Primary Chalkboard

Getting To Know Your Students

Hi everyone,

Valerie here from All Students Can SHINE! I'm only a few weeks into my summer break and I'm already planning my first week back! Today, I'm here to share some ideas for getting to know your students on that very busy first week of school. Starting over with a brand new group can be quite overwhelming because we don't know much about our students yet and that makes everything a little tricky. I have a few tips for you that I hope will help!



On the very first day of school, I like to ask my students lots of questions. Kids LOVE to talk about themselves so I use this to my advantage. Those little learners can come to you very nervous and shy but you can turn that around really quickly by asking them to chat about themselves. 

We usually go around the room, giving everyone a chance to share a small personal fact. I use this wheel and give each student a chance to spin it. It gets kids moving (which can be very helpful for those little guys who don't like sitting for too long) and makes it fun because we get a different question every time a student spins!



We also fill out an "all about me" page. This is an easy way to assess my students' coloring and printing skills, which will help me quickly get to know them as learners in my classroom. 



Finally, we play a scavenger hunt game. Students walk around the classroom to chat with their new friends and to fill out their "find a friend" page. 



By the end of the day, everyone has had the opportunity to share a few things about themselves and learn about their new peers. It's a great way to break the ice and start the new school year on the right foot. It isn't stressful and helps everyone feel welcome!


Don't forget to grab yourself a FREEBIE before you go. 
(You will need to download the preview file to get it)


If you are looking for more tips for the first week of school,
check out my post at All Students Can SHINE.



You can also check out more posts from our fabulous authors here at the Primary Chalkboard. 
We have loads of tips and tricks for K-6!



I hope some of these tips will help you and I wish you a great first day of school,

Valerie

Helping students keep track of their pencils!

I don’t know about you, but kids not having the supplies they need to do their work drives me CRAZY! Crazy, I tell you.  The problem is that I GIVE them everything they need. EVERYTHING and they lose it, eat it, leave it on the floor, claim, “It’s not mine!” and let their neighbor take it. So one kid has 6 pencils and another has none.

Enter Vodka.

Actually enter this brilliant idea! I flag my pencils with masking tape, write the child’s name on the pencil flag,  and reward the child for keeping track of their pencils until they are all used up.

No more lost pencils

So what are you waiting for? Grab some masking tape and let’s do this. Simply wrap tape around the pencil and fold the tape back in on itself. Trim the edge for a nice clean finish.  This is a great job for a parent volunteer. I have used many kinds of tape to make the flags. I have found that masking tape works best. It’s easy to work with, write on, and though it can rip, it is pretty durable! I keep about 100 at the ready all the time.

100 pencilsYou can hand out the awards in many ways. I like to give a child an award when they use up a pencil. You can also surprise the class with a pencil check. Anyone who still has their pencil gets a responsibility award.

reward them

Download now new

First Days of School Ideas & a * FREEBIE *




Hi friends!  It's Vicky here from Teaching and Much Moore!  I'm so excited to share some fun back to school ideas with you.  I know, I know don't say it right?!?



But whether we are ready or not here it comes!  So, I thought I would take some of the pain away.  Here are some ideas/do's and dont's for you:




It's always fun to have a photo op/backdrop or sign on the first day and capture a picture.  Even if you don't make a memory book for your kids it's great to put on a magnet for the parents for back to school night or have on the desks for back to school night.  
Making sure the newer kids have buddies is a BIG one for me.  I was never the new kids but can imagine how overwhelming it might be.  Giving them a buddy to hang out with at recess can easily be forgotten but it's very important.  Also the school tour is another big one especially for those new kids.  It really eases any anxiety they might have.




Things WON'T go perfect I can tell you that!  Someone will show up that wasn't on your list that was added at the last minute, someone might be will be crying if you teach the lower grades.  There's a lot going on the first day - just roll with it, be flexible for those things and from the start be consistent with your expectations.  Don't forget to SMILE!!!!

Thanks for sticking with me on the do's and don'ts now:  if you teach the little guys I have a great freebie for you!


I hope you got some new ideas and enjoy the freebie!  Happy first day to all of you whether it's coming up or not until September! xox
Vicky














Behavior Management Idea


 Hi Friends Anna here from Simply Skilled in Second!  I wanted to share with you my classroom management procedures that I have set in place within my 2nd grade classroom.   A few years ago, I felt that my classroom management techniques were a bit antiquated and I wanted to spice things up a little bit within my classroom and I am 100% sure I figured it out!  
I don't know about you, but I love shopping around the dollar store and the $5 or Less stores around the neighboring towns...so I figured...If I enjoyed that so much maybe my students would to.

In came....

The DiGilio Dollar Store!

I purchased a small pocketchart and got right to work.  This is what my pocketchart looks like...

classroom management

I downloaded an image of a dollar bill and added my face to the center of it!  The kids think they are GOLD!  It is so funny!

classroom management
Each of the clear pockets has one of my student's name on it.  Every Monday, my students start their week with $3.00.  If they make good choices and work hard throughout the week, they will get their payday on Friday.  I also hand out DiGilio Dollars for doing something nice for a friend, when I hear a nice comment made to another child, and I pick Mystery Walkers in the hallway.  If my Mystery Walkers walk through the hallway nicely without talking, they also get a DiGilio Dollar!  About every 6 weeks, the DiGilio Dollar Store opens its doors!  My little kiddos get to go shopping in our store.  I have fun pencils, cool sharpeners and erasers, bookmarks, extra recess time, computer time, lunch with the teacher {that's me..this is probably the most popular choice}...well let me just show you....this is my DiGilio Dollar Store Choice Board.  I buy all of my fun little prizes at the Dollar Store ;)  My kiddos LOVE when my store is open for business!

classroom management

I started this behavior management plan a few years ago and I have seen a VAST improvement in the overall behavior in my classroom.  I love my new plan and I am sure you will too if you give it a try!



  

Organizing Digital Files

Hey y'all! Casey here from The Original Math Maniac. Several years ago I made the switch from toting multiple flash drives to saving all of my school files digitally on Google Drive.

If you already have a google e-mail account then you already have google drive. It is SUPER easy to use. 



I made files for my "big" categories (just right click and create a "New Folder" like you would on your computer) but usually I use the search feature to find what I'm looking for.




To save documents quickly you can skip the "upload" feature and simply drag a document from your computer to your Google Drive.




Google Drive works just like the folders on your computer, the advantage is that you can login on any computer and instantly access all of your files. No more hauling around flash drives or saving everything to your computer and then dying slowly inside when you lose everything from a virus. 

Thanks for reading. Tune in tomorrow to learn some tips on Behavior Management from Anna from Simply Skilled in Second. :)



TOP 10 TIPS FOR TEACHERS TAKING ON A NEW ROLE

Hello Friends!!! 


It's Jen from Out of This World Literacy!  I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer relaxing and sleeping in.



I know many of my friends are moving roles in this upcoming school year.  Some are switching grades while others are stepping out of the classroom to fill specific leadership positions.

As a Literacy Coach, I know what it's like to take that leap out of the classroom and into a specialist position.  It. is. scary!

Teachers who shift into a leadership role often leave the comfort and support of a grade-level team.  They can sometimes feel like they are out there on their own island.

Other teachers suddenly look at them differently...even though these teachers don't see themselves as a superior.  They are not administrators, nor is their pay any different than when they were in the classroom.

But, because of their new 'specialist' title, they are now looked at differently.

I have some advice and tips for anyone who is stepping bravely out of the classroom and into a leadership role.  Whether your new title is Reading Coach, Literacy Specialist, Interventionist, RTI Coordinator, or so on, I hope this list of advice can help you!

TOP 10 TIPS FOR TEACHER SPECIALIST:


1. LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN!

2. Don't fall into the gossip traps

3. Think about the effects of your words before you speak

4. Ways to get on the teachers' good sides right away...
          a. Give stuff away at staff meetings!  Don't hold on to all your classroom goodies!  You don't
              have a classroom anymore!  Make a FREE box and put it at the front door at the first staff
              meeting!

          b. Offer to come into classrooms, read a story, and introduce yourself to all the kids!  Make a
              sign-up sheet for teachers so you can visit.  It gives teachers a 20 minute break and it gets
              your foot in the door of all the classrooms!

          c.  This last one is cheesy I know...but...SMILE!  Be positive!  A great attitude is contagious!
               And a smile can literally make someone's day.  Whatever you're dealing with, smile, be
              positive, and that will go such a long way!

5. Be Patient!

6. Never trust teachers to read all their emails!  If you have something important to share, chances are     they will not read all their emails.  You will likely need to send reminders.  We all know how busy     teachers are.  Friendly reminders for meetings and so on are a must! :)

7. Always carry a calendar or ipad in the halls!  Teachers will stop you and ask about things.  They
    will ask you to come into the classroom, or send them something.  It's hard to remember
    everything.  Have something to write your quick hallway conversations down with!  Otherwise,
    you will likely forget and unintentionally upset a teacher!

8.It's OK to say no!

9. Never act like you know everything!

10. Build yourself a layer of seriously thick skin!

If you want to read more about what I have to say for each of these 10 tips, you can download this FREE resource!



I wish everyone a fantastic start to a new year, whether it's back in your old classroom or taking on a new role!

Jen Bengel
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Classroom Decor and Themes

Aloha friends! Corinna here from Surfin' Through Second.  I know it's only July, but the beginning of the school year is quickly approaching for many of us who start back at the end of this month!

Each year we all think of how our classrooms will be set up and where everything will go to make things run smoothly.  Some of us take it a bit further and decorate our classroom either using a theme or a certain color scheme.  


One of the most popular posts on my blog is all about Classroom Themes.

For the past three years I have kept with a Tropical/Surf theme in my classroom.



It's fun to find or create items that will enhance your classroom theme or color scheme.

Some of the most popular classroom themes are:

Ocean/Beach
Super Heroes
Jungle
Owls
Apples
Sports
Outer Space
Monsters
Western
Rock Star
Dr. Seuss
Rainforest
Woodland
Circus
Pirates
Polka Dots
Neon
The list goes on and on.

There's so much out there and the creativity can go a long way!! Check out some of these cute ideas:


Leopard print can be lots of fun!
I am inspired by this superhero theme!


What about rainbows and mustaches!


How cute are those birthday bags?!!

I have created a Pinterest board that has lots of fun pictures for inspiration.  Just click the picture below to check it out.


Do you have a classroom theme or color scheme ready for this year!  We'd love to hear all about it. Just link up below or leave a comment telling us about your plans for the new year.  You just might give someone new inspiration!

Don't forget we have lots of great topics that we are covering this month.  Make sure to head HERE to check them all out!