I was super excited to see that my new blog had been mentioned by a fellow teacher and blogger. While getting this started I often feel like I'm just writing for myself, so it was pretty cool to see someone else mention my blog! Leea at Set This Circus Down is having a Linky Party to give new blogger some great pointers and encouragement. She's also giving away a $25 Amazon gift card for those who spread the love. :)
To enter, just follow this link to her blog- you can get 3 entries!! So, go...... NOW!
Here is another giveaway from Mrs. Poland at Think, Wonder, & Teach. She has 50 followers now- CONGRATS! She is giving any either a super adorable bottle cap keychain or a $10 Target gift card to a lucky winner. Good luck!Pin It
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Awesome Giveaway!!!
Amy at The Resource(ful) Room is having a super awesome giveaway in honor of 400 followers. I can't imagine having 400 followers- I hope I get there someday! There is a super cute t-shirt, stationary magnets AND a $25 Amazon gift card. She has 10 different chances for you to enter the giveaway so click on over and check it out!
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Dr. Seuss Week
We had so much this week celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday. Our primary team (K-4) got together and decided on themes for each day. You can check out our daily themes below. We also made banners for the hallway to keep with the theme.
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We made some super cute tongue twisters on Monday. I need to get some pictures of the ones we did, but I will have to wait until Monday. I got the idea from Fun in First via Pinterest. They turned out so stinking cute- I can't wait to show you! We also let the kids make yellow paper mustaches on Wednesday for the Lorax and then took their pictures. All of my little lovelies thought I had lost my mind when I broke out the iPad and started talking to them with a Lorax mustache. They each got a turn and I think I laughed even more than they did!
The Lorax is one of my favorites, so I decided to really go all out for it. I made these adorable truffula trees for our hallway (complete with the Lorax). The kids, teachers, and parents all commented on them, so I think they'll stay up for awhile longer. I also let my students make smaller versions to take home with them. Aren't they cute???
It was such a fun week filled with awesome activities. We also made oobleck (cornstarch & water), ate green eggs and ham, read more books than I count and ended the week with an awesome birthday party in for Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat even made an appearance and read a story the kiddos!
Here are a couple of things I made for this fun week. Feel free to use them!
Did you celebrate a Seuss-tastic week at your school? If so, tell me what you did.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Book Look Freebie
My class does learning centers at least once a week. This is an easy time for me to get small groups reading while other students are engaged (and quiet). One center I often have is a listening center. In my classroom I have 3 iPod touches and 1 iPad, so my students use them for listening center. I use TumbleBooks, available free through our local library. You can also find lots of books on YouTube, but I only use those on the SmartBoard so that kids don't click on any not-so-great links.
In the past, I have instructed my students on one must-watch book and then they could pick others if there was time left. This was working okay, but I wanted to make sure that my students were getting something out of this center. So, this weekend I sat down and make a couple of reflection pages. I think I will let students chose which sheet they want to fill out. This will teach them to reflect on stories they read, not just rush through them. If you are interested, you can find them on my Teachers Pay Teachers account, for only $1. Great, huh?
Since I'm so new to this and I'm trying to get some followers, I am giving away one of these packets to anyone who leaves a comment! If you would love to have one, just leave me a comment and tell your favorite book to read to students.
Thanks and enjoy!Pin It
In the past, I have instructed my students on one must-watch book and then they could pick others if there was time left. This was working okay, but I wanted to make sure that my students were getting something out of this center. So, this weekend I sat down and make a couple of reflection pages. I think I will let students chose which sheet they want to fill out. This will teach them to reflect on stories they read, not just rush through them. If you are interested, you can find them on my Teachers Pay Teachers account, for only $1. Great, huh?
Since I'm so new to this and I'm trying to get some followers, I am giving away one of these packets to anyone who leaves a comment! If you would love to have one, just leave me a comment and tell your favorite book to read to students.
Thanks and enjoy!Pin It
I am blessed with a SmartBoard in my classroom. I use this almost all day, everyday. My students love it and I love that they are so engaged in our lessons.
For about a month, we have been completing our Math Meeting (calendar time) on the SmartBoard. The student of the day goes up and prepares the meeting while the rest of the class works on math facts. Once the meeting is completed, we all go over to the board and the student of the day leads our meeting.
I love watching the student of the day lead the meeting. It is so cute and funny to see how the mimic what I do and how I speak. I also think it has really made them aware of how student misbehaviors can really be bothersome. Often, I will watch as the student of the day asks another to "sit on your bottom" or "please get quiet". You go, teach!
Another reason I love doing Math Meeting on the SmartBoard is that is saving space! I took down a lot of what I used to have on my whiteboards (I left a few things up for quick reference). I now have room to expand my word wall and I will have a bulletin board I can change from time to time. Here is a look of the first page.
Click here to get this file for free!Pin It
For about a month, we have been completing our Math Meeting (calendar time) on the SmartBoard. The student of the day goes up and prepares the meeting while the rest of the class works on math facts. Once the meeting is completed, we all go over to the board and the student of the day leads our meeting.
I love watching the student of the day lead the meeting. It is so cute and funny to see how the mimic what I do and how I speak. I also think it has really made them aware of how student misbehaviors can really be bothersome. Often, I will watch as the student of the day asks another to "sit on your bottom" or "please get quiet". You go, teach!
Another reason I love doing Math Meeting on the SmartBoard is that is saving space! I took down a lot of what I used to have on my whiteboards (I left a few things up for quick reference). I now have room to expand my word wall and I will have a bulletin board I can change from time to time. Here is a look of the first page.
Click here to get this file for free!Pin It
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Lesson planning
At our school, we have the freedom to make our plans in the format we choose. I like to make almost a fill-in-the-blank schedule for my plans. (Feel free to open the files below to get an idea of what I use. My template for this year is always a work in progress, so keep that in mind! :) )
I choose to do this for a couple of reasons:
1. It gives a substitute extra details. This means when you wake up at 3:00 in the morning feeling sick you don't have to try to write out details for a substitute. I also have an emergency substitute folder with extra plans and lesson in case they can't figure out my normal schedule.
2. It saves time- lots of time! By making a template, I don't have to re-write the same details each week- I just fill in story titles, page numbers, etc.
So, how do you plan? Do you use a lesson plan book with the boxes? Do you make your own template? Or do you only plan online?
Click here for the PDF version or here for the .docx version.
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I choose to do this for a couple of reasons:
1. It gives a substitute extra details. This means when you wake up at 3:00 in the morning feeling sick you don't have to try to write out details for a substitute. I also have an emergency substitute folder with extra plans and lesson in case they can't figure out my normal schedule.
2. It saves time- lots of time! By making a template, I don't have to re-write the same details each week- I just fill in story titles, page numbers, etc.
So, how do you plan? Do you use a lesson plan book with the boxes? Do you make your own template? Or do you only plan online?
Click here for the PDF version or here for the .docx version.
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Friday, February 10, 2012
Dr. Seuss Inspiration
Most teachers that I know love Dr. Seuss. He was such a fun author! I found this quote today and decided that I need it in my classroom.
"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if you only try!" -Dr. Seuss
How true is this? Sometimes I think we, as teachers, get stuck in the rut of following our pre-made curriculum. They are the same day, after day, after day.... ugh! Sometimes we (and our students!) need a break from the ordinary. Now, I know this feeling won't come for awhile since we'll be begging for a routine to get established in the coming weeks. However, when that routine is set and boredom is threatening your classroom- remember this quote and break out of the ordinary!
Click here to download from my TpT store!
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"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if you only try!" -Dr. Seuss
How true is this? Sometimes I think we, as teachers, get stuck in the rut of following our pre-made curriculum. They are the same day, after day, after day.... ugh! Sometimes we (and our students!) need a break from the ordinary. Now, I know this feeling won't come for awhile since we'll be begging for a routine to get established in the coming weeks. However, when that routine is set and boredom is threatening your classroom- remember this quote and break out of the ordinary!
Click here to download from my TpT store!
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