Getting Ready for the New Year with Spaces and Places

 


Last year, I moved to a new school sort of in a whirlwind to be with my to awesome scholars of first grade,  teammates Tammy and Marsha.  Because our school was last to be cleaned, my move was somewhat harried and not well planned at all, merely trying to get in.  I didn't get a chance to ruminate long on what teaching could look like in my new space.  Hence, you all know how my year went.  All good intentions aside, I never got things "comfortable" in my room.  I was always working towards keeping my head above water.  You know the feeling...getting a great start allows you to have a great year.

This year, I vowed to make things more comfortable for me and for the kiddos, implementing an environment most conducive to learning and more student centered.  Thanks to my good friend Kerry, I was introduced to Debbie Diller's Spaces and Places.  It's a picture book! Because it's designed with the end in mind,  it's filled with many many ideas of how to organize your space in a preplanned manner so there's less work in the end.  It also teaches most efficient ways to place things.

My favorite part is that Debbie Diller helps me plan all my favorite spaces, teaching whole group, small group and my cozy circle. She helps you create space where there is none and organize the space you do have.  There are also some really good tips for Word Work stations (as in Debbie's Literacy Work Stations Book and the Two Sisters Daily 5.)

To effectively use this book, read from cover to cover to get the gist of what you're being asked to do.  Measure your walls, bulletin boards, and furniture so it's easier to place them and so that it things work out logistically.

REMEMBER:  The best part about this book is that it has pictures!  Debbie makes sure she includes many different space situations, including portable classrooms.

I promise there will be more on this topic later.   I will take pictures of my NEW classroom space when it's completed so you can see what I've done.  For now, check the book out.  You won't regret it!

As always,  Enjoy,

Marie 

 

Why Daily 5?

Quote from Regie Routman ~The typical teacher has children doing a lot of "stuff",  How is what I am having children doing creating readers and writers?

This quote has given me a lot to think about over the years, as I work to rid my classroom of stuff.  Hence, I have used  The Daily 5 for about five years.  (maybe more).  What I love the most about this practice is it is one of the most authentic practices in my classroom.  In our class, we tease about the ten ways to become a better reader, and we put up each finger one by one as we say, "read, read, read..."   The kids laugh each and every time we chant this.   If I say I value reading, and we don't practice authentic reading and only do worksheets, kids don't get to value reading either.  I have to give them plenty of time to practice...but I also have to give them plenty of time to succeed so they fall in love with the magic of reading.

The most important part about the book is that these ladies help you map out how to introduce each section of the Daily 5, play by play: Read to Self, Read to a Buddy, Work on Writing, Word Work and Listening.  Each of these processes enhances reading and writing in a big way.  I recommend that you take their advice and do this process slowly.  If you rush to implement a strategy too quickly, the kids may practice it wrong, and you either lose value of this precious reading time or stamina.

Another reason I am a fan of the Daily 5, is that it provides me time to work with kids.  In conjunction with The Café, another book written by the sisters, students are actively engaged in what good readers do to improve their own comprehension and accuracy.  But that is another topic I will take up at another time.

Recently I had someone ask me how I set up book boxes for independent reading.  Here's what I do.  I teach the kids how to find a good fit book (also in the Daily 5 book.)  The Sisters have a perfect lesson about that using shoes that fit perfectly.  You should check it out!  Then, I find 10-15 books at that child's level.  In addition, I add Weekly Readers, and other level appropriate magazines, and guided reading books we have covered that week.  Their box is full...and rarely, does a child have a chance to say I have nothing to read!

This year, I am going to try and introduce readers that are tied to our reading themes and change the books out more often to avoid books becoming stale or engaged readers become engaged chatters.  :)

I am sure I will revisit this lovely topic, but I wanted to get the Whys into your hands while you still have some reading time left this summer.  It's worth your time, and it actually creates time for the teacher.  Let me know what you think!

Have a fabulous weekend,
Marie Wallace

 

It's an Epidemic!

If you haven't heard of Daily 5, then you should stop reading right now and research it and buy the book now!  On a serious note, it's one of the best investments I've ever made.  Students are engage in authentic reading and writing work.  There's a section of the Daily 5 wherein the kids get extra writing (outside of Writing Workshop), which we call "bonus writing."

The students can explore several different kinds of writing.  They can do postcards, stories, letters, lists (like grocery lists, etc.) and poetry.  I had not yet introduced poetry to my kiddos, thinking that it would best be served later in the year.  However, year after year, my kids usually take favorite poems and turn them into their own by changing a few words.

This year, thanks to a little girl in my class named Ivy and her burning desire to write, and to use her new found notebook, an EPIDEMIC started in my room.  She took one of her favorite poems, Color Cats, and started writing color cats, and color hats and kept going.  When Ivy shared, she got the kids so excited, that her friend, Alexys began writing about color bats...and the whole -at family had been investigated,  Then Ava introduced Color Horses.  And when that poem had been explored, Katie started in on our "I Love Colors" chant and turned it into I Love America.     They got hooked on the rhythms and the rhymes and began feverishly creating.

This is only the beginning, as Ivy exclaimed she is filling her entire notebook.  Good on her promise, it has been at every recess, including lunch recess.  I can't wait to see what she creates!

I love these kind of "epidemics" as my friend Tammy calls it.  Because the kids are loving words and language and, oh my goodness, are they learning?

I am enthralled....