Starting the Day Right!

We all appreciate that knowing what comes before us is both reassuring and work efficient ; not only for us as the educator but also for the students. I am sure that there are some anxious students who breathe a sigh of relief when they see an agenda for the day....."She does know what she is doing! "

I also know that depending on the circumstances you may not know what is happening for the whole day due to a whole lot of reasons that are beyond your control. When this happens I just plan the time through to the next break with the children. This way we both have control over the pacing as well as the content that will be covered. It also gives you time to get organized after the next break!

Older children enjoy a vertical display of the sequence of the day on the whiteboard with or without times. I often plan this with the class, letting them know that this is the work expectation and asking if there is any other finishing work they would like time to work on or any other activity I have not included. This is their learning space and I am working with them to make it the best it can be for the day. This atmosphere of collaboration usually brings out leadership skills in the older children as you show them respect and in return you would like to be shown respect. This is also when I use the magnetic clock face. I often place a tick in the box as you finish that activity as a visual display of the day’s achievements too. It helps to keep everyone on task. I am sure they enjoy knowing what is coming up next as well as seeing what has been achieved for the day.

For younger children I record the day in simple pictures or words. A child colours the star beside the item as we work through the day . This can also act as a reward for a hard working child at the end of that activity to colour the star on the whiteboard. Little ones like the visual structure too.

So whether you do a vertical or a horizontal agenda it is easy to add any reminder notes into the visual representation of the time. I make constant use of a magnetic clock face I always carry too. I display the time that rotation or activity will finish. Children are able to cross compare the clock face on their classroom clock to the static clock face to know how much time is left. I also use the static clock face as a visual reminder to a child who may be anxious about an appointment time eg dental appointment is at 2:30pm. By putting the time on the clock face the child feels calmer and I am reminded of the appointment as well!

Sometimes all these little things add up to be big things that make your day run smoother and the children feel that atmosphere too. If you liked this tip please leave a comment or if you have some others to share please feel free to leave a comment also. Our profession is a sharing profession.

So live,laugh and learn,

Happy days.

Carmel

Starting the Day

"You never have a second chance to make a first impression."

As a substitute teacher, these words are golden! The class will be checking you out the moment they discover their own teacher is absent for the day. I make sure I am as organized and calm as I can be at this point in the day. I would have an agenda for the day organized and the resources for the morning session at hand. There are times when this is not possible as you are at the whim of the school administration as to how quickly you can arrive in the room. No matter what it is still critical to start the day smoothly.

1. 
   
   It is very important to check whether the class teacher has left a daily programme. If so there is an expectation that this work will be completed and marked. I always leave a detailed review of the day regarding the work covered. I also always add "my own flavour" throughout the day in the transition activities. This is where a well organized class level file is worth its weight in gold! You can't assume a detailed plan will be there for you to follow.


2. 
   
   Check the Class Timetable. Take note of your duties or specialist lessons. Find out where these are held. Note the bell times and you might like to add them to the day's agenda on the board. (See previous blogs)


3. 
   
   Locate the class roll. Familiarise yourself with the names on the roll. The class roll is a legal document and must be correctly completed. I always carry a black pen for this very reason! Make sure the roll is accurate at the end of the day. Some school require you to initial it too. Check with school policy.


4. 
   
   Opening the room for the day. I find in order to minimize any fuss when I am unfamiliar with the class, I am happy to get the room ready for the day. A smoother start is ensured.


5. 
   
   Introducing Yourself: This is where you have to quickly assess the needs of the class and the best way to start the day on the right foot. Sometimes you need to be clear and to the point and with other groups you might like to make it fun!

The following are a couple of different ideas I have found interesting in starting the day well. I have collated all the ideas in my handbook "Relief Insight" and happily add more all the time!

• I do think it is a good idea to write your name on the board so the children have the visual memory link. I am not outstandingly creative when it comes to drawing but I have learn a few "gorgeous" cartoons. You only need a few to impress a class no matter what age! One of my best loved drawing is of a very contented frog! Now my surname doesn't start with F; however, F does represent who I am as the relief teacher for the day.....FIRM,FUN, & FAIR. Three little FFF sit under the cute frog and I refer to them throughout the day when required. Classes who get to know me can often recall the meaning of the FFF without any prompting.

• This one is for that challenging new class usually upper primary who look like they are going to eat you alive! (It is all about throwing them off their game!) Stand at the front of the room and wait for the hush. It will come as the class waits for the first thing you are going to say! Will it be the usual rhetoric regarding behaviour expectations? Simply greet the class and turn purposefully to the board and write your name in alpha code on the board. (You know.....A=1, B=2, C=3 etc) Announce to the class that this is my name and the first person to crack the code and correctly spells my name will win a prize! You will never see children move so fast! Reward the winner in some way and then challenge everyone to write their name in code. If all children can do this on a slip of paper (complete with real name and alpha code name) I have then collected them and used this as means to allocate positions of responsibility through out the day by randomly drawing out the lucky child.... 1-4-1-13 will you please take this message to the office? I assure you Adam will have a smile on his face and all the class listens intently to work whose name is drawn. The Spy Kids movie made this technique very popular. Adding these details on a business card or name card on the desk is also worthwhile. The natural transition is to use current spelling words as alpha code words and see which spelling word has the greater value, odd/even value, prime or composite value when you add all the numbers together.

I will add other ideas on the blog in this section as there are so many as you teach the different year levels. I will try to tag the ideas under the same headings as the chapters in my handbook. Love to hear your ideas especially people who are teaching in other countries other than Australia.

Blessings for the journey......

Live,learn and remember to laugh!

Carmel