Friday, September 14, 2012

Primera semana de la escuela - GETTING ORGANIZED

WHAT A WEEK!!  I was so excited to go out and see a couple of the schools in action this week.  The schools look AMAZING and I just can't wait to share some of the things that I have seen!

CLEANING TOYS

Part of our job is not only to ensure that we are providing a stimulating curriculum in Spanish, but also to make sure that we have a safe and HEALTHY environment!  With cold and flu season just around the corner, I wanted to share a brilliant way the teachers in Newton wash the children's toys.  

ALL TODDLER ROOMS should have a container (or placed directly in the sink in your classroom if you have one) to put toys that the children place in their mouths so they can be washed with BLEACH AND WATER SOLUTION every day.  

Other classrooms should rotate the frequently used toys to ensure we have a healthy environment for all of the children.

Darlin (toddler teacher in Newton) shared this technique with us and got all of these mesh laundry bags at the Dollar Store for each classroom.


Place the toys to be washed in the mesh bag, and then in the sink.  Fill the sink with your bleach and water solution and allow to soak for 5 - 10 minutes.  Rinse and get ready to hang!

Once the toys are washed, they can easily be  hung up to dry!!  Brilliant!  I love it!  Every Friday the teachers wash the toys.

Even Newton's Director, Kelly, is excited to get in on the cleaning action!!  

INSPIRATION FOR DIRECTORS

It's that time of year to get all of your paperwork in order and to start the year off organized!!  

Kelly in Newton arranged all of the classroom files with a different color.  They are alphabetical and everyone knows where to easily return a file to its spot when needed.
***ALL TEACHERS SHOULD REVIEW THE CHILDREN'S FILES SO THEY ARE AWARE OF IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY OF THE CHILDREN***

The outside of the filing cabinet is labeled with the order of the classes too!!  Great idea!!  I already saw Porter and Brighton's files organized in the same fashion based on your inspiration!  :-)

PORTFOLIO ORGANIZATION

I just LOVED this system that the teachers in Newton created to organize the papers for portfolios!!  Each child has a "mailbox" where the packets of the monthly portfolio packets are stored.  As children finish their art, then the packets will go in the binders at the end of the month!  LOVE IT!!

I also wanted to share that Eliana in Porter Square displayed the first cutting sample that will then go into the portfolios.  Looks AWESOME!!

I will be coming in to review portfolios in OCTOBER so please make sure that you have samples organized from September completed.  If you have any questions about how to use the labels, the portfolio checklist or anything at all that you are confused about, please let me know!!  I am here to help!!

ORGANIZING PAPER GOODS WITH IKEA


IKEA is a very good friend to the staff in our Needham school.  :-)  These buckets hang easily on these bars which are easily accessible to the children to be able to get their plates, napkins etc...The buckets can also be taken down easily since they are just hanging on the bars for children to hold and pass around!!  

ORGANIZING THE SCIENCE/MATH CENTER WITH IKEA


This shelf is a perfect size to place all of the science materials on and underneath.  There is a microscope, a balance and all sorts of materials to use!!  

ORGANIZING THE BALLS WITH IKEA 

The Needham school uses the big IKEA bag to hang their balls up off the ground, but are easily accessible.  Porter Square also has their balls hanging in ikea  laundry baskets on hooks (forgot to get a picture!).  It's easy to grab for Gross motor time indoors or outdoors!

ORGANIZING MATERIALS IN NEEDHAM

The Needham school (Madelyn's classroom - Preschool 2) has enough shelves and space to use one shelf for the outdoor/indoor shoes, the mats and also the water bottles and lunchboxes.  Everything has its place and it looks very organized!

EVERYDAY LITERACY: 
WRITING OUR NAMES

Marissa's Pre-K kids know that they need to sign in with their names every day upon arrival.  They go to the door to get their dry erase board which is attached with velcro, bring it to the table and write their name.  There are nametags to use as a reference to help.  

They sign in at the table with dry-erase markers, and then they put it back on the velcro dots on the door!

Madelyn in the Preschool 2 class also has nametags for the children to refer to when writing their names.  It is important to have children practice writing their own names on their art projects each day.  It makes it a meaningful way to tell whose project belongs to who.  

These guys were decorating paper "cookies" to give to someone in their family that they love.  First step: write your name on the back!!  They all did an amazing job!!  


LABELS, LABELS, LABELS!!!


Please make sure that all of your materials are clearly labeled with a PICTURE and the word in SPANISH (or you can make it BILINGUAL).  You can use photographs of the actual materials, clipart that you print, or even cut outs from Discount School Supply Magazine.  This is a good naptime project to work on or even during your planning time!!  This is something that your director will review on your MONTHLY CLASSROOM CHECKLIST that needs to be turned in by the end of SEPTEMBER.  



CLASSROOM ARRANGMENTS
I just wanted to share some of the classrooms and how they are arranged in Needham and Newton!

Toddler Class in Needham

Toddler Class in Needham

New Quiet Area in the Pre-K Class in Needham

Preschool Class in Needham

Pre-K Classroom in Needham

Pre-K Class in Newton


I could go on and on, but I think that's enough for today...I will be coming to more schools next week!  Looking forward to getting more inspired!!

GRACIAS!

Jacie

















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