Front Door (Inside the classrrom)

This is the top part of my front door decoration – my welcome decoration. I got the idea in one of the websites I’m using for my teaching reference. It is supposed to be for the open house or first month of school but I liked the decoration that is why I kept it though it’s already November. The bunch of grapes I created doesn’t really have the shape of grape fruits but it looks nice and I already have some teachers asking for copies of the template – I don’t really know any other software that would allow cropping to a circlular shape other than photoshop though. Will MSWord or Paint allow circular cropping?

This is the bottom part of my front door – my class helpers. I decided that all of them should have assigned duties while in the classroom – they are all my managers. I took a picture of my students, printed and taped them individually on a popsicle stick so it’d be easy to change their duties every week. Some task are self explanatory except for some:

1) Behavior chart manager as I explained in my earlier post is assigned in the students take home behavior calendar/chart
2) Messanger is assigned to pick up our trash bag and tissue paper in the warehouse, go to the office to photocopy some classwork or go to any classroom if I have any message or papers to give the students/teachers there.
3) Homework manager is assigned in making sure that all of them turn in their homework, journal, signed homework list form, behavior chart and reading log. Sounds tedious but not really, I printed a checklist for all of these with the students name so the homework manager just need to check or cross out the names of the students depending on whether they have it or not.
4) Teacher assistant is assigned in changing our classroom calendar, listing names of students who misbehaves while in other classrooms where I’m not their teacher, like Bilingual and PE class and watching the class when I’m not there.
4) Morning routine manager is assigned in turning on our classroom TV, playing our DVD of morning routine songs and pledges and other morning routine activity which takes them 30 minutes to do.
5) One student a week also get a vacation. The student get to play (blocks or educational computer games) Another students’ favorite duty
All my students’ favorite class duty is the “line manager” That seems to be the hardest job of all since we won’t go out of the classroom unless all students are lined up properly. I use the number system or hand system in having them form a line.
When they hear the number or see me/line leader raise one finger that means they all have to start forming a line.
1 = form a line and hands forward
2 = hands down
3 = both hands at the back
4 = peace sign across the mouth (which also means no talking or complete silence) and other hand at the back
Having them line up used to be a challenge until I let them go back in the classroom and quietly sit down for 5 minutes then line up again. I think it took us 2 weeks of doing this over and over again before they finally learned to take the rules to heart.

I’m not completely strict – we still have fun in the classroom especially during instructional time but there’s a limitation for everything and character education is also one of the best things students can learn while in school. Besides it is best to manage my students behavior early especially that we have still have 8 months of educational journey to take.

Behavior Management

Behavior management in school can be challenging inside and outside the classroom. I noticed that in the first month that I was teaching my second grade students. Warnings and time-outs were not enough that’s why I started my behavior chart in October. Instead of using the color system, I used the smiley system.

I printed 4 smiley faces to symbolize different behaviors of students. The morning starts with all of them in the thumbs up smiley or the awesome behavior then if they violated one of the classroom rules, they will receive one warning and after that their name, which were written on a popsicle stick will be moved down one level, if however I see that by the end of the day the students’ overall behavior improved then I’ll call them and have them put their name up one level.

I started with assigning one student to put the names down if he/she saw her classmate disobeying the rules but then change it after a week because some students are complaining saying that the person I assigned put them in blank face for no reason and I literally have one student cry because of that. Since then, if I see one students not following the rules I ask that student to put his/her name names one ’smiley face’ down at a time.

Whenever we got back from lunch, I ask them to put their name down one level if they stood up, play, go under the table or talk loud/shout while in the cafeteria or if they talk while we were heading back to the classroom. I know who those students are but I want them to practice honesty while they are young. Of course there are few students who won’t admit they’re disobeying any rules that’s why after counting to three and I still don’t see them stand up, I call their names one by one to put their name down and have a short private conversation with them about honesty. It’s working so far, actually my students believed I have eyes at the back of my head because I can see them eventhough I’m not looking at them

BEHAVIOR EQUIVALENT
1. Thumbs up = awesome
2. Smile = good
3. Cry = poor
4. Sad = unacceptable

RULES
1. Follow directions quietly and quickly
2. Raise hands and wait to speak
(Don’t interrupt or bother me when I’m talking to anybody, student or teacher, even on the phone)
3. Ears and eyes on the teacher when I’m discussing
4. Keep hands, feet and things to yourself
5. Choose to use kind words

CONSEQUENCES of ACTIONS.
1. Thumbs Up for 5 days = will choose a prize from the rewards menu.
2. Smiling face = high five, praise, encouragement
3. Crying face = a time out for 5 minutes (face the wall, hands at the back, feet together, stand up straight, eyes closed) and no recess.
4. Sad face = 5 minutes time out again, no recess and stay in the classroom after school to clean.

I’m currently trying to find alternative for the consequence of their wrong doings especially the time out. I don’t think they are learning anything when they are just facing the wall with their hands at their back. I will update this blog entry once I’ve decided on a better consequence.

Everyday, the students also bring their “monthly behavior calendar” so that they know that their parents will see it and they are held accountable each day. Sometimes, I put a short comment about the students’ behavior. I also made sure that students have their parents sign their behavior chart. Students will loose the chance of getting an A for that day’s homework if the behavior chart is not signed by parents.

The behavior chart works for my students. I have some students a goal of getting at least a week of thumbs up for this month of November. Parents also appreciate the behavior chart and they also help me manage their child’s behavior through this chart. Some students are already afraid of misbehaving in class because they will get an additional consequence or punishment when they get home.

This behavior chart is also filed in the students classroom portfolio for this school year.

I also print smiley faces on a self-adhesive paper – that sticker is what I used to put on their behavior chart. I used to cut the stickers myself and put it in every behavior charts but that’s a lot of work so I assigned a student each week to manage the behavior chart. Sometimes, other students who are finished with their work and/or my teacher assistant for that week help in cutting and putting the stickers. When they’re finished putting the stickers, they hand the behavior charts to me, I double check and add comments if necessary then hand the behavior charts to my paper manager for distribution.

If anyone wants a copy of this behavior chart, you’re welcome to send me an email and I’ll email the editable calendar, stickers etc…

Workshop: Multiple Intelligence

Mentors and Mentees attended another workshop today – topic focused on addressing multiple intelligence/different smarts of students/teachers. We observed an actual class scenario: teacher(Ms. Dorothy) teaching students of different grade levels (1st-6th). I liked the way she integrated all subject areas in everything she’s teaching (social studies, math, PE, language). I find the “continent song” that they sing really helpful for the students to memorize the coninents. I also liked the activity where the students form a circle and play catch using the plastic globe. Then they counted the students’ whose thumb landed in the water versus the land. That discussion led to Math (fractions) then they compared and contrast the Map and the Globe using the Vehn Diagram.

Workshops

It’s been a very busy 2 working week for me and my colleague – cleaning and designing classrooms, preparing lesson plans and attending professional trainings/workshops/meetings – even saturdays (though I don’t mind receiving the pay differentials). It was exhausting yet beneficial in a way. I said “in a way” because there’s just too many information coming in at the same time – I’m not sure I was able to absorb everything in those workshops. Anyway, it’s still a good experience and I know there’s still so much to learn.

My 2nd Grade Students

Gordon and Jeremy

Daniel and Albert

Ricardo and Jonathan

Jang and Aries

Delsynae and Casperlyn

Angel and Jelleen

Kimberly and Rocksana

Orlita and Jianna

Kathleen and Mozelle

Lorilynn and Ayan

Our Classroom

Below are pictures I took from the corners of my classroom. Excuse my baby’s carrier



(Left) This is where I’ll post the theme/summary of our lesson for the week and a copy of our lesson plan. (Right) That’s the student’s name on top of their desk. This Friday I add STAR stickers if the student is well behave.

(Left) The closet door has all the school posters (WSR Philosophy, PSS Standard and Benchmark, Fire and Tsunami Evacuation Poster). (Right) This is my class list’ attendance board. It also has my students’ name tag. Whenever students come in the classroom, they take their sticker name, put them in the time in section and take their name name tag and continue with their class routine. The students also time out whenever they need to use the bathroom (my substitute for a bathroom pass). I will also create a bathroom log sometime this coming week.

(Left) My science bulletin board has some science posters I found inside my classroom when I was cleaning the room. The wall painting in the classroom was there when I started. (Right) Is my unarranged students’ book shelf and the students’ book bins. I paired students and ask them to read 5 books a day. I also let them write the book title and book author in a paper which I will soon post in another bulletin board.

(Left)I’ll use that bulletin board as the students’ book log. It also shows the couch I use when I read a story to my students who’ll sit on the carpet. Students also sit on the carpet when they have free reading time or when students are done with their work.

(Left) My writing area has another table alloted for 5 writers – I usually let those who finished their work early to sit there to write or do other works. Posted in the bulletin are my students’ work – it’s the ‘meet me’ worksheet I downloaded online. I haven’t posted my math decorations on the bulletin board that’s why it’s still empty but I’ll be posting those this week along with the list of math wiz. I’ll use that white board as my “Word Wall”.

(Left) My Student Bulletin board will have my star student’s name, Class Helper, Star Students List, Birthdays, Peacebuilders Area. I already updated that board but haven’t taken a picture of it yet. In front of that board is my reference shelf, my journal table, crayon, glue and scissors basket that I let my students use. (Right) My listening corner alloted for 4 students since I only have 4 headphones in my classroom.

(Left) My social studies board which also includes some more ‘meet me’ works of my students since my writing bulletin board is not enough to fit my 18 students’ work so I posted the rest here. (Right) My technology, music, art, health board which is still empty until now. I’ve 3 desktop computers in here.

My focus wall, calendar area, white board area. Here I posted my class rules, the national anthemn, peacebuilder pledge, ABCs, my class TV and projection screen. I haven’t finished decorating the teacher’s corner, front door, back door and outside the classroom bulletin board. I’ll finish all those tomorrow and post them here. My classroom is colorful since I’m using the rainbow colors, I like it that way and so does my students.

WSR 2nd Grade Teacher

I am going to start teaching at another school – PSS: William S. Reyes Elementary School (2nd Grade) – this coming school year. I believe teacher’s official start of work is Sept. 2 but we’ll be meeting our students Sept. 8 (20 days more to go)… I have gone through mixed emotions though I already had experience teaching elementary computer classes and high school classes. My husband and I devoted 3 hrs a day of cleaning and organizing my classroom last Saturday. Perhaps by the end of this week, we’ll finish cleaning and organizing my classroom. I’m expecting to get my roster, laptop and projector this week – for now I’m expecting to have at 20 students. I’m still a bit nervous that’s why I’ve been gathering different ideas online and reading blogs and websites of 2nd grade teachers. So far it helps especially with my plan of decorating my classroom next week. I saw great options in the Second Grade Teacher’s Club website, I will surely adapt what will work for my classroom. I haven’t met any teachers yet but I look forward to working with them.
Below are pictures of my classroom I took before even starting to clean it. I will post some more pictures when we’re finished cleaning and decorating my classroom.

The ‘Middle Wife’

by an Anonymous 2nd grade teacher

Below is a story I copied from one blog and decided to share it in this post… It’s worth reading!

I’ve been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they’re welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater. She holds up a snapshot of an infant. “This is Luke, my baby brother, and I’m going to tell you about his birthday.

“First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom’s stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.”

Erica was standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I’m trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

“Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!’” (Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans.) “She walked around the house for, like an hour, ‘Oh, oh, oh!’” (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

“‘My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn’t have a sign on the car like the Domino’s man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.’ (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

“And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!’ (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away.)

“Then the middle wife starts saying ‘push, push,’ and ‘breathe, breathe.’ They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then, all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom’s play-center (placenta), so there must be a lot of toys inside there.’”

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I’m sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it’s show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another ‘Middle Wife’ comes along.

Now you have two choices…laugh and close this page or pass this along to someone else to spread the laughs. I know what I did!!! Live every day as if it is your LAST chance to make someone happy!

Goodbye LISS…

My teaching days at LISS is finished… I had a great teaching experience with my students, however my last day of work was 5/19… well supposedly that date…. I hope new teachers at LISS will have a much better experience. As for me – I learned my lesson well. Anyway, I will still keep the two LISS related sites published though.
Class Blog
School Newspaper
LISS Online Album

The Teachers

Teacher’s Appreciation Week

One of my students handed me the gift as shown in right side during my geometry class (monday), I didn’t really know what that is for until I heard our admin, Hazel, saying this is national teachers week that’s why LISS gave all teachers a souvenir…
Since this is the month that I’m expecting baby Pauline Raizabelle to finally join our lives, I’m now finishing all my lessons. I will finish my two math classes this week and I still have until next week to finish my science class and I also need to make sure that our school newsletter is published (online and offline)… The projects I’m going to give my students are really…. So I’m all set for baby’s arrival… Well, sort of – my hospital bag is not ready yet and I haven’t purchased a crib for baby yet… I’ll do that this week also…
Teacher’s National Week: Well, since it’s a one week event we were given something every day this whole week. Tuesday (5/6), we were given donuts for breakfast with choco/coffee and a mug. Caffaine! Caffaine! Caffaine! I’m missing it and so is the smell of coffee so eventually I couldn’t resist the temptation – I made a cup of coffee today As expected my baby Pauline became hyper and couldn’t stop kicking and punching… I did some research before having my caffaine though – “experts and studies have stated that “moderate” levels of caffeine have not been found to have a negative effect on pregnancy. The definition of “moderate” varies anywhere from 150 mg – 300 mg a day.” so I’m still in good shape.
Wednesday (5/7), I received an appreciation card from parents of one of my students, a souvenir picture with my students and greeting cards from my students. Wednesday was also my birthday, I was given a surprise birthday snack/party by my 7/8th grade students. Thursday, we were given PTI bags which I could use as my hospital bag since I haven’t packed what my husband and I needed when I go on labor; however, baby Pauline Raizabelle’s bag is all set.
I trully appreciate everything that the school provided for teachers this week especially this particular gift certificate that we were given this morning, which really me very enthusiastic today – it’s a $10 worth of purchase at Shirley’s Coffee Shop, Susupe. This also includes a refreshing ‘Taro Blasts’ as a compliment of Shirleys Coffee Shop! Isn’t that amazing?! We’ve been to Shirley’s Coffee Shop 3x this week alone because of the power outage. Of course being there also means buying food – my husband wasn’t happy since we’re trying to stretch the small amount of income that we currently have but their place is the nearest and most convenient place that we can go to especially during power outage since they have their own generator and they also have free wireless internet. That means I can bring my laptop and we won’t be bored while waiting for the power to go back on just like yesterday, power outage started 6pm and it didn’t come back until 930pm. I also like their food and ice tea there I could really use this certificate perhaps tonight when there’s another power outage in our district… c”,)