Best Freebie Ever!

Head on over to Erica Bohrer's website for one amazing 65+ page freebie!  Click here to head over to download a google doc awesome math ring, flashcard & mini poster package.  Did I mention it was FREE?!

Postive Thoughts.

I just finished listening to a presentation given by Jamie Vollmer.  He is the author of Schools Cannot Do It Alone by Jamie Vollmer (2010).  I personally have not read it, nor heard of it prior to this presentation.  But today was very empowering and mind pondering.  I want to point something out that I think is important:  I am not a teacher who thinks sorry for myself in my position.  I choose this career, and to be honest, it is amazingly rewarding.  I teach where I do because I feel empowered, I honestly love my job.  But, needles to say, my job can be EMOTIONALLY draining.  I teach with my whole heart.  It is really hard to think positive some days, but Jamie really speaks strongly on being positive, and leaving the negative with your spouse.  How many positive things do you say a week, 1?  Make it 2, then 3, ect.

Check out this list of what is expected of a teacher now.  We are not just expected to be teachers, but to almost raise students today.  This list is crazy, and I guess it really puts education into perspective.  I hope all understand this, and what we do in the classrooms today.

He then spoke about 5 S's.....The 5 s’s made a lot of sense they are 1. stop bad mouthing each other, 2. shift from negative to positive, 3. share your positive attitude, 4. sustain the effort, and 5. start now.

Let's stop the bad mouthing; politically, socially, and within our work ethics.  We are in this together, liberal, republicans, Mom's, Grandpa's, even the coffee shop owner....

Here is my districts superintendant address:  "Focus on the Children"

Book Information:

Vollmer, Jamie (2010). Schools Cannot Do It Alone. Enlightenment Press.

Website Information:

www.jamievollmer.com

Classroom Management

This is my style.... a classroom of loud kids times 28 of them.  YIKES!  Imagine this.  Saying one word to them, and then silence & attention on you.  (well, let's so for about 95% of the class at least, right?!)

Yes, it can be true!  I promise!  I love Whole Brain Teaching.  If you have not checked it out, please do yourself a favor and do!  I do not use all of the ideas from here, but I do love majority!  Hope this helps!


Whole Brain Teaching Video

Classity, classsss..... yessity yes!!

Winter Weather Advisory!

Wisconsin has been have a "Sprinter" as we might call it.  A Spring like Winter.  Today it was 55 outside!  Simply amazing.  But all good things come to an end, and even Sprinter does... Tomorrow morning we are all hold our breath for a winter storm.  But I know the kiddos are pumped!  Which gets me motivated to do more "snowy" writing projects in the classroom.  I have posted a few ideas below that I just love!  We will see what you think!?

Up first is my fav, Ms. Bainbridge's "There was an old lady who swallowed some SNOW!"

 

Next, is First Grade Parade's Snowman picture!

 

And last but not least is a Freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers from First Grade Blue Skies.  

This is 7 page unit about snowmen!  It's really awesome.  From labeling to sequencing, it will cover a lot of writing targets!

Hope this helps you figure out a little writing project for this January winter storm! 

Giveaway!

 Made for First grade, and The Inspired Apple are giving away a awesome literacy & math HUUUGEE center unit for FREE!  Good luck!

Skip Counting with Bunnies!

 Another amazing idea from TeacherTipster.com!  This one is called bunny ball. So simple!  I got 3 cotten balls, a bucket (with 2 pink pieces of paper as the bunny ears), the printable sheet (from teacher tipster) and you have a math center!  This is one of my students throwing in the bunny ball!  If they make a basket, they write it down on their score sheet.  Each basket is worth 2 points.  Skip counting by 2's!  Nice!  Love it!