Posts tagged "pocket charts"

Classroom Decorations – Questions to Ask as You Set Up

Classroom decorations are one of the first things to come off the shelves when you step into your classroom after summer vacation.  Putting up those bulletin boards, charts and posters, and pocket charts not only help you physically define your teaching spaces, but they also mentally prepare you to get back into the teaching mode.  When you are deciding where to put your classroom decorations, think about how you want your class to operate.  Here are the questions that I ask myself as I put up my classroom decorations.

1. What information do the students need to have access to everyday? In my first grade class, we utilize the daily schedule, center pocket chart, and classroom calendar.  These organizational tools are introduced on the very first day.  Since I use these classroom decorations as teaching tools, I really put some thought into buying the products that best fit my needs.  Some are posters others are pocket charts.
2. What classroom decorations are going to be seasonal? This is a question that I ponder every year.  I enjoy having some seasonal displays, but I really need to decide how often I am going to change my bulletin boards.  I like to put up displays that will last more than one month.
3. What items should I laminate? I don’t laminate all of my charts and posters because it can be both costly and time consuming.  I really try to only laminate those items that will be highly used by the kids.
4. Where will my main teaching area be? I define my main teaching area before I do anything else in the classroom.  I don’t want my displays to be a distraction, so I carefully balance that main area with some plain space so it will not be overwhelming to students.

How do you think about setting up your classroom decorations?  We would love to hear your tips and ideas.

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Teacher Supplies Must have’s for 1st Grade!

Essential teacher supplies will help you teach any subject, whether you are following a set curriculum or creating your own.  From reading to science, these teaching supplies will help you create fun, engaging lessons that will provide your students many meaningful learning opportunities whether you are teaching in a classroom or homeschooling.

Nothing can help you organize ideas and present information in a clear manner like a pocket chart.  A basic pocket chart allows you to place index cards, sentence strips, and pictures in a clear pocket.  You can then sort and arrange to demonstrate a variety of skills from rhyming to counting.  You can also purchase specific pocket charts designed for calendars, number charts, and schedules.  These organizational charts are a wonderful teacher supplies for any learning environment.

Start the day with your morning message on chart paper.  Chart paper is a great tool that allows you and the kids to write in one place where everyone can see.  Interactive writing demonstrates writing skills that kids are able to observe and then transfer to their own writing.  Chart paper can be used to display math problems or create a class science journal, as well as many other activities.

If you are looking for one math manipulative that can be used for a variety of skills, pattern blocks are the answer.  Students learn early geometry concepts while creating patterns and having fun.  A complete set comes with six different shapes.  Students can sort, make designs, and learn problems solving skills.  You can also use the pieces to teach basic computation skills.  The possibilities are endless.

Magnify your science activities with a set of magnifying glasses.  Kids love to observe the world around them and these glasses with definitely get them excited about learning!  Magnifying glasses encourage kids to look closely at a variety of objects ranging from dirt to paper clips.

As you read a story set in India or talk about the endangered animals of Madagascar, a kid’s map of the world is a visual that is certain to make the learning experience more meaningful.  A kid-friendly map introduces early map reading skills such as reading a legend and identifying continents and oceans.  It can also compliment many different activities across the curriculum.

There is no doubt that your days are busy and filled with many scheduled activities; however, I am certain that there are times when you need a short filler activity.  Brainquest consists of a set of questions on cards that are developmentally appropriate for the age group you teach.  The questions are fun as well as education.  So, the next time that you are waiting in line to go to gym or waiting for one of you kids to finish a math test, use the questions in Brainquest.

These are only a few of my favorite classroom supplies for first grade.  If you would like to learn more about super teaching supplies, activities, and resources, be sure to check out our teacher store at www.k12schoolsupplies.net.