I cannot believe I waited so long to introduce morning tubs to my first graders. Now that I have, I can't go back to the morning work of the past. Morning tubs are a fantastic soft start to our day for so many reasons! Should I list them all?
$$$ FinancingThe big question always is, how did you finance your morning tubs? There are a couple of answers because teachers are always resourceful. First, I made a social media post to friends and family asking for specific toy donations that their child may have outgrown (free is always my favorite). Second, I start with the most affordable items and grew from there (Dixie cups, hashtag blocks, things I had at home already). Third, I utilized my Scholastic reward points for things in their Teacher Rewards. Fourth, I created an Amazon Wish List of items that would add to our fun but weren't required (I printed the QR code and sent it in home in the back to shcool paperwork). Lastly, overtime I was able to utilize some of my district provided budget to invest in the just right items we needed. I can justify the budget and personal funds when the items double as math manipulatives and are utilized in areas across our year! Materials: So What's in the tub?The big reveal, what's in the tubs!? First, find and use anything you already own or can have donated to the classroom from your community. Click any of the links or images to learn more about the item. Dixie Cups
# Hashtag Blocks
Brain Flakes
Pattern Blocks
Linking Cubes
GeoBoards
Dominoes
Jenga Blocks
Magnetic building sticks
Squigs
K'nex
Magnatiles
Legos
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This is a school year like any other! COVID 19 hit our area in early March of 2020 and drastically changed how we are going back to school this year. In late August our district made the decision for a fully virtual start to our school year with phases of reopening when local cases supported it. By September 29th the numbers were low enough for us to bring back the youngest learners, this decision was made because their reading ability, independence level at tasks, and current value of virtual learning for them because of it. Depending how numbers trend and the success of our hybrid model the students returning will extend through the rest of the elementary grades, across middle, and ending with the return of our high schoolers all on the hybrid model. The seated table was a great idea and gave me all the space I needed for 'all the things'. I quickly realized I couldn't sit there in front of the screen all day. I like that I learned that so quick because it was also the same for my students. It reminded me to tell them it was ok to stand and learn, that they SHOULD walk away from their screens, and that we ALL need breaks.
By week two of virtual learning I was able to snag this storage cabinet on wheels. This is a MAJOR win for a teacher because it was a perfect standing desk but also HELLO STORAGE! It is full of drawers that can adjust and will be perfect for our new math manipulatives as part of math workshop (plus it was free). Fully virtual learning lasted about a month before my district made the move to hybrid learning. The students across the district were split by last name into cohort A and cohort B. This split my class almost in half making one cohort slightly larger than the other. So I would simultaneously teach Cohort A in person, while Cohort B Zoomed in with us, the next day they would flip and the opposite group would be in person while Cohort A learned synchronously online. Fridays were my day to breathe! Students were 100% virtual on Fridays which allowed me to teach on one platform to the whole class, while this wasn't ideal stop the feeling of being pulled in a million directions by in person students, virtual students, virtual parents/pets/siblings, and email. By March 2021 we were fully in person learning, some families opted to continue learning virtually. I had one student move from the hybrid in personal model to fully virtual so I remained teaching both online and in person. We started the school year fully virtual and that was hard. The plan was a virtual start until October 9th, that would allow for a holiday weekend spike to decrease before returning to the classroom in a hybrid model. Well numbers were better than that so with about a week's notice we are moving to our hybrid model (which will also be hard)! I can't lie, the exposure make me a little nervous but I am SOOOO excited to be teaching with children in the classroom again. I can actually show and help kids with the tech issues that plague our virtual days. We can build relationships in a different way while keeping 6 feet apart. Our students will be returning to school on a Cohort A/B 4 day week model. During their "off" days, they will follow a schedule with a mix of asynchronous/synchronous learning through Zoom, Schoology, and the Seesaw Learning app. Our 5th day will be a whole class virtual day with the opportunity for asynchronous learning in the afternoon so teachers can plan the materials needed for both OR work with small groups virtually. So with all that being said.... there are some things that I have ready in my room to make our days (hopefully) a little easier. I hope these things can help you too! Hand Washing Timer
Desk Spots
Mask LanyardsWe will be wearing masks most of the day, but mask lanyards are helpful when we take mask breaks or during snack/lunch. It keeps the mask near by without touching contaminated surfaces, getting lost, or let's be honest without going in the toilet or on the floor! Extra disposable children's masks are also a must, masks will get wet or ruined and extra masks will definitely be needed.
Spill Proof Water BottlesWe said goodbye to water fountains around our school and I bet you did too. I asked parents to send students in with a spill proof water bottle (with their name written somewhere on it). The spill proof hopefully stops the water spilling throughout the school bag, lunch box, or all over the floor. TEACHER TRICK: Keep the water bottle in a cubby or school bag because the more they drink at their desk (simply because they can) the more they need the bathroom. Individual Book Bins
Individual Math Tool Kits
School Supplies
Classroom CleaningIs your school using a fogger? We are. The fogger is a disinfectant spray that will clean every touch surface around the room and throughout the building. This is GREAT, but will ruin our classroom library or any hanging paper. We were also told it will leave spots or a film on surfaces. I want the clean but still want my classroom to feel like a classroom. Hello shower curtain liners!
This was my set up while I was teaching from school in the virtual format. I heard you can drop the liners in the dryer for 20 seconds and all the lines will come right out I just haven't gotten to that level of spare time yet.
It goes without saying that you will need hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and soap (if you have sink access). These are great Amazon Wish List items for families that want to help. I recommended families get a mask lanyard for their child, pack an extra mask, and attach a personal hand sanitizer to their child's school bag or lunch box. Learning Expectations
*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. This does not add any cost to your items, but does support my classroom with a small percentage of your purchase.
Thank you for supporting teachers! I say what you WANT for math workshop, not what you NEED. Let's face it, the teacher salary and budget (if you are lucky enough to have one) is not limitless. Starting math workshop was a gradual process for my classroom, I did not go all in at first. Some items were worth investing in up front, many I have from other aspects of teaching math in general. These are all the items I found helpful or were utilized to make them worth it over time. Where possible, I added items to the back to school supplies list so students had their own to use and keep each year. Manipulatives
This abacus looking thing is called a rekenrek. You can buy ones similar to the one on the left at any teacher store or even on Amazon. They certainly are more sturdy than the homemade version, but I didn't want to commit to the price or the storage. So, I made my own! To read about how I made mine check out the DIY: Rekenrek post! SuppliesIt goes without saying that you will need an absurd amount of pencils. Where do they go each year? *We do community pencils. At the start of the year I collect certain school supplies from students and store them for the year. We have a place where they put their dull pencils and a place to grab a sharp one (this is a student job).
Procedures
*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. This does not add any cost to your items, but does support my classroom with a small percentage of your purchase.
Thank you for supporting teachers! 2020 has been.... well you know! Teachers have been adapting to the constant change since March, now that the back to school news changes every week we are always on our toes. This math tool kit was my attempt at back to school prep that will work in person, at home, or some mix of the two. Here is what I have, what I plan to use, and how I plan to use it. I hope this can help you figure something out for your students or children. I realize this is an expense not everyone can afford (teachers, parents, schools). I'm fortunate enough that I could cover this cost for my students with what I already had in my classroom, personally, or through a school budget. You don't need all this to be a good teacher, but I had it so why not put it to use? Materials
Teaching Expectations
I'm the type that would rather do the work up front when I have the time, instead of rushing to gather it or add it to my loaded to do list later in the year. I printed the 5, 10, AND 20 frame for all of my students right off the bat. I knew we wouldn't spend a lot of time with the 5 frame so I didn't even bother to laminate it. We quickly grow out of the 5 frame and into the 10 frame at the start of the year in 1st grade. We spend a lot of time with the 10 frame as we explore addition and subtraction strategies, but I know we need that 20 frame by winter. The popsicle sticks, shape reference guides, and clock won't be needed until late spring. The popsicle sticks are great for addition and subtraction with regrouping. The number word reference guide will be good for them to have as we read and write the numbers in school and at home. The part part whole and number bond work mats are tools we use as we learn addition and subtraction and will be used pretty early in the year. Teacher TipsA child is not a number. I agree, but their supplies can easily be numbered for all of our sanity. If there is a chance it can be salvaged and reused, then put a number on it. Granted some things will be lost or ruined but it will save you some time and money when you go to reuse it next year.
Follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers
It Is Elementary My Dear with Michele *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. This does not add any cost to your items, but does support my classroom with a small percentage of your purchase. Thank you for supporting teachers! When I attended a math workshop training I had no idea what a rekenrek was, no shame there. If I had guessed this item's name I would have gone with abacus. This simple tool is a great math tool for young learners. It has one to one correspondence while counting, skip counting by 5s, solving addition and subtraction problems within 20, and so many other problem solving opportunities. Materials:
The materials are pretty straight forward. If you find a better way to attach and secure the beads, please let me know. This was the best way I could think to make it work. Whenever I provide students with math tools we talk about tools vs toys and the expectations needed to utilize this tool. Follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers
It Is Elementary My Dear with Michele *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. This does not add any cost to your items, but does support my classroom with a small percentage of your purchase. Thank you for supporting teachers! |
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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