This is my first year of teaching and I sometimes feel in over my head. During this Labor Day weekend, it made me really happy to run across blogs that are teaching similar programs as my school. Programs such as: Daily 5, Everyday Counts and Writers Workshop. I was floored! When you get a chance, look to the blogs at the right. They have tons of ideas!
In my classroom, our theme for the year is "Reach for the Stars". I hope to inspire my firsties to do their best and reach their goals. To help with that, I have created a variety of themed ideas for the year.
Shooting Star Work
This board will give students a chance to show their best work. That way everyone can see it and they will feel accomplished.
Famous Birthday Stars
When we have a birthday, students will get to wear nifty sunglasses (I found them at the dollar store) all day long. The sunglasses have different light-colored lenses so I can still see their eyes when I'm teaching. We will also ask them some questions about them to share with the class.
"Star Spots"
I told my class that we are all going to be stars this year, but only stars get to sit on a star spot at the mat. ;) Then everyone immediately straightened up... It was just organization for me. They were squishing each over and over with no real lines. So I made stars on the computer, cut them out and laminated them. I then put them on my mat in an organized fashion. Students have to sit on the star and not play with it. Lol. I can get their attention pretty quick when I ask, "Where are all my stars?" Once I have everyone's attention at the mat, I then say, "Oh! There's my stars!"
STAR Behavior
This is a management strategy similar to our school-wide strategy "Give Me High 5!". For STAR Behavior to work, students have to:
Sit up straight
Tongues still (voices off)
Attention on me
Ready to Learn!
When I ask for it, students are really good at showing me 'STAR Behavior'.
So far, that's all I have thought up, but I'm sure I'll have more as the year continues.
