The Things I've Learned So Far...

Day 1:
It is ok to correct sentences like "we is in August"
Most of my students can count well by ones, some by fives. All but 2 know all of their letters and sounds (happy surprise)

Day 2:
Students who do not have their planner signed have to stand on the "line" during recess (which is 15 minutes). In all of our classes at UC they stress the importance of physical exercise and giving children the opportunity to get some energy out. So my immediate reaction is I don't like to take away their recess time. But I discovered quickly that taking away recess is just about the only thing that makes them upset and get things done. So where is the line between giving them time to blow off steam and teaching them about responsibility and consequences??

In the staff lunch room a kindergarten teacher told a first grade teacher that they shouldn't call home regarding a particular student. Confused I asked "wait why". She responded with "the last time i called home the mom came to my classroom, pulled her belt off, and said "i told you if i ever got a call i would whoop you in front of your friends" as she proceeds to hit the child in the back with her belt. THAT SHIT REALLY HAPPENS?!?!

Day 3:
Read the book "Ish" by Peter Reynolds. It is about a boy who doesnt like his drawings but his sister likes them because they look "ish"ish. For example his vase looks "vasish". We talked about how it was ok if their drawings and spelling was "ish"ly done. Having read this book came in handy when we had several students erasing every other letter or pictures because it wasnt perfect!

Question: Is it bad to compare children to each other? The textbook answer- Yes. In reality... I dont know. It is so easy to say "i like how ____ is doing ___". Children tend to respond and it helps model good behavior. But at the same time i feel like it is always the same children being compared to each other.

Day 5:
The work we had planned for math was finished way faster than expected! Definitely important for teachers to have a backup plan!

At our school you walk 2 squares from the wall, eyes forward, with your arms crossed. In the beginning this sounded very ridged and a little silly, until I experienced walking in the halls with multiple first grade classes! It is a great management technique! Today, I had a child tell the teacher no to walking in line in the hallway. She gave him a warning, then counted to three, and he completely ignored her! She took him out of line and he tried to pull out of her arm. When they got back to the classroom she talked to him out in the hall. He said he knew he was wrong and didn't want her to call home. When the teacher asked why not he replied with "cause my dad will be mad and whoop me"- (how the heck am I supposed to respond to that???)


It was an eye opening first week!

-Miss. Hansen