Wordless Wednesday ~ Why Teachers Drink

 

And my personal favorite...

Wordless Wednesday ~ Not a Dull Moment

Oh yeah, not a dull moment with first graders!!

Alexis

Thanksgiving Play Gone Wrong

Each year, my class puts on a Thanksgiving play.  I didn't create this, and I can't take credit for any of it.  I just teach it to my students and help them to perform it for their parents.


This year, I'm a little more nervous about the way the play will go off.  This year I have "Tommy" in my class.  


Will he remember his one and only line?  
Will he act silly during the songs?
Will he jump out of the Mayflower?
Will he flail around while waiting (impatiently in his case) while the play goes on?


So many things can make this a Thanksgiving play to remember...and NOT in the good way.


I want his parents to have a good experience.
I want the other students to have a good experience.
I don't want the other parents to talk.


I'm honestly scared it can go so terribly wrong.


How have you ever dealt with a student like this?  What did you do?


Alexis

A Thanksgiving Tradition Using Picture Books

Every year in my classroom I like to teach the concept of Pilgrims and Native Americans using picture books.  It doesn't matter what grade I teach, I always use the same stories.

 

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl is told through the eyes of a Pilgrim girl recently after the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock.  The students like to read this and compare Sarah's life to their own.

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy is a lot like Sarah Morton, but told through a Pilgrim boy's point of view.  These two characters have a lot in common, yet are extremely different since boys had different types of chores to do and were viewed in a different light.  This book is interesting because there was actually a passenger on the Mayflower named Samuel Eaton.

Tampenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times is told through the perspective of a Native American boy during this same time period.

The lesson:

• Each day in class, I read a different book.  We compare and contrast ourselves to the characters.
• Once we have read about Sarah Morton and Samuel Eaton, we create a Venn diagram to compare the two characters.
• On the third day, after we have read about Tampenum, we create a 3 circle Venn diagram to compare the three children.  
• On the final day, the children create character masks to symbolize the character that they liked best.  On the back of the decorated mask, the student lists the character's qualities that made them choose him/her.

These wonderful stories helped to bring the lives of Pilgrims and Wampanoags a little closer to my students.  The concept becomes more concrete after reading these stories.

How do you teach about the early settlers to the New World?

Alexis

Wordless Wednesday ~ This is Me

Oh yeah, this is me......or at least how I feel.

Alexis

I'm Failing!!!

After 13 years in education, I’m failing.  
I’m failing as a teacher, I’m failing as a motivator, and I’m failing as a confidant.
There are a handful of kids in my class this year that are really putting me through the ringer.  They are mentally wiping me out.  And because of this, I’m failing.
I’ve mentioned “Tommy” before.  “Tommy” is failing…literally.  He has difficulty reading, writing, with math, speaking in sentences, and his behavior is out of control.  He hits, whines, and just makes teaching a simple lesson the hardest thing in the world to do.  I have talked with the parents, he has a tutor, he is on medication, I’ve recommended neurological testing, the administration is informed.  It’s to the point where I just want to give up.  I’m tired and it’s only November.
Then there is “Jim.”  “Jim” is honestly one of the cutest kids I have ever seen.  He struggles academically, but I am in close contact with his parents and his tutor, and with a bit of TLC, he will reach grade level expectations.  But recently, he acts like the class clown.  He dismisses all that I try to say, any form of punishment that I have given.  I have even tried positive reinforcement by rewarding him for one simple day of great behavior…nothing.
“Brad” is another one.  He has a hearing issue.  This hampers his ability to speak in complete sentences.  He has a wonderful memory, but applying his understanding is difficult.  This one I can work with.  He at least tries.
But still, I am failing.  I am failing these 3 gems that have been placed at the top of my barrel because I just can’t seem to reach them.  I am failing the rest of the class who could also use some individual time.  
I am failing the whole class because I am not happy in the classroom at all.  I feel like all I do is reprimand kids all day.  My poor little quiet rule followers are being pushed aside because 99% of my time is on the ones who are struggling and are behavior problems.
I really just want to give up.  
 
Alexis

Word Play Is The Way

Being a teacher of first graders, my number one goal is to help all children learn how to read.  

I'm a true believer in systematic and explicit phonics instruction and I implement this into my classroom every day.  One way that we do this is through oral language play.

Here are some ways that you can teach through oral language:


1)  Rhyme Time:
I say a word and my students say a word that rhymes.  Simple as that.


2)  Clapping Syllables:
Oh yes.  Tried and true.


3)  Body Letters:
Once I introduce a sound for the week, I have the students show me how "write" the sound with their bodies.  Then I say words and if they hear the sound, they "write" it with their bodies.  If they don't hear it, I have them roll into a ball.  This not only has them focusing on hearing sounds, but also gets my more kinesthetic learners moving while learning.


4) Segmenting Sentences and Words:
I say sentences (short at first) and the students need to clap, snap, or just count the words that they hear.  Once this skill is mastered, I can move into words.  This helps the students to hear individual words and sounds which will aid in reading and writing.

6)  Stretching words:
If you walked into my classroom on any given day, you would hear the students and teacher alike "stretching" words.  We pull words apart and emphasize each individual sound.  I'm sure strangers think we are creating our own alien language, but educators know that we are learning to read and spell.  

These small games would be useful and fun in both a classroom and home setting.  Let's make learning fun!


Alexis

I Think I Will Be A Banker

Today was one of those days in the life of an educator where you think to yourself, "why am I doing this?"  I think I may have asked myself that at least 1,000 times today. 

I felt like the kids didn't hear a word that I said today.  I felt like they all could care less that I was up there trying to teach them something. 

Then it was class picture day.  Enough said.  The poor photographers had to take the photo 7 times!  Getting a crew of first graders to all look the same way and smile is like trying to herd cats.  OH MY!

I swear I want to get a recorder and tape myself sometimes.  I think I may say, "sit on your bottom," "please don't talk when I am talking," "Tommy, Tommy, Tommy....." 

Maybe it's just a slump.  I went through this at 7 years of teaching.  Now I'm on 13 years....maybe it's another one of those slumps.  Really not sure how some people do this for 30-something years.  

So, I think I will be a banker.  

My Flippin' Good Deed ~ Soles4Souls

For the past month, I have been blessed to be a part of the Flip Flop Wines "Flippin' Good Deeds" challenge to collect gently used or new shoes for those less fortunate. 

I didn't necessarily enter the contest to win.  I entered to teach my students to give back. 

The kids were so excited to donate shoes.  The parents even brought in brand new ones!  I was amazed! 

We collected 55 pairs of new and used shoes!  I'm so proud of my little "do-gooders!"

Alexis

Red Ribbon Poster Ideas

As I mentioned before, each year during Red Ribbon Week, my school holds a contest for door decorations.  The level of competition between teachers is fierce!  Each one trying to "out-cute" the other. 

Now that Red Ribbon Week has come to a close, it is time to reflect on the ideas that the teachers had.

This was my door....I tied for first place most original artwork.  Beep, beep!  (Just tooting my own horn!)

This is the one that tied for 1st place with me....it's awesome!

Which one is your favorite?

Alexis

What We're Reading ~ Halloween Favorites

Storytime is a MUST in a classroom, no matter the kids' ages.  Everyone loves to be read to....even adults.


Here are some Halloween inspired reads that my students, my boys, and I enjoy at this time of year:

Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini 

This is a funny story about Gritch the Witch who wants to make piggie pie, but she can't find any piggies.  See how those sneaky piggies trick poor Gritch! 








There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat! by Lucille Colandro

This delightfully rhythmic and predictable story follows along the same pattern as There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, but with a Halloween theme.  Imagine that!






The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey

This story is one that all parents can relate to: children choosing their Halloween costumes.  Only this time it's a Dachshund who doesn't want to be a "wiener dog" for Halloween...not to mention all the other dogs make fun of him.




What are your favorite Halloween stories?