I went to my first teacher meeting last night and got my schedule for the day with specials and what not. I'm trying to figure out what to put where! We do have rest time -- an hour and a half!! Mandated by state law I guess. So I have typed up a schedule so that I can see the holes that I need to fill with academics. =) I need some thinking help! Mondays I have 10-11 and 2:00-3 for academic time (reading, writing, math, centers, EVERYTHING! =) Tuesdays I have 9:30-11 and 2-3 Wednesdays I have 9:30-11 and 1:30-3:00 Thursdays I have 10:00-11, 1:30-3:00 Fridays I have 9:30-10:00, 1:30-3. What I WANT to be able to do is Reader's Workshop, Literacy Centers and Writer's Workshop, then I have to do math. I would like to do centers as well with science and math manipulatives etc. I'm really not sure how to fit all of this in into the schedule, can anyone help me sort of clarify how things should work? I'm feeling really overwhelmed and after researching reader's workshop, the daily and many other strategies..... everything is sort of a jumble that I am trying to figure out. *** trying to take a deep breath.... ***** =)
What about using some of the free play / explore time to set up math and reading centers? Counting and making patterns with animals is math and still something they can choose. Do you have an aid who can sit at a table and assist? Make sure you have books out and paper at a writing table. You can float around during play time and model what to do with things (write letters and notes to friends, re-read favorite books to puppets, etc.). An hour and a half sounds like a long time though for rest time. What about the kids who wake up after an hour? Some parents are not going to want their children sleeping that long (they'll be up all night!!) Could those kids get a short literacy lesson or time to practice math concepts silently?
Incorporate some of your stations during that hour and a half (which is a ridiculous amount of rest time in my opinion). You know some kids won't use the time appropriately so set up silent reading, books on tape and sticker books. Or allow kids to clean their stations (cubbies, reading centers, computers, etc...) Remember, its better to over plan than to under plan. Good luck!
Yeah, I'll have to check the policies of our new rest time. It is SUCH a long time, and I'm betting that more children will NOT be sleeping than sleeping. =) I have file folder activities that I could take to the gym for them to do and also books/writing, etc. I think I mostly figured out how I want the schedule to run, so that is one stresser gone!
