Ok, seriously.
New Grade level
+New Math Curriculum
+Transition to Common Core
+New Teacher Observations
= Teacher Overload
I am completely overwhelmed and in need of a break, vacation, encouraging words....ANYTHING! Ugh. Well, one of the reasons I feel overloaded is I'm in need of some help from my fellow Kinder teachers out there. I'm looking for new ways to write my lesson plans---and truthfully I'm interested in anything. Could you please share?? I would be so GRATEFUL!
I'm a first grade teacher - but wanted to empathize and make you feel better. It's a tough time of year, isn't it? Just wait - the holidays and a break are right around the corner. There is light at the end of the tunnel where you'll get a chance to take a breath and maybe catch up a little!
ReplyDeleteHolly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade
Hang in there...it will get better. After 19 years of teaching, I am trying something new this year with my lesson planning after going to my administrators for approval. Over the summer I brought home all of our District's Subject Area Curriculum Maps. Then I wrote my lesson plans for the entire year based on the suggested timelines given in our curriculum maps. My lesson plan book is organized according to subjects. It is very detailed, even down to the books I am going to read, the activities I am going to do and the assessments that I will give to assure that my students are learning. I shared it with my team at the beginning of the school year and they loved it. It is still a work in progress and I am working out a few glitches but I love it because I don't have to lesson plan each weekend. The only thing that I really need to document in my lesson plan book each week is my small group lesson and interventions. I hope this idea helps. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'll send you the format I use for my lesson plans and my YAG. Hang in there. Let me know if there is anything I can help you with. Just email me. :)
ReplyDelete<>< Crystal
Kreative in Kinder
Oh girl I HEAR YA!!!!! We are doing the SAME thing....all those changes!
ReplyDeleteI have to think to myself....You're doing it for the kids!!!!!
Say that to yourself in your mirror ;)
Or like my students say, "chin up buttercup"!
-Rachelle
whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com
Hi Jennifer:
ReplyDeleteI teach sixth grade so I can't help with the curriculum part. However, I can offer plenty of encouragement that it WILL get better and in time you will look back at this post and marvel that it seemed so overwhelming (Because by that point, everything will be perfectly under control!).
Best of luck from a teacher of a "big kid" class!
Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteThis is year 6 for me.... I thought I had it all figured out and they went and changed the rules in the middle of the game!!! :)
We are making that adjustment to CCSS and the new evals are insane....I will have mine 2 hours before the children are leaving the building for Turkey Day Break!!
Maybe your team could tackle the new CCSS together and each one or pairs take up a subject?
We deconstructed our Math standards over the summer and thought it would work wonderfully....(and then they changed the pacing guide!!!)
I don't know what state you are in but I would be more than happy to send you our Deconstructed Math Standards with the Correlating CCSS!!
misssquirrels@yahoo.com
Hang in there!
Staci
Blog:
http://goingnuttyinmisssquirrelsfirstgrade.blogspot.com
I can't thank ya'll enough for your encouragement and support. This year has definitely been one of those "Am I really suppose to be doing this?" kind of year. I HOPE this is normal because the good Lord knows I worked hard to get where I am today. Does everyone go through a time like this?
ReplyDeleteI totally hear you on all the stress! I'm in a new grade, teaching new standards CCSS with math and language arts. To top it off all of my teaching materials were from some really disorganized teacher and I keep realizing as I'm teaching how much stuff is missing and I have to contact the district office for them to find it! It's super annoying! I sent you my lesson plan outline - I love keeping it really simple - our reading program tells us what book to read each day, what letter to teach, what phonemic awareness/phonics activity to teach too. In math we go right out of the Bridges in Mathematics teacher's guide too. We have a health and social studies program that we plug in a couple of times a week for content. We do seasonal art - this week it'll be a shape-scarecrow. I think we all have highs and lows - but it gets better! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteLaura
http://laura-armstrong-martinez.blogspot.com/
Email me at msk1ell(at)gmail(dot)com and I will see what I can do for you in the lesson plan department.
ReplyDeleteMs. M
Ms.M's Blog
A Teacher's Plan
Hi Jennifer,
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain! This is my 18th year and I changed to Kindergarten after 16 years in first-some days I still wonder whyyyyyyyy! But I do love it! It is amazing how much kids learn in Kindergarten!
However, my grade level works really good together and we share everything! Our lesson plans are on the computer and we take a week at a time so that has been very helpful! Not sure I could help b/c it sounds like everyone already has!
Good Luck but just know we are all feeling like this so you are not in a boat by yourself! Take care, Kelly
Hi lady,
ReplyDeleteI'm a first grade teacher, but can empathize with you 100 times over. My district is trying to implement all kinds of new curriculums and figure out the Core Standards. I have redone my schedule about FIVE times already.
What I have come to figure out is that, I need to teach what has worked for me since I began 5 years ago. You can't suddenly turn a switch and start something brand new. You need to ease yourself in.
I did that about two years ago when I began using Words Their Way. It was SO involved that I just couldn't figure out how to successfully incorporate it into my day. Once I got a real handle on my students and a routine that worked I added it in, but on my terms. All my students benefitted from the routine, language, and program.
I have heard nothing but praise from the second grade team. All my students knew what to do, so it was much easier for them to plan.
I know it gets tough. I haven't been doing this long, but every year I take a new class, and read a new book and revamp my classroom. We are always learning, and as you know... Not all "teachers" learn alike. Take your time and follow your path. You will be fine.
:) Camille