Self-Reg book!

For our first week of school we do team building activities.  One of our main things is self-regulation.  A great book for this is Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda.   All about a Monkey who doesn't concentrate on what he's doing, when he's doing it!  Then Panda teaches him how to be mindful and think about what you are doing and enjoy it.  Live in the moment!  Great lesson for students AND TEACHERS!

Job postings in the classroom.

Students were very excited today to find the "Help Wanted" section in my classroom.  I had 11 jobs posted.  As soon as the kids had free time they were over at the wall filling out job applications!  I filled most jobs in a few minutes.  A few are still on the wall.  The kids are excited to work hard (they cleaned in under 5 minutes) and earn their salary for the week.  If I find jobs not done I will not pay.

Several of the students expressed an interest in pooling their salaries together to get big prizes from my chart.  However, I may have to jack up prices if it's too easy to get!

Student filling out a job application

Classroom Environments in Primary

I teach intermediate but my colleagues have jumped aboard the design wagon as well!  They have been working on self-regulation and the environments they have created for their students are quite inspiring.
First up in Vicki Duncan's K/1 classroom.  Vicki has a double classroom because she shares one side with all the primaries.

Comfortable reading/zen area.

Plants for each table.

Organized books

Writing Center

Ikea bookshelves are GREAT for storage

Hanna Miskiman teaches K/1 as well.  She has brought in an outdoor touch to her room.

Comfy reading area

Wonder station.  Topic:  Canada

Plants

Tree trunk lamp

Using fabric to hide books and teacher items you don't want to see!

Play centre

Stefanie Lynch teaches K/1 Montessori and has a very orderly classroom.

Zen area

Wonder station, which has books and items for the theme when school starts.

This is our library.  Priscilla Maki has purchased some circus tents and pillows to make it a great quiet reading zone.

Back to School 2013

With the help of Pinterest, my classroom design has really taken a turn towards more student independence.  The following are some pictures taken this year from just before school start.

To store little things I use daily I purchased a tool storage box at Canadian Tire.  I made sure to get one with multi size drawers.  So far I have filed my usual supplies away and I'll add to it as needed.

A view of my desk.

This is the drop zone.  Students can drop off forms/notes for me in the top blue tray.  They also can get extra notices in the 2nd tray.  Below there are bins for lost and found, library books, and work to be handed in.  I have also stocked the area with a tissue box and hand sanitizer.

New this year, a Help Wanted chart.  I made job postings and job applications.  Students will apply for classroom jobs they like.  Each job has a salary based on tickets I give out.  Students get paid on Friday.  They can purchase special treats in class such as using a special chair, or choosing the game in gym class.  I will also have a bank ledger for students who want to store their money.

Behaviour Chart:  This has clothespins on it with each students name.  The pins move up and down during the day based on behaviour.

Since I number my students this magnet chart works well for bathroom, drinks and office trips.  Students simply move their magnet to the right place.  Now I know where they are and it frees up my white board.

No name?  No problem.  Just pin the work up and have them find it later.  No need for a bin or magnets.

What is the noise expectation?  Easy to see now.

I found these foam letters at Michaels.  Attached a magnet or two.  Now when the class is too noisy I put one letter up as a reminder.  If I spell Noise...then silence begins!

Moved my picture books to a new location.  I also store the book hospital here.  I also have a deli system in my classroom.  Students take a number when they need help.  That way I don't get a line up at my desk and students get my undivided attention.

Clipboard holder from Really Good Stuff.  Also storing extra supplies.

Great idea from Pinterest, pom pom glued onto dry erase markers make a quick and easy eraser!

Students store all their supplies in their own cubby.  I moved them to the front this year because it has more space than the previous location.

The shout out box allows students to write nice notes for each other.

Chapter book corner.

The following are views around the classroom.

Adventures in Self-Regulation

I'll be posting my thoughts on the book "Calm, Alert, and Learning" by Stuart Shanker.

My school is currently focused on self-regulation and at first I was resistant.  Is this a new fad?  Can this actually be helpful?  Or am I just about to be bogged down in a bunch of new ideas that I just can't cram in my brain.  So, at the last pro d day I ran across this book and decided to give it a whirl.

So far I can fully relate to it.  Talking about the states of the mind and how our SNS and PNS systems of the nervous system help to get us geared up and geared back down in times of stress.  And how these two systems can also get out of control.  Boy do I know that well!

I'm now aware of the difference between a hypo vs. hyper child.  One being almost sleepy and switched off, the other being way to switched on.  The goal of self-regulation in learning is to teach these two types of children how to recognize their states and either gear up or down into a calm and relaxed state of being.  But as an adult who doesn't reside in the calm and relaxed zone, I'm going to be looking to help myself in this too!

And wouldn't you know it, the first scenario talks about the visual of your room.  From this blog you will know that I have changed my room completely.  I have no paper up on the walls, I went with a bare look.  I have a set of black risers and a set of yellow.  I also have wood coloured tables.  The bright spot in my room are the two carpets, both burgundy and silver.  So the question is....do kids get overstimulated in my room?  I'm hoping not..but I do have many kids who are in the hyper state quite frequently.  They move around the room like bees.  They are the ones I ask to sit down while I'm talking or stop tapping the pencil.

I look forward to finding new effective ways of helping my kids regulate themselves, and a long the way I hope I also find a calm place!

Kids are blogging

Today I introduced the kids to kidblog.org!  They all have their own page and boy is it busy!  I checked on it several times tonight and the kids were blogging back and forth.  They had questions for others to answer, or just a little note about their day.

I'm planning on giving them assignments to blog but for now it's so fun to watch them enjoy it.

The other site they are HUGE on is sundog, we have an account there too and they love to practice their math and complete challenges.  I can't believe how often they go on!

The power of the internet!

Pinterest peeks my interest

Hello!  Long time no blog.

First an update on how my risers and carpets are doing.  The kids LOVE the risers.  They spend almost all their time working on the risers or tables.  Many kids like to be on the shaggy carpets for games or sit outside when it's nice out.

I often forget how different my room is.  A group of Strong Start parents did a Halloween parade into my room on Wednesday and had some interesting reactions to my room.  They were chatting about how different it was and how the kids were spread out and working.  I think I may have opened a few new eyes to classroom difference in design.

Secondly, I have been having a GREAT year without planners.  None of my kids had to pay for them ($8) and no one has missed them.  Parents constantly tell me that they love the fact that the planners are gone because the kids would never show them or they would lose them.  Everyday or two I send a quick group email to all my parents that says two or three lines about what is happening in the week or what went home that day.  I get MUCH higher home reading participation, more interest in what is being taught and I get a very high percent of returned forms and documents!!!  I highly recommend switching to no planners.

The email takes me about 2 minutes out of my day, unlike the 15-20 for copying planners and children whining about it.

And now onto my MAIN topic...Pinterest.  I was reluctant to try a new form of social media because we get so much as it is.  But pinerest has really excited me!  I've found new creative art projects, ideas for my classroom, Montessori equipment that is less costly.  And that is just my classroom uses for it!  I also found that it has lots of great ideas for my home and my life!!!  New love = pinterest.

Animoto slide shows are going over really well with the class.  They love seeing their month in review and like to watch it more than once!!!

So far new ideas are working well.

One more thought:  I think it shocks people that I don't like to rely on PAC funding for my classroom or for anything I do.  It's not that I don't appreciate the parents working hard to do that for us...but I feel they shouldn't have to.  The government should be funding our classrooms!  Not parents.  Public education should be FREE.  So my goal is to charge my parents as little as possible for their kids education.

So where do I get my funding?  I look to the school funds for furniture, the pro d fund and also the Montessori Society funding.  I know most teachers don't get society funding but I take advantage of it.  Because Montessori is a special program they do charge parents for it.  So that is the only parent funding I try to use.  I encourage teachers to find out what funding the school gets for certain things and not to rely on parents having to fund raise for everything.  Put the pressure on the government where it belongs.