My first blog post!

After discovering that I would have a teaching position for the 2012-2013 school year, I knew I wanted to create this blog to share my experiences and to learn from others during my first year teaching. I'm currently finishing up my student teaching in a third grade reading classroom. This has been an excellent experience for me and has really prepared for the upcoming school year, where I'll be teaching third grade reading at another school in Owensboro. 

I've been addicted to TpT and Pinterest lately (which I know most of us are)! I've found so many interesting and great ideas for my future classroom and I can't wait to get in there and start setting it up. I know I'll be implementing CAFE and the Daily 5. If you haven't had a chance to get familiar with these than I highly recommend you do :)

I'm still not 100% sure on all of the things that I may implement classroom management wise, but I do know that I will be using the Brownie Points rewards. The amazing teacher I taught under for student teaching, has given me so many great ideas to use in my own classroom. Here are some of the things I know I'll be using: 

The Brownie Points are awarded each time the whole class is given a compliment for their behavior in the hallway, special classes, the cafeteria, field trips, etc. Also, our district uses a Star Chart Behavior System where the students begin the day on white. They have an opportunity to move their stars up for good behavior or good work through out the day to green, blue, and purple. They even have the opportunity to be above purple. For bad behavior or poor work, stars can be moved down to yellow, orange, or red.  Students have an opportunity to move up and down the star chart through out the day and each day the students begin on the neutral color, white. At the end of the day, depending on where the students are, different rewards are given. 

ABOVE PURPLE = Sticker, Candy, Note Home

PURPLE= Sticker, Note Home

BLUE=Sticker

GREEN=Verbal Praise

WHITE= Neutral

YELLOW= Walk two laps at Recess

ORANGE= Walk four laps at Recess

RED= Note Home, Principal Visit, No Recess

Brownie Points can also be given if the whole class ends the day on green or above. This helps the students encourage each other to get their stars up. Once the students fill up the tray with brownies, then they'll get some sort of treat! I love this system and can't wait to see how it works in my classroom! 

I'm hoping to check out my classroom sometime next week to see how much room I'll have. I'm so anxious to get in there and get going. :)