Search results matching tags 'classroom management' and 'barbra stephens'

Newton Asked Why...

Anonymous — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:33:00 GMT

“Many saw the apple fall but Newton asked why.”
Bernard Baruch

How often do we provide opportunities for scientific thinking, questioning, and problem solving for our kids? Do we challenge them enough in their environment?
Take the challenge for yourself and ask yourself these questions.
*Are the children interested and excited about the materials in the environment both inside and outside?
*Do the questions I ask the children have a yes/no answer or a right/wrong answer at least 50% of the time?
*Do I allow the children to use materials in unconventional ways? Why or why not?
*Do I use materials in unconventional ways (in front of the children)? Why or why not?
*Do I ask children a question and correct them if they get the answer wrong?
*Do I ask children a question simply to hear their answer?
*Do I provide opportunities for children to problem solve together or individually.
What other questions do you think would be needful?

Neener x2

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:32:00 GMT

“Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” ~Henry van ***

“Neener-Neener” seems to be the universal sound for teasing. Teasing isn’t allowed in the environment I teach in. As far as I am concerned it’s right up there with a safety hazard (i.e. hitting, throwing, biting, etc.).
Teasing simply doesn’t allow anyone to feel safe or comfortable to be themselves.
We clap for all our efforts, skills and talents in the classroom. I hear random clapping throughout the day…sometimes I never really know why. It’s just become part of who we are.
What I love is that the children really 'know' the difference between encouragement and teasing. They have become troubleshooters and I often hear conversations regarding encouragement….or encouraging others.
“Good job, Jackie, you did it!” (Clapping)
OR
“Hey, be nice…he is still learning and you can clap or help him, Tommy!”
AND
“Who want's to give me a Hi-Five? I tied my shoe…kind-a-sort-a!”

The Um-possible Dream

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:33:00 GMT

“I don't have to ‘attend’ every argument I'm invited to.”
~Anonymous

I overheard two children arguing in the reading area of the classroom. Normally I keep an ear open but by the shrill sound of one of their voices I knew trouble was bubbling like a seething cauldron.
A sat down casually with them and listened in on the argument.
“….oh yes she was!”
“….nah-uh, it’s um-possible!”
“Boys?” They turned and finally noticed me. “Your voices are too loud. Tell me what the problem is, Jeffery.”
“Marko says you weren’t in my dream last night, Ms. Barbra…but you WERE, tell him!”
(Hmmmmmmm. I looked into his soft brown eyes…now what?)
“So….Marko….(ahem)……(AHEM). Why don’t you believe Jeffery?”
Marko shook his head, “It’s um-possible.”
“What’s impossible?”
“Teachers sleep at school…so how could you be in his dream? Marko explained.
“I see.” I said.
Now we were all thinking…..it got very quiet.
“Marko?”
“Yes, Ms. Barbra?”
“Well…you both are my friends. I really don’t want you both to fight about this. If Jeffery says he dreamed about me, then I believe him.”
“Oh….. all right….” Marko smiled.
“Thanks buddy.” Jeffery said.
I had to admit….I really didn’t know how that one was going to turn out. But I’m glad it’s okay…
Oh, and I didn’t correct them about certain ‘facts’-you noticed…
I kept the focus on them. They won’t go to college thinking I sleep at school…

Chief Beef in Tantrum Town

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:32:00 GMT

“Do not teach your children never to be angry; teach them how to be angry.”
~Lyman Abbott

Just when all the planets are aligned and twirling in their orbits…a blood curdling scream is heard in the corner of the room.
Jeffery is throwing a tantrum. A juicy, delicious five star tantrum meant to rock everyone’s spinal cords. Okay….all the children know the drill.
1.This is not an emergency…no blood, no foul.
2.Go back to what you were doing…smiles everyone-smiles.
3.Like a sneeze-we don’t need stare, point, or discuss it…
The teacher will handle it if it’s messy.
When we all work together I noticed the tantruming behavior becomes less and less….till it eventually stops within the classroom.
At circle times, children will often ask certain kids why they “kick on the floor” or make comments about that ‘type of behavior’. I find it very interesting. In a round about way they are letting them know that this is not the norm. Peer pressure can be good….
in some ways…

The Bambino Inquisition

Anonymous — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT

"The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
~Dorothy Parker

Kids inquire many questions of us big people…. But do we as adults challenge kids with questions?
I am not talking of the usual eight plus three, or the capitol of Alaska scenario… oh-no, no, no. I mean questions only ‘they’ can answer….which means the asker’s job is to listen.
I do this every now and then at circle times...or when things get a little too quiet.
The children sometimes have answered these questions in silly, humorous, logical or very thought provoking way. I leave it up to them.
Being preschoolers….I’ll ask whatever comes to mind....you know, improvise. I may even amuse myself.
Here are some examples of questions:
“What sound does a goldfish make?”
“Why does your nose run and your feet smell?”
“Who turns on the light when you open the refrigerator?”
“If a carrot is orange why don’t we call it an orange?”
“Where does baby oil come from?”
“Where do teachers sleep?”
Most kids will actually answer you…and will keep elaborating if you ask more questions.....

Bombastic Chi

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 18:33:00 GMT

"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." ~Wilt Chamberlain

"Does "anal-retentive" have a hyphen?" ~Alison Bechdel

Anya is four going on forty. She can not only write but recite her entire alphabet….to the chagrin of everyone around her- unfortunately.
Anya in the type of child if you were to tell her to “play” she would be utterly insulted. Everything must be…well, not only must it 'be'….must it must be just so….and not only just 'so'…it must be how she says so….ahem.
I loved the challenged. Yes…..Past Tense.
She was thrust into my lively preschool group upon her parent’s wishes. Amazing, the transformation that can take place when you allow a child to take some time to settle in…..
At first, all she insisted on doing was her alphabets. That was her comfort zone-her private space. I had the other children let her be till I saw she became interested in the room…this took time.
As spunky as she was, the kids in the class really wanted to get to know her. I stayed close and listened in on the conversations as they spoke to her.
They finally won her over….Here’s how the final ice breaking conversation went.

“Are you still doing that ABC stuff?” One child remarked.
Anya: “Yeah…I’m too good at it.” (Writing at the table)
“Hey, Anya wanna play?” Another child said.
Anya: “Always you kids bug me…I’m busy.”
“Why don’t you smile or something?” One child said.
Anya: (Getting agitated) “You don’t want me to get mad!”
“Maybe I do! Come on and play with us already!” Three children gathered with the first.
Anya: “Fine. I’ll play…only a-cause you won’t leave me alone.” (She laughed)

All of the Above

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:33:00 GMT

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
~Henry Ford

Kids look up all the time. Why? They’re little…they just don’t act like it….well, only when it’s convenient and works to their advantage, I suppose.
How do I know this?
I, myself…am vertically challenged. Petite…...ahem. But, I am a giant among the wee ones so please don’t break the news to them.
There are so many things I could be doing in the room that would be quicker, more convenient, and more efficiently done if I had done them all by myself….but I have a certain culture I wish to create in my classroom.
Teamwork.
Culture is like a seed. You must be take care in what you plant…because it can take over, like beautiful flowers or like thorny thistles.
We have small wash cloths, squirt bottles, and brooms for clean up times. The children use them often and were shown with care how to use them properly.
Parents were surprises when they first saw a clean up station set up in a preschool class. They initially thought the children weren’t allowed to touch it. When they saw children working with the materials they said.....
“Wow, so how do they know which of the clean up materials to choose? Option A, B, C or D?” They joked.
“As long as they use the materials together with purpose, they can choose all of the above” I laughed.

Like Water

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:30:00 GMT

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
-Bruce Lee

How flexible are we when it comes to changes? How about routine changes. If I am having a bad day…do the kids know it? Should they know it?
I really like quotes for this reason….they make you think.

Getting Found

Anonymous — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:32:00 GMT

“The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others."
~ Ghandi

I an not too fond of whining. My mother claims I was whined as a child…..sorry, Mom-I feel you.
My mother gave me things to do. She kept me busy….I, in turn, keep a busy classroom.
It has been my experience that kids that whine either want attention from adults or may feel lack ill at ease with their own peers. Whatever the case, I work very *** bonding and engaging them to focus and work and feel comfortable within the classroom. Usually, by making them a ‘helper’ within the classroom setting they begin to feel empowered and build confidence while I work more closely with them. It’s amazing to see that as the school year progresses, so do they.
I have found that kids that were my ‘helpers’ in the beginning are more apt to take initiative helping others that seem a bit ‘lost’ within the classroom….it’s a beautiful situation.

The Last Push

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT

“Love is all fun and games until someone loses an eye or gets pregnant.”
~Jim Cole

Jenny was a ‘huggy’ type of girl. Usually, out of now where she would push someone down, too. Quite frankly, I think she was a cause-and-effect type of child. She enjoyed the trouble it caused and the effect of the attention she got….she had friends, though, and that was a good sign. By the time she was in my class preschool we were addressing the core issue of the problem.
“Sorry…that’s the last push…I won’t do’ed it no more, teacher Bah-Bah.” She would promise each time.
“You will come sit at the art table and make a card every time.” I explained.
Jenny had to make a special “I’m sorry” card to the child she pushed…I thought it slowed her down, helped her focus-she made quite a few of them……Then I overheard this touching conversation-and I changed my tactic.
At pick up time Jenny’s parents came to pick her up.
“I make’d three cards today!” Jenny boasted running to her parents.
“Gee, is that all? We’re so proud.” Said her father picking her up.
“Jenny, you have to do better…you know why, right?” Her mom said.
“Yeah…to get a little brother or sister.”
“When mommy had you,” her dad explained, “mommy said you were the “last push”…but we love you so much, we just have to have one more.”