The Way I Teach

First, let me say my 1st year of teaching I refer to as boot camp for teachers and I sure wish I knew what I know now!

I feel a lot of behavior systems don't address student behaviors but mask it. I am constantly,
every year,
every year,
every year,
given the students who have issues, autistic, mainstreamed, need nurtured, because from what I understand . . . I am patient. Patience alone is not a CURE ALL that's for sure.

I tried the other clip chart, reward coupons, turn a card, prize drawer, group points and they all have their pro's and con's in my eyes. So here is what I came up with and why. At the bottom of this post I have included a free download with instructions and the hanging clip chart. If you click on the picture below it will take you to whole unit.

Classroom Management First Week of School

Behavior Management first week of school

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Reflection, reflection, reflection,

I only started thinking differently after completing 2

years of research in my master's program.

Here it is in a "NUTSHELL." Plus, if you ever need to do a 504 plan for behavior - BOOYA! DOCUMENTATION and INFORMED parents is what this system helps with.

· RESEARCH: In my master's program I spent 2 years researching self-regulating students. The research made me think and reflect on student behaviors. I actually was not going to do a system at all last year but the parents are trained on these charts and rely on them for communication about their child. There were 2 reasons I was not going to use a system:

1) I read a quote from a leader in education (can’t recall where but I believe it was from Finland). I just remember it stated, “when you add accountability, you take responsibility out.” That statement resonated with me. What I took from that statement was students need taught responsibility if they aren't doing it on their own. Flipping a card and moving a clip doesn't teach responsibility nor does it teach being respectful or safe.

2) Having students move a clip or card during instruction, carpet time, etc. was more of a disruption as all the students looked at them and the student left more instruction to go move their card or clip so I came up with a nameplate with individual clips. If you used the other clip chart, you could always add mini self-stick gems to the clips if they get on outstanding.

Behavior is one of the domains in self-regulating students. If a child does not learn or is never taught how to be successful it is very unlikely they will self-regulate. Worse – it follows them their whole life!
Like I said, it is only one aspect of self-regulating behaviors. Nevertheless, I created this chart that is more specific to help students see and recognize the behavior that keeps causing them issues. I created the tracker so I could see the pattern. It is more work but then if the behavior isn’t remedied it allows me to see more clearly what behavior modifications are needed or a plan can be made with the student to help them be more successful. I also feel that the younger the child the better the chance a teacher has at helping them be successful with the behavior they are having issues with.

If you are still with me after all that here is the download for the
hanging clip chart and instructions for how this system works.

I linked up with Laura over at

for a CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT LINKY. Check it out and be prepared my friends. Lot's of freebies at the different blogs too!

UPDATE:

You can get a Long I spelled i_e Word Search by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.

I have been making these units to help with teaching the sound spelling. We followed the pacing guide with our Hartcourt HM Storytown this year but have definitely switched the pacing for next year! If you look below, the silent E was just taught (I taught it earlier but what the heck! April of first grade to teach silent E? Anyhow, I may get 1 or 2 more of these units completed before the end of the year but the others I will have to do in the summer since we get out JUNE 4TH! HOOT! HOOT!

Here is an outline of what is included in the unit. It does not show the ice cream recording booklet for your kiddos.

My kids favorite activity was making the ice cream craft- of course.
They charted the long i words on the correct sound spelling. Many of the activities are interchangeable to fit your teaching style (small group, whole group/stations/centers/homework practice/independent practice). Here are some more pictures of the unit in action.

This was their favorite activity. Some built their ice cream scoops 1 on top of the other while some made old fashioned looking scoops. Looks great on the walls and is a great visual reminder for students.

This is the recording booklet for 7 activities. some we completed whole class and colored together because we were short on time. They are half sheet booklets. I credit this booklet for keeping my class 100% engaged 100% of the time (that says a lot considering my class dynamics! Let me just say 27 Kiddos, 4 ADHD, 1 Schitzo, and of course the mixture of EL's, high, medium, and low students. They were ALL engaged. I was so happy and so were they! They wanted ALL their scoops colored and of course they wanted the REAL ice cream that they get when all activities were complete. The ice cream craft can be used with the long i tree map so the kids conquer 2 activities at once.

2 students decided to play a matching game then record the words in their ice cream booklets. They can also play go fish and memory with this cards.

Here students put ice cream cones in ABC order. They work together and record their words.

Here students sort ice cream scoops by long and short vowel sounds. They then record their words under long and short vowel sounds in their ice cream recording booklet (they can record in a notebook as well). If you are having them record the words, the green scoops are easier than the scoops with pictures set. The scoops with pictures are for higher students as they have to spell the words on their own. This set also comes with cones to build ice cream cones.

Here students are recording their words in their booklet.

We did a lesson on changing y to i and adding es and ed. They then completed a y to i tree map independently and colored scoop in their booklet.

Game 3 shown below. Students move game pieces to long or short i depending on the card they picked. It is amazing to listen to all students regardless of academic level play this game. You can here them stretching the word slowly to hear the sound. My lower students are able to learn from my proficient and higher students as they watch and listen to them (one of the reasons I do partner work with stations and centers even though quite honestly, it is not my favorite thing). I know it is important. I spent 2 years researching self-regulating students and peer/partner work is so important.

Game 1:

Students take turns spinning the spinner. They move a matching word to the picture on the board game (these games target sound spellings and vocabulary development. Not to mention the very important skill of taking turns and working together. Those red circles are cherries to put on the ice cream. I just taped them to water bottle lids. So easy and cute plus it gives a 3-D element to the game.

I did not include pictures of all the activities or any of the independent practice sheets.

You can click on any of the pictures or HERE to take you to the Long I unit.

HERE is the LINK to the long I word search with long i spelled i_e I promised.

If you are looking for long i activities, I created these differentiated phonics games. These games are my favorite because kids can play independently or with a partner and there are 3 different levels. They can play all three games or choose the one that is a "good fit." I love using these in small group because kids can play while I read with kids one on one and then they switch.

Best of all . . . These games were designed so there are NO LOOSE pieces. Everything is attached! I think that helped me more than the kids. It actually saves set-up time and clean-up time so kids have more time to play and practice.

You can get the long i phonics games HERE.

Here it is . . . 5 Mini-Units in one bundle. I kept the academic language as CVCe since the e is taught so many different ways. That way you can add your own academic language without confusing your little ones. These mini-units have a little more than than the other units. You can click on any of the pictures below to take you to the unit.

*I added a Passport Booklet for each CVCe spelling so their are 4 passports total (I didn't include 1 for the review unit).

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You don't have to use the passports but they were easy for the kids to use and served as recording sheets when completing the 4 activities shown on the cover. I have included ways to differentiate as well.

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Here is the passport in use. All 5 units also help students to differentiate the difference between the long and short vowel sounds so they are more aware when they spell and stretch out words when they read. I have included instructions for different ways to play the games but they are simple to prep and great for small group as well or RTI. You can hear the kids at work when playing the games - they force the kids to read, match, and stretch their words out s-l-o-w-l-y.

Randomness: This Morning, I realized the top part of the cover is cut off on TPT so you can't really even see what the unit is. I had to re-do a picture for TPT so you can tell what it is. Was curious, which one do you like better anyways. We can call the top A and the bottom picture B? I originally had picture B(bottom) because it has the same format as all the other mini-units so you could recognize it easily as the same time of unit. Does it matter? Who knows. That's why I am asking you. Really curious about that one.

The cover only shows the a_e unit (and I still couldn't put everything on the cover)! Each of the following: a_e, u_e, i_e, and u_e have all of what's on the a_e cover and more. I have added a graphing sheet, more variations to the game, ABC order, Matching/Go Fish Cards and the passport.

The review unit includes only the magic/silent/bossy e activities and you use the 4 headers above with the review which some of you at this time of year may want. The other units, if you have already taught them, now is a good time to get them and prep them for the beginning of next year if you teach 1st or 2nd. The review unit has all the same activities with a few more graphs but NO passport.

It took over 5 weeks for this unit to be completed (1 week for each mini-unit). My other mini-units are $2.00 and these mini units have much more! I have 5 units for $8.00 that's less than $2.00 a unit and 137 pages. I do hope you take a look at them. Not that I am great t implementing centers but I include the games and passport activities so students get the opportunity to work in partners. I had to do a lot of research when I was in my Masters program and partner/peer work is so important in developing Self-Regulating Independent learners. It really is important for your lower half of your students.

You can click on any of the pictures to take you to the unit. I can't wait for you to use them.

We had Spring break and are back to work this coming Monday. With 7 weeks left of school I am starting to do the Happy Dance but freaking out at the same time rethinking what I have left to teach. How about you? Are you ready for the end of the year or do you panic at the though? Don't forget to check out some of the Camp Ocean Pines pictures I posted in an earlier post. In case you missed it - the entire 5th grade traveled to Cambria, California on a "yellow" bus for 5 1/2 hours and spent 5 days at camp (absolutely amazing) during school time - Oh yeah! I went with. So Amazing. Words can't possibly tell all the life skills that went along with the learning at the camp.

I haven't posted in a while but it has been CRAZY around here. I have been working on the long vowel unit with the bossy/magic/tricky/silent E and am putting it together as 1 unit. It is pretty much done and I love it but I can't get to it until I get back from a 5 Day Camp with 5th Graders to Camp Ocean Pines. I am looking forward to it but dreading it at the same time. 6 hours on a bus with 5th graders . . . uhhhh . . . Can I have an order of the GIANT sized aspirins PLEASE! Our school, which is probably one of few, take their 5th graders to a camp during school time for 5 days (public school). It is great! I will be posting pictures from the camp this week. Oh, you are probably wondering why I am going when I am a first grade teacher. My son is in 5th grade this year. So I am going as a parent and not a chaperone but will help if needed. However, here is my VERY BIG EXCUSE for not posting . . .
1) Report cards were due this week along with conferences
2) Our house is up for sale and we have an open house on April 13th (2 days after I get back with 3 males in the house for a week without me!) Plus I have to keep it somewhat clean daily.
3) Lice, lice, lice, in my class!
4) I got a set of twins from Spain that put my class at 27! Talk about adjusting and room rearranging to fit everyone. I went from 21 to 27 this year! Sorry if you have more than 27 - I hear you.
5) Getting things ready for camp.
6) The worst . . . . READY . . . .SUB PLANS for 5 DAYS!

So I just wanted to post this FREEBIE for Math Games in case you didn't see it before. When I get back I'll post the Long Vowel Mini Unit. PROMISE. For now, here is that math FREEBIE. Click HERE or on the picture.

$Kindergarten Math Freebie !st grade Math Freebie$

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CAMP UPDATE

Amazing, Amazing, Amazing! That's all I can say. The kids were busy for 7:20 in the morning to 8:30 at night. Their days were filled with hands on learning, outdoor exploration, and life-skills that I can't even begin to write about. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!! Here are only some of the pictures and I probably have about 2 days left off that I haven't put together. Not to mention I forgot my camera during squid disection and Plankton under the microscope after they fished it out for the end of the pier and out of the Ocean, Talk about Common Core. So many standards were brought to life here for the kids. I just can't say enough as a parent or a teacher.