META TAG

Monday, August 22, 2016

First Day of School 2016


Today was my 19th first day of teaching.  I always know that I am going to be drained, but I always forget exactly to what extent.  Here are a few thoughts that ran through my head today:

1.) I wonder if I can get away with wearing slippers to school tomorrow.

2.) I need chart paper for my to-do list.

3.) Oh summer!  I miss being able to go to the bathroom whenever I wanted to.

4.) Coffee!  I need more coffee!
 
5.) 6 pm is a reasonable bedtime for tonight, right?

6.)  My heart is bursting!  These kiddos are great!

What were your thoughts today?

Have a great school year,
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den

Sunday, August 21, 2016

Back to School: Ready for Day One

In my many years of teaching I have experienced a few first days that were pure "you know what," but more often than not my first day of school is usually exhausting but exhilarating. So far this year is starting out like poetry and roses.  I am rested, relaxed, and ready.   In order to get this way, I spent endless hours in my classroom last week setting the stage for a successful year.  (And my relaxing/ pampering/ me day at the spa yesterday helped too.)


 A nice blank slate.  This is what my classroom looked like before the transformation.  :-)


 Countless hours in my classroom! But it was all worth it!



 I have read so much about "Brag Tags" and am super excited to use them in my classroom this year!  There is a wealth of resources on TPT for Brag Tags if you are interested.  I will keep you updated on how my students respond to using them, and how I implement them in the classroom.



 From Left to Right:  Elements of Vocabulary, Nifty Thrifty Fifty, Evidence Based Terms for Writing, and Science Vocabulary


 My desk area: teacher editions, fridge, printer, etc all are in this location.



One of my favorite areas.  Last year I stapled the standards to a bulletin board.  Ug!  What a waste of space that was.  This is soooo much better.  I laminated 3 sheets of construction paper, hot glued them to the wall, then hot glued pretty clips to them and there you have it!



Now remember, day 1 sets the tone for the remainder of the school year.  First impressions are everything!
Here are some tips that I follow for a successful first day:
1.) Have Extra Copies of EVERYTHING
Make extra copies.  JUST IN CASE.  There is nothing worse that being one or two copies short.  Have extra pencils stashed around the room in case, ahem for when, students misplace their own.

2.) Be Organized, Tidy, and Ready
Try to get to school on the earlier side.  For instance, teachers report in my school at 7:30.  Tomorrow, I will arrive at 7:00 am.  Walk around your room.  If you haven't done so already, label your supplies.

3.) Be Ready for Everything and ANYTHING
Try to stay calm.  Not everything is going to go as you planned.  That's ok.

4.) Start learning names now.
If you aren't sure how to pronounce a student's name, ASK.  Write it down phonetically.  Practice.  Call on that student by name.  Praise that student, using his/ her name.  Learn the names.  Don't be THAT teacher who butchers names and thinks it's not a big deal.  It is.

Have a great school year!
~Sandra @The Happy Learning Den

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Back to School: Nice to Meet You!

Throughout the summer, I have been researching and listing great first week of school activities.  I hope this post can help you to build a sense of community that will last throughout the year.

1. Name Chain
No prep.  No supplies. The first student says his/ her name and one interesting fact about themselves.  The next student must then tell his or her own name, an interesting fact about themselves, and then introduce the previous student to the class.  The third student then tells his or her own name, and then introduces the previous two students.  Keep this up until the very last student.  For added fun, you can also participate... of course, you are last.

2. New Year's Resolution
I am sure that your students are familiar with New Year's Resolutions in December/ January, but a new school year allows students to set new goals for the new school year.  Encourage students to be specific about what they would like to change.  Have students create posters, and then you will have a visual all year long.  Win-win!  :-)

3. Ice Breakers & Team Building Activities 
In my lesson plans, not only do I list the activities, but I also list the teaching objectives and possible reflection/ extension idea.  At my Teacher's Pay Teachers store,  I have a resource that includes 14 getting to know you activities.  Each lesson includes a learning objective, materials needed (if any), expected time frame needed, instructions, examples, and possible extension/ reflection activities.


Every teacher has a different approach to the first week of school.  However you choose to get to know your students, have a little fun!  I hope this blog helps you start the year off on the right foot.  Feel free to share any tried and true ice breaker activities that you love in the comments below.

Have a great school year,
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den










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Monday, August 1, 2016

Advice & Tips for New Teachers

This school year will be my 19th year teaching!  This blows my mind because I can still remember my first year teaching!  It's forever ago and just yesterday all rolled up into one.  It's strange and rewarding realizing you're not the newbie anymore.

I feel strongly about helping new teachers.  When I was brand new I was incredibly blessed with amazing colleagues who guided me throughout my entire first year.  Then when I switched districts, and went through the new teacher program again... I was once again blessed with AMAZING teachers/ colleagues who have become dear friends too.  I know that I am incredibly lucky, because I have heard horrific stories from my friends in other schools.

I hope that you will share this with a new teacher or a college student going through the teacher program, or, if you are a veteran that you will share tips and advice that have helped you to become the expert you are today.


1.  Set a reasonable time to leave school every day and stick to it!
There is ALWAYS more work that can be done at school.  It will still be there tomorrow.  Trust me, I know it's hard to leave it at home.  I am guilty of taking work home myself.  But last year I broke the vicious cycle.  At the beginning of the school year, I would bring work home... but I left it in the car.  I would joke with my friends that the papers were taking a "field trip."  By the end of the school year, I didn't take any work home.  If it wasn't done by the time I set for myself, I would do it the next day!  Of course, this means that I didn't follow the contractual hours... the hours that I am paid to work (7:30 - 3:00).  I arrived at school most days around 6:45, which gave me 45 minutes of uninterrupted grading time.  I also stayed at work until 4:30 (1.5 hours extra) to grade, contact parents, write lesson plans, collaborate with others, post bulletin boards, etc. etc. etc.  This way I didn't need to bring things home.  Just make sure you stay on top of deadlines!  

2.  Stock an emergency drawer in your desk or bottom of your file cabinet.
You will spend so much time in your classroom it will feel like you live there.  Keeping some thought out essentials in your desk will save you from those little life-curveballs that may happen.  Here's what I keep in mine: deodorant, dental floss, lip gloss, small mirror, extra birthday cards and thank you cards, chocolate, long shelf-life snacks, breath mints, maxi-pads, hairbrush, hair clip, spare phone charger, compact umbrella.  I also keep a sweater on my desk chair in case the weather outside changes suddenly or I get a chill.

3.  Document ALL parent and administrator contact.
I am going to be brutally honest here.  I still struggle with this one AND I was given this same advice my first year!  It is tedious, but it is essential.  Get a simple notebook at the back to school sales.  (I used a composition notebook last year.)  Before you leave each day, write down the date, who you had contact with, and a few sentences to remind you of the most important points to help jog your memory.  Angela Watson has a great Freebie at Teachers Pay Teachers you can use. 

4.  Prepare Emergency Substitute Plans now so you are ready for any unexpected illnesses or family emergencies during the school year.
This is one of those things that you and your fellow teachers will be grateful for during the school year.  In my school, we are required to have emergency plans for the inevitable.  I keep a "Sub Tub" behind my desk with two types of emergency plans.  One is for if a substitute comes, and the other is sets of work in case my class needs to be split up into the other classes.  Work they can complete on their own without the aide of the teacher whom they will be spending the day with in your absence.  I include an attendance sheet and which teacher they should go to.

5.  Don't compare yourself to veteran teachers.
I think I am a pretty great teacher.  My students learn a lot every year.  However, I'm human.  Sometimes I look at what other teachers are doing, and I feel inadequate.  These teachers change out their bulletin boards monthly others bi-weekly.  They have students fill out applications for the jobs they want, and then have neat job titles like Classroom Librarian, Errand Runner, Doorman, etc. They have a classroom currency system where they can buy things like pencils, erasers, trips to the prize box, etc.
I am not those teachers, and that's ok!  Those things don't work for me as a teacher.  I do plenty of other things really well, and over time, you will realize that so do you.

6. Post instructions as often as possible on the board.
I know this sounds like something you would/ should only do for students in grades K - 3, but writing out expectations of what needs to be done upon entering the classroom makes my morning calmer. I have found that students behave much better when they know exactly what is expected of them.  They have the same procedure every morning when they enter my classroom.  They always unpack first, then copy their homework, and then they begin an activity.  This allows me to take attendance and do all those little housekeeping things that need to be done each morning, and students are engaged.  Every morning I have written on the board:
                    Do Now
                1. Unpack  [I don't allow my students to go into their book bag 1,000 times a day.  I limit it                                    to in the morning when they are unpacking, before we go to lunch, and then                                          again when we pack at the end of the day.]
                2. Copy Homework
                3. This is where I write down the activity I want them to complete.

7. Procedures!  Know what you want students to do and have them practice!!!
The first three weeks of school are key to the success of your entire year.  You have two choices.  Either set your students up for success: your classroom runs efficiently and children are safe.  Or set your students up for failure, let them get away with whatever they want, and then book yourself a permanent private suite at a psychiatric facility.  It's your choice.

You need to know exactly how you want everything done, and then have students practice the heck out of it.  What do I mean by everything?  You name it... there needs to be a procedure for it.
The way students enter and leave your classroom,  lining up, walking in line, when they can use the bathroom (never while I am giving instructions), how often they can use the bathroom, when they can sharpen their pencils, when and if they can borrow a pencil from you, how to turn in papers, how to write their heading, participating in group lessons, using the class library, visitors in the classroom, fire drills, helping other students, what to do if they are finished, etc.

I personally recommend that every new teacher reads the book, The First Days of School by Harry Wong.

Have a great year!
Love,
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den