Great Lesson in Self Control!

Today I had a fabulous lesson with my class on impulse control! I wish I could say I thought of it, but Pinterest did (oh I love that site!!). I had a great "I Pick" lesson on choosing books, but after the day we were having, we needed to learn about self control!

I started out with me blowing bubbles in class. All of the kids stood up and went crazy popping the bubbles. The we stopped and talked about how much fun it was and everyone wanted to do it. Then I related it to how everyone wants to talk out, get up, make random noises.... and we need to control those things so we can all learn. I then challenged them to stay seated, but they could still pop the bubbles. It was like a game, 4 or 5 kids "got out" because they couldn't stay on their bottoms. We talked about it and played the game once again, this time everyone managed to do it! Then we upped the challenge and had the kids just watch the bubbles and see if one landed on their hand. Once again every one passed with flying colors. For our last demonstration, I challenged the kids to sit and focus on "Pete the Cat" while the bubbles just fell to the ground around them. Once again we all managed to control our impulses! We discussed how the bubbles were a distraction, but we could still focus. This was an amazing lesson I am sure I will refer back to over and over this year.

When will I make it up to breathe?? Had to share a link!

Hello all! I hope you are having a fantastic start to year and are not completely drowning.... I think I can see the surface, not sure when I will make it up there? Every year starts this way and I always forget until the next year starts. (Kind of like having babies!)

I had to take some time to share a fantastic site and great deal she has on her site. She has a code to use for Samson's Classroom. If you haven't used this site, it is fantastic for the kids. I have so wanted it, but couldn't afford to get it for my class. Problem solved with this great deal! Thank you! Hurry up and head over to take advantage of the offer!

Classroom Set Up Begins!!!

Well today we were allowed in our classroom for the first time this summer. Oh boy do I have my work cut out for me! It seemed like most of my day today was just looking around thinking "what do I do first????" I did get a little bit done. I have so much on my mind now, I don't think I will be able to go to sleep ever!

Must get to work and off blogs.....

"Hi my name is Teresa and I am a blog addict!"

The Super 6 Finally Finished and a Freebie!

I have been working all summer long on my Super 6 Daily Differentiated Learning Centers pack and I finally finished!!!!! I think it turned out great. The Super 6 consist of S.T.E.M, Literacy Plugged In, Write On..., Read to Self, Word Work and Book Club. It is in my TpT store here and I am adding it to my TN store. Below is a quick description of it.

The Super 6 are daily differentiated learning centers that incorporate reading, writing, science, math, and technology. It is perfect for all elementary grades, especially grades K-2. Students rotate through 6 stations daily (sometimes 3 per day) with a customized rotation schedule. The teacher "pushes in" to a center and has the opportunity to work with every student everyday, not just the struggling students. I think I have tried every center method under the sun. The Super 6 combines the best from all of them and what works for me. This 58 page document has everything you need to implement The Super 6!

Pages 1-10 Description, directions and sample daily schedule.

Pages 11-18 Classroom Center Signs (in color)

Pages 19-25 Student rotation planner and schedule cards.

Pages 26-33 Super 6 "I Can" Task Cards

Pages 34-41 Super 6 "I Can" Task Cards (blank)

Pages 42-49 Super 6 "Must Do/ I Can" Task Cards

Laminate and write in Daily Must Do

Pages 50-57 Super 6 "Must Do/ I can" Task Cards (blank)

Page 58 Credits

This has everything you need! It may seem overwhelming at first, but once you implement it you will be amazed at the progress and growth of EVERY child. Your kids will love it and you will wonder how your taught any other way before.

The summer is quickly coming to an end and I have not done nearly as much as I had hoped. I go back Monday and the kiddos join me Thursday! I am getting in gear. Here is a quick freebie I will be using for the student's self portraits.

To find many more fabulous freebies check out Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies!

Getting Ready, Blog Hopping and Shopping

Good morning!  The summer is winding down and the stress is starting to build!  I am trying hard to enjoy my last few days of summer vacation with my girls.  I'm heading to a water park for part of the day today.  I have had to let my blinders down and realize school is coming quickly!

When I sit down to work it is so easy to get lost in blog land!  There are so many great ideas out there!  I feel a little bad when it side tracks me from getting my work done, but then I find a great blog and activity like this and it is all good!   Check out this blog!   Math Coach's Corner: Thinking About Five-ness There is so much out there on reading, but here is a blog devoted to math!  I love it.  I really like the freebie she has for making 5.  I am going to use this during the first few weeks of first grade.

I have been shopping a little lot too!  We are going to uniforms this year at school, so I am busy finding uniforms for the girls.  I have also found some great classroom finds at the Target dollar spot and my favorite Dollar Tree!  I am planning a trip to teacher store for some more serious shopping, and of course the internet makes it possible to shop from the comfort of my couch.

I am delighted and amazed to have been given several blog awards lately!  I am looking around for great sites to pass it on.  I hope to do this this week.

Enjoy your last days of summer!

IKEA Finds and 50 Freebie!

I was so happy to wake up this morning and see that I now have 50 followers! (I am almost as excited as I would be if I really had my Fifty a.k.a. Christian Grey!!!) I am going to start working harder and my goal is to hit 100 before I go back to school. In honor of the big 5-0 I have a fabulous 50 Freebie. Click on the image to download.

I am in Orlando for a few days and hit IKEA and found a couple of great things for the classroom and the best part is they are cheap!

My favorite IKEA find ever! You can get 5 book boxes for $1.99! I have used these for a couple of years and they hold up well. I did tape the bottoms this year and it helped with fall outs from the bottoms. The only negative is that you can't (or couldn't in the past) order them online. So you have to make the trip or find someone who is!

I also found these curtain clips, they were 24 for $2.99! There was also a curtain wire you could get to hang them on. I am just going to put them on string to hang student work from. I will show you pictures when I get them up. I love them!

Another fabulous find was these pop-up mini buckets. They are color coded and numbered. I am going to use them for leveling center activities. I also know there are many other things I can use them for, any ideas????

Look What I Spotted at the Dollar Spot!

I was on one of my frequent trips to Target and spotted new items being added to the Dollar Spot! They were just starting to add new things so I didn't see it all, but what I did see I loved!!!! Check out all of the Dr. Seuss things. (I wish they had these things in Feb./ March.) They had a great Lorax line of items. I also love the little bags. They would make great "book bags." They had a "Red Fish, Go Fish" numbers card game.

I loved, loved, loved these little buckets! I was upset I missed the 4th of July buckets when they hit clearance, but these are so much better!

They also had new dry erase boards, The boards are set up "portrait" instead of "landscape". Fabulous for First Grade! I so wish they sold these items on line.

What did you spot and love in your Target Dollar Spot?