Halloween Freebie

Halloween is one of my favorite "holidays" of the year!  I love to dress up in a silly costume for school and really enjoy seeing the creativity of the students - some of their ideas are incredible. (Last year, we had 5 students come as different Tetris pieces that all fit together!)

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year... smack in the middle of the school week!  I know that my students will have the "Halloween Wiggles" so I like to have some activities that I can do with them to help them focus and get back on track!

Here's a fun freebie for you to use as a writing prompt, poetry prompt, art prompt or simply as classroom decor!  You can download it at my TpT store OR you can download it directly from my blog by clicking the image below. 

I like to display the poster (or project it with a document camera) and have the students use the words or images as prompts for a story or poem.  Perhaps they have to include the purple words in their first paragraph, or put 2 orange words in their first sentence.... Why not write a haiku using a word from each color?? Or write a poem using the images as a starting point? 

Students could also use the poster as an inspiration to create their own "word art" or "subway art". (You can find lots of other examples of "subway art" online.)

I'm sure you can think of even more ways to use the poster!  Please share your ideas... I'd love to hear more!

The full download includes a copy of the poster in color, a copy in black/white and a sheet of b/w pumpkin writing paper!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Addie 

Pinterest Power

So, I'm a huge fan of the visual clipboard site called Pinterest... it's like eye-candy for me!  I could spend hours browsing the beautiful pictures and never grow tired!   I've found amazing recipes, unique craft ideas, some of the most hilarious quotes, incredible blogs and unbelievable teaching ideas.  (My classroom has never looked so good!)

I've started posting a "Quote of the Week" in my room and I love the discussions my students and I have had as a result.  I've got an entire stash of quotes that I've found on Pinterest at the ready for each Monday.  If you'd like some inspiration check out my board of Quotes, Posters and Sayings!

There are literally thousands of teachers using Pinterest to gather ideas and inspiration... it's really amazing what people come up with and are so willing to share.  Here's my board of School Stuff.

Another fun aspect of Pinterest is the fact that people from all over the world can collaborate and all pin to the same board! What an amazing concept!  A global village of teachers connecting through Pinterest.  Some of my favorite collaborative boards are The Lesson Cloud, Connect-A-Blog, and the fantastic boards organized by The OC Blog.

There are entire teacher boards dedicated to FREEBIES!! Who doesn't love a good freebie?!  Check out Fabulous & Free and Free Lessons for some fun and free ideas and products!

Be sure to check out this list of teachers using Pinterest at Debbie Clement's incredible blog Rainbows Within Reach.  Add your link below... but be sure to head over to her blog to see the links she's organized over the last few weeks - she's sooo organized to have them sorted into categories. 

Have fun pinning!!
Addie

Classroom Ipad Rules

I was thrilled last year to be given a class set of ipads!! I can't believe what a difference they've made for my teaching!  However, I knew that before I could hand them out to my high-school students I'd have to develop a list of rules about their use and a system to keep track of them.

My new students are very excited about using the ipads and can't wait to get their hands on one next week.  However, before I let them loose I need to go over some of the basic rules for their use.  I spend some time talking about how lucky we are to have them (one of only 2 classrooms at my school with access to ipads) and that using them is a privilege.  Luckily the students really seem to pick up on this and respond well to the rules that I've established for their use.

The first day I allow the students on the ipads I go over the rules that I have posted in the classroom. (Click the image below to get a copy of the ones I have posted.)  We spend some time talking about why the rules are in place and the importance of following them. And we talk about consequences... which are really very simple in my class... you break a rule, you lose the ipad for the day.  You break a rule twice and you lose the right to an ipad for a month.  Last year... I only had one student break a rule twice. (He somehow managed to put a lock on the ipad that only he could undo. Sooo frustrating!!)

After talking about the rules... I let the students just play!  They love it! They take pictures, they distort the pictures, they watch videos, they web surf and they giggle! I let them get the giggly "oh my goodness these ipads are soo cool, I can't believe we get to use them"... giggles out of their system. It seems to work!  The second time we use them... it's all business.

Luckily, the settings on an ipad can be locked down very well. My students cannot download programs, change settings, add / delete an app or do anything too terrible to them.  Frustratingly, they can change the language (I once opened an ipad to see Japanese!) and change the wallpaper settings.  Minor inconveniences that I can ask the students to fix... they do it once, get caught and never do it again!  (Having a good sign-out system means I know who changed things!)

What are some systems you have in place for using ipads or technology in your classroom?? Have I missed something hugely important?? Would love to hear what some of you do? 

To read more about why I love my ipads check out this previous blog post.  Stay tuned for more posts this year too!  I plan to write about some of my favorite apps and uses for the ipads.

Thanks!
Addie

Ultimate Middle Years Giveway and Blog Hop!

Welcome to the "Ultimate Middle Years Giveaway and Blog Hop" designed to highlight a great bunch of Middle School bloggers!  There are over $300 worth of prizes to be won - which is amazing!!!! (Including a shopping spree in my TpT Store!!) Who doesn't love to win prizes??  But, you've got to be quick... the contest only runs from Aug. 25-27th!  Those of you who complete the entire Blog Hop Challenge will receive a HUGE package of "Freebies" from participating teacher bloggers!  Click the image below to find out all the information on the Blog Hop!

I'm a Middle / High-school teacher and I love the Middle Years! There's a little bit of big kid, but a whole lot of little kid still in them... and their energy and enthusiasm is contagious!  Pop by my blog often for lots of freebies and fun ideas to incorporate into your classroom. As part of the Blog Hop, I've donated a $15 shopping spree from my TpT Store!!

I've got the wonderful job of highlighting Elizabeth from Fun in Room B.... (don't you love her blog button?!)  She has lots of great information about teaching math in upper elementary and loves to teach with foldables.  She's also been researching and experimenting with Whole Brain Teaching so be sure to hop over to her blog to see what she's figured out! I'm a little in awe of her blog - she's very crafty and has some great posts highlighting her crafty talents... I only wish I could be so skilled! And... her classroom looks A-MAZING!!! She's posted pics!!

She also sells some fabulous products on TeachersPayTeachers so be sure to check out her store!

  

If you want to start blog hopping check out the links below! There are some fabulous bloggers participating!

Thanks for stopping by!! 

Addie

  

Back To School Teaching Goals

The Back to School Season is in full swing for most of us  and I like to set some goals for myself for the year.  But... I'm going to be totally honest here... I often forget what my goals were by the time November rolls around....

I learned through the years that I need to write my goals down on paper - I need a reminder throughout the year to keep me on track with my goals.  Soooo this year I've made a quick template to print out and keep in my day book and post on the wall by my desk... I'm hoping that by being constantly reminded about what I've set out to accomplish this year, that I'll be more successful!

Just to give you some inspiration and get you started, I'm going to share some of my own goals with you!

Teaching Goals

-give my students at least one brain break in each 80 min. class

-to differentiate all major assignments in the classes

Professional Goals

- to present at two conferences this year (I've recently started presenting at workshops and I'm really enjoying it!)

- to read five professional books this school year

Personal Goals

- to cook at least three new recipes a month

- to go to the gym at least once a week

Click the picture above to download your own goal setting sheet.  

Good luck!  Feel free to share a goal or two in the comment section... I'd love to hear what other teachers have planned for their year.

Addie

Back To School Sale on TpT!

Who doesn't love a good sale!?  I'm all about getting a good deal... and this is a great weekend for you to stock up on some great products for the school year!  

It's a 2-day sale so be sure to stop by TeachersPayTeachers on Aug. 12-13th for some awesome deals! Don't forget to use the Promo Code BTS12 at checkout!

 

Hope you're all having a fabulous summer!  Or... having a great first few weeks back at school!

I've had a relaxing summer and don't have to go back until Sept. 4th... so I've still got some summer adventures on the horizon!  Weekend away with the hubs this weekend, some lunch dates next week, and the hubs and I are going a big road trip to N. California next weekend.  

Hope you were able to have some fun summer adventures too!

Addie 

Back To School Fun With Sticky Notes

The new school year is an exciting but also slightly nerve-wracking time of the year for both students and teachers.  I know I always have the dreaded "Nightmare Before School Starts" that usually involves me standing in front of a classroom full of chaos!

I like to start off by introducing myself as more than "just a teacher".  I want students to know that I have a life beyond the classroom - I'm a mountain biker, a snowboarder, a hiker, a wife, a dog owner, a traveller, a reader... it's amazing how many kids I can connect with over the activities I participate in!  Finding a connection with kids is so important to me and it's done wonders over the years to build great rapport with my students.  I have a fun "Back to School Survey" I give students to get to know them a little bit better and I encourage them to share their answers with each other.  Download a FREE copy of the survey from an earlier blog post HERE.

Sticky Notes can also be a powerful tool for getting to know students and creating an open and sharing classroom.  I have piles on my desk and I want students to get used to the idea of sharing ideas on the board so I do a few activities in the first few days with sticky notes.  When students are asked questions and then told they can post their answers anonymously on the board they are more likely to be very forthcoming with their answers.

• ask students to write down two things they're excited about and one thing they're nervous about in regards to your class - post them on the board and then discuss with the class
• ask a fun question - "If you could perform with any band in world who would it be?" or "If you were a car, what would you be?" and share their answers they've posted on the board
• ask students for advice as you start off the year - "Write down two things that would make this class work really well for you."  OR "Great teachers __________________"
• One of the subjects I teach is Geography so to get kids thinking about my subject area I'll ask them to write down their favorite city, their dream vacation destination, the closest volcano to our school, list two environmental concerns...
• When I teach English, I ask students to write down their favorite book, their favorite character, what fictional city they'd love to visit, the book character they're most like....
• The students love the see what everyone else has come up with, but they also love the fact that it's anonymous so they're not self-conscious about writing down an answer.

Check out the linky over at Corkboard Connections for all sorts of great ideas to start building a caring classroom environment right from the first day of school!

Hope you have a smooth transition into your classroom this  new school year. 

Addie