Here are two of my favorite easy peasy lemon squeezy things I do in my room.
They aren't anything genius so don’t be prepared to be mind blown. Haha!
They aren't anything genius so don’t be prepared to be mind blown. Haha!
First, I don’t do classroom jobs. Gasp! I
know. Deep breathes. You can keep reading. I have had ten jobs and even twenty-two
jobs in the past but I was always forgetting
who did what and when. I felt like I was
chasing my tail. Then, my I noticed how my genius teaching partner handled
classroom jobs and it was like LAAAAA….(cue in angelic light and music). She
had a Super Star of the day, and ONE kid held ALL jobs. What?? How could this work? I would only have to remember one kid's name for jobs each day? She had star die cuts on a ring hanging on her calendar
wall. She changed the star each day. So, I ran over to my room and dug in my die
cut basket thingy. No stars. Bummer. At last…hearts. I can do that, right? Cue
in the Sweetheart of the Day. Genius!
know. Deep breathes. You can keep reading. I have had ten jobs and even twenty-two
jobs in the past but I was always forgetting
who did what and when. I felt like I was
chasing my tail. Then, my I noticed how my genius teaching partner handled
classroom jobs and it was like LAAAAA….(cue in angelic light and music). She
had a Super Star of the day, and ONE kid held ALL jobs. What?? How could this work? I would only have to remember one kid's name for jobs each day? She had star die cuts on a ring hanging on her calendar
wall. She changed the star each day. So, I ran over to my room and dug in my die
cut basket thingy. No stars. Bummer. At last…hearts. I can do that, right? Cue
in the Sweetheart of the Day. Genius!
At the very beginning of the day I give clues as to who the sweetheart is. Clues can be “this person is a boy”, “this person's name has three syllables” “this person's name starts with the same beginning sound as fish”, etc. The Sweetheart of the Day takes the lunch
count to the cafeteria, runs notes to the office, passes out papers, helps with
calendar, picks our “special” song of the day, etc. The cool part is that the
sweetheart gets to pick one friend that is obeying the rules at that moment to
help them. They must alternate between boys and girls and no one can be picked
twice in one day to help. The kids LOVE it!
count to the cafeteria, runs notes to the office, passes out papers, helps with
calendar, picks our “special” song of the day, etc. The cool part is that the
sweetheart gets to pick one friend that is obeying the rules at that moment to
help them. They must alternate between boys and girls and no one can be picked
twice in one day to help. The kids LOVE it!
My second favorite idea is my Birthday Box. Birthdays can be a hassle sometimes. Let’s be
honest. Birthdays are important though. Sometimes the only celebrating
kids do is the one at school. I often
don’t have brain power to be on top of birthdays AND teaching. Imagine. I know.
So, I keep a birthday box. During the summer, I purchase certificates and sign
all of them ahead of time. I put them in the box along with a birthday banner,
birthday stickers, readers (ones I have gotten with scholastic points or found
as a dollar deal), and “treasures”. Each student gets their own book,
certificate, treasure, and sticker to wear. We sing the normal Happy Birthday
song and then a special birthday song. Birthdays are no longer stressful in my
room because all I have to do is pull down the box and wha la, everything is
there and ready.
honest. Birthdays are important though. Sometimes the only celebrating
kids do is the one at school. I often
don’t have brain power to be on top of birthdays AND teaching. Imagine. I know.
So, I keep a birthday box. During the summer, I purchase certificates and sign
all of them ahead of time. I put them in the box along with a birthday banner,
birthday stickers, readers (ones I have gotten with scholastic points or found
as a dollar deal), and “treasures”. Each student gets their own book,
certificate, treasure, and sticker to wear. We sing the normal Happy Birthday
song and then a special birthday song. Birthdays are no longer stressful in my
room because all I have to do is pull down the box and wha la, everything is
there and ready.
Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Now, I told you this wasn't rocket science but I hope you liked one of these Wonderful Wednesday Ideas. The ideas don’t stop
there (aren't you relieved? Haha!). Make sure you stop by Freebielicious and hop to all of the linked posts. You can even link up too.
there (aren't you relieved? Haha!). Make sure you stop by Freebielicious and hop to all of the linked posts. You can even link up too.
Happy reading.
Paige says
I've also ditched the whole idea of classroom jobs. I do have a Star of the Week who helps me out/gets to be the line leader. Much less of a headache and my kids can't wait to be Star of the Week!
Paige
Paiges of Learning
Sarah Sklapsky says
I also have a star student of the day, and I wouldn't go back. At the beginning of the year, we interview each star student on their first day, write about them, make a easy peasy book for them and add their name to our word wall.
Fluttering Through First Grade says
Oh how we LOVE your birthday box idea! We are constantly having to remember to pull down our book box, sharpen their special pencil, get out their chair cover, etc. Love the idea of it being within their reach and done! Genius!
xoxo
~Christy & Tammy
Debbie Lawheed says
Wow!!! I am so doing the "Sweetheart of the Day" helper and the Birthday Box ideas. Thank you so much for the great suggestions. I love them all!!!
Debbie