2 and 10 strategy

This year our behavior specialist taught the staff about a strategy called, 2 and 10.

You can read more about it herehere.

If you have been around a seven year old before, you know it is a tough time in development.  They go from silly and joyful six year olds to serious and moody seven year olds.  I recognized this as a teacher but with such mixed age ranges in classes, I had a hard time wondering why so many of my kids were so different.  I always noticed a lot of friendship troubles starting in January each year.  It wasn’t until I read the Yardsticks book that it all made sense.  Seven year olds like being alone, they like having one best friend even though it changes often, but they also have some low self-esteem.  
Next year, I plan to make time to have 3-5 students on a rotating 2 and 10 chat time.  Once they turn seven, I hope to put them on my list.  Set a timer for 2 minutes, and actively listen to a child talk about anything.  Write down some notes and bring the next child back.  Once a child has met for 10 days straight, I plan to put them on a weekly or every other week schedule to talk for 2 minutes.
I used this strategy with 4 different students this year and the results were magical.  This is definitely time that might be taken away from squeezing in one more enrichment lesson or sight word group but it will be worth it!  As a result of satisfying their belonging and safety needs, their effort improved for academics.  I guess Maslow was on to something.  😉
I worked with a young man last year that we first had to start with a scaffolded approach.  He had a notebook and I would ask these questions.  It was tough to get him to answer at first, but soon he was telling me his life story!  
This is an easy strategy to try BUT you have to be consistent with meeting for 10 days straight.  They really start to look forward to being heard.  I have listened to them in the hall before dropping them off to special on days that I couldn’t seem to find time.  I have sat down with them at lunch to listen etc.  it is important to NOT miss a day.  
Who is up for the challenge?  

Soooo.... 5 years

Gosh, I did not realize that it had been 5 years since I posted!  So anyone reading this (hi mama Kathy!), I thank you!

I figured that I better give you the short version of the past five years...

-I am a mama now!  I have an almost 4 year old little girl and she is my everything!  That alone probably explains a bit of my absence!  🤣

-A month after my angel was born, my mom was diagnosed with cancer.  2 months after my little lady was born, my dad was diagnosed with cancer!  When he told me, I thought that he was playing a sick joke.  Unfortunately, it was true.

-After my maternity leave, I went back to work for 2 months.  When hospice was called for my mom, I took FMLA leave to care for my mom.  After my mom passed away, I returned to work for a month.  

-The next year in the fall my favorite person in the world, my dad, lost his battle with cancer.  I believe God has things happen for a reason.  I wanted a child for a long time and I finally was blessed with one that was very needy.  If it were not for my sassy young lady and having to focus on getting up every day to be her mama- I would have struggled a lot more than I have.  I also am blessed with so many people like my in-laws, my husband, and my framily that have helped me heal and become more whole again.  

Why am I telling you all of this?  Well, I am an open book but also the past five years has shaped me into who I am today.  I still love teaching and learning but my path has changed.  Instead of focusing on filling their sponge like brains with more information, I now focus more on social and emotional learning.  

As I embark on my 15th year of teaching first grade, I plan to implement learning activities that teach the whole child.  I have dabbled in many strategies such as having a “cozy corner” (I’ll post more about that later!), using a strategy called 2 and 10, teaching guidance counselor lessons, focused on explicitly teaching how to make a friend, empathy bracelets, better choice in read alouds, and more!

One book that has guided me and I STRONGLY encourage you to buy is the Yardsticksyardsticks book.  There are so many times in my career that I have said, “I don’t know why they are acting this way now!”  This book explains it all!  What children go through cognitively, socially, and emotionally.  Whenever I feel that way, I get out this book and usually have an A-HA moment.  I will be using this book to help guide me into creating a framework and lessons for next year.  Regardless if we are teaching remotely or in person, this should be beneficial.   

I am hoping that posting here will help keep me motivated to work but also it might inspire someone out there to try a few things.  

Thanks for reading and if you are feeling super brave, feel free to post below and tell me about yourself!