Classroom Design and a Tree

This year I went from a Title 1 Reading Specialist back into the classroom.  I came into my classroom in October, so the kids had been with another teacher starting in July.  To top it off, we are moving to a brand NEW school in March!  I can't wait!

I love to have a classroom where I LOVE to spend time.  I figure I spend most of my time in the classroom, so why not make it a place that I love to be in.  I couldn't move into my classroom until the weekend before my student came back from our Fall break, so I had 2 days to make my classroom inviting and a place that I love, and get rid of the 12 filing cabinets, 7 tables, and 2 teacher desks.  Of course, I decided to do some crazy stuff.  I wanted a tree in my classroom and a jungle theme.  Here is the finished classroom!

My students love to read on bean bag chairs and partner read during the Daily 5.  The favorite thing in the room is our tree!

Here is my Cafe Board and small skill instruction area.  Our school is older, but is in fabulous shape.  I can't wait to decorate my new room in a brand NEW school.  I already have my thinking and creative caps on!

The computer center is used for listening to reading, math skills, and typing books.  I use hooks on the wall to store headphones so they never get tangled.  I also have hooks on the side of each computer to hold login cards for each student.

I love my SmartBoard, but I love our Self Portraits even more!  My students created their own portraits and we hung them in the front of the room.  They did a great job and they remind them that we are a School Family!

A Little Behavior Management and More

My school is a Franklin Covey Leadership school.  What that means, is that we try to teach our students the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People at a young age.  It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to become leaders at an early age.  Our philosophy is that everyone has a skill or habit that they excel at in life.  We discover and help the students discover what it is they possess leadership.

One thing we do is that we teach everyone that they have an Emotional Bank Account.  Students can make deposits into their emotional bank account and others bank accounts.  You can also make withdrawls from your account by doing things that are unkind and don't represent leadership skills.  Our class has a "Class" bank account also.  I have it on our door, and when we receive complements of any kind, or I see students demonstrating leadership without being told, I add money to our bank account.  If I hear that someone was doing something unkind or not demonstrating leadership without me being present, I can make a withdrawl.  Our goal is to have a full bank account or reserve for our lives to be balanced and full.  The kids love it, and so far this year I have not had to make any withdrawls.  These first graders take it seriously!

 
Another great idea that I do for attendance and our question of the day is use Shrinky Dinks.  I found Shrinky Dink Paper and made a shape of a head template.  I let the kids make their own portrait.  I took them home and shrunk them and added a magnet to the back.  They turned out so CUTE!

When students enter the classroom, they immediately go over and read our question of the day.  This question is just a question for students to make a choice, such as, Would your rather eat pumpkin pie or apple pie?  Then I have a column for each answer.  Students will move their magnet to the column that they choose.  It is a great way to take attendance, add math, and have fun first thing in the morning.  I am planning to add my questions soon!

Pilgrim Addition and Subtraction

As a year round school, we have to go to school on Monday and Tuesday.  I wanted to make some fun games for my students to play.  I came up with this Pilgrim Addition and Subtraction game.  Students match the Pilgrim girl problem to the Pilgrim boy problem and use the tracking sheet to complete problems.

Download HereStudent Sheet

and 

Download HereAddition Cards Here

Sight Word Tic Tac Toe

I had to come up with a Harvest Activity for our School's Family Fun Title 1 Night.  I decided to come up with a sight word Tic Tac Toe Game.  I printed out the tic tac toe sheet and laminated them.  I used crayons to write sight words or letters and the students had to read the word in order to put an X or an O.  For letters, the students had to say the letter name or the letter sound.  This was a fun way to teach spelling words, sight words, and letters.  Feel free to use it any way you see fit!

Download Here

I created a contraction game that goes along with Scott Foresman Reading Street Unit 2.4. I thought people could use it when trying to teach contractions.

Download Here: Thanksgiving Contractions

First Grade Teachers

Welcome to First Grade Teachers.  I hope to create this blog to share ideas from my classroom so that you can use them in yours.