Patrick's Birthday!

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone's block is going well - the time has flew by, I can't believe we are half way done. I just wanted to send an invite to everyone to come out on Friday night to the chili pepper for Pat's birthday. It would be really nice to catch up with everyone and of course, celebrate Pat's 22nd! If there is word of a pre-drink, I will post the location. Hope to see everyone there and good luck this week!

Hey everyone,

I have just recently discovered a very interesting classroom management technique.
Concept: A Classroom behaviour rating system that is reset at the beginning of every day, or week depending on your classroom needs. This allows the students and the teacher to see at a glance how the class is behaving. Every student starts off with a GREEN "light", when the student misbehaves you remove the green card and place it at the back of the pile and a yellow one shows up. If the students continue to misbehave then you remove the yellow one and there is a red card. At this point you can decide what is appropriate for your classroom in terms of a consequence for individuals or for the whole class if many students have a RED "light." This is especially useful if you explain the system to a supply teacher so that they can implement the same system in your class and the next morning you can see how your class behaved at a glance.

Location: On a wall or any free space you have in the classroom for a large sheet of bristol board.
Setup: Each student has a pocket on the bristol board (think the old pockets in library books that you would write the return date on). In each pocket there is a Green Card that is always at the front at the beginning of the day. Behind the green card can be several yellow cards (or just one) and then a red card.

Another technique that I have discovered pertains to those students who find themselves in trouble more often than not. If the student continues to make poor behaviour decisions then instead of just calling home and talking to the parent yourself, have the student call his or her parent to explain what has happened. This is very effective when the student has decided to make inappropriate comments to other students in the class. Most children do not want to use vulgar language when talking with their parents and consequently the parents see that the child is capable of making this type of comment. It is not the teacher saying well your son/daughter did this, but instead its the child saying I did this. During this whole process the teacher is of course there to make sure that the student is saying what happened.

I hope everyones first week went wonderfully and continued good luck next week.
Mr. F

A Seinfeld Moment

Teaching the place values unit.
Grade 3.
Want the students to have fun - be engaged.
A fellow teacher tells me of a great game to play using dice.
Off to the Dollar store.
Buy 3 packs of 5 dice - Bright red.
I demonstrate the game.
I roll a five.
and another.
and another.
and another.
"Wow 4 fives in a row!" I say.
Someone speaks out:
"Mr Sargent, those are trick dice"
Skeptical, I view the package.
Staring me in the face are the words:
"Guaranteed to roll a seven every time!"
My face as red as the dice, I look to the teacher for assistance.
She borrows some dice from next door.
Game was a success - they loved it.
Sometimes crazy things are thrown at you.
Be Prepared.
The lesson?
Don't buy dice without reading the package.

Interesting Article

Hey Everyone,
I was reading the Toronto Star and came across this interesting article about split grades. If you have time, check it out.

http://www.thestar.com/article/273357

Hey Everyone,

I did say I would compile some of the pics from our counselling group events. Not all the pictures are included, just wanted to give those who weren't there an idea of what they missed, and for those who were there, a chance to look back. These will look familiar to people on facebook (no new ones).

Boston Pizza:

Birthday Cake:

Honest Lawyer & Big Bucks:

Enjoy,

Miss B

Happy Block Everyone!