Join us for our district's monthly twitter chat focusing on "Integrating the Arts" on February 1st from 7-8 pm. Come and chat about how to integrate music, art, and other specialized areas into your classroom to build learning across the content areas!
A1: I try and setup my room as early as possible so I can spend the rest of my time planning exactly how I want that week to go. I plan for lots of procedure and getting to know you activities. #CCSEdChat
A1. I try to have my classroom "done" so that when the first week comes, my room is an inviting space that makes the student excited to be there (especially my nervous 6th graders!) #CCSEdChat
A1: I am in a new role this year, so I'm working on curating resources. When I was a classroom T, I would do the same as @RMcKayELA. I tried to focus as much time as possible on planning. #ccsedchat
A1 For Ss prepare the environment to tone. Want it to be inviting & place they want to come. Same for my Ts as room is an instructional resource space #CCSEdChat
A2: This year I'm trying something different. I'm going to give students playdough and ask them to sculpt something that represents them and then use it to introduce themselves to the class. I'm hoping it becomes a favorite. #CCSEdChat
A2: I love to get the Ss oriented to my style right away. Because I did everything in Google Classroom, I did all of my "Getting to Know You" activities using digital tools, if possible. #ccsedchat
Oh man, I love this idea! I've done something similar to this when I was a camp counselor. I find myself using a lot of activities from my time there in my classroom! #CCSEdChat
A2. Big Moose! It is a game I borrowed from my time as a camp counselor. It's active, and makes the students use their memory. The kids are hesitant at first, but it gets them comfortable around each other quickly! #CCSEdChat
A2: This past semester I did a take on Three facts & a Fib & included myself. No names on stickies; posted & we tried to guess who the person was. Then they told us which was the fib #CCSEdChat
A3: Start building that rapport with Ss. That will eliminate a lot of discipline problems from the start when Ss know you truly care and you want to get to know them as individuals. #ccsedchat
I had a professor in college who took pictures of us, with our permission of course, and created flash cards to help her learn ALL her students name and faces! #CCSEdChat
A4. This didn't start out as a rule in my classroom, but truly became a mantra. It helped encourage my students to take academic risks and to not be embarrassed when mistakes are made, especially in front of other classmates. #CCSEdChat
A4: No one gets left out! (Not necessarily a rule, but a practice) It helps to reiterate that everyone belongs in our class and that everyone is of value. #CCSEdChat
A4: I use L.E.A.R.N. Listen attentively, Enter promptly, Accept responsibility, Respect others, and No Excuses. No excuses pertaining to putting forth effort and trying. "IDK" is not acceptable if you haven't put forth effort to think or try yet. #CCSEdChat
A4: I tell my kids I am mama bear. And if someone messes with my Cubs, inside my class or not, they need to tell me. I try to have open discussions, so I let kids know that putting others down will not be acceptable. #CCSEdChat
I had my students create rules/expectations (with my help) for them, as well as the rules/expectations they wanted ME to follow! Then, we all signed saying that we would uphold these rules. #CCSEdChat
A5: I have specific places that work gets turned into and passed out from. Putting it anywhere else means it does not get graded. I need Ss to understand this so they don't get confused and then say I lost it. #CCSEdChat
A5. Routines are especially important in my classroom. I think the most important one for my students is the actual schedule of the day and how to move through it. Visual representations of these schedules also helps a lot. #CCSEdChat
A5: Procedures for ACTIVELY listening. Includes respecting other perspectives, answers, & thinking about what was said. I'm not going to continuously repeat myself & peers contributions are as important as yours in the class. #CCSEdChat
A5: The most important thing I teach is how to enter, exit, and respond to cues. Super important to set the tone and keep student engagement. #CCSEdChat
A6. The first few weeks we go over the rules every day. My Ss will volunteer to read them for the whole class. When we go over voice levels I try to make it silly. Make them say funny phrases as we practice it a few times! #CCSEdChat
A6: For my K-1, we have a chant that goes with our music class expectations. For all of them, I introduce them with my @ClassDojo avatars (our pet monsters) 😊 #CCSEdChat
My middle schoolers will act like they're not impressed with Dojo....and then I let them pick out their monsters and its a WHOLE different story lol! #CCSEdChat
A7: They could do vision boards of themselves, or in basic 1st day survey ask what they want YOU to know about them. Showing that interest in who they are beyond your classroom walls. #CCSEdChat
A7: I ask them questions and make sure to remember the answers. Go to games and events. Support them in their struggles. Differentiate their learning as best I can. #ccsedchat
A7: I try to learn about a student and then use it in my classroom. For example, Friday warmups are free writes but include a topic of you need one. If a student mentions something in there that I feel is safe to share and use in an example, I will. #CCSEdChat
A7. I try to find out their interests and incorporate it into the classroom lessons and activities. Help w/ engagement as well as showing that I listen and care about them! #CCSEdChat
A8. I feel like I had a positive relationship with all my parents this past SY, but it was hard for me to communicate with a lot of them. This is something I definitely struggled with this past SY. Interested in seeing ppl's answers! #CCSEdChat
A8: Absolutely agree with @RMcKayELA. I try to have as many positive interactions with parents as possible. I also post grades as often as I can and keep them informed. #ccsedchat
A8: I think this becomes harder & harder on secondary level due to less visibility of parents. Calls & positive notes home, interaction @ games, and extracurricular activities helps but keeping it positive #CCSEdChat
