I've whipped out my bag tricks!

It is only the beginning of October and I am already feeling extremely overwhelmed this school year. Last year was seriously the ideal year for me as a teacher. My students were on point and invested way more than I thought possible. Looking at my students this year, I don't know if we will get to that same point. It is a bit disheartening but I really feel as though it has to do with the pressure that has started from day one by the district. This year I feel like it is just a get it going sort of deal, which yes is important but the most important thing in a classroom is its culture, environment, procedures and routines. And we all know it takes time to create that seamless classroom where the students can pretty much function on their own. It's definitely not an overnight ordeal. But without being allowed to do that due to the pressure its been a bit of a chaotic school year. I'm trying to stay positive and hoping that as a class we can find a way to get it together more than we have it now. But only time will tell. 

In the meantime I've whipped out my bag of tricks today and am hoping they do some good for us! Today I introduced my classroom coupons and am using them as an incentive that works with my behavior clip system. I have also pulled out my quiet critters and am using them as table points. Basically my students are in groups of 4 and awfully chatty. What I've done with my little critters is I've sprinkled them with magic dust so they have magic powers and only want to visit that are working quietly. Each table when working at the right conversation level can earn a critter. Giving them to the table allows tables to earn multiple critters. But watch out! If a table gets too noisy the critters will want to leave. But only a TEACHER can touch the critters or they'll lose their powers. At the end of the day each critter is worth one table point and on Fridays the table with the MOST points heads to the treasure box. 

I'm hoping this will help my students to hold each other accountable and help their friends out! Ultimately creating an environment where they can be self sufficient. 

Its only day 2 of the tricks so I'll have to update you all later on! 

- Off to bed before midnight for this teacher! (Let's see if it actually happens..)

<3 First Grade is a Fairy Tale