Trashketball Fun!

Wednesday, October 10, 2012 6 comments
How do you review?
I absolutely love reviewing because the students always love it so much.
I am always looking for fun new games and ways to review information with students.

Yesterday we played one of my all time favorite review games...
TRASHKETBALL! 

This goes way back.... all the way back to when I was in middle school. 
I loved it so much it has stuck with me ever sense. 

I break my students into two teams.
Each student is asked a question.
Even though only one student is asked the question, 
everyone must pay attention because if that students gets it wrong, 
I will pick another student (at random) to answer the question.
(I like to pick the one who doesn't seem to be paying attention. haha)
If the student gets it right,  they get to take a trashketball shot.
(This seems to be the most nerve-racking thing ever!)
This simply means students get to take a shot into a basket on my floor.
My "ball" is a crumpled up piece of paper.
There is a two point shot and a four point shot.
They get decide which one they want to take. 

This is so fun because they cheer each other on the entire time...
during the question answering portion and during the shot.
Everyone is also constantly listening and engaged. 
This way they are taking in the information they need for their test.
Side note:
We have a rule in my classroom that you have to silently cheer for your teammate.
This means that if I hear noise, the points don't count.
It is always hilarious to see my students silently cheering.

Now that I have shared one way we review in my classroom...
How do you review in your room?
I would LOVE some new ideas. =)

Product Swap Fun!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 5 comments
Hello, Hello!
Today is such an exciting day! The day of the first ever product swap! =)
MrsStanfordsClass

I am SUPER excited to introduce Bridget from "Little Lovely Leaders" to you guys today.
I had the wonderful opportunity to receive one of her TPT items to review.

Little Lovely Leaders

I hadn't ever seen Bridget's blog before the swap, but now I am hooked.
She's a fifth grade teacher in North Carolina with a rainbow themed classroom (just like mine)!
So, when I checked out her TPT store, I fell in love with her "We Love" banners.
I chose to review her "We Love Third Grade" banner.
It is WONDERFUL and I know it will look amazing in my classroom. 

I started with this:

And ended up with this (which I love!!!):

Check out the AMAZING finished product. I backed the pennants with black paper because I have EVERYTHING in my room backed in black. I think strung a black string through the flags. You could use colorful ribbon if you wanted to add even more color to the banner. =) 

Close Ups: 



The fabulous thing about Bridget's banners is that she has them for every grade.
I also have downloaded several of Bridget's amazing freebies. 
Her school is implementing "Leader in Me" this year and she has all sorts of great resources to go along with it. If your school does "Leader in Me" you must check out her store and blog.

I had so much fun checking out Bridget's products. 
You need to check out her blog. Leave her a comment saying I sent you. =)
Then, RUSH over to her TPT store and purchase this banner!
You know it would add some color and fun to your classroom this year!

T-Minus 1 Month!

Friday, July 20, 2012 14 comments
Today is the 1 month mark until kiddos return to school.
Teachers return four days earlier.

The fact that we are at t-minus 1 month until school starts is CRAZY.
I have SO much to do it's not even funny.
I wish I would have taken a picture of my classroom when I left this afternoon. 
One word: CHAOS.

I am hoping to make leaps and bounds in my room next week.
There is just SO much stuff everywhere and I just don't know where to put it. Yikes!
My dad is in the process of making me some great cabinets (my room has no cabinets/counters), 
so once those get put in, I will have so much storage! (EXCITED!)

Anyone else feel like they are running out of time to prepare? (ME!)
Or feel like this summer has completely flown by? (ME!)
Or getting anxious and excited to meet their new students? (ME!)

On another note... I NEED HELP!
Do you any of you fabulous teachers know where I can find a decently priced brighly colored rug?
I am open to many colors... Light Blue, Pink, Lime Green, etc.
I have been searching for weeks and can't find anything. 
I need this rug for my classroom library. Last year I had a blue one that I found for 30 bucks.
I need something similar for this year but I am running out of ideas.
Have you seen one? Let me know!!

Thanks for letting me ramble tonight!  And PLEASE help me find a rug! =)
Ms. Smith

DON'T FORGET!

Thursday, July 5, 2012 4 comments
Hello, Friends!

Just a quick reminder that TOMORROW is the last day to enter my current giveaway.
You could win a signed copy of Catty Wompus by Jules Howe.

Click HERE to enter. Its super easy!
I'll be back soon with a more insightful post! =)

First Year of Teaching? Check!

Thursday, May 24, 2012 8 comments
Well, it is OFFICIALLY summertime! Whew. I cannot believe I survived my first (1/2) year of teaching. It flew by and I LOVED every minute of it. Looking back it's somewhat a blur. Haha.

How did I start my summer? Well, this morning was technically a teacher workday so I had to go in for a few hours. I tried to get some stuff done that will help me out next year. I also plan on PAINTING my room next weekend so I took everything down and tried to do some prepping for that.

After a morning at school, I came back and put my PJs back on and took a nap. It was heaven let me tell you...hah =) After that I woke up, turned on the tube and made a mug brownie...also heavenly! HAH. Super unhealthy, but I convinced myself that I deserved it. =) Amazing start to my first teacher summer! =)

Happy summer! Can't wait to start creating and imagining for my classroom next year! 
I also can't wait to get some wonderful ideas from you guys! =)

Help! =)

Tuesday, April 17, 2012 7 comments
HELP! 

Because I am a young, first year teacher, I will have TONS of time this summer.
I have no kiddos or a husband tying me down. =)
I would love to make use of this time I will have by doing some different things to improve my teaching.
This is where YOU come in.
I would love for all of you to veteran teachers to answer the two questions below! Please?! 

Number 1:  
What Professional Development conferences 
and workshops do you recommend?
I would LOVE to either attend some conferences or do some PD online this summer. 
What conferences/workshops have you been to that you recommend?
I just really want to be productive this summer
and come back a better teacher then I have been this year. =)

Number 2:
What teaching related books do you 
recommend I read this summer?
What is your go-to teaching related book?
What new ideas have changed the way you teach?
Let me know! I would LOVE to check them out this summer.

Don't forget to comment & thanks in advance for your feedback! 
You guys all ROCK! 

-Ms. Smith

True Life: I Survived Year One

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 No comments
I thought it would be fun to write a post about my first year of teaching.
I wanted to take some time to reflect, and I figured why not share with you.
I also wanted to share the handout I made and gave to the interns at my school because I know there are a lot of interns and student teachers out there in blog world too. =)

First off,
TEN things I learned this year:

1) Always be prepared.... in every aspect. (This is something as simple as setting up the classroom for Monday on Friday afternoon. This involves changing jobs, setting up new centers, everything.) I know on some days the LAST thing I wanted to do was to be at school until 6, but the next day ran so much smoother if I had taken the time to prepare beforehand.

2) Don't be afraid to ask questions! As a first year teacher, I didn't want to be a nuisance to the other teachers at my school, but I learned all of them WANTED to help me. And, it is also better to ask a silly question then make a silly mistake!

3) You don't have to "recreate the wheel" during your first year. Use the ideas you find on blogs and pinterest during your first year! Trying to make up everything can be overwhelming for a first year teacher!

4) Always make time for read alouds. I love reading to my students and I believe there are some great advantages of taking the time to read to your students. I like reading the first book in a series so that students get excited and want to read the rest of the books. =)

5) Don't forget to drink water and take some restroom breaks! HAH. I know, this one is silly, but it is the truth! 

6) Each student learns differently and achieves at a different level. Work to find how each of your students learn best, and adjust your classroom to meet the needs of each individual student.

7) Structure is SO important...(in my classroom it was anyways!)

8) Be flexible! If an assembly pops up and you have to skip math, don't stress out! Just adjust the best you can! 

9) Come up with and TEACH procedures at the beginning of the year. It will make the rest of the year go much smoother.

10) Never forget why you got into teaching!

If you are a soon to be teacher, or a new teacher... you can click here to check out the handout I gave to the interns at my school. It's nothing special, but it has several things I learned during my first year AND it talks about what I placed in my teaching portfolio for interviews (It also includes a picture of Ryan Gosling! Hah - Tried to give the interns something to laugh about!)

Any veteran teachers out there (because I am FAR from veteran) have any advice for newbies?
I still consider myself a newbie (I haven't even had a first day of school yet!) so I would love to hear your tips and advice. =)

Help: One Question!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 7 comments
Hello lovely ladies in blog world! 

I have ONE (or two) simple question(s) for you today. 
I would REALLY appreciate your response. 
I am talking to some student teachers on Thursday
and I want to make sure I don't miss anything.

What do you wish you would have known as a first year teacher?
What helped you land a teaching job?

I would love to hear your answers to these questions!
I am meeting with them to talk about being a first year teacher,
but I would love to be able to share some advice from veteran teachers as well! 

Thanks in advance for sharing!
-Ms. Smith

Short and Sweet!

Monday, January 23, 2012 6 comments
Tonight is a short and sweet post! I just HAD to take a moment to share a hilarious story. =)

Today at school we were reviewing vocabulary words for our test tomorrow. One of our words for the week is "Concentration". I always have a student define the word and then we talk about it. I always like to relate the word to my students' lives. So I asked the question, "When is a time you might need concentration?" I got answers from reading, to taking a test, and even when playing video games. Can anyone guess where one brave student said you might need concentration?... the bathroom! I almost DIED. Kids say the most hilarious stuff. That is one reason I love my job. =)

Did you have any funny student moments at your school today?
I would LOVE to hear them! =)

On another note, I am SUPER excited about the rock unit we are doing this week in my classroom. We are talking about the rock phases and our lessons include making EDIBLE rocks. This is going to be so much fun! I can't wait to share it with you guys and I will make sure to take some pictures.

Do any of you teach your students about rocks? 
What types of activities do you do?

My Week AND Two Questions

Thursday, January 19, 2012 5 comments
I always love Thursdays because that means Friday is super close. =) Yay weekend!

We have had a great week in my sweet little 3rd grade classroom for many reasons... 

1) My kids have had a great week. I am not sure what has happened to them but they have been working incredibly hard AND they have been quiet. We have a talking problem in my class and they have done a great job this week keeping the chatting to a minimum.

2) We got a NEW student. I love new faces. The kiddos were also extremely excited and did a great job making our new addition feel welcomed. My favorite was at the end of the new student's first day another child came up to me and informed me that they were now best friends. =)

3) We got a NEW pencil sharpener. We haven't had a decent working one since I took the job and I finally purchased a new one. It makes my life SO much easier. (It's the small things in life...hahah)


On another note, I have TWO questions for you! 

1) Do you guys post free documents with any type of clip art? Or do you only post stuff with the clip art you have purchased? For example, do you use the Word/Powerpoint clipart in your documents? I am super scared to post anything that is not all mine. I am new to this and don't want to get in trouble!

2) Where/How can I get a button for my blog. All of you have such CUTE ones & now I need one too. 

I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday. Thanks for reading AND for (hopefully)
answering my questions. =)

We All Need A Little Motivation...

Sunday, January 15, 2012 4 comments
Motivation... 
Some students just don't seem to have it all of the time. 

This tears me up because if students have no motivation in elementary school, 
where does that put them in middle school, high school, and even beyond. 

          During my internship I was placed in a 4th grade classroom. Two of the boys in my class had a low reading level and despised reading. I made it my goal to get them to like reading. I would read with them every free moment we'd have and I would make myself available before school and during PE in case they wanted to read with me.  I made sure to get SUPER excited when something happened in the story and we would discuss each book they read. I would praise them when they read and tell them what a good job they were doing.

          At my school we have a big emphasis on A.R. and whenever they would make a 100 on a test I would break out into the "hundred's dance". I became known for this dance and students would tell me that they made a 100 at the worst times... in the middle of the lunchroom, walking down the hall, and in front of parents and teachers. No matter where I was... I would do a little jig and sing a little tune about how awesome it was that they had made a 100. I truly think they worked hard just so they could watch me a make a fool of myself, but hey, whatever works! I will seriously do anything to get a student excited about school, reading, and working hard! =)

I need some new ideas. 
What do you do to encourage your struggling or unmotivated students?
I would love some new/creative ideas!
Thanks and have a wonderful MLK Monday! =)
-Ms. Smith

Currently...

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 3 comments
Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade is having a fun linky party AND giveaway. 
Of course I have to link up!

I am Currently,

Listening...
to the train outside chug by outside.
Loving...
that Alabama just won their 14th National Championship. =)
Thinking...
about what I am going to do with my extra day this weekend. Yay for MLK day. 
Wanting...
a Cafe Mocha from Starbucks!
Needing...
SLEEP! 
OLW...
Finish (Strong!)
Am I allowed to have two little words? =)

Check back later this week for an actual school related post. 
Have a wonderful Wednesday. Three more days until the weekend. =)