Choice Time
A popular activity the students have enjoyed the past couple of weeks includes choice time. During this time, students are able to socialize with friends while engaging in an activity of their choice. As the transition from summer vacation to returning back to school often leaves students tired in the afternoon, choice time is a great opportunity for the students to take a break and interact with their classmates.
Whole Body Listening
The students learned that focused listening leads to greater learning! We read the book Whole Body Listening Larry at School by Kristen Wilson and Elizabeth Sautter and discussed how good listeners listen with their eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, body, brain, and heart!
First Weeks of School
During our first weeks of school, we focused on learning and practicing classroom routines. The students were taught our morning routine, bathroom routine, snack/recess and lunch/recess routine, fire drill routine, and end of the day routine. The students also practiced lining up, walking in the hallway, and sitting at the meeting rug. For each routine, we brainstormed and discussed expected behaviors. Additionally, we discussed what rules are and why they are important. We then brainstormed rules for our classroom. The students came up with excellent ideas! Together, we categorized and finalized our classroom rules.
In addition, we created our first classroom book! The book is based on the beloved children’s book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Our book includes descriptions of how the students felt on the first day of school and an illustration to match. After reading the book, we placed it in our classroom library for all to read! |
Transition Into First Grade!
For students (and teachers!) the first few weeks of any new school year can be filled with excitement, new beginnings, and perhaps a bit of uncertainty about what to expect. During these early weeks of first grade, the students will receive explicit instructions in practicing classroom routines and expected behaviors—at first with very close teacher guidance and structure, and then, as their familiarity and competence grow, with increasing amounts of independence. In addition to many new academic tasks, the students will be exposed to lessons intended to:
1. Create a climate and tone of warmth and safety
2. Teach the schedule and routines of the school day and our expectations for behavior in each of them
3. Introduce students to the physical environment and materials of the classroom and school, and teach students how to use and care for them
4. Establish expectations about ways we will learn together in the year ahead!
1. Create a climate and tone of warmth and safety
2. Teach the schedule and routines of the school day and our expectations for behavior in each of them
3. Introduce students to the physical environment and materials of the classroom and school, and teach students how to use and care for them
4. Establish expectations about ways we will learn together in the year ahead!