I'm a first-year university student in Ontario, and I am confused about which program to do. The regular bachelor's degree is a three-year program (for English), and the Honours Bachelor is four years. What are the benefits of doing Honours (four years), and is anyone a first-grade teacher with a regular bachelor?
Join a group like 40 hr. workweek created by Angela Watson. It's a great group with a lot of timesaving materials that will come in handy - they could help you prioritize your time and your focus. There are others in the group that will confirm that we all experience that, and we can get through the anxiety.
I personally work hard to remember who I am working for each day - why I went to "Teacher School", why I get up and leave my own children each day, etc. I am there for the students. I keep my complete focus on them - what anyone else says is none of my concern. I cannot be bothered when little Timmy needs academic support. I don't get any recognition from my colleagues or admin staff at all - however, I'm not there for them. Our students are in such need - and they can be so appreciative when they discover and learn. Give yourself breathing space during your Winter Break. Take Care.
I feel the same way every day I go to work. My boss is a micromanager and makes my life miserable! Our other administrators are equally as horrible or useless! It's my 18th year and she's made the last 4 years Hell for me. I love my students but hate who I work for!!
Hello, first grade teachers! What approach are you using in teaching your pupils how to read? Also, how do you motivate your pupils to read and respond and respond to what they read?
Have you considered a FREE Skye Author Visit that will galvanize your kiddos, and have them keen to read and write. I am Margot Finke, the author or 16 books for children, and I have taken my Magic Carpet of Books (via Skype) into classrooms all over America-and overseas. I love to HOOK Kids on Reading! I offer coloring sheets, writing help, and some freeby books--as well as reading from my own books. Meeting a real life author can uncover the mystery of how books are written and where imagination comes from.
I have started using DEAR - Drop Everything And Read in my classroom from second term this year. While I' am marking the roll and carrying on with the morning routine, my students get ten minutes to read any book they wish to read. This has been quite effective in building students' interest in reading. They also get turns and share their book reviews during speaking and listening times.
I also have lists of camera words on the word wall, which the students get to practice everyday. This has also helped my students to improve their reading skills.
students also benefit from the guided reading session as well. While all the other students are in their reading groups doing their literacy group activities and independent reading, I sit with a group and hear them reading which provides feedback on their progress in reading.
One of the most important articles you will read during this school year, this timeless and popular piece is better read now than later. (Click below to access the article.)
This is my first year in first grade and I have 27. They talk constantly even after responding to a quiet signal. Am I expecting too much too soon? What are some tried and true methods to quiet the class as a whole and keep them quiet long enough to deliver instruction? Help!
It can ...See MoreOn 9/22/14, panther wrote: > This is my first year in first grade and I have 27. They > talk constantly even after responding to a quiet signal. > Am I expecting too much too soon? What are some tried and > true methods to quiet the class as a whole and keep them > quiet long enough to deliver instruction? > Help!
It can be so hard to keep the attention of First Graders. There are times where I feel like I have the attention of half and by the time I get the attention of the other half I have lost the first half of kids. Jeeeez.
Here are some things I do to keep their attention.
I say "everybody stop" and they say "hands on top" they drop everything in their hands and put their hands on their head. We practice this again and again and AGAIN until every student is successfully stopping every time. It also made a huge difference when I gave a consequence. For example, they know that if they are not stopping to listen to directions they will lose a privilege. Everything we do in our class is a privilege. I have have a couple of girls who are writing and they have a hard time stopping because they want to continue illustrating the book. I make it clear that if they don't stop they will no longer be able to add those illustrations. They have to listen to directions when it is time, no exceptions. Once they know that a privilege will be lost I no longer have a problem getting them to stop and listen.
You have to follow through on the loss of those privileges. I don't have to take a privilege away often, because once students see it happen they know I mean business and I don't have to do it anymore. The mention of it is plenty.
I have learned that 6 years-olds are able to do what I'm asking and I need to hold them capable. I am not asking too much of them and they assure me of that when they take on the responsibility. Whatever that privilege is; from using markers, to having free choice time, to getting to read with a buddy it is important to them and they are willing to listen to directions to continue to receive that privilege.
Try to ...See MoreOn 9/22/14, panther wrote: > This is my first year in first grade and I have 27. They > talk constantly even after responding to a quiet signal. > Am I expecting too much too soon? What are some tried and > true methods to quiet the class as a whole and keep them > quiet long enough to deliver instruction? > Help!
Try to use a lot of positive reinforcement. So if you are explaining and some students talk, pick a student who is listening and point out what he/she is doing right. Usually the rest of the students will want to do the same. If that doesn't work, then follow the praise with a reward for the student that was displaying the correct behaviour. I also found that you have to be consistent, so if a student is talking, stop and enforce consequences. If you start ignoring when students talk, they will think it is ok and that behaviour will continue. The goal is to establish clear behaviour expectations. If you are using a quiet signal to get your students quiet, then practise it with your students. Get your students to pretend to be noisy, then signal. Keep on practising until students know exactly what they have to do when you signal. You can also create a whole class reward system which I found also helps with managing whole class behaviour (e.g. a marble jar, every time the class is well behaved and follows the rules, they get a marble. Once they reach 100 marbles, the class gets a reward).
Interest...See MoreNebraska, Vermont, Wyoming - those are the states we need to complete our postcard exchange. You would send out 51 postcards - they can all be the same. You will receive 51 postcards - one from every state, Washington DC and Canada.
We are in our 16th year. Teachers rarely leave because we have such a great response rate!
S...See MoreEDVECTUS writes: Gamification is a great technique to be applied in classrooms, with young minds, to engage them and motivate them. [Gamification] awakens a spirit of competitiveness in children as well as cooperation, rewards and challenges. Here are the top practical tips for gamifying your classroom. {Click below to read the article.}
Some educators oppose gamification in the classroom. What do you think about the concept as described in the article?
Being involved in movement positively affects children both cognitively and physically. Here are 20 quick, simple ideas to use (and adapt) in your classroom. {Click below]
...See More Making deals with students is not effective teaching. It teaches students that when they grow up, everything will be negotiable, and they will take no responsibility for their actions or work. (You may find some of the examples in the article silly and funny, but they are all actual "deals" that have been observed in classrooms.)
So, what works better than making deals with students?
Join a group like 40 hr. workweek created by Angela Watson. It's a great group with a lot of timesaving materials that will come in handy - they could help you prioritize your time and your focus. There are others in the group that wil...See More