So by now, I am sure you've heard about flexible, or alternative, seating in the classroom. Am I right?  Basically it means providing a lot of different seating options for students to use throughout the day rather than only traditional desks and chairs.  If you're wondering what the fuss is all about, or are curious but don't know where to begin- you are in the right place! I've used a variety of seating options in my first grade room for the last 7 years and I can't wait to share some ideas with you.  Before you go thinking you need to get rid of every desk and table in your classroom, I am here to share ways you can "take baby steps" towards a classroom transformation without breaking the bank.  ** I have included a few links in this post to my favorite seating options and classroom must haves. These are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission at no cost to you, if you decide to shop :) What's wrong with tradit......

Hi there! Building a classroom community where students recognize each others strengths, support each other, and feel appreciated as individuals is what every teacher strives for. I have a quick activity today to help build this environment in your own class. The best part is, it takes less than a minute and has a huge impact! Note, you may have to model it the first time, maybe with another teacher, assistant, or volunteer. Choose one student to sit in the "hot seat". You can have your student of the day simply stand in front of the room or can make things more elaborate by having a chair decorated for the occasion. You can randomly choose the child, choose one who has been having a hard time lately and needs a boost, or even go down your class list in ABC order. However you decide on the student of the day is fine, as long as everyone gets one turn before someone gets a second. Pass out one sticky note to every person in your class, except the student of the......

Ok readers out there, it's time to get real with you about myself, my challenging students, and what I have done to change student behaviors lately. Let me start by saying, I am patient. I am calm. I can count on one hand the number of times I have actually been angry in the last year. I love working with first graders and have a special place in my heart for students with special needs, learning disabilities, and ADHD. However, the one thing that can get under my skin like nothing else is an intentionally disruptive and defiant child. You know, the one that you ask to sit down who looks you in the eye and does the opposite. Or the one who plays their desk like a drum with a pencil (while yelling "I don't know how to do it") after you've given directions and modeled 3 times? The one who is ALWAYS seeking your attention, but not in a good way. Grr! Last week I have to admit that I nearly lost my mind. Tuesday was a rough day. Like, my body was physically sh......

Phew! I made it through the first week of first grade for the 7th year in a row :) I am loving my little guys so far and am excited for a new year. Last year I had 14 students and this year I am blessed with 21! Let me tell you, I thought the bathroom line was slow before....now is a whole other story. Last week we focused on getting to know each other and routines/procedures. One of the class favorites was our Find Someone Who game. Students had to learn about new friends and record their names on the scavenger hunt sheet. I was nervous about my non readers at first but the pictures really seemed to help. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they all did talking, recording, and moving around the room. We spent a lot of time reading stories together (Chrysanthemum, The Crayon Box that Talked, My Mouth is a Volcano) and discussing the lessons learned. We also created our Teacher Job/Student Job anchor chart. We discussed what each of our roles looks like, sounds like, ......