I begin and end each day with a "classroom meeting." I got the idea from The Responsive Classroom. They invented the Morning Meeting, so all rights go to them. All the basics of the meeting can be found in their book. I urge all of you to purchase the book, even if you're just considering implementing a meeting. It's a great book with good ideas. It really helps to build a team within your classroom. Now to the good stuff... The kids all come to carpet and we hold a discussion. At first, I really emphasize the "meeting" thing. We discuss the meetings are important, formal and professional. We talk about honoring the person who is speaking, whether that be myself or another student. The kids like to be "grown ups" and attend meetings. It's a lot of fun. A lot of people have asked me about how to begin a Morning/Closing Meeting in their own rooms. Here are the guidelines that I've come up with and use in my own room. Please feel fr...
I've grown up with a "girl power" mindset. I've read books about empowering young ladies, and encouraging girls that they are fully capable of doing anything boys can do.. maybe better. I am the first one to argue for women's rights, and am very passionate about gender equality. All this being said, I will be teaching third grade this year. My class is special, though. Because I have a class that is very heavy on the male side... Actually, I only have males. It's funny, yes. You may laugh. Tomorrow begins a very interesting year. At 7:20 in the morning, the new guys in my life will walk through the door of my classroom. One cannot simply prepare your brain for that. I have tried. I have read books. I have researched. I have even Pinterested. In my research, I found this video . For those that have time, go watch it. It will give you insight to my classroom, and how life for boys isn't as easy as I had once thought. We may thing we l...