I'm at Confratute- a conference in Connecticut- soaking up some amazing ideas for our classroom. I'm so very excited about the upcoming school year and getting to see your sweet smiling faces again. Speaking of new school year....
I really wanted to change things up a little bit in our classroom. Hopefully you are all still excited about looping! So, I've been brainstorming some new ideas. Take a gander at these ideas and let me know what you think.
Behavior Management- Although I LOVE our star chart and your kids were amazing with it, I definitely want to tweak it a bit now that we are FIRSTIES. :) So, I was thinking about doing a Hollywood theme. Yes, it's been done and I've perused several super teachers that have rocked this in their classrooms. (To see more click here.) Instead of "Fabulous Day" we will need a new catchy phrase. Hmmmm....let me think about this one. Here are some of the ideas for the first grade equivalent of fabulous day: shoes off, iTouch time, first in the lunch line, game time with Miss Amanda*, picnic lunch, smelly marker day, and teacher assistant for the day. At the end of kinder we had a fabulous box and the kids would pull a card out with their surprise incentive on the back. They LOVED this because they were always surprised with their fabulous reward. Please, please, please let me know ANY ideas you have for the incentives. PRICELESS (free) rewards are my favorite!
Star Student- Okay, this is definitely NOT my idea. To see where it sparked for me click here. Love this, it goes along with the Hollywood theme, and let's face it- it's stinkin' cute!
iPad Grant- We were so lucky to receive the iTouch, I Read, I Learn Grant last year. What a difference this has made with our Daily 5! As the kids say, "SWEET!" I am currently working on a grant for iPads. I know, at times I think I'm a bit much, but really the iPads have some incredible apps. Talk about motivation and differentiation! More to come on this...
Home Fun- This is a topic I ponder each summer before school starts. I definitely want to keep in touch with you guys and make sure you know exactly what's going on in class. Last year the kiddos took their folders home on Monday and you returned them on Friday. How did that work for you? Do you need more activities and suggestions in there? Do you despise the homefun folder? C'mon, be honest! I have some wonderful ideas for UPGRADING our home fun folders- but I'm going to need parent help. If you are interested in doing some cutting, pasting, and construction at home please contact me.
Writing Celebrations- In kindergarten we had a terrific writing celebration in the library. Oh, the memories! I really had the best intentions of having more, it just didn't happen. In fact, all your kids have two published pieces in their writing portfolio just waiting to be celebrated! So, I want you to know this is on my list of things to do. I had such positive feedback from our first event that I knew it had to continue. If you would be willing to form and/or help a parent committee for writing celebrations please email me!
Wow, that's a lot to digest at once I'm sure. Gotta get it out while I'm thinking it or I just might forget!
Hope you all are having a terrific summer! Please hug your children for me and let them know I miss them terribly!
Hugs,
*Sadly, Miss Amanda is headed off to UT but I'm certain we will have another amazing CHS student!
We just got an iPad and they do have great aps for learning. Presley loves learning on the iPad and knows how to use it all by herself. I don't think you are crazy I think it's a brilliant idea!! My dad is even getting some for the elementary teachers to use with the kids at his school....he decided this after he saw Presley using it!
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