27 Ways to Be an Effective Classroom Teacher

A neat little infographic. Found here.

The Wiggle Worm Game

The Wiggle Worm Game

Put the letters of the alphabet on small cards. (I used index cards cut in quarters.) On 2 cards, draw a picture of a wiggle worm.

1. Place cards in a bag or box.

2. Children draw a card from the bag.

3. If they draw a letter, they have to name it, or give its sound if you're that far along. If they're wrong, give them help. They then put the card back and the next child draws.

4. If they draw a Wiggle Worm, they have to wiggle, then sit down. They're out of the game.

5. Last child left standing wins!

Reading Chart - Week 29

The Little Red Box Song

I found my teaching journal with ideas in it, and so here's another little song to help everyone learn everyone else's names.

The Little Red Box Song

(Tune: Polly Wolly Doodle)

Oh, I wish I had a little red box

To put (child’s name) in.

I’d take him/her out and ______(action*)

And put him/her back again.

*Shake, shake, shake              

Kiss, kiss, kiss                         

Hug, hug, hug 

Run, run, run    

Jump, jump, jump

Fly, fly, fly                     
Hop, hop, hop

Clap, clap, clap

The Bumblebee Chant

This is a cute little classroom chant that I use primarily at the beginning of the school year so that I and the others can get to know each other's names. But it's also cute to use when a new student enters class, or just to have fun with.

The Bumblebee Chant

Bumblebee, Bumblebee

Won't you say your name for me?

(Child gives his name. Then class repeats the child's name after each chant. Ex: Jason)

Teacher: “Clap it.” - Class claps and says: Jason!

Teacher: “Stomp it.” - Class stomps and says: Jason!

Teacher: “Snap it.” - Class snaps their fingers: Jason!

Teacher: “Pat it.” - Class pats their thighs: Jason!

Teacher: “Yell it.” - Class cups their mouths: JASON!

Teacher: “Whisper it.” - Class: Jason!

(Go to next child.)

Reading Chart - Week 28

Planet Size by Fruit

This is a neat comparison!

The 70s/80s Child

Reading Chart - Week 27

Something to Think About

Imagine This at Your School

Reading Chart - Week 26

Mother's Day Gift Idea - the Classic Silhouette

I'm bringing this up now because 

1. you'll need time to get it done, and 

2. I know we teachers need lots of lead time to prepare. 

But one of the best gifts children can present to their mothers is the classic silhouette. Preparation is easy. All you need is black and white construction paper, and a lamp with a bared light bulb.

I found that doing this during center time worked best for me. In fact, the students often stopped what they were doing to watch me trace the outline of their friends on the black paper. I'd normally do 1-2 a day, then take them home to cut out while I watched TV. I then mounted each one on the white paper, and used tissue paper to wrap them for presentation. The children would make cards to go with their gifts.

Yes, it's time-consuming, especially the time it takes to carefully cut them out. But the end results are well worth it. And mothers were always telling me later on that they'd had the picture framed, and hung it on the wall in their homes. 

This is definitely a treasure worth keeping.