On 11/01/09, Sara wrote:
> Likely a book could be written about this - you've got me thinking.
> What if someone asked - give me five quick tips to actually use in
> my daily teaching that would make the school day brighter and
> better for everybody? Not philosophical guidelines but actual
> things to do....
>
> Hmm. I'd say - start each day off with something special. I try to
> make my five minutes of homeroom special for them - a good start -
> a bright and happy start- to the day. ( one day a student said as
> he left homeroom (sighing) "well, homeroom's over and I don't have
> her class today so the rest of the day is downhill from here."
>
> A philosophical guideline would be to have a sense of humor, be
> ready to laugh. Children are funny! They say funny things, they do
> funny things. Let yourself laugh - it's good for you and it's good
> for them. Science tells us now that laughter is healthy, even
> healing and positively affects brain chemistry.
>
> But we're talking about actual things to do - start the day with
> something bright. Of course you have to do the pledge first and/ or
> get attendance out of the way but then - a word of the day? or "new
> thought for the day" and that could be anything. "I'm thinking
> today is the middle of the month - we're halfway through. What a
> great job you're doing! That's my thought today."
>
> Preschoolers do circle time to start the day - some do brief 'class
> meetings'. Some schools do 'affirmation time' - that's a powerful
> work and a powerful concept. Maybe say "I need three people to
> share something positive - always positive - of something good that
> happened yesterday. Not that we got a new toy - let's not talk
> about material things - but something that made life feel good."
>
> Let three people share everyday - though choosing the three would
> be hard but yet possible.
>
> But that's only 1 of the 5 I promised you. 2 - always finish
> Fridays on a fun note - set aside the last 20 minutes of Friday
> afternoon for a fun learning game. End the week on such a note.
> (never give homework on weekends if you give homework)
>
> 3. Is your computer connected to a projector in your ceiling? Such
> a device is worth paying for yourself - I show my kids so Many
> great things. We talk about Denmark - I call up Denmark up on my
> computer attached to the ceiling projector and shine it on the
> white board.
>
> 4. Or get a television with a DVD player - again worth paying for
> yourself, trust me. Rent DVDs for free from the library and show
> clips - not full length anything but just illustrative clips. Their
> attention spans are short anyway but five minutes of watching
> something Makes their day and it's valid learning too. Watch five
> minutes of the penguins when studying flight in science - every
> single day I have visuals to go along with what we're doing all
> rented for free.
>
> 5. Break it up - movement is important. "we're restless, everybody
> up. It's not Simon Says, It's Miss Smith says - Miss Smith says
> hands up, etc. etc. Don't be afraid to throw five minutes of
> physical exercise into the morning. If they have trouble settling
> afterwards, point that out to them - we can only do these things if
> you can get yourselves back in gear.
>>>
> 6. Read aloud every day - science supports this. 10 minutes of read
> aloud - if you're a good expressive reader (not every teacher is).
>
> Music is great. Story telling is great- true stories, fairy
> stories - the storyteller has an honored place in human history.
>
> Develop a bag of tricks. Here's one. A 'round robin story'. Ask a
> child to say a sentence. Any (appropriate) sentence. "I went to the
> store." Write it on the board. Now tell them it's a round robin
> story. Who's got the next sentence - that makes sense. Take a
> sentence from every child who volunteers - kids Love it.
>
> Whisper down the lane game - right before recess play a quick game
> like that to 'warm up' for recess - they leave for recess already
> having been transitioned to a happy feeling and they don't go wild
> on the playground trying to transition themselves. They leave for
> recess feeling like a community.
>
> You've really got me thinking. We end our summer school day by
> asking for jokes - (appropriate of course) Kids love to come up and
> tell a joke for the class. It's good public speaking experience and
> again it sets a positive tone. Sending kids off each day with a
> shared experience - "Best thing that happened today in school" -
> let three kids share. Or one kid.
>
> I hope you'll post back and let us know how it goes and hope you'll
> forgive the length of this post!
>>>> -I do feel the same way. Here are my questions. What are some
>> easier things to start with to learn more effectivly in second
>> grade? What should I start doing right away? What are some
>> little tricks I can use? I have used music. This seems to work
>> well. What are some ways I can jazz up lessons until I become
>> better at my trade? Besides telling stories, life experiences,
>> etc...

Wonderful! Thank you for the ideas! I just needed something different.
Love it :)
>>
>>

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