Main Idea *Freebie!*

Another winter storm has extended my weekend...

So I'm REALLY trying to think SPRING! {flowers, birds, sunshine... I need them ALL!}

 

Main Idea is one topic that were are always working on.  Seriously, this is a tough concept for the little ones!  Heck, I'm an adult and sometimes I can't decide what the best main idea is!

We'll be working on it for the rest of the year, I'm sure.

 

In my "think spring" mode, I whipped up this super quick main idea interactive notebook page.

 

It's simple, but there are lots of fun ways you could use it:

-To write what the main idea is & tips for finding details.

-After a class read aloud, guide students to record the main idea & details together

-As an assessment on main idea & details after students read a story or passage (that's how I plan to use it this week)

 

Click on the pic to grab it!

 

My fingers are crossed, & I'm saying extra prayers for warm weather to finally come our way to stay!



Everybody Shout, "It's Friday!"

This ended up being a super short week for me.

We had a snow day not only on Monday, but on Tuesday, too! Sheesh!

It's also state testing time, so I felt like I didn't accomplish a whole heck of a lot of learning.

 

Here are a few things that I DID accomplish this week though...

 

1. I just couldn't pass up this adorable spring clip art when I saw it, so I used it to create some Buggy Math Centers.  My kiddos will LOVE these - I can't wait to put them in our math bins next week & add some pics for ya!

 Check out this post and you could get your own Buggy Math Centers for free!

 

2. It was ALL wishful spring thinking {curled up in my comfy chair with a cozy blanket & hot cocoa of course} on my snow days.  This fun little gem I saw on Pinterest here, and made my own {it kept telling me the original link was blocked}.  It's a *freebie!*

 

 

3.  Speaking of spelling.  Here's our new Springy Spelling Homework Choice Board!

{I'm just full of freebies today!}

 

 

4. Spring, Spring, Spring! In all my spare time, I put together this spring wreath for our front door.

Funny story, but the sweet cashier at Michael's even scanned a $20 off coupon for me {I didn't know they had those}! So it ended up being dirt cheap to make!

I LOVE how it turned out.

 

 

5.  This e-card is SO true, isn't it?!

 

After a rough day, my mood was instantly lifted when I found this gem for 50% off - thank goodness for the Michael Kor's outlet!

 

 

Well, the weather is looking up for this weekend.  I think I'll get a few outdoor runs in & then make the hubby take me out so that I can show off my new arm candy {my adorable MK bag, of course}.

 

And remember... Think Spring! :)



Funday Math Monday

It's snowed! It REALLY snowed!  Not like we've typically had where we get 2 inches and school closes anyway.  Nope.  This was BIG! We've got at least 6 inches (sorry to those in states who scoff at 6 inches, ha)!

 

Needless to say we had a snow day Monday.  I spent much of the morning working on school work and finishing up some new math centers for spring.  I'm just getting into the whole small math groups and math centers idea this year.  While I've always be comfortable with this style of reading instruction, it seemed foreign to me in math.

We've gone through like 5 different math center styles - seriously! But thank the Lord my kiddos are incredible and just rolled with each new idea I came up with.  That's the thing about small groups and independent centers.  You've really got to find what works for you... and then train, train, train those kiddos to do what you want! :)

 

One of these days I might sit down and actually blog about my current small group format that I'm loving.

 

Anywho.... Here are my new spring, Getting Buggy Math Centers!



 

Leave me a comment telling me how you run your small math groups & I'll choose one comment to send my new Getting Buggy Math Centers to! :)

 

There's one hill in this state & it just happens to be right down the road from my house...

off to sled ride!

Shopaholics Unite!

 

Who doesn't love a sale?!

 

Check out all of the excitement!

 



Love, Love, Love!

Let's get in the cheesey, love-y, Valentine's Day mood!

I'm going to share some of the things I just LOVE.

Keep in mind that I love SO many things, it's just so darn hard to narrow it down!

 

I love a good workout! Now, I don't always like getting started with a workout {I'll have days where I can come up with a million excuses. For example: "My hair looks great today.  No need to mess it up!"} But, I ALWAYS feel so amazing after I finish an awesome run or workout.

 

Traveling!  My family always went somewhere for vacation every summer, usually the beach, but occasionally we mixed it up.  Thankfully, my parents were both teachers and had the summers to travel with us {mostly to get us out of the house & keep us from driving them completely crazy}!

I've also been lucky enough to find an amazing friend who loves to travel just as much {if not more} than I do - we're on a mission to visit all 50 states!

 

E-cards! Who doesn't get a kick out of these?!

I send them to my teammates to give us a pick-me-up on those tough days, or just save them on my phone for when I need a good chuckle. :)

 

 

My FAMILY! These crazies are the best family I could ever ask for - no more explanation needed. They're amazing & I'm so blessed their mine!

 

What do you LOVE???

 



WOW Moment - WBT!

I'm a little late for WOW Wednesday, but I still wanted to share my WOW moment for the week.

I mentioned once before that I was beginning to dive into this book:

 

Well, I'm absolutely loving it!  I have a hunch that Whole Brain Teaching might just change my whole classroom dynamic.  I happen to have a pretty wonderful class this year - SO smart, rarely a behavior issue (minus the typical chatter on holidays or days that it snows, ya know).

As I began reading, I thought I'd let all the WBT goodness sink in and then decide if I wanted to try it all out next year or not.

 

Then I thought, wait till next year?! What kind of teacher can hold out that long on such awesome ideas?!

Not me!

I just HAD to try it right away!

 

I started out by downloading these adorable posters from Christina DeCarbo to remind my kiddos about our new "class rules."

These are introduced with gestures that really make the kids giggle AND motivate them.  We practice these rules often - in the morning, before lunch, after recess...

I can already see a BIG difference in the number of kiddos who attempt to interrupt my small group lessons, or get up to use the restroom (they're in our room) while we're working.

One poor kiddo was even working at a station while I was teaching a small group and had his hand up for almost 5 minutes before I noticed.  He knew he wasn't supposed to be moving around or talking without permission, so God bless his little heart, he just waited patiently!  But then said, "I'm sooo glad you finally called on me.  My arm was going to get stuck like that!"

 

Georgia Grown Kiddos has an awesome overview of WBT here.

 

So far this week, we've covered:

*Class-Yes!

*Classroom Rules

and

*Teach-Okay!

 

I've also been incorporating more gestures into my teaching, especially during writing.

 

Beginning to use and feel comfortable with these teaching strategies THIS year will hopefully help me feel more confident to kick off next year with them on day one! *Sprinkles!*

I'm really just beginning this WBT adventure, and I can't wait to see where it takes me!

All You Need is Love & Mustaches

While we were busy catching up from all of our snow days, Valentine's Day crept up on us!

 

(We haven't even had our 100th Day yet! Which *gasp!* just happens to be the same day as V-Day, thanks to all the winter weather. You can all feel bad for us having to deal with that crazy mash-up.  Praise the Lord it'll be a Friday, at least!)

 

Just in case you're like me and wait till the last minute to prepare valentine's for your kiddos, I'm here to help!

These gems are only 97 cents at Wal-Mart!  For a 4 pack! *Bonus: They're sugar free!

 

 

Since my class LOVES all things mustaches this year (oh my word, almost a little too much), that means for $5.82 my whole class will be loving life on Valentine's Day.



 

 

I tied them up with a free book coupon with purchase that came in last month's Scholastic box (no cost to the teacher), and this sweet little tag.

Here's one for you!

 

And just in case your class isn't into the whole rockstar theme...

 

Now, I mustache... what are your plans for Valentine's Day???