2022 Term 1 Week 1: Routines, Requirements & Resources

What have I taught? Routines and expectations
It’s the start of a new year of school!

For my prep students, it was their first day of school on Monday. This is an exciting time, with plenty of nerves (including mine) and a few tears (mostly from parents).
School is a new environment for my 5-year-olds. Most managed three visits last year, but even those with siblings haven’t had the same chance to explore the school environment (thanks covid). This means that almost everything is new.

So, I get to teach these wonderful 5-year-olds all of the routines and expectations that go with being at school. This is both exhausting and exciting. I also realise that there needs to be a sequence to teach the routines and expectations. So here is a rough list of all the things students learnt in their first day of school.
On Monday my students learnt how to:

I was tired at the end of the first day of school. Looking at this list it is no wonder that my students were exhausted! Fortunately the second, third and fourth day become less overwhelming as the routines and expectations of the first day are consolidated and then built upon.
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I deliberately prioritise our class rules of “We are safe”, “We are kind”, and “We try hard”. A note from a parent last year describes why I am unapologetic about this.

Your classroom rules: ‘We are safe, we are kind & we try hard’ stuck with me so much I made a big poster displaying the words and put them up on Mum’s wall in hospital. It became a compact for anyone visiting the room. Great words to live by in 2021.

To read more about routines and expectations check out Dr Nathaniel Swain’s blog 

What have I learnt? My students’ requirements.
While my students have been learning a lot about school, I’ve been busy learning about them. I love learning about their likes, cultures, passions, interests and families. However this year my focus has needed to be on the health of some of my students. I have a number of students with a range of particular medical needs. This involves multiple medications at different points and being vigilant for any changes. Fortunately I have a fantastic Education Support colleague and together (with families) we are working out the routines we need to ensure that they are safe at school.
 
What have I loved? The sharing of resources
I believe that educators benefit when we are generous with our resources. I hate the feeling when I feel like I am creating something that someone else has already made. Reinventing the wheel is a terrible waste of teachers' precious time.
So I was excited this week by the launch of curriculum materials from the new Australian organisation Ochre Education. Ochre has released their first batch of sequenced video lessons with additional resources. The current offering includes English and Maths lessons for years 3-6. I see this as a perfect option for students who have to isolate due to covid or providing cover lessons. It’s well worth checking out! They are also on the lookout for educators who wish to contribute.