Flexible Seating Classroom Management {Seuss Inspired}

This past school I jumped on the flexible seating bandwagon. I'm not going to lie it was challenging for me to have students all over the place when they were working independently. Yet, once I let go of the need to control and let the students have more choice, behavior issues were dramatically reduced from the previous year. As a class, we decided on the rules and expectations for the flexible seating. For the first month of school, the students did not get "free" choice of where they were going to sit. I rotated each group through the flexible seats demonstrating proper use. Then after the month was up, they were able to choose.

There are going to be some modifications made to my flexible seating arrangement for the 2018-2019 school year. I think instead of having flexible seating with their desk choice, I am going to use it strictly for independent small group work. I noticed last year some of my students could not handle floor pillows. They wanted to stretch out on the floor during whole group time. When I mean stretch out I mean full out on your tummy, sprawled eagle, no room for walking. Lesson learned! The second obstacle is they sat by their BFF which this year meant Chatty Kathy.

Even though I teach first grade my classroom is compartmentalized into learning centers. I have tables for each center such as math, word work, writing, a reading nook, and computer center. So... I am going to use the exercise ball, stools, crate seats, scoop rockers, exercise disks, and bucket seats in the learning centers. Then they can seat at their desk during whole group time which is approximately 2.5 hours of the entire day and it's not even clumped, but spread throughout the day.

Bright primary colors compliment a color, circus, or Dr. Seuss themed classroom. Use Adobe Reader to add your own number of how many students can choose a seating option.

DOWNLOAD>> Flexible Seating Classroom Management {Seuss Inspired}

Directions: I have included (2) different print sizes for you to use. Each poster will print one per page on the following paper sizes: 11 x 17 or 8.5 x 11. When printing, choose FIT to ensure image fit on the paper size selected. I printed the 11x17 size in color, trimmed, and then laminated for durability.
File contains the following:

• (1) Flexible Seating Header in two sizes. (8.5x11 and 11x17) Choose FIT when printing to ensure image fits paper selected when printing. PP.7
• (2) Expectation Posters in two sizes. (8.5x11 and 11x17) PP.5-6
• (8) Different Seating options (5.5x4.25)
• (1) Loose Seat Choice (8x6)(34) Dr. Seuss inspired hats with student numbers for alphanumeric student seat choice.

1st Grade Spelling & Words to Know {Journey’s 1st Grade Units 1-6 Supplemental Materials}

 I used the spelling words and words to know from Journey's 1st Grade Reading series and created pocket chart cards to use both on my focus board and in word work centers. 

My grammar wall was used in independent and teacher lead small groups. The foam core boards were color-coded to go along with the parts of speech. It was a quick reference for the students to use.

Spelling words and words to know were introduced at the beginning of the week and placed in the pocket chart on my focus board.

Pocket chart cards for each lesson used in Journey’s First Grade reading series. I used the spelling word cards as parts of speech for my grammar wall. At the end of the week, I transferred them to their respected parts of speech. Spelling cards are designated with N for noun, V for verb, LV for linking verb, PN pronoun, P preposition, AV adverb, and C conjunction.

DOWNLOAD>> 1st Grade Spelling & Words to Know {Journey’s 1st Grade Units 1-6 Supplemental Materials}

Words to Know pocket chart cards from Unit 1 Lesson 1

File Contains the Following Supplemental Materials:
Labels: Words to Know and Spelling Words
Banner: Grammar (Print on card stock, cut out, and laminate each letter.)
Parts of Speech: Headers for the following parts of speech: adjectives, nouns, verbs, linking verbs, pronouns, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions. (2) sizes to print. (1st) 8.5x14 and (2nd) 8.5x11
Spelling Words: Units 1-6 plus (2) extra words for each lesson.
Words to Know: Units 1-6 plus a few extra words for each lesson.
Letter Tiles: Letter tiles and picture cards available for spelling words. Just print (2) copies of the spelling words. (1) copy for the focus board and (1) for word work.

1st Grade Phonics Posters {Journey’s 1st Grade Units 1-6 Supplemental Posters}

At the beginning of last school year, I developed a series of anchor charts that went along with Journey’s 1st Grade Units 1-6. I went with bright primary colors to go along with my Dr. Seuss theme. Each poster introduced the spelling pattern for the week. I placed the poster on my focus wall for the week, then moved it to my LOOK wall for later reference for the students.

This is a view of my focus board using the short a phonics poster.

DOWNLOAD>> 1st Grade Phonics Posters {Journey’s 1st Grade Units 1-6 Supplemental Posters}

FREE Focus Board Labels and 3 FREE Phonics Posters!!! Download the preview to claim them!!!

Over 90 phonics posters to use when introducing the spelling pattern for the week on a focus board. Bright primary colors compliment a color, circus, or Dr. Seuss themed classroom.

Directions: I have included (3) different print sizes for you to use. Each poster will print one per page on the following paper sizes: 8.5 x 17, 8.5 X 14, and 8.5 x 11. When printing choose FIT to ensure image will fit on the paper size selected. I printed the 8.5x14 size in color, trimmed, and then laminated for durability.

Supplemental Materials: Teacher created supplemental materials based on Journey’s First Grade reading series.

File Contains the Following Spelling Patterns:

Short Vowels: a, e, i, o, and u
Long Vowels: Silent e, Vowel Pairs, and Vowel Digraphs
Beginning Consonant Digraphs: th, wh, ph, sh, ch, 
Ending Consonant Trigraphs: dge and tch, 
Silent Letters: kn, wr, mb, gn, and t 
R Controlled Vowels: ar, er, ir, or, and ur 
Blends bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl, sc, sk, sm, sn, sp, st, sw, br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, and tr
Vowel Diphthongs: ew, oy, ow, ou, oo (cook), oo (moon), oi, aw, au 
Hard and Soft Letter Sounds: c and g
Inflectional Endings: ed, ing, and s
Y as a Vowel: y = i and y = e
Spelling Rules: FLoSS
Word Families: -it, -ack, -ip, -ump, -atch, -ace, -ake, -et, -ock, -ine, -ite, -ain, -oat, -ar, -ore, and -ink


1st Grade English Language Arts Standards (ELA): 

1RF2: Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes). a. Distinguish long from short vowel sounds in spoken single-syllable words.
1RF3: Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding
words. c. Know final -e and common vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds.