Learning the Rules!

Hi Friends... Anna here from Simply Skilled in Second. Thanks so much for stopping by today! This is my last full week of summer and then the chaos school begins on September 2nd!  :) 

Even though I am on summer break, I LOVE using my time to "THINK" about school and create new activities and lessons that I will use in my classroom with my students.

One of the MOST IMPORTANT things that I work on with my students is creating and learning the rules of the classroom!  This is something we review all of the time and even refer back to our Behavior Anchor Chart throughout the year.

On the first day of school, I read the story called Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes.  It is one of my favorites to read to my class.

After I read the story to them, we always brainstorm ideas of how our classroom can stay safe, fun, and happy for everyone in it.  And so begins the creation of our Classroom Rules!  I allow my students to create the rules and I ensure that I word them in a positive way.  For example, we might write....Share with your friends... Work quietly.... Raise your hand to speak, etc.  I never word them with negative words like... Don't talk during independent work....or  Don't kick or hit your friends, etc.  We also state our rules in a positive way!  

There is also on other aspect that I add to creating the classroom rules.  I always tell the students that I have one rule for myself that I never.. EVER.. break.  They are very curious to know what this rule is... and I make it a pretty big deal.  I tell my students that I will NEVER.... EVER.. EVER yell at them.  You should see the expressions on their face when I tell them that....and the silence int the room is deafening.  The look of confusion with a mixture of pure happiness is really funny :)  They always ask me a ton of questions about my rule and always ask me if I break my rule ever.. and they literally don't believe me when I tell them I have never broken my rule!  I shared my ideas on what I do the first day of school with Teachers Pay Teachers and they featured me on the blog today!!!  Check it out here....

I am always looking for a FUN way to have my students learn and write about the new classroom rules that we will be following throughout the year...and of course..it is going to be done using a flip flap book!  This will be the first one my students do on the first day of school!  I can't wait to show it to them...well..maybe I can wait a bit longer :)  LOL

Here is a tiny peek to what's in store for your little ones as they work through my

School Rules Flip Flap Book!

This summer I also made one of my Tab-Its for the School Rules as well... just to change it up a bit.  I don't like doing the same thing year after year so I try to change it up every now and then.

Here is my School Rules Tab-Its that fit in your Interactive Notebooks.

So....if you are getting ready to go back to school or are just "THINKING" about school, take a peek at my School Rules Flip Flap Book and School Rules Tab-Its to add a little fun to your

Rule Making Mojo :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs.

What We're Chalking About AUGUST: A Visual Calendar

Hi friends, it's Emma from Clever Classroom.  I am so excited to share with you all the upcoming posts that the authors of the Primary Chalkboard have planned for you this August. 

Can you believe it's August? We are almost three quarters of the way through the year!  How did that happen?  

While you contemplate that, you might also want to think about what you have planned for this month?  Are you heading back at school now, or are you planning to go back soon?  Either way, this page will set you up for inspirational ideas from our experienced, and very dedicated teacher-authors. 

To receive blog posts directly, click here. 

Here's what you can expect this month. 

1  Sarah from Sarah's First Grade Snippets - Morning Arrival Routines

2  All the Primary Chalkboard Authors - Our Little Secret

3  Lisa from Growing Firsties - Parent Input

4  Leslie from First Grade and Flip Flops - Teaching with Themes Throughout the Year

5  Christina from Miss Decarbo - The First Day of School

6  Casey from Second Grade Math Maniac - The Second Day of School

7  Valerie from All Students can Shine - Classroom Management

8  Greg from Kindergarten Smorgasbord - Names

9  Jessica from Second Grade Nest - Elementary Back to School eBook Tips

10 Terry from Terri's Teaching Tidbits - Intermediate Back to School eBook Tips

11  Monica from The Schroeder Page - Executive Brain Function

12  Katie from Teaching to the Core - First Day Freebies

13  Blair from One Lesson at a Time - MVP: Most Valuable Partnership

14  Autumn from Primary Techie - Family Journals

15  Susanna from Whimsy Workshop Teaching - Simple Art Tutorials

16  Laura from Peace Love and First Grade - Meet the Teacher

17  John from Created by Mr. Hughes - Back to School Night

18  Karen from Mrs. Jones's Class - Bulletin Boards Made Easy

19  Haley from My Silly Firsties - Dismissal Time 

20  Corinna from Surfin' Through Second - Sub Tub

21  Randi from Teach it with Class - Building a Classroom Environment

22  Stacy from Funky Fresh Firsties - Easy Hallway Displays

23  Anna from Simply Skills in 2nd - Classroom Rules 

24  Latoya from Flying into First Grade - Blended Learning Ideas

25  Meg from The Teacher Studio - Setting a Climate for Problem Solving

26  Matt from Digital: Divide and Conquer - Behavior Plans and Data

27 Jen from Out of this World Literacy - Spreading Kindness

28  Cyndie from Chalk One up for the Teacher - Math Games

29  Vicky from Teaching and so Much Moore - Setting Goals the First Daye 

30 Heather from 2 Brainy Apples - Integrating Social Studies & ELA 

31  Emma from Clever Classroom - September Chalk About It - blog Posts Overview

To remember this post, you might like to pin it.  That way, you can come back to see the posts throughout the month. 

On the last day of each month, we will post this visual calendar for you to see what we have planned for you. 

If you have any suggestions that you would like us to write about, please comment below. 

To follow our blog, please click here. 

Here's a link to our July posts which are full of classroom organization ideas, tips and makeovers, back to school ideas, first day inspiration, writing conferences, behavior management.  We also blogged about tips for new teachers, integrating math, writing and art, techy ideas and even a post about our trip to the Teachers Pay Teachers conference in Las Vegas. Click here to see July's posts from the authors of the Primary Chalkboard.