1) Handling the random/off-topic questions in the middle of the day:
"Mrs. Evans, can you publish my paper during recess time?" or "I have to stay inside today because I am sick" and "I think I need another homework paper because I lost it" are all perfectly fine statements/questions from 1st grade students. The only problem is that they are all usually asked when I am either teaching a lesson or talking with someone else. What oh what should we do about this problem??? All of my students are pretty familiar with working with post-it notes to reflect their opinion about books and such. Why not use them to ask Mrs. Evans all of the questions that can maybe "wait until later"? I decided to make my filing cabinet the destination for all of their post-it requests so that I will make sure to see it throughout the day. I will respond to their request or statement by answering it in marker and putting it on their desk. Who knew you could teach patience and communication through writing while keeping my sanity all at the same time?
2) Managing Mini-Lesson Material (Reading/Writing workshop):
I had no idea that just by adding two students to my reading/writing group I would have to rearrange and change my whole system for doing things. I thought the whole "making a procedure" for things would be a one time deal in the beginning of the year, badda bing badda boom....apparently not. When we would read and "dissect" a read-aloud or shared reading together, I would normally have the students take their clipboards, post-its and pencils from their books boxes to get ready to respond (book box is like a cardboard magazine holder). My reading rug is not that big, and now with the students and book boxes, it is a bit more snug than we would like....and then less manageable. Instead of wasting time, and possible arguements from the lack of personal space, I decided to get innovative with my materials. I wanted to create a "catch all" clipboard...but out of cardboard (to save money of course). In just seconds, the students now have all the materials they need. A piece of cardboard is their clipboard with a pencil already clothespinned to the top. On the front I covered the post-it codes with contact paper while having a handy pocket with their post-its on the back. No more wasting time! No more "Wait Mrs. Evan's I can't find my pencil!" or "What is the code for Text to Text again?". And without the book boxes sitting beside them, that is practically 3 students wide of space we are saving!
The awesome thing is that my mind is all fired up and we still have one full week left of break...how comforting :).
