I guess I can be considered a veteran teacher
at this point in my career—16 years—however, I don’t really like that word. It
sounds like I’ve been through combat, when in reality I love what I do. Yes, some years have been harder than others,
difficult students, changing standards, but that comes with the territory
right? I’ve learned that education never
stays the same, so you might as well just roll with it. Over the years, I’ve
taught many grade levels and just like wine, I know I’ve improved with age. Like
many of you, I take what works, and what doesn’t – I revamp, reuse and refine my
plans and classroom each year to make them the best they can be.
I’m
going to be completely honest with you. My Calendar Bulletin Board has always
been my bane, my weakness—
bane (noun): the bane of somebody’s existence or life. Somebody
or something that is a constant source of trouble or annoyance.
—When
I first began teaching I didn’t look at the calendar as a tool for learning. It
was there to tell the date. What day is
it? Oh yeah, it’s Monday—again!
As
I changed grade levels, schools and states, the calendar became a more integral
part of my math curriculum. So, for me, looking at the dark
green pocket chart with the same boring red and blue number cards was torture.
Every year I would tell my class to remind me to do our calendar because I
never do it out of habit or routine or free will. There was no way for my students to come up and be involved. Don’t
get me wrong, the pocket chart calendar is great for some—but for me……like I
said BANE! I
tried snazzing it up with a Charlie Brown and Snoopy I had made years ago, but
that only helped a little.
Fortunately,
(for me and my students) I found a calendar and add-on pieces to make it work
for me in my
weakness.
This
calendar has transformed
my teaching weakness. I actually ENJOY standing to the side of the calendar and watching as my Student of the
Day writes in the date and tally marks. We count, we add, we learn the days of
the week. Most importantly we have
fun!!! The months of the year, days of
the week, calendar # cards and weather were all a part of the Dots on Turquoise
calendar Set.
I
laminated the Chevron cutouts, and paisley poster, so my students can
write directly on them daily. What’s
nice about using the blank cut-outs and posters is that I can change the
content as I change topics and chapters in math. All of the borders coordinate great with the
calendar as well. I used the chevron and
paisley across the top of the space to make it look like water for the handmade
boat holding Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The borders define the space as my
calendar wall. It also coordinates with the adjacent wall, which houses my word
wall—with coordinating borders. The 100 chart came from an old math series, and
is actually out of date—it should be a 120 chart—but I don’t have 1 big enough right
now.
We are going strong with our calendar!!! Yay!!
Too keep it interesting, I’ve changed out the number cards with a Fall
set for the next month. My class was so
excited to see the new numbers. They came in the room and were all standing in
front of the calendar oohing and aahing! The color really pops on these Fall
numbers and truly reminds me of the colors of fall.
To
make it functional on a day to day basis all the poster pieces were stapled to
the wall. I use the blue sticky tack for the moveable pieces, ie; Number cards,
weather cards and days of the week cards. I like to make my calendar grow
throughout the month, so my students can identify the date. They can easily add
the next number on the calendar, without worrying about staples. Each day I
choose a “Student of the day” as evident above on the Chevron Cut-out. That
student gets to then Write the date on the laminated poster, lead the class in
counting, stating the date, month and year, completing the tally chart,
weather-person, leading the class in the days of the week and / or whatever
other task that needs to be completed for the calendar that day.
I
am thrilled to report, that the calendar portion of my day is no longer my
bane. I am excited to use it on a daily basis, and my students are eager to
learn. I have learned that sometimes our greatest weakness just needs a little
tender love and care, as mine did. The thing that I like best, is that I can
keep it interesting by changing the number cards and make it meet my needs as
we change topics throughout the school year.
I
hope you can make your calendar board as fun and functional in your own classroom!
Enjoy,
This post was also published at Inspired In Style...
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