Organization

Another  classroom organizational tip:

Have all those pop out bulletin board letters in a box or bag somewhere.  I hate sorting through those.  Sort them by letter into extra strength zip up bags (all colors and styles of letter in a bag, just sort them by letter) and hold them together alphabetically with a ring...Simple but so helpful!!!

Daily folder

This year I did my daily folders like every other year before, but this week I decided that I was going to change some things so I redid my student's daily folders...

Front of the folder is labeled and the folder is a cheap paper folder that was laminated- I just cut slits for the pockets and brads

On the inside front cover I put an incentive chart to record what color the child was on today (refer to older posts about my discipline/reward system).  I put a sticker for the color the child was on for the day.

In the brads is a zip up binder pouch for money or small notes etc.

Weekly newsletter stays in a clear plastic sleeve in the brads.

Daily folder form that the parents fill out is also in the brads.  

My attempt at daily folder organization.  The older I get the more organized things HAVE to be!!!

No homework policy

WARNING WARNING

This entry is bound to find new heights of unpopularity among my fellow teachers!!!

What is the purpose of homework?  My son, M, HATES homework, and I mean with a T Total Passion-- Hate, loathes, abhors homework.  We were doing homework, with the normal battle - crying and gnashing of teeth and all other forms of mayhem, when I had a moment (if you haven't realized yet, that happens a lot).

Let me back up a couple posts, around my second post I had had a moment and decided that I was going to concentrate my doctorate in special education.  I'm not even sure why I decided that.  Maybe I was experiencing a "my last books of my masters degree have arrived and I'm deliriously excited" high, or some other sort of nonsense, but that desire to go into special ed lasted about 2 days.  But then what am I going to do? What will my concentration be? I wore my hubby out talking about it (I think he finally just stopped listening, and started tuning me out- see, he knows me well enough to know that if I talk about something long enough, it will eventually sort itself out in my brain, and he will never have to remember all the stops along the way.  He knew what I would decide, but he also knew that this sorting out process was essential to my decision making).

So back to 4 days ago, doing homework with M and trying to see through all the tears (his and mine) what he was actually getting out of this.  I mean what was the purpose? He wasn't learning anything, he wasn't going to obtain any of this info.  It was at this point, nothing but a hassle (we worked on homework for 2 hours that night).  So, as a mom and a teacher, I started raking my brian to decide how I feel about this.

I came to the following conclusions:

1. One of my educational passion, strong stances, is that a child who has not only a strong support system in the school/classroom but also a strong support system in the home, is more likely to find academic success that leads to the building of strong citizens.  (I am not naive enough to think that this is possible for every students, the students who do not have that support at home, need to be with a teacher/school who is willing to go above and beyond to offer extra support).  Many teachers, myself included, feel that homework is an effective way for parents to be involved in the child's education.  I agree on some level with that.  

2. Some students need extra work outside of the classroom to help them grasp a concept (this could be given on an as needed basis).

3. Children are in the classroom 7 hours a day.  To require them to come home and sit at a table and work more math problems or write spelling words, etc for another hour- 2 hours is just plain and simple too much to ask.  (reading at home, in my opinion, is another story)

4.  I believe in having a "No Homework Policy" (except for the occasion that extra work is needed to grasp a concept- as needed basis).    

5. My doctorate concentration is going to be Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment.  Not because I want to take on all teachers who make kids do homework, but because I want to teach future teachers to have a purpose behind their curriculum, to write work, assignment, tests, projects in a way that brings learning to new heights.

Disclaimer:  I love Ms teacher, he has only been with her for 2 1/2 weeks and I haven't had the opportunity to spend as much time with her as I would like, but she is already doing an excellent job teaching him new things.  This post is in no way directed at her.  That night at the table merely spurred on another "moment" for me.

And yes, I make my boys do their homework, but we have revamped our evening schedule.  Now they come in from school, get a snack, and play for 2 hours.  Then we sit and do homework right before dinner.  This allows them to play and get the pent up energy out before I ask them to sit and work.  For the last 3 nights, homework has gone much more smoothly, and not lasted any more than 30 minutes, and been done with a cheerful heart and attitude.  :)  YEA

August Theme- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

To start the year off, because August was a short month and because we are just in the beginning stages of Phonics development, I chose Chicka Chicka Boom Boom as my August themes.  We read the book and did fun activities to accompany it.  This is one of the activities that my students loved.  As part of a math activity, I had a printout of 2 coconut trees with numbers on the leaves.  Along the bottom of the tree were coconuts with the corresponding numbers.  The students had to color the trees, them cut out (fine motor practice) the coconuts and glue them to match the number on the leaves.  

Later, in preparation for Grandparents Day and to go along with our August theme, the students used their handprints to make a family tree.

Brown hand print for the trunk and limps, torn green tissue paper glued to the top of the limbs for the leaves.  Then the students told me who was a part of their family and we added names. (We are also doing a unit in social studies about family relationships so this tied right in.)

"Kinder sweeties"

School has started and on top of teaching, I am mama to 2 boys in new schools this year.  M and G are in public schools and for the first time are not with mommy.  This has been interesting for me.  They love it.  They are very happy and have wonderful teachers.  But it is hard for me not being able to go check on them on my break or pass them in the hall.  I find myself wanting to call them throughout the day to ask them a question or tell them something (no my 8 and 6 year olds don't have phones :)).  But as difficult as this is, it is good for all of us.  I am glad to let my babies grow up and learn to be independent.  As a matter of fact, it is fun to watch them all getting to be big boys (we have recently potty trained the twins, and thrown away all sippy cups :)).  So this has been a good transition for us all.

My "kinder sweeties" are so great this year.  I ended up with only 6 students- all of whom know each other from last years k4 class.  They really are precious.  I find that my classroom is so much more laid back than years past.  I think that this stems mainly from the transitions that I have made in my instruction.  This year my students are spending minimal time in their desks.  I am teaching a a great deal from a circle time perspective and using centers for the practice and participate (as opposed to mostly workbooks).  I am still working on my methods of instruction- it is difficult going from all instruction and and worksheets to circle time and centers.  I am also still working on fine tuning my centers.  But we are getting there!!!

I am also going to be sharing my weekly/monthly themes and activities we are doing :)