Day 176

As I'm sure most of you do we have a Morning Meeting board where we go over the date, months, and a few other math things. (Yes, I have also downloaded Cara Carroll's Calendar Companion and it works great)(click on pic to check it out, it's fabulous and supplements math things in a great way)

Well, today our Number of the Day is day 176. Can you believe it?! Four more school days and we'll be done. I have such a grreat group of sweet (hilarious) kiddos. The younger grades add a straw, or dot on a tens frame, or tally mark to show a new day...every single day. Believe you me the school year seems daunting when you are only on day 25. Whooo. Now it's all gone by so quickly. Don't get me wrong I am R.E.A.D.Y. for break. I definitely need it. I should probably insert a picture of my haphardly organized desk or my stack of papers that need graded and input by next week but since I'm still a newbie I'll safe myself a little embarassment.

Each year in first grade (for at least the last 20 years) our school has put on a First Grade Circus. Each kid is assigned an act and we have volunteers that help us teachers 'train' the kids to do their act. Yesterday was CIRCUS DAY!! This year I trained the jump rope group and the basketball all-stars. This is my third year doing and I really do like it. A lot goes into and my co-teacher is fabulous and organizing it all and being patient while remindnig me or teaching how to do certain things. We decorate the gym, paint faces, make posters, have costumes, do hair, and do an intro song. It's really neat. I'm a little jealous that I didn't get to be in one in first grade. The other first grade teacher's husband is kind enough to record it and edit it. We all send home a DVD copy with each kid. The parents really like it.

I'll try to see if I can edit some pics to post.

Virtual Butterfly

They have decided to name their virtual butterfly Junior. While they were in Art Junior went from chrysalis to butterfly. They'll be excited to see him tomorrow.


The app is not in real time so I may just show them the life cycle again from the beginning.

Butterflies

Since I've taught first grade I've done a butterfly unit in May. The kids really like it and each year I am able to add to the unit. We've done some great crafts, writing assignments, and I get to decorate my room with beautifully patterned butterflies. This year, thanks in part to Pinterest and discovering TpT, I'm adding even more. I'm expanding it to include insects in general at the beginning to gain background knowledge and gradually narrowing the topic to butterflies.

I got an iPad this year, a personal one not a school one. I do bring it in for lessons and other things. I was searching apps and I found an Insect Lore app that models ordering caterpillars from them. The app isn't too educational but it does provide good visuals for what will happen. You see them hatch from eggs,she'd their skin, make their chrysalis,emerge as a butterfly, and eventually free them. This happens in a very short amount of time. Also, you can't kill them if you forget about them for a few days.

My Class is a Hoot!

Seriously, my class is incredibly funny. I really enjoy them. As much as I'm counting the days until break <cough> 14 <cough> it'll be hard saying goodbye.


Anywho.


I was walking my class to lunch and D pulls up his shorts nearly to his chest. When I see him I ask what he's doing. He then tells me in a chipper voice "I'm Steve Urkel." The reference fits but I just had to dig deeper, lol.


Me:Do you even know who that is?

D: No, I saw my cousin doing it.

Me: So, you don't know who it is...

D: He was a president I think...

Me: <in my head> Oh my.

I promise we talked about the presidents and I promise that I never mentioned Steve Urkel (or even Stefan Urkel for those of you in the know)

Second grade is going to have an interesting year next year.




#YouMightBeAFirstGrader

Classroom Management

I am currently in my fifth year of teaching. I had an excellent student teaching experience with a teacher that was awesome. She taught me so much more than I anticipated and more than the 3 1/2 years of college before student teaching ever did. She was not only a great teacher but a fair, fun, and consistent disciplinarian. I feel that I took a lot away from student teaching...I guess that's why it's such an important part of the Education program in college.
After college I found it difficult to find a full-time teaching position. So, for the first year out of college I did medical leaves, maternity leaves, and subbing in general. 

Anywho.


Based on my teaching experiences and the multitude of classroom exposure I received during college and post graduation I have been fortunate to see so many classroom management plans in action. It is one thing to read it online but I was lucky enough to see them in action. I have composed a packet of some of the things I have used in my classroom.
Here is what you'll get:

Page    3-5    Card flip instructions & Photos
Page    6-7    Weekly Card Flip Student Recording Pages
Page    8       Card Flip Parent Contact Letter
Page    9-10    Teacher Recording Page for Weekly Card Flips
Page    11-12    Individual Student Discipline Plan
Page    13-28    Clip Chart Resources & Photos
Page    29         Missing Homework Note Home
Page    30-31    Smarty Pants Incentive
Page    32-33    Personal Best Board
Page    34        Credits

 You'll find teacher recording pages and parent contact pages as well.

**Be my first commenter and choose something from my TpT to receive for free!**

I currently use a clip chart in my classroom and I absolutely love it. I have used all of the things in the packet and they have worked for different classes/students.

Each day I have the students record where their clip ends up and my recording system has evolved to fit my classroom needs since the school year began. I've included the different recording forms in the packet. Here's a preview of my clip chart and the front of my daily student recording page:

Page	3-5	Card flip instructions & Photos
Page	6-7	Weekly Card Flip Student Recording Pages
Page	8	Card Flip Parent Contact Letter
Page	9-10	Teacher Recording Page for Weekly Card Flips
Page	11-12	Individual Student Discipline Plan
Page	13-28	Clip Chart Resources & Photos
Page	29	Missing Homework Note Home
Page	30-31	Smarty Pants Incentive
Page	32-33	Personal Best Board
Page	34	Credits

Page	3-5	Card flip instructions & Photos
Page	6-7	Weekly Card Flip Student Recording Pages
Page	8	Card Flip Parent Contact Letter
Page	9-10	Teacher Recording Page for Weekly Card Flips
Page	11-12	Individual Student Discipline Plan
Page	13-28	Clip Chart Resources & Photos
Page	29	Missing Homework Note Home
Page	30-31	Smarty Pants Incentive
Page	32-33	Personal Best Board
Page	34	Credits

Brightens my day...kinda,lol

D: I hope I get hold back.

#YouMightBeAFirstGrader

AR Testing

My school utilizes the AR computer reading program. A kiddo of mine logged on, found his book, and began his test. A few minutes later he walked up to me with a confused look on his face.

J: Miss Cosby my test has apostrophes on every word.
Me: Apostrophes? (I totally think he's confused and misusing the word apostrophe)
J: Yeah
Me: Okay, I'll come look at it.
--We both go to the computer--
Me: Smiling and chuckling. It's in Spanish J. You chose the Spanish version.
J: Smiles
Me: I read the question Spanish to him.
J: I don't know Spanish *smiling*
Me: I know. Be more careful.

lol, that kid cracks me up every day

#YouMightBeAFirstGrader