Student Interest Surveys
Recognizing Birthdays
Student Jobs - I STINK AT THIS!
2019-20 I decided to table this. I've been stressing myself out about this for WAY too long. It's very difficult for me to keep track of jobs and to change them regularly. If I need a special job done, I teach ALL of the students how to do it (e.g. fire drill folder, go bucket). Otherwise, I just ask for volunteers. Everyone pitches in. I'm not sure how to even BEGIN to do this in a remote learning situation! 2018-19 Admittedly, I have a hard time keeping track of student jobs - and changing them. This year, I decided to take a different approach: Teams or squads for jobs. There are four teams: Teacher assistant, Environment, Communication, and Technology. I put job responsibilities on each team sheet and laminated them. So far, I've had reluctance to volunteer in some classes. It's odd - it seems that there are either a lot of volunteers or none. |
Having a positive relationship with my students is of the utmost importance for me. Establishing and developing a positive relationship is the best way to be proactive with discipline issues. I make every attempt for students to feel important and valued in class - by recognizing their birthdays, by respecting if they don't want us to sing to them, by asking for input when appropriate, by trying my best to frame my words positively. There are too many to list! I don't know how I can quantify the quality of these relationships. Online learning has only been as successful for me as it has been because I already have a relationship with the students. How can people make such strong connections without having the human contact? Maybe I would feel differently if I wouldn't have such a large number of students scheduled at once.
Can Do Statements & Classroom Objectives
Can-Do Statements by proficiency level are posted in the classroom.
We refer to these often so that students know exactly what are reasonable expectations for them.
Learning goals and upcoming due dates are posted on the front chalkboard.
We refer to these often so that students know exactly what are reasonable expectations for them.
Learning goals and upcoming due dates are posted on the front chalkboard.
Rules & Procedures
I revamped my expectations a bit this year as well as my slideshow. I am able to make the expectations clear from the beginning of the year and can access them easily when we need retraining.
Remote Learning Expectations - April 2020
Beginning of Class Routines
I have a music video playing when students enter class. I play the same video for about one cycle.
After I see that most of the class is there (or after the video), we go through the following slides:
After I see that most of the class is there (or after the video), we go through the following slides:
"Los Guapos" dancing & singing at the beginning of each class
Class Instagram Feed
This has been a very motivating tool for the students (and a great way to publicize great things that we're doing in class). It also serves as a Selfie Brain Break.
Routines, not rigidity, are extremely important - to students and to me. It makes the classroom a less stressful place for everyone because we all know what to expect. A few years ago, I "branded" of the Todo es Posible motto and logo. I work to be careful of providing structure without being too rigid. The time spent teaching (and revisiting) the procedures is DEFINITELY worth the time saved in the long run!
Signing Out a Book from the Classroom Library
Student Supplies & Turn In Bin
Attention-Getters & Transitions Between Activities
La Llama Callada (The Silent Llama) - a twist on the school-wide hand raising signal to be quiet
"Hay un Cuento" song,
Clean Up song - new in 2019-20 based on students' input from last year
La Llama Callada (The Silent Llama) - a twist on the school-wide hand raising signal to be quiet
"Hay un Cuento" song,
Clean Up song - new in 2019-20 based on students' input from last year
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Procedures for Non-Instructional Tasks
These are questions or procedures that are frequently asked (and were driving me crazy). I decided to create templates and laminate them. They're also velcroed so that I can carry around an item as a visual cue for students. These items include: My Apple TV ID, email address, class Instagram account, how to ask to go to the bathroom and to get a drink, options of what to do when they're finished, and 2 emojis maximum when signing into a game.
I made some changes this year. I got rid of the student jobs to relieve my stress level. They were too cumbersome for me to manage, and I kept forgetting to change them. A few years ago, I decided AGAINST a complex check out system for books in my classroom library. Admittedly, over time I have abandoned certain non-instructional management strategies because they were too tedious to manage. Thus, the selfie with the book was created. Students love taking selfies, and it is EXTREMELY easy for me to manage. Next, I've been relying on posting my rules and procedures using canvases or other visuals. I've noticed that having a tangible, visual reminder alleviates a great deal of confusion - which is a sanity saver for me.
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Rewarding the first student logged into an online game with a sticker
ACHIEVE and Zones of Regulation
Documentation on eSchool Plus
Evolution of a Behavior Plan
When I think about how my management of student behavior has changed over the years, I cringe at things that I used to do. Once I became more comfortable in my own skin as a teacher, I was able to let go of negativity and could focus on positive relationships. Positivity is contagious as are
respect, integrity, humility, and understanding. In addition, I developed better skills in defining, teaching, and reviewing expected behaviors. Because of the mutual trust and respect we have, students have gone so far as to police each others' behavior - or behavior that I may have missed. I also realize that students crave structure but also need to be recognized for doing the right thing. Putting a positive spin on what could have been a negative situation was the right thing to do. |
Deskless & Flexible Seating
2019-20
The seating has evolved based on the sheer number of students, their needs and the types of activities that I like to do. I had to resort to "stadium seating". Two sides of the room have 2 rows of 6 seats with higher stools in the back rows. The third side has 6 chairs. This allows me to fit A LOT of students safely. I also received some fidget bands for 12 seats.
I still think that it's important to keep some desks since there are some students who "must" have a desk. I brought in my old kitchen table (pub height), some stools, my childhood coffee table and end tables. I also have many cushions and a yoga mat for students' use. I had to add some additional stools because of normal "wear and tear" as well as their popularity. I have noticed that many more students have been gravitating toward cushioned chairs or the floor.
Why?
Why do we "individualize" our instruction but not classrooms to meet students' needs? Why do our seating arrangements look more or less the same as they did when I was in middle school in the mid-1980s (and even for years before that)? It seemed very paradoxical to me. Several years ago, I asked 6th grade students for input. If they could design the space, what would they want? How would it flow? What was already working in our space, and what needed to improve? As a result, a 6th grader that year made a spec drawing of how she and her classmates envisioned the learning space.
During that summer, I researched deskless classrooms and flexible seating. After lots of reading and soul-searching, I decided that, although it would be additional work for me, flexible seating would be the best fit for my students.
On the October 2017 district conference day, Amy Allen and I presented about flexible seating. In the slide show, I have evidence of the evolution of the seating in my classroom.
The seating has evolved based on the sheer number of students, their needs and the types of activities that I like to do. I had to resort to "stadium seating". Two sides of the room have 2 rows of 6 seats with higher stools in the back rows. The third side has 6 chairs. This allows me to fit A LOT of students safely. I also received some fidget bands for 12 seats.
I still think that it's important to keep some desks since there are some students who "must" have a desk. I brought in my old kitchen table (pub height), some stools, my childhood coffee table and end tables. I also have many cushions and a yoga mat for students' use. I had to add some additional stools because of normal "wear and tear" as well as their popularity. I have noticed that many more students have been gravitating toward cushioned chairs or the floor.
Why?
Why do we "individualize" our instruction but not classrooms to meet students' needs? Why do our seating arrangements look more or less the same as they did when I was in middle school in the mid-1980s (and even for years before that)? It seemed very paradoxical to me. Several years ago, I asked 6th grade students for input. If they could design the space, what would they want? How would it flow? What was already working in our space, and what needed to improve? As a result, a 6th grader that year made a spec drawing of how she and her classmates envisioned the learning space.
During that summer, I researched deskless classrooms and flexible seating. After lots of reading and soul-searching, I decided that, although it would be additional work for me, flexible seating would be the best fit for my students.
On the October 2017 district conference day, Amy Allen and I presented about flexible seating. In the slide show, I have evidence of the evolution of the seating in my classroom.
I love how the arrangement has evolved in my classroom, and I cannot wait to see what possibilities the future holds.
I took a big risk in getting rid of my teacher desk, and I don't miss it at all. I also got rid of my filing cabinets since most of my files and materials are digital. Looking at how to make the classroom an even more student-centered learning space, I continue to pare down the amount of furniture. We move seats as we want and/ or need. I'm excited to have such a flexible, open space for student learning!
I took a big risk in getting rid of my teacher desk, and I don't miss it at all. I also got rid of my filing cabinets since most of my files and materials are digital. Looking at how to make the classroom an even more student-centered learning space, I continue to pare down the amount of furniture. We move seats as we want and/ or need. I'm excited to have such a flexible, open space for student learning!