I admit that seeing other people’s classrooms is just about the most inspiring thing for me. I want to see things in action, on the wall, and in real life!!! So I am linking up with Jodi for her Fly on the Wall party!
It was so hard to choose the things that I am showing because I felt like I was leaving out so much. I tried to show a variety of what we do in the order that we do it.
We begin the very EARLY day with daily math and language which I just call morning work. The kids either bring in a breakfast or take from the breakfast that is delivered to our room. During this time they are also signing in on the smart board, turning in papers, choosing a homework book, putting their daily folder in the tub, and all that other great stuff.
We have morning announcements on the smart board and they are amazing thanks to an incredible team of fifth graders and the amazing Mrs. Wersterfer. This is just a snipped from Friday because I want to share our little Friday ritual…”It’s Friday…HOLLA!” {You can see Wersty standing in the middle, my principal on the left, and our communities in school’s person on the right}
Right after morning announcements we get right to business! Reading Instruction in the form of Daily 5. {With many modifications to meet the needs of my classroom and schedule}
My students head to specials for 45 minutes after Daily 5. I run around like a teacher on fire preparing for anything I can since this is my only break in the day.
When the students return from specials we jump right into readers/writer’s workshop. This can really be about anything ELA! It’s a time for phonics, reader’s response, writing instruction, spelling, grammar, author’s chair, book studies, and and and…I can’t do all of that daily, so it is always a mixture of things throughout the week so that everything gets covered.
Next we head to recess for 25 minutes and lunch for 30 minutes. In that order. I love having recess first. I have recess duty every day.
When we get back from lunch, the student of the day begins the calendar procedures on the smart board. Every quarter I change out the slides to keep the interest high and hit all the standards.
From there we gather around the rug and I will introduce one math tub. We play it as a class and talk about our learning objective. Then the students do two rounds of math tubs. These are not new standards but a review of the lessons we have been learning. I have 10 math tubs. {2 are computer related- so 8 actual tub activities}
When tubs are cleaned up we gather together for new learning in math. It can be a variety of things from a smart board lesson, a whole group activity, workbook activity or a combination of all of those things.
We head out for a short 10-15 minute recess at 1:45. I also have duty at this time everyday.
Finally we head in for the last push of the day. Science and Social studies. Usually these lessons integrate reading, writing, and math as well.
At 2:45 we dismiss and I have drive up duty everyday. We gather in the gym and students are called to head out to a colored cone where their parents are waiting in their cars. It is like clockwork and we can get hundred’s of kids out the door in a matter of 8-10 minutes.
What a fun linky Jodi! Thanks for hosting!
All in a Day’s Work…
Reading Strategies and my Week!
A Day in the Life…
Our Daily Schedule in Pictures!
Wow, your school day starts at 7:15? That seems early. Loved getting to be a fly on your wall!
Recess and Beyond
Love these posts! Thanks!
Love this linky! Do you have kids that are pulled out during the day? This is what is killing my schedule this year. I only have all of my kids for an hour. 🙁
✪Crystal✪
Strive to Sparkle
Just found your blog and can't wait to explore it some more! I'm your newest follower!!
Shannon
http://www.irunreadteach.wordpress.com
Sounds like interesting, jam packed days you have! I like that you do math tubs and instruction in math. I would like to do something like that next year, but by the time we come in from recess, I usually only have about 45 min of teaching time.
Sarah
teachingiscolorful.blogspot.com
Enjoyed my visit, as always! I do not envy all the duties you have. I would never make it for your early day. Our kids come at 8:30 and leave at 3:30. My kids have one 45 minute special a day also. Unfortunately, it doesn't come until 2:30 and I am too exhausted to run around like a teacher on fire at that time. LOL!
Awesome classroom! Can't believe you have duty everyday! 🙁
-Aris
Sailing into Second
I am convinced your work at the best school ever and have the best classroom everrrrrr!!! The love you have for your school, coworkers, and students is inspiring!!! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Halle
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
I love that your school has announcements on the smartboard! Very cool.
I can't believe how much duty you have every day! I wonder if that is an American thing? I'm in Canada and we have one 20 minute duty every day except one day a week we have no duty. We get at least 30 minutes of prep every day but sometimes it's 60 minutes (twice a week).
I am a healthy amount of jealous about all your SmartBoard goodness. I love seeing how you and Jodi spend your day. I can say I'm tired by then of the blog post with everything you guys fit in. How long do you spend on D5?
Brenda
You Might Be a First Grader….
Love the Friday "Holla!" so much! Thanks for the peek in your daily schedule. Your pictures are great!
Anita
Mrs. Bremer’s Kindergarten
This is such a great post, I love hearing about–and seeing in photos–what goes on in other classrooms. Thank you!
OMG!!! I LOVE the morning announcements on the SmartBoard. How fun!! We also have recess before lunch and it is great!!! The students forget all of their recess drama while they eat lunch and I don't hear about it when they come back into the room.
Thanks for linking up! You're post is awesome!
"Run around like a teacher on fire" – I do the same thing on my break!! It's fun reading about what another teacher's day is like!
✿Sue✿
✿Science for Kids Blog✿
You sure have your duty cut out for ya! Awesome day, jam packed, full of fun and learning! Okaayyy, seriously announcements on the smartboard..?… Please, please tell me how! This is Ahhhmazing!!!
Kelly
You're So Sharp!
Wow! What a day, can't believe you start that early either. I'm also wondering how you do the announcements on the Smartboard??? Also wondering about your Smartboard slides & how you change them up each quarter? Mine are getting boring & haven't changed them. Thanks, Jackie
[email protected]
Love your classroom and it sounds like you have a very busy day! I wish we did our announcements through our IWBs. That's a great idea. I would also like to try the math tubs next year. We do math centers, but there's not enough time to do them everyday. That's on my planning list! Thanks for sharing your room!
Carrie
Table Talk with C & C
I thought starting @ 8:45 was early! Why ever do you start so darn early?? What a busy, busy day! It's so funny that you talk about peeking into other's classroom. I LOVE being a fly on the wall and peeking into yours!
Next year the school I will be at will be a primary school which means only students from Kindergarten to Grade 4. Before that it was K-Gr. 9 so that is a huge change. It will be the first time that every classroom will have a SMARTBoard. What does your admin. use to talk into/tape? or whatever to have the announcements show up on the SMARTBoards the way that you do in your school? We are having a planning meeting on Wed. afternoon and I want to propose this to the group, but I don't want to sound like a ninny. Could you send me a short e-mail to explain? Thank you TONS!
sherrymatheson.gmail.com
sherry-matheson.blogspot.com
Oh my goodness! SO early! We start at 8:45…not sure I could do earlier!! I suppose you get used to it? =)
I LOVED being a fly on your wall! You do so many adorable and effective things in your classroom…and I'm like you…I get most inspired by seeing how other teachers do things! =) Thanks so much for sharing!
I want to start doing calendar on the smart board but I have been struggling with making my slides and WHAT to put on them. Any chance you be sharing/selling your slides on TPT soon?! =)
Cara TaylorSteele
Columbia, MO
Our kids come in at 7 :20 and I do morning work rotations with things that we have already learned. I lay it all out on Monday and they go to their colored center each day. I really like it! We get out at 2:20 though, so you stay later than us, weird. I am always running crazy too since our specials are the last 30 min. of the day. Looks like you really have itall figured out though and that you have a wonderful classroom! Would love to hear about how you keep it all organized…that is my nextmajorproject. I have stuff EVERYWHERE!
This is an AMAZING post! I love your pictures, and you have inspires me to finish strong this quarter.
*inspired…ugh! I hate when my thoughts are faster than my typing. LOL!
I also have car rider duty at the end of the day, but ours is not quite as organized. Could you email about the cone system????
[email protected]
I would REALLY appreciate it 🙂