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My name is Tomi and I live with my wonderful husband and my two kids (my dogs!) in Ada, Ohio. I am currently doing student teaching and will be graduating in May 2012. I have decided to start a blog which I hope will follow me to my first teaching position. Being that I have little experience teaching, I have MANY questions so I might frequently ask the help of my followers!

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

SO MANY QUESTIONS.....Do you have any answers??


Being that I am still student teaching, I have had little experience teaching on my own. The program that I am involved in at my University doesn't give us the chance to be out in a classroom on the first day of school. In short, I am FREAKING OUT that I haven't seen how to set up a classroom before. This leads me to my first question....How do you set up your classroom on the first day? Any and all help I can get would be appreciated! Please help a first year out!! (=


If there is anyone who could take time to answer this question in the comment below I would GREATLY appreciate it! Thanks! Tomi

5 comments:

  1. Check into getting the wonderful book by Harry Wong titled The First Days of School. It the go to handbook for any teacher. Good luck. Pop on by my blog too.

    Yearn to Learn Blog

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  2. Thanks so much! I will definitly check that book out. Starting out is overwhelming and I could use all the help I can get! I appreciate it!

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  3. Something that helps me is having a theme. Part way through my second or third year of teaching, one of my little boys came up to me with a wooden tic-tac-toe board with apples on it. He said he noticed all my apples around the room (it was just the way I always thought to decorate my class for the beginning of school), and thought I must really like apples. He said he and his mom were at a tag sale and he saw it and thought I would like it. That gave me the thought to keep the apples up all that year. I even gave the kids little apple ornaments I decorated for Christmas. Since then I always start the new school year with a theme. Former students and parents often come by my room to see what my new theme will be. I have done butterflies, frogs, dogs, fish, smiley faces, penguins and snowmen, and many others. I coordinate my bulletin boards with the theme. Then I always try to make or decorate ornaments for the students for Christmas to go with the theme. I have gotten some cute gifts from the kids that go with the themes. That's just the only way for me to be able to be more creative, pretty sad. :) I also love Carson Dellosa, they have helpful books with great ideas and wonderful bulletin board borders and characters. I know of other people who have a theme for each season, which ends up being really cute too. Sorry this is so long, but hope it helps. :)If you have any questions, please feel free to stop by and ask. There are a couple of other ideas and and things that I can share, but this comment is so long, I don't want to bore you, hee hee. :)
    Stacey
    3rdgradetimesinct.blogspot.com

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  4. By the way, I saw your comment on 3rd Grade Gridirons post, now I'm a new follower! :)

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  5. Hi there, Good luck in the classroom. I always identify the students who may struggle with behaviour and try to make some connection early on. for example, one student had the same birthday as me so he became my "birthday buddy", another I renamed "Brock" to "Brock star". I find these students often just want attention and if I can give them that attention in a positive way before they seek it they are less inclined to act out. I am also a "routines" girl. Same thing, same way everyday! I have found that the students feel more comfortable and less anxious when they can anticipate what's going to happen. Hope this helps! Have fun!

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