The Social Teacher

 I think I've made it pretty clear that I'm all about creating relationships with my students is so important to me.  Without relationships, you really won't get their best academic abilities.  I have another whole class activity.  This one is from  Celecia: Fostering Relationships in the Classroom . As you scroll down on this link.  You will find the passing the pom-pom activity.   The students sat in a circle. Each student was given a spoon.  They needed to pass the pom-pom without it dropping on the floor.  After telling the students how to play. We also talked about when a student drops the pom-pom it is a little problem. We all say "aww man" and then move on.  It is important for the students to understand we are all in this game together. If someone drops it, we all have to start over.  It is a whole group game.  It was fun.  Trickier than I thought it would be for them.  But we had a great time! :) It was cute when it dropped because all the students would

 What can POP?? A balloon... And for today's lesson that is all you need.  Remember when you were little and you would have nothing to play at your Grandma's house but someone always had a balloon from a gift and so you played the game where you don't let it hit the ground.   I call it POP! because that is seriously all I could think of when I needed a name for the game.  Haha! And all I say is take turns and don't let the balloon touch the floor otherwise I yell POP! It is so fun! The students had a great time.  It is a great filler game that teaches children to take turns, learn self control, focus on something for a longer amount of time (lengthens their attention span), and a great brain break.   I have the students stand in a circle.  They need to be an arms length apart.  This will give them room so they don't run into each other. Even though that will happen in this game! Pass the balloon to a friend and they hit it.  They keep hitting it so it doesn't to

 No, this blog is not about sharing toys.  It is about sharing students work because it is important. It makes them feel good about themselves and give pride in their work.  No matter that their work looks like, I show it.  Tip of the day: Don't just say a student's work is good, beautiful.  Explain how something is good about it.  For example if a child drew a picture of a park.  Say: Wow that playset you drew is so beautiful! Another tip: If you have no clue what they drew. Say, "tell me about what you drew".  Then comment.  It builds the students confidence when you share their work.  As a I stated in Monday's blog, this activity we complete can be a bulletin board or a class book. I made a class book.   Today I shared it with the whole class. I read it to them.  They loved it! When it was there page, their faces lit up the entire room.   It was a great lesson.  So simple and the students had a amazing time.  

 I kept with the "family" theme this week.  It is so important for my students to know that we are family. And like a keep saying, students NEED visuals.   On Monday, we read the story: Our Class is a Family by: Shannon Olson  . After that the students colored and cut their own house.  All the different designs showed the students personalities.  I love it! Today we did the writing portion of this.   Beginning of the year writing for first graders can be very hard. So I try to be patient and I don't expect a lot. I have the students finish this this: Our classroom is a family because______.  And they have to finish it.  When finished their writing, they colored around the words.   When students are coloring an activity like this in the beginning of the school year. I like to sit and color with them and listen to them talk to each other.  I sat next to a little girl today and she talked about how she liked all colors of the rainbow.  Her friend next to her said she couldn&

 We are FAMILY! First, if this blog is anything. I want it to show you that clearly teaching isn't thinking about new ideas all the time. If that is who you are, awesome, good for you! Not me...there are resources out there and teachers to use.  USE THEM!  Any who...my classroom is my family. A dysfunctional one yes but that is the best kind! This family is warm, friend, chaotic, has each other's backs, happy, sad, kind, and LOVED !  Amanda Thompson's TPT Store  has the CUTEST back to school activities. Really anytime of the year she has it.  But I love this activity: Our Class is a Family . First graders are visual.  I can saw we are family but they understand until they SEE it.  First read this story: Our Class is a Family by: Shannon Olson .  This story has an amazing message where it explains how a classroom is a family.  After reading the story the students complete an activity that ends up being a bulletin board and/or classroom book to put in your library.  They col

 Have you seen that amazing little girl on TikTok saying daily affirmations with her mother while they do her hair? It is so cute! But then I got to thinking: what if I do that with my students. If they hear the same words over and over maybe they will start to believe it!  How a wonderful way to get them thinking they are brave, kind, and that they are loved.  So everyday I will have them repeat:  I am KIND.  I am BRAVE.  My teacher LOVES me.  I believe this is a simple way to a child's heart.  Be honest and just love them.  Thats all these kids need is LOVE.  It's so true.  I hope having them say this over and over will get them to believe that they are those things.  That is truly all I want.  

Fun Fact about me, I can be sneaky... Yep, as a teacher you have to! How? Let me show you...  Today we completed a STEM challenge.  The students needed to build the tallest tower using straws and tape.  I got this idea from Carly and Adam STEM .  They have a ton of back-to-school STEM challenges.  When I find STEM challenges, this what I think about it:  -Can my students handle this challenge? Seriously, if it is too hard you will either running around the room to help them or they will al be crying because they can't figure it out.  -Do you have the materials or can you afford it? We teacher spend enough money in our clasroom. But straws and tape I do.  If not ask your parents for help! Parents are always willing to help.  -Can they do it in a short amount of time? Remember you student's attention spans. If they can't figure it out in 10 minutes...they won't do it! After I think these through I pick the right one.  My students had to build the tallest tower using TAPE

 Another way to build community in your classroom to not show ownership in your classroom.           * Don't say: In "my" classroom...          * Say: In "our" classroom... In our classroom, every person gets a job. It may take a while to think of a job for everyone student; but if this is our classroom, we all need to pitch in: keeping it clean or helping me with something each day.   Here is my set up:  My student's favorite is line leader and teacher helper! Also, if a student doesn't want to do their job that is okay. I don't make them, but I don't give them another job. They will have their job for the week. I will also tell them their job on Monday and I won't remind them during the week.   I bought this from: Teaching Little Love Bugs . These were simple and editable.  Not every job is going to on here so you can make up your own to fit your classroom. 

 First grade is the year of everyone is friends, but you start to create your "close" friendships. There is nothing wrong with that.  But, this causes drama...and a lot of it. The amount of parent emails I get throughout the school year of students not playing with other students. It is crazy.  I tell the students that we can be everyone's friends. We don't just have to have one friend.  So before I get all of these emails.  I am going to try to stop it before it happens.   First, I ask do we need to add anything to our "How to Be a Good Friend Chart"? I gave them time and wrote down what they said. Today someone said, "If someone is lonely, ask them to play".  It was perfect timing because it goes along with my read aloud.  After writing down their ideas, I read the book "You Will Be My Friend!" By: Peter Brown. It is about a bear that trys to make a new friend. She goes through the forest looking for a friend. She finds one at the end,

Now that list we created about all the words that describes us. Well words don't mean anything...now you need to act.   We create a list of what makes a good friend.  We write what makes a good friend in the classroom, at specials (art, music, gym, library) and outside at recess.  This gets posted in our classroom for the remainder of the school year.  First graders can get forgetful...so sometimes it's nice to refer to during the school year.  This is an anchor chart of what makes a good friend in the classroom.  This will get their minds understanding how to show how to be kind, adventurous, brave, and loving.  

 We add to their portrait today.  We add more words of encouragement. I feel the more I teach them these words, they will start using them with each other.  They hear the same words over and over: be kind, be nice.  Expanding their vocabulary to help them learn how special they really are.   Read the book: There's Only One You  by: Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. Having a child know their worth is so important. They are different from the person sitting next to them; but, that's cool, embrace it.  This book creates more vocabulary for the students to learn about who they are and can be.  After reading the story. We write the new vocabulary words. They pick three, write them in different colors, and add it to their self portrait.   

 SAY HELLO, GOOD MORNING EVERY MORNING! Seriously, stop your prepping from the morning (trust me, I get it there is so much to do) but, do it.  Stand outside your classroom and say good morning to each student as they walk into the classroom.   Our principal plays music every morning so I also dance out in the hallway.  It starts the day with a smile and you instantly make a connection with each students.  It takes two seconds to say hello. Do it!  Just outside the classroom on the wall next to my door I have options on how to say hello. I got this cute decor from The Core Coaches . Their TPT store has some cute stuff.  Their Morning Greeting decor has a ton of ideas on how to greet your students (even COVID friendly ideas).   My students decide if they want to greet me by: hug, high five, wave, foot bump, or salute.  I'd suggest at least one where you don't have to "touch" the student.  Some students might still feel uncomfortable with hugs or high fives.  I also ha

Today I remembered why I teach first grade.  First grade is a hard year.  There are different expectations than Kindergarten. They are a HUGE reading jump (yes I know, I am here to talk about how I create a family in my classroom, but I still teach other subjects).  It may be hard...but it is a rewarding year! They learn so much! They learn their worth as a learner.  And my hopes as a person as well.   Today I read the book: I am Enough by: Grace Byers . This book is a great read to show students that they may look/act/feel different from the person next to them but we are all going to make mistakes and we all fall.  But, we will always love each no matter.  We are the only ones in this class this year, so we need to make sure we all have each others backs.   Read it, so good! Extension: How to draw a person. Have them draw their table partner.  **I also discuss how to draw a person step by step along with coloring expectations in first grade.  

First Day of School!!!!!! YAY!! :)  A day full of emotions... - Excited : A fresh start to a new year.   - Happy : See everyone happy faces again.  - Sad : Summer has come to an end, and I don't get to see my dog every second of the day ;) - Terrified : What is going to be walking into the classroom this year? - Comfort : This is where I am supposed to be.  A steady person, sometimes the only steady person, in these students lives for the next 9 months.   And the students.... - Excited : A new teacher. They remember me from last year walking by and saying hello. They think I'm the coolest person ever.   - Mad : They had to wake up early, summer is over, and this lady has to tell me what to do all day.  - Happy : They get to see who was in their class last year.  New friends :)  - Nervous : A brand to year, new experiences, new teacher First graders are sponges. They first day is the honeymoon day.  All students are like sponges.  Read this book: Be You! by Peter H Reynolds .  I

My Why... Reading, math, reading, writing, reading, social studies, reading, science, reading, phonics...all of this gets jumped down our throats as educators.  -Make sure they reach a certain reading level by the end of the year... -Make sure you've reached the right number of minutes in each subject... -complete all assessments by a certain date... It is all about the data. Data, data, data.   But what about the whole child: What do they like to do? What are their dislikes? What is their family like? Siblings? Pets? Do they travel? Do they like to play outside? Do they like to play indoors? What makes them laugh? What is their favorite food? Have they been to a park?  I think some people forget about that.  I want to know my students before I teach them.  I want them to know I can be their safe person. I want them to feel welcomed, accepted, treated fairly, and the most part: loved.   This blog is how I achieve it.  This school year (2021-2022) is the year I incorporate social em