Teacher thought of the day!

Relax, take a deep breath, and smile at your class. As we begin each year we may forget how far a child will grow during our time with them. Have faith in your plan for these kids. Slow your roll, and TEACH everything WITH INTENTION. Relish these days as you get to know your knew kiddos!

Teacher thought of the day!

Today is our first day back to school, and I am so excited to meet my kiddos and begin our long journey of success and growth. As we begin, I thing about procedures. Procedures aren’t rules for your classroom. They are more like habits shared by the whole class. Setting and practicing procedures give students a sense of knowledge and security. They know exactly what they are supposed to do in different situations: what to do when they enter every morning, when they finish morning work, when reading to themselves, and any other routine you establish for your class. Procedures help both you and your students and make everyone’s day successful. Set your procedures and then practice them with your class until they are automatic. Everyone will be happy with the results.

Teacher thought of the day!

Without out a doubt, if I want my kids to boogie, do the Macarena, put effort into reading, or take any kind of risk, I must be willing to do the same thing. They are expecting me to set the example IN ALL THINGS. Go ahead, get down like a child and boogie, play, sweat, learn. This will make you credible and more trusted by your students. It will give them permission to follow suit. I know, sometimes it feels childish. Do it anyway. You will both be rewarded.

Teacher thought of the day!

Make your students ESSENTIAL. Today’s thought goes right back to day 11 when I suggested that you take the time to NOTICE each child. Notice them for something they do well. Once you have found a strength in each child, put that strength to use. Make their strength (them) ESSENTIAL. Create a job or task centered on their strength. Make their valuable skills and strengths the pieces that make your classroom work. Your students strengths will become ESSENTIAL to the success of the class. What a great way to build self-confidence and to let each child know they MATTER!!!!!

Teacher thought of the day!

Your class deserves your best. No matter what you might be personally dealing with, make it a point to pick your class up from recess, lunch, library, P.E, music, or wherever else they may be with a SMILE! They cannot help but smile back, and it sets the tone for comfort and acceptance. Who couldn’t use a smile? After all, they are contagious. Kids ask me the cutest questions all the time and one of my favorite question came one day when I picked my class up from recess. A sweet-faced little boy said, “Mrs. Bolken, why do you always smile at us?” What a delightful thought to have them ponder. Don’t forget to smile. Remember what your mom said? “If you keep making that face, it will stick that way.” GOOD!

Teacher thought of the day!

It is imperative to know you matter. Kids need to know their existence in your class (your life) matters. Some kids are extremely artistic, out-of-the-box thinkers, mathematicians, or fabulous readers. Others have strengths in their kindness, being neat, or remembering… Each child has SOMETHING they are very skilled at. Take the time to FIND that something, and NOTICE THEM for their strengths. Let them know: THEY MATTER.