Happy Friday!!
Today is the last day to link up with Freebielicious . . . and let’s all take a moment to notice that I blogged every single day this week, as well as did an abs workout every single day this week.
Oh, yes I did.
Once again, I found myself thinking very hard about this topic of having fun in the classroom, and not just on Fridays.
And I thought of a couple of things right off the bat.
1. Music
I use music all day long in my classroom. I use an old iPhone as if it was an iPod and it is loaded with playlists. I am constantly adding new playlists as I find new songs.
I am a *HUGE* HeidiSongs fan. HUGE. Not to mention, I know Heidi in real life and she knows me so that makes me special.
😉
The sight word songs keep getting better and better and better! They work great for transitions because a) we are singing which cuts down on talking and b) we are learning and c) they’re short enough that they don’t take up a lot of time.
I also have songs from Jack Hartmann, Intelli-Tunes, Dr. Jean, Have Fun Teaching, Harry Kindergarten, etc etc etc.
If you aren’t using music in your classroom, I highly recommend it! It’s hard not to smile and have fun when music is playing. Besides livening up the atmosphere and making our classroom a fun place to be, we are also LEARNING.
Sometimes, I just sing on my own. With no accompaniment. That’s called a cappella if you didn’t know. And I know because back in the eighth grade, I auditioned for Show Choir (think Glee) and I made it.
I was an alto.
One of my favorite songs to sing a cappella (which I recently learned is actually on a Dr. Jean cd that I do not have) is Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree. Not to be confused with the ones that are always jumping on the bed.
Click {HERE} to find out how I use this song as a transition trick.
You can also download your own copy.
2. Loosen up.
I want to say that I run a tight ship in my classroom.
And by that, I mean that I have routines and structure and I teach rules and respect, etc, etc, etc. I would say I have good classroom management . . . if someone asked. I wouldn’t just say it for the sake of saying it.
Once, a parent volunteer said she loved the way I ran my classroom, and she said I should teach a class on classroom management.
To which I replied, “Did you not just see me have to send everyone back to their seats so we could try coming back to the carpet correctly?”
And she said it was the way that I did it, the way that I spoke to my kids, the way they responded to me, etc.
So I don’t know.
But in saying that I run a tight ship, I also want to say it’s a loose tight ship.
I have fun. My kids are six and seven years old. They’re kids. I want them to have fun every single day. I want to make them laugh. I strive to make them laugh.
So . . . if my class is working quietly, and you could hear a pin drop, and I feel bored by it all . . . because it’s just too quiet, I might yell out:
BOO!
And ruin the quiet classroom environment.
Because that’s how I am.
Everyone cracks up, they say, Mrs. Oldham, you scared me! Mrs. Oldham!!! Stop doing that! Mrs. Oldham, you’re so funny! and I just laugh and laugh and say I wanted to make sure everyone was awake.
I basically do this kind of stuff all day long . . . I tend to ruin a perfectly quiet classroom. I just can’t take it for very long. I’d rather hear the buzzing going on . . . and I know I might be in the minority, but it’s true.
I try to put myself in the kids’ shoes. So, for example, let’s say I’m in a staff meeting. And I’ve been quiet for twenty minutes or so, just listening.
And then our principal says to break up into groups and do the task at hand (whatever that might be).
We, as a staff, start buzzing. It gets a little loud. Not out of control, but busy. I’m so happy to be with whoever is at my table, and I’m so happy to be moving and talking and working because I’m not sitting still and having to be quiet anymore.
And I’m a grown up!
I think.
So I try to think of that when I send my six and seven year old kids back to their table groups to work on an assignment.
And yes, I get that some kids need a quiet learning environment or they become easily distracted. I get that. I take that into consideration, believe me.
I’m just saying . . . if you come visit my classroom, it’s probably only going to be so super quiet during a test of some sort.
And I might yell Boo! during the middle of it.
Because it’s fun.
And that’s just how I am.
And it works for me.
I love you. That's all. I just do. 🙂 This is a perfect post. Have a great weekend!
It is soooooo nice to hear another teacher say she likes the buzz of kids in the classroom. I agree! A perfectly quiet room of kinders or firsties isn't my style either. LOVE your blog!
Mrs. Byrd's Learning Tree
I agree with Carolyn. I would love to see you everyday in our hallway to grab a few minutes of chuckle time. We both seem to suffer from that 'shut my door and let me do my thing' attitude towards reaching our little ones. Would you consider doing a daily podcast? I think 2-3 minutes of your humor would brighten any spots left by administrative clouds. Thank you for sharing the craziness that we live.
I once told an assistant principal who complained about the "noise" (her word, my kids were simply discussing what I had asked them to discuss and were perfectly on task) that "Death is silent. Learning is noisy." Shut her right up.
Krazy Town
That's impressive that you blogged AND did abs every day! I did not work out everyday… ANYWAY, I love reading your posts, and I just wanted to say that I too cannot take a super quiet classroom for very long! My kids always comment on how quiet it is and how that is very strange for our room, and then we all get busy again making noise!
I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall of your classroom – it sounds like a wonderful place to be! Your kids are so lucky!
It's been wonderful getting to read a new blog post every day this week . . . feel free to keep it up . . . 😉 I'm finally working on a blog of my own (thanks to your encouragement last summer in Vegas!) but it's not quite ready yet. The daily inspiration has certainly helped, though! 🙂 Now I just have to get up the courage to hit "publish" on my first post. Yikes!
🙂 Amanda
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Second-Grade-Success-By-Amanda-Kipfer
Boo! I said that with my thumbs up, elbows back, knees together, bottom up tongue out, eyes closed….love you!!!
Boo! I said that with my thumbs up, elbows back, knees together, bottom up tongue out, eyes closed….love you!!!
Love this!! I am the exact same way! And wow, blog AND ab workout everyday? That is impressive! … Christina, I love a tootie ta!! That has got to be my all time favorite song to sing with kids!
I loved this post, and not just because you said super nice things about me! I run a super tight loose ship too! You just validated me. Thank you!!!
Love you!!!
Heidi
You hit the nail on the head! Having fun in the classroom doesn't have to be a production, it can just be an energy! I wish I was a first grader in Teeny's room!
Halle
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade