Get ready to dive into How to Use Class Dojo. Let's start with talking about time. Guess what I don't have? Time to waste in the classroom tracking everyone's behavior and constantly rewarding those who are on track doing the wrong thing! Nor do I have time to constantly be correcting behaviors we don't want to see. Time is the enemy and I think I show you how Class Dojo can be your BFF. Class … [Read more...]
One-to-One with Technology in Kindergarten: Part 3
One-to-One with Technology in Kindergarten: Part 3 is the third installment of my technology journey. At this stage, I have implemented small groups of iPads into regular instruction and students are using devices for a few minutes every single day. To catch up, you can read about Part 1 here. You can read about Part 2 here. This was a hard phase is going 1:1 technology in the … [Read more...]
One-to-one with Technology in Kindergarten: Part 2
One-to-one with Technology in Kindergarten: Part 2 is the second installment of my technology journey. At this stage, I am sitting pretty with a few iPads for my classroom. Things are going smoothly, but there is still so much to learn and management issues to solve. (You can read about Part 1 here.) Adding to Technology: One-to-one with Technology in Kindergarten I was able to … [Read more...]
One-to-One with Technology in Kindergarten: Part 1
Today we are starting our journey from going from 1 device to one-to-one with Technology in Kindergarten. Every teacher travels a different road when it comes to their technology journey. I am going to share with you my technology journey that started with one iPad and grew to 1:1 devices this school year. This is the first part of my journey. Beginning the Journey With one-to-one with … [Read more...]
Start-of-the-Year Wall Decor
What should each and every Kindergarten teacher know about start-of-the-year wall decor? More so, what wall decor remains on the wall all year long? Also, what wall decor remain on the wall year after year? Here is some Start of the Year Wall Decor Ideas. Alphabet Wall Decor First, you must have an Alphabet that connects to phonics skills. You will refer to it every day, multiple times a … [Read more...]
Classroom Help! What To Do?
Classroom Help! What to do? Guys. I NEED your help. I need your creative minds. I need your years of problem-solving and out-of-the-box thinking. I Need Classroom Help! Look at the panoramic view of my NEW classroom. I am SO SO SO excited to get a beautiful, bare, clean slate to start to transform. I am beyond blessed to dive into this space and make it my dream … [Read more...]
Classroom Management Tips
Classroom management is hard. It is so hard. Little learners don't always know how to behave at school or in a structured setting. And let's keep it real. Some students have little desire to behave. Classroom management was the single most important topic I needed to learn in college. Why?My former principal told our faculty this: Those question marks touch my soul. When I have a student … [Read more...]
Teaching Behaviors is Important
Let's talk about Teaching Behaviors. As educators, we know how important it is to teach our students the basics in Kindergarten. And in each and every grade. We know what each student must achieve to move on to the next grade. We also know what each student should know to make their next year above what is required for promotion. Why is Teaching Behaviors Important? Additionally, educators … [Read more...]
Make Time For Each Learner
One of the biggest struggles for a teacher is to make sure they make time for each and every learner each and every day. But if we are successful in making a little time for each learner every single day, the impact on their lives is simply immeasurable. The impact on your life is even greater. This is the best teaching trick I ever learned about in college. Make Time For Each Learner Why is … [Read more...]
10 Steps to Center Success
10 Steps to Center Success is here! FLASHBACK to my first year teaching: The thought of center time raised my blood pressure. I was flat-out scared to give my children even a small bit of control in my room. It was 100% MY FEAR and 0% developmentally okay. Looking back, why did I think that 4-year-olds in PreK could do this and my own 5-year-olds could not? So I finally, reluctantly did center … [Read more...]
Wobble Chairs as a Flexible Seating Option
Let's talk about Wobble Chairs as a Flexible Seating Option: I like to think I am a "think out of the box" teacher. I like to find solutions to problems that some might steer clear of because my students think out of the box and they deserve solutions as unique as they are. Why Wobble Chairs as a Flexible Seating Option? My little loves this year is unique. They are colorful … [Read more...]
Daily 5 Self-Management Necklaces
Daily 5 Necklaces is the answer to how you manage free-flowing choices during Daily 5. You asked. You guys wanted to know about my idea to use self-management necklaces. This is a management tool I give my students to empower them to take ownership of their learning during the literacy structure called Daily 5, which is what we do during our reading block. What Is Daily 5? Daily 5 is a … [Read more...]