Three Day Weekend!

I love my class, but I have to be honest, I am so happy it's a three day weekend!  It's nice to be able to catch up and rejuvenate occasionally.

So, I'll keep it short today.  I have two center organizational ideas to share. 

The first is a shoe tying center.  This is an incredible idea I saw on Pinterest.  The colorful shoes were found at The Good Will and the two shoe-tying books were also found at thrift stores.  My students enjoy practicing at this center AND several of my students are eager to help those learning!  I have an awesome group of students this year.  My first graders are very helpful and supportive of each other.

I found another awesome tool at Walmart in their back-to-school section.  It's a 24 pocket wall chart.  The first grade team purchased premade math centers that fit perfectly inside the pockets.

Now, it's back to catching up.  We read a Curious George story in our reader this coming week and I need to stop by the public library to pick up additional stories by the author that I've reserved.  Have a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Number Fluency and Classroom Management

Whew!  Finished my class Running Records for their reading levels.  That's been a chore seeing as their attention span for independent work is minimal.  (A big adjustment coming from third grade!)  Now I can start with small groups in reading and math!!!  I love the small group interaction.

I wanted to share another organizational tool I'm using this year.  To help the first graders master number fluency, I've hot glued a domino at their cubby that matches their assigned student number. 

(My students are assigned a number based on alphabetical order at the beginning of school.  When a new student arrives, they replace the number of any student that has left or are added to the bottom of the number list, regardless of where they fall alphabetically.  I use the number system for lining up and assigned seats in the cafeteria as well.  It has been working wonderfully!)

I received a first grade complement this week!  One of my students said, "Ms. Riassetto, you're a pretty ok teacher."  I replied, "Thank you!"  But what I was really thinking was, is that a complement?  It made me chuckle.  :-)   And yes, I did count it as a complement.  My first one in first grade.

Beanie Baby Behavior Management

It's been a busy start to the school year.  Still getting adjusted to first grade behaviors and expectations.  I have a wonderful class and look forward to the next ten months!

I wanted to share a management idea that I will try this year.  It is a positive behavior plan that my students are enjoying.  I found many Beanie Babies at a thrift store and ran with it! 

Each student chooses a "pet" to have at their desk, in centers, and the guided work table.  They "work with" or "read to" them.  It took the first few days to work out the over-interest in playing with their pet, but nearly all of the students are using them appropriately now.  The tub (pet's home) is the group's color.

After a student has been warned to stop playing with the pet or as one of the Teacher Choice consequences on the class behavior chart, the student's pet is put into the Time Out area - a toy stuffed animal carrier.  It truly works - the students are eager to get their pet back to their desk. 

I choose one student with exceptional behavior for the week to take their pet home for the weekend in the Take Home Carrier. 

My class is really responding to this and it is providing a tactile resource for the more active students and a self-esteem resource for those not so confident in their academic abilities.  The students read to their pet and work math problems with them.  They love it!  We will switch pets at each progress report and report card (roughly every four to five weeks) so they can select other pets they'd like to take care of.  This was the students' preference.  Beanie Babies also have names - the rooster's name is Strut!  The students even use the names when talking about them in morning meeting, to their parents, or in their writing.  I love it!

Ready to Tackle a New Classroom!  (....and a new blog)

I've made a big move to the other side of the building this year.  2013 - 2014 will be my first year in first grade!  I've spent seventeen years mainly in third and fifth grades.  I'm very excited about my move and the many "firsts" I'll have this year!!!

Number One "First" -- organizing and setting up the new classroom.  I've moved all of the boxes and the custodians have moved the furniture and made my room sparkle.  (We have awesome custodians at my school!  Any experienced teacher knows this is sooooo important.)  Anyway, the pictures show where I'm starting.  (Awgh!  I feel a bottle of Aleve in my near future.)  Time to get started.