Getting back to DAP!

This semester I took an amazing masters-level Curriculum Development class! I realized that if I wanted to (be allowed to) teach in a truly developmentally appropriate way, I needed to show my admin that I was meeting standards, first.

I went through and typed up all the standards we cover during routines throughout our day, that don't need to be explicitly taught. Then I compiled the leftovers (explicitly taught) and divvied up when those would be covered. This turned into a neat and simple pacing chart. With only 4 reading standards to focus on each quarter (plus about 6 math and 3 writing), I can justify doing more in-depth project work, science, music, and art!

Here's a copy of the tables I made. Just let me know if you'd like a PDF and I'll send one your way. :)

Note: The Alaska Standards are exactly the same as the Common Core, except for a few additions our lovely state threw in (days of the week, coins, and time to the hour). 

Maintaining my Energy

This one seems like it would be the easiest of my resolutions, but it's by far the most difficult! A couple months ago, my husband bought me a FitBit Flex for my birthday.

I love this thing! I wear it like a watch, and it records my activity throughout the day. I've worn it with a heart rate monitor, and it's pretty accurate at measuring the calories I'm burning! On things like a stationary bike it's useless, but I can enter that info on my own. Getting credit for my workouts is such a motivator!

Here's what my phone app looks like on a good day:

Before this year, I honestly rarely worked out. Having this tracker plus having friends to drag me to the gym have been key. It's hard to get myself there, but I feel so much better afterwards! It definitely has helped with stress, and with back pain caused by sitting in those tiny Kinder chairs too much!

Here's what else I've been working on:

• Sleep. I aim for 7.5 hours a night. Trying to keep a close-to-normal schedule on the weekends has helped. Staying up until 2am on Saturday and sleeping until noon really messes me up for the first half of the next week! I do much better if I'm in bed by midnight and up by 8 on the weekends. 

• Drinking More Water. I bring a 24oz water bottle to school every morning, and start drinking as soon as I'm done with my coffee. Then I refill it at lunch.

• Bringing a Healthy Snack. I get crabby when I'm hungry! By first recess at 10:00, I'm usually starved. Just a few tablespoons of mixed nuts and dark chocolate is enough to hold me over. In the afternoon I munch on a granola bar.

• Getting to Work Earlier. I give myself a half hour before the work day starts to check email, surf around a bit, listen to music and sip my coffee in peace. I absolutely hate feeling rushed, so this helps me start the day in a more positive state of mind. It's also become a great time to work on this blog!
 

My first few years teaching, I really worked myself to death and neglected my health. I didn't realize how connected my physical/mental health were to my teaching until taking an incredible behavior management class by Fairy Dust Teaching's Sally Haughey. A happy teacher makes a better teacher!

Revamping my Curriculum

THE DILEMMA:

1. I want my kids to have rich experiences.
2. It takes forever to plan engaging lessons from scratch.

THE SOLUTION:

• Find the right balance of routine and novelty.
• Do it in SMALL steps.

Provide new, exciting materials every day, or stick to the same old, same old? I've been on both sides of that spectrum. And neither is ideal. A balance works best.

Here's what the first half of my lesson plan template looks like currently, to show how I manage the "routine" part. It's so easy to just fill in the blanks with this week's theme, story, etc.

Now for the fun part, the novelty! I've gathered many great ideas over the years, but had a difficult time fitting them in! I always feel like there's not enough time, but when I think about it, there is a lot that can be cut out, and plenty of activities that don't need to be done as often. This leads into the next points...

• Take time to browse for new ideas.
• Incorporate your passions into your teaching.
• Get organized!

Pinterest is a teacher's best friend! You can browse my boards here:

My biggest passions are definitely art & science. So I looked for ways I could incorporate those into everyday math, reading, and writing activities. I found so much great stuff!

So many wonderful ideas. But so many that take a lot of time to prepare. *sigh*

Organization is key! I invested heavily in ziplocs, tabbed binders, and totes, and it has paid off.

Over the summer, I gathered all my great lessons together and got all my files sorted out so that I can be more efficient and get everything in that I want to! I am most proud of myself for eliminating almost ALL worksheets!

Thanks for reading!