Teacher Talk Tuesday

Well, I know it has been a while....and man, have I been busy!  There have been weddings, parties, mulitiple familiy visitors, and a brand new year in a brand new grade level! Having said all of this, I don't know if I can give much adivice since am no longer at First Grade I have only taught kindergarten 2 days but here goes....

 1.  Sing or chant everything!  A first day kindergartener's attention span is about 30 seconds long and I have learned quickly that 99% of them will actually look at you if you randomly start to sing or chant at them! Can you believe that!
2.   Try to remember that most of them haven't been taught to control their impulsive behavior and most likely haven't been in such a structured enviroment before.  (They are not all stinkers or honerey little toots like some might believe.)  It is our job as teachers to actually teach them crazy things, like self-control.)
3.  I totally agree with Abby from
when she discussed the value of team work.  There is nothing better than feeling like you are welcomed, valued, and supported by your team.  Remember, We all have the same goal! To teach our smarties to the best of our ability, and take them as far as we can to prepare them for the next year.
4.  Last for now, because I can hardly stay awake:) I just read a chapter from The Energy Bus that said "You are the driver to your own bus!"  When you are feeling stressed, bogged down, negative, or just plain numb from life, just remember you are the driver, and you decide what direction to take your life, on a Negative Nancy route, or a positive one.  This is an interesting thought considering I have been overloaded so much that I am searching for the next restaurant with a happy hour, or a happy meal that serves "happy" pills as a choice. 

NEW Traffic Light

    Ok, so I have told y'all that this is my first year teaching kinder and I have been trying to decide what to do on discipline.  Well, my brain has pretty much been fried since I have spent 85% of my summer AT the school trying to get moved, cleaned up, and organized.  Since my brain cells aren't working up to par, I decided to just go with the basic traffic light system my coworkers use. 

    That left me with finding one.  I thought about making one with wood and paint and clothes pins, but that involves buying supplies and working.  Then, I thought I could find a poster of one at the teacher store.  Of course, they were sold out.  So I looked into the pocket chart one and I would have had to order it, because they were sold out of it too.  That would have left me $30 dollars out-of-pocket, which was just too much considering I have spent so much already on paint and new class bulletin decor. 

    This left me with one option...rummage through my sewing supplies.  Of course, God was on my side last night, because I had EXACTLY the right amout of Red, Yellow, and Green felt and iron-on letters (which I randomly had left over from a "paper doll" craft for Jersey).  I made this last night and have to say, I am pretty excited about it!!! 

  I am going to take pics of the kiddos on the first day, cut out, laminate, and then glue velcro to the back.  I might even use teacher badge sleeves to put the pics in that way I can reuse them if a new student comes in or one moves out!  I am super pumped.