Inspiring Stamina During the Workshop

Last year, I felt like my job as a first grade teacher was to take kiddies who were needy kindergartners and turn them into independent students, ready to work hard in second grade.  The jump between the kindergarten and first grade standards alone...enough said.  And the curriculum is demanding:  I certainly don't remember writing a how-to book or an all about book on an "expert" topic for 20 to 30 minutes each day.  I remember practicing my spelling words on ice cream paper and the Superkids.

So how do we get these five, six, and seven year-olds to work so hard for an extended period of time?  I think that's a question that we will forever be answering, but I know my colleagues and I would try some nifty tricks to motivate students to remain focused for an extended period of time.

Courtesy of http://www.wpclipart.com

Contest :)

So, I'm posting about this very cool contest, hoping that you'll be a lucky winner (or I'll be a lucky winner...hehe).  I love well-made, purposeful graphic organizers, and here is a book full of them!  Definitely check out Erica Bohrer's blog to see what it's all about.  And while you're there, peruse her   posts about wonderful classroom activities and cool TpT products.

Erica Bohrer's Book Give Away Contest

Some funnies...

One of the best parts of teaching is the things that kids say.  I think that's what keeps me teaching some days:  those quotables that you could not make up even if you tried.  Nope...only children manage to create such gems as this one:

Scenario:  Boy is wandering the hallway.  Could be taking the long way to the bathroom or could actually be looking for something.

Me to the lost boy in the hallway:  Lost boy, where are you going?

Lost boy:  I'm looking for the LDTV teacher (side note:  the correct acronym is LDTC {Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant}.

Me (trying to keep serious...after all, he was on a mission):  Well, I haven't seen the LDTV teacher (I couldn't help but repeat what he said), but let me help you.

I really do think that LDTV does sound so much better than LDTC.

Determining the author's purpose: What is the author trying to teach us?

Sooooooo...my little darlings are having a difficult time figuring out why the author wrote the book, and if he's trying to teach us a lesson.   Planning is rough when you only have twenty minute increments to teach such a difficult concept, and for these students, I really have to model and break down the thinking process.  So....here goes...gulp...

I first made an anchor chart with the direct teaching point that authors write for a reason:

Spreading the word...

I love me a good teacher sale.  Seriously.  I love going to Lakeshore and finding a discounted treasure.  Or looking through the Target or Michaels dollar bins for things that are now less than a dollar.  Score.  Anyway, some fabulous teachers are having a sale on one spectacular resource at Teachers Pay Teachers from Thursday until Saturday.  Check out the list of sale items at Teacher 2 Teacher.  And come back every Thursday to check out the latest deals!

So now a word from our sponsors...

Setting:  Back table, strategy group, giving directions, getting the natives students to settle down.
Me:  Sometimes we have to do things we don't like.
Boy:  Yeah, like take a bath...last night.
Me:  Yeah....(turned a little bit so he wouldn't see me chuckle)

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Setting:  Classroom, teacher giving directions for a project

Teacher:  So, if you lose any of these pieces, c'est la vie (say la vee)

Students, in a chorus:  La vee

Me, laughing hysterically, and the students confused as to what the joke was...

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Setting:  Classroom, wanting to get started on small group lesson

Boy:  Can I get a drink?

Me:  Very quickly.

Boy:  Yeah, my throat is feeling a little rusty.

We now return for your regularly scheduled programming....

MLK Jr. Quote and Black History Month Journal

As we enjoy the day off, we're also probably lesson planning about some additional activities that we could do this week that relate to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  (you know how teachers get all this "vacation" time...)  I enjoy reading to the children the plethora of award-winning picture book biographies as well as the never-to-be-forgotten "I have a dream" speech; I also wanted my students to appreciate some of his other quotes.  So the one that I found is a simple yet very tangible saying, applicable for young kids and for adults:  “The time is always right to do what is right.”