Sorry I fail at writing blogs… I really am not the world’s best writer and I typically leave that department to my mother. Once I get going I’m usually fine (at least I’m counting on that happening in this post!)
I’ve learned to make life a game. In my house we all help with chores every day and the littlest kids, Scout and Curly, are in charge of unloading the dishwasher(s). In reality this chore takes approximately 8 minutes, but they can drag it out to 8 hours on any given day! So in order to encourage them to start and finish their job I have devised games that keep them motivated and focused on the task at hand. The four games are:
Time Me! – I count as they put each item away. This game works for ANY chore and is ridiculously motivating.
Secret Agent- Standing flat against the wall, rolling on the ground, and peeking around the corners. This game takes a bit longer, but they love it and really get into it!
Color Me ______! – When unloading the dishwasher they have to put away all items that are a certain color (i.e. all the blue objects) and then either I guess what color it was or I tell them if they put away the mystery color I was thinking of. This one also reinforces colors which is always a bonus.
Classifying Cups and Bowls- Similar to the color game, they put away all the items that are the same. (i.e. cups, bowls, spoons, etc)
Well. Those are my secrets. (: It makes my life a lot easier when they are happy and motivated to do their chores. If you have any other ideas for a good Job Game, let me know! (: I always like comin’ up with new ones to shake things up.
Peace out.
~Teach
When we buy cheese, I will grab the most massive brick possible or five or six little ones and she will grab one 8 oz cheese and wonder if they will finish it before it goes bad. Six loaves of bread for me; one loaf for her. Eight boxes of cereal for me (only if they’re on sale or I have a coupon) she picks one of her favorites but if she’s feeling adventurous she might even get TWO boxes! Eggs, butter, yogurt, it’s all the same story. At first it was odd, but over time we’ve gotten over it and I could probably shop for her family and she could probably shop for mine! After all, that’s what friends’ arrreeeee….fooooorrrrrrr! (Jungle Book reference)
One of the greatest lessons I have learned as a teacher is to know your students. Know their interests, their hobbies, their fears, their apprehensions, and their families. Students come to school in kindergarten and they have been raised by the rules of their family for 5 years and this is all they know. They believe that the time they go to bed is the law for all children to go to bed. They believe the way their family did it is the correct way. When they come into the classroom you have to embrace that! They have different backgrounds, different views, various values and they do not know that there are other ways to do things. In the kindergarten Utah Core Curriculum, the first standard is: Standard 1 (Culture): Students will recognize and describe how individuals and families are both similar and different. You will have single parent homes, foster care students, students that come from families with eleven siblings, adopted students, students raised by Grandma, etc. In order to be sensitive to the need of each child, you must know where they came from and you must adapt your teaching to reach those needs. 