Brain Break Blitz Linky!

I don't know about you, but we LOVE LOVE LOVE GoNoodle in my classroom!  I started using it at the end of last school year, and I don't know what I did without it.   If you're new to GoNoodle, it's an awesome online resource for classroom brain breaks.  Check it out!

I'm super excited to be a part of the Brain Break Blitz Linky Party!  <--- If you GoNoodle, click the link to join the linky fun!

Linky Party Questions:

Here are three brain-break questions to get the Linky Party started…

1. Why are brain breaks so important for today’s kids?

With so many more expectations for young learners today, it is crucial for them to have time to rest their brains and get their bodies moving.  My kids in first grade are 6 and 7 years old, and their little bodies just aren't made for sitting still all day long.  Brain breaks are important because they not only let students get their wiggles out, some brain breaks, such as Maximo, or Airtime, are calming, and get them focused and ready to learn!

2. If you were stranded on an elementary classroom island and could only bring 3 brain breaks, what would they be?

It's hard to pick, but here are my top 3:

1. Maximo- He gets students calm and stretched and ready to learn.  Plus, what's cuter than a first grader doing yoga?!

2. Any of the Run with Us videos- These are great for getting kids moving, and using up some of that first grade energy!  The kids love the Olympic coaches!

3. KooKoo Kangaroo's Dinosaur Stomp- Why?  Because it's fun and catchy! "Pick up your foot and stomp it stomp it..." :)

3. GoNoodle can be a great motivator! Share a tactic or idea for using brain breaks to engage the classroom.

Every morning to get the day started, I do a calming brain break with my students.  It seems to set a calm and focused tone for the morning.  A little tip to anyone just starting out using GoNoodle, I make a no talking rule to add to the calmness, and have students sit down in their seats quietly once the brain break is over.  After that, they are ready to learn!

Here are my Firsties doing yoga with Maximo.  Too cute, right?!

Wordless Wednesday

I'm linking up with Miss DeCarbo for her Wordless Wednesday linky party!

So these were delivered to my class this morning!!!!  *SO EXCITED!!!!*  My district is now 1:1 k-12!

My wordless Wednesday question is, where on the spectrum of tech in the classroom is your district? 

Monday Meet Up!

I'm linking up with The Teaching Tribune for Monday Meet Up, a linky party from their Summer Bloggin' series.  

Today's Monday Meet Up is all about things we are thankful for, so here goes!

What are you thankful for? :)

6 Months 'til Christmas Sale!

It's only 6 months 'til Christmas folks!  Where does the time go?  It seems like it just stopped snowing...oh wait, it did!  If you're from Indiana, you know what I mean!  I'm always excited about Christmas, but if I don't see a single snowflake this year, I won't be sad!  Anyway, if you want some great deals, there are a ton of fabulous TPT sellers (including yours truly) that are putting their stores on sale for June 24th and 25th for a 6 Months 'til Christmas Sale.  Head on over to my TPT store and enjoy a 20% discount on EVERYTHING!  You can also head over to The Learning Highway to sign up for a HUGE Christmas giveaway!  Happy shopping!

Summer Stock Up!

I'm super excited to be participating in the Primary Gal's Summer Stock Up!  We all know that teachers don't really take summers off, we are ALWAYS planning ahead.  This event is the perfect opportunity for you to stock up on wonderful resources for the upcoming school year!

For the stock up, I will be featuring my EnVision Math Vocab Cards for first grade!

                                 

I keep them on my calendar wall in my classroom.  They fit PERFECTLY in these adorable little pocket charts (found in the dollar spot at Target)!

Here is an example of them as part of a vocabulary wall.

A handy little feature these cards have, is that the topic they go with is noted in the bottom corner for super easy organization!

These cards are great for use on a math focus wall, or on your calendar bulletin board for daily review of math vocabulary!  Please note that these are for the Common Core version of EnVision!  These cards are specific to EnVision, but even if your school does not use EnVision, they are Common Core aligned.    You can find these cards in several colors and patterns in my TPT store.  For a free sample of the vocabulary cards for topic 1, check out my Facebook page!  Click on the Summer Stock Up! tab and like my fb page to grab the freebie!

Artsy Fartsy Friday!

I'm linking up with my super talented real-life teacher friends, Jena at Sew Much Music, and Lindsay at Miss Law's Kinders for their new linky party Artsy Fartsy Friday!  (Isn't that just the cutest linky party name?!)  If you are doing something artsy over the summer, you should join in the fun and link up!

I'm going to be honest, my classroom artsy fartsyness will probably not start until mid-late July, so my artsy fartsy project is something that I've been working on for a while.  

I started this cute little baby afghan last November and was planning on having it done by the time my daughter was born...in February. It's still nowhere close to being done.  That's what having kids does to your crafty plans!  One of my summer goals is to finish this little beauty, or at least get a little closer.  It's a really easy crochet pattern if you like crocheting.  I changed colors every three rows instead of every two like the pattern indicates. I like my chevrons a little chunkier. :) I would have had it done in no time, if I actually had time to sit down and work on it!  

*I found this pattern on the internet using my phone and just saved the image, so I don't know who to give credit to.  If you happen to know, leave me a comment!

Monday Meet Me!

I'm linking up with The Teaching Tribune for their Monday Meet Me linky party!

I teach-I have moved around quite a bit in my 6 year teaching career, but first grade has my heart and I hope to stay here as long as I can!

I have- I LOVE summers with my kids and getting to be a stay at home mom for at least a short time.

I watch- Seriously, I always have The Big Bang Theory on, even if it's just background noise (in fact, it's on right now)!  It just makes me laugh!

I listen- I guess I should clarify, when my four year old gives me control of the radio, I listen to country. 

I read- I'm excited about this book study idea one of my teacher friends came up with for the summer.  I don't think I've read a book for fun in at least a couple years (going to blame that one on my kids!).  It will be nice to have friends to keep me on track!

I do- EVERYTHING!!! Or at least it seems like it most days, but I wouldn't trade my busy mommy/teacher life for anything!

And on a very happy note, this is my first official Monday of summer break!  WOOHOO!

Wordless Wednesday!

I'm linking up with Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice for her Wordless Wednesday linky party!

This was my classroom at the beginning of the year (it is MUCH messier right now!)  As you can hopefully tell, I have a bee themed classroom.  It's been my first year of doing a classroom theme, and I've had fun with it!  

My Wordless Wednesday question is, do you do a classroom theme, and if so, what is it?

June Currently

I'm linking up with Farley from Oh Boy 4th Grade for June Currently!

Listening- If you like country with some sass, Pistol Annies is for you!  And don't you just love Pandora?  I feel like they know me. ;)

Loving- 3 DAYS LEFT!!!  This has seemed like a very long school year...and I was even out for 10 weeks on maternity leave!  We had a ton of snow days, and then made most of them up by adding an hour to the end of our school day for like 2 months, so it has been a very unusual school year.  I love my kiddos, but I think we are ALL ready for summer break!

Thinking- So much to do, so little time!  I think I need to turn my teacher brain off for a week or two this summer just to recuperate and reenergize myself.

Wanting- I love Miranda!  Again, country with a little sass.

Needing- Did I mention that I have a 4 year old and a 3 month old at home?  I would give just about anything for a good nap these days!

Summer bucket list- I can't wait to pretend like I'm a stay at home mom for about 8 weeks!  I am so looking forward to some quality time with my babies.

Five for Friday!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

 

We had a huge inflatable obstacle course at school yesterday...and this is what happened after the kids were gone!  These girls are some of my very best teacher friends and I don't know what I would do without them!  They also happen to be very talented TPT sellers and bloggers.  Check them out, because they're awesome! 

Miss Law's Kinders

Mrs. Banister's Kindergarten Kids

Sew Much Music

 #TBT alert!  My very first class that I had when I taught kindergarten 6 years ago is getting ready to leave our little school and go to middle school so I decided to recreate our kindergarten class picture.  They have grown into such wonderful people, and most of them are taller than me now! :) I can't believe that it's been so long since I had these sweet babies...I feel so old!  These kids were absolutely precious and truly taught me what it meant to be a teacher.  I might burst in to tears as they leave next Friday!

 We started researching for our animal reports yesterday, and it was one of those times in the classroom where everything just worked.  The kids were super excited about researching about their animals, and were really self-motivated.  Once I got them on KidRex on their MacBooks, I was really just there to help with technical issues.  They were in charge! They took the lead and got right to work, they were collaborating, they were engaged...*sigh*.  My teacher heart was overflowing!   I feel like as soon as students take ownership over their learning, it's so much more meaningful, you know?   

 Our district will officially be 1:1 next year!!!  I am beyond excited and I'm already trying to plan for next year.  I created some iPad rule posters, and you can get them for FREE!  I had to laugh as I was creating them, because one of my rules is to only touch the iPad WITH YOUR HANDS.  Believe it or not, this is something you have to tell first graders (trust me, I know this from experience!)!

 5 DAYS OF SCHOOL LEFT!!!!!

Five for Friday!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for her Five For Friday link party!

Need a quick and fun activity or center for Memorial Day?  Get this cute little Memorial Day word building FREEBIE at my TPT store!

We are visiting the Louisville Zoo next week for our field trip and I couldn't find exactly what I wanted on TPT for a zoo unit, so I decided to make my own!  Check out my ZOO-MANIA packet! :)  It has everything you could need (or at least everything I needed!) for a zoo animal unit!

Only 10 days of school left!!!!!!

Do your students ever write you little notes?  My kiddos this year looove writing me sweet little messages on their test papers.  It's pretty cute!  I love writing them back, and seeing their faces light up when they get their tests back.  The only downfall: it makes grading take about twice as long…

(Sorry about the not so great quality of the pic.  I have two kids, so it's really hard telling exactly what smudged up my phone's camera lens!  #mommyproblems #iknowhashtagsdontworkhere #ohwell)

The next 10 days is going to be CrAzY.  We have our Walkathon tomorrow (the most awesome school fundraiser EVER), and next week we have track and field day, our first grade field trip, and a whole school field trip to the movies. Nothing like going out with a bang!