School is Just Around the Corner...

I will be going back to school NEXT WEEK!! Yikes...where did the summer go? I'm a little excited, I must admit. I've been so busy getting my Camping Sets ready--I get to update and beautify my own room as well! Please look for updated pictures on my Camping Classroom page soon!

 

My HUGE Classroom Theme kit is up on TpT (see post below). I've also had a request to break apart some of the items into smaller sets, so I'm working on that right now.

 

Today I hope to break my losing streak of not getting in our pool ONCE this entire summer...it's been a soggy one!

 

Enjoy your day!

Sneak Peek! New Camping Products!

I am camping (I know, ironic!) so I can't post my new products until next week...but I've been working on finishing up these two products- 

Camping Calendar Time (ACTIVboard Flipchart)

And my amazingly HUGE Camping Classroom Theme Kit!

I will update with links when they get posted!

Hope everyone is enjoying the remaining days of summer!

Tuesday Tinkering!

I can't believe my summer is almost gone!

We've been getting *drenched* here in our little corner of the world! I haven't even gotten in the pool yet!

 

Next week we are camping--then I have one week to get anything done in my classroom before I officially have to report on August 1. How sad is that!

 

We have Open House (look for a post coming soon on that...)

the night before school starts...OH MY!

 

Well, here are my tinkerings for today!

I created this set of Read the Room labels for my camping classroom and thought some of my fellow Campers might like them as well! They are in my TpT store.

 

 

While I was rummaging through some of my files, I came across a cute little 100th Day Snack Pack Topper I created last year. I made a couple additional options added them to my TpT store as well. They are editable in PowerPoint!

 

 

I've also been dreaming about reorganizing my classroom--which was actually a summer-long project that I haven't begun...yikes!

I DID update my "Camping Classroom" page (at the top of this page--check it out!) and will try to add more pictures when I've finished for this year!

 

Have a great week!

 



Table Organization

 

As many teachers begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, I thought I'd share some tips on organizing tables.

 

I absolutely *love* tables! When I switched classrooms, I had desks for one year and hated it. If you are a table person, here are some ideas for you!

 

 

I color code my table groups. Look carefully and you can see the colored TENT signs hanging above each "campsite," as we refer to our groups in our room.

 

The bins you see on the tables in the picture above (and the trays in the title picture) are from Oriental Trading. I also have a class set of scissors in the same colors. I found plastic cups in 4 of the colors (plus 2 clear) at WalMart. We keep pencils in the cup, glue sticks, scissors, erasers, name tags, etc. in the bin. I added the tray after the start of last year. It has worked wonders for keeping up with "work in progress!" Students put their work in the tray and can pull it out to finish when they have time, or when we work on it again.

 

I also can't imagine not having my chair bags! They are amazing and very reasonably priced. This will be my 6th year with them and they are holding up great. I think I had ONE that has gotten torn!

The kids keep their CAMP notebook, journal, and math book in the deep pocket, and their color crayons and markers in the little pockets.

Look them up at www.chairpads.com

 

To help keep clutter and mess to a minimum, every Friday for morning work the kids empty out and clean their chair bags and trays.



VistaPrint!!! Awwww...gotta LOVE it!

I'm too excited to wait...

Gotta post again about my VistaPrint order.

 

Email subscribers should have received an email for free shipping and $50 off orders of $100 or more.

 

LOOK at all the fun things I got:

 

 

I paid $65.13 and got all this:

1 small banner

3 notebooks

1 wraparound mug

2 mouse pads

2 notepads

1 pen

1 keychain

1 set 25 business cards

1 set 25 business card magnets

 

 

Woo Hoo!! I'm so excited!

Scoreboard 2.0 (part 2)

Here it is...the rest of the story!

 

 

Two more tricks that we learned about (or rather, two more ways to milk the same cow!) include the Wacky Fun Button.

The first is the Wacky Line. As you draw a squiggly line toward the STAR, the class starts saying, "Ahhhh," higher and higher with more and more anticipation the nearer it gets, and "Ohhhhh," lower and lower as the line moves away from the star! Hee Hee...my kiddos will love it.

 

After you've used the Wacky Fun Star for a bit, ERASE it!

Then, start adding it back BIT by BIT! Can I hear an, "Ahh!"

This again, is a brilliant way to milk the same cow that has been giving you that delicious milk the entire year!

 

I hope you enjoyed my description of the updated scoreboard game!

If you are new to WBT--make sure you check out all the fun, free resources at wholebrainteaching.com and think about joining the book club!

 

Have a wonderful day!



Scoreboard 2.0 (part 1)

The Louisiana WBT Conference was so much more than I could ever have imagined! Thanks to all the incredible people that made it possible!

 

 

I learned so much. It was just what Coach B. wants us to do in our classrooms...have bell to bell instruction, without a moment to waste! I barely had time to squeeze in a few notes here and there! But, I managed to get a *few and I have some wonderful things to share with you. Keep reading!

 

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I sort of fizzled out this spring and didn't utilize enough of the WBT strategies...especially the scoreboard. In fact, there were days I only had (*gasp*) 3-5 tallies on it! (I know, my head is hung in shame) So...you can imagine how my ears perked up when Coach B. reminded us to milk the cow for all we could get...then get a new cow! (IE...use one strategy as long as it was successful, then throw in a new twist to make it successful again!)

 

So, I give you (du du du DUH!)

the SCOREBOARD 2.0!

 

 

Let me explain each "new cow." These are intended for use during the SPRING when your kids start looking like their eyes are glazing over and you are tempted to have recess all day long!

 

1. On each side of the scoreboard, along with or instead of smilies/frownies put BABY SCHOOL and __th Grade (add 2 years to your class' grade level). Remind them you expect them to perform at 3rd grade level. If they are not giving you much participation, gestures, or energy...tell them, "That was Baby School behavior," and give the frownie! RAISE the bar! (Can I hear an, "Ahhhh!")

 

2. Double Points! (Genius) Put 2X on the scoreboard (in a different color marker). Extra super behavior gets double points when written with that color.

*Remember to keep the 3+/- rule with your points!

 

3. Wacky Fun Button (*WFB) Draw a STAR on the scoreboard. Tell the kids when you touch it, they can make funny animal noises until you stop. Can't you see your class eating that up!

Better yet, Coach says you'll have them eating out of your hand!

 

4. Wacky Fun Arrow: Instead of just touching the WFB, build anticipation by drawing an arrow that gets closer and closer to the STAR! Class gives a mighty, "OH YEAH!" for each added arrow and gets the fun party when it is reached.

 

Wait, that's not all.

If you want to learn about even more fun ways to milk the scoreboard for all it's worth...stay tuned!

I need to know how BADLY you want to learn more about keeping your kids eating out of the palm of your hand with scoreboard fun!