My Weekly Schedule, Currently, and a Peek at my Week!

Well I have to say...my week ended quite nicely. I got my kids hopped up on sugar and sent them off for Halloween fun and NO SCHOOL FRIDAY! Woo :) It was records day for me, but that's still a day off in my book. And I don't know about you other teachers, but I NEVER get school time to just work on my room, and my finishing my report cards early, I had 6 uninterrupted hours to just organize and work!

So I got my lesson plans done early, and it gave me time to check out some linky parties!

The first one is from Susan at Thank God It's First Grade called What's Your Schedule? I thought this was such a good idea! I love seeing how other teachers organize their day. I unfortunately have no control over my schedule, but I like to see what others do.

 

This is my schedule. I will preface it by saying I don't love it! But it's what I have to live with so I make it work :)

 

 

 

8:45-9:15 Arrival, Announcements, Morning Work, and Jobs

 

This part of my day I like! First of all, I am NOT a morning person and being a late start school is fantastic. The kiddos are all wide awake and ready to learn when they get to school.

 

So when my kiddos get to school, they do their morning routine and start their morning work. Every morning except for Fridays, we do DeeDee Wills' Read, Trace, Glue, and Draw. I bought all three of her bundles and let me tell you...these babies are gold!

 

 

First of all, the kiddos know what to do EVERY DAY. No more Miss M, Miss M, how do I do this? Drove me crazy! Now my kiddos know what to do every single day. Second, this not only helps my kiddos with handwriting, but improves their cutting skills, one to one correspondence, left to right directionality, reverse sweep, sight words, making detailed illustrations, counting, etc. I could go on and on! Try them out!

 

When they finish their morning work, they are allowed to play any of our math station/literacy station games until I start our morning song for calendar.

 

9:15-9:55 Calendar and Math Workshop

 

Yes...I know. 40 minutes for calendar and math...its awful. But it's what I have to work with, so I make it happen. I think calendar is important enough to still take up 15 minutes of our math time because not only are we practicing literacy/math skills, it is am important life skill that I am not going to keep them from learning!

 

Anywho, that leaves us with about 25 minutes for math. Generally, this means that I either do mini-lesson/whole group activity, or mini-lesson/math stations. We do not have time to do all three. And I am usually five minutes late to specials...whoops :)

 

9:55-10:50 Specials

 

10:50-12:00 Reader's Workshop

 

We spend the first 15 minutes of reader's workshop having snack, doing a bathroom break, and watching ABC/character education videos.

 

Then, we do our mini lesson, me time (independent reading), we time (partner/book tub reading), and our read-aloud lesson.

 

12:00-12:25 Literacy Stations

 

My kiddos love these! Our literacy stations include computer station, ABC station, Word Work station, listening station, and poetry station.

 

During all of reader's workshop and literacy stations I am pulling groups (minus the mini lesson and read-aloud). I drill routines into my kiddos and I trust them to do what they need to do while I'm busy with their friends. Plus, they LOVE coming to my table to work with me, so no one wants to misbehave and lose the privilege!

 

12:25-1:05 Writer's Workshop

 

We always start writer's workshop with a mini lesson, and then my kiddos get right to work. They honestly work the whole time. I work really hard to get them excited about books and excited about their stories and they groan when I tell them time is up! I spend writing time conferring with individual students. Right now, my kiddos are in such different places that I cannot really pull writing groups, but eventually, I will do that too!

 

Later in the year when the kiddos are better readers and writers, the literacy stations time will dissolve into reader's and writer's workshop.

 

1:05-1:35 Lunch

 

1:35-1:45 Bathroom Break

 

1:45-2:10 Rest Time/Academic Lab

 

This time is really pivotal for my kiddos. Having a full day kindergarten program, my kiddos need this time of rest. For the first few months, it is just that...rest time. Then, it turns into an academic lab, where students are working on individual reading/math/writing skills.

 

2:10-2:35 Science/Social Studies

 

I switch off teaching science and social studies. We spend a few weeks on each unit and then move into the other subject. We don't have time in the day nor enough material to teach both at the same time.

 

2:35-3:05 Recess

 

3:05-3:45 Learning Centers

 

This is awesome time for my kiddos to learn how to collaborate and play together, build relationships, and practice those skills we are learning throughout the day. It is also a time when I can pull kiddos for extra help. Since I have such minimal time for math, many times I use this part of the day to pull math groups.

 

3:45-4:00 Pack Up and Dismissal

 

So that's my day! Not my ideal schedule, but we manage to make it work! Head on over to Susan's blog and share yours!

 

Next is November Currently from Oh' Boy Fourth Grade! These are so fun to do!

 

 

Listening...to Wild Wild West! I haven't watched this movie in years :)

 

Loving...that I am moving into my new apartment next weekend! It is actually final now :) Woo!

 

Thinking...I need to start packing!

 

Wanting...To not do this grad school project due tomorrow. My partner and I have worked on it for so long already I just want it to be finished!

 

Needing...to get motivated! I have a lot to do today!

 

A Yummy Pin...I've seen this one before, but they just look so good!!! Cheddar biscuits :) Yum! http://www.pinterest.com/pin/170714642097407544/

And last, a peek at my week! We have a late start day (2 hour delay) for PD on Wednesday and a special Veteran's day assembly on Friday, so it's a little different than usual. Link up over at Mrs. Wills Kindergarten!

 

 

Here are my plans! Starting three new units this week :(

And if you are looking for any Veteran's Day activities, check out my Honoring Our Soldiers pack!

Enjoy your week!