Coyotes, Rabbits and Conferences

This week we are having parent teacher conferences and boy do I feel swamped.  I still get nervous talking to parents and never know what they are going to bring to the table--how will they react to the report card or is there something on an assignment they don't like...etc... My biggest fear this week is parents are going to question how I divided my class.  Here's the deal... last week I decided to try something with my kiddos.  I have about half of my kiddos who are hard quiet workers, who listen when I teach, always ready to learn.  Then I have the other half, loud talkers who aren't ready to learn and don't always get their work done.  I split them into 2 groups.  I let them know what I was doing and let them know they could always earn their way out of the group.  Then I let them come up with group names using an animal...well wouldn't you know it the quiet learners decided to be rabbits b/c rabbits are quiet and the loud boisterous group picked coyotes because that got the most votes and they liked the name.  Well it's like I have rabbits and a pack of wild coyotes in my class now.  And I haven't been able to move anyone!  The coyotes can't EVER be quiet!!  And the rabbits are always working hard and listening.  It just amazes me how it is.  SO I've been worried parents are going to be upset that their child is a coyote!  I'm not sure why it's worrying me so much BUT it does.  I really hope they understand my reasoning and that it's a opportunity for those "coyotes" to learn how others are affected and how they are affected--I just really wish a coyote would become a rabbit!

My Own Signature!

Wow!  I just learned how to do my signature!  Thanks to  Shelly at Asprec's Apple for sharing the step by step process! I'm hoping to get the hang of this blogging stuff!

My Sister Ate One Hare!

Thanks to Swamp Frog First Graders I saw the book 

 and decided to check it out from the library.  I thought it would make a great writing project for my kiddos and we could make a book. I read the book to my class and they loved it.  After reading it we brainstormed animals and words that rhymed with those animals.  Of course there's always an animal said that has no rhyming words!  We chose not to use those animals :)  My kiddos did a real nice job on this project and they really enjoyed coming up with their own stories.  Here's an example of one: 

For the last page, I let them choose either peas or some kind of cheese (because it had to rhyme with sneeze)!  I hope you enjoyed!


Stacee

Linky Party

I just came across this Linky Party Rowdy in the First Grade --Check it out!

10 Things I've Learned from being a Teacher

10.  No matter how much sleep you get, you are always tired at the end of the day. (and my feet are tired too)
9.  I can never stay caught up on putting files and papers away or correcting assignments. 
8.  Some kids have ruined the perfect name.
7.  Tattling makes me want to scream, especially when it's from the say kid.
6.  No matter how many pencils I sharpen in the morning, some kid usually can't find one even after he/she just used one. 
5.  I'm addicted to buying things for my classroom....especially books, bins/containers, and dollar store finds.
4.  No matter where a group of teachers are, we always divert our conversation back to school or kids.
3.  I always countdown my recess duties I have a week when the weather stinks. 
2.  A hungry kid can't learn. 
1. When kids are kind and compassionate to others, it fills my bucket and makes me love teaching even more.  


(Wow...once I got going, I thought of so many more but I'll keep it to just 10)
Stacee

My First Blog!

Hello all!  This is my first attempt at blogging.  I've been addicted to so many other blogs with great ideas that I wanted to start my own.  I'm learning how to do a blog-kind of teaching myself after a teacher gave us a lesson a year ago.  I want to start sharing my ideas in hope to help other teachers from all over.  I hope this goes well and that I don't get overwhelmed!!
Stacee