A Fresh Start

When I was Drum Major in high school, one of my directors told me on the first day of band camp, "Learn everybody's name."  I have since carried that advice with me into my teaching career.  And, boy, do I have a lot of names to learn.  About 730 of them.

But I know them.

I don't know this year's incoming kindergarteners, of course--I haven't met them--but by the end of the year, I plan to know them all.

There are a lot of things that go into having a smooth, organized start to the school year.  For me, one of the most important things that I have is seating charts.  This is how I learn the names by which the young people in my classes are called.  I care about them and I want them to know it.  So for many weeks, as kids leave my classroom, I say each child's name as a way for me to practice identifying students by their name.  Each child has a unique identity, and I hope that by remembering their names, they know that I value their identity.

So, if you'd like to grab an editable version of my seating chart (and grading sheet, all in one) to start practicing your students' names too, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store here.

Here's to a fresh start of caring for and educating children this year.