Trying new things!

I appreciate all of your advice. I had a better week this week. I put a schedule together for my little one. Bless his heart. I am sure that it is hard for him to be in our class. He is starting to get it and so am I.

Curriculum- We are going over new reading curriculum for next year. Right now we use open court. We decided to continue to use open court. We looked at a few more, but really like what open court does through out the curriculum. I don't know if you have heard of Abeca, but a lot of private schools use their curriculum for all subjects. It goes at a fast pace, but the problem is that we want to keep the same curriculum through all the grades because as you know curriculum builds up through the grades.

What curriculum do you use for reading? Who reviews your curriculum- a select group? the district?

It is a short blog tonight. I will probably have more to write later!

Week Catch-up

So being such a small school means that teachers have to do a lot of extra work. Thursday was a busy day. I left right after work for an appointment and was back at school by 4:15pm for a PTF meeting and work day. I am the parent teacher fellowship secretary. I also have this bad habit of volunteering for everything and taking on too much. So... I left work at 7:30pm on Thursday. I don't think I remember what happened during the day.

There is an idea I would like to share, that I learned from another school that we are going to start as soon as I get it together. It is based off the book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. At this school each class had a tree by their door, but we are going to put a big tree in our gym (common area). Each teacher puts apples on the tree with items or help that they need. Example- Any craft item, markers, paper, cutting that you need done, lamenting, work that can be brought home, etc. I will let you know how it works. The other school said that it works really well.

Friday I felt like my room was in total chaos and I learned that i am getting a new student on Monday, so I will be going to school tomorrow. I was making my list of things to do and it is long. I will feel better when items are checked off. I am actually excited about going to work tomorrow. I like being productive.

I hope everyone had a great week and are having an even better weekend.

Wednesday

Today was a better day. I have learned that I need to explain again to my students that we are all different and we all learn different. With my new student I think that they are noticing that he does not act like other students. I just feel bad for him because it is a huge adjustment for him. In the middle of the school year he comes into a new school that is full day kindergarten. His naps are taken from him and he is expected to be in school all day. He stays in after school care also.

I have one student in my class that does multiplication problems and another student who is reading Junie B. Jones books. I have other students who are still having trouble with initial consonants. It is just an interesting to see such a mix.

I do not have much time to write because I have to work on extra homework for my over achievers and a check off schedule for my new little one. Thanks for all of the advice!

Tuesday Blues

Yesterday was a holiday- President's Day. It was a nice day off. Actually, we had 5 days off (including the weekend). As the parents came into the class room this morning to drop off their students, they kept telling me that they were ready for their children to come back to school. Apparently, the break was too long.

The students were tired today. You could see it in their eyes. We needed a break from our break. Chapel went really well this morning. The students were well behaved. We showed a video during chapel for Jump Rope for Heart. We are doing Jump Rope for Heart during Lutheran Schools Week. The students are getting really pumped and excited. If your school does not participate in jump rope for heat... I would encourage you to look into it and participate. It is really easy to plan. The American Heart Society does an amazing job of putting it together and planning activities with the school. GREAT CAUSE!

After chapel we were getting our quiet wiggles out before counting how many days we have been in school and all of a sudden a student starts crying. One of my students stabbed another student in the hand with his pencil. I am having trouble with this student and am trying to figure out how to create the best learning environment for him and for the rest of the class. He is very smart, but cannot seem to stay out of trouble. If you have any advice... I would love some!

The rest of the day went well. The students were good during Spanish and made it through share time without any tears. I think for the first day back after a long weekend was a success.

If any of you who read this has advice for projects and/ or learning centers or anything else... I would love to hear it!

What a crazy week! February 8, 2010

We have only a 3 day week. We have a teacher's conference on Thursday. Busy, but short week!

During the winter we have something called winter life skills. 1st-6th grade either goes skiing or ice skating and bowling 4 Mondays in January and February. Kindergarten and preschool decided that it would be better to have their activities on Fridays, so school is quiet on Mondays and chapel is moved to Tuesday morning.

We started the week off with the 100th day of school. What a big deal! Everything we do involves the number 100. We count to 100 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's. I do not think I have ever felt so tired after school. I did not sit down. Throughout the day I would have the kids pick a card and they would have to do the activity for 100 seconds. Running in place for 100 seconds is harder than I thought. It is fine the first time, but after you dance for 100 seconds, hop for 100 seconds, jump for 100 seconds, etc... you tend to get pretty tired. Overall it was an amazing day!

On Tuesday February 9th, we had a semi slow day. With our changed chapel schedule a Kindergartner's life gets turned upside down. We had a few valentine activities to get ready for our valentine's party on Wednesday. Tuesday is our Library day and I was so embarrassed of the way the students acted. They were hiding under the tables and running around the library. Oh my!!! They had to apologize to the Librarian- who is a volunteer and does not need to put up with my students. It was not a good day. The students had Spanish that afternoon. One of my students decided that he did not was to do his work in Spanish. Can you believe it? He had the nerve to tell the teacher that he did not feel like doing his work and wasn't going to do it. These kids.

Wednesday was our valentine party. So much better than the day before. We had tons of crafts and activities. I was thankful for parents at the end of the day. We were making mice out of hearts because we are reading "Stuart Little" ,a heart mouse just seemed appropriate, and there was utter chaos trying to get everything put together and a few parents came in and helped out! YAY!!! I was loaded down with candy and treats. I felt really loved and appreciated. It is a good feeling.