Thank you! I've taught first grade for 25 years and am thinking of retiring. I also taught other lower grades, including kindergarten for 20 years before that! Yep, I'm OLD! It's getting harder every year to get the routine going. Last year it took me 2 or more solid months of relationship building to establish what used to take me two weeks! Covid has changed a lot of things. Almost every teacher now has 1-5 children who are victims of trauma or lack any social skills at all! These children tend to have melt-downs or aggressive acting out that causes us to have to "empty the room". There is virtually no support from our district or admin in the form of boots on the ground. These kids need one on one guidance to move along with the rest of the kids, but so far they aren't getting it! The second issue we are facing is lack of parent involvement and chronic tardiness / absenteeism. The families got the idea during Covid (at least in good old California) that they didn't need to DO ANYTHING. We were out of school for 18 months at least and during that time the train really came off the rails. Unfortunately, the powers at the district office are all about equity (everyone should learn the same things at the same time at the same pace- no allowance for differences in maturity), on top of a whole lot of testing. Kinders and first graders take a mountain of tests and teachers spend a whole lot of time "looking at the numbers and letting them guide what you teach". When my admin. was looking at some numbers with me for my first graders, she pointed to some "concerning" numbers and asked what I was going to do about them. I told her that kids weren't numbers and I already knew from working with them how they were progressing and what instruction they needed. I pointed to my head and said "all I need to know about my kids is in here". I got a cold stare. I could literally write a book about how bad things are, but the bottom line is through it all, I still enjoy the times when the "light bulb comes on" and I get the high-fives and hugs! Hard to leave that!!
So hard to leave. You are there for a reason. Things will never be “the same”. One thing I know for sure is this, the kids need you. And those few moments in your day when you look into their eyes and they are loving school and learning, fill up a teacher heart. Leaving is hard and you will know when it’s time. Thanks so much for pouring your heart out about your experience. I feel so honored that you took the time to share it here. Big big big hugs to you. 💕💕
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun Thanks for replying so quickly! And for reading my long-winded message! Since yesterday, I've looked at several more of your videos and they are great! I looked at the "one teacher helper a day" and laughed because I started doing that years ago as I hated having so much helper confusion each day. Recently, I've tweaked that idea to one I like a lot! At the beginning of school, as we are learning our routine, I just pick random kids to help me do individual things. As we go along, and I see a kid doing something really well, I tell them "hey, you're so good at that, would you be interested in being in charge of it?" For example: I noticed two kids the first day who automatically picked up all the papers under their desks without being asked and then had to wait around while the rest cleaned up after being told to by me. So they became my "official floor checkers" and I wrote the job down on a chart with their names. Now they quietly go around at the end of the day, checking under desks and politely saying "please check under your desk for trash". They love it and it saves my voice! I add several jobs a day until everyone has one. Some jobs are for 3 or 4 people to oversee (like library book straitening) and I get the right kids for the right jobs!
@@Snail320 oh my gosh. That’s so awesome. I love how you took it and tweaked. Also, thanks for sharing your system. It’s going to help another teacher build a system that works for them. I love how your students are like the boss of the job. And I REALLY like that it saves your voice. Whewww. That’s so so so important. Teachers need awesome tips like yours. 💕
My students come in randomly. Our doors open at 7:10 am. Some come then, some come later, some come much later. It is not chaos when the first few students unstack chairs. Love the videos.
That sounds like a nice start for you. The more students can do the better. Thanks for your ideas. Love it when teachers share what they do in their classroom.
Thanks for sharing morning routines. I wonder to know if how you deal with difficult and haughty children and how do you usually quiet down noisy class. Noise is a real distraction when one is working.
I think that sometimes classes don’t have the stamina to be quiet for long periods of time. Young kids are developmentally able to stay quiet or still for extended periods. I used to have a stamina builder. We started with 3 minutes and worked our way up SLOWLY. Lots of positive talk and rewards. Maybe something like this could help you?
Thank you so much for this! I'm forward becoming a kindergarten teacher but i don't know how to really set up everything, and how to act. Your videos has been so much help for me and I'm very grateful!!
There is now a video around morning meeting time where I go through a little bit of how I did morning message. ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html. I plan on doing another soon. Thank you for commenting.
This was great! This is my favorite part of day ,too. I feel like the mornings sets the mood for the whole day. I love soft music because everyone has a hectic morning and this can be relaxing. I would look love to implement some transition music into my day. What do you use? I use my cell for everything, and I don't want to use that. My Promethean board would just be too complicated.
I used my phone and made a playlist that I could just access. I put the songs in order of how I used them in the day. Then I could find them fast. I also tried doing it on my smart board but that didn’t work for me. I had my phone hooked up to speakers. I had all my notifications off during my teaching time so my phone worked good for me. Maybe if you had an iPhone and watch you could control everything from your watch? Hummm I don’t know if that would work but it’s worth investigating.
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun Okay. Thanks. Maybe I will try my cell phone and a Bluetooth speaker because I use it all the time anyways. I was just worried about the notifications and the Spam calls and the million of other reasons my phone might distract class.
During the winter months in the mornings, I have a fireplace with soft music playing on the Promethean board. During the summer and winter do you think a nice water fall or something with some soft music would be nice?
@@JayBababoie I think airplane mode will help with all that. And when you have your phone with you it’s easy to play a song from anywhere in the room. You don’t have to walk over to a specific spot to start it. 👍
Actually working on it right now. I think I’m going to have to do a series because it’s such an important part of the day and there’s lots of little details that help it run smoothly and make it super effective. 😊
Good question!! The morning meeting length depends on how long you can keep them engaged. You have to build their stamina and the routines etc have to be taught and practiced. I would start with 10ish minutes and work up from there. As far as the songs and chants go I just found ones that worked in various places. Dr Jean is one of my favorites. I will try to made a download pdf of good sites to go for music and chants.
I am working on the morning meeting video this week. I’ll give you the link here when I have it done. Thanks for letting me know you want to know more. 🙂
The best place I can direct you is to my blog post on the songs I used. Here's the link: www.makingthebasicsfun.com/classroom-songs-for-transitions/ Thanks for asking.
Thank you! I've taught first grade for 25 years and am thinking of retiring. I also taught other lower grades, including kindergarten for 20 years before that! Yep, I'm OLD! It's getting harder every year to get the routine going. Last year it took me 2 or more solid months of relationship building to establish what used to take me two weeks! Covid has changed a lot of things. Almost every teacher now has 1-5 children who are victims of trauma or lack any social skills at all! These children tend to have melt-downs or aggressive acting out that causes us to have to "empty the room". There is virtually no support from our district or admin in the form of boots on the ground. These kids need one on one guidance to move along with the rest of the kids, but so far they aren't getting it! The second issue we are facing is lack of parent involvement and chronic tardiness / absenteeism. The families got the idea during Covid (at least in good old California) that they didn't need to DO ANYTHING. We were out of school for 18 months at least and during that time the train really came off the rails. Unfortunately, the powers at the district office are all about equity (everyone should learn the same things at the same time at the same pace- no allowance for differences in maturity), on top of a whole lot of testing. Kinders and first graders take a mountain of tests and teachers spend a whole lot of time "looking at the numbers and letting them guide what you teach". When my admin. was looking at some numbers with me for my first graders, she pointed to some "concerning" numbers and asked what I was going to do about them. I told her that kids weren't numbers and I already knew from working with them how they were progressing and what instruction they needed. I pointed to my head and said "all I need to know about my kids is in here". I got a cold stare. I could literally write a book about how bad things are, but the bottom line is
through it all, I still enjoy the times when the "light bulb comes on" and I get the high-fives and hugs! Hard to leave that!!
So hard to leave. You are there for a reason. Things will never be “the same”. One thing I know for sure is this, the kids need you. And those few moments in your day when you look into their eyes and they are loving school and learning, fill up a teacher heart.
Leaving is hard and you will know when it’s time.
Thanks so much for pouring your heart out about your experience. I feel so honored that you took the time to share it here. Big big big hugs to you. 💕💕
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun Thanks for replying so quickly! And for reading my long-winded message!
Since yesterday, I've looked at several more of your videos and they are great! I looked at the "one teacher helper a day" and laughed because I started doing that years ago as I hated having so much helper confusion each day. Recently, I've tweaked that idea to one I like a lot! At the beginning of school, as we are learning our routine, I just pick random kids to help me do individual things. As we go along, and I see a kid doing something really well, I tell them "hey, you're so good at that, would you be interested in being in charge of it?"
For example: I noticed two kids the first day who automatically picked up all the papers under their desks without being asked and then had to wait around while the rest cleaned up after being told to by me. So they became my "official floor checkers" and I wrote the job down on a chart with their names. Now they quietly go around at the end of the day, checking under desks and politely saying "please check under your desk for trash". They love it and it saves my voice! I add several jobs a day until everyone has one. Some jobs are for 3 or 4 people to oversee (like library book straitening) and I get the right kids for the right jobs!
@@Snail320 oh my gosh. That’s so awesome. I love how you took it and tweaked.
Also, thanks for sharing your system. It’s going to help another teacher build a system that works for them.
I love how your students are like the boss of the job. And I REALLY like that it saves your voice. Whewww. That’s so so so important. Teachers need awesome tips like yours. 💕
yes please - morning message
I'm a kindergarten teacher for 14 years now and this will be an additional tool for me of my teaching methods. Thanks a lot ❤❤❤!
I’m flattered and humbled. Thanks for teaching kindergarten and thanks for letting me know this video sparked some ideas for you. 💕
Yes, morning message, please.
You are doing such an amazing thing by sharing your experience how to handle this tough job. Thank you🤩🤗
I’m glad you are getting ideas for your classroom. The morning message video is coming soon.
I'm so glad that you encourage TALKING with your students.
The more they talk the more they learn.
Yes please morning message.
At the top of my to-do list. 😀
yes, please for the morning message! thank you!
Thanks for letting me know your interest in morning message. It will be coming out soon.
Yes please on the morning message. Thank you!
Thanks for letting me know that’s something that interests you.
Yes, please, on the morning message.
Thank you!
Thanks for letting me know. It’s in the works. 😀
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes, please for the morning meeting! 😊
Thanks for letting me know you are interested.
Yes, please, on the Morning Message.
Yes please on the morning message!
Thanks. I will make a video of morning message ideas soon. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Looking forward to your Morning Message! Love how you mange the classroom
I've been working on it. It should be out soon. Thanks for letting me know that it is a topic of interest.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
My students come in randomly. Our doors open at 7:10 am. Some come then, some come later, some come much later. It is not chaos when the first few students unstack chairs. Love the videos.
That sounds like a nice start for you. The more students can do the better. Thanks for your ideas. Love it when teachers share what they do in their classroom.
Yes for Morning Message thank you.
You bet. Putting it on RUclips in the next few weeks. Thanks for showing interest.
absolutely looking forward to you sharing your morning message and meeting pro tips :) :)
Yahoo. I was just planning the next set of videos and morning message is at the top of the list. Thanks for the request.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please, on the morning message!
You bet. I’ll get it out asap.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please with morning message. Thanks for the video.
Yes. I made a video that talks about morning message. ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I hope it answers some of your questions.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Thanks for sharing morning routines. I wonder to know if how you deal with difficult and haughty children and how do you usually quiet down noisy class. Noise is a real distraction when one is working.
I think that sometimes classes don’t have the stamina to be quiet for long periods of time. Young kids are developmentally able to stay quiet or still for extended periods.
I used to have a stamina builder. We started with 3 minutes and worked our way up SLOWLY. Lots of positive talk and rewards. Maybe something like this could help you?
yes please on the early finishers!
Thanks for letting me know. I’m on it. 🙂
Thank you so much for this! I'm forward becoming a kindergarten teacher but i don't know how to really set up everything, and how to act. Your videos has been so much help for me and I'm very grateful!!
I’m very glad it has helped you. You will love teaching kindergarten.
Thank you for these amazing morning routines.
You’re welcome. 🙂
Yes please, for the morning message! I just found your videos are they are great. Thank you!
There is now a video around morning meeting time where I go through a little bit of how I did morning message. ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html. I plan on doing another soon. Thank you for commenting.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
❤ yes please on the Morning Message please.
Thanks Angie
I made it part of the “Morning Meeting” video. If you have any questions, let me know. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please for the morning message!
Thanks for letting me know. It is on the list. 👍
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
You are wonderful. This is my second year in first grade after 15 years of preschool, yet I’m still figuring out how to do everything. Thank you!
That’s one of the great things about being a teacher; you’re always learning. First grade is so fun but it has its own challenges, for sure.
Thank you so much for the powerful encouragement.
I’m glad you found it encouraging.
Yes please. I’m new to first grade
Thanks for letting me know your interest. I’m hoping to get that video done soon.
Yes please!
Thanks. I have it on the list. Thanks for letting me know. 😊
Yes please!! Do you have your chants written down so I can learn them to do in my class? 😊
I really need to get a printable made so others can reference the chants and songs. Good idea. I’ll put it on the list. 🙂
This was great! This is my favorite part of day ,too. I feel like the mornings sets the mood for the whole day. I love soft music because everyone has a hectic morning and this can be relaxing. I would look love to implement some transition music into my day. What do you use? I use my cell for everything, and I don't want to use that. My Promethean board would just be too complicated.
I used my phone and made a playlist that I could just access. I put the songs in order of how I used them in the day. Then I could find them fast. I also tried doing it on my smart board but that didn’t work for me. I had my phone hooked up to speakers. I had all my notifications off during my teaching time so my phone worked good for me. Maybe if you had an iPhone and watch you could control everything from your watch? Hummm I don’t know if that would work but it’s worth investigating.
@@TeachersMakingTheBasicsFun
Okay. Thanks. Maybe I will try my cell phone and a Bluetooth speaker because I use it all the time anyways. I was just worried about the notifications and the Spam calls and the million of other reasons my phone might distract class.
During the winter months in the mornings, I have a fireplace with soft music playing on the Promethean board. During the summer and winter do you think a nice water fall or something with some soft music would be nice?
@@JayBababoiethat’s a great idea. Perfect mood setting idea. Thanks for sharing. ❤
@@JayBababoie I think airplane mode will help with all that. And when you have your phone with you it’s easy to play a song from anywhere in the room. You don’t have to walk over to a specific spot to start it. 👍
yes please - morning message
Thanks for letting me know. I have it on the to-do list. 😀
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Sure. Go for it. Always wanting to learn more.
Thanks for the vote. I’ll get one up asap.
Morning message ideas would be great! Thank you!
Sure!! I’ll get one out soon.
Sure. I get one out ASAP. 🙂
Great ideas! YES, on the morning message!
Thanks for letting me know. It’s on the list of to-dos. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
I'd love to see how you structured your morning message. Thank you!
Great. I will make a video asap. Thanks.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes, please!
Thanks for letting me know it is on the list of must do videos. 😁
Hi Angie! I hope not to be late for the morning message!
Because I'm doing my teacher training in Kindergarten for the first time in August! And I'm planning my first classes
So excited for you. Yes. I want to do a live stream so people can ask questions and get ideas from each other. I am planning it for mid July.
Thank you for all the great ideas on how to lay the foundation for an amazing day! ❤
You bet. Glad you can use this information.
Yes please on the morning message
Thanks for showing an interest in morning message. I did a video and I plan on doing a follow up.
Yes please morning meeting 😊
Yes, please share the morning message.
Yes. Here it is. 🙂. ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.htmlsi=xVzR8X1esOxKVrkT
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
SO HELPFUL! Thank you!!
I’m so glad you found it helpful.
I am a preschool teacher. What would be an awesome morning message for preschoolers?
I will do some research as I don’t have any preschool experience. I will try to add something into my morning message video.
Yes please morning message
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
yes on morning message
Thank you!
I’m glad you found it useful. 🙂
Yes, please on the morning message.
Thanks for letting me know. It will be coming this Sunday. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
yes please
Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.htmlsi=Ht6BRfxvpeY1MhoO to help with Morning Meeting in your classroom.
Yes, morning message please. 😊
Sure. Planning on publishing it soon. Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Morning Message, please!
Actually working on it right now. I think I’m going to have to do a series because it’s such an important part of the day and there’s lots of little details that help it run smoothly and make it super effective. 😊
Yes please in the morning message
Thanks for letting me know. 🙂. I have it on the to-do list.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Morning message please!
Thanks for letting me know. It’s coming soon.
Hi, Yes, please let me know about morning routines and more. Thank you,
Good to know you are interested. That helps me know what to put at the top of the list. 🙂
This whole process would take about how long? Any website for the music you found you like best? Thank you! ❤
Good question!! The morning meeting length depends on how long you can keep them engaged. You have to build their stamina and the routines etc have to be taught and practiced. I would start with 10ish minutes and work up from there.
As far as the songs and chants go I just found ones that worked in various places. Dr Jean is one of my favorites. I will try to made a download pdf of good sites to go for music and chants.
please send early finisher work ideas
I am doing a series of live streams that help with independent work stations and early finishers. Those videos will be very helpful to you.
yes please share morning message
I did a video to help with morning message. I am planning a follow up. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate your interaction. 💕😊
I would love to see how went your very first day !!! I am struggling with those first days to set up those routines !!!!
Yes those first days are different than the others. I will get those videos done ASAP.
Wonderful info. Please, 😢Could I have the link to the morning message.
I am working on the morning meeting video this week. I’ll give you the link here when I have it done. Thanks for letting me know you want to know more. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Can you put the music that you use for morning meetings and transitions and the morning songs?
The best place I can direct you is to my blog post on the songs I used. Here's the link: www.makingthebasicsfun.com/classroom-songs-for-transitions/
Thanks for asking.
Morning routine
I hope it helped.
Morning message please
Thanks for letting me know you are interested.
Morning Messages info please
Thanks for letting me know 🙂. I have it on the list and hope to have a video for you soon.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please July 2023
Thanks for letting me know. I will put it on my to-do video list. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please on the morning message!
Thanks. It’s in the works.
Yes please!
Hopefully coming soon 😊
yes on morning message
Thanks for letting me know. 😊
Yes please on the morning message
Yes. Thanks for letting me know that’s something you’d like to know more about.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes, please on the morning message.
Awesome. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll get it going.
Yes, please on the morning message
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please morning message
yes please
😀. Thanks. I have it on my list. Thanks for letting me know.
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
Yes please on the morning message!
Thanks for letting me know that is needed. I plan to have it posted on Sunday, so be on the lookout. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.
yes please
Here's the link: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.htmlsi=Ht6BRfxvpeY1MhoO to help with Morning Meeting in your classroom.
Yes please morning message
Thanks for commenting. I have morning message on my video to-do list. 🙂
Here's the intro video for Morning Message: ruclips.net/video/k-NtCe2xwAw/видео.html I'm working on a follow up video.