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Intro from a teacher
Hello everyone. I posted a post on here the other day about advice for a first year teacher. I'm not sure if you all do intros on here, but I didn't want to keep posting without doing one. My name is Courtney and I am 24 years old about to start in on my first year of teaching. I have been married for 2 years. Anything else, just ask me.
I am signing my contract on Monday morning and getting my classroom keys! 
. My SIL is also a teacher and she is going to help me decorate my classroom on Wednesday and Thursday. I am super excited to start this new chapter in my life. I am wanting to go with a bumble bee theme, teaching second grade. If you have any ideas please feel free to share them with me. Here are the ideas I have so far....
For the door to the classroom... Buzzing into Second Grade and have cut out bees and hives with the students' names on them.
For the work wall.... "Bee-utiful Work"
For classroom jobs.... "Worker Bees"
Birthdays.... "Birthday Bees"
Cubbies will be called Bee Hives.
Behavior charts... "Bee on your best bee-havior."
That's all I have for now. Any more ideas, please feel free to share.
Re: Intro from a teacher
I did a bee theme last year for my 1st graders. They loved it. Make sure you explain to them the concept of bees working together in the hive as they should work together in the classroom.
Here is a picture of my behavior system:
My Chart
DX PCOS 2002 @ age 14
DX Diabetes 3/12
My Diabetes Blog
TTA until ?
Everyone starts out on green everyday. I usually give one warning before moving them on yellow. If they move to yellow they have to take a 5 minute break at their seat or someplace in the classroom. They have the opportunity to move back to green by changing their behavior. If they don't correct their behavior, then they move to red and lose 10 minutes of some activity we are doing. They also get a note/phone call home. Hope that helps!
This past year was my first year as well. It's very challenging and there will be times when you want to quit, but don't! In the end it is very rewarding and I truly love my job. This year I will be teaching 2nd grade, so I'm kind of starting all over again!
My Chart
DX PCOS 2002 @ age 14
DX Diabetes 3/12
My Diabetes Blog
TTA until ?
I like the bees theme. Definitely good for teamwork ideals. From a Responsive Classroom standpoint, I definitely would have each child getting a job to do. I find that the kids really feel the 'community' point when working together. In my room, I would have 14 jobs, if there were 14 kids. Each Monday, I just scoot each name over to the next job.
Also, if you are displaying their work and it is possible with your physical classroom setup, it should be at child's eye level. I know that isn't possible with some bulletin boards, walls, etc, but research shows the kids need to see at their level because most do not look up. Best of luck & welcome to teaching!
Dec '09 Laparotomy & laparoscopy for large cyst & HSG all clear
August '10-June '11 TTA for hip surgeries
Cycle #23...Dx: MFI, low p4
2 rounds of Clomid (50 mg) = BFNs...October SIS & 2nd HSG all clear
Plan after saving: repeat s/a + Clomid + Novarel + IUI
Congrats on your position!
Hope this helps: http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2011/06/bee-themed-classroom.html
I'm also a first year teacher, and I love this idea! But how would this work with a class of 25? That's the average 2nd grade class size where I'll be teaching...
Here are some of the jobs I use & extra ones that you could add on. My biggest class has only be 21 in 6 years. Yes, some kids don't do their jobs, but the point is that they are learning responsibility, team work, and empathy. Many will be happy to help others out when I permit them to 'ask a friend' for help.
Paper passer, calendar, board eraser, Wash the board, Pledge of Allegiance leader, Meteorologist, Pencil Sharpener, Push in Chairs, Feed fish,
Recycler (collects/dumps out paper recycling bin into can down the hall)
Library books (returns library book basket to library at specials time)
Books organizer (organizes books in classroom library)
Messenger (takes/picks up things to/from the office)
Equipment (takes out recess equipment/puts away indoor recess toys)
Book Bags (tidies up book bags from floor if fallen, etc)
Coloring tools (makes sure markers, crayons, colored pencils are in the right cups, etc)
Schedule strips (I have each subject/activity on a laminated strip with magnets on the board & as we complete the subject, he/she takes it down & puts in basket)
Clean-up Floor (use dust pan/duster--very popular job in 1st grade I've noticed lol)
Sink Cleaner (basically makes sure there's no paper towels left in sink or too much water around sink area)
Computers (shut down computers at end of day)
Lights (turn off lights when leaving room)
Door holder (recess time/going to specials)
Asker (I have one student go into the special teacher's room and ask her if she's ready for my class & the student gives us a 'thumbs-up' to come in)
Book passer (I just keep all the reading series books in bins rather than have them keep in their desk, so we just pass them out quickly b4 lesson)
Lunch checker (makes sure everyone's lunch or snack items are in the right area and also gives me the count to turn into the cafeteria)
Plus you can add other small jobs depending on how your classroom is setup & run. Of course, not everyone likes doing a job, but they will get mad when I offer to let someone else take over.
For line leaders, I do this separately and it has solved MANY problems: I have them line up alphabetically the first week of school & remember the person in front of them & behind them. The next Monday, the line leader goes to the end and everyone scoots up a spot. So, everyone gets to be line leader a few times a year and when I have to make sure all the kids are there, I can easily see who is missing. I ask them to leave a spot empty if a child is absent. No one ever complains about being 'never being 1st', 'last all the time', or runs to get in line.
In my blog, I have some pics of my room if interested. I will be adding more stuff as I think of it. lol
Dec '09 Laparotomy & laparoscopy for large cyst & HSG all clear
August '10-June '11 TTA for hip surgeries
Cycle #23...Dx: MFI, low p4
2 rounds of Clomid (50 mg) = BFNs...October SIS & 2nd HSG all clear
Plan after saving: repeat s/a + Clomid + Novarel + IUI
I just came across this 'beehive'
http://www.mrsmcdowell.com/Literacy%20Boxes/boxes.htm