So, have you ever had one of those days at school that seems to go on forever because oyu can't take the children outside? I know most people would say just pop in a movie and grin and bear it. i'm just not that teacher, don't get me wrong I have shown short veggie tales and such before but I have decided that if I don't want my child watching extra TV at school than why is it o.k. for me to impose that on others children. Here are a few ideas I have come up with to pass the indoor time that have prooved more enjoyable for child and teacher than watching tv!
- Art Centers: I love art and there is just not enough time in the day to have enough art, so last week when we had a rain day I set up four different tables and allowed the children 15 minutes at each table, they loved it: watercolors, stencils, stamps and punches and dry erase. The art was fantastic and the kids didn't even miss thier outside time.
-Movement Activities: I bought a set of movement mats at Lakeshore a couple of years ago and hardly ever get them out. I love to move the tables to one side of the room and put out these lettle vynal mats with different easy exercises like sit ups and crab walks on them. I then play energetic music for 30 seconds to a minute and then have to teams switch. They have so much fun counting how many reps they can do of each exercise. You could make a set or order a set online. i am planning on using mine much more often this year.
-Reading in the Dark: Last year I purchased little individual flashlights for a halloween activity and they have been sitting in a cabinet ever since. This year I pulled them out and gave each child one, I turned off my big lights, leaving a small one by the sink on and allowed them to read with a partner with the flashlights. This was so much fun that we may even do it on non rain days.
_Teacher Time: This is my favorite! While the children are playing in extended rainy day centers I make myself a little area to sit wit stuffed animals and books, I invite each child to have a few minutes with me if they want to. I read them a short book of their choosing and then get a minute or two to really talk to them about how they are and what they are and are not enjoying about school/life. I was amazed to find out some interesting thoughts that I could fix and a few that I had to intervene with administration and the family. It can never hurt to get to know oyur students on their level, you never know what you might find out or what areas you can help them with.
Partner Centers: Normally my centers have three or four students and are on a larger scale so cooperative games and file folders are out of the question. This extra classroom time gives me the chance to teach how to work together with a partner and how to properly play games and file folder activities. The biggest thing I have been able to do through this is to teach only children that it is ok to loose and not to be a sore sport.
I hope that these activities will bless yuor classroom as much as they have mine. Please take a moment to join my blog and visit my TpT store for classroom activities your studetns will enjoy. I would love to start hearing some comments from those of you that are visiting. Thank you foe reading my post and visiting my blog.
Till next time....
Christine
- Art Centers: I love art and there is just not enough time in the day to have enough art, so last week when we had a rain day I set up four different tables and allowed the children 15 minutes at each table, they loved it: watercolors, stencils, stamps and punches and dry erase. The art was fantastic and the kids didn't even miss thier outside time.
-Movement Activities: I bought a set of movement mats at Lakeshore a couple of years ago and hardly ever get them out. I love to move the tables to one side of the room and put out these lettle vynal mats with different easy exercises like sit ups and crab walks on them. I then play energetic music for 30 seconds to a minute and then have to teams switch. They have so much fun counting how many reps they can do of each exercise. You could make a set or order a set online. i am planning on using mine much more often this year.
-Reading in the Dark: Last year I purchased little individual flashlights for a halloween activity and they have been sitting in a cabinet ever since. This year I pulled them out and gave each child one, I turned off my big lights, leaving a small one by the sink on and allowed them to read with a partner with the flashlights. This was so much fun that we may even do it on non rain days.
_Teacher Time: This is my favorite! While the children are playing in extended rainy day centers I make myself a little area to sit wit stuffed animals and books, I invite each child to have a few minutes with me if they want to. I read them a short book of their choosing and then get a minute or two to really talk to them about how they are and what they are and are not enjoying about school/life. I was amazed to find out some interesting thoughts that I could fix and a few that I had to intervene with administration and the family. It can never hurt to get to know oyur students on their level, you never know what you might find out or what areas you can help them with.
Partner Centers: Normally my centers have three or four students and are on a larger scale so cooperative games and file folders are out of the question. This extra classroom time gives me the chance to teach how to work together with a partner and how to properly play games and file folder activities. The biggest thing I have been able to do through this is to teach only children that it is ok to loose and not to be a sore sport.
I hope that these activities will bless yuor classroom as much as they have mine. Please take a moment to join my blog and visit my TpT store for classroom activities your studetns will enjoy. I would love to start hearing some comments from those of you that are visiting. Thank you foe reading my post and visiting my blog.
Till next time....
Christine
Great ideas! Love the flashlights especially. :-)
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