I'm Back!! And check out my {FREEBIES}!!

I'm back (again)!  Well, I have been back at it for almost a month and have not had the time to do any blogging, time for blog stalking yes, but not updating my own blog!  Way too busy getting back into a schedule, at home and at school, as well as making things to use in my classroom to implement some new procedures.  My own kids (now in 2nd and 6th grade) also keep me busy with their schedules.  To give you an idea of how hectic things can get (this is an extremely busy week), here's my week....soccer practice, taekwondo class, volleyball (that one's for me-just for fun), overnight Camp Eberhart with my 6th grade daughter (I signed up to chaperone) Thursday-Friday, football game, run a 1/2 marathon on Saturday, soccer game after the marathon, walk 3 miles for a Juvenile Diabetes fundraiser on Sunday. Wow!  That's even exhausting just to type!  And of course I have to prepare sub plans for Thursday and Friday.  Oh, yeah, did I mention that I am getting observed this Wednesday?  Good times... but the sub plans brings me to something I just created and am giving away to anyone that wants it!

I am big on Whole Brain teaching and I can not say enough great things about how much it has changed my teaching.  I use it all day long!  I am not sure how I survived first grade without it?!!  Anyways, since I am going to be gone two days in a row (and it's still early in the year) I decided that I would put together a Whole Brain Teaching cheat sheet for my guest teacher(s).  Most are unfamiliar with whole brain teaching, and I would really like for my class to not have to change too much from what they are used to when I am gone.  I am hoping that it will help them out and mayne it can help you too!  You can find this resource at my TpT store.  Just click HERE!

How many of you have seen this picture pinned on Pinterest?

I {LOVE} this, but when I went to the website I couldn't find a link to print it out.  You can go there by clicking HERE.  She has some cute pics and love her ideas.  Anyways, I decided to make my own Open Mic sign up sheet, jungle themed of course!! 

If you want a copy of it, just click on the picture! 

One more thing I made was a Jungle Themed I Pick chart.  {Which of course I don't have picture of right now....} But I will still share the document tonight and just add the picture tomorrow...or when I get around to it!  Just be sure to print on legal sized paper.  Click HERE for the chart. Here's a YouTube video that goes with the chart.  It is a cute little song teaching kiddos about picking "just right" books.

I am thinking of putting together some Kid Friendly common core" I Can's" to be displayed in the classroom.  I have a TpT seller's  version but they are pretty wordy for my kiddos and are hard to see. Has anyone found a good kid friendly version with a decent sized font?  Believe me, I've been looking!

Well, I think I have out done myself by blogging tonight and actually sharing a few things!  Time to get some rest for a very busy week! 

Reviving My Classity Class

Friday was such a great day for this teacher and her students!

I revived my class from a lul in the excitement department.....ever have those moments???

Thursday night I spent some time watching YouTube videos after my kiddos went to bed and the hubby went to Cage Fitness class. I came across some whole brain teaching videos that I have never seen before, so Friday we tried it all out!

We used the mirror for fluency and math. I will have to say that the fluency went over well and fun was had by all. I used a penguin poem while we tried out some motions and expression! Hilarious!

We celebrated throughout the day with "10 and 12 finger woos".

We stood up and EVERYONE pushed in their chairs with "bodies and chairs."

We applied the brakes when retelling facts about penguins and polar bears to emphasize where the punctuation goes.

We even sang a new line up song that got us moving a bit.

We tried blowing answers into our hands then releasing them together...that still needs more practice because I usually use a partner whisper.

But the best part that made me laugh til tears when telling a colleague about it was sitting down at the rocker. I always say "criss cross" and they say "applesauce" as they sit. Then I usually go on to say "hands and eyes" to get them focused on me. But I saw on you tube the use of "spoons in your bowls". I have never seen so many puzzled looks from my firsties. But they got it and got into it. We were reading about polar bears when I was distracted by a lil firstie that decided to pretend to eat his applesauce out of his bowl with his spoon! Now I know it is hard to visualize but if you get a chance to try "spoons in your bowls" I guarantee a good chuckle! So if you are a whole brain/power teacher you have to check out some of these videos.

"oiled" hand-water drips right of

Blubber Glove

We also did a Sci Fri activity. We found out how polar bears and penguins stay warm. We used the graphic organizer from here. The kiddos loved it and want to try it out at home. Pretty sure some parents won't be happy with this :)

Left hand "oil", right hand no "oil"

2 thumbs up for a Friday with no special!!! Whoo hoo!!!

Last but not least, I finished up a set of reading games and posters that go with my jungle theme. They are for sale at my TpT store.