Getting Help

My I.C finally decided to let me borrow the First Grade teacher's mentor.  So I finally have some experienced wonderful woman to help me figure out my life!  Yes!

We have been working on ways to refine procedures and helping me to find a way to balance my voice level and discipline procedures.  As a teacher, you have to be able to have eyes all over your head.  You are teaching a whole group while watching individual students, coaching, managing naughty kids, keeping track of your materials, where you are in your lesson, answering questions, giving out tickets, taking away class points, giving class points, staying happy and staying firm.  I sometimes struggle to notice and take care of specific problems because I get so involved in my teaching.
The key, I've found, is to keep things very subtle.  When you have to stop teaching to fix a behavior problem it is distracting to you and the rest of your class.  I am trying to use quick one word warnings, stern looks and proximity.
I need to be more firm, with out being 'mean' which is exactly what I'm afraid of becoming.  I have yet to actually send a kid out of the classroom, mostly because I just forget to enforce it.  When in reality sending a kid out for a few minutes would fix so many problems.  So I'm working on that.

I finally was able to put in a few desks today.  We were only able to scrounge up six.  I stuck some of my harder kids in them, so they can better keep their hands and feet to themselves.  Now all the kids are jealous and want one.  I told them we're working on it.

I am trying to find some great ideas for literature centers.  Currently I have a writing center where they can choose from three prompts, with instructions on how and what to write.  I have a word work center for them to practice spelling and vocabulary words.  I'm using laminated sentence strips, whiteboards and magnetic alphabet letters.  Reading center, where they can choose a book and fill out a reading response form.  At lastly a teacher table where my staff assistant works with small groups.   Rotating is tricky and messy.  I'm debating on using the Daily 5 program.  I'll keep you updated.  Any advice?

My mentor is helping me make my room more inviting.  I now have a pine tree in my reading center!

I am so happy to have help- someone to talk things over with, who has actually seen me teach!

The kids are still obnoxious.  I started Utah Studies with a group of 30 kids today... yikes!!!

Getting better, learning more, getting help.  Keep Swimming!!!