First Day

My door sign
This year, I was well prepared for the first day of school. I knew what I was doing, and when I was doing it down to the minute. It went wonderfully until my students were so very well-behaved that we finished most things early! Oh well, I had plenty of supplemental things to do.
I am looking forward to this year. Last year I had to deal with several students who were downright rebellious. This year, I have some mischieviousness, but no rebellion. What a relief. As the year goes on, it may develop, but I am praying that it does not! I need a break from the stress that goes with trying to deal with rotten students!

Classroom Handbook

This year I am trying something new. I got the idea at teacher's convention last year and have been working on it on and off throughout the last year. I will be giving each student a classroom handbook. Check it out for more information.



Mrs. Teacher's Handbook

Back to School

School will be starting soon, and teachers around the country are frantically decorating their rooms. The first year I taught, I planned all of the next year's bulletin boards ahead of time. This year, not so much.
Here are some great sites I found with fantastic ideas!
Bulletin Board Pro
Classroom Displays and Bulletin Boards
Classroom Bonus.com
Teaching Hearts
Teacher Help.org
Teaching Heart.net

There is a plethora of ideas contained in these links. Hopefully soon, I will be able to show you pictures of my room and its bulletin boards.

Keep Them Moving!

Jen over at Following the Footsteps had the great idea of hosting a Back to School Teacher Swap. Jen is the kind of teacher I would have liked to have. She does a fantastic job and is always coming up with something new! Anyway, if you are a teacher, head over to her blog
to get some fantastic teaching ideas.

I think the ideas I am going to share are about keeping your students active. Please keep in mind that I teach third and fourth grade. These ideas may need to be adjusted to fit your classroom. Especially in the first few weeks of school, students are trying to get back into the routine of things. Over the summer, they ran, played, went on vacation, and probably didn't stop for more than two minutes at a time. Coming back to school is a tremendous change for them, and the more that we teachers can help with that transition, the more smoothly our classrooms will operate.
Do not be one of those teachers who has the students sit at their desks all day. Students should stand and move to get their minds back on track. Here are some ways that incorporate a little bit of "wiggle" time into my day. (The older students get, the less they need. However, even adults focus better when they can move around after sitting for a long time.) The more actively students participate, the more they will learn.

Idea #1
Incorporate movement and action into each class. In Bible class we sing action songs. In Language, we come to the board, do sit down-stand up reviews. In Spelling we act out the words as we spell them, we use cowboy voices and use our hands to "lasso." We write in the air with our fingers in Writing class. In Math we do a lot of board work. In science we take quick walks outside. In History, I'll have the students act out the day's lesson.

Idea #2
Some days, there isn't so much time for added stuff within your lessons. On those days, take thirty seconds to have your students move during a transition time.

One thing I like to do is have them say this little poem and do the actions.

I'm alive, (hands on head) awake, (hands on shoulders), alert (hands on knees), enthusiastic (clap with each syllable). Repeat 2 times.
I'm alive(head), awake(shoulders), alert(knees, alert(knees), awake(shoulders), alive(head).
I'm alive, (hands on head) awake, (hands on shoulders), alert (hands on knees), enthusiastic (clap with each syllable).
We see how fast we can get as we continue to learn it. This is something that my classroom is famous for. When grandparents come on grandparents day, we teach them how to do it. In assemblies, sometimes we'll be called on to show the other classes how to do this. It's lots of fun, and it is ACTIVE. If you have trouble getting your kids to wind down, have them repeat this like their grandparents would say it at the very end before they sit down.

Another thing I do is have the students stand next to their desks, and then I tell them "Jump to face the ______________(clock, windows, books, etc.)" In one jump, they have to be facing that direction. We do this about 5-10 times, and then they sit down.

The last idea I'd like to share is a game called 'Stand Like a ____________" I'll tell the kids, "Stand like a frog. Stand like a king. Stand like a giraffe. Stand like a soldier, etc." Just standing there and changing their posture gets them moving so that they can focus better when they sit back down.

So, what do you do to keep your kids active in your classroom? I'd love to hear tips, hints, and ideas!

End of Year Thoughts

Although many veterans of the classroom say that one's first year of teaching is the hardest, in my case, that wasn't true. This year has been one of the most challenging in my life, both at school and at home.

The biggest reason for the difficulties at school this year is that I had several students who were just plain outright rebellious. They didn't want to obey, behave, or come under classroom rules. They wanted to control, manipulate, and instigate. The main child who caused problems is living in a single-parent home and has severe anger issues and some focus issues also. I would have liked to have had this child tested, but his parent did not see the necessity of it. Anyway. . . as the year is over, I look back and I wonder.

Did I do enough? Did I do the right thing when I dealt with these students? Did I show them that even though I had to repeatedly discipline them, I love them? I hope so.

This year I felt as though I could not give some of my other quieter students the attention they needed because of constantly having to deal with these troublemakers. As a matter of fact, one parent told me after church tonight that her daughter complained about all the interruptions. She had right to complain. They were frequent.

However, no matter what last year held, it is over. I cannot change it. I can only learn from it. I hope that I learn the lessons that the Master Teacher has shown me. I am already eagerly anticipating next school year. I am excited to face another year full of possibility and promise!

Typical Day in a Combined Classroom

8:00-8:15 Students arrive


8:15-8:30 Attendance, lunch count, and pledges


8:30-9:00 Combined Bible class ~ Every day we review our Scripture memory, Catechism, and Hymn. We then go on to a Bible lesson. This class is combined, both third and fourth grade do the same lessons.


9:00-9:30 Third grade Spelling, Penmanship, and Language ~ During this time, 4th grade works on writing their spelling words, and completing their penmanship. We begin by reviewing our spelling words orally, briefly going over the penmanship assignment, and then beginning the language lesson. If my students behave exceptionally well and there is time remaining, at the end of the half hour, we play a short spelling review game.


9:30-10:00 Fourth grade Spelling, Penmanship, and Language ~ This follows the same format as third grade. Third grade is working on their assignments for spelling, penmanship, and language.


10:00 - 10:15 Morning recess ~ On the days that I do not have playground duty, I spend this time working with slower students.


10:15-10:30 Restroom pass ~ With 25 students, it normally lasts a little bit longer than this. However, the pass starts with fourth grade, and once they are all done with their trek to the restroom and the moisturization of their parched mouths, we begin their math lesson.


10:30- 10:55 Fourth grade math ~ We begin by checking the previous day's paper. Next comes the fact drill, and sometimes flash cards, and then the day's lesson. Fourth grade then works on their math assignment while we go on to . . .


10:55-11:20 Third grade math ~ same format as fourth.


11:30- 12:00 Lunch ~ I am responsible to monitor my students during this time.


12:00-12:30 Lunch break ~ Normally, I have break duty, but when I don't, I have grading time. Typically, however, it becomes disciplinary time for a few of my students.


12:30 - 12:45 Restroom pass


Afternoons ~ In the afternoons, we have out of classroom classes like Art, Music, Library and Choir. Because of this, each day's schedule is different. In the afternoon, we cover 3rd grade reading, 4th grade reading, history, and science. (History and science are combined. I teach 3rd grade history and 4th science one year and vice versa the next.)


3:00-3:15 ~ end of day assignments, straightening desks, getting things to go home (I read to the students during this time)

There you have it! My day is packed full! I have 1 1/2 hours of prep time at school per week. What is your day like?

Why I Need Pockets

Because I confiscated all of these on the five minute walk to the cafeteria today!