New Year, New Procedures {w/ The Super Sparkly Teacher}

So, we just returned to class this past Monday. After being away from each other for 3 weeks, it was important to review our classroom procedures (including transitions).

I love using music to signal transitions. It's so fun and definitely suits the atmosphere of my classroom. I got the idea from Rick Morris. I've been using this all year, but it's definitely important to review expectations AND change up the music. I have a specific song to signal different subjects and it definitely serves as a cue for many students. I notice them saying, "Oh, it's calendar time." So funny because I often wonder if they pick up on these kinds of things. Routines... gotta love them. #turnitup

My students are expected to stand behind their chairs. Once they hear the song, they may begin moving to the next location (carpet, centers, etc.). They are expected to be seated by the time the music stops and they definitely rush encourage one another to make it before the song ends.

Please excuse my messy classroom.

Since it is a new year, I decided to introduce some new songs! Yippee! My kiddos definitely noticed that the tunes were different. #newyearnewsongs

I have a CD with the television theme songs, but you can play them for free from New Management's website {click here}. There's even a link for MORE SONGS! Isn't that awesome?! You can try it out without any commitment.

Do you use something else to cue students that it's time to transition? I'd love to hear about it. 

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New Year, New Procedures {w/Tickled Pink in Primary}

Returning to school after Winter Break can be challenging. Students have had a few weeks off and probably less structure than you provide. :) Now, is a great time to review rules/procedures and introduce any new ones you'd like to try.

Most schools are facing budget cuts and starting to track how many copies each teachers use. In order to cut down on worksheets for morning work, I have decided to let my students use wipe-off boards. After students come in, unpack their things, do their lunch count, etc. they then head to the rug and get out their wipe-off board supplies. Each kid has their own wipe-off board with their number on the back of the board. I let them do WHATEVER they want as long as it's educational. It's interesting to see what students choose to work on, whether it be something they need to practice or something they just enjoy learning about. When I walk around, I see students drawing pictures and then writing a sentence about it, practicing letters/numbers/sight words, doing math facts, etc. This keeps them busy, engaged, and working from the first few minutes they walk in the door!  

I still have to use some worksheets in centers to hold students accountable for their work. I wanted to start to let my students assess their own work and give me an idea on how they feel about what we are learning. If you've seen some of my past posts, you know that I give all my students a number. Students write their number on the top of pages so I can quickly see who turned in work. Then, they color code it to assess if the activity was easy, just right, or hard.

I like this idea because students get to let me know how the work was for them. I can then differentiate the work if needed. If I see a bunch of green, I know I can move on from that subject, if I see red, I know I need to re-teach. 

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New Year, New Procedures {With The Kindergarten Connection}

While a new calendar year doesn't mean a new school year just yet, it can sometimes feel like it when we return from break!
It's time for some new (or reviewed) procedures to get us back into the routine for a successful second half of our school year!

In my classroom we spend a ton of time in the fall building up our stamina. We work on being able to do things independently for a good amount of time - things such as Daily 5, math workshop, writing workshop, etc. By the time we hit mid October we are usually at about 15 min of stamina, which is great for my kinders!

However, returning from winter break can make the stamina go down again, so I introduce a new way to build it back up with a 10 day stamina challenge! 10 days is a great amount of time for us to build it back up again and get back into the swing of things. I find it to be a great boost for my kids when they return from break.

I use this stamina graph inside a dry erase pocket and usually keep it on our board or under the document camera. We check it out in between rounds of Daily 5 to see how we are doing each day and to set some goals.

There is also a version that is black and white if you want your students to have their own copy - that can be fun for keeping them accountable and learning about graphing too!

It goes up to 30 minutes so that other grade levels can use it, but my kinders usually do best about 15-18, so that is our goal!

Want to use the stamina graph in your own classroom? Grab your own copy HERE.
Happy New Year!

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Managing Student Papers { with Stephany from Primary Possibilities }

If you are a teacher, dealing with stacks of paper is like a full time job.  No matter how organized you are, you seem to always have a few piles sitting around.  Here are a few tips for getting rid of at least a few of those piles and making your life a little easier in the process!

I use this crate to collect student work that is completed that I don't take grades on.  These papers are recording sheets from stations and centers from both literacy and math rotations.  Students know when they are done to find their name and place their paper in the folder.  This has helped manage papers in so many ways.  If they don't remember their name it's in their folder so you aren't stuck trying to figure out who it belongs to.  If you don't want to check papers daily but you have an idea that someone may not be doing their best work, you can easily pull out their folder and pull them aside to conference with them.

I like having a "collection" to look at when the week ends.  I find it helpful to look at all that students' work for the week at the same time.   After I have looked over the work, I staple each student's set together and they are easily and quickly placed in mailboxes to go home.

Another way I manage student work are these drawers.  These are a great "catch all" for anything students haven't completed, morning work or close reads that you are working on that week.  This has saved me from having so many piles on my teacher table and counter!

I hope you are having a great year!  Don't forget to check out the other posts for more classroom procedure ideas!

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New Year....New Classroom Procedures {from Aloha to Second}

Woo hoo!  It's a brand new year.  I always feel so refreshed and rejuvenated after the new year.  This could be because I spent some of my break pitching, cleaning, and organizing my apartment.  I know I'm crazy, but don't worry I also watched plenty of Netflix. ;]

 I like to spend this time after break in my classroom reviewing procedures and continue to implement some that I have been using before.  I want to share with you one of the procedures I love using in my room, and I review it first when we get back from long breaks!

I am sure many of you have used or seen an "I'm Done" list - especially on Pinterest.  Well, I am going to share with you my version of the I'm Done list in my classroom.  My favorite part - very little prep and some have NO prep!

I always like to see my kids working, and I get very frustrated if they are just sitting doing nothing or playing around.  So, I find the I'm Done list to be simply amazing!  My students also love using it, mostly because I list all the items on an anchor chart (I gradually introduce each item and explain how to do it throughout the year.  I typically share 1-2 items a week.) and the students get to CHOOSE which activity they want to complete.  I love providing my students with choices; I feel that it allows them to enjoy what they're doing and take pride in their work. 

Here is the list I display in my classroom.  I have it posted at the front so everyone can easily see it and find it.

1.  Practice Sight Words.  

I post our weekly sight words in a pocket chart (love Target!) at the front of the room.  Then, students use white boards and markers to practice writing the words.  They can also use wiki sticks!

2.  Tie Shoes

This is a skill my kindergarten students are still struggling with.  So, they go over and grab a shoe from the basket and practice!

3.  Drawer Games

I love the drawer games!  I have a container of drawers and each drawer is labeled for each table.  Students grab the activity out of the drawer that matches the table they sit at.  Then, they take the activity to the table and play the learning game.  You can see one of the games below.  They are either games I have created or purchased off TpT.  I rotate the games for each table every week - so I only have to switch out the games every 3 weeks!

4. Ipads

Well, this is pretty simple.  I am fortunate enough to have 2 iPads and 4 tablets in my room.  Students can use these to play learning games on!  They love it. :]

5.  Read

Students may go to the class library and read a book.  They may read look books or a book at his/her level.  They love sitting in my beach chairs and reading a good book. 

6.  Writing Center

Students really enjoy the writing center. I have two stools set up at my writing center.  Students sit on the stools, grab a paper, and write a story using some of the words on the poster.  They LOVE writing new words and they feel like superstars when they spell them correctly.  You can see I have a basket of materials - pink highlighter, pencils, crayons, stickers, and red pens.  They can also use the stickers to write stories.  There are different paper options they can choose from.  When we have indoor recess, my kids fight over going to this.  The prep is easy too!  I made all my boards for each month, so all I have to do is change them out each year. 

I hope you found something useful to use in your classroom!  Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by. :]

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How to Create an Easy Restroom Sign Out

Happy New Year y'all!  Today is my first day back and I'm actually really excited to start this new semester.  I love having a fresh start and I have so much planned for my class!  I can't wait to get started!  Today is a staff development day for me and then Tuesday will be when my sweet kiddos return.  I do know that when they return, I'll definitely have to review some of our procedures and revamp some procedures. 

One procedure that I plan on reviewing is our restroom sign out procedure.  I know everyone has a few students that want to use the restroom like fifty times a day!  Unfortunately, I don't have a restroom in my room...I know BOO!!  To keep track of who goes when, I have a restroom sign out clipboard right next to our classroom door.

I have two columns, one for the morning and one for the afternoon, and the kids sign out before they leave the room.  The kids don't have to sign out if we are at lunch or recess, so the morning and afternoon sign out only applies to when we are in the classroom.  It is so easy to monitor who is out of the class and the clothes pins are the perfect pass for our class.  I just labeled them with a sharpie marker.  The front says, "boys" or "girls" and the back has my last name and grade level.

The kids clip the clothes pin to their shirt, so they never touch it when they are in the restroom.  I've had to replace a few clips after awhile but clothes pins are pretty easy to replace.  This new year, I'm revamping the procedure by having a new sign out sheet.  It can also be laminated and used over and over again.

You can grab a FREE copy here if you'd like to use it with your class.

I hope that you'll try out this restroom procedure in your classroom.  I would love to hear how it works for you!

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How to master it in the New Year

Happy New Year friends! I don't necessarily have a new classroom procedure, but it is new to my class this year. Every January, my kids are CRAZY sauce. It's like they forget every single thing we've ever talked about.

How does that happen in two weeks? Well, a few years ago I started what I call The Master Class. I tell them that over Christmas Santa left me a note and there is now a competition. You don't have to use the Santa idea, but it works for my kinders. I tell them that the note says that every kindergarten class is having to compete for the Master Class. Who can master their name? Who can master their sight words?

Then, I show them the area in the room where I've added all of the cards. I already have their pictures cut out and ready to add a few of them. I make sure that everyone has their name in at least ONE place when I first add it. You know that child that just REALLY struggles at everything? Well, I usually add them to Clean Machine because they're usually that child that won't do any work or listen, but cleans like I'm paying them.

After, we talk about how we can work on each area. Every few days, I highlight just one part until I've covered all of them. My job is done after this. They start asking to be tested to show me that they know all their sight words or sounds or writing sentences.

SERIOUSLY! They eat it UP! I'm so excited to do this with my class this year because we have had a rough go so far. Maybe this can help some of you out. If you have any ideas of other things I can add, just send me an email at brownk1125@gmail.com. I don't get notifications of comments on here so I can't promise that I'll see it immediately.

Grabs yours free here!

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