Keeping Straight
Since our Center is new, most of my kids are new as well. Not just new to the facility but new to being in a preschool. This can make it challenging to learn some of the basic skills more experienced pre-schoolers already know, such as standing in a line (while keeping your hands to yourself). Here’s a neat trick I learned in school to help keep it straight. First, I cut out a shape usually related to our theme. This month I chose cars since we were working on transportation. Then, I used the colors and numbers I wanted to focus on. Next, I printed a number on each car and used clear contact paper to stick them in a line on the floor in front of the sink. While I’m monitoring their hand washing, I ask what color car they’re standing on. I ask what number they’re standing on and so on. They’re so excited to be on a number or change numbers they forget to touch each other. I constantly praise them on a beautiful line and in no time we can stand in line without the help of our aids. Although, I’ll still use them to teach other concepts.
This is a little stroke of genius! We have 2 sinks and 20 kids on most days. This idea will come in handy.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I have carpet in my classroom, so sticking things on the floor doesn't work as well. I've been trying to come up with something that will work like this for me, as I face similar challenges with my class. :)
ReplyDeleteTom, don't forget to send me pics of what you come up with...I can see you taking this thing and doing something spectacular:)
ReplyDeleteAyn, on my carpet I mark their spaces with masking tape. I tear off a piece and press it down, I write their name on another piece and lay it over the first piece so it looks like an X. That is where my little treasures place their bottoms during circle time. You could always get the colored tape and make numbers and letters too.
This is such a cute idea! I saw someone try this using little footprints but she never changed them up so they got pretty ucky after awhile:)
ReplyDeleteI love that you are extending your theme through this little classroom management technique. Great for helping children have a guide and to understand your expectations.
For carpet, you can put velcro(the rough side) on the back of whatever you want the kids to stand on and put it on the carpet or you can hand the kids the item you want them to stand on as they line up once they are better at lining up.
ReplyDeleteMs. Stacy :)
On rainy days we would have the kids make a picture of usually an animal, or a type of car or something and tape them down for the day. We would then have lots of large motor activities to get out all our wiggles by jumping from one picture to the other... like who can hop to the blue bunny or who can fly to the orange bird. The kids loved hearing that their picture was called or jumped on too... crazy kids :)
ReplyDeleteWhat I like about this is that your are clearly thinking about what works for transitioning the children. This is really overlooked in many programs and what I really focus on the most. This is where most teachers and kids "lose their marbles"...because they never planned for how to move so many kids from one space or activity to another smoothly. I am glad you are thinking of this...it shows you care!
ReplyDelete@ Michelle, I'm in Florida and we've had lots of rainy days...I can't wait to try this with my class! I let you know how it turns out. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete@ Barbra, I remember my first couple of years teaching being really frustrated (losing my marbles) that I would have to tell the kids the same thing over and over again. As I grew in wisdom (ha, ha) I found many neat and innovative ways of getting my class to cooperate without running myself ragged! A few things I keep in the back of my mind is that just as our children are individuals so is the class unit. What may have worked with my class last year may not work this year. Also, spending time chatting or visiting with other teachers is priceless.