Hall Pass

Anybody need a hall pass?  Reagan's gonna hook you right up!  Sometimes I feel like a good walk down the hall, toward the Diet Coke machine, would do this girl some good...

Or, I'll send my firsties off to lunch/recess - close my classroom door, turn off the lights and blog stalk.  Ahhhhhh....

Today, I'm home - on my couch - the ULTIMATE HALL PASS!  Blog stalking, creating, and catching up on The Bachelor. {And mulling over in my head how on earth my second grader is going to create a 3D mallard duck}

Here's how the Hall Pass works...

 

Product...

 

Hmmm...which product of mine do I like the most?  Gosh, that's a tough one. Since I'm not at school right now I looked through my classroom pictures on my computer.  I'm a background "looker" and kept seeing items from this pack...

 

So, for today, this will be my favorite!

 

 



Give Me Five posters are referred to frequently!

See the table sign? Several color choices!

 

Area...

 

I would have to say my favorite "nook" in my classroom is where we store lots of our Daily 5 activities, our little couch {road-side find} and our Writer's Workshop materials.  It's so cozy and my kiddos this year can HANDLE it  {nobody hides out there} - another major plus!

 

Isn't it cute?  By the way, if you're a look around at the whole picture kinda person...the table number situation was fixed...I made it two-sided! HA!

 

Signal...

 

I use so many different signals in my classroom.  Gotta keep it varied, right?  My go-to when I need them to stop what they are doing and listen for some quick directions is "Give Me Five" {Posters pictured above and can be found here} but I also say "Eyes, Ears and Lips" {eyes are looking, ears are listening and lips are zipped...same basic concept as Give Me Five}.  I say Eyes, Ears and Lips when they are sitting on the carpet and have started some side-chatting during my teaching {I'm sure that never happens to you}.  If I want them to clean up I have special songs I use for different subjects...I use this CD a ton..

 

There's a great one called "Read a Book" that we use for Daily 5 and the others are songs with great lessons.  The kids love 'em!  "Itchy, Itchy, Owie, Owie, Boo, Boo" is another crowd favorite.

Sanity...

We have something in our school called the "Perk Cart".  Some cuties in our school push the Perk Cart through the halls of our school in the morning.  They stop by and ask if we would like to purchase something from their cart.  It gives them great practice interacting with others - practicing their manners and collecting/counting money.  Anyhoo...I'd like to say it gives me practice with exerting self control, but I'd be lying.  Lots of goodies on that cart from York Peppermint Patties, to carrots {I'll let you guess what I buy}.

Nothing gives a girl a boost like an hour lunch/recess to get herself ready for the afternoon, a few of these...

And a little blog-stalking!