Does your district operate on a schedule where you attend less than 5 days a week - i.e. 4 day school week? If so, what are the benefits for your school - community? If not, how would that benefit your school - community?
How do you build community in a new school setting as a new teacher? It seems like other teachers have already formed their own groups.
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Does your school do a step up day for the student to meet their teachers for the following year? We are doing it and I am having my students to create a book using an app called Book Creator to tell the first graders what they will be learning in 2nd grade. These digital books will be shared in small groups.
Behavior Management
Students enjoy classrooms with a good management plan. In fact, students desire interesting, engaging teachers who create an effective learning environment. Watch a veteran teacher who has strong management skills. Somehow, management becomes nearly invisible, and the teacher seems relaxed and confident while students appear to be engaged and learning. How do they do this? It doesn’t happen by accident. Experience helps, but one difference is a strong management plan that builds on a foundation of good teacher/student relationships, clear expectations with consequences, and thoughtful organization that empowers instruction. A strong, well-thought-out plan prevents management problems before they arise.
What intervention strategies do you use to handle student behaviors?
Have you ever created a Holiday Book Advent Calendar as a family literacy incentive or initiative? (ie. Wrap 24 books and open one each day leading up to the holidays.)
Field trips are a great experience for students to get out of the classroom and see the real world in action. When I am planning field trips, I refer to my standards and make sure the field trip reinforces what we are studying. I have used field trips as a pre event or past event. Both have their benefits. I normally have an activity that the students must accomplish so that it is not a "get out of school" trip. With that, I have "field trip" backpack that I have a folder of the important information, first aid kit, and other essentials that will help the trip run smoothly. I provide a bin for the students to place their lunches so there are no temptations to snack on the bus. In the bin I have a large trash bag. This is to make sure that we are clean and neat. I remind the students to make the lunch area nicer than when when we arrived.
When planning a field trip, make sure that you know which students have medical needs. This will also help with choosing a chaperone if needed. Be aware of special accommodations needed to allow all students to participate. Remember, have fun. Selfies with students are cherished memories.
There are times when people have asked, "What keeps your going year after year?" I am a very fortunate individual who has a profession that is also a hobby. I love the aspect of understanding how the mind works. It is like a human puzzle. Each year I am blessed with a new bunch of students. Each year is different. I love planning the year with new activities to keep my mind fresh and the focus on the standards. There are some activities that I will keep, but I love the challenge of finding creative ways to explain the content. Working with a new class of students is always a challenge. I love the newness of learning opportunities and would not change my profession for the world!
How do you connect with your students prior to the school year beginning?
Have you found any good strategies that keep your absenteeism rates lower?
We introduced a school wide award that is awarded to the classroom in each grade level with the highest attendance rate each month. When our individual classes have attendance above 95% on a daily basis, we get a postcard with our mascot on it to display outside our classroom door (with the date earned). When our classroom earns 10 of them, we get a visit from the Woot-Woot wagon and each student gets to pick a treat!
I am working a university on revising/creating a M. Ed. program that is going to be offered for elementary classroom teachers who are interested in becoming master reading teachers. It would be more so for teachers that want to learn more about differentiation, assessments, RTI, MTSS - difficulties vs disabilities, rather than becoming a reading specialist. What areas, topics, competencies would you suggestion be considered?
Civil Rights is an issue that must be addressed in schools today. To engage students in learning about the Civil Rights Movement and its lasting impact, I would begin by exploring the current civil rights issues in the U.S. today, such as racial justice, voting rights, police reform, and systemic inequalities in housing and education. By starting with these contemporary issues, students can immediately see the relevance of civil rights struggles in their own lives and communities. We would then examine what has changed since the 1960s—such as the progress made through legislative victories like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act—and where challenges remain, such as ongoing racial disparities and the rollback of some protections.
From here, I would guide students in drawing parallels between the Civil Rights Movement of the past and today’s social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter. Using primary sources from both eras—speeches, protests, and media coverage—students can critically analyze how strategies for achieving equality have evolved and where the fight for civil rights continues.
By facilitating thoughtful discussions, I would encourage students to explore how activism, both past and present, has shaped U.S. society. This approach not only connects historical movements to ongoing struggles but also empowers students to reflect on their own roles as active participants in shaping a more equitable future. Hands-on projects, guest speakers, and community connections would further deepen their understanding, helping students see how the Civil Rights Movement’s legacy remains alive today.
Did you know that there are FREE early literacy interactive apps available to caregivers, teachers, and families at www.ginapepin.com?
To differentiate materials effectively for all students, you can offer various formats and levels of complexity.
What would this look like in a multi-age classroom?
What techniques do you use to help students retain and use new vocabulary in their speaking and writing?
Answer; Many school district utilize a word of the day approach for this. They tailor daily or weekly activities that focus on opportunities for application of these specific words. Our school uses the Leader in Me curriculum for SEL and it is integrated into daily routines. There is a designated - and universal - list of age appropriate words for each unit. These words are shared through daily announcements, board messages, classroom discussions and even in some assemblies. Our school Speech and Language Pathologist posts a fun word puzzle each week and she also utilizes Word Genius and Word Daily - as this is sent to her email each day/time.
