Just wanted to share a couple GREAT ideas!
On Constitution Day we learned about the Constitution, wrote our own (as a class), signed it, and made little self portraits to display by it. Turned out pretty cool!
I believe physical activity is so important for kids. Research provides a very strong link between physical activity and positive academic performance... (if you want to know more about that, I actually wrote my thesis on it last year and condensed all the most interesting parts into a short little document and added in a bunch of practical fun ways for teachers to get kids moving in the classroom HERE!). I teach half day K this year so we're only together a brief time, but I still make sure they get 15 minutes of "recess" because I have always learned "play is children's work!" Anyway- we like to get outside if whether permits, but when we're stuck inside on rainy days, we get out the trampoline and they love bouncing away! It's the most popular thing! You're probably saying- I don't have a trampoline- but just tuck this idea away and keep your eyes out for one and you'll find it ... I found this one at a garage sale for $3! THREE DOLLARS! I let them wear their shoes (to keep it simple) and they each gets 1 minute turn to bounce their little hearts out.
Do you have your emergency sub plans set? Want to get a week's worth done just in the time it takes to make some copies??? My BEST SELLER on TPT is a wonderful week's worth of sub plans... do yourself a favor and check it out! I put all mine together last week (see the picture below for some of them, all bundled up and ready to roll) and wow- it was so simple and such a relief to know that if I have a kid get sick in the night (I have 3 little ones so it totally happens), or if I'm suddenly not well, or even if I have a planned absence and don't have time or energy to make up something fabulous, the last thing I have to stress over is sub plans!! I have a binder that explains the procedures and basic schedule of my room and then these plans give the sub and students plenty of quality, meaningful, fun stuff to work on! I feel SET for the entire year!
Listen to what other teachers are saying, just in the past couple weeks about these:
"FINALLY!!!! THIS IS FANTASTIC!!!"
"A GREAT way to work smarter not harder!!! Easiest emergency sub plans ever!!!!"
"As a parent of young kids, it is so nice to know I have amazing sub plans set up in case I need to be out. What a huge time saver. Thank you!!"
"Very thorough plans. I love that I can simply print and copy and I'm ready for a sub. I appreciate all the hard work that shines through this resource."
This zipped file will provide you with 5 entire day's worth of projects and educational activities that you can easily leave for a sub. These 5 days could be consecutive OR spread across the entire school year... it's just nice to have some activities laid out and ready to go if and when those last minute emergencies or sick days pop up. I always keep a set of Super Speedy Sub Plans in a folder on my desk all ready to go... just in case! It's a huge stress-reducer!
Plans are based around 4 popular children's books you probably have in your classroom library or you could easily find in your school library:
1. The Mitten by Jan Brett
2. Pinkalicious by Elizabeth & Victoria Kann (2 days worth!)
3. Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr.
4. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
Everything is appealing, VERY clearly explained, and spans across many subjects/skills: math, reading, writing, health, listening, art, teamwork, class books, and even games just for fun!
I've personally used all of these in my all-day K classroom with subs and they've been a huge hit! I taught 1st grade for 9 years and know these would transfer well to 1st grade, too.
Okay, one more great idea worth sharing! I got this from some super experienced pre-school teachers who I was teaching VBS with over the summer and I thought "Wow! I can't believe I never thought of this!" So here ya go! Any time kids were cutting, they put ice cream buckets in the center of the table for them to drop their scraps in! No excuses for not cleaning up and no need to walk all around the room. It's a LITTLE thing (like I never thought having kids simply walk to the recoiling bin was a big deal) but it's actually really convenient and saves some time!
So far, I've just been using some little plastic containers and we call them the "mini recoiling bins." Kids love it... works like a charm!
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| one of our "mini recycling bins" |
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