Book Nooks
Wow! I can’t believe it! I bet you can’t either! School is just around the corner. I believe learning should be fun! During summer, I would look for new, fun ideas. After lunch the children would have silent reading in their seats for 15 minutes. More seat time! I tried Book Nooks. Around the room, there were some cozy little spots— big pillows, an open tent, a little pool in the spring. Each child was given an index card to write their name and decorate it. Then, they would find a place where they would like to read and their card would be taped there. Someone even sat under my dest :). That was their Book Nook for a month. Every month a new card, a new place. They could sit “near” a friend as long as they were reading. If not, they moved to a different spot. They really enjoyed their Book Nooks!
Sunshine kid
Wouldn’t he look cute in your classroom? The children could tell you what a Sunshine Kid is like. Basically it’s classroom rules. Write their thoughts on a chart to refer to when they need to be reminded.
It has POWER. It’s their thoughts! It would be really great at the beginning of the year. I love to catch kids being good. Each child in my class had a Give Yourself a Plus Chart (20 to 25 squares) on their desk. When I was walking around or noticed somebody doing something good, I would say, “Oh Jonny, I love how you are working so quietly. Give yourself a plus.”
The other children heard and started working quietly too! When the chart was full, they earned something. My class loved fruit rollups :)