1. Help!!
My Classroom
Is Like A Barn!!
Drew D. Gerdes
LEA Convocation - 2013
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

2. It’s Soooooo True….
Teaching isn’t all that easy…
Teaching is an art and a science…
Teaching takes patience…
Teaching takes talent…
Teaching takes a toll….
What else could we say?
Teaching………

3. A Comparison
Teacher
Farmer
Up early – works late
Deals with many noises
Deals with many smells
Lots of planning
Things can change
instantly
Kids rely on teachers
Cultivates the future…
Up early – works late
Deals with many noises
Deals with many smells
Lots of planning
Things can change
instantly
Animals rely on farmers
Cultivates the future…

4. We Are Important!!!
Teachers play such an
important role…
1. In a child’s life
2. In society
3. In a families life
What we do daily effects
the lives of sooo many
people!
What do you remember?

5. Perhaps A Better
Picture…
Teachers Can…
See everything
Hear everything
Know everything
Sense everything
And…
Smell everything!!!
We are Super Teachers!!!

6. But…We Are Only
Super With Jesus!
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Luke 1:37
For nothing is impossible with God
God uses us to minister to His Kingdom!
We are Jesus’ disciples!
What an honor and responsibility!!!

7. Why Did God
Choose Me?
Thankfully…God’s Ways
are much better than our
ways…
Drew’s Story…
What’s your story?
God chose YOU!
YOU are here for a
reason!

8. Okay…Back To The Barn
Ryker and Braden
Ultimate
Investigators

9. Add To The Madness…
Dear, Dear
Cheryl..

10. Then This Happens…
Oh, the joys of teaching…
Even teachers should keep an extra set of clothes at
school!!!

11. Planning
Plan on throwing our your Lesson Plans.
Plan on having unplanned disruptions.
Plan on rearranging your routine.
In early childhood, there is no such thing as a
schedule! 
Plan on making lemonade out of the lemons you are
given!

12. Speaking of Lemons..
When the chickens squawk, when the cows moo, and
when the horses neigh…
Start to sing!!!
It’s amazing how children will stop everything, look,
listen, and then follow along!!!

13. Back To The Barn
Everything has it’s own
place – every animal has
it’s own place.
Teachers need to know
the purpose and function
of every area and item in
their classroom.
Purpose & Function
The teacher is in ultimate
control – the student
“thinks” he/she is in
control because there is
freedom to go places/do
things – that have
purpose and function.

14. Physical Classroom
Environment
The set-up of the physical classroom environment
plays such a HUGE ROLE in determining the over
classroom learning environment.
Does everything have a purpose?
Is everything tidy?
Is everything accessible that needs to be accessible?
Is furniture placement arranged so that children can
succeed?
Can adults monitor and see from any angle?

15. Christian!!!
The child who is always
looking for an
opportunity…
Tests the limits…
Strong-willed…
Free-minded…
Sometimes we clash…

16. Make ‘Em Dig Holes!
For those kids who are just
like Christian…
Don’t just balk at them…
Don’t constantly nag at
them…
Play a game – a game
where YOU are always
the winner!

17. It’s Their Job
It’s a child’s job to test the limits.
It’s the teachers job to set them. Clearly.
Appropriately. Attainable.
A comment I dislike the most…
“It’s just this class!”
“These kids couldn’t do it to save their life!”
“I can’t wait until this year is over!”

18. Fall In Love!
Play the game!!
Make sure every child falls
in love with you.
He/She will then likely do
anything for you.
They don’t want to
disappoint you!

19. Ask Yourself…
What can I do in my
classroom to make sure
this child is successful?

20. All About Relationships
Parents will never read
everything you send
home or do exactly what
you want them to do.
That’s what it’s all about!!
Jesus was all about
relationships, too!
Neither will the kids!
So…
Get over it!

21. Brief Discussion
Discuss with a neighbor how YOU build strong
relationships in your classroom.
With students…
With parents…
With co-workers…
We each have our own unique ways.
We learn from one another, too!

22. Are You Surprised?
What do you think is the most sought-after topic in
early childhood education?
BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE!!!
Be careful!!! Do not mistake developmental or
educational issued for behavioral problems.
Understand child development and be patient!

23. A Case Study
Picture the following
activity happening in your
classroom.
Listen carefully to the
details and comments.
Think about Hayley.

24. What Are The
Problems Here?
The teacher did not give
specific directions for use
of the umbrellas in
advance.
The teacher was not
developmentally clear in
her expectations.
The teacher shared an
opinion – not a directive.
The teacher did not keep
the children completely
safe.
The teacher did not
follow through with
comments.
The teacher made empty
threats.

25. Teacher Talk
We could talk forever
about Teacher Talk.
One of the biggest
challenges teachers face
is how we talk to children.
Be clear – use few words.
Briefly discuss with your
neighbor the importance
of using appropriate
words and instructions.
How do you direct
children’s behavior with
Teacher Talk?

26. Quick Resources
www.teachpreschool.com
A must-view website!!!
www.explorationsearlylearning.com
A guide for REAL play!!!

27. Technology
It’s not going away, so embrace it!
How do you personally use technology for the benefit
of your teaching, classroom environment, and student
activities and learning?

28. Sad But True

29. Do You…???
“Like”
“Tweet”
“Friend”
“Pin”

30. Beg, Borrow, & Steal!
We all love getting new ideas for our classrooms.
The best teachers are constantly evaluating what
works, what doesn’t, what new ideas could be tried,
and what is best for the children.
Professional Development
Continuing Education
Expanded Learning
“Making Myself An Even Better Teacher”

31. Things To Ponder
Please, please never
forget. The job of a child
is to PLAY!

32. More To Ponder…

33. Last one…

34. Ok…Just One More!!!

35. Your Assignment
What does play mean to
you?
What does “learning by
playing” mean to you?

36. New Ideas
For the remainder of the session, we’ll learn new ideas
that you can implement in your classroom right away.
If you are familiar with the idea, please share how you
utilize it, or variations you have done.
Think outside the box – or even in a different box
altogether – how can you expand these ideas?

37. What Is It For?
What are some of the
things you could do with
these items?
Briefly share at your table.
Be prepared for Large
Group Sharing!

38. Know These Terms
Invitation
A way to entice and encourage a child to participate
in something or engage in an activity.
Loose parts
Those things you save/hoard because you know that
some day you’ll need them and have a use for them.

39. Playful Explorations
Science
Sink/Float
Color Awareness
Texture
New Visuals

40. Playful Explorations
Will an egg float?
Predictions!
Try placing it on a coffee
filter!

41. Playful Explorations
What benefit does this
have?
Motor skills
Mathematics
Color & Art
Capacity
Science

42. Playful Explorations

43. Use Your Noodle!
Use Noodles as Building
Blocks
Practice Geometry
Use shorter and longer
pieces.
Can you make a circle?

44. Use Your Noodle!
Build a road
Physical Activity
Straight, turn, stop, left,
right – awesome
vocabulary learning!
Use smaller pieces for a
race – color identification
exercises – clean up!

45. Use Your Noodle!
Noodle Chains
Noodle Blocks
Painting

46. Use Your Noodle!
Let the children become
engineers and
architects!!
The coolest thing about
real, true, meaningful
play is that it costs very
little – if any – money!
Use things you have
around the house – or
can purchase very
inexpensively!

47. Artistic Expressions

48. Practice Visual Arts!
Crafts are not art.
Crafts are teacherdirected projects that are
done following a set of
specific instructions, steps,
and directions.
Art is when one can
choose the what and
how of creative
exploration.
Be creative and frugal.
Everyday items can make
the best medium for
artistic expression.
Provide guidance –
provide thought-proviking
questions – watch and
listen!

49. Play-Based Visual Arts

50. Resources
Big Body Play
Frances M. Carlson
Designs for Living &
Learning

51. More Resources
Beautiful Stuff
Young Investigators
Judy Harris Helm &
Lillian Katz

52. Closing Thoughts
Teaching really is both an art and a science.
Artists create and learn by exploration and known
sciences.
Scientists create and learn by exploration and by
being creative.

53. Closing Thoughts
Be creative and unique. What is most worthy of your
time and effort?
Put kids first!!!
I hope you learned something new and
were reaffirmed in your teaching
Stretched your mind into new modes of thinking

54. Become a NEW Teacher!
Teachers who have the
most fun…
Do things differently all
the time!
Are constantly exploring
new ideas and thoughts!
Focus on the children!
Don’t spend time cutting,
copying, and tracing.
Do spend time getting
materials and equipment
ready.
Do spend time guiding,
asking questions, and
listening.

55. Contact Me!
Drew D. Gerdes
Early Childhood Director
Messiah Lutheran School
Weldon Spring (St. Charles), Missouri
dgerdes@messiahnetwork.org
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