Groovy Educator

  clip art courtesy of mycutegraphics.com TeachersPayTeachers Store Every Monday I have a quick circle time share session.  This is when the children can choose one thing they want to share about after being away for the weekend.  It takes about fifteen minutes but it saves so much time later in the day.  It is also an inspiration for writing stories/journals and can be used for classroom management.  When you are having a lesson and a student wants to share something off topic you can simply say, "I can't wait to hear more about that at our next share session." Usually I have a cute object we pass around the circle as we share.  The rule is that we should only hear the person holding the object.  This exercise is excellent in developing listening skills.  It also allows me to review our 5 Star Listening rules briefly after every weekend. Some of the items I have had children pass around in the past are as follows an old microphone...

Yesterday I met my wonderful new class at orientation.  Now my brain is in hypergear!  Last night right before I was drifting off to sleep ideas started swirling in my head.    During the first week, I like to do a lot of activities to break the ice and help the children get to know each other better.  On the first day I plan to buddy them up for recess.  I want to make sure that everyone in the class has someone to play with.  If they want to play with someone else other than their buddy that's fine BUT they have to include their buddy too. The next day I buddy them up again but everyone has a new buddy, and so on for the first week.  I think it is important to help the children develop relationships.  After recess, we discuss how the time with their buddy went.  This enables me to help them handle certain situations and how to resolve certain conflicts.  At this age, you cannot assume anything so I model, model, model, discuss...

Tomorrow I have a workshop and next week I am back to work.  The students do not begin until the following week.  It is hard to believe that summer is already over. My mind is racing!  If my body moved as fast as my mind I would be paper thin.  There is just so much to do.  Right now I am pondering how I want to make initial contact with my students. This year I think I am going to send a welcome letter inviting them to orientation.  (Orientation is a week from tomorrow!!!)  In the letter I think I will tell them a little about me so they won't be so worried on the first day.  I am going to include details about my new baby girl, my six pets, and how I love cows. I'm debating on whether or not I want to give them their first assignment.  Part of me wants to have them come to school with a picture of someone special in their life (someone that they love).  I want to do this for two reasons.  First they get to be comforted by th...