Spaces Where Kids Love To Work

Creating spaces in your classroom where kids love to work do NOT need to be expensive or permanent!  Here are two of my favorite ways that are working this week--and have worked for many weeks in the past.

First, I have a wooden TV Tray that I bought for $5 at a garage sale.  I originally bought it to demonstrate science activities.  It's not pretty, but my students LOVE to pull over a couple of chairs to work around it.  It's ideal for a partner activity.  It also folds up and fits in the locker in my classroom.

Additionally, I LOVE my little rugs.  I got them for less than $2 each.  They fold up and hide in one little bin.  Some kids sit on them, and other kids set out their work on them.  Some kids sit there to read.

These things are simple, cheap, portable, and HIGHLY MOTIVATIONAL.

What simple and cheap ideas do you have for the classroom?

Prepared For Speed or Endurance

I've been thinking about the difference between preparing and training for speed or endurance.  I only got to see a little bit of the Olympics, but it was so obvious that speed and endurance are really different when looking at the bodies of sprinters and marathoners.  Sprinters are a rock of muscle--built to release  a lightening fast burst of energy and speed.  Marathoners are lean {and another type of solid muscle!}  The marathoner also uses their strategy and planning during the event--when to move, how to pace, and so much more.

This got me to thinking about the school year while I was out on a walk this morning.  Some teachers are so prepared for the first day of school.  They have perfectly color coordinated everything.  They have folders and bins and notebooks and bulletin boards all in the exact right place.  This is all good, as long a everyone remembers that the school year is REAAAALLLLY LLLLOOONNNNNGGGG!

I'd like to encourage us all today to spend these last few days preparing for the endurance bits of school.    I know that we have to be ready for the first day, and I have open house the evening before school starts.  But the part of the year that requires us to dig deep is not the first week, but it's usually around February of March.

Let's agree to plan and prepare so that we will still be in top teaching form on day 120 as we are on day one!

Brave Teacher Tribe is beginning a daily email, the Bright Spot.  It will be a little message of positivity all along the school year.  Sign Up Here!

Bravely Teaching In Workshops

Does anyone out there teach 4th grade using a workshop format for all the main stuff--reading, writing, math?  How do you do it?  How do you keep it organized?  How do you work smarter, not harder?

When I started teaching {14 years ago}, I started in first grade.  I did mini lessons and then workshops. Students practiced skills at center activities while I taught and retaught  and assessed small groups and individuals.  I love this style of a classroom.  This took tons of prep work!

I can find many resources for teachers who still teach this way in 3rd grade and below.  Why not 4th grade?

I did a workshop format in Math this past year.  I had many struggling mathematicians.  I was able to spend more time practicing with them.  Kids loved this format.  I did not have to drive myself crazy planning, but it was more work than whole group instruction.  I felt like we got loads more done--even though my students' state test scores do not prove that.  In my heart I know this is good.

I'm wanting to do more of it with Reading/Language Arts.  I think this would be a good time to do this, since we are beginning to implement Common Core Standards.  It seems to be a more flexible year.  I want to take what I used to do in first grade and apply it to the developmental level of 4th graders and the curriculum.  I do NOT want to make center activities "cute busy work or worksheets."  I want kids to really learn and practice with authentic tasks whenever possible.

I'm open to feedback!  Any suggestions?  Resources?

Move Your Classroom Midyear And Find Your Groove

So I moved my entire classroom to the other side of the building in less than a week at the end of January. I have changed classrooms many times. But it's a whole other game when you have students that you're still trying to teach and all the other sort of school political and bureaucratic shenanigans. My friend put the above sign on my door after watching random people walk into my classroom, think it's still the lounge, and ask why so many kids were in there!

While I'm still sorting my way out, the new room looks really good--even with mostly bare walls and a coke machine!



It's hard to believe that they've already built a wall in the old room! It actually got painted today! My kids still had desks and most of our other stuff in there last week at this time.



I'm still trying to find my groove in the new space, but I already like more room--especially for math games and reading activities--centers that won't have to go back to your seat--yippee!

If you get to move midyear, here's my best advice:

1. Look for the good, because plenty of other people will tell you all the negative stuff
2. Let go of expectations
3. Let other people help you, even if it's not the way you would do it.
4. Let kids take ownership. We designed class layouts that they liked--they do have some good ideas, and they loved moving their stuff, our library, etc.
5. Be gentle with yourself--I'm still whipped almost a week later.
6. Express thanks whenever possible--especially to kids
7. Have fun and laugh when possible
8. Be patient with other people when they can't handle the change
9. Put on a positive spin for as many people as possible
10. Take your time settling in. It takes a while to find your groove and decide how the new space will work best for you and your students.

It's also a good time for me to do some spring cleaning!

I Am The Queen Bee

Yesterday I received a fabulous piece of art in the mail. It's a raised carving print. I was very drawn to it on etsy (see other prints and journals by the artist here), and I think I like it more and more everytime I look at it. The artist, Catherine Just, I became aquainted with through the Mondo Beyondo class--which I can't recommend highly enough.

My intention with the piece of art was to fill my classroom this year with things that inspire me and my students. I loved this line by the artist, "The queen bee knows who she is, and she isn't afraid to own it!" I think of how inspiring it would be to my students if I really owned who I was, not trying to fit into other expectations and having enough awareness of myself to know when this was happening and stop it.

In addition to the print here are some other things that will be in our classroom this year: plants, (maybe fish,) linens, lamps, pillows, a sofa, fun writing paper and office supplies--not just business. I also want to include and inspiration board for myself.

What do you include in your workspace to inspire you?