Summer is here and we have been out of school since May 23rd. I had to work May 27th and I've been off since then. I am already going stir crazy and looking for something to do. Don't get me wrong, I love that I can sleep in but there is only so much I can do around the house without needing some outside stimulation.
So I was excited when my principal sent an e-mail saying we could get in to the school building to start working this week. Of course, I had to go! This first picture is what my room looked like when I arrived.
This is what it looked like after working for one day. I was only there for a few hours but I was able to accomplish a lot.
My furniture is now in place but I still have a lot of cleaning out to do. I'd like to find a good way to organize my math files, games, activities, and manipulatives so they are all together in one place but I'm still trying to find the best way to do that. I've cleared out a filing cabinet drawer but I haven't starting that project yet.
This week I also ordered the brochures I send to my students before school starts. Since we are switching classes again next year, Mrs. Smith and I went to together to create our brochures. I chose the design with the school colors and I love the way they turned out. I'll share a picture once they arrive.
I also ordered some Random Acts of Kindness cards. I created them using the free business cards. We do a lot of these and I wanted a way for students to leave a note with each one. I think I'll have my students leave one of these cards when they do random acts of kindness.
Free Business Cards by Vistaprint
I also ordered a few books from Amazon.
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| Doing Science in Morning Meeting |
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| Doing Math in Morning Meeting |
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| Teach Like a Pirate |
I did morning meeting with my students last year and they really liked it. I think their favorite part was when I let them sign up to bring things in to share. It was like show and tell for 5th graders. There was always someone who had something to share. They shared jokes, magic tricks, pictures from trips, and insects they found. This coming year I'd like to be a little more consistent with morning meeting and thought if I could incorporate science and math (subjects I teach) it would be a great way to start each class after transitions.
My brain is already thinking of ideas of things to do different next year. Do any of you do morning meeting or closing circles with your students? I'd love to hear your success stories!
I'm always looking for new ideas to try in my classroom! Are you planning something new to try in your classroom next year? I'd love to hear about them so please feel free to share!
I've done Morning Meeting for the past two years, and it's had a real impact on the way my class runs. I watched a video of Morning Meeting on Teaching Channel and that's basically the way I've done it in my class. I don't really have too much academic content in it but I like the idea of adding some. I'll have to check out those books---thanks for the idea!
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I have done Morning Meeting for about 10 years and feel that it is a very powerful part of our school day and school year. I used the resources from Responsive Classroom (basically The Morning Meeting Book by Roxanne Kriete) to get started. They also have a newsletter that provides helpful tips throughout the year related to Morning Meeting.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to let you know that I saw your post last year about the Fifth Grade Farewell and we did it this year. It was such a positive and powerful way to end our kids' time here at Steele School (Galesburg, IL). Thank you so much for sharing this great idea.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to hear someone else say they are going stir crazy! I always get the stink eye from people when I tell them I would like to work in the classroom during the summer. We go from being needed and working many hours to the exact opposite! I have no kids, so I definitely feel the difference in the summer. Thanks for making me feel better about it!
ReplyDeleteHeather I'm so glad you guys did the year end walk too. This year we did it right after graduation and it was great. All the other teachers are in the hallway crying and saying goodbye to their former students. The parents were at the end of the walk on the playground waiting for the students to come out. It was great.
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