Desks In The Classroom

Good morning!

I'm trying to post more often so here I am! 2nd post of 2015!

I want to talk about desk arrangements in your classroom. My room is a bungalow with a promethean board. Additionally, I teach deaf/hard-of-hearing students, with some general education students coming in for 1/2 of the day. Also, we have speech come in as well as our para-professional do small work. Therefore, the desks must be fashioned to face forward and still be flexible with small groups.

In Deaf Ed, it is very common to have a U-shape desk arrangement. However, when you toss in general ed, I found this to be a bit difficult. I asked around and decided this is what works for me!

[My lovely significant other was kind enough to come and move all the desks for me.]

[Please excuse the depressing looking room. We have state testing]

Literacy

 This is the literacy corner of our room. I use this table for my DHH students. I have the sentence strips ready to go as well as the "I Can" statements posted. The students all face me so we are focused on the task at hand.

The Front of the Classroom

 This is the view of the entire classroom from the literacy center. I have twin-desks facing in a  U-Shape. I use these desks only when General Education students are here or when my DHH students need space.

Also, the student's shelf that is under the desk is actually facing the other way. This way, I don't have students making messy desks, playing with this in their desk, nor being off task. Plus, it makes cleaning up the classroom much easier when the students don't have a messy desk at all!

 Front & Center

Here is the very front of the room. Again, I like to have the DHH students sit here. This is especially important when we use the Smart Board. Additionally, the kid I need to watch carefully always has a seat near me :)

 Math

Last but not least, we have our math table. Our Para-professional uses this circle-table for her small group work. Additionally, this works for small group mathematics games.

That's all for desks today! My next post will include how I control pencils. Yes, even in 4th/5th grade we have a pencil problem.

Setting up desks to where each student is successful takes trial and error. However, taking the time to find the right match is well worth it!

Crystal The Teacher

Organizing Your Classroom

Good morning!

It has been too long since I have written here. So much has happened but I shall not bore you with that!

I wanted to talk about the importance of setting up the classroom environment. Yes, behavior management is key. However, you cannot control your kiddos with chaos around.

I find that organizing the classroom with defined areas has made a huge difference. Yes this might not be the most innovative news. Sometimes, you need an outsiders perspective to make that "ah-ha!" moment happen.

Our principal did a walk around to each classroom to make suggestions. With her new eyes, I was able to make small changes that have profoundly changed the flow and energy in my classroom.

Some veteran teachers feel that when a principal comes and asks to make some changes that its a bad thing. As teachers, we need to remember that suggestions do not mean we are failing as teachers. It simply is a way to freshen up and give new life to our rooms. After all, we spend so much time in our own room that we become accustomed to how to looks!

Literacy

Here is our Literacy Center. I have cork board to easily display kids' work. I also have my Common Core "I Can" statements. [I have a 4th/5th Combo so I have 2 statements up]

Here is our reading area with our Literacy notebooks and writing prompts. I display their work so they know others will read it! They have to try their best!

Math

Another area I wanted to share was our Math Corner. Whiteboard and the wall above it is where I hang the anchor charts WITH the "I Can" underneath it. Another teacher gave me that idea and our principal LOVED it!

We also have a bookcase with our math materials. It includes manipulatives, the textbooks, and the students' math notebook. I love having everything together. It makes it so easy to clean up!





That's all for now! My next post, I will share the classroom arrangement! I love the way the tables are set up!

Sincerely,

Crystal The Teacher

The Only Rules You'll Ever Need

Everyone remembers the classroom teacher with a million rules posted on their wall:

No gum

No food or drink

Stay in your seat

Raise your hand

Listen to the speaker

Use indoor voices

No voices!

I could go on.

For a student with special needs, these are just too many rules. For a student who is a smart aleck, these rules don't cover enough!

How Do I Pick The Rules?

When creating a set of rules, you must keep these two principles in mind:

1. Rules need to cover every aspect of the day

2. Rules need to say WHAT to do

What Rules Cover Everything?

Through out my time working with students [elementary and middle school], I have found that these 4 little rules cover everything [and I mean everything!].

Respect Rules [The Only Rules You'll Ever Need]

1. Respect Yourself

2. Respect Others

3. Respect Materials

4. Take Responsibility for Your Actions

That's it! 

How Do I Make The Rules Work?

Simple: Show and Tell

• Everyday, start your day off by reciting the rules as a group. I like to do a "3, 2, 1...ACTION" to make things fun. 
• After reciting the rules together, ask a student to answer the following: "What is one way you can follow a Respect Rule WITHOUT saying 'no, don't' ?". This way, students know what to do rather than what NOT to do!
• When redirecting students, bring it back to the Respect Rules: "Which Respect Rule were you not following?" If you are consistent with reciting the rules and using the Respect Rules as your script, you'll have students who understand your expectations.

 

If you don't set the expectations, kids won't know how meet them.

 

-Crystal

Rick Morris: Classroom Magician!

Rick Morris: New Management 

Who is Rick Morris?

Rick Morris is a behavioral consultant for classroom management. I had the pleasure of attending one of his trainings when I worked in Chula Vista. Rick's tagline "fair, firm, consistent"is a behavior management technique I live by everyday. Be it in the classroom, camp, or after-school setting, having that mantra will help keep you in control.

My 2 favorite technique from Rick: 

1. Sign Language Posters---Nothing is more annoying than being in the middle of a lesson and a kid raises their hand & you think "Yes! Its an important question!". Little do you know, its really a question of "When do we clean up?". Say goodbye to those problems! Using sign language in the classroom is perfect for any age/grade; even if you don't know any sign language. Rick Morris simplifies communication by using signs for students. By showing your students different signs for common questions/sayings such as: 'I have a questions', 'I need the restroom', 'I need a pencil', 'I have a comment'. Since I'm going into Deaf Education, I will be using ASL everyday. Yet, I have to say that even with hearing students, they easily learn the signs! Even my after-school leaders [who don't know ASL] use the signs! Try it and it'll do wonders!

2. The Choices Program--This is hands-down the best "write up" for students. Now, I am a firm believer in preventative behavioral techniques. However, there are times where a student needs to realize that their misbehavior is unacceptable and their parents need to be informed. This form works wonders in and outside of the classroom. Why? It causes the student to self-evaluate their behavior and makes them realize that their behavior is a choice!

[Here is a sample from Rick Morris: You can get the template off his website for free!]

Click here for his awesome website!

Rick Morris has a plethora of books and tips available at his website! Everything he teaches is adaptable for any education environment. If you ever have the chance, take his workshop. It's worth every penny.


-Crystal



P.S.
Sorry I haven't posted: grad school & my promotion at work has got my schedule jam packed! I'll try to blog more often.

Virtual Training Binder

Who am I?

My name is Crystal.

 I am 24 years old and live in south San Diego. 

Instead of rambling about each educational position I've held, I'll cut to the chase:

For 2 years, I worked for the GREATEST after-school enrichment program in Chula Vista, CA. This program taught me everything I know about behavior management, professionalism, and running an engaged, interactive, and dynamic program. Unfortunately, our program was transferred to another vendor and all of our staff were let go. 

What do I have to share?

I still have my training binder and other resources from my old job in Chula Vista. That wonderful piece of plastic holds a plethora of information that I feel needs to be shared with any educator who is searching for an effective approach to education and behavior management. 

I plan to share:

1.    Behavior Techniques

2.    Incentives Ideas

3.    Creating a Camp Atmosphere

4.    Teaching Respect

5.    Educational “Sponges”

6.    Links to great educator’s websites

7.    Links to great innovator’s websites

And much more…

Why share?

Think of this blog as a virtual training binder: Information to be carried with you along your career. No matter how many years you’ve been in education, there is always room for improvement.

I’ve learned that the best method to thank your previous boss, teacher, mentor, or supervisor is to “pay it forward”: share what they’ve taught you so other children may have a similar experience.

-Crystal