I've made it through the first six days of school. Luckily days 1&2 and days 3-6 were separated by the glorious 3 days weekend of Labor Day. The students needed it as much as I did.
Despite 12 previous years of first grade teaching experience, these first six days (as always) have taught me a few things.
1.) The best laid plans are just that. Best laid plans. I HAVE so many plans for the year and I pictured the year starting off much smoother so I could start many new things in the first week or two--Seesaw, class Twitter, morning meetings, reader/writers workshop. And then I met my class--lovely, wonderful and sweet children who want nothing more than to share and learn with their classmates. We are working on taking turns, listening and all those skills I forget happen between September in June because I remember the first graders I sent off to second, not who they were when we began our journey.
2.) Adjusting to a full day of school takes TIME. The majority of my students attended Kindergarten at my school in a half day program. The leap from 2 1/2 hours of learning to being at school for 6 1/2 hours is a big one. I spent most of my afternoons this past week assuring them that yes, I wouldn't forget to pack up and no, it was not time to go home yet.
3.) I need to stop talking. Making a list of rules for school, one of my students came up with "Listen to the teacher talk all day long." Oops. It could be that she is an English language learner and her parents had a different school experience they have prepared her for, or it could be that I was talking too much. I'm trying very hard not to talk so much. But first I need to model sharing our thinking...only 2 or 3 of them have the hang of that. Refer back to #2.
4.) Model, model, model. Model some more. I know this, I learned this at Responsive Classroom. It is so hard to keep modeling and have the kids keep modeling because I want to teach. Oh wait, modeling is teaching? Already this year i have modeled more than ever before. I am hoping it pays off down the road.
5.) Be read for anything. On the 5th day of school I got a new student from Turkey, who does not speak a word of English. I knew this would be happening, but not when it would happen. He arrived in my room one morning with his mother (who thankfully speaks some English) and we were off. I didn't even have his name! Having him as a part of the community is helping me to talk a little bit less (I'm fairly wordy), because I don't want to overwhelm him. I talk a lot, refer back to #3.
6.) I am the captain of the ship. This is actually advice my wonderful art teacher (yes, my art teacher K-8 and wonderful coworker) gave me on the way out Friday. I was exhausted and still had work to do (need to work on organization throughout the day, not staying late on Friday!). She told me that even Barbara (my 1st grade amazing teacher) had days like this. She reminded me I am the captain, I am in charge.
I'm taking the weekend to rest, regroup and plan for the next 5 days. Each day is better than the next and I know that all of the planning, ideas and organization will pay off.
Showing posts with label first six weeks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first six weeks. Show all posts
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
The First Six Weeks of School
When I started on this reflective blog journey a little over a month ago, I envisioned having much more figured out by now. I will be face to face with students in my classroom two weeks from today and I still have many ideas floating and jumbled.
So now here I sit on the couch, intent on organizing my ideas. As I learned in my RC course I need to focus on the first six weeks of school, and I left that week with a bit of a plan for how that works (And I need to make this need clear to admin who typically expect us to jump into programs on day 2 or 3) Thinking through all that I must model, the teacher language I must use and what I want to accomplish I have to think through what I want to do this year, and what I want to introduce.
Procedures - This is a given in 1st grade, but it is going to be even more important this year. I need to model EVERYTHING, and model some more. If things get off track, I've got to stop and remodel.
Morning Meeting/Closing Circle - This is everything! Though it is a chunk of my schedule the safe community it will build will have greater impact down the road and as the routine is established I can begin to weave in academics.
Reader's/Writer's Workshop - I have not had a true workshop for reading or writing in the past. Actually I haven't even been a great model for writing in the past few years. I read a great article connecting the first six weeks of school and writers workshop which I will read and reread over the next couple weeks. I've also got some amazing ideas from Kathy Collins and thanks to her book, Growing Readers I know this is the year I can do it and do it right.
Seesaw - I am very excited to begin using this app to support my students in creating digital portfolios of their progress. I want to start that first week, even with something as simple as a picture, modeling and supporting students in their first steps towards digital literacy.
Mindsets - I've mentioned before my desire to teach my students what it takes to have a growth mindset and to be flexible and resilient learners. I need to be guiding them through discovering the elements of a growth mindset and spotting it in themselves and others. I think I will be referencing and rereading A Mindset for Learning many times this year!
Inquiry - Even if it is just one topic this year, I want my students to experience and learn through true inquiry. This will be a challenge for me, as my large team often wants to be teaching the same thing, on the same day, with the same final outcome. If I am letting student interest guide the learning it may not lined up with the designated team topic. I know if I can show my team and administration that students can meet objectives and show growth while exploring their own learning, I will be able to incorporate inquiry more in the future.
I am slowly building a map for the year, and a plan for the first six weeks. When I lay the groundwork properly I know my students will be prepared for an amazing year of learning.
Last week, having just finished my Responsive Classroom course, I was at the beach with my family. Trying to embrace the chance to relax and unwind, I didn't take (much) professional reading with me. I read for pleasure, I slept in, I went on excursions and all the while the ideas were percolating. My intent was for the ideas to fall into place and organize themselves, but no such luck. They multiplied. Like bunnies.
So now here I sit on the couch, intent on organizing my ideas. As I learned in my RC course I need to focus on the first six weeks of school, and I left that week with a bit of a plan for how that works (And I need to make this need clear to admin who typically expect us to jump into programs on day 2 or 3) Thinking through all that I must model, the teacher language I must use and what I want to accomplish I have to think through what I want to do this year, and what I want to introduce.
Procedures - This is a given in 1st grade, but it is going to be even more important this year. I need to model EVERYTHING, and model some more. If things get off track, I've got to stop and remodel.
Morning Meeting/Closing Circle - This is everything! Though it is a chunk of my schedule the safe community it will build will have greater impact down the road and as the routine is established I can begin to weave in academics.
Reader's/Writer's Workshop - I have not had a true workshop for reading or writing in the past. Actually I haven't even been a great model for writing in the past few years. I read a great article connecting the first six weeks of school and writers workshop which I will read and reread over the next couple weeks. I've also got some amazing ideas from Kathy Collins and thanks to her book, Growing Readers I know this is the year I can do it and do it right.
Seesaw - I am very excited to begin using this app to support my students in creating digital portfolios of their progress. I want to start that first week, even with something as simple as a picture, modeling and supporting students in their first steps towards digital literacy.
Mindsets - I've mentioned before my desire to teach my students what it takes to have a growth mindset and to be flexible and resilient learners. I need to be guiding them through discovering the elements of a growth mindset and spotting it in themselves and others. I think I will be referencing and rereading A Mindset for Learning many times this year!
Inquiry - Even if it is just one topic this year, I want my students to experience and learn through true inquiry. This will be a challenge for me, as my large team often wants to be teaching the same thing, on the same day, with the same final outcome. If I am letting student interest guide the learning it may not lined up with the designated team topic. I know if I can show my team and administration that students can meet objectives and show growth while exploring their own learning, I will be able to incorporate inquiry more in the future.
I am slowly building a map for the year, and a plan for the first six weeks. When I lay the groundwork properly I know my students will be prepared for an amazing year of learning.
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