Daily 5 Chapter One

I am starting this blog to share my classroom adventures and to grow as an educator! Lately, I have been reading other teachers blogs and want to participate in the Daily Five book study. So, here goes!

1. How do I teach new behaviors?

 

In my classroom, I often get new students joining the learning adventure at the drop of the hat. Students can be "bumped up" from a different age group, or can enroll at our school at any point during the school year. Therefore, I am constantly teaching new behaviors. This is quite helpful in the fact that all of my students review our behaviors frequently! How do I teach and reteach these new behaviors? We talk about why these behaviors are helpful in our learning adventure, and we practice, practice, and practice! My preschoolers certainly love to act out what they're supposed to do, and the opposite!

 

2. How do I teach expectations?

I  am extremely clear and precise about what I expect from my students every single day. Before we walk down the hallway, "How should we sound?" Before we begin our group time, "How should this look?" We model, we practice, we talk about what is expected and why it is expected. My classroom expectations are constantly communicated with my students.

3. How do I monitor student behavior? whole group? small groups? individual?

I set up my classroom in a way that I am able to monitor my students by sight and sound from anywhere in the classroom. This enables me to productively work with my small groups because I know that if I look up, I can see everyone. If someone is off-task, I say his/her name, and they refocus. We are finally getting this down to a science :). In reality, I know that many of my students are able to monitor their own behavior. I often place these students with those who cannot easily monitor their own behavior. It's all about modeling!

4. What do I do when a student is not exhibiting desired behavior?

When my students are not exhibiting the desired behaviors, I ask them questions. I want them to learn how to think about their behaviors. For example, I often say, "Oh, _____, do you think that was a safe choice?" Or, "Hmm, do you think there is a better way to tell your friend you're upset?" My students are beginning to internalize this, but they're all at very different places since essentially, my classroom is a multi-age blend.

5. Whose classroom is it?

 

It is, and always will be, "Ours." We talk about our toys, our books, our markers, our group area. We're all about sharing and taking care of our room together.

6. Locus of control?

This is extremely situational. I have some students who have a great internal locus of control, but other students who simply do not at this time. I am eager to learn more about how to help all students develop a strong internal locus of control because it will certainly help them as they journey in to higher grade levels.

7. Where are supplies stored?

My room is divided into learning areas. Each math, science, art, and D5 station has supplies. There are writing materials available on clipboards in every area of the room so students can write on a whim. All materials in my classroom are in buckets labeled with words and pictures. Lastly, my personal supplies are located in a teacher cabinet instead of a personal desk.

I am eager to read more in to The Daily Five, as I am never done learning! I look forward to reading other teachers' blogs to see how they utilize D5 in their classrooms. What a great way to see how this framework is utilized across the country!