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

Join Gifts to Grow now and get 100 Free Points.

From knowing exactly when they want teddy to comforting them at 3am, the list of love is endless. Gifts to Grow gives parents the rewards they deserve, simply by buying Pampers diapers and wipes. Join now and get 100 Free Points.

View >>

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