first grade bullying

Yikes!

Ok, I have mentioned before that I have a crazy, rambunctious, errrr, SPIRITED class, right?

Well, one of the problems with this sweet bunch, is they can be not so sweet.  Downright stinkers sometimes!

I know, they're 6.  Or 7.  And I'm taller than ALL of them.  But they aren't bullying me.  They bully each other.

Now, in any normal class, you can expect to have that one squirrely little guy or gal that just doesn't quite know how to express themself nicely.  But, MAN-oh-MAN!  I have at least 4-5 of them at any one time.

Have I failed them as a teacher?  I have positive reward system after positive reward system.  I make flexibility my middle name if something doesn't work.  aye-aye-aye!  I am at a loss for this bunch.  I need a drastic makeover.

Like, extreme makeover, classroom edition.  YEP.

So tomorrow we'll go in and get back to basics.  We'll start with my favorite:  "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?"

I'm thinking every morning we'll be reading a 'how to treat people right' book and journaling and sharing.  I may catch some flak from my darling parents who want me to push these smart little bunnies to invent the next penecillin, this year.  But, if even one kid gets teased a bit less for my efforts, it'll be worth it in the end.Get a copy of my literature response sheet to go with it here :)

Review week(s) and Laura Numeroff

My firsties have finished a Theme!  Theme 4 to be exact.  We use Harcourt Trophies - I have a love/hate relationship with it right now.  An I am sooooooo excited, because now we get to have REVIEW WEEK!

I like really like love LOVE review week.  We get to go over ALL of the spelling words from the whole last theme, 8 weeks.  This is always so interesting to me because my kids almost always get ALL 100%s on their weekly 10 word tests.  But then, sneaky Mr. Review week comes along, and we have the kids practice with ALL of the words they already previously had, and they get closer to a 60% average.  What, the?????  But that's not what I love, in fact, I totally HATE that they don't do so good on the test.  I love review week because.....

REVIEW WEEK = AUTHOR STUDY = all kinds of fun stuff I never get to do because I don't have time

This week, we are going to use a Laura Numeroff Circle Story Unit from Made for First Grade.  See that here:
Laura Numeroff Circle Story Unit

So cute!  It has many fun centers (math & Language Arts) and writing activities.

I will get to pull my little firsties to work in a small group with me, which I hardly ever get to do, while the rest of 'em are working on these fun activities.

We have a short student week because of Parent-Teacher conferences (groan) on Friday and Monday.  And just in time, I have mostly lost my voice.  Perfect time to have to talk for hours and hours straight, right?

Oh, by the way, did you know I am totally WHOLE BRAIN GUNG-HO these days?  Separate blog.....  Check that out here:
My Whole Brain Teaching Blog