A week ago I was concerned with the state of how my classroom was and how my students were behaving. I was concerned with the students who were “all in” with me while being distracted by the misbehaving students. My frequent flyers were taking advantage of me, my classroom, and the other students. I was fed up. Then I watched some videos from a teacher in West Philadelphia named C.J. Reynolds. He was inspiring to me, had many fun ideas, and brought magic back into the classroom.

That afternoon, my youngest and I headed to Walmart and searched the party isles. We found unicorn wand bubbles, crazy sunglasses, mini ducks and footballs, and magic. Magically I was excited about trying these things with my students! Next, we went to the toy department and found a Magic 8 Ball. Yeah!

Finally, we shopped in the arts and crafts section. Here is where we found confetti and eyeball stickers. My shopping was complete.

The next morning I had an empty tote to dump all of my weird supplies and keep that near my desk in the closet. Now it was time to wait for the right moment to use these things during my day.

Magic 8 Ball

On my desk is a candy jar that I use as a little treat for my students in my classroom. All the students in the school know that I have it and they are taking advantage of the jar. So I have now implemented a rule that the student needs to be in my current class or they have to ask the Magic 8 Ball. Students go from excitement to nervousness as I am shaking the 8 ball. It is glorious!! The funny thing is…THEY FOLLOW IT!! And it transfers the power from me to a plastic toy. Any decisions we have to make in class, bathroom (2 minutes after the bell rings), going to their locker, filling water bottles gets deferred to the 8 ball. It makes decision-making in my classroom more fun and exciting.

Bubbles

One morning last week I was feeling my anxiety and anger start to rise. Students were crazy and not quieting down, boys were rough-housing, and I was quickly losing control. I grabbed my unicorn bubble wand and started blowing bubbles towards the students who were on task. You can’t be angry blowing bubbles. Of course, I had a couple of my high-energy students jump out of their desks to chase the bubbles. I told them to sit in their seat or they won’t get any. Immediately, they sat back in their seat so I could come over to their desks. Again, magic!

In a couple of months, I have to do balcony duty in the gym. I have to watch the 6th and 7th grade before school starts and you better believe it…the bubbles are going to come out.

I See You

I made sure this week to make a point to my good students in my Science class that I do see them. They do matter. And they will be rewarded for being good students in my class. This week they will be treated to snacks, stickers, candy, and more to choose from my supply box. I also put Post-It-Notes on their desk as I walk by just to let them know that I see them.

Confetti

It was the last day of my first rotation of Computer students. My sixth graders were busy typing for their bell-ringer and had no clue what I was about to do. I grabbed the large confetti from my “weird stuff” box and hid it in my pockets. While I was walking around the room, I sprinkled confetti over my students.

Students: What are you doing, Mrs. Neilan?!?

Me: Celebrating the last day with you before you move on.

The students became free to have fun. They were throwing it in the air. They were throwing it at each other. It was a celebration in my room.

Realizing that this could be a problem with students taking the confetti into other classrooms and getting myself into trouble, I told my sixth graders to leave the confetti in my room. I also didn’t want the 7th and 8th grade to know what was going on so we had to use my push broom/hokey to clean them all up. I asked for volunteers to help with the cleanup and several hands shot up in the air! By the time class was over, most of the confetti was picked up. I now have to figure out how to do the confetti again with my students, especially with the older ones.

More Ideas

I purchased C.J.’s book, Teach Your Class Off, and received it on Friday. I dove into it excited to read his stories on how it changed his students and how he changed as a teacher. He has his students teach a lesson, so they know what it feels like. They have to prepare the lesson and then teach it to the class. This is something I plan on doing with my Science class.

My Science class is the one I am struggling with again this year. The subject is new and foreign to me and my kiddos know this. They are “bored” very easily and it is hard to teach in a room with carpet and no sinks or supplies. I need to teach myself how to make this class exciting, fun, and a vibrant place to room with my limitations. It’s going to be a learning process for me.

As I am getting ready to start a brand new week I am hoping to bring happiness back to my classroom, my students, and me. I want to enjoy going to school in the morning. I want to stop dreaming about what other job I could do instead. I am fulfilling my life-long dream for 25 years now. I have to bring the magic back to my classroom. And so far…it is working.