Reasons to use Directed Drawing in Your Classroom

If your students are anything like mine - they love directed drawing. They are obsessed! You will be glad to hear that directed drawings don't just have to be an afternoon free-time activity, directed drawing help students to develop many important scholarly skills. 

5 Reasons to use Directed Drawing in Your Classroom Today

1. Following Instructions: directed drawings are a great way to teach students how to follow instructions. This includes both the act of actively listening to instructions and enacting the instructions in a successful way. Listening and following instructions is an absolutely vital skill for children and this is such a fabulously fun way to practice!

2. Confidence: In order to feel confident, students must first be taught. Directed drawing is a great way to boost student confidence - my students are always thrilled to see how amazing their drawings turn out and have such a sense of pride in their work. 

3. Creativity: I discovered through my university studies that not teaching students 'how' to draw is almost an exclusively Western thing. Many countries in different parts of the world see drawing as a skill that is taught, practised and mastered with instruction. This is a very different attitude to many educators in the US who fear they may be stifling creativity but by using gradual release of responsibility, children feel more confident to take artistic risks when they are first taught the skills to succeed. 

4. Fine Motor Skills: The forming of shapes, controlling a pencil and purposefully creating are all processes which support fine motor skills. Directed drawings give students structure and instruction to improve fine motor skills in a fun and creative way. They won't even know they are learning!

5. Mindfulness: an unexpected benefit of directed drawing is mindfulness! Research has shown that drawing mindfully can result in a heightened sense of wellbeing for students. Children also through this practice hone focus and attention span as they immerse themselves in a state of focus and concentration. 

If you want to start incorporating directed drawing in your classroom, you can find my fabulous range of directed drawing activities in my TPT store. These no prep activities are perfect for any time of the year!

Routines to Teach in the First Week of School

So it's the start of the year and you're wondering: what on earth am I going to do with all these kids?! I've got your answer: routines, routines, and yup, you guessed it, more routines. Setting up for a successful year takes a lot of work and most of that success is in setting routines and practices that will help the classroom to run smoothly. I spend the first 3 weeks of the year setting up my classroom routines - that's how important they are!

There are so many routines you could teach to your kids at the beginning of the year, but here are my absolute must-haves:

1. Beginning of the Day

Entering the Classroom

If you want your entire day to be calm and focused, then your day needs to start calm and focused. I have students enter the room quietly, put their bags away, pop their water bottles in the designated spot and begin independent reading time. I don't allow students to wander and chat during this time period - that is what recess is for!

Late Arrivals

Anyone who has been teaching for 5 minutes knows the disruptions throughout the day are REAL. minimize the number of disruptions to your morning block by setting up expectations for late arrivals. This will usually be outlined by school policy but once students arrive to class they need to enter quietly and look around to see what everyone else is doing, and hop to it!

Independent Reading

Students need to be taught how to read independently, and how to pick a just right book. They sound pretty simple things to do to us grown-ups but there is actually a lot that goes into this! I teach the expectation of actually reading, not just flicking through your book looking at the pictures, this is where the picking a just right book comes in. Students should check the first sentence of the book they have chosen and if they had trouble reading it, put it back and choose another. This alone removes a lot of the behavior issues and lessens behaviors such as wandering and talking. 

Read my post independent reading time here: Why Your Students Deserve Independent Reading Time

2. During the Day Routines

Lining Up

Students need to know what your expectations are for lining up. Do they have consistent partners? What happens when they don't have a partner? Are you going to choose line leaders? Do they line up in single file or with a partner? Are they to be silent or can they chat quietly? Do they walk or run? Should they be facing the front? Where should their hands be? Who would have thought so much could go into the simple act of lining up?!

Using the Bathroom

Setting the tone for bathroom use is so important. It can be a highly controversial topic among teachers but I personally allow students to use the bathroom whenever needed. Of course there needs to be conversations about how frequently (within reason) students will be allowed, how to move to the bathroom, which partner they take, how long they should take, etc. You may like to have a sign in/out sheet and will need to teach students how to use this.

Call to Attention

All teachers need a fun way to call their students' attention! My personal favorites are:

-  a simple clapping pattern which they clap back (it saves your voice!)

- Teacher: 1-2-3, eyes on me; Students: 1-2, eyes on you!

- Teacher (while gesturing): stop, look, listen, think; Students (while gesturing): stop, look, listen, think

- Teacher: hands up top; Students: everybody stop

- Teacher: zip it, lock it; Students (motion zipping their mouths and putting the key in their pocket): put it in your pocket!

There are sooo many to choose from and you can choose one that suits your classroom theme! Here are some I've heard other teachers use:

- Teacher: hocus pocus!; Students: everybody focus!

- Teacher: macaroni and cheese; Students: everybody freeze

- Teacher: all set?; Students: you bet

- Teacher: ready to rock?; Students: ready to roll

Be sure to set the expectations around what their hands and eyes are doing while they are listening, as some students will learn to say the call and response but carry on their activity!

3. End of Day Routines

Packing Bags

You would not believe how many students even in 1st and 2nd Grade still need to be taught how to pack a bag! I always teach my students that the biggest items always go in first (ie., lunch box, iPad, book folders). Explicitly model this process and make sure you include a think aloud about how you choose which item to go in next so they can understand the decision making process. There are other things to teach in this routine too, including where their packed bag goes, what they do after, and the timeliness of the process.

Cleaning Up

My classroom can certainly look like a bit of a tornado has gone through it by the end of the day... lucky I have 20 little helpers to make it look spiffy again! I like to set the expectation that once bags are packed, students set straight to their clean up duties at the end of the day. You can set your own classroom jobs for end of day cleaning and allow students to 'apply' to their preferred position. I find this creates a sense of ownership and motivation for the jobs. Some jobs I like to include are: floor cleaners, chair checkers, library monitors, locker area checkers, table cleaners. 

Closing Meeting

How will you run the end of your day? I like to do GEM chats (gratitude, empathy, mindfulness) chats at the end of my day and list some things that went well for us that day. I find engaging in these discussions right at the end of the day gives students something positive to share with their grownup upon pickup. I also like to read a novel, give out art works, celebrate birthdays and make time for special show and tells. 

4. Academic Routines

Turn and Talk

Engaging your students through talk is so important! It allows everyone an opportunity to share their thoughts and to feel heard. Talk aloud also helps students to consolidate learning and engage in metacognitive thinking! During turn and talk, I have some basic procedures students must follow: sit knee-to-knee with their partner, use a 'partner' voice (only their partner should be able to hear them), talk to the topic, and everyone gets a turn. 

Partner Reading

For fluency practice, my students engage in partner reading for 10 minutes everyday. This routine includes logging on to their decodable reading app, playing rock-paper-scissors to see who is reading first, looking to the board to see which book they need to read today. Even deeper into the partner reading rabbithole, students need to be explicitly taught how to perform the reader role, and the helper role. Readers need to use a clear voice and sound out words they are unsure of. Helpers need to be pointing to the words read, eyes on the book, and helping sound out.

Whiteboards 

I use whiteboards all the time in my classroom as I feel it takes students from passively listening to actively engaged with material being taught. I'm proud to say I am famous in my school for having an incredibly efficient whiteboard collection routine! I have my whiteboards, erasers, and pens in three separate tubs along the wall of the room. Students stand up from the floor and move single file from the first to last row of the seating pattern to collect their materials. This prevents bottle neck getting materials and moving back to their seating! You also need to teach 'listening boards' so that students are not tempted to draw on their whiteboard while you are teaching. 

Phew! Even just this short list seems like a lot of routines to teach but trust me, with perseverance and care you will be setting yourself up for an entire year of success and learning!

Let me know in the comments below if any of these routines have helped you!

 

5 Ideas for Meet the Teacher Night

 

I'm sure all of us can remember the first day of school in a new grade. The nerves, the uncertainty! Hosting a successful 'meet the teacher' night is one of the best ways to put little ones (and the big ones!) at ease for the coming year. Here are my 5 top tips for a fantastic 'meet the teacher' night:

Ask Preferred Names

Nothing is more important than getting your students' names right, and their families too. Knowing how to pronounce your students' names is a no-brainer, but have you ever been given a nickname you didn't like? Make sure your students are comfortable with any nicknames you might give them throughout the year, but asking straight away what they prefer to be called may alleviate this altogether. 

It is just as important to know preferred names for families too, have a note pad and write down these details if needed for future phone calls and emails. 

Collect School Supplies

There are not many organisational nightmares like letting a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds organize their own supplies on the first day. Save yourself the headache and ask parents and carers to bring school supplies on the meet the teacher evening. I like to have a few empty baskets labelled so that families can pop their supplies into the baskets at the beginning of the evening. There are a great selection of free labels on TPT you can download for this.

Prepare a 'Meet the Teacher' Packet

One thing we take for granted as teachers is our familiarity with routines, schedules and general life of school. We can make the lives of our students' families (and ultimately ours too) by providing hard copies of this information the night. You may like to include in your packet:

• Bus schedules
• Pickup and drop off procedures
• Daily schedules
• Lunch and breakfast procedures and costs
• Behavioral expectations and discipline procedures
• Information for parent volunteering
• Dress code information
• Communication methods and expectations
• Holiday dates
• Homework expectations and procedures

Have a Plan!

What are students and families going to do when they arrive? Where are they going to sit? Who are they going to talk to? 

Be sure to have a plan in mind for the night and think about what you want the students and families to learn from the evening. I like students to familiarize themselves with the room they will be learning in through a scavenger hunt. You may also like to have a short presentation prepared to talk students and families through some of the information in the packet. This also gives everyone a chance to ask some questions!

Provide a Take Away

I love to provide a small gift for my students to put their minds at ease before they begin school. My favorite gift is a small eraser stuck with hot glue onto a nice little message card. The ones I like to use are available on my TPT store:

Let me know in the comments below if you used any of these tips for a seamless 'meet the teacher' evening!

Books for the Beginning of the Year

Nothing is more exciting (and more nerve wracking) than the first day of school! Sharing a book with your students is an important way to connect, set expectations and relieve first day jitters. Below are my favorite books to start the school year on a positive note.

1. The Kissing Hand

How could I not? This is a first day classic for a reason. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a touching story about a little raccoon who is scared for his first day at school. Chester's mom kisses his hand so that he can take her kiss to school and be comforted by her presence. This heartwarming tale can be paired with a variety of craft activities to help your little ones settle in to the new school year and grow used to being apart from their grown ups. 

2. All the Ways to Be Smart

All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell is a gorgeous rhyming book full of colorful illustrations that capture students' attention. It challenges traditional beliefs about what it means to be smart and celebrates all the different qualities that are unique to us. Every child who reads this joyous book will find something that affirms their diverse talents. This is another book which lends itself nicely to start of the year crafts, I have a rainbow craft that makes a fabulous and eye-catching door display available in my TPT store. 

3. Blue Flower

Blue Flower by Sonya Hartnett is a touching and heartwarming tale of a young girl who finds herself out of place and scared at school. Through her love of art she discovers that her individual differences and creativity are what make her special. This gentle exploration of individuality and emotion make for a truly special book your students will request time and time again. 

4. Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Simple metaphors of bucket filling and dipping helps children to see how their actions affect both themselves and others. A wonderful book to encourage students to express kindness and care for their peers and nurture empathy in your classroom. There are also a plethora of fantastic crafty activities to go with the book available on TPT!

5. Our Class is a Family

This book perfectly highlights just how expansive our job as teachers is! This is a wonderful book that helps you to build a sense of community in your classroom from the first day. Your students will learn that their classroom is a safe place for them to learn, make mistakes, and most importantly a place for them to be a friend to others. Like many of the others on this list, there are a tonne of great activities to paired with this heartfelt read available online. 

 

6. A Letter From Your Teacher

Another beautifully written and heartfelt story from Shannon Olsen, A Letter From Your Teacher (On the First Day of School) is an encouraging story that helps teacher welcome their new students on the first day of school. Perhaps the most lovely aspect of all, is that the last page has a blank space for you to sign your name so your students know the sincere message of care, guidance and love is coming straight from you!

7. Invisible Boy

Finishing my list of perfect start of the year books is Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig. This gentle story teaches children that small acts of kindness make a big difference. Brian the invisible boy goes most days unnoticed by his peers until Justin the new kid joins school, and he and Brian team up for a project. This poignant and tender book sensitively addresses the isolation that can plague our quieter students, and encourages the more extroverted among them to express the simple act of friendship to all. 

Let me know in the comments if there are any of these titles that you love to use in your classroom, or if you have any to share with others!

10 Indoor Recess Must Have Items

INDOOR RECESS ... 2 words that strike fear into the hearts of teachers everywhere. Luckily, I have 10 activities and games that will keep your classroom from sounding like someone let the monkeys out of the zoo. Use these great activity ideas to keep you sane, your students entertained, and best of all students ready to learn in the next lesson!

1. How to Draw Corner

Totally independent and perfect for encouraging calm vibes in your room, how to draw pages are perfect for indoor recess. Simply print some out and file them in a plastic pocket binder, pop them out on a table with pencils and paper. Website: https://howtodrawforkids.com/ has a great selection of simple drawing instructions that are easy to download and print.

2. Puzzles

There is something wonderful about puzzles that encourages teamwork, collaboration and communication among students. This classic mindful past time will have students learning and relaxing at the same time. Usborne has a wonderful selection of fantastically priced jigsaws available from their website and Amazon. The illustrations are delightfully colorful and I find 100 pieces to be perfect for 1st Grade students. 

3. Coloring Pages

There always the kids who want nothing more than to zen with a coloring page during indoor recess. Luckily, this is one of the easiest activities to set up thanks to some beautiful and FREE coloring sheets available on TPT. There is a huge selection of free resources on TPT so you can even change up the coloring sheets depending on the seasons and holidays. 

4. Fun Books

Want something that will last your students a little longer than just recess? Fun books are a fantastic way to keep students entertained for long periods of time. These fun books available on my TPT store are packed full of literacy and numeracy based activities that are engaging and able to be independently completed. You can purchase them individually or in a great value year long bundle by clicking the picture below:

5. Board Games

You can go wrong with a carefully curated collection of board games. Just be mindful of something I have learned the hard way through years of teaching - think about the noise and excitement level each game is going to produce. If calm vibes are what you're after, think twice about that game of Jenga! Target has a great selection of well priced board games your students will love.

6. Mystery Pictures

It doesn't matter the weather, some students just love to learn and want nothing more than to chill with a worksheet. My mystery pictures are perfect for students who need a little during wet day timetable. I have a selection that covers every season and holiday for the year - a fun way to practice their place value knowledge!

7. Kinetic Sand

Bring the sandpit inside with kinetic sand - this sounds like a terrible idea if you don't have the correct set up! Be sure to provide trays for students to keep their sand in one place (and off the floor). There are a bunch of really fun kits available beyond just sand that will encourage your students' creativity. 

8. Where's Wally?

A throwback to most of our childhoods with Where's Wally books. These books are fun and engaging, and students love to make it a competition who can find Wally first. Where's Wally books are sold in many book stores and online.

 

9. Play-dough

A timeless classic among all students, play-dough is a winner for wet day timetable. Be sure to set out some ground rules for play-dough including not mixing the colors together to avoid multiple tubs of brown dough that loses its appeal pretty quickly! Play-dough is widely available at many stores including Target which also sell cute themed sets. 

10. Go Noodle

We all have those students who need to move during their recess and lunch breaks. Luckily this list has something for absolutely everyone: Go Noodle is a fantastic way to encourage your active students to get the wiggles out of their system. There is a tonne of research that shows kids need to move in order to learn so don't shy away from this fantastic opportunity to harness the energy into some fun dancing!