I am linking up with Hanging Around in Primary and Pop Into Primary for their Back to School Tips linky! (Apparently all I do right now are linkys... HA!) They are working to build the little fish/big fish community, so definitely go check them out and see what's up! #littlefishteacherblogger
My B2S tip is be very very VERY flexible! There is so much that happens in the first few days/weeks of school that I find it best to just go with the flow. There will be testing, there will be new students, there will be assemblies, there will be generalized chaos... and on and on. If you don't want to go B-A-N-A-N-A-S then you gotta take and deep breath and let it goooo, let it goooo... (This is why I shouldn't blog super late)
Of course, still have things planned, and even have things over planned, but understand that these kiddos are just coming off of summer break. I teach first, and lemme tell ya, they are TIRED. They get cranky and hungry and just plain tuckered out. So if we don't get to every little thing in the first few days it just has to be okay.
Remembering that flexibility it the key to your sanity during back to school time will help to calm your frazzled nerves, and help to bring some peace to your room. Your kiddos are looking to you and are feeding off of your energy, the more easily you can roll with the punches the more fun everyone will have.
One quick example- last year, on the second day of school, I got my times all kinds of mixed up and was reading the clock wrong. I thought it was already 11 and time for lunch, but it was most definitely only 10. I brought my kids into the cafeteria where our fab lunch ladies just looked at me like I was NUTS. I quickly realized my mistake, and our lead lunch lady jumped in and had the kiddos all practice putting in their lunch numbers a few times! Day. Saved. We then went back to class and read a story and did some Go Noodle until it was actually lunch time! I was definitely more careful after that, but everyone was able to keep on going because I was able to keep on going! #mistakeshappen #shakeitoff
Hope you enjoyed my tip, and go link up!
Yes! Flexibility is a must! Your post reminded me of this mug (and gave me a good chuckle) that I saw on amazon....http://www.amazon.com/pretend-lesson-plan-Teacher-school/dp/B00K25KO2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438087635&sr=8-1&keywords=keep+calm+and+pretend+its+on+the+lesson+plan Lol. I think I'm going to get it for my brand new colleague ;)
ReplyDelete~Teacher Mother Wife = Life
Haha! That's an awesome mug! And so true since it's so rare things go perfectly according to plan.
DeleteGreat tip! We can NEVER plan for everything that will happen in those first days, or ever really. It's great to jump in with a "go with the flow" attitude. Thanks! You can visit me at: http://mrsmcreativeteaching.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! It's always a miracle when you can actually make it through a lesson plan without changing too much!
DeleteFlexibility is so important. I've always thought they should teach an improvisation class in teaching programs. Thanks for sharing your tip!
ReplyDeleteAndrea
Always Kindergarten
Ooo! I like that idea! Improv would definitely help incoming teachers learn to think on their feet. I know I struggled with making really quick decisions in the beginning!
DeleteI can totally relate. The first week NEVER goes according to my plans and the only one who knows that is ME. I have learned to role with it so I can go home sane at the end of day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up
Christina
Hanging Around In Primary