PK to 1st grade

Hello,

I just was transferred to 1st grade after teaching PK for 11 years. Very excited but a little nervous!

Helpful tips? Room set-up, routines, etc. Anythin you can offer will be graciously accepted!

[glynnis]

I moved to 1st grade this past year from Kindergarten. I found that students knew so much more! I set up my desks in groups like a table for most of the year. I had centers around my room. My centers were: Reading/Listening, Writing/Publishing, Math/Science/Social Studies, and Computer/Technology. I only had 16 students. My Math area was the loudest so I only allowed 4 students in there. I ran the centers much like I did in Kindergarten. I also taught small groups during center time. My center time was shorter in 1st grade than Kindergarten. I still do calendar time and morning news. For the most part, I did not change much of my teaching methods and delivery methods. I had to learn to let them be more independent because they were. I enjoyed the independence for the most part. Good Luck with 1st. I really love teaching it.

What helped me most in my first year in first grade was Mary Pecci's "At Last! A Reading Method for Every Child." It was everything I wished I had had in my teacher preparation classes. You can check it out on http://www.OnlineReadingTeacher.com. There are also some great SUPER SEATWORK BOOKS for free time that are irresistable to Grade 1 students.

Most of these books are available at the library.

Cassidy