My job is to find a way to reach each
child through visual, auditory, or hands on experiences
Create a safe and positive environment
where self esteem is high in each child
Create realistic goals and expectations
for each student, both socially and academically
"Catch Them Being Good" behavior management
Role model acceptable behavior
Get a Feel for My Classroom
Communication
Parent(s), teacher(s), and student
need to work as a team
Weekly parent/teacher comment sheet
to go home with student work each week
Suggestion/comment box in classroom
for students to give feedback/ideas to teacher
Behavior Management
"Catch Them Being Good" model means
the children get to put their name in a jar for good behavior when asked
by the teacher. Each week, names are chosen at random for prizes
or special privileges. As the year progresses, students can watch
the names first fill the jar, then an ice cream bucket, a box, etc.
Marbles in a jar. The class can
earn free time or a treat by working well as a group. For superb
behavior, or a compliment from an adult outside of the classroom, the students
earn a marble. Once the jar is full, we stop everything and have
our reward.
Fair and consistent discipline
Cards. All students have a set
of cards: one green card, one yellow, one orange, and one red. Every
child starts fresh each day with the green card in front. If a student
breaks a rule, I will ask them to turn their card to the next color.
If a student gets to orange, they will miss some recess time. If
they get to red, I will call home.
Classroom Atmosphere
Safe, supportive classroom
Build self-esteem and confidence
Students are encouraged to share special
events or items linking to our curriculum with the class
Students are allowed to teach fellow
classmates and myself new methods or different techniques within our subject
matter
Responsibility, common courtesy, and
team spirit are practiced and encouraged by all
Teaching
Modify/enrich lessons for individual
student needs
Supplement material when appropriate
with fresh ideas and cross curricular lines
Provide real life examples, give the
kids a purpose for doing the activity
Vary teaching/lessons to adjust to
the level of the students and to keep them motivated
Things Unique to My Room
Word Wall (students suggest and vote
on one challenging word each week)
Estimation Station (one student per
week brings in the goodies to be estimated)
The Wisdom of Idioms (collect figures
of speech throughout the year)
E.R.T. Day (Eat, Run, and Talk Day)
Sometimes you just have to take a break!
Technology
It is my goal to incorporate technology
into the classroom through teacher created web pages, Microsoft Power Point
presentations, and also by teaching students in the computer lab.
E-pals would be ideal (students can
have a pen pal in other countries or states via the internet)!
Computers have offered me great techniques
for organizing, planning, and delivering information. It is essential
to pass this on to our students so that they will be comfortable in this
new age of technology.
