Back to School

Hello strangers!

Boy, have I missed you all.

So, ya'll know better than anyone how crazy busy the first few weeks of school can be.

Well, pile that back to school busyness on top of a new grade level, new standards, new daily requirements, NO curriculum, AND no training for all of this and you have one VETERAN teacher in survival mode.

Needless to say, I just haven't had any spare time to blog, read blogs, and enjoy the loveliness that is the bloggy community.

 I am super excited for this three day weekend. I need time to breathe!

It's a heart attack or an aneurism. One of them is bound to happen. I kid. (not really,ha!)

The first ten days of school have come and gone and we have been very productive.

I am a reading teacher for 1st graders and Kindergartners now.

 I have my Kinders in the morning for an hour and forty five minutes, and I have my Firsties for homeroom and in the afternoon for two hours.

This means my Reading Workshop time needs to be balanced and time on task is imperative.

The powers that be expect a well-oiled machine by now, but for me, right now it's all about the basics. Rules, routines, social skills, and learning how to be a student and a friend. 

All of this is super important in any classroom, but I feel it to be especially important for our class because a third of the students are special needs kids. Tolerance, acceptance, and patience, three things we are all working on!

Already, I have had to be very stern with some of my students who haven't been as kind and patient to my special needs students. I am hoping this behavior is curbed now and not something I have to address all year long. Anyone have any good ideas, lessons, or links on this topic?

My kinders are so stinkin' cute. They are little sponges and pick up on every little thing (at least, some of them do...) that I do. So, I have amped up my dramatic side for these guys and they eat it up! I feel like Mrs. Frizzle.

As you may know, I have been using the Daily 5 management system with my first graders for many years now and I just love it.

This year is no different, except, I am trying it with my kindergartners, too. 

My first graders are up to 10 minutes on Read to Self and Work on Writing and the kinders are up to 4 minutes on just Read to Self. It's a work in progress, folks.

Here are a few pictures of our practice time:

Kinders

They LOVE Pete the Cat!

Firsties

On a side note: 

I am so thrilled to have purchased Kim Adsit's Unit 1 for Readers Workshop.

I really had no clue what to do with the kinders. I wasn't sure what was too easy, too hard, or too soon. Her unit is helping me gage where my k's are and how to help them learn how to be life long Book Lovers. I am sooooo thankful for this unit!

On the job training, I tell ya!

Not too much to share for now, but I'm working on it.

I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

and

Go Gators!