Moving WBT posts :)

(**I'm moving this from the WBT page--sorry for any confusion! Original post dates are listed**)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Well, it has been a while since my last update. I should get a mighty "groan" for that! But....I am excited to report I took a professional day off of school to revamp my WBT enthusiasm and techniques! I watched several webcasts and will send in my PayPal money for the certificates! They were great! I have added the GUFF counter to my scoreboard. It is amazing how much "back talk" really goes on in the classroom without me even realizing it! The kids have caught on famously and only get the wording confused because I introduced it the wrong way (that's what I get for being enthusiastic...didn't get my ducks in a row!) They say either stop that, stop please or please stop!! LOL--I told them they'd catch on in a few days!

Another thing they are LOVING is using the timer! WOW, what an awesome tool. We waste Sooooo much time it seems. I started the timer Monday when we came in from recess and were getting drinks etc, before coming to the carpet for SSR. It was a whopping 4 minutes flat. Something happened and I didn't time them Tuesday, but today...we did it in 1:28!!!!! What an improvement (OH YEAH!)

Next, I plan on starting the Super Improvers Wall...they are gonna eat that up!

I also interjected LOTS of energy, built suspense, and let them know how EXCITED I was to teach them about ____. I felt their enthusiasm in return. What a fabulous way to teach. I got lots of hugs over the last two days! Love it!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

We just finished up with our first quarter and parent/teacher conferences are behind us (all but 3).

I love how things are going in classroom as I try to implement WBT! The kids are still responding well to it and love the opportunities for movement, talking and teaching, and mirroring my moves. I'm having fun coming up with motions/gestures to explain concepts! They just seem to start pouring in once you start thinking that way!

Some things I still need to work on:

• Staying energetic throughout the day! (sometimes I fizzle and I can tell a difference in the room)
• Reciting rules throughout day (sometimes I only hit once and I pay for it later!)
• Staying positive and not scolding (this is a definite area for improvement: put on that smile!)
• Adding new pieces to what we have in place (Super Improvers wall...)
• Finding an area for the Power Pix Wall (that might have to wait until next year)

I've had the opportunity to share some of our WBT classroom techniques with our Principal, our VP of curriculum and one of our District Superintendents. They were very impressed. :)
It has been such a blessing for me this year.

One thing that helps me is reviewing some of the YouTube videos posted out there and reading over some blog entries. I don't frequent the forum much right now, but plan on hitting it more also. I know this is something I am going to continue learning about and using in my classroom! 

My FIRST Award!

I am so honored to receive the Liebster Award!

(and a little VERY embarressed to be so late accepting it!)

Thank you SOOOoo much to

Camille at An Open Door and Carrie from A First Grade Teachers Passions and Obsessions.

So, the purpose of this award is to highlight new bloggers with less than 200 followers.

Here are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

2. Thank the giver and link back to them.

3. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

So here is the hard part....my top 5 picks! 

1. Julie at Southern Teacher WBT (she's BRAND new and has a great Whole Brain Teaching Blog!)

2. Nancy from Mrs. Stoltenberg's 2nd Grade Class: Whole Brain Teaching in Progress!

3. Erin at First With Franklin

4. Danielle from LaSota's Little Learners (wow!! She's got lots of great stuff on her blog!)

5. Stephanie at Prayers and Purple Elephants

Yeah! I did it! Hope you enjoy visiting these blogs and find some new friends!

Whole Brain Teaching Linky Party and Certification...Oh YEAH!

Whole Brain Teaching Blog Sites Linky Party!!

I'm finding all kinds of great sites. Love it. As I start in with WBT certification, I hope to share and learn from others.

To find out more about WBT certification, click below:

Ahhh...Summer

Well, summer is here! My summer bucket list includes: 1. WBT Certification (or at least a good start!) 2. Creating fun lesson packets for my class and TpT store 3. Organizing my lessons by weeks in Sterlite storage drawers 4. posting regularly!!! 5. Joining some fun linky parties I'm sure there is more... :)

President's Day

Here is a picture of our President's Day writing. It was inspired by several pics I saw on Pinterest. Enjoy!

Phonics Fun

Happy 2012!

I plan on posting on a regular basis this year.

I just finished my first week back to school and started studying r-controlled vowels. I started with Babbling Abby's Pirate Mark unit...my kiddos LOVED it!

This week, we will be on /or/ and I wanted to continue the fun.

I created a little unit with Orville Or (he is very indecisive but loves popcorn!).

Head over and grab it in my TpT store!

Math Station Freebie

Happy Fall, y'all!

Here is a graphing station I adapted from an activity I saved online. It does not have any credits on it, so I don't know who to give credit as the author! (if it is YOU, let me know!)

We just finished a week long graphing unit and this is going out into the math station world this week.

Enjoy!