Five for Friday and a FREEBIE

Good morning and happy Friday!  I am linking up with Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching for her fabulous "Five for Friday" party!

Whole Brain Teaching - ever heard of it?  Are you a WBT teacher?  I am on my own WBT journey and I am looking forward to trying it out with my kiddos in the fall!

Here is my short WBT story:  At the tail end of last school year, an Instructional Methods Coordinator for my previous school district whom I had been collaborating with said to me, "You know Amber, your style of teaching really aligns with Whole Brain Teaching.  There is a first grade teacher over at such-and-such school who uses WBT that you could contact."  I already knew who she was talking about.  :)  It was my teacher friend, Heidi, who you may know from Droppin' Knowledge.  She and I went to grad school together and Heidi was also my long-term sub when I went on maternity leave.  Anyway, I had been intrigued by WBT blog posts, YouTube videos, etc. before, but I decided this was really a sign that I needed to investigate more.  I chatted with Heidi, she recommended the book, Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids (and the Rest of Your Class, Too!) by Chris Biffle, and so I got started.

Shortly after diving into the book, Heidi shared some great news - she was able to get a WBT presenter to come to our school district!  And here's the best part...wait for it...the conference was FREE!

The presenter was fabulous!  I have to tell you:  Even though I was digging WBT as I was reading the book, I was not completely "sold" until the conference.  Now I'm totally pumped to implement (baby steps, of course) WBT into my first grade classroom in the fall!  If you ever get the opportunity to go to a WBT conference, go, go, GO!

(I only took the picture above because I was so happy to be wearing teacher shoes again, LOL.)

So one of the (many) things I will be implementing in the fall that comes from WBT is the "Super Improvers Wall."  (I am also going without Class Dojo, a behavior clip chart, and some other classroom management systems I used to use.  I'm not going to get into the "why" right now though; I'll save that for another post.)  I created a "Super Improvers Wall" that would work for my classroom and you can snag it for FREE in my TPT store.

There are many awesome documents for "Super Improvers Walls" on TPT already, but nothing that was quite right for my classroom.  First, I needed it to be in black and white because, unfortunately, my new school district does not have a color printer, so instead I will be printing on some beautiful Astrobrights paper that I found at Office Max.  Second, I did not want any of the levels to be aligned with intelligence in any way (i.e. - whiz kid, genius, etc.) because a "Super Improvers Wall" is not just for academic performance.  Third, I did not want a theme (i.e. - baseball, space, etc.)  So I came up with my own!  I hope someone out there is able to use it, too.

If by some small chance you were anxiously awaiting my Periscope video last Monday that I talked up on Instagram...I am so sorry it was a fail!  All was well at home, but once I got to school, the red "Broadcast" button was nonexistent.  *sigh*  Not a huge deal, but I do worry that I will never be able to show my classroom progress via Periscope - which I was looking forward to doing.  Some photos will have to do for now.

This was my first major project in my new classroom:  my AMAZING walk-in supply closet!  Love, love, love it!  However, I did not love organizing it.  That took me days and days.  It's certainly not perfect, but it's good enough for the time being.

I just loved how organized these pictures looked with the letter cards, so I had to snap a picture.  (I know, I'm an organizational freak.)  I have mine in order by author's last name.

I know what you're thinking..."Why did she take a picture of an empty space?"  Well, let me tell you!  This is where a huge teacher desk used to be...until our awesome custodian took it away for me.  Yay!  I haven't used a teacher desk in a few years and I've never looked back.  The more space I can make for students, the better.

Brace yourself before viewing the next photo.

Aghh!  This is a "before" shot of the take-home books.  Well, that's not entirely true.  They were in tubs, but I needed them to be organized, so I started over.

Ahhh!  Much better.  Obviously I'm not done with this area of the classroom, but at least it's now functional.

Our classroom library was another project that literally took days and day to organize.  It's not quite done (I still have to hang the lantern and give it some cute touches, but it's good enough to snap a picture.)

As of yesterday, I now have access to my new work e-mail.  Yippee!

I was super excited when I found these bright colored bendy straws at Target!  I know most teachers usually have a cup similar to this one full of water, tea, or whatever you drink to stay hydrated throughout the day, so maybe you'll find this as a useful tip.  These bendy straws don't break!  I swore to myself a few weeks back that I was no longer going to invest money in cups that required straws because I always end up breaking the straws.  Well - that's no longer an issue.  Now run to Target...for the fifth time this week.  ;)

As I mentioned earlier in this (what is turning out to be a long) post, my new school district does not have a color printer, which - by the way - is about the only negative thing I have discovered so far.  So I started looking into what it would cost me to print in color at Office Max.  Do you see that price?  $14.75 for 25 copies.  That doesn't work for me.  Bummer.

Then, I recently learned about HP Instant Ink.  Have you heard of this wonderful program!?  I first learned about it when Aly from Just a Primary Girl was talking about it during a Periscope video and all these other teachers were writing comments about how awesome the program is, so I was interested right away.  Then, before I had a chance to investigate for myself, I read a conversation on the First Grade Tribe Facebook page about it...and then I was sold!  I mentioned it to my sweet hubby and you know what he did?  He ordered me a HP printer that day for my upcoming birthday!  I.love.my.man.

So this guy should be arriving soon:

It is affordable, wireless, prints in color, scans, copies, will print on cardstock, and (this is the best part) if you enroll in the Instant Ink program, HP knows when you are running low on ink and they ship it to your house!  There are different levels to the ink program, so you can choose one that works for your budget.  I've been reading from teachers that they pay as little as $5 per month and it's more than enough.  I'm so excited, can you tell!?  

Alright, that's all I've got for ya.  Thanks for stopping by!

Five(ish) for Friday!

Today is bittersweet.  It is Friday (yippee!) but it is the LAST Friday of my 3-week break (bummer).  Because of the year-round schedule at my school, I have been home with my little man the last 3 weeks.  I love my "tiny tornado," but boy - it is exhausting being a (temporary) stay-at-home-mom to a toddler already in his "terrible twos."

Speaking of my little munchkin, here he is!  On Easter Sunday, my immediate family came over, we had a big lunch, colored Easter eggs, and the kids did an Easter egg hunt in the yard - though it was not much of a "hunt."  I just tossed them all out in the open lawn, haha!  (Mason is not even two yet and my niece is only one, so no need for a challenge.)

As I was looking for my son's Easter basket, I came across my tutu!  I wore this as part of my Dr. Seuss Day costume two years ago.  I am really excited to have a reason to wear it again next school year, as we will be trying our best to implement Ron Clark's vision in our own school by bringing in that "joy factor."  So - anything to make the kids giggle!  And, if I am being honest, I will take any excuse to wear my tutu!

Okay, so this is REALLY getting ahead of myself, but I cannot help it!  Plus...it is just FUN stuff to me!  I looked at the floor plan and focused on what might be my next classroom and I started thinking, "Hmmm, how would I set up this room?"  I know; I am a nerd.  (Did I mention I have been home with a toddler the last 3 weeks!?)

I have been looking for a "red carpet" for my Kindergarten classroom (next year).  I want my kiddos to enter our classroom in a FUN way each day!  This was one of the ideas... to crank up the music and have them walk in on a red carpet.  My husband eyed these red bathroom rugs on clearance for only $4.00!  Works for me!

These are the two professional development books I am reading right now:  "About the Authors: Writing Workshop with Our Youngest Writers by Katie Wood Ray and Lisa Cleaveland and "PBL in the Elementary Grades" by the Buck Institute.  Both books are excellent!

I highly recommend "About the Authors," if you teach 4K through 2nd grade and you are thinking about implementing a Writer's Workshop in your classroom, though I would suggest reading Projecting Possibilities for Writers by Matt Glover and Mary Alice Berry first.  I like to see the big picture first (which is what "Projecting Possibilities for Writers" helped me do), then work through the logistics (which is what "About the Authors" is helping me do).

Here is my stack of books that are on deck.  The spiral bound book is Math Work Stations by Debbie Diller, followed by "Making the Most of Small Groups" by Debbie Diller, "Already Ready" by Matt Glover, "Engaging Young Writers" by Matt Glover, "Doing Science in Morning Meeting" by the Responsive Classroom, and "Guided Reading" by Fountas and Pinnell.

The Fountas and Pinnell book is kind of out-dated, but I was really struggling to find another guided reading book for Kindergarten.  Any suggestions for me!?  I would also like a book on Math Workshop for the primary grades.

Okay, so I am not following the rules...I am throwing in another picture, but I just got these awesome aprons from my mom and I just had to share them!  I wanted a short apron to tie around my waist when I teach, so I can keep essential items close by me at all times - particularly my digital camera.  I searched online and though there were some cute ones out there, they were a little pricey (in my opinion).  I asked my mom if she would make one for me and she said, "Yeah, that would be pretty easy."  (I am glad she thinks so, as I do not know how to sew.)

As you can see, my mom is the "go big or go home" type, so she made me THREE aprons!  Aren't they cute!?  Thanks Ma!  :)

I am joining the "Five for Friday" linky party over at Doodle Bugs (first grade rocks), so be sure to hop over there to see what other teachers are up to!

As always, thanks for stopping by!  :)



Awesome Book for Pre-K - 2nd Grade Teachers and a FREEBIE!

Hello!  I just wanted to stop by quick in order to tell you about a new and AWESOME professional development book that I highly recommend you put on your To-Read List.  It is written by Cindy Middendorf and it is called Early Reading Instruction and Intervention: A Source Book for Pre-K - 2.

 

 

While I am still on summer break, my 14-month old son makes it challenging to read.  So...I have been plugging away, little by little each night after he goes to bed.  As always, Cindy has reignited my teaching fire!  Seriously - if you read any of her books, you will be so motivated to become the best primary teacher you can be!  AND...she always gives awesome examples and strategies that you can implement easily in your own classroom.

 

 

 

I have been a huge fan of Cindy Middendorf for a few years now.  If you want to read a previous blog post about Cindy and her other books, click HERE!  I was oh-so-excited the day that Cindy Middendorf wrote a comment on my little 'ole blog!  I asked her if she could sign my book and she kindly obliged.

 

Chapter 1 of this book is all about physical readiness being the prerequisite for intellectual success.  (Isn't awesome to have educational leaders out there back up, with brain-based research, what we primary teachers already know instinctively?  Thank goodness for them!)  Anyway, I got to thinking about ways I can easily incorporate important physical interventions that improve core strength, balance, etc.  Then, I thought about this DVD my son and I checked out at the library recently...the kids do exercises for each letter of the alphabet.  I like most of the exercises on the DVD, but some of them were kind of lame or redundent...like "B" for "bounce" and "J" for jump.  Eh.  So I decided to make up my own list.

 

 

Here is how I intend to use this list:

 

1 - Show large letter cards, starting with "A," once at a time.  Ask the students to identify the letter.

 

2 - State the corresponding exercise.  Then, model the proper way to do the exercise and encourage the students to do the same.

 

3 - Ask the students what letter comes next, then repeat!  Easy-peasy, lemon squeezey!

 

So anywho...if you are interested in doing Alphabet Exercises with your little ones in order to get the jitters out AND build core strength, please click HERE to visit my TPT store and grab it for FREE!

 

Alrighty, I am off for now!  I intend on working on my first author study unit.  We will see how that goes!  Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by!  :)