Monday, June 29, 2015
Well, the only thing for sure is...
Yes, death and taxes! You see, I think my K4-K5 class just got switched up a bit. It looks as if I will be teaching first grade also. I really did enjoy my K5-1 class last year so.... On it goes! I should be getting an aid to help with the K4s in the mornings and since they go home at 11:30 I should be able to concentrate on the K5-1 afternoon fun stuff. Time will tell.. For now I will continue to work on K5 lesson plans since all scenarios include them.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Classroom Library
Whew! I'm weary already and I've only just begun. I've entered data for 453 books on Classroom Organizer but I haven't even made a dent in my books. I just keep telling myself how great it will be to have this task completed. There have been way too many times I have purchased a book only to discover I already had it . I just couldn't find it.
I have searched and searched for suggestions on how to label and categorize the books. The best advice I found was to choose your main categories and everything else goes into the reading level bins. So, I currently have 12 categories and 4 leveled bins. A-C, D-F, G-J, and K-... are my levels. I might end up switching them around if I get too many in a bin. I got my bins at Target and I really like the sizes.
I need to figure out if I want to pass along my M- books to the 1-2 grade teacher. I doubt my kinders will reach those levels.
Off to bed! I will dream of ISBN numbers and Guided Reading Levels. Zzzzzzz!
I have searched and searched for suggestions on how to label and categorize the books. The best advice I found was to choose your main categories and everything else goes into the reading level bins. So, I currently have 12 categories and 4 leveled bins. A-C, D-F, G-J, and K-... are my levels. I might end up switching them around if I get too many in a bin. I got my bins at Target and I really like the sizes.
I need to figure out if I want to pass along my M- books to the 1-2 grade teacher. I doubt my kinders will reach those levels.
Off to bed! I will dream of ISBN numbers and Guided Reading Levels. Zzzzzzz!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Hello!
Welcome to the journey of my new job assignment. I have been given the job of teaching the K4-K5 class at our school. Mind you, our school is a VERY SMALL private school so my class will be no larger than 10 kiddos per grade. I am so excited about teaching the littles again. I had a great year teaching K5-1st but my heart is in kinder.
I will be in the same classroom so I just need to rid the room of "big kid" stuff and bring back in the "little kid" stuff. In comes the kitchen set, the Duplos, the 35 piece puzzles, and lots of other goodies.
I have been studying Debbie Diller's book Spaces and Places to best figure out a layout for this grade combo. I think I have it figured out and now I just need to implement the plan. Debbie stressed the importance of arranging the room in a sequence that is different than most but it sure helped me formulate a plan that I hope will be workable.
First off.... large group/morning meeting/calendar time area. Since the TV is in a fixed location and my large bulletin board is right next to it, that is where the large group area will be.
Next, the small group/guided reading area. Since I seem to spend a lot of time here, I chose a spot that is in the corner where I can see the whole room and I can look out the small window in my door to see if anyone is peeking in at us. I will put my lg. storage cabinet and tall file cabinet behind me and my short but long bookcase beside me. This arrangement should give me access to all I need to be able to reach.
Next in line is the library, my favorite spot. I chose the wall underneath the upper cabinets. My library shelf is 9 feet long and 3.5 feet tall. This year I used it as a room divider and I have NOT enjoyed it because I can't see over it to check on students. Against the wall it goes! I want to get a throw rug to go in front of it and then I will use my "puppy dog chairs" for the littles to sit in while they read.
In my next post I will share where the rest of my "stuff" will be placed. Until then I hope to get some pics taken of my proposed floor plan that at least looks great on paper!
I will be in the same classroom so I just need to rid the room of "big kid" stuff and bring back in the "little kid" stuff. In comes the kitchen set, the Duplos, the 35 piece puzzles, and lots of other goodies.
I have been studying Debbie Diller's book Spaces and Places to best figure out a layout for this grade combo. I think I have it figured out and now I just need to implement the plan. Debbie stressed the importance of arranging the room in a sequence that is different than most but it sure helped me formulate a plan that I hope will be workable.
First off.... large group/morning meeting/calendar time area. Since the TV is in a fixed location and my large bulletin board is right next to it, that is where the large group area will be.
Next, the small group/guided reading area. Since I seem to spend a lot of time here, I chose a spot that is in the corner where I can see the whole room and I can look out the small window in my door to see if anyone is peeking in at us. I will put my lg. storage cabinet and tall file cabinet behind me and my short but long bookcase beside me. This arrangement should give me access to all I need to be able to reach.
Next in line is the library, my favorite spot. I chose the wall underneath the upper cabinets. My library shelf is 9 feet long and 3.5 feet tall. This year I used it as a room divider and I have NOT enjoyed it because I can't see over it to check on students. Against the wall it goes! I want to get a throw rug to go in front of it and then I will use my "puppy dog chairs" for the littles to sit in while they read.
In my next post I will share where the rest of my "stuff" will be placed. Until then I hope to get some pics taken of my proposed floor plan that at least looks great on paper!
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