The Red Plate

Teaching little children is about 90% knowledge, 10% magic and 100% organization. I have the knowledge and the organization part down (even though my home office would beg to differ), and it's the magic I thrive on. I love teaching little children. I love seeing the knowledge written across their faces when they "get it"....but almost more than all of that....I love making the world of learning "magical" for them. One of the easiest things to do is to make them (the parents and children) believe in the magic.

An easy thing to do is to get a package of foam or plastic red plates and write "You Are Special" on each one. Put the plate in a ziplock bag with a little explanation about how today was a special day. The very first day of first grade! Ask the parents in the letter to let their children eat dinner (or breakfast) the next morning on their red plate. Remind them that there will be many more Red Plate days in their future!

You can go here to read stories of the Red Plate. http://www.catholicfamilygifts.com/the-red-plate-stories.aspx

I have these red plates in their mailbox for the first day of school. Eating with their family, discussing the first day and celebrating with their family is their first homework! It's easy to get parents and children to "buy into the magic" with these simple little gestures.

How do you create the magic with your students? Alicia

M.O.O.S.E. Books*

A MOOSE Book or Binder is an organizational binder that many classes use for a "Take Home Folder". It's just a beefed up take home folder in a binder....but it is sooooo important! MOOSE stands for "Managing Our Orginizational Skills Everyday" but in my class they are called BEAR Books.. "Bring Everything And (be) Responsible". I'm not sure who created the first MOOSE book, but I got started by looking through the ideas at this site:

http://www.teachingheart.net/moosebooks.html

And then you can pick your acronym from this site:

http://www.smithsroom.com/MOOSE_Acronyms.htm

At my school, each first grade class has an animal mascot. We have bears, ponys, bees, frogs and fish. Each teacher uses her own version of the MOOSE book and puts the things in it that are important to her. We check them first thing in the morning as the children are coming in the classroom. Everyone has a special place where they are stored in numerical/ABC order. It's easy to see who's is missing. The most important components of the MOOSE book (to me) are the zipper pocket for notes and money (No more hunting through backpacks for lunch money) and the homework, sign and return pocket. (If you sent home homework or a fieldtrip from - this is where it should be when it is returned!

We use 1/2 inch Clear-Vue binders so we can slip a decorated sheet in the front clear pocket. We've found that 1/2 inch works perfectly for our needs. Here's what we did to get them ready the first year we used them. This system worked for us, but you might want to ask for donations if you do not want to have an out of pocket expense to begin with. We went to Sam's Club and purchased the first set of 1/2 inch binders. Then, we had them ready when school started in the fall. On the school supply list, we had the binders listed and then when they cam in we took them up to use for the next years's class. There are many ways to get your binders! Be creative.
You won't regret it! I promise!

Here's a list of what goes in my Bear Books.

Front clear pocket will hold weekly behavior contract and behind that our reading logs will be stored. Zipper pocket for notes and money, laminated pocket folder (cut in half with edges sealed with colored duct tape) for sign and return papers and homework, clear page protector for school calendar/monthly calendar, clear page protector with ABC handwriting sample and sign language alphabet, file folder cut in half and laminated (Labeled "Reading Practice") this is where our Reading Street "flat story" of the week goes. Back pocket holds dismissal slips.

I highly recommend Bear Books! (or whatever you want to call them!) How will you make the Bear Book your own? Alicia

Dollar Tree Finds 6/16/11

I finally got around to going to the Dollar Tree last week and got a few goodies!

I got a package of 544 "hole reinforcers" for some Zero the Hero projects.

6 square chip/dip trays for sorting math manipulatives.

A pack of "star of the week" and "happy birthday" certificates.

A class set of foam picture frames (good for arts and crafts or a quick gift for parents)

A package of 24 foam butterflies to decorate next spring

2 cute large canvas bags with a pocket on the front (my store only had yellow handled ones or I would have gotten a variety). I envision using the children's thumbprints to make little kid faces and writing their names underneath. I'll use these as a thank you for room mommies or as a gift for student interns. Can't pass up a canvas teacher bag for a dollar!

and for me....a package of 12 reusable drinking straws (I love these!) and 2 packs of Renuzit gel refills for the glade plug-in thingy....that's the secret of how my room always smells so fresh! I only use "clean linen" or "after the rain" and these cheapy ones from the dollar tree work just fine!

Have you found anything fun this summer at the Dollar Tree? Be sure to let me know 'cause I'm a girl who loves a bargain! Alicia

All I Learned from The Bear Class

Every year, the first grade classes at my school hold an annual portfolio party on the afternoon after we present our grade level play for parents and friends. The portfolio is a new/unused pizza box, turned inside out, with decorations (I use the student's handprints) on the front. Then we put pieces of their artwork, their journals, and lots of other items from units of study inside. It's like a time capsule of first grade.

We also do a slideshow on PhotoStory of pictures from the school year. This year mine was 45 minutes long! I just had it running on the promethean board in the background and I gave each child a copy to watch and to keep at home. Precious memories!

I write something special and read it out loud to the parents. Every year, I use the same format, but the wording changes to reflect the students of the current class. I thought you might enjoy reading this year's "All I Learned...." What do you do that's special for your students and parents at the end of the year? Alicia

All I Learned from The Bear Class * May 25, 2011
This year I have learned that it really is possible to have a “Perfect” class…..that having exactly 9 boys and 9 girls all year long is a wonderful thing….No one new came and no one left and we were all very happy when everyone was here each day in room 221……room parents can turn out to be good friends….room daddies ROCK...smart children sometimes are loud…..but they are also considerate and loving….they are amazing writers and even more amazing readers…they have the best manners of any class I have ever taught…..I have learned that having lots of student interns in the room makes for a whole lotta learnin’ going on….our Principal, Mrs. Jockisch, comes to our room when she needs a little bit of happy…..Anna Claire is a classic little school girl and the perfect Minnie Pearl …room mommies who show up with lunch can brighten a whole day…..you just have to have a real tree branch in your room …Christine gives the best hugs and she really likes to have long conversations at lunch…..my other profession should have been dentistry......Ms. Nevin, Ms. Hand, Ms. Harvey, Ms. Calhoun, Ms. Croom, and Ms. Tessner, are our “other teachers”…having a restroom in the classroom necessitates the need for a whole other set of lessons….Jack loves learning about animals and he is much quieter at school than his parents would ever believe, and just last month I learned NOT to call him Max…..Keiyundre loves books, Karate and being friends with everyone, and he has the best manners…..playdoh is a must…..Friday fun centers and recess can motivate a whole class….Mrs. Pilsch and Mrs. Hickman are the Queens of the library ….Brooksie is a voracious reader, and can very quietly run the school if needed, and fortunately, I never called her Jordan, I don’t think…..Allison has impeccable manners and takes every word ever said to heart ….Zero the Hero wears a mask and a black cape and he visits us every 10th day until the 100th day….email is our friend…Mrs. Jenne’ loves to blog…I have “subscribed” you but you’ll have to find your way out….it’s sort of like the Hotel California of blogland...Tory is a very talented singer and artist and he thinks of thousands reasons to pray for his teacher and classmates on Wednesday nights…..having the children of your friends is an honor and having children of people who become your friends is a bonus….….Kyung Jae is considerate and could possibly teach the class…..tomorrow…..with no help at all from me…there is no part of our room (or the hallway) or someone else’s room if we need that too…that we will not use for center space…..little children still need to paint and sing and play with blocks and puppets…mud pies should be part of the curriculum…..the snack box may be more important than the teacher….Kierstyn brightens our room just by being here and her patience with others is a virtue….. RockFest was cool…chapter books are worth their weight in gold….Tyler is quick to help a friend, has a loving heart and delights in reading with a partner and he just learned to answer to Nicholas….Durham is the recycling dude and knows how to have a conversation with anyone - adult or child…...Science journals, Math Journals and Poetry Journals help us keep track of what we’ve learned… CHOM fieldtrips are so worth the effort….Dinner Theater is a special treat….Marlee is laughter disguised as a little girl and she is happy with whatever we are doing as long as she knows the plan…..We love Peep and the Big Wide World, Tumblebooks and havefunteaching.com….there absolutely CAN be 15 centers and reading groups going on at the same time….we have LOTS of stuff to learn!....... nightly Reading Logs make parents groan, but they also make for a whole class of munchkins who read way, way above grade level…Calicia is always a good helper and at lunch she giggles and tells secrets….Bear Books RULE!......Mary Karsyn loves animals and going to Brownies on Tuesday…. reading over 400 new books in a year makes us smarter…..reading the Junie B series out loud, in order, in one year is so much fun…sometimes we will laugh so hard that we will have to go back and reread because no one could hear anything that was going on….Barbara Park is a graduate of The University of Alabama….Mrs. Gray, Mrs. Jockisch and Nurse Atkinson help us so much every day…. Ethan is a firecracker who always gives 100% and he loves going to computer…the movie Soul Surfer profoundly impacted this class more than any of us know…..doing science is a must… our imaginations and stories in books can take us anywhere…..Brennan is going to say “oooohhhhhh” immediately followed by “yes Ma’am” each time I tell him something and he is quickly becoming the resident shark expert…...there’s something magical about boarding a pretend train in the hallway and getting a bell still cold from the North Pole, then going back to the room to drink hot chocolate as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars…. Will get his way with that dimple and his grin, and he is quiet and kind and calm…..I could teach about the ocean for a whole year… you can never have too many books…..Calendar Math is lots of fun…Harrison might be a musician, or a writer or a ball player someday, but he will always be a great friend…the Promethean Board is the.best.thing.ever…..you can never have too many bandaids or plastic spoons…First Grade Fun Day was so worth the wait…..best.day.ever……water cups are a requirement and most of us learned to like and drink lots of water….I never assigned seats at lunch but almost each day, each child sat in the same seat…..doing a whole play is fun and scary all at the same time ….Bear Class children each and every one, always call me “Momma” at some point in the year, and I always answer because that’s the greatest complement I could ever have….so now, I give you back your child…the same child you confidently entrusted to my care…I give them back pounds heavier…some with fewer teeth and some with bigger teeth….I give them back more responsible, respectful and resourceful than they were before….we have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned and enriched our lives together…..I wish this time could go on forever, because I love them every one….but give them back I must….they will always be my children….Take care of them….for they are precious…..You entrusted me to start their educational journey…now I challenge you to never let it end….after all……
Childhood should be a journey…..not a race…….

The Post in Which I Complain A Bit....

Well, back in March, I was under the impression that I would get to move to Kindergarten in the Fall. A move I have only been requesting every year(in writing) for thirteen (yes, you read that correctly) thirteen years. Finally! Someone was retiring! It seemed like a cut and dried issue. Apparently, notsomuch.....

Without going into the whole shebang....I will remain in first grade (unless we get enough new kindergarteners to add a 6th unit) and nevermind the fact that the person in kindergarten position does NOT even have tenure....(so in my mind, there IS a place for me - but I'm not being allowed to have it). I love the person in position #5 (and it has nothing to do with her)and hope to work with her in the future...and she knows about all of this, so I'm not talking behind her back....but this school politics business is crap.

I'm so over it. DONE.....

The good news is that we have a new custodian at my school who is so sweet and he is (gasp) almost finished stripping and waxing my hallway and classroom....and that means....I can fix my room early! This delights me to no end! It's a good thing too, because I am doind a book study on Math Work Stations by Debbie Diller and I am anxious to purge and organize. You can check it out here: www.steinhouse.com
I've been finding lots of cute things online and filling up my "ideas notebook" and I would love nothing more than to be "first day ready to go" in about a month!



I will post pictues and I have a ton of other topics to blog about but all of that school-politics took the wind out of my sails for a while.

I had a great big pity party (and I may be going to the higher-ups with my complaints) but I might as well get ready- because August 6 is coming at me like a freight train! ha!

So what do you do to get yourself ready for the first of a new school year? Happy Planning! Alicia

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Everything I Always Wanted to Know....I Learned In.....

KINDERGARTEN!

I am beside myself with joy because I learned today that it really might be true, that after 13 long years of asking.....I might be able to move to Kindergarten next school year! The wonderful thing is that I should know by the end of this school year! Whooo hooo! That means that as soon as the children leave in May, I'll be moving my stuff on down the hallway to my very first teaching love.....KINDERGARTEN!

I am so excited!

What grade is your very favorite? Alicia

a month late...be my valentine!

I was going through some pictures just now on my last regular day of Spring Break (because tomorrow is just a regular weekend....) and I noticed that I never posted these super quick, super easy, super cute Valentines!
Materials needed:
one sentence strip per child
one whole sheet of "skin colored" paper (for hands)
one half sheet of "skin colored" paper (for the head)
scraps of "hair colored" paper (we just use what is in our Scrap Box)
glue, markers, crayons
one heart cut out per child

Have the children fold the whole sheet of "skin colored" paper in half and trace their hand. Cut it out (you'll have 2 hands, one will just need to be flipped to get the thumb going the correct way before gluing)

Use a template made from a file folder to create a head pattern. (I just freehand this). The students will trace and cut out the head. Use markers, crayons, and scraps of other paper to make the facial features and the hair.

Glue the head into the center of the sentence strip.

Glue one hand on each end of the sentence strip (make sure you fix it so the thumb is going the right way)

Now fold the sentence strip so that the hands are covering the face. On the left side of the sentence strip (after it has been folded, and just before the hand) write "I". On the right side of the head (just past the hand) write "YOU".

Write the word "LOVE" on the heart and using a baby drop of glue (we call this "a little dab'll do ya) put the heart on the top hand (remember, the hands will be folded over the face)

Open the arms up and on the left side of the face (on the inside of the sentence strip) write "THIS" and on the right side of the face write "MUCH".

Sounds complicated but works beautifully and is easy to make and oh, so cute!!

Hope you can use this one next year! Alicia

Seussical Week o' Fun

We had a great time this past week with all of our Seuss activities! I think our favorite was reading Horton Hears a Who and then making the Horton hats and Who pencils. Too cute and too fun! Next year, I am going to write their names on the leaves of the Who pencils and then have a parent volunteer stick them in the ground in a huge patch of clover that is right outside our school. We will read the book to the point where Horton is looking through the bazillion clover blooms for the Whos...then we will stop and go looking for our own Who pencils while wearing our Horton hats. (that will help break the story up a bit). This was the only new thing I added this year and I really enjoyed it. I did find some great activities that I want to incorporate next year. I like to change it up a bit each year because I do get tired of the same old same old each time. Hope you enjoy these photos. What kind of Seuss things did you do this year?

Show Me The Money.....

In the great state of Alabama, we are out of money for schools and classrooms. No instructional money has darkened my door since....I cannot tell you when. Fortunately, I have an awesome school where the PTA and the parents get involved and we do not lack for much. Not all of my teacher friends are so lucky. Times are tough all over, I know. We have tons of copy paper at Rock Quarry but are now limited in copies. Across town, they have NO copy limits, but they also have NO paper. Insane!

A few years ago I wrote a grant from http://www.donorschoose.org/ for a classroom set of Leapster HandHeld Games and software and had the grant fully funded in a matter of weeks by a complete stranger. It was quick, easy and fun. In fact, I might need to write a few more of these and get some more fun things coming through the doors of #221. Teachers get bored with the same-old, same-old, too!

My husband buys my copy paper and printer cartridges through the company that he owns when I run out.

How do you get the stuff you need for your classroom? Alicia

Reading Street Centers

One of the emails from one of my online learning communities just asked a question about managing centers. I thought it might be something that others would be interested in. I love seeing/hearing how everyone works things in their classrooms. This is the way we do it!

We use the flip charts provided by Reading Street (RS) (except technology because we substitute activities on our promethean boards for this center) and we ADD to them. Our reading block is 90 min +. The center charts are a great start, but they take 3 minutes to complete. (I believe that each is listed as 15 minutes, but that is a stretch)Silly to think that it would be enough, but I like it cause it allows me the flexibility to add my own center stuff, things we’ve purchased from Lakeshore, etc…. Here’s how we do it:

We have the crayon pocket chart with red/blue/green/yellow crayons. We have the children divided into mixed ability groups and their names (on a piece of sentence strip) are at the bottom of the chart. One student in each slot on the crayon. We have 18 children so it’s 4-5 names on each crayon. Then at the top of the crayon we put the titles of the centers. For instance the blue crayon might have these centers at the top: Word work (use the flip chart), worksheet (usually one from RS that reinforces the skill taught at word work), then there will be an independent activity (book boxes/read to self) and then something else, like Stamp a Word (where they use letter stamps to stamp and write spelling words).

The other 3 crayons will also have 4-5 centers listed. We try to make it a combo of active learning (where they manipulate or move around or interact) to balance out passive learning (where the sit and take in information) i.e. a listening center.

At the end of the day, you move the center ACTIVITIES to the next crayon (the children stay in the same place) taking the end crayon’s activities and moving it to the first crayon and bumping everything else down one. The students ONLY go to the centers listed on their crayon for that day….Make sense?

Because the children are in mixed ability groups, when you call the blue star readers (all of my groups different are colored stars) there are still some yellows(on level people) to help the greens (below level).

We look at the skills listed on the center flip charts and then we match what we already have. For instance, this week we are doing Where Are All My Animal Friends Unit 3, Story 6. For writing this week (center flip chart) says to write about some ways animals take care of themselves in the winter. I paired this with a non-fiction listening set about baby animals because it covers some of the information they will need to have to write effectively. Then they are doing 2 other activities…..and for the life of me I cannot think of what they are right now….. but you get the point.

Another important thing to know is that there will be 4 crayons x 4-5 centers going on….but not all of the centers are in use at the same times. You will not have pandemonium, going on. It is very controlled and calm. I promise. With the above mentioned 4-5 centers described for listening, only listening will be going on at one time. After they finish listening, they will break apart and move to wherever they want to go to complete the other activities (if it is a worksheet, etc).

We also only do center rotations 4 days per week because specials and unexpected things take up one day. If there is a week where we get it all done by Thursday, then the children who have completed all of their work have some free choice centers on Friday. And of course, Friday is our assessment day. We’ve been doing it this way for years. We’ve only had RS for 3 years, but when we got it we just incorporated the center flip charts and moved on. I hope this helps give you a sense of how we do things. It works for us. How do you do centers in your classroom? Alicia

Happy New Year!

We had a fun time learning about New Year's Resolutions. I told the children that it was like making a promise to yourself about something you wanted to do better. I encourage them to try and think of something no one else is going to say. That way, I don't get a lot of repeats of "I want to play with my brother/sister/dog/friends." I think my favorite one was from Marlee...."My resolution is...I want to do more cartwheels!" Yes indeed! More cartwheels! Isn't that what childhood is all about?!

So, we made our paper people, very TLC Art style, and added a party hat (triangle flashcard...who knew they had such things) with an Ellison cut star on top and 4-5 itty-bitty stars glued on for effect. The teacher supply store was out of pre-cut party hats so I had to make do. Hot glue a party blower to the mouth and they turned out quite festive. I like the way they look on the black paper.

In first grade, we have a New Year's celebration on the first Friday we are back at school in the new year. Everyone makes a party hat (stapled to a sentence strip. We give each child a party blower, one baggie each of 12 washed, seedless grapes, a pile of confetti, and a long strip of bubble wrap (we have people save this for us all throughout the year). We explain all about the tradition of eating one grape for each month of the year and making a wish for that month. Many Spanish-speaking countries do this and at our school, we've decided to do this instead of toasting with sparkling grape juice. We decided to not portray anything that resembled drinking....just in case! We make our wishes. Count down the last minutes, and let them toss confetti, blow their blowers and twist the bubble wrap! Sounds like fireworks going off! The children love it! The adults love it for about 2 minutes....then the headaches set in! (which is why it happens on a Friday afternoon!) So much fun! I think the best part is that all 5 first grade teachers work together for this little bit of fun! I have a great team. We plan together each summer so we know when our special events are and each person works to lighten the load. Many hands make light work! I'll do a post soon on our awesome day of planning.

What do you do to celebrate the new year? Alicia

After Christmas Sales

I love after Christmas sales and thankfully, I was able to find a few of my staple items for gifts and projects. I was able to get small white plastic glittery ornaments for snowman heads, large blue ornaments for handprint snowmen ornaments, Jumbo Christmas coloring books for part of the children's Christmas gifts, stockings for "Santa for a Day", boxes of bells for the Polar Express Day, and gift bags....all for 50-75% off! I have a big, clear storage box with locking lid in the garage and I just toss it all inside, lock the lid and I am ready for another season! Now, If I could just find 7 more pair of black, stretchy gloves, I'd be set.

For each child's gift, I usually give them a gift bag with handles and inside I include a coloring book, stretchy gloves (that they can leave at school or take home), a chapter book (since I teach first grade I usually include a Junie B. Jones book) and a box of new crayons (Crayons must be purchased in August and stored indoors, not in the garage! until needed). Total cost for each gift, including the gift bag breaks down as follows:

Gift bag .33
1 pair of Gloves .50
1 box of Crayola Crayons .25
Chapter book FREE (I use bonus points and purchase them when the book I want to give is $1.00 or less)
Jumbo Coloring Book .50
Total = less than $1.75 per child

What do you do for Christmas gifts? Alicia

Idea Notebook

Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Idea Notebook

I love to gather new ideas from blogs, observing in other teacher's classrooms, in books and magazines....the only problem? How to store it all? How to keep all of those ideas organized in your head? Each January (which is when I start planning for a new school year) I get a new, fun notebook. I try to get something small enough to carry around, but big enough to write in. Usually, this ends up being a
5x7ish size. I get one that is cute and easily recognizable so if I put it down somewhere, I'll be able to find it quickly. Then, I take a small post-it note pad and tab some pages into sections for each month we are in school.

When I spy a cute idea, I just turn to the tab for the month in which I'd use the idea and jot it down. Sometimes, I include a sketch or other information to make the idea clear, and then I always include the website where the idea was found.

I use my notebook in planning for the month. That way, I am always on top of the cute and wonderful ideas I find on the web. This year's notebook is a Dr. Seuss one, found at TJ Maxx for $5.99. It's only the 4th day of January but I am already filling it up! How do you organize your "found" ideas? Alicia

Classroom Tour 2010-2011

I teach first grade in a great school in Tuscaloosa. These photos were from the beginning of the school year in August, 2010. (I have no idea why the date on the photos is wrong...and why I did not notice it before now...oh well!) I hope you enjoy the tour!

I have 18 students in this class, with seating for 3 more without having to rearrange the room. You may also notice that there is no teacher desk. I have no room! I have not had a teacher desk in 12+ years. I do have a small 3 drawer cabinet behind the yellow horseshoe table (where I teach reading). My teacher computer is also located behind this table on a small corner cart. The room is not large, but we utilize all of the space and we do have a private restroom (all of our classrooms grades K-2 have their own). The restroom is located behind the wooden door with the stars word list.