I recently started picking up a kindergarten math group.  We've been practicing decomposing numbers.  I will tell you that the Target Dollar Spot erasers make awesome seasonal manipulatives!

This drawer organizer from Target (in the kitchen area) is perfect for storing erasers at work stations or at small group.

These mats only have the number at the top.   I laminated them, and then students can practicing decomposing numbers and write the numbers in the box.  Click here for a link to the mats.

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Literacy Without Worksheets

Since school is getting ready to start back up!  I've been looking at lots of awesome classrooms on Pinterest and searching for great print rich classrooms!  If you click on the photograph, it will take you to some awesome blogs with great idea.  My Pinterest board is full of more ideas!

1.  I loved the class books in this classroom!  These books were made for the students.  It is easy to

2.  This blog has lots of great ideas for not only print rich classrooms, but also print rich literacy work stations.

3.  The next two blogs have more great ideas about creating print rich classrooms, and have some great organizational ideas!

4.  Love For Kindergarten has done a great job of including environmental print on a bulletin board.

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Literacy Without Worksheets

I remember how excited I was when I began teaching 15 years ago!  I had my dream job and I knew was going to make a difference.  Twelve years later, I still work in the same school district, and I still work in a school that has about 85% students coming from a low-income home.   I still have the same excitement and feel the same way- that I am making a difference!

Not everyday is perfect and some days are harder than others.  You'll meet lots of people that have lost their "teaching spark" but don't let them bring you down!!!

I'm a big picture gal, and I know that what I'm doing is going to change these children's lives and help break the cycle of poverty!  I've been collecting the wisdom of experienced teachers from one year to thirty years experience!  I wanted to share with you some ideas that will help you survive your first year, help maintain your sanity, and keep you energized and excited!

Teaching Procedures

Jennifer from the Practical Primary Teacher and Carla from Comprehension Connection both focuses on classroom routines and procedures.  Jennifer says that it may seem like overkill to model and have kids do certain things over and over until they get it correct, but it will be worth it when they can do it automatically. It will save you from chaos and from wasting valuable instruction time. Remember...wasted seconds and minutes each day can add up to wasted hours and even DAYS over the period of a school year! Some examples of things to perfect: Coming to meeting area, lining up, leaving meeting area, drink and bathroom procedures, getting supplies, turning things in, going to centers/stations, cleaning up centers/stations, meeting at small group area.

Carla reminds new teachers to think about about the traffic flow- (least amount of wandering possible)! If you decide to change things up in your room, try to make just one change at a time and polish it before making another. Too many changes at once leads to a stressed teachers and confused kids.

Here is a checklist you can use to ensure you have taught all the procedures that you feel are most important to your classroom.  

Collaborate

The most frequent advice I was given was to use your fellow grade level teachers as a resource for questions, guidance, anything you need!  

Darcy from Ms. D's Literacy Lab reminds new teachers to become good friends with your literacy coach and reading teacher. They will be your greatest supports with ideas, websites, knowledge of your school's literacy closet, understand the language arts curriculum at all grade levels, and know your students' already ! ‪ 

I love this great suggestion from Janiel Wagstaff:  One way to boost your skills is to observe expert teachers in your own building. Your literacy coach or admin can facilitate this.

Build Relationships

When it comes to students, Miranda J. reminds new teachers to create a bond with your students, relationships are everything. They will work and try hard for those they know care and believe in them.

Take Care of You!

Finally, Shelly T. reminds teachers to get plenty of sleep!!!  You’ll need it!  The first few weeks (or more) are going to be very overwhelming and your "to do" list is going to probably cause you lots of anxiety.  Make sure you take time to relax and do something that is not school related!  You can't pour from an empty cup, so please make sure to fill your cup!

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Literacy Without Worksheets

I'm learned over the years that I'm kind of a control freak, but more importantly, I want my students to be successful.  

Fidgets are a great way for students to receive sensory input in a way that doesn't distract others.  I have found that it is very helpful to go over the rules and expectations for fidgets.  You can download my free fidget rules chart here!

The important thing about using fidgets in the classroom is to use them in a way that is helpful to the student and not distracting to everyone else. 

The great thing about fidgets are all the different tactile options.  My favorite fidget is a pink squishy ball, that feels soft, but you have to work to squeeze it.  Some of my students like fidgets they can squeeze and stretch, while others like ones they can twist and wrap around their fingers.  

My principal has purchased fidgets for our classrooms from the Therapy Shop. Below are my two favorite fidgets from them!   I've also had really good luck at Target...especially in their dollar spot!

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Literacy Without Worksheets

Lucky Little Learners and this article by  Kayla Delzer inspired me to help one of my co-workers implement flexible seating.  She used Donor Choose to fund her seating arrangement...as well as her own creativity to find ways to provide numerous options for students.

What we Learned

1) Set expectations, practice expectations, and be consistent with expectations.  Every day she reviewed expectations and had I CAN statements for each seating area.  These are available here.

2)  Plan for fairness.  It is important to let students choose where to seat, but nobody wants another management board.   We solved this problem by using the team structure she already had in place in her classroom.  Each team is assigned a day of the week and they get to pick first.  It is easy to manage, and by the end of the week, every student has had a chance to pick their favorite flexible seating.  I love using these brag tags by Talking Piñata to motivate students to do their best at their choice location!

3) Consider your room layout.  There were 5 student work tables in the classroom.  There three additional tables in the classroom for work stations.  We looked for options that were easy to work with tables and easy to store.  For example, the scoop chairs can easily stack. Exercise cushions can easily be added to chairs.  We also made sure we had clipboards to work if they were not at a table.  This is what we used for flexible seating options for 20 students.  There were more options than students, which worked well because students could spread out.

Area one:  Table area with stools from Ikea (4)

Area two:  Scoop chairs on the carpet (4)

Area three:  Yoga mats in the back of the room (4)

Area four:  Table area with exercise balls in crates (4)

Area five: Table area with exercise cusions (4)

Area six:  camping chairs in the classroom library (2)

Area seven:  lap desks (4)

4)  Communicate with parents.  Texas Lone Star Teaching has a great freebie with a letter to parents.  

Teach2Love also has a letter with a student contract.

Affordable Options

Yoga mats are an easy way to add flexible seating.  Students use clipboard and can work on the floor. They also are easy to stack and store.  I have found yoga mats at Target and Walmart for $7.  They can also be cut into smaller sections.

Scoop chairs come in a set of six on Amazon and are about $8 each.

Ikea has stools that are very reasonably priced (about $5.99).  These were used with a table group.

Lapdesks are available at Hobby Lobby during certain seasons for less than $6.

Beach chairs go on clearance at the end of summer.

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Literacy Without Worksheets