Welcome to my RU-vid channel! I'm so happy you're here. I am a second year second grade teacher navigating life with an anxiety disorder. Here, you can expect to find teaching content, anxiety prevention/treatment tips and chats, and day/week-in-the-life vlogs. I am a firm believer that mental health, teacher success, and life is a S P E C T R U M. We're all on it and move along it. Isn't the variety of a spectrum what makes a rainbow so beautiful? 🌈
In addition to my primary niche of managing mental health as a teacher, I am a toddler mom, a stepmom, a wife, a transplant to the PNW, and enjoy an absolute obsession with The Office and Disney princesses. I hope that you make yourself at home here, that we get to know each other, and that we find things in common. I love connecting with my RU-vid community!
Merisa, I live with autism spectrum disorder and back when I was a student I was anxious a lot and that's part of what kicked off my abnormal misbehaviors occasionally. Maybe what happened to you is that the honeymoon is over and it's pressure on time and that pressure has an effect on student behavior too. Also keep in mind that those who endure until the end of school year or until that pressure is released are the ones who will see that honeymoon return again. That's what happened when I was a student. Keep looking up. Keep Hope Alive. - Dwight
Look into Whole Brain Teaching and the Super Improver Wall. I use the toothbrush holders and give everyone 5 pencils. If they still have all 5 the end of the week, they get a stamp on super improver wall. Physical bathroom passes are gross. I use a punch light. If the light is on someone is out using the restroom. No one asks me if they can use the bathroom. I set up expectations when they may go.
Thank you for doing this vlog! I pretty much watched every video! After being out of the teaching field for 17 years, I am returning as a first year 2nd grade teacher. So much has changed since the days I taught. I felt every emotion that you walked through and it truly moved me. Thank you for sharing and for being so vulnerable. You are an amazing teacher bringing so much value to not only little humans but women like me looking for inspiration, ideas, what works and doesn't work and more! Thank You!!!
Francine, you have no idea how much your comment means to me. I feel so validated and motivated to continue! Welcome back to the world’s most valuable profession ❤️ I’m so happy you’re here!
Oh no! Gr8 class info system, but hurtful, mentally and emotionally for the kids. I’d rather them be intrinsically motivated rather than get something tangible, extrinsically.
Thank you for sharing your opinion! It's very rare for students to be intrinsically motivated to do their school work, and even students who ARE intrinsically motivated do not feel that way 100% of the time. As a result, it is not only helpful, but ESSENTIAL for teachers to use behavior management strategies, replete with rewards and consequences, to keep students working hard and on task. If you have somehow managed to create a classroom where all of your students are motivated to do their work intrinsically, please share your secrets with the rest of us! :)
Ah yes. Definitely not my best decision. I stopped using it a couple months ago and am developing a new system for classroom management next year. Thanks for pointing it out! :)
25 year veteran here :-) In the Pacific Northwest too .... Expectations, expectations, expectations teach, teach, teach, hold accountable , hold accountable, hold accountable to the expectations & consequences. Take the time to KNOW your systems (what matters to you) then teach your systems, how you access materials, how you use tools and materials, and how students are to put them away. Putting the time and energy at the beginning of the year is a lifesaver for the rest of the year. In my teacher college classes, I had an instructor say, "At the beginning of the year rules and expectations are black and white. As the year goes on then you can see shades of gray." In other words, if expectations and consequences (good or bad) are established, students are clear with what is expected, so they actually feel safe and confident in their environment.
Ive seen where some teachers are giving the students 5 pencils in a toothbrush holder per week. Everyone who still has at least one pencil left recieves a reward (a punch on the card, class dojo points, etc)
Hey there! Those slides were created by my district to accompany the decodable readers from the CKLA Amplify curriculum. I use them as shown in the video daily with my class, but teachers in my district have implemented them as they’ve seen fit in their classrooms.
Can you explain how you introduced the restorative circle? I have many kids fighting and bullying and it happens a lot at lunch and this would be amazing for my group of kids. How do you introduce it and what questions do you ask? Thanks.
Hey Amanda! Of course. I had my principal model it for me. She began by explaining the expectations: 1. Everyone stays seated in the circle during the meeting. 2. No one talks unless you have the talking piece (a talking piece is VERY important for restorative circles with little ones). 3. Everyone listens to everyone with respect (no laughing or responding inappropriately). 4. Use “I” statements (no assigning blame. She modeled this for them.). Then, she went over the purpose of the circle: Everyone will get a turn to share something they’re feeling, something they’re thinking about, or a problem they’re having (without using names of other students). They also have the option to pass (for the sake of efficiency, I don’t let any student that passes to change their mind later. If they pass but then they want to share, they have to wait for the next day). If time allows, I ask students who share a problem if they want input from classmates on solving the problem. If they do, they may call on one or two students to provide a suggestion. I also have students give a thumbs up if they’ve ever experienced a similar problem or feeling to a student that shares. I always share last and conclude the meeting. It’s amazing because when a student comes up to me during a lesson or something, I can gently say, “let’s save it for our circle!”. That way I can still show I care without stopping the lesson or losing learning time. I hope this helps!
I am an NC teacher with 25 years experience. I have seen things change so much for teacher! More and more is added each year. There is absolutely NO WAY our job can be done well by only working contract hours. I would love to meet the teacher who can do it! I am grading, putting grades in, lesson planning, etc. from home every week.
Isn’t it crazy? I haven’t even started the monster of grading yet. Prioritizing has been my life saver, but unfortunately, it means I have yet to get ahead!
You were right! John Henry worked for the C&O Railway. Glad you are feeling better. When I have symptoms like you had, I make sure I take a Covid home test and then as long as I have the energy for school, I will go to work. The majority of my students have colds right now.
Just found your channel! I’m currently student teaching and so excited to graduate. Love the video and am so happy to hear that you are loving it! A breath of fresh air with so many teachers leaving the profession these days. Take care! 😊
Hi Anna! Thanks for commenting! Congratulations on student teaching! I hope it’s going well. Teaching can be tough, but I find that the rewards far outweigh the difficulties. Welcome to one of the most noble professions on earth!!
So we use Amplify CKLA, so I have 30 minutes in the morning set for the Knowledge component, and then I have 30 minutes after specials for my Skills component, and then 15 minutes after afternoon recess for the reading portion of the skills lesson. Then during the last hour of the day I do ELA rotations, which include silent reading, word work, comprehension, fluency, etc. What about you?
Very good.. me encanta el estilo de enseñanza en los Estados Unidos...pones mucho empeño para enseñar a tus alumnos... Espero que también enseñen español 😁😁🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷✌✌
You are very kind! I love how we teach here. I’m sure it’s wonderful in Argentina as well! We don’t teach Spanish at my school, but we work with many Multi-Lingual Learners. There are many schools that teach Spanish though!
@@thatanxiousteacher ahh ok very good ✌✌.. i live a coastal city called MAR DEL PLATA located approximately 250 miles south of our capital Buenos Aires .. My city has almost a million inhabitants it 's like Miami in Argentina but with a much colder climate 😁😁.. I 'm a chemist and I work in the plant that produces food . I understand some English but I don't speak fluently , your diction is very good and we understand you quite well . Thanks for your sympathy...greetings🤗🤗😁🇦🇷🇦🇷✌
I was a teacher unfortunately I stop teaching this year because of your video I am now excited to go back to work as a teacher. I really love your classroom 😍❤️
I would sew the back of the cushion to the bottom of the cushion. That would keep the two pieces together. Then if it still needs to secure to the ottoman to stay in place maybe see if the rough side of Velcro dots on the bottom of the cushion would “stick” to your carpet? Or put industrial Velcro strips on the ottoman and back of upright cushion? I’m in the PNW too! We start back Sept 6 as well. Happy prepping!
Could be, but I feel like I’ve got a good amount of white wall space compared to my decor. Of course, that’s my opinion! If I run into any issues, I’ll make modifications :)
