School Year Start Up

I've been in my classroom doing a little room set up this past week.  As I was printing some "Beginning of the year" forms to send home to my kiddos, I realized I hadn't updated my parent inventory in some time.  As I was tweaking and editing it a bit, I realized how much vital info it contains.  It houses everything from medical info, contact info, to parents' yearly hopes and dreams for their child.  It has taken 12 years (ahh, I can't believe I am starting year 12!!)  of development, but what I have left is a concise (one page, two sided) document that I send home in the mail to my students' families before school begins, and just ask that it be returned to school on the the first day.  I reference these inventories constantly so they are the front page of each student's info binder on my desk.  If you, or someone you know, is looking for a parent beginning-of-the-year questionnaire or inventory- check mine out at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Questionnaire-Student-Info-Sheet-837707.

Behavior Monitoring

One of the main parts of my job is to shape behavior.  Sometimes when I'm sitting in the eye of the storm (ex. simultaneous screaming children) it is difficult to make good decision with regard to interventions and progress.  Therefor, I write-down everything!!!!  I use sticky notes, construction paper, whiteboards, spreadsheets (SO many spreadsheets), my hand, my arm,  I have even been known to use a piece of masking tape stuck to my pants (true story).  If  it's not written down, it doesn't exist.  I'm a little Type A (ok, a lot Type A) about behavior monitoring and I drive my co-workers a little crazy.  I don't want to guess at numbers- I want solid hard DATA.  Sometimes the data tells me things aren't as bad as they seem, other times it is a HUGE wake-up call.

Once I look at the data, things are always more clear.  I analyze, analyze, and analyze again.  Sometimes there isn't a pattern, but usually there is.  I can see if there is a particular time, day, person, texture, noise, routine, etc...that trigger a particular behavior.  The data tells me what direction I need to head with my intervention and it gives me confidence to make informed decisions.  In addition, it has been my experience that parents really appreciate the hard data. If you are looking for new ways of tracking data- I recently posted a pack of seven different charts/logs/spreadsheets that may be useful.  Here is the link if you are interested in purchasing any items.  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Monitoring-Charts-Logs-for-any-Classroom-815670

Good luck & Happy Analyzing!