Tales of a Teacher

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...

Bring. It. On.  Here are pictures of my classroom for your enjoyment. Or your un-enjoyment. Either way, it's still my classroom. BIG SHOUT OUT to my Aunt Ruth, my Aunt Lisa, my Mom, my Dad, my Boyfriend Jake, and his mom Kathy for helping turn an ugly brown room into something semi-pleasing to the eye.  By the way, I have no theme. So as you scroll through these pictures, save yourself the pain of trying to decipher the strange eclectic theme of my room. It's theme is.. theme-less. Now, here's what you've been waiting for: Grabbed this idea from The Responsive Classroom and Teach for America, and tweaked it for my own liking. It's all about getting the students involved and out of their seats on the first day of school. I'll post some of their responses after we do this exercise. Also, writing the date and my name in real Cursive made me feel like a real life teacher.  Like my TV? Haha Word Wall. Love it. Hate it.  All...