What is Working in My Classroom? Find it Here!

Well, I made it through about 2 1/2 weeks of school and things are going SO well. I'm proud of those kiddos. My 1st graders are working hard to learn the expectations and routines. I just wanted to share some things that are working fabulously!

Personal Behavior Clip Chart and Behavior Plan:

I'm loving these Personal Clip Charts and so are my students!  Plus, they only had zebra striped clothespins at Hobby Lobby so I just *HAD* to get them for my students. ;)

You can check out the WHOLE she-bang {here}!

My student store their behavior punch cards in their pencil box.  If they are on green or purple at the end of the day, they get a hole punch on their card.  Once it's filled up, they get a prize!

{The green facial scrubber is used as a whiteboard eraser and can be found at the Dollar Tree}

Their personal clip charts are kept to the side of their pencil boxes in their desk. They are not allowed to touch them unless I ask them to clip up or down. It's been GREAT so far!

This one is an oldie but a goodie!  In our class we have a VIP each week (much like a Star Student). They get to take home the VIP bag that has Andy (our dog mascot), interactive writing book about Andy, the Me Sack, and an About Me poster. 

Here's what our schedule looks like:

Also, if you would like the labels for the Me Sack, you can download those {here} and the rest of the pack separately {here}.

I've also sent home my students' Take-Home Reading Folders so they can practice, practice, practice. That will make their teacher happy, happy, happy!

ALL that you need to get started on sending books home is available in my Take-Home Reading Folders {Made Easy} Pack!

VIP

Oh.My.Word.

Can you say survival mode? I'm not sure what it is {well, I do know}, but I'm seriously EXHAUSTED at about 4:00pm everyday. I apologize for neglecting you all {or y'all, as my cute friends from the south would say}.  It's been CUH-RAZY here.

Please forgive me for the lack of posting. ;)

I wanted to do a little throw-back Thursday for you! Some of you might have seen this last year, or maybe not.  Enjoy!

I send home a  bag with the kiddo who is the VIP that week. I got the bag from Hobby Lobby and the dog from Wal-Mart.

Inside of the bag:
*Directions for the parents about their childs' VIP week
*Stuffed dog named Andy
*Adventures with Andy book for kids to write in
*Me Sack

VIP Directions:

Adventures with Andy book {I just stick it in a binder and put the writing pages in individual sheet protectors}. The kiddos take Andy home and play with him, then they have a parent help them write about it and draw a picture. This is their FAVORITE! {You can do any stuffed animal. In my student teaching, my cooperating teacher did this cute little frog because her classroom theme was frogs-I got the idea from her!}

The "Me Sack" is a label stuck on a brown paper bag. It's like show and tell, but the items need to be able to tell about the child and it better {p.s. I hate show and tell}. Then, the other students can ask 2 questions and have 2 comments about the items. :)  My friend and teaching buddy Ashlee gave me this fabulous idea. Click {here} to download the labels.

At the beginning of the year, I send home an "All About Me!" poster to return the first week. I like to do that so when their child is the VIP they don't get overwhelmed.    Sorry folks, I got this poster from my teammates and it's not digital!  But I did try to recreate it and you can download it at the bottom of this post {you will need to print it out and then enlarge it on your copy machine to fit on 11X17 paper}.

I'm always the VIP first. :)

Fonts and/or clipart copyright and used with permission from Diane J. Hook {djinkers.com}

VIP

Lots of our fabulous readers have asked if I do "Star Student". Well, I do. 

BUT, I call it VIP. 

I just think it sounds super official and important. YA!  Very-Important-Person.

I send home a  bag with the kiddo who is the VIP that week. I got the bag from Hobby Lobby and the dog from Wal-Mart.

Inside of the bag:
*Directions for the parents about their childs' VIP week
*Stuffed dog named Andy
*Adventures with Andy book for kids to write in
*Me Sack

VIP Directions:

Adventures with Andy book {I just stick it in a binder and put the writing pages in individual sheet protectors}. The kiddos take Andy home and play with him, then they have a parent help them write about it and draw a picture. This is their FAVORITE! {You can do any stuffed animal. In my student teaching, my cooperating teacher did this cute little frog because her classroom theme was frogs-I got the idea from her!}

The "Me Sack" is a label stuck on a brown paper bag. It's like show and tell, but the items need to be able to tell about the child and it better {p.s. I hate show and tell}. Then, the other students can ask 2 questions and have 2 comments about the items. :)  My friend and teaching buddy Ashlee gave me this fabulous idea. Click {here} to download the labels.

At the beginning of the year, I send home an "All About Me!" poster to return the first week. I like to do that so when their child is the VIP they don't get overwhelmed.    Sorry folks, I got this poster from my teammates and it's not digital!  But I did try to recreate it and you can download it at the bottom of this post {you will need to print it out and then enlarge it on your copy machine to fit on 11X17 paper}.

I'm always the VIP first. :)

I'd love to hear some feedback!!!!! Maybe even some tips!

I linked up with Erica Bohrer's First Grade!

Some fonts and/or clipart are copyright by Diane J. Hook and used with permission by djinkers.com