ngkur - CALLING ALL TEACHERS!!

[Ray]

Hai folks  

i know now there are a lot of us here and we have either already or are just about to start back up for the school year so I'm wondering:


1)What grade/subject do you teach?

2)what at is your first day/week of school like?

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend?

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year?

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom

[Ray]

1) I teach French as a second language in a small rural school (less than 100 kids grades K-8) so I teach the whole school

2) this is my first year starting at this school (I taught there the last two months of last year) so I'm not really sure what to expect. The kids are VERY weak in general in French so I'm hoping to do some activities to really get them started up with confidence.

3) last year I had the students make a personal flag with stuff about them on it (what they liked, didn't like etc) and present it to the class. I got to learn more about them, a brief look into their basic oral skills, and then we decorated the classroom with them afterwards

4) this year I'd like to build more routines into my day/week. FSL is unique in that I only see my kids 40mins a day so my entire day kind of feels like first period. I feel like I am always directing the class which takes away from potential 1 on 1 time with kids who need it.

5) I haven't started yet, but this is the space I'm working with:

[cnf2013]

Ohhh, hiiiii. I still hang out here sometimes and want to play =)

1)What grade/subject do you teach? I teach health 6/7/8. Different curriculum for each grade level. But basically I get to talk about sex, drugs, and not making dumb choices to young teens all day. It's awesome.

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? Lot of rule, expectations, blahblahblah. Nothing too exciting or out of the ordinary.

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? Repetition and posting them in multiple places around the room. It helps that I have kids three years in a row, so from 6th to 8th grade they better know that stuff. My kids aren't too young, so it doesn't take much to beat the rules and expectations into them.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? I'm planning to retool a lot of my lessons. I'm also working to clean up behavior issues I inherited from the previous teacher. I was told he had zero classroom management and it was evident when I laid down some law and kids who had him previously were not pleased.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom: I have more pictures somewhere, but here's a blog post that goes over my typical day. *****Warning, if you wander from this post, you will run into pregnancy related posts.

[teachermomtobe]

This is fun Ray, thanks for starting!

1)What grade/subject do you teach? 3rd grade

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? Exhausting! Lots of routines and building the classroom community along with some academics

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? I use Responsive Classroom in my classroom so we do lots with Morning Meeting and other getting to know you activities. I use Morning Meeting and Closing Circle every day throughout the year. I am a big Responsive Classroom fan and encourage teachers who aren't familiar with it to check it out: www.responsiveclassroom.org/

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? Have a better reader's workshop. We do it for an hour and students have three 20 minute activities that vary during the week (like Daily 5 for those familiar) but some of my activities are lacking and I'd like to make them better and more meaningful for my students.

Can I add another question: When is/was everyone's first day?

[Ray]

I start September 2nd in a "work-to-rule" position. Striking sucks I'm not even allowed into my classroom September 1st and only 15mins before the bell rings first day :S. I usually like to be an hour and a half early.

[vancitygirl]

1) I teach grade 5/6 (and I'm finally at my hopefully forever school!)
2)I don't know if I understand this question completely buy our first day looks like a half day where the kids go their last years classes minus the grade 7s who are gone. That teacher gets the kindergartens lol. Then we rotate around doing Mind Up activities for the next two days and are officially in our new class's by Friday.
3) I really like to go over rules together and then writing out a big class contract that everyone signs. On it I always make sure to include "before you say or do anything, ask yourself is it THINK--true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, kind" it becomes a big thing in my class.
Also I love to do a "5 numbers about Me" art activity where they take a piece of paper and stylize 5 numbers and their name and explain how those numbers relate to them. Ex/ 2--I have 2 dogs, 31--my age, 7--the years I have been a teacher, etc.

4) this year i would love to implement math station/rotations as part of my regular math lessons

5) haven't gone in my class yet since it's a new room but I always do fun class doors and here is my last one I did

[teachermomtobe]

Aug 22, 2015 13:50:15 GMT -5 Ray said:

I start September 2nd in a "work-to-rule" position. Striking sucks I'm not even allowed into my classroom September 1st and only 15mins before the bell rings first day :S. I usually like to be an hour and a half early.

That must be tough!  We have gotten close to "Work-to-Rule" before but never actually had to do it.  I'm like you, I get to school about an hour and a half early.  Teachers start 8/27 and students on 8/31.

[cnf2013]

Teachers report on September 2&3, students start September 8th. We always start after Labor Day, but we also don't get out until the final week of June. Our last day last year was June 26th. It's brutal to go so late!

[penguin129]

I want to play too, even though I've been out of the classroom for 2 years now.

1) What grade subject do you did you teach? I taught 2nd grade the 2012-2013 school year.

2) What is your first day week of school like? Long and exhausting. But also very exciting!

3) What are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend?
We did a lot of getting to know you activities. I bought the Kagan book and there are really good worksheets in there for Class Building. H used them this week when he started teaching with his third graders. There's a Classmate Bingo page and some other cool one. I also had the students make glyph of themselves for math. I asked the students what rules we should have and wrote their ideas on the board and they voted on the rules that would stay. I wrote them on chart paper and they all signed them. They also helped me make up the class jobs we should have. I introduced the clip chart system to them. Mostly behavior management and getting to know you stuff.

4) What is something you'd do differently? When I return to the classroom I want to get better at differentiating instruction and working with small groups. My husband has mastered it and I could learn a few things from him.

Pics of My Room from 2012-2013 School Year

[mrsw062610]

1)What grade/subject do you teach? High school theatre

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? BUSY and chaotic

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? We do a Name Game to learn everybody's names. Plus a variety of other theatre games.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? Better job of keeping in touch with parents. I suck at that mainly bc my phone is not at my desk.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom

[BurritosAtEveryMeal]

1)What grade/subject do you teach? Kindergarten

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? So much talking! I am always exhausted and lose my voice. I just show small children how to use things. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? I have a zillion but I'm 3 beers deep now, so I can't think of anything great off the top of my head.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? Delegate more. I have a student teacher and a part time aide. I always feel like I do all the work. And I need more alone time. My neighbor is new and I always get roped into something during prep.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom.
I won't have pics til next week. I am prolonging going to work as long as I possibly can this year! I will try to throw some in here! I love looking at all the rooms.

[cheshie6]

I'm not a teacher, but what does Work to Rule mean to students and teachers? I've googled it and I get what it actually means but if it's a sort of strike, but you're still working... is it like a slow down?

[Ray]

Aug 22, 2015 16:46:49 GMT -5 cheshie6 said:

I'm not a teacher, but what does Work to Rule mean to students and teachers? I've googled it and I get what it actually means but if it's a sort of strike, but you're still working... is it like a slow down?

[br

I'm not allowed into the school until 15mins before bell and have to leave 15mins after. No field trips or extra curriculars. No meetings or anything outside of regular hours. Basically like a scale back of services

[Ray]

Aug 22, 2015 16:46:49 GMT -5 cheshie6 said:

I'm not a teacher, but what does Work to Rule mean to students and teachers? I've googled it and I get what it actually means but if it's a sort of strike, but you're still working... is it like a slow down?

[br

I'm not allowed into the school until 15mins before bell and have to leave 15mins after. No field trips or extra curriculars. No meetings or anything outside of regular hours. Basically like a scale back of services

[mosdub]

I'm too anxious to post anything too specific on a public board, but I'll share what I feel comfortable! DNQ in case I want to dirty delete parts later

*poof*

[cheshie6]

Aug 22, 2015 19:53:26 GMT -5 jennykat said:

I love your pass and draw project mosdub!

+1

[pbsnowflake453]

1)What grade/subject do you teach? I teach 5th grade. We are partially departmentalized, so I teach math/science and my neighbor teaches reading/social studies

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? Lots of routines and behavior management, same as others. This year we did a PBL unit called Super B.O.Y. (beginning of year) to teach school procedures and work on building school community. It was pretty fun!

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? See above. A main part of the project was having the students become "Expert Eagles" by learning all of the school/classroom rules and procedures.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? This is only my 2nd year, so just about everything! I do want to focus on keeping my paperwork sorted better, as well as providing enrichment strategies for the go-getters.

We started back on July 31st and kiddos came back on August 4th.



This is from a few days before school started, so not finished yet. (Note: The monkey's speech bubble looks wonky because I blurred out some personal info.)

[Ray]

Aug 22, 2015 21:51:15 GMT -5 pbsnowflake453 said:

1)What grade/subject do you teach? I teach 5th grade. We are partially departmentalized, so I teach math/science and my neighbor teaches reading/social studies

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? Lots of routines and behavior management, same as others. This year we did a PBL unit called Super B.O.Y. (beginning of year) to teach school procedures and work on building school community. It was pretty fun!

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? See above. A main part of the project was having the students become "Expert Eagles" by learning all of the school/classroom rules and procedures.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? This is only my 2nd year, so just about everything! I do want to focus on keeping my paperwork sorted better, as well as providing enrichment strategies for the go-getters.

We started back on July 31st and kiddos came back on August 4th.



This is from a few days before school started, so not finished yet. (Note: The monkey's speech bubble looks wonky because I blurred out some personal info.)

Care to share any resources? Lol that PBL sounds amazing!!

[raelien23]

1)What grade/subject do you teach? I teach high school world history and comparative religions. Mostly 10th graders.

2)what at is your first day/week of school like? Lots of adrenaline and honestly pretty fun - big time mentally exhausting trying to learn 170 names as fast as humanly possible.

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? Last year when the NYT "36 questions to fall in love" came out I told students about the article and then had them find partners and asked the questions, sharing out if the wanted and moving towards the more "deep." I explain the science behind it, and then at the end we try to maintain eye contact with someone for a few minutes. Its super awkward and weird but it breaks the ice.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? Consistency with routine and procedures, deeper connections to colleagues, offer more support to others.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom

[setsuna17]

1)What grade/subject do you teach? High school Japanese and Careers/Health
I go back Thursday for meetings and prep. School starts Sept.1.

2)what at is your first day/week of school like?
The first day is mostly icebreakers. Japanese 2-4 I already know the kids (I'm the only Japanese teacher) so I do the M&M game to make them tell me something about their summer. Then we play a grammar related game and do a review worksheet to see how much they remember. I will introduce their song too. (I make them sing mwahahaha.) Japanese 1 is a little different. We start vocabulary day 1 so they can come home speaking something. They will also hear procedures and pick Japanese names that week. I make them intro to the whole class with their new name.
Careers will have a healthy habits people search, procedures and the getting to know you survey. We start learning about the point of high school and what goals they will set.

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? I'm old fashioned and like the scavenger hunt type and the m&m game. I make the upper levels in Japanese play two truths and a lie.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? I'm trying to be more streamlined on my procedures for my own sanity. I took some time this summer to make all kinds of forms and binders to do so. For instance a behavior log instead of me relying on my memory on how many times so and so asked to go to the bathroom. Same with an absent log. I had procedures already, I'm just making them better. I also want to try to use the program with my smart board that connects to the kids' smartphones. We'll see how that goes.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom.
All my pics have kids in them, so we'll have to wait until I go back.

[Ray]

Aug 23, 2015 12:10:03 GMT -5 setsuna17 said:

1)What grade/subject do you teach? High school Japanese and Careers/Health
I go back Thursday for meetings and prep. School starts Sept.1.

2)what at is your first day/week of school like?
The first day is mostly icebreakers. Japanese 2-4 I already know the kids (I'm the only Japanese teacher) so I do the M&M game to make them tell me something about their summer. Then we play a grammar related game and do a review worksheet to see how much they remember. I will introduce their song too. (I make them sing mwahahaha.) Japanese 1 is a little different. We start vocabulary day 1 so they can come home speaking something. They will also hear procedures and pick Japanese names that week. I make them intro to the whole class with their new name.
Careers will have a healthy habits people search, procedures and the getting to know you survey. We start learning about the point of high school and what goals they will set.

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? I'm old fashioned and like the scavenger hunt type and the m&m game. I make the upper levels in Japanese play two truths and a lie.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? I'm trying to be more streamlined on my procedures for my own sanity. I took some time this summer to make all kinds of forms and binders to do so. For instance a behavior log instead of me relying on my memory on how many times so and so asked to go to the bathroom. Same with an absent log. I had procedures already, I'm just making them better. I also want to try to use the program with my smart board that connects to the kids' smartphones. We'll see how that goes.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom.
All my pics have kids in them, so we'll have to wait until I go back.

I never thought of a bathroom log lol that's smart! What smart board program are you talking about?

[pbsnowflake453]

Ray, YGPM

[setsuna17]

Aug 23, 2015 12:42:08 GMT -5 Ray said:

Aug 23, 2015 12:10:03 GMT -5 setsuna17 said:

1)What grade/subject do you teach? High school Japanese and Careers/Health
I go back Thursday for meetings and prep. School starts Sept.1.

2)what at is your first day/week of school like?
The first day is mostly icebreakers. Japanese 2-4 I already know the kids (I'm the only Japanese teacher) so I do the M&M game to make them tell me something about their summer. Then we play a grammar related game and do a review worksheet to see how much they remember. I will introduce their song too. (I make them sing mwahahaha.) Japanese 1 is a little different. We start vocabulary day 1 so they can come home speaking something. They will also hear procedures and pick Japanese names that week. I make them intro to the whole class with their new name.
Careers will have a healthy habits people search, procedures and the getting to know you survey. We start learning about the point of high school and what goals they will set.

3) what are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? I'm old fashioned and like the scavenger hunt type and the m&m game. I make the upper levels in Japanese play two truths and a lie.

4) what is something you'd like to do differently this year? I'm trying to be more streamlined on my procedures for my own sanity. I took some time this summer to make all kinds of forms and binders to do so. For instance a behavior log instead of me relying on my memory on how many times so and so asked to go to the bathroom. Same with an absent log. I had procedures already, I'm just making them better. I also want to try to use the program with my smart board that connects to the kids' smartphones. We'll see how that goes.

5) bonus points for pictures of your classroom.
All my pics have kids in them, so we'll have to wait until I go back.

I never thought of a bathroom log lol that's smart! What smart board program are you talking about?

Um it's called class connect or something. So the kids can use their cell phones as responders instead of the crappy ones we have.

[esquette]

(I'm a lurker on this board, but I am definitely a teacher!)

1.) I teach high school special education: the intensive learning center program for kids with significant physical and cognitive disabilities.

2.) It's crazy-town. We have 6 new kids in a program of 18. A new teacher and 3 new para educators, not all of whom are actually hired yet. I spend weeks building a schedule, only to have lots of last minute changes, so there are lots of places where things are wrong. The first week is finding the holes and getting the kids used to the routine again.

3.) Our first day was Friday, and my new coworker and I taught the group some ASL. We did the alphabet, the basic requests (help, bathroom, water, etc) and we all made up name signs. I know that we should have somebody from the Deaf community assign name signs, but it was a fun activity for the kids and helped us get to know them a little more.

4.) My whole job is different this year, and my goal is to show everybody that I can do it. I want them to know that I'll do toileting, feeding, behavior, etc. There is nothing I would ask of them that I wouldn't do myself.

5.) Got none, sorry!

[adorebel]

I'm late, but I'm enjoying reading all of this!

1) What grade/subject do you teach? I teach 2 sections of English to college students, meeting 3x a week (I'm a full-time PhD student)

2) What at is your first day/week of school like? Pretty simple! It's tomorrow, which is also my birthday. I'll meet all the students in both sections (back to back tomorrow morning), go over the syllabus, and have them analyze a few photos on theme with the goals of the course.

3) What are some ice breaker/learn the rules or routines/build the classroom environment activities that you really like or recommend? Since my students are older, I ask them what book is their "dealbreaker" - that is, if they were on a date, and someone said they loved OR hated a certain book, it would be a dealbreaker for them. It gets them really worked up and invested, haha!

4) What is something you'd like to do differently this year? I just want to be really on top of my grading. I always procrastinate and have to do 50 10-page papers in a weekend and it hurts soooo baaaad.

5) Bonus points for pictures of your classroom: I don't have my own classroom! I hold my classes in rooms assigned by the university that a lot of other people use each day.

[Ray]

Good news!!! Our unions struck a tentative deal and they called off the work to rule for now!! Yahoo this is a HUGE load off

[teachermomtobe]

Glad to hear that Ray!