Elementary teacher question (for parents and teachers!)

[Hollee]

I am going to be student teaching next spring I have already begun to gather supplies for my classroom I am so excited !

I was wondering if any of you were teachers and if you had a theme for your classroom? Also, what was your favorite bulletin board? Your favorite art project? Your favorite "idea" of any kind that you want to share with a soon-to-be-new-teacher? Advice? Pictures of cool classroom stuff? Anything! I would love any comments or ideas or pictures you guys have

Or if your a parent, what was something cool your kids' teachers did?? A project, classroom design, communication, etc.?? Let me know what the good teachers do!!!!!!! Thanks!

[DvlshAngel985]

I was a TA long ago for a wonderful kindergarten teacher. She had a banner on the wall above her white board that said in giant letters, "THE MAIN PURPOSE OF SCHOOL IS TO LEARN AND BECOME SMARTER." It was wonderful! The kids quickly learned to read what that said and whenever they became disruptive it served as a good reminder of why they were there. She was an awesome teacher.

[2Morkies]

I've been a pre K teacher for 14 years. Here's a board idea.... Have all the kids names on the board with a theme in the middle as a way of welcoming them into their new class.
Example... Buy or make a film strip or Movie board
saying… Miss Hollee’s Class
Starring: with all the kids names around it on Stars or film strips or ????
　
I did a board once where I had a bunch of little paper frogs. I wrote everyone’s name on them and then I made a lily pad saying “Jumping into the new year with Miss Jennifer”
There are all kinds of websites… Just Google “Bulletin Board ideas for (2nd graders or which ever grade you‘ll be teaching)” Good luck…Have fun too!

[RoscoesMommy42]

I am going to be student teaching next spring also! I have already figured out I would like my classroom theme to be "Mrs. Goins's Top Dogs". School Box has a lot of dog themed stuff, and I got a lot of great ideas from a teacher that I did practicum with that her classroom is in a dog theme.

That's so cool we will be student teaching at the same time!

[MaddiesMommie]

Good Luck to you in your st. teaching. I teach 5th grade and have had a few ideas I'm pretty proud of One thing I do each year is assign each child the number by their name in the grade book. I ask they put this number on top of their paper os that I can quickly organize their assignments and easily see who has missing work. I also ask them to number off, call out their numbers in order, when I need to check for them all on a field trip, fire drill, or whenever.

We have to do differentiated reading groups in TN. I also have math groups. I use colors for reading groups, this cooridinates with our REading book series. For math groups, I label the groups with geometric shapes.

[jmdt]

My kids also did the number thing but I have to say I wasn't fond of it. They should be using their names not numbers. There are only twenty something kids in the class. I didn't like them being identified by a number. That's just me.

[tjdmom]

Hmmm.... my favorite teacher that my oldest son had was first of all , excited and enthusiastic about teaching. She wasn't a total pushover but she was kind and compassionate. She sent home a family project that we worked on together. The children had to do a report about an animal and as a family project, they had to have a model of the animal. All sorts of interesting animals came into the office and everyone was so creative. But the actual written report was done by the kids alone. Anyways, I just want to say that the bulletin board isn't important (not that you can't have fun with it) and the theme doesn't really matter but the way you deal with the kids is what matters. So many teachers really don't seem to value the children for the individuals that they are and instead almost seem to want little robots who follow all the rules and don't question things so many of them don't even seem to enjoy what they are doing. Those teachers who can really connect and make a difference are few and far between and just what the world needs more of. Now, don't take this the wrong way, I do sympathize with teachers today too because I think parents don't always do a good job either and send those home problems into school but that's a whole different story.....
I have a feeling you're one of those teachers who's gonna make a difference!

PS. That favorite teacher also had a pet bunny.... maybe a pet yorkie would be a welcome addition?

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by jmdt

My kids also did the number thing but I have to say I wasn't fond of it. They should be using their names not numbers. There are only twenty something kids in the class. I didn't like them being identified by a number. That's just me.

I agree. We don't just use numbers. I also require a name on top of the page, not just the number. This is just an organizational tool I use, not something to take away identies. We don't identify eachother by numbers, always name. I have the same number on workbooks and in textbooks. This way if I find a book with 8 on it, I know whose it is.

[CouversMom]

I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to say congrats on your student teaching! I will student teach this fall and I'm really nervous...

[viviansnickers]

Hi How exciting for you, the start of your journey of your teaching career!! Congrats!! I have been teaching Kdg for about 8 yrs now. It's truly my passion and niche! I have oodles of ideas. Let me know if you have any questions.

Something that I do that the students seem to remember is that I have a sign hung up at their level right as you walk into the doorway that says "I WILL TRY MY BEST!" As they walk in, they slap it (We call it "the magic") and then pop it up to their brain/or eat it. So yes, they are eating air but they think it's magic and really believe it helps them try their best and to remember to try their best as they are walking in at all times of the day. They love it and I refer to it during lessons when someone is not trying their best, I'll ask if they got their magic on their way in. It works well. The idea came to me when I was watching the Detroit Pistons run out from their locker room slapping their emblem for luck. I love motivational things!!

Feel free to ask me anything anytime. I have also taught 2nd and 3rd grade as well.

Smiles-
Viv

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Hi How exciting for you, the start of your journey of your teaching career!! Congrats!! I have been teaching Kdg for about 8 yrs now. It's truly my passion and niche! I have oodles of ideas. Let me know if you have any questions.

Something that I do that the students seem to remember is that I have a sign hung up at their level right as you walk into the doorway that says "I WILL TRY MY BEST!" As they walk in, they slap it (We call it "the magic") and then pop it up to their brain/or eat it. So yes, they are eating air but they think it's magic and really believe it helps them try their best and to remember to try their best as they are walking in at all times of the day. They love it and I refer to it during lessons when someone is not trying their best, I'll ask if they got their magic on their way in. It works well. The idea came to me when I was watching the Detroit Pistons run out from their locker room slapping their emblem for luck. I love motivational things!!

Feel free to ask me anything anytime. I have also taught 2nd and 3rd grade as well.

Smiles-
Viv

That is so cute! It's great to see teachers that are passionate about what they do.

[TwoforFun]

I don't have any idea about a theme, just wanted to mention something my fourth grade teacher taught us. MANNERS

Everytime an adult let say the principle came through the door we all had to stand and greet. We soon automatically did it. We had to sit straight up (I have great posture now) and use utensils when eating (now teachers don't sit with their class). She not only taught us material but how to socialize in the real world. It was memorable

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Hi How exciting for you, the start of your journey of your teaching career!! Congrats!! I have been teaching Kdg for about 8 yrs now. It's truly my passion and niche! I have oodles of ideas. Let me know if you have any questions.

Something that I do that the students seem to remember is that I have a sign hung up at their level right as you walk into the doorway that says "I WILL TRY MY BEST!" As they walk in, they slap it (We call it "the magic") and then pop it up to their brain/or eat it. So yes, they are eating air but they think it's magic and really believe it helps them try their best and to remember to try their best as they are walking in at all times of the day. They love it and I refer to it during lessons when someone is not trying their best, I'll ask if they got their magic on their way in. It works well. The idea came to me when I was watching the Detroit Pistons run out from their locker room slapping their emblem for luck. I love motivational things!!

Feel free to ask me anything anytime. I have also taught 2nd and 3rd grade as well.

Smiles-
Viv

That is such a neat idea, Viv. I may do what teacher's do best now, steal your idea and adapt it for 5th graders! They are just bigger bodies. Still love the same things "little kids" do. We use rugs to read around the room during certain times, well a 1st grade teacher started calling hers Magic Reading Carpets. I can't tell you the times my reading rugs get referred to as magic throughout the year. I love it.

[viviansnickers]

Yay!!! So glad you like it and PLEASE use it if you think it could help/motivate kids.

Huggies-
Viv

[Hollee]

Thanks for all your cute ideas! I like the magic & the manners thing! I have taugh pre-school for 3 years now and I have been complimented several times on the good manners of my class It's a great life skill for kids! Kristie we will have to keep in touch && share stories in the Spring huh! Good luck Michelle!

There's only so much you can learn in class, ya know? I looove these ideas! So... keep them coming! Also, what are some more creative ways to "discipline" instead of "moving the clip" or "changing the card"?