Third Time's a Charm

Ok, so here we are, another summer full of exciting and new ideas for next year...anyone else get totally gung-ho and then fall short when school actually begins?  Well, I'm doing it again.  I have now finished my Master's program and am looking forward to putting all of my new learning to good use.

INCLUDING MY BLOG!!!

I originally started this blog two years ago, can you believe it!?  I started it thinking I would blog about all of the cool things I learned while in grad school.  Surprise, getting another degree is A LOT OF WORK and about three weeks into the school year, surprise again-I had a combo in which I needed to teach two complete sets of curriculum!  I had no idea how overwhelmed I would be!  There was no time for anything anymore--all I did was study and work, who were those people in my family, anyway?

Then, last year I thought I'd get it going again, after all I only had a semester left, right?  WRONG!  Now I have to write a totally in-depth paper (I never really liked how it turned out) and I had an extremely difficult class. One kiddo zapped all of my energy all year long so there was little left for the rest of my kiddos and, again, who are those people in my family?

Well, I'm here to give it another go!  I have set a goal to blog at least once a week! I've been off of school for a week now and I have a rather long "to-do" list--mostly cleaning up after a whirlwind of grad school and a lack of time for much else.

I think part of my discouragement has been lack of interest by others so I am thinking hooking up with some linkys will help to market myself more, and I am working on creating some things to share, but I am definitely looking for advice.  I'd be glad to hear constructive criticism (and positives, too) so please feel free to teach me to fly!  :)

Classroom Management

Wow!  I cannot believe that it has been almost a month since I blogged last, looks like a lot has been going on in my classroom and life! 

This year has proven to be a very interesting group of kiddos!  I have many that cannot stay on task and one that is very needy and will do anything to get my attention completely on themself.  I mean anything...standing on chairs, crying like a two year old to get their way (loudly, I must add), throwing things at others, you name it.  This kid takes a lot of energy and patience.  I think I have a system now that is helping, we'll see how long it lasts!

For the off taskers, though...oy! with 32 students it is very difficult to keep them all engaged!  I am using warm fuzzies from Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations that you see below, but I have had to take away 5 warm fuzzy cups because they can't leave them alone.  I award fuzzies for those who finish work or are on task, I encourage, I modify work, I offer tutorials at recess, I just can't get them to focus!  It is a constant song & dance on my part!

I also use ClassDojo to keep track of points when out and about or during teaching/small groups if I can't get around to drop them in cups.  Then we convert them to fuzzies.

I have also been using Brain Breaks from Stephanie (that's her photo below--I don't have one of mine) that seem to work, sometimes...maybe I just need to do them more often. 

And, please, oh please, you can't get me that class set of iPods my principal said were coming, soon enough! I have a feeling that the technology (and privileges to use them) will also help.

Any suggestions, tips or tricks!?