Bucket Filling
If you’re a teacher, and you don’t already know about Bucket Filling…you need to get on the wagon. I love the bucket filling concept and so do the children. Every single year, it never fails to amuse and insight respect and care in my classroom.
The concept is that every person, young and old, have an invisible bucket that holds all the love and good feelings we get and feel. We rely on other people to fill our buckets, as well as fill our own buckets when we fill someone elses! We have to watch out for bucket dipping…which is when someone takes from a bucket to make themselves feel better. Bucket Dippers buckets are not full…so they try and fill it back up by taking love and good feelings, except it doesnt work!
The books (I use Have you Filled a Bucket Today, Bucket Filler, and Fill a Bucket)….well there are many to choose from. Fill a Bucket is a great book for the youngest age groups as it focusses on the positive filling and though the younger years (ie, you get your bucket when you get your name!) All the other books, and books of the same theme by other authors are all great. I haven’t found one I don’t like.
Links to bucket filling:
http://www.bucketfillers101.com/index.php
http://myfunteacher.com/bucketfillers.htm
Do your own search! there’s so much out there! :)
Whoever You Are
Over the two weeks leading up to the holidays, I like to focus on a multicultural theme, and teach the children about other places in the world. As we get closer to the holidays that so many people celebrate each winter, I tie in the different celebrations as well as similar customs.
Using the book Whoever You Are, by Mem Fox, the children learn about similarities and differences in a very simple book that introduces a multicultural theme. I love this book as it is simple, and colorful, and has so many different illustrations to offer the children.
This is a cute idea, courtesy of Mrs. Lee’s Kindergarten. Anytime one of her students is caught going “above and beyond for good behavior” they get to add another piece to their rainbow. At the end of the week, if they complete their rainbow they get to pick a prize. Aside from the reward, I think this is a colorful way to encourage good behavior!
Fits in with A SW/PW-PBIS program! Earn an arc when you earn a reinforcer!
derekhalebale asked: Best tips for teaching letter recognition to struggling 5 year olds?
Does the child love tactile stimulation, visual? You have to find what they connect with to make it work.
Are they block builders that you can’t tear away from the cars? Make cards or find foam letters that have visuals that go with them…the kids can use the letters as a road and “drive” the letters while they talk about the visual cue.
The same would go for tactile learners, using letters and visual cues, have the children trace the letters in sand, sand paper, etc while talking about the visual cue.
Another thing that builds letter recognition exponentially is actually the ASL (Sign Language) alphabet. Doing this in meaningful ways like spelling their name, learning a few letters at a time, etc eventually helps kids TREMENDOUSLY with letter connections. Then using visuals for those signs along with the other techniques ties so many learning areas together.
the trick really is making oral, sensory, visual, and auditory in combinations to build connections.
100 Classroom Organizing Tricks. -
By Dana Truby, Megan Kaesshaefer“What’s the secret to avoiding art messes? How can you make your room orderly without emptying out Office Depot?” Here is a selection from 100 teacher tips for creating a beautiful, organized environment (click the link to see all 100).
1. Address Stickers
Brand anything as yours—classroom library books, rulers, staplers—with a return-address sticker, and they just may stick around.2. Download It!
From field trip forms to IEP progress reports to “No Homework!” reward coupons, you can find dozens of free downloadable templates at toolsforteachers.org. Better yet, each form can be customized for your needs.3. Number Line
Assign each of your students a number. Then have them write their name and number on every paper. It makes assignments easy to keep track of and grades quick to enter.4. Label Everything
Place labels and photos on shelves and containers. It will make cleanup quicker and you won’t have to field a thousand questions a day about where things go!5. Hide It Away
Ugly storage area? Hit the fabric store and look for a bright fabric or remnant. Use safety pins to hang kids’ work or to make it into a word wall.6. Reduce Clutter
Weed out all unnecessary clutter. Use crates and baskets for those things you want out of sight but handy when needed.7. Start at the End
I have a calendar for the entire year. I take notes on major themes, brainstorm books, then I break down each book into themes and skills. I count the days and work backwards to fit it all in.8. Tangles of Wires
Slip wires through two or more empty paper towel tubes to contain them. For an even better look, have kids cover them with colored paper first.9. Too Much Art
So much artwork, so little wall space. When kids’ work piles up, take photographs of their masterpieces and post them on your website, or make them into an inexpensive photo book. (Try shutterfly.com or snapfish.com.)10. A five-minute daily clean routine can help keep the germs at bay and your classroom gleaming. Have your helpers of the day use disinfectant wipes to scrub down these hot spots:
- Desktops
- Countertops
- Light switches
- Doorknobs
- Keyboards
- Cabinet handles
- Drawer pulls
- Faucets
- Water fountains11. Brain Break
Between activities, have kids take turns acting out a fun or silly thing (e.g., catch and reel in a fish, hit a home run and then cheer for yourself)12. Style Code
I place a letter (A=Auditory, V=Visual, K=Kinesthetic) by each lesson plan idea to keep track of learning styles.13. Math on Monday
Try to plan one subject’s lessons for the next week each day. On Tuesdays, plan social studies, etc.14. Kitchen Timer
Multipurpose tool of the gods. Use it for transitions, group time, journaling, cleanup time.15. Teach Study Skills
Never assume kids know how to study. Teach them how to review a chapter.16. Library Cards
When students borrow a book, have them write the name of the book on an index card and place it in a pocket chart. Later they can write about the book on the back on the card.17. Match Up
Place stickers (yellow stars, blue circles) on your baskets and the books inside and they’ll be easy to return to the right place.18. Student Information Sheets
I send home student information forms the first week. On the back of the sheet is a contact log I use all year long.
“Storytelling, singing, playing, telling jokes - those are the building blocks of extensive vocabularies. Not direct teaching.” — Peter L. Mangione; co-director of Center For Child & Family Studies on the shift of preschool curriculum from play-based to direct learning and it’s detrimental effects on our children;article titled “The Death of Preschool” (via beaunourbaby)
When I get a moment to upload I will cover:
Hang tight!
A calm jar. I need one of these. You fill the jar with colored water and glitter. When you are upset you shake the jar and have to watch it until the glitter completely settles. The time it takes is enough time for you to settle your emotions.
kid word practice for those visual learners.
This is a little too young for my Kindies but I love the idea of a boo-boo bunny.