Halloween Week

From the Star
So, Halloween week and Red Ribbon week at our school have just ended, and boy, was it a crazy time. I never thought that I could get so stressed over a fun week and have so much fun at the same time. This is the first year that I have had a chance to work with a principal who really enjoys the holidays and loves to see the children enjoying them as well.  I LOVE the holidays!  The week started with us dressing up each day for Red Ribbon week and ended with us making a classroom pumpkin, having a parade and making a Halloween/Red Ribbon Week door.

For our classroom pumpkin we choose to make the Chicka Tree from the book Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom. Pretty cute, huh? We also made a door that said "Don't be a Ghost Say Boo to Drugs". The kids really enjoyed getting to participate in making these things and really admired their work when they were done. It was so great to get to see the kids so proud of themselves when the door and the pumpkin were displayed at the school on Friday. We ended the week with a Halloween Parade where all of the teachers and the children dressed up and walked around the car loop while the parents watched. While I admit to being a little embarrassed to be walking in my crayon costume in front of the parents, I also have to admit that it was a great time. I hope that everyone had as much fun as I did at school for their Halloween Celebration!

A New Day

From the Star

So, I know that it has been a while but I am back!  I have to say that things are getting very intense at my school now that observations are beginning. I have had someone in my classroom every day this week.  So have all the other kindergarten teachers.    The new evaluations seem a little intense. It seems to me that the administrators feel like if they don't walk through your room each day, then there is no way that they will be able to mark all the areas on the form.  From what we were told it is worse if they mark "not using the strategy." So I shouldn't complain that they are in my room every day looking for the different areas. I would rather them see all the tools that I have in place.  Plus I can say that I am not as nervous any more when they come in my classroom because now it has become a normal every day thing.

With all of that being said, I can say that I am having a great year. I love my class to death.  They really are a great bunch of kids. I know that I talked about my classroom management a little bit last time that I blogged.   I am happy to report that I feel that this area in my classroom has made a 360 degree turn and the children are really starting to listen and respect the rules. I have found that the best thing that I have set up in my classroom is the marbles jar.  They get a marble anytime they are doing what they are suppose to be doing or when they get a compliment. Then when the marble jar is full I throw them a Popsicle party. The students in my class have really taken to this idea and they get super excited every time they get a marble.  The marble jar has really helped me gain more control of my class and increase positive behavior. I have found that talking with others about your weakness can be a great thing if you use their advice. I know that I was originally very upset to hear someone say that my classroom management was weak,  even though I know that they were just trying to make me the best that I can be.  However, because I was told about it, I had a chance to know what I needed to work on and fix the issues before it spiraled out of control.  All I can say is that when the advice is meant to be constructive and even if it does upset you, if you get over yourself and listen, you really can get improve your skills. thanks to those veterans who took the time to help me talk through some new strategies.  I really did appreciate and respect your advice.