Teaching in the hallway

Obviously I didn't made it back in time for Teaching Tip Tuesday. I had a another crazy long day where I got up early to go and vote before work, then put in a full day, plus had 2 hours of non stop parent conferences before I got to go home at 6:15. So today you get a Post Election day Teaching Tip.

Before I start I want to thank everyone for their vote.

I am really excited to share today's tip. I like to take advantage of every moment I have with my kids. This includes time in the hallway. I mean why waste 5 valuable minutes of possible instruction time? Especially if like me your dropping off and picking up kids all day long. 

So here is what I do with my kinder kids to help practice handwriting. Honestly, I don't have a lot of time to practice handwriting. It is not really part of my curriculum, but I just can't NOT address it. So it is something I have to squeeze in whenever I can. This is one way I do it. My school has a No Noise in the hall policy. That means no talking by the kids and very little from the teachers too. So when I pick up my kids I quickly (whisper) share the letter we will practice. I have previously pre-taught that they are to use their walking time thinking of how the letter is made and getting ready to make the letter.

When we get to our room, right outside my door I have a 8.5x11 sheet of paper with some blown up handwriting lines, on top of a scrapbook paper sheet. Both of these are laminated. See below.

When we get to my door, I quickly hope no one is looking and I review our handwriting strokes. The kids are reminded to practice this by using "air writing". They can air write the letters on the walls, floor, or ceiling as I write it on the handwriting lines.

 

Once this is done we walk into the room, but not before the kids finger trace the letter one at a time before they cross the threshold. Side note, I use a permanent marker, so when the kids trace it the marker doesn't rub off.

This gives me a quick look at who is still struggling with the letter formation, or it also gives me a little bit of time to talk with the kids as they walk in. You all know how they love to tell you stories when they first see you. This is a great time for it.

Total time is 5 minutes. Granted when we started it at the start of the year it was a little bit longer, but once they learn the routine it goes by pretty quickly. That is it! Easy right?

I have something different that I do with my 1st graders and other things I do on the way back to their Gen Ed classrooms but I think that I am a bit too tired to share all of that now. Know that I will be back with those.

 So next time your in the hall think of how you can take that time and use it for your benefit.