Friday 5: Classroom Management

Welcome back to the Friday 5

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Nora Davis

Kindergarten Superkids

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Kimmie Stephens

Elementary Nerd Blog

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This week we are talking about classroom management strategies. There are so many things that go into good classroom management and hundreds of resources online. These are just a few of my favorites that define my teaching philosophy.

Get to Know Them

Disclaimer: This is the one nearest and dearest to my heart. It's a lot longer than the other four, but at least there are cute pictures of sweet kiddos to entertain you.

I truly believe that the number one factor in teacher and student success is a healthy, respectful relationship. Teachers are with their students for almost 8 hours a day. Sometimes more. They are teaching the state requirements in reading, writing, and math, but they are also teaching life lessons. Teachers start getting used to being called "mom" by kids that aren't theirs biologically because sometimes it feels that way. One of our teachers refers to herself as their "other mother". When students know you care about them as a person, they are much more likely to sit and listen to you...even if something seems boring to them.

So go to the soccer games and birthday parties...

Run a 5K with them...

 

Be SILLY. Do a little Whip and Nae Nae with them...

and listen to their stories about their weekend. Really listen.

And then, of course, let them get to know you. Teachers aren't robots who sleep at school...even if we feel like that some days. We have interests, hobbies, and families. I used to tell my class all about my kickball team, my traveling adventures, and even just what a typical night at home looked like for me. They love that stuff.

 So, let them meet your dog...

 Tell them about the college football team you love so much...

Maybe you'll  even turn a Longhorn into a Texas Tech fan if you are lucky...

 Check out that cutie with his gun up. Maybe my favorite picture ever.

Attention Grabbers

These attention grabbers have been around for awhile and maybe you have heard of some of them...

Those are all really good ones, but I wanted one that was unique to my class. My entire first grade class was covered in owls. Between the decorations, bulletin boards, and stuffed animals there were A LOT. One of my classes decided to try to count them one day. They counted 279 and did some pretty intense calculations. Real world learning for the win. So, to get their attention I would say,

"HOOT HOOT!" and they would respond,

 "We're Cute!" and then kind of perch like owls ready to listen. 

Friendly Competition

A few years ago, I had a class filled with creative, ambitious, determined, and VERY talkative students. I tried class compliment challenges, rewards for good behavior, and daily listening awards. Nothing seemed to work. The previous summer, I had attended our district Team Leader academy and got a new trick from a fellow teacher. She said, "Let them compete with each other rather than as a class." I gave each table a sticker chart (owl themed of course) and the table who would get quietest the fastest, put their things away first, or be ready to move on to the next activity would get a sticker on their sticker chart. The first table to fill their chart got a special dance party lunch in the classroom. Worked like a charm.

Silence is Golden

When you REALLY need them to listen, turn it into a secret. Get really quiet, add a little suspense, and act like you are letting them in on the biggest secret you have ever heard. Pin drop? Or Mic drop?

Restorative Practices

This is a new one for me. I spent the fall with some fellow counselors learning the basics of this positive behavior support system. Then last month, my principal and I were able to attend a 2-day seminar with an instructor from the RP institute. I learned so much and have already been able to use some of the strategies in my counseling groups.

RP utilizes group circle chats to promote positive conversations, build connections, and solve problems. Through a series of questions, children learn to communicate calmly to work out their problems, take the blame when necessary, give constructive criticism, and support the classroom environment.  

The following is a great resource for teaching communication skills and developing empathy in young children. I am so excited to use more of this program in the future. 

That's all for this Frday! Have a great weekend!

Motivation Monday: Creatures Against Cancer

I am so excited to introduce you to our very own "philanthrokids". The Hatfield girls started their own charity called Creatures Against Cancer after their mom Lisa, went through cancer treatments. If you have been affected by cancer, you know how grueling the treatment can be. These are Lisa's words from their website Creatures Against Cancer...

"My treatment was to go through a six-hour surgery to remove the tumor followed by months of radiation. I didn't want radiation but I was told that if I didn't have it I would more than likely die. 

The oncologist told me to look at my three girls, ages 3, 4 and 6 at the time, and prepare them for life without a mom. Needless to say, I went through 35 rounds of radiation. These were the hardest, most grueling months of my life. 

Speaking of their website, take a look around to see more creatures and information about their charity. If you feel inclined to donate, click the "donate" button in the upper right-hand corner. 

Creatures Against Cancer

Cancer affected this sweet family, but it did not hold them down. 

These sweet girls took initiative to help their mom and many others feel better during treatment. 

All year long, they are fundraising for their non-profit. They have lemonade and hot chocolate stands to raise money for supplies. When they have extra money, they donate it to people who need help affording their cancer treatments.

 I asked them some questions and you will just love their heartfelt answers.

1. What made you decide to start Creatures Against Cancer?

When our mom had cancer, we would cut out pieces of paper and hide them in her purse. She would find them when she went to her treatment and said they always made her happy and gave her something to focus on while she was at the hospital. When people are at the hospital they are pretty bored. They tell us it is hard to be there, but that we make them happy and make the day go faster.

2. What is the best part of Creatures Against Cancer?

Making the creatures and filling them with love. While we are working on them, we like to imagine what it will do for someone who is not feeling well. When we deliver the creatures, we get to see the big smiles on faces that we know are in pain. 

3. What inspires you to keep making the creatures?

All of the happiness we can feel from the patients. Also, the stories. One man in the army had cancer and we gave him a creature. He then passed the creature on to a child he met who has cancer and she now sleeps with it every night. Passing on kindness is awesome. 

4. What is the hardest part of your job? 

To watch people in the hospital in pain. Also, to make the creatures just right. Sometimes, we get frustrated when they fall apart or don't look right. We want them to be perfect for the people who are going to experience them.

5. What is your vision for the future of Creatures Against Cancer?

That our non-profit organization will get bigger. Then we can go to more hospitals and help more people. We can even go to more places than just the Oncology wing. We can help all kinds of people who need a little encouragement and love. We have already shipped one creature to Hawaii, I can't wait to see how far our creatures can go.

6. What is your favorite creature you have ever made?

Camille: An elephant with flowers because it was one of the first ones we made.

Chloe: A giant donut named Sprinkles. 

Juliet: An owl with a little baby.

7. What is something you will never forget?

Chloe- A girl named Lauren. We gave her a creature and they donated to our fund. It's incredible to me because we are supposed to give to them and they gave to us. 

Camille- The man in the army who gave his creature to a kid. I like the idea of creatures being passed on once someone is cured of cancer.

Juliet- One time, someone was so happy, they gave me chocolate and I was so surprised because I was supposed to be making them happy.

8. Creatures Against Cancer is...

Camille: Making something with love to encourage someone

Chloe: Filled with love to make others happy

Juliet: A thing to take away pain

A little more information about donations...the girls will use the donations to buy fabric, needles, scissors, and stuffing. If they have excess funds, they give it to the hospital, put it towards someone else who needs treatment or buy other treats for the patients. 

Creatures Against Cancer Website
Creatures Against Cancer Facebook

Friday Five: Lucky Charms

Happy St. Patty's Day!

We are back with the Friday Five and today we are talking about our good luck charms and superstitions. Share your quirkiest one with me. I can't wait to hear them all.

Pennies in the Car

My Nana was the spunkiest little Italian lady you have ever met. 

She also had some wacky superstitions, but this is now one of my favorites. Any time Nana got a new car, she would take a handful of pennies and throw them inside for good luck. She helped my parents buy my high school graduation present, Snow White, a white Ford Explorer Sport. When they gave it to me, she was so excited to throw those pennies in for good luck. I'm not going to lie, my 18 year old self cringed as pennies clattered against the windows and dashboard.

When I sold that car ten years later, I was still finding random pennies stuck under the back seats or down in a little crevice in the hatch. It was a sweet little reminder of my Nana.

Kiss the Clock

I am pretty sure a lot of you do this. When the clock is at 1:11, 2:22, etc. I kiss my watch or blow a kiss to the car clock. I also like to kiss the clock at 6:28, because my birthday is June 28th.

Never Swing on the First Pitch

I am not totally sure where this one came from, other than I was CONSTANTLY "swinging at birds" or "going golfin'" when I was little and playing softball. 

When your dad is the coach, you get to take the pep talk home with you. 

I heard it all the time, "Wait for your pitch." I think I started just not swinging so it would look like I was watching, but now it has become a thing. Even at kickball, I will not swing at the first pitch. I tried once before to see if my superstition was still true and immediately got out. I proved my theory right and I'm sticking with it.

Don't Split the Pole

I picked this one up from one of my college roommates and besties for the restie, Lexie.

In college, you could always find TRL (Tracy, Rachelle, & Lexie) together.  

 When the 3 of us would walk somewhere, we would inevitably come across a light post, mailbox, or some other obstacle. Rachelle or I would step around to the other side of the light post so that we could all keep walking side by side and Lexie would yell, "Don't split the pole." She would do anything to avoid having one person walk on the other side of the object. I made fun of her for this at first, but now I find myself making sure I am not splitting the pole.

Kiss the Roof

When accidentally going through a yellowish/red light, I kiss my hand and touch the roof of my car. I have no idea where this started, but I still do it today.

The Friday Five: Nicknames

Oh, how I love a good nickname. What I love even more is hearing the story behind a nickname. Comment here or on Facebook and tell me how you got one of your nicknames! I can't wait to hear! Here are a few of mine and how they came to be...

Tracy Mouse

This was my very first nickname and it isn't hard to see why...

#earsfordays

From then on my parents bought me little mouse figurines, ornaments, and other mousey paraphernalia for holidays. Eventually, my hair grew long enough to cover my ears and I kind of grew into them, but the name stuck.

Then my college roommates found out about my nickname and started calling me T-Mouse, Mousersize, Mouse in the House, etc. After a while, there were a number of people at Tech who pretty much only called me T-Mouse. I am pretty sure my parents didn't see that coming when they stuck me with that name.

Bokie

You might be thinking, "What is a bokie?" Good question. Basically, my parents and I use this term as a loving way to call someone a hot mess. Anyone can be a bokie, but as for now, Ellie is most frequently called this.

Baby Bulino

When I first started working at Beverly, my mom worked there too and had been there since the school opened in 1998. For so long there had only been one Bulino and when I came along people would have to ask "Which Bulino are you talking  about?" Then, someone very brave said "Young Bulino" and "Old Bulino". Well, you know she wasn't having any of that, so another teacher decided Mama Bulino and  Baby Bulino were more fitting. The name stuck and even though she doesn't work here anymore, we still get called by our nicknames. Our music teacher Mr. Porter even made up a song to the tune of Baby Beluga...Baaabyyyy Bulino.

Sparkle Swag

 There was a period of time where I had a VERY glittery phone case...

I'm also a big fan of Sparkly Soul headbands...

 and quite frequently had glitter all over my face from my eyeshadow. Yes, basically it was yesterday. Anyway, one of my kickball friends Mike Jordhoy "Jorts" started calling me Sparkle Swag because of the glitter combined with my rapping skills. It stuck and it's one of my favorite nicknames ever.

Tray Tray

This is my kickball nickname and I can't totally remember how it started other than I think it was my friend Dave who came up with it. Probably Definitely because I was acting cray cray dancing and singing around the field. Now, my team (mostly Caroline & Jordan) all get a big kick out of screaming it at the top of their lungs while I am kicking.

Be sure to check out my friends...

Nora Davis

Kindergarten Superkids

Superkids Facebook Page

Kimmie Stephens

Elementary Nerd Blog

Elementary Nerd Facebook Page