bus sign was the perfect back drop to list our classroom Dismissal Plan. I'm not yet sure if I will hang a paper with our bus assignments below it, or hang ribbons and use clothes pins to mark students dismissal plan. We shall see this September when my room will be ready for my first group of firsties! (Decor Sign $3)
Things are about to change, I'm moving from 5th grade to 1st grade this fall! There are so many differences between the way a 5th grader and a 1st grader works and thinks, am I prepared? I'm moving into a (gorgeous and huge) new classroom, which means the cabinets are empty (a blessing and a curse).
During this past school year we celebrated Read Across America Week. The first day had a theme of "Bring a Book Buddy" for D.E.A.R (Drop Everything And Read). I was surprised of the amount of 5th grade friends that brought a stuffed animal or baby doll from home to read with during D.E.A.R time. Sometimes teachers forget that, as big as our 5th graders are, they are still children. I want to bring play and fun into my new classroom as much as I can, Book Buddies are an easy way to incorporate reading and fun at the same time! Here are some Book Buddies that I found at Kohl's this week. (Should I Share my Ice Cream? Knuffle Bunny Sneetches Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose) The proceeds raised benefit children across all of our communities (which is a great reason to explain why I needed ALL of the Mo Willem book characters). I also lucked out by finding some of the old Dr. Seuss Kohl's care line at a clearance price! *This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
"It takes a village" If it 'takes a village' to raise a child, it takes a city to support a classroom! I WOULD NOT be the teacher I am today without the schools, leadership, coworkers, and teams that I have had working with me the past six years. In my school, things tend to change dramatically over the course of a summer. We expect to have some changes in our staff, some grade level changes, and a few new hires. Before the school year lets out, I wanted to take the time to thank the teachers (aka the village) that have helped me so much. The It's 'Worth It' BoxFor six years, I have kept a "Binder Full of Sunshine". My binder has clear sleeves that are full of positive student letters, cards, notes, parent emails, art work, or whatever else crosses my desk. I hang onto these things that make me smile, because every day is not as easy as the rest. My first principal suggested I keep these items that make me smile, to hang onto in the years to come. It has been something I truly value and it has helped me through some harder days.
*This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites
All humans can be readers, if they find the right book! Harry Potter opened up the world of reading, magic, and possibilities for me. Being a classroom teacher, spending 30+ hours with young minds, it is my job to expose students to their type of book. Read AloudsWith testing and curriculum, how do you find time to do a read-aloud? Easy, reading aloud is learning and curriculum! Reading together allows GREAT class discussions on important topics in addition to exposure to vocabulary, quality writing, fluent reading, new text structure, genre books, author studies and more. As we read we monitor comprehension, make predictions, and connections! So I ask you, with testing and curriculum, how can you NOT do a read aloud? Certain days allow more time to invest into a novel as a class, but when we are doing a class novel we take some time every day to read together. Sometimes this is as they are unpacking in the morning, as transition from recess, at dismissal, or taking the time to read as we relax to soak up reading.
Flashlight Reading!Turn off the lights, close the curtains, shut the door, and READ! This is the first year I have tried flashlight reading! The students LOVE it! We usually work to earn this as a reward over the course of a week in our reading blocks. Students can earn minutes towards flashlight reading by meeting our small group expectations (6inch voices, on task, keep teacher time special...). It's so catchy to say flashlight Friday, but our schedule makes it easier to work into on Wednesdays when we don't have RTI reading (Response to Intervention).
*This blog is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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AuthorCurrent 1st grade teacher and former middle school educator trying to be techy, Reading Specialist, life long learner, and avid reader Categories
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January 2021
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