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? :)

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.

Wordless Wednesday!

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

In my class, we have recently started using GoNoodle, and it is AMAZING for brain breaks.  My pal Brittany told me about this and I'm so glad she did!  GoNoodle is a free website that has videos for a ton of brain break activities, both energizing and calming depending on what your students need.  My favorite is Maximo, the yoga-teaching monkey.  You haven't seen cute until you've seen first graders doing yoga!  I highly recommend for any teacher to check out GoNoodle, especially this time of year when brain breaks are a MUST!

My Wordless Wednesday question is, what do you do in your classroom for brain breaks?

Five for Friday!

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

These two…the cuteness…

I'm working on some Saxon Phonics spelling units, but more importantly, check out these adorable scribble backgrounds!  I went through a polka dot phase, and a chevron phase, but now I'm allllll about the scribbles!  My super talented friend Jena over at Sew Much Music makes the CUTEST digital papers, clipart, and all things music.  You can grab some of her awesome creations at her TPT store!

 20 more days of school left…what?!?

 First grade moment of the week:  We were going over our new spelling words for this week and one of them was country.  Without missing a beat, one of my sweeties says/sings, "Mrs. Wimp, its like country girl shake it for me girl shake it for me girl…" and breaks into a full rendition (complete with dance moves) of the Luke Bryan song.  My students are very musically talented, and pretty darn funny this year!

This stuff is the bomb-dot-com!  For realz…

(it's lip gloss by the way)

Wordless Wednesday!

I'm linking up with Christina at Sugar and Spice for her Wordless Wednesday Linky Party!

This is what I do for my classroom rules.  I saw something like it on Pinterest.  I liked this idea because it wasn't the typical classroom rules, plus it goes great with my bee themed classroom!  

Do you do something cute or unique with your classroom rules?

Five for Friday!

Are you a jane.com-aholic?  I AM!  This is the best site ever for great deals on cute boutiquey items, especially hair bows!  Having a little girl to play dress up with is so much fun..even though she isn't nearly as excited about it. ;)

                     

I always like to have my students make something for their Mommies, or other special ladies in their life for Mother's Day (which is coming soon!).  Check out my Mother's Day book on my TPT store.  Just bind it with some pretty ribbon and you have sweet and cost efficient gift!  It includes versions for Moms, Grandmas, Aunts, and a blank version.

My BFF took me to the Oaks, and we had a blast!  It turns out that betting on horses is not my strong suit, and apparently using horses' names and the jockeys' silks colors is not a great method for picking a winner…oh well!  At least we looked fancy in our hats!

Only 24 more days of school left.  How did that happen?!  I'm so looking forward to spending the summer with my babies, but I'm going to miss my sweet firsties.

If you are having a bad day and need an instant smile, just play the Frozen sound track in your classroom and you will witness theatrics like you have never seen before.  Even some of my manliest of little men can belt out "Let it Go" (complete with very accurate dance moves).  It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.  Just a word of warning though, those songs WILL be stuck in your head.  Don't say I didn't warn you. :)

Wordless Wednesday!

I'm linking up with Christina at Sugar and Spice for her Wordless Wednesday Linky Party!

This is a pic of my kiddos using MacBooks for computer lab time.  Notice the two fellas up helping other students.  I always appoint two students to be my "technology helpers," so that they can help kids with things like logging in to certain programs, and other kinds of troubleshooting.  Honestly, sometimes the kids are better at computer stuff than me!  It gives them a huge confidence boost to assist their fellow students, and they just love helping each other.  

Do you use student helpers in your classroom?