Elementary Tales

TAH-DAH!!  Welcome to my very first link-up courtesy of Mrs. Bainbridge's Class .  (I feel silly saying linky, I'm new to this blogging stuff.  Give me time) ;) So here's my story... I am something of a pro when it comes to packing up my room.  At my old district, of the 6 years I spent teaching I've had to pack up and move everything out of my room about 6 times.  Yikes!  Once, I moved rooms during the school year, with the kids in the room, in the middle of the day, given a 3 days notice (not complaining, It was a move for the better ;)).  So yeah, I got this under control. This will be my first year in a new district, I cannot wait to get my junk out of the attic.  (That would be my ENTIRE classroom)!! Pile one consists of boxes I've been through this summer.  Nice and organized. The second and much larger pile is everything else. Who knows what I have back there!  It's been a whole year since I've been in a classroom :( Everything

Every summer I like to read  How to be an Effective Teacher the First Days of School  by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong.  It's a tradition.  It also helps me to start the year organized, inspired, and confident.  Here are my notes from each unit, plus additional information from internet searches, Pinterest, etc. that I found useful and actually do/use in my classroom from year to year. I have read this book cover-to-cover at least 6 times! Must read for new teachers. Unit A helps you to understand why you are teaching in the first place. 1.  Why you need to succeed on the first days of school: Consistency is key:  this creates a safe environment for students that is also predictable and nurturing Come up with a good classroom management plan and stick to it A sample classroom management plan from  Smart Classroom Management A sample  powerpoint  presentation A sample  2nd grade plan