Taking It One Word Per Week

The first week of school I began the class on their first sight word: SEE.
As you can tell from the chart, there's a blank on some lines. We "fill in" those blanks with a silly word of our choosing, like "pizza" or "pickle", or their names.

On Monday we simply read it together as a class.
Tuesday, I have half of my class go up and read it aloud one at a time.
Wednesdays are "Win Win Wednesdays!", and I pit all the boys against all the girls. The group that reads the best gets to be first in line for lunch, recess, and end of school dismissal.
Thursday is when the second half of my class read aloud one at a time.
And Fridays are "Fun Fun Fridays" where we read the whole chart together BACKWARDS.

Below is the chart for Week #2 (this week), and the sight word is MOTHER.

August Cheer

August Time
School is here
Let us give
A great big CHEER!
YAY!

Job Chart

I make a copy of my roster and post it to the right of my job chart. Clothespins have student names on them. That way I can check off a child when they've been assigned a job. All jobs are for one week only. There are 8 jobs. Which means for a class of 22 students, every child will work each job two times during the school year.

The jobs are as listed: line leader, door holder, attendance folder (they get to hang it outside the door for pick-up), gopher (run errands, etc.), passer outer (of papers, books, etc.), picker upper (papers, books, etc.), sunshine (turn on and off lights), and respect and protect (our discipline log - responsible for taking it with the class when they go to the library, P.E., music, etc.)

Instant Identification!

It becomes immediately evident when the school year begins that many of my new students don't recognize their name in print. A few can spot the first letter, but that can be a problem if you have more than one child whose name begins with that same letter. (For instance, this year, 8 of my girls have names that begin with an M.)

This is when stamps (cheaper than stickers) or stickers (if you prefer to go that way) help. I make 3 labels with a name, and that way the child can easily spot which coat/backpack hook is his. It also helps with name recognition. The other two labels go on his cubby and his portfolio folder. (More to come on those later.)

(In case you can't tell from the picture, Jacob's stamp is Marvin the Martian.)

Count and Move With "Super Simple Songs"

This site has high energy songs that teach counting. Best part is the lyrics are post, as well as videos that teach!

Stick this one in your favorites!

I'm Ready...Or At Least I Hope So!

I have 22 students this year. I'm ready to being a new journey.

Wish me luck!

Free! New-Teacher Classroom Set-Up Guide

Go to this site over at REALLY GOOD STUFF and sign up to receive your free copy of their Classroom Set-Up Guide. It's 16 pages chock full of neat ideas, and it's in PDF format so you can save it on your computer if you don't want to print it out.

And So It Begins

A look at my room BEFORE I start to tackle it.

Will have In Service all week this week, and "Sneak Peek" on Friday.

For Teachers - The Organized Classroom Blog

Check it out and LIKE on Facebook! I've added it as a teacher resource link here on this blog.

https://www.facebook.com/TheOrganizedClassroomBlog

First Day of School Gifties

Yes, I'm already buying things to give to my kids on the first day of school. Right now those colorful shaped rubber bands are all the rage. I found a packet of all 26 alphabet letters, which is enough for each one of my students to get one. (And they were on sale, too!)

Make Your Own Memory Game

Let them make their own memory game. You can use tag board, stickers, index cards, or even cut out pictures from a catalog. I've also taken a deck of cards and separated the red from the black (red diamond/heart and black club/spade), which gives you two full sets, with two of each suite.

Nothing Beats BALLOONS!

Kids will bypass the more "expensive" toys in my treat box to get to the balloons. The more colorful, the better. And the best ones have pictures or faces on them.

Blow 'em up to bounce in the air, make water bombs out of them, or twist them into animal or other shapes.

You can't beat balloons!

Give Them a Bulletin Board They Can Use Without Pins

Let them make their own bulletin boards they can use without having to worry about stick pins or thumb tacks.

You need a large piece of heavy cardboard, like the kind packing cartons are made of.

You can find inexpensive wrapping paper at any store. Just make sure the sheet will fit over the cardboard. Glue the paper onto the cardboard, and tack back the corners well.

Criss-cross several large, colorful rubber bands on the board. These bands help keep in place whatever your child wants to save.

Voila! Your child's own bulletin board that's inexpensive, lightweight, and "owwie" safe!

Cool Shades!

Take some inexpensive sunglasses from the dollar store and let your kids decorate them! You can use paints, markers, stickers, glitter, foam appliques, rhinestones, or just about anything that suits your fancy!