I've always believed that it's important to go heavy on the positives with my special ed. students. It's always a little harder for me I think because I'm not their main classroom teacher and don't give them grades. It's harder for me to take away specials or recess.
In the past I've used a sticker chart system where the students earn two stickers a day (well a class). Once they fill up their sticker charts they are able to pick a prize from the prize box. I've been using that for years, and I'm finding that it gets boring for students, and maybe a little boring. They do like Class Dojo, but it doesn't always work for my tougher students. I have a few students who like to talk and be distracting and losing points isn't an incentive to get it together. For them I've had to use think time (time out in their classrooms). I also have another student who can be mean to other students and a bit defiant at times. She enjoys the positive points, but doesn't always care, especially if she starts losing points. She doesn't want to go to think time, so that might be an incentive. I've always tried to deal with behavior problems on my own, but some are just so extreme-out and out defiance-that I have to send them out. We also have a PBIS program and students can earn winning tickets for good behavior and really good prizes at the end of the week.
I'd love to find out what other people do, what behavior system that you use (especially special ed. and resource teachers) and how you use it in your classroom?
Enjoy your day off of work!!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
week in review
I'm so thankful for a three day weekend. This week has been tough, with behavior issues flaring up with various students, lots of testing and ieps, planning and my observation this past week. Thankfully, everything went well with my observation this week.
I've been working on various things to help improve behavior like positive points using Class Dojo, think time, as well as changing up the way I group students within my class time-by individualizing their work and working with smaller groups of students at a time.
Anyway, I'm trying to use this extra time to catch up on extra work, and trying to find some balance in my life by getting back into a good exercise routine, and doing a little self care.
Enjoy your weekend!!
I've been working on various things to help improve behavior like positive points using Class Dojo, think time, as well as changing up the way I group students within my class time-by individualizing their work and working with smaller groups of students at a time.
Anyway, I'm trying to use this extra time to catch up on extra work, and trying to find some balance in my life by getting back into a good exercise routine, and doing a little self care.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Five for Friday (on Saturday)
So glad it's the weekend! It's been a long week and I think next week will be just as long. I have lots of ieps, and meetings coming up, an observation and of course teaching! I have some high maintenance students this year that have kept me on my on my toes. Thank goodness for Starbucks for keeping me going!! Sometimes I wish I lived back east again just for the snow days and nice breaks. I don't miss the snow though.
I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday. (I know it's Saturday) I was so tired yesterday, I went to my parents for dinner and then came home and crashed.
1) I've been implementing Class Dojo in my classroom, which I've really enjoyed and so have my students. It's been working with some of my challenging students, but some of the students really care. I've been avoiding taking away points for some of my groups students, because it seems to make them frustrated and give up, and some it's more an incentive. I've had some really adhd students this year, and I've been trying to find some good incentives for them to help them really buy in. I know one student who could go either way, is really buying into it and doing really well. Does anyone else use Class Dojo. If not, I really recommend the program.
2) Does anybody else use Write from the Beginning? I've been looking at it and working on implementing with my resource students. I loved the first parts that were really structured (circle map, flow map, but then when they started writing it was a little harder for some of my students. It's a little more unstructured. I used the colored pencils for the writing parts, and while I enjoy letting them use it, they get sidetracked wanting these nice sharpened colored pencils and taking forever for them to get through a story. I'd love to find some resources, and or tips and tricks out there. I was thinking of making it a little more structured and maybe build in points on Dojo to well written sentences. Anyway, my observation will be during my writing class, which has some very lively, active kiddoes. I would love to find some cool and fun for them, that uses Write from the Beginning. So if you have anything, feel free to throw them my way.
3) I've been working on multiplication fluency with my students. To do so I start out the lesson with some multiplication and division problems on the board, then reviewing it with the students. This week I switched off and decided to do an all facts fluency check at the start of my class and then see how far they get. Then they work on touch math packets, every other week we start a new times fact. Right now we're working on times 7's and this program really teaches/reinforces skip counting which I love. They also have the opportunity to work on division, fractions and unknown numbers.
4) I've started using a new rotation system with my students in reading. I use the Voyager Passport series and sometimes other programs that I add into it (Language Foundations an Orton-Gillingham based program, or one of the Linda Mood Bell programs that I was trained in). Anyway, I took the students and grouped them according to their test scores, now I'm just fine tuning what they need to build up their skills. I'll probably do the same with my writing groups, because I have some students that just need to build up their sentence fluency and adding ideas and information to their stories, and others that really need to build up the legibility of their writing.
5) I'm really enjoying using my projector, not just for Class Dojo, but I'm finally able to show Brain Pop videos that my students really enjoy. However, some of my students would rather look at the videos on my computer, instead of the screen. I really can't wait until I get a projector installed, and document camera. Hopefully, this should happen by the time I return from spring break. Any suggestions on other places/sites where I can watch videos?
Anyway, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! Happy Saturday!!
I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday. (I know it's Saturday) I was so tired yesterday, I went to my parents for dinner and then came home and crashed.
1) I've been implementing Class Dojo in my classroom, which I've really enjoyed and so have my students. It's been working with some of my challenging students, but some of the students really care. I've been avoiding taking away points for some of my groups students, because it seems to make them frustrated and give up, and some it's more an incentive. I've had some really adhd students this year, and I've been trying to find some good incentives for them to help them really buy in. I know one student who could go either way, is really buying into it and doing really well. Does anyone else use Class Dojo. If not, I really recommend the program.
2) Does anybody else use Write from the Beginning? I've been looking at it and working on implementing with my resource students. I loved the first parts that were really structured (circle map, flow map, but then when they started writing it was a little harder for some of my students. It's a little more unstructured. I used the colored pencils for the writing parts, and while I enjoy letting them use it, they get sidetracked wanting these nice sharpened colored pencils and taking forever for them to get through a story. I'd love to find some resources, and or tips and tricks out there. I was thinking of making it a little more structured and maybe build in points on Dojo to well written sentences. Anyway, my observation will be during my writing class, which has some very lively, active kiddoes. I would love to find some cool and fun for them, that uses Write from the Beginning. So if you have anything, feel free to throw them my way.
3) I've been working on multiplication fluency with my students. To do so I start out the lesson with some multiplication and division problems on the board, then reviewing it with the students. This week I switched off and decided to do an all facts fluency check at the start of my class and then see how far they get. Then they work on touch math packets, every other week we start a new times fact. Right now we're working on times 7's and this program really teaches/reinforces skip counting which I love. They also have the opportunity to work on division, fractions and unknown numbers.
4) I've started using a new rotation system with my students in reading. I use the Voyager Passport series and sometimes other programs that I add into it (Language Foundations an Orton-Gillingham based program, or one of the Linda Mood Bell programs that I was trained in). Anyway, I took the students and grouped them according to their test scores, now I'm just fine tuning what they need to build up their skills. I'll probably do the same with my writing groups, because I have some students that just need to build up their sentence fluency and adding ideas and information to their stories, and others that really need to build up the legibility of their writing.
5) I'm really enjoying using my projector, not just for Class Dojo, but I'm finally able to show Brain Pop videos that my students really enjoy. However, some of my students would rather look at the videos on my computer, instead of the screen. I really can't wait until I get a projector installed, and document camera. Hopefully, this should happen by the time I return from spring break. Any suggestions on other places/sites where I can watch videos?
Anyway, hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! Happy Saturday!!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
It's time for February Currently
Wow, where has the time gone? So hard to believe it's February and another Currently! January flew by. I've been adjusting to life without a student teacher. We've fallen behind in testing new kids, so we have to ramp it up and start doing a lot of initials, plus my annuals and finishing up my re-evals. It's going to be a very busy few months. I don't feel like I've been doing a good job of keeping up with my resolutions of getting more organized and getting into a regular exercise. I work out once or twice a week. I'd really like to do at least four days a week and either walk or run on some of those days. So hard to stay motivated! Plus, I have some challenging kids this year, so I've been really trying to revamp my routine and learn how to effectively implement Class Dojo into my daily routine. It's getting better, but it's still been rough. Anyway, I'm linking up with Farley for this month's Currently!
I saw an amazing movie called Chasing Ice! If you have a chance go see it. Now I'm hope relaxing and watching tv as I plan for the week.
I'm loving having a new projector in my classroom. It's not my own, but one I've checked out and I've finally starting Class Dojo, which has helped me revamp what I'm doing with my students for behavior management and motivation. Now, I want to work on getting a Smart Board, or Ipad for our classroom. Our principal just told us that she has a lot of extra money from title one funds and can make a wish list of things we want.
I'm still working on getting organized with my classroom and my life. I'm feeling so behind on everything, not with planning, but I'd really like some time to catch up with my life.
Last, but not least I really get irritated with people that cross randomly across major streets, especially when there is an intersection nearby. It's becoming a big problem where I live (in Arizona). Some people don't even pay attention, notice or care that there are cars coming they just cross. So unsafe! It's worse when they take kids across.
I saw an amazing movie called Chasing Ice! If you have a chance go see it. Now I'm hope relaxing and watching tv as I plan for the week.
I'm loving having a new projector in my classroom. It's not my own, but one I've checked out and I've finally starting Class Dojo, which has helped me revamp what I'm doing with my students for behavior management and motivation. Now, I want to work on getting a Smart Board, or Ipad for our classroom. Our principal just told us that she has a lot of extra money from title one funds and can make a wish list of things we want.
I'm still working on getting organized with my classroom and my life. I'm feeling so behind on everything, not with planning, but I'd really like some time to catch up with my life.
Last, but not least I really get irritated with people that cross randomly across major streets, especially when there is an intersection nearby. It's becoming a big problem where I live (in Arizona). Some people don't even pay attention, notice or care that there are cars coming they just cross. So unsafe! It's worse when they take kids across.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Creating products questions
Hope everyone is enjoying their week! Arizona is enjoying some much needed rain and has been breezy and cold for quite a few days. This is unusual for us, but should warm up by the end of the week and be sunny and 70's by the weekend when we have our big golf tournament.
I have questions for those of you that are creating products. How do you start? I'm assuming by getting clip art? Where do you go to get them, or purchase them? What do you use? (power point, micsrosoft word etc.) Any good tutorials on them. Everyone seems to have such wonderful products that they're making and creating and I'd like to work on making some of my own, but don't know where to start.
Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!
I have questions for those of you that are creating products. How do you start? I'm assuming by getting clip art? Where do you go to get them, or purchase them? What do you use? (power point, micsrosoft word etc.) Any good tutorials on them. Everyone seems to have such wonderful products that they're making and creating and I'd like to work on making some of my own, but don't know where to start.
Any tips or tricks would be appreciated!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday Social
It was a wonderful, cool, rainy weekend in Arizona and it was SO nice! It seems like it never rains in Arizona and if it does it's very brief and then goes away quickly. It's been so nice to enjoy the rain for the last few days. I never thought I would enjoy rain so much, but when you rarely see it, it's SO welcome!! Anyway it was a perfect weekend for relaxing, going out to breakfast, a late night cheapie movie with the boyfriend-Red Dawn-much better than I thought it would be and filled with teenagers, swooning over the boys in the movie, and getting ready for school this week. Anyway, I'm finished with planning so now I'm linking up with Neely and Ashley for this week's Sunday Social.
Here are this Weeks Questions:
1) What is your ideal way to relax: Hanging out at home with my boyfriend, a glass of wine, and some good tv.
2) Where is your favorite place to be: Tough choice-my top choice would be our cottage in MN, others would be either San Clemente, CA or Carmel. CA.
3) Who do you consider your biggest role model: My parents are! They're loving and supportive and are always there when I need them, plus they're fun to hang out with.
4) What does your life look like in 3 years? I'll be happily married, with enough money to meet my needs and follow my dreams, healthy, teaching, traveling around the world and a published writer.
5) If you could go back and change one decision what would it be? I don't if it's a decision is that I wish I had worked harder at becoming fluent in Spanish since it would be really helpful in my job.
6) What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far? I think it's a combination of different things. I've had a lot of amazing travels by the time I was 19-living in Mexico and England, working on a kibbutz in Israel, traveling to Russia, France, Spain and Italy. I'm looking forward to many more amazing travels!
Anyway, what about you? Link up with us and let us know your answers!
Hope everyone has a great week! It's going to be a busy one with me-two re-evalations and getting ready for a bunch of initials. I feel like an accountant at this time of year, it's my busy season-time for lots of testing and getting ready for lot's of iep meetings.
Happy Sunday!
Here are this Weeks Questions:
1) What is your ideal way to relax: Hanging out at home with my boyfriend, a glass of wine, and some good tv.
2) Where is your favorite place to be: Tough choice-my top choice would be our cottage in MN, others would be either San Clemente, CA or Carmel. CA.
3) Who do you consider your biggest role model: My parents are! They're loving and supportive and are always there when I need them, plus they're fun to hang out with.
4) What does your life look like in 3 years? I'll be happily married, with enough money to meet my needs and follow my dreams, healthy, teaching, traveling around the world and a published writer.
5) If you could go back and change one decision what would it be? I don't if it's a decision is that I wish I had worked harder at becoming fluent in Spanish since it would be really helpful in my job.
6) What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far? I think it's a combination of different things. I've had a lot of amazing travels by the time I was 19-living in Mexico and England, working on a kibbutz in Israel, traveling to Russia, France, Spain and Italy. I'm looking forward to many more amazing travels!
Anyway, what about you? Link up with us and let us know your answers!
Hope everyone has a great week! It's going to be a busy one with me-two re-evalations and getting ready for a bunch of initials. I feel like an accountant at this time of year, it's my busy season-time for lots of testing and getting ready for lot's of iep meetings.
Happy Sunday!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Reading, Resolutions and Behavior
I love having a short week of school, and a long weekend. It was SO relaxing! I got to have some guilt free fun, relaxing and had some time to get some school work done at a more leisurely pace. I felt I had some time to get back on track a bit, especially with my new year's resolutions. Ive gotten off track with exercising. We had a cold snap in Arizona for about a week and I was so unmotivated to get much of anything done. It was nice to get back to yoga, now I need to work on getting into a running routine. We had a big race this weekend and it motivated me to get back on track with running.
It also gave me sometime to planning and revamping my reading groups. I feel pretty good about all my other groups, but I've been trying to figure out how to get my kids in groups and focus on differentiating more with their reading. In my reading groups I have a variety of levels (even with six kids), so I really wanted to work on putting kids into groups, so I can work with them more individually and focus on their gaps. When they're not with me I've been putting together packets full of work that's geared towards their levels-sight words, decoding skills and comprehension depending on their needs and their RIT scores (for anyone that does NWEA).
I also worked on brainstorming more about how to fully implement Class Dojo with my students. I came up with some rewards for them that they can work towards and I will continue to add incentives as I go along and students suggest them. Anyway, today was my first day of fully implementing the changes and Class Dojo with all my groups. I thought it worked out great and made a huge difference. I LOVE the way the students get such an automatic and visual reward for positive behaviors. I'm having students earn points towards rewards their choose and I'll also chose some group rewards. The kids really seem to enjoy it, love the positive attention (so do I) and I'm looking forward to the changes it will bring my students.
Hope you enjoy your short week!
It also gave me sometime to planning and revamping my reading groups. I feel pretty good about all my other groups, but I've been trying to figure out how to get my kids in groups and focus on differentiating more with their reading. In my reading groups I have a variety of levels (even with six kids), so I really wanted to work on putting kids into groups, so I can work with them more individually and focus on their gaps. When they're not with me I've been putting together packets full of work that's geared towards their levels-sight words, decoding skills and comprehension depending on their needs and their RIT scores (for anyone that does NWEA).
I also worked on brainstorming more about how to fully implement Class Dojo with my students. I came up with some rewards for them that they can work towards and I will continue to add incentives as I go along and students suggest them. Anyway, today was my first day of fully implementing the changes and Class Dojo with all my groups. I thought it worked out great and made a huge difference. I LOVE the way the students get such an automatic and visual reward for positive behaviors. I'm having students earn points towards rewards their choose and I'll also chose some group rewards. The kids really seem to enjoy it, love the positive attention (so do I) and I'm looking forward to the changes it will bring my students.
Hope you enjoy your short week!
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