Building Community

Every year, what is most important to me is building classroom community.  I want my kiddos to feel safe and happy and eager to learn.   This takes time and serious intentions and many valuable tools.

This summer I've been re-reading many of my favorite texts in order to remain true to what I know works for kids.  These great texts include Love and Logic and The Responsive Classroom.  I added a text from the Responsive Classroom called The First Six Weeks of School.


I also have a background in Peacebuilders, which reminds me that students need a sense of belonging and purpose.  We do a community circle several times a week where we do Praises and Prides.  First, we begin by making sure students remember to see the golden nuggets in others, but also to know that it's okay to find golden nuggets in ourselves.  Our society often places a judgement upon us remembering to notice good things in ourselves saying that we ate full off ourselves our that we are bragging... I happen to think it's healthy to feel good about yourself. You can't give what you don't have.  Many times in our life experience we are left alone to encourage ourselves, and if we don't know how to do it, our only recourse might be to get negative attention. When students learn to fill their own bucket, they are less spot to expect it from everyone else. ( more on this later)

Looking back, if I could narrow my focus, I would stay with the Responsive Classroom book, specifically the book, The First Six Weeks. 

What I love about Responsive classroom is that there is constant, daily reinforcement and practice of basic common courtesies...namely, greeting each other.  We begin from day 1, acknowledging each other in the classroom, making eye contact, being genuine in our care for others.  For many, this comes easily, for others, with tougher experiences and perhaps some trust issues, this might take longer.  I promise, with due diligence that even the toughest come around because you prove to them multiple times that you will be there to support them and build them up.  Oftentimes as classroom teachers, we worry about how we will get all that curriculum in and teach all that we are responsible for.  However, it is these initial beginnings of helping our students to feel physically and emotionally safe that allow that learning to happen.  Without it, the information ends up being a "fly by" and sometimes they get it and sometimes they don't.   This book assists teachers map out these routines throughout the six weeks with plenty of opportunity to practice for success and mastery, leaving an easier path for learning.

If you only add one thing this year, add a morning meeting or a morning greeting.  Students stand taller and open up more, just having been greeted that morning.  Also, it allows for time to practice routines successfully and purposefully.  Remember the first weeks are vital for year-long success. When the kids feel safe and know you love them, there is community, and with community, all things are possible.

As the year goes on, I will talk about these topics more in depth.  For now, there are a few quick start ups on YouTube under Responsive Classroom.

Happy trails, and may your school year be blessed. 

Tech Tuesday - Color Design Tool for Designing Class Space (web pages too!)

Happy Tech Tuesday all!  You're going to love this new tool  It goes hand in hand with Debbie Diller's Spaces and Places post that I wrote earlier about intentionally designing your classroom.

In the book, Debbie suggests that you choose two, at the most, three colors for your classroom so that your room is not only aesthetically pleasing, but comfortable and flowing.  Sometimes choosing just the right colors that are complementary can be a tedious process. 

Well, those wonderful engineers in our world have come up with a tool called:  Color Scheme Designer.  If you like just playing around with color, you can go straight to the web-site and start finding complementary colors.    Just click on the words highlighted above.

However, if you want to be even more intentional, there's a Youtube video that not only helps you understand how to use the tool, but gives you another tool, Color Pick, that allows you to pick an even more specific color  for your color palette and complementary palette.  I'm so excited to try it out.  Thank you to my colleague Kerry for helping us enjoy yet another great tool.

Here's a sneak peak of the palette I am choosing for my room this year: 

                                 http://colorschemedesigner.com/#3md1TsPQSw0w0

                                                       What do you think?

As always, do you have a special app you've found lately that you'd like to share?  Can't wait to hear about it!  If you've found it, and would like me to share with my audience, let me know.  I'm happy to do it.

Until next time, happy tool day!

The Beginning of my Technology Tuesday

I'm so excited this year to introduce my Technology Tuesday!  I've long been a fan of technology and its many uses.  Now, I want to make sure that I not only use more technology in the classroom, but that I am posting my new finds.  I will try new things and encourage others to try new things.  In addition, I will open things up for comments so I can hear your latest and greatest finds!

In May, several colleagues of mine and I went to the DENapalooza, and it was fabulous.  My only regret was that I didn't get to implement some things right away. While we were there, we had one quick session of exchanging our favorite apps.  What collaboration fun!

So, in honor of my first ever apps, I will introduce my first one.  I found it by pure accident. 
Remind 101.   This app allows the teacher to be better connected to parents with updates and reminders.  Before, I would send a mass email with all my updates for the week, as well as a class newsletter.  However, now that more and more people have smart phones or at least a cell phone, texts are a quicker way to send a reminder.  The teacher sets up a class.  Parents sign up with either a text or an email, and wallah!  We are easily communicating.   Another great perk, is that the teacher's number remains private.   Currently, they are giving away an iPad mini or a t-shirt for enthusiastic teachers.  Good luck!

Here is a link to the DEMO and how it works.  (click the word Demo).  It works on I-phones, Androids and Blackberry!  Enjoy...

What's your favorite app?  Please share with me!

Happy Technology Tuesday to you!

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

 

Why Collaborate?

The beauty of collaboration has long been a love of mine.  I've been asked to explain:  "Why collaboration?" to people who are truly working to understand and embrace that our school district is
creating collaboration time for us.

This past week in a math class, it was never more evident to me that we "need" each other in this new world.  We had the advantage of many grade levels, admins, reading teachers, Special Ed teachers and even some music teachers.  The wealth of knowledge in that room was amazing to me as we re-remembered how we once did math, and how that now relates to the many ideas of Common Core.  I love watching brains in action!

Though your district may not be able to create this time for you, let me tell you what us die hard collaborators do.   One of my friends, Annie, has me come over as she is getting her classroom ready for the next day.  When I'm in the room, she says she is able to get things done, while dually purposing her time, collaborating on ideas that have worked that week for her and building on those. We always ask ourselves, "Where do we go next?" 

Another group of friends at another school, always meets on a particular day.  On these days, there are between 3 and 5 teachers.  Each of these ladies has their own forte' of knowledge and input.  When we are done, each subject area is covered, and copies are made for the team.  In the end, there is a lot less work, and a more efficient way of making plans.  There's always a plethora of ideas, and there's a balance and consistency.   I love it!

I am so excited about collaboration, that I want to try to dedicate two days a month, or more to ways we can collaborate globally, even in the areas of technology.  Can't wait to hear your take and learn about you and all the things that work for you.

In honor of this first collaboration post, here are my newfound math friends.  We call ourselves the wingnuts.  We got along so well in math class, everyone thought we were all from the same school!  Yet another blessing of collaboration.

Back row:  Jenny - Music, Sue - 3rd grade, me - 1st, first row: Christy- kindergarten, Diane - grades 1-12 and admin, and lovely Rita- Reading Specialist.
These gals all embraced math in their fields and gave us new ideas to take back to our classrooms.

Now, YOU KNOW WHY!
Happy trails,
Marie -

Treasure Boxes - End of the Year Storage

This year, I'm committed to doing more writing.  I love writing, and I really love collaborating with other teachers.  I remember blogging back in about 2007, and how much fun it was collaborating and supporting fellow artists.  Cheers to you and all that you do for our kids.

 Now on to a year end post...When I taught kindergarten, we painstakingly made wonderful scrapbooks for each child.  While I enjoyed making them, and each kindergarten parent seemed to treasure them, it took an enormous amount of time to keep up for between 45 and 50 students.   Weekends in the month of May were spent trying to “catch up,” because it’s hard to keep up in the last few months of school when focusing on year end academics/testing.   Finally,  from wanting to spend more time with my family, especially on Memorial Weekend, I came up with this idea:  Treasure Boxes. 

I collect an art piece or two and a writing sample for each month of the year in a separate file for each child.   About three weeks before school is out, I send a letter home telling parents to be “on the lookout” for a box their child might want to decorate and keep their treasures.  This box can be as simple or as ornate as you want.  The only parameter is that it has to fit papers that are at least 9x12” as that is the size of most of our art projects.

The added bonus is that families get a more accurate picture of their first graders' abilities and gains as a learner.  Imagine looking at your child's beginning of the year's writing as a pile of letters, and then seeing your child write a persuasive letter at the end!  Or, imagine seeing a year's worth of self portraits side by side to see their development as an artist.  Sounds like an informal portfolio to me.  May this idea help save you some time and give your parents a better portrait of their child's first grade year!

 Here are some pictures of some of a couple of them that are simple & easy to make:

This one is made from a simple shirt box, spray painted and glued on jewels.  Katelynn adores this box and thinks it’s extra special…mom said she didn’t have much time to work on the project, and this is what she was able to create at the last minute.  Perfect for busy moms!

Grace made one from a simple plastic box for more long term, skinny storage, using stickers to cshow off her name and her favorite things!  I’ve seen people use a cake container from Walmart as well.  What matters most is that the kids love them.  And let me tell you, if they have a hand in decorating it, they’re more likely to be invested in it’s worth.  This easily fits under a bed or on a small closet shelf.

Lastly, some families just bring the boxes and decide that decorating a box during the summer gives their kids one little craft project for the summer!

ENJOY!   Marie

Grace made one from a simple plastic box for more long term, skinny storage, using stickers to create show off her name and her favorite things!  I’ve seen people use a cake container from Walmart as well.  What matters most is that the kids love them.  And let me tell you, if they have a hand in decorating it, they’re more likely to be invested in it’s worth.  This easily fits under a bed or on a small closet shelf.