Sunday, September 28, 2014
Ask Me!!
It's Sunday night and this teacher has about 7 more loads of laundry to do, so I have to keep this short and sweet...
I'm sure you've seen these floating around on Pinterest, and if y'all haven't grabbed these GENIUS "Ask Me" printables from Frogs and Cupcakes to create for your little ones- you're missing out.
I'm telling you- it's GENIUS!
How many times AFTER you explain directions do you have students coming up to you asking EXACTLY the question you just gave the answer to?
Ya, that's what I thought.
It's ridiculous.
I used her free printable to create badges for my kids instead of necklaces (only because I had the badge holders lying around.)
In our class, we have 5 Ask Me badges.
The students work hard to "earn" the badge while I am giving directions. When I'm done giving my spiel, I will choose up to 5 Ask Me friends to wear the badge to assist friends who still have questions while I'm working with a group.
Y'all- you would think I made them kings and queens of our kingdom.
It's a huge deal to be an Ask Me friend.
After the station is completed, the "kings and queens" are asked to return the badge for me to pick new friends after another assignment is given.
They LOVE it! And it works!!
Click the pic below to grab your FREE printable! Thanks so much Frogs and Cupcakes!! :)
Told ya it would be short and sweet! Hope everyone has a fabulous Monday!!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Student-Guided Classroom Creed
It's been a few weeks since this little blog of mine has had any attention! Too much of my time has been spent focused on taming the craziness in my class- and watching Big Brother. (#teamderrick!)
If you've read my previous classroom reveal post, you know that I am all about Great Expectations with my kids! My students are held to high standards and are expected to follow 8 expectations each day. Part of the GE "gig" is to have a Classroom Creed that your students create and recite each morning during the Call to Excellence (or Morning Meeting). When I had this group in kindergarten last year, they weren't ready to help create the creed. Instead, I had them recite the standard "classroom pledge" I found ...thank you Google!
In first grade, I knew I had to make the kids step it up a bit. The pledge in the picture above wasn't meaningful to them- they couldn't own it because they didn't get to have their voice in it.
We had to change some things this year.
In order to do so, I created two interactive flaps to have the kids glue in their journal as a brainstorming activity.
Under each flap, students would list attributes of each. Example: A great student is responsible, caring, and respectful. A great student follows directions, shows good character, and helps others.
The next day, I had them get out their finished notebook entry to share with friends what they believe makes a good student.
The kids were then placed in groups to use their "great student answers" as a guide to fill in the blanks of our empty creed.
Now- don't think this task came easy to them. I heard MUCH debate between the groups on what they felt was the perfect word to use for each blank. In order to help them in the process, I showed them this example I created-and encouraged them to use their own creativity instead of copying my words.
The process continued with the kids working (and arguing) to make the perfect creed to fit our class. Y'all. I was BLOWN away with their ideas. Each group pitched their ideas- and it was so hard to pick one! Here's a couple for you to take a peek at...
Told ya- my kids ROCK! Their FAVORITE word is "integrity", can't you tell? :)
We loved everybody's hard work so much that we decided to morph ALL of them into one Creed. Here was the final result:
I LOVE it. More importantly- THEY love it!
And OWN it!
And ABIDE by it!
I strongly suggest helping your classroom community by having your kiddos create their own creed. It's the perfect way to start our morning, and I love being able to refer to it throughout the day.
Want to grab your own FREE and EDITABLE copies? Click on the pic below!
(Please be kind and return the favor by leaving a comment and follow me!)
Have a fabulous weekend!!
Friday, September 5, 2014
Five for Friday and Peek at my Week!
WOO HOO!! It's FRIDAY!!!
This girl is headed to Colorado for a family getaway weekend!
Before I head out, I wanted to leave you with 5 randoms of my week...
My flippin' AMAZING #slantbox arrived from the oh-so-awesome Brianne (Hooo-Ray for Teaching)!! AH! Look at all of that amazingness. This new teacher friend of mine absolutely SPOILED me with goodies!! I may or may not have let out a ginormous squeal when I opened all of the Scentos swag, sock monkey washi tape, and my assorted post-its. Eek!
Not sure what a Slant Box is? Head on over to Jameson's blog to find out more information! Such a fun way to meet new people, as well as shower fellow teachers with crazy awesome gifts that they totally deserve! :)
It's been a week of awesome teacher mail!!
Our class has been eagerly anticipating the delivery of our SitSpots!! Having these awesome bad boys make finding a Read to Self zone MUCH easier for my little ones.
#velcroneverlookedsogood
Y'all, I feel like I may have found a solution to the #1 annoyance in the classroom!!
(Next to your students saying your name 100-umpteen times a day)
Let me introduce to you the magic of the Sharpie Paint Pen...
Voila!!
No. More. Peeled. Sticky. Laminated. Picked-at. Dirty. Nameplates!!
I have had the names written on the desks for a little over a week now, and I haven't had ONE student be tempted to try and scratch, or erase it!
(knocking on wood as I type this)...
Totally suggest grabbing yourself a pack of these amazing markers. Go ahead and save yourself from the constant pull your hair out moments when you have to scream tell your students to just leave the silly name tag ALONE!
The best part?
Easy clean up! Just rub a little Expo Marker over the top of it and it wipes off!
We are LOVING Reagan Tunstall's Back to School Math Centers!!
Here are a couple activities inside...
 |
| Apple Pickin' Tens and Ones |
 |
| Money Match Up (coin recognition) |
This matching game brings so much joy....
See??? :)
Other games in my Math Tubs for the week have been:
 |
| 100's chart puzzles (laminated 100's chart cardstock cut up into pieces) Great for differentiation! |
 |
| Addition shape puzzles For this particular one, the students are making the sum of 7. They complete the puzzles by having the 2 correct addends meet that make the sum of 7. A completed puzzle makes a large rectangle. Click the pic below to grab your own Math Addition Puzzles for your K-2 Math Center!  |
I think my most FAVORITE thing I've worked on this week is my NEW and ADORABLE Sub Handbook created by the oh-so-talented, Amy Groesbeck!! Y'all, you HAVE to check out her store!! This Sub Handbook is 100% editable and completely worth the 5 bucks!
#ihatesubplans
#butnowtheyarecutesoitsokay
Thanks for stopping by!! Don't forget to link up with Doodle Bugs with your own Five for Friday!
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