Groovy Educator

Orientation and Back to School Night are the two times of year you can count on quite a bit of parent involvement.  Where I live, Orientation is when students and parents meet the teacher and drop off school supplies the Friday before school begins.  Back to School Night takes place about a month to six weeks after the school year begins.  Parents are invited back to see what their child has been learning in school. When planning for these special events, you need to keep in mind that the child is the focal point.  In my mind, Orientation is about alleviating fears about the first day and Back to School night is for the child to share about his/her school experience.  When I plan for these events, I always to remember it is not about me.  With that said, here are some tips to make the experience memorable. Orientation Remember Orientation is when everybody meets the first time so first impressions are important.  This is the first time that the pa...

Every year I begin the year by reading Hellen Keller's biography to my students.  Her story is about overcoming adversity.  It was not her fault that she lost her abilities to both see and hear.  It was not her fault that she could not talk.  This book is a springboard for teaching tolerance.  Over the next month the class and I have several deep discussions about how it is important treat others the way we want to be treated.  We talk about how we do not know what other life experiences have shaped the other person.  We discuss how our experiences change us and how to reach out to others.  We learn to stand up for other people and how to handle bullies.  We also learn that there are NO EXCUSES why we cannot learn.  If Hellen Keller can learn to talk without being able to hear and learn to read without being able to see, there is absolutely no excuse why you cannot learn to read.  We discuss how everyone learns at his or her own pa...

It is getting close to the beginning of a new school year.  New ideas flood my brain about this time every year.  I always like to change things up.  In order to organize my thoughts I write lists.  Usually I write my beginning of the year to do list on a piece of scratch paper.  This year I am adding it to my blog so that I can refer back to it in years to come.  Right now this list includes a lot of items that I need to think about and decide upon before jumping into action.  I'll probably be adding to it in the days to come. Room Arrangement (Think about the placement of the following) desks circle time/calendar area teacher area supplies (storage and accessibility) writing station reading station listening station inside recess toys bulletin boards reading table technology (computers, projector, document camera) lunch boxes homework box where the children will turn in their work Supplies pencil cups (sharp/need to be sharpen...

I created a facebook page for " groovy" ideas.   I would love for you to share, any tips and tricks that work in your classroom.  Also please share any awesome apps, websites, or resources you use regularly .                  -Andrea http://www.facebook.com/GroovyEducatorFL Back to Home Page <p><p><p><p><p><p&am...

Here are some books that are based on best practices.  I feel every teacher would benefit from reading this research. Click on the book image for more information on the Amazon.com website.   I have also included a link to the researcher's/author's website.. Regie Routman These books are basically how to manuals for implementing a reading workshop and a writer's workshop in your classroom. Gay Su Pinnell and Irene Fountas             Leveled books enable more differentiation in small group instruction.  Fountas and Pinnell also wrote this helpful resource on guided reading.      Jan Richardson   This book is fantastic.  The appendix at the end gives suggestions on how small group instruction should progress.  I especially like how she has specific skills that should be mastered at each reading level.  This facilitates lesson planning and how to effecti...