WELCOME TO MISS HAUGH’S

CLASS!

Good Morning!

We will be practicing polite greetings every morning. When I greet each student each morning, they will greet me back in a language of their choice. We have a poster in the room that shows how to say “Hello” in several different languages. This exposes students to different languages and to the idea that there are several types of people in the world.

Respect rules

I strongly believe in the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy. If students think that there is a chance to fail, they may fail. My positive expectations of students encourage them to achieve those high expectations. In addition, I hope that when I model this attitude, it will translate to how the students should treat one another.

Routines

Each morning, students have a checklist that they must complete before Homeroom is over. These expectations are clearly displayed in the room so that they come into the room and get right to work.

Lunch count is located right next to the door when students walk in. This lets me know who is “here” today and who is going to buy lunch.

Routines

Students have a section in the classroom where they have access to different supplies. This allows students to know exactly what they may take and share with everyone. Two pencil holders house nicely sharpened pencils all day so students do not need to sharpen a pencil in the middle of a lesson. (Pencils are sharpened at the very beginning of the day, then not again.)

The supplies in this closet are to be used responsibly. On the first day of school, I discussed appropriate times to get up and use materials. Students understand that there are good times to sharpen pencils, get supplies and use the restroom. They are practicing understanding responsibility and making good choices.

Schedule

Today’s Schedule is always displayed at the front of the room. Students are constantly informed about what the day will entail.

Teacher’s Management

My students in this classroom have very little down time during the day. I find that the day moves very quickly when students are busy learning and thriving. I have my plans organized days ahead of time into day baskets. Also, I have mailboxes to collect students’ work throughout the week. On Friday, Friday Folders are sent home to parents as a communication tool. Parents will see what work students have been working on, and they will get a weekly progress report concerning students’ efforts, achievements, and/or any behavioral issues.

Library

In our classroom, we have a stocked and leveled library that is fully accessible to students. Reading levels are based on Fountas and Pinnell and/or Lexile test scores.

Reading and Writing

Important reminders for reading and discussions about reading are all around our room.

Math

Math resources are everywhere around our

classroom.

How Full Is Your Bucket?

“This book explains that we all have invisible buckets of water over our heads. The negative actions of others toward us can empty the buckets, and our own meanness toward them can deplete their vessels, too. Positive actions reverse the process. Felix refuses to allow his sister to play blocks with him. When she angrily kicks over his tower, his grandfather explains that Felix dipped from his sister's container. The next morning Felix actually sees a bucket floating over his own head, and during the course of the day, as he is alternately bullied and praised, he realizes what causes it to be empty or full.” – School Library Journal

This year, we will strive for overflowing buckets. We read this book on the first day of school, then the book stays on display in the classroom to serve as a reminder to students to keep everyone’s buckets full.