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
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Bulletin boards are a great way to add color, personality, and student work to the hallway. But let's be honest, they take a lot of work too! To compromise on the work of it all, but not the other benefits, I set my board up for the year. I keep the background color and border the same all year long and just change what goes on it. Here, for the start of the school year, I made polaroid picture frames that housed each of their smiling faces from the first day of school. It had their name on each of the frames too! I cut the letters using my Cricut cutting machine, but you can print and cut at home with this file from my TPT store. I always laminate the letters in hopes of using them again in years going forward. Currently, I'm thinking of a June bulletin board that changes to "Picture yourself in second grade". We shall see! Now this one was a family time, at home, project. I set the plain turkey, copied on construction paper, home the last week of October. Families has 1-2 weeks to use whatever they had around the house to decorate a turkey. It's amazing how the themes and objects used represent the family themselves! It was a great project and bulletin board. Again, I used the Cricut to cut the letters and free fonts from websites online, for more details check out the Thanksgiving post! I must confess, this is a repeat. Yup, I laminate letters and any decorations to reuse in different years. The lightbulbs I made new to include each student's name on the board. To be honest, I'm not sure they know who Charlie Brown is but now that I'm thinking about it I'll ask them in class! Slightly before the end of January, I sent home a letter to parents asking them to fill our hearts with love. Parents took this task and did an out of this world job of collecting love from siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, AND pets! Messages about why they love that child or words describing them. When the students got to read each heart, their face light up. Priceless. For the parent letter template and bulletin board letters click this link to my TPT store. *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.
Family Turkey Time!As the holidays get closer, each year we get busier and busier. Quality family time is valuable and important! The week of Halloween each first grade teacher sent home a simple brown turkey to each family. The request was that they, as a family, spend time together decorating their family turkey using items around their home. The creativity always blows me away and the student were so proud of their work (so were the parents when they were on display for conferences)! Bulletin Board information (as per request)! The black background is actually fabric! It is sold on a tube through Amazon and will last me several years! It makes everything pop when hung on there! I used my Cricut to cut the letters for the board! I download a lot of free fonts to make them a little more eye catching. I recommend cutting letter on card stock and laminating before you hang! I like to save them in a ziplock bag to reuse in the future. This stack of Astrobrights card stock is my favorite combination of colors! Fonts: KG Second Chances Sketch Tricky Turkey Hunt
American Education Visit
Thanksgiving School Feast!Does your school do a Thanksgiving Feast? Our first grade does and it is a lot of fun. We do themed activities leading up the celebration. We talk a lot about the things we have to be thankful for each and every day. When we gather for our meal we first thank those who prepared it and appreciate the people we share the meal with. Each class comes with accessories. You will see pilgrim hats, bonnets, and collars. Some classrooms come as turkeys! Each student makes a placemat that is special to them. It has a thankful poem in the center of turkey, and they students draw symbols all around the edges to represent themselves, their family, and their lives. *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.
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.
What is Valentine's Day when it comes to the classroom? For me it is a community building opportunity to notice the things we love about our school and classroom and the people we share it with.
Bulletin boards are great way to encourage community and school spirit. They can be educational, motivational, or just pure decoration. Either way, when the kids see something new they get excited (especially when their name or face is on it)!
*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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