Stability Balls in the Classroom *Freebie*

Hey Everybody!

So, I know stability balls in the classroom is nothing new.  I'm always late to the party.  Always.  I'm finally considering a pair of Uggs.  I just have to sit on some things before I jump on board. I've never been called a trendsetter.  

I blogged about alternative seating {here} I really thought I was going to do it, but I chickened out.  I couldn't envision my kiddos sitting in bean bags and on exercise balls that first day of school. My heart started to palpitate just thinking about it.  

Instead, I decided to ease into it.  Our awesome PTA purchased 6 stability balls for my classroom and I can't wait to start using them.  I had to decide what rules I was going to have to keep everybody safe.  {My current palpitator perpetrator is somebody falling off and bonking their head}.  I'll introduce the rules on Monday and hope for the best!  As you know, I've got a lot of boys this year, so I'm really hoping this helps productively contain their wiggles.

Click the picture to pick up a copy free...

Once Daily 5 is up and running and I've opened up our Book Nooks I think I'll let my students work using these special areas/seats at other times during the day. Slow and steady...

If you use stability balls in your classroom, do you have any tips or tricks you'd like to share?  If you are a teacher who would never considering using them, share your thinking too. I'm curious!

Happy weekend!

Toodles...

Saturday Smorgasbord in Pictures

Hey Everybody!

Well, we made it through our first FULL week and we made it through with flying colors.  That first "week" {my firsties informed me four days does not equal a school week - smart cookies} about did me in.  If you remember, I have a lot of boys this year.  The current stats are:  18 boys and 5 girls.  I might have a boy-heavy room, but that doesn't mean I won't have a class of respectful, kind, {energetic} and responsible learners.  

When you are as tired as I am, a blog full of randomness is about all you can dig up...

Most of these are from Instagram...so sorry you might have seen them already.

Knowing that both boys and girls are into the video game Minecraft - I used this as my quiet signal on Friday.

Worked like a charm.  A little mining here, a little mining there, and my kiddos {especially my boys} were putty in my hands!

After that long first FULL week...I was feeling a little overwhelmed. Nothing that a visit to Target couldn't fix...

Are those shoes not the cutest?  And that candle?  Oh the sweet smells of fall!

Have I told you yet how much I'm loving Planbook.com?  I tried it out this summer and blogged about it here.  I wasn't sure if I was going to like it.  Seriously, friends - it makes life SOOOOOOO easy.  The best part?  They now have an app for your iPad!!!!!!

I am so happy to report that my weight-loss efforts are now complete!!!!!!

Now I have to focus on maintaining.  This has always been {yup, I've done this before} the hardest part for me.  I think this is why I'm not all that excited about my accomplishment.  Being a teacher is so dang stressful and stress always makes me turn to food.  Conferences, report cards, struggling kiddos...all make me reach for a bag of M & M's.  A fully stocked teachers' lounge doesn't help either!!!!  So here's hoping I can keep it off this time.  If you have any tips or tricks, I'd love to hear 'em!!!

Happy weekend friends...they go too fast!

Nineteen Boys & Four Girls...Classroom Pictures too! {And some other this and that's}

Hey Friends,

We are on our way to the first day of a new school year!  The classroom is all put together, I've meeted {not a word, I know - but it's cute, right?} and greeted, and now I'm ready and rarin' to go!

I do have an unusual breakdown this year of 19 boys and 4 girls.  No lie and no joke.  I'm a wee bit concerned - but an even bigger part of me is excited.  I have two boys of my own and I do seem to "get" them.  I almost wish they had put those four girls in the other classes and left me with all boys.  That would have been really interesting... {maybe even cool?}

One thing I do know is we'll be incorporating a lot of movement into our day {which is good for everyone}.  I have a Brain Break document that I created last year and shared {here}. We'll be doing a lot of dancin' and a movin' and a groovin' throughout the day!  Maybe I'll take off some extra LB's that way! HA!

Here are some pictures of my 2013-2014 classroom...

I also wanted to let you know about a neat opportunity over at Mardel.com  for ONE DAY ONLY. Online customers who purchase one 12-count set of their exclusive "Renewing Minds Collection" file folders - Mardel will donate a duplicate set to a school affected by the May 20th tornado in Moore, Oklahoma.  This offer is only valid until midnight tonight {September 1st} and can be found online {here}.

Aren't they cute?

I hope you'll consider purchasing some cute file folders - it may seem small, but little glimmers of happiness can make a teacher's day - especially after such devastation.  

Tuesday's the day!!!!!  Woo hoo!!!!!

Toodles!

Five for Friday {Linky Party}

Hey Everybody!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs this week.  Woo hoo!!!!

I'm not in full-on school mode, but sort of. I have no idea why I'm having such a hard time getting my brain wrapped around the fact that I'm starting school next week.  Hmmm...could it be...

...there was a cloudless sky today?  It was gorgeous.  I couldn't resist catching some rays, napping and reading a good book.  I think knowing the craziness that awaits has me in MAJOR denial!!!!

I did, however, go in earlier in the week and made some progress in my classroom...

I might look done, but I can assure you I'm not even close.  So many folders to label, lamination to cut, and names to write.  Oh, and then there's this...

Meet the Fix-Its is just to help me space my clothes pins out - but isn't it cute? Thanks Lyndsey!!!

It's a monkey on my back.  I'm pretty much craft challenged...in a big way.  This "bulletin board" has made me grouchy more than a few times.  At my old school I had HUGE, gorgeous bulletin boards outside of my classroom.  Putting things up was a breeze.  I had never heard of a school without them.  I have stapled {not a good plan} and gone through rolls and rolls of tape to put up projects.  

So I went out and bought some really cute scrap paper, put my mad washi tape skills to work...

...but putting it all together has me befuddled.  It just seems like a lot of work and that I might be missing something.  I don't quite know what?  Maybe I'm just missing the patience-for-this-kinda-thing-gene. Honestly, I don't feel like messing with the hot glue.  Sooo, do any of you out there have any easier/faster ideas for me?  I think I'm going to use my clothes pins for something else.  One more question...what should I use to adhere my laminated scrapbook paper to the wall? {and what should I use to hang up our work don't forget that}

Happy Friday to my already teaching, teacher friends.  Happy last weekend before it all starts to my haven't started teaching, teacher friends.  

Toodles!

It's the most wonderful time....of the year....

Hey Everyone!

It's sale time!!!!!! Teaching can be hard.  Really hard.  Of course light bulbs going on, hugs and smiles all make it more than worth it.  Then there are the little things that I call the "sparkles" of teaching.  Target Dollar Spot...c'mon, if that's not a sparkle in your day, you can't call yourself a teacher!  Another sparkle is the sale over at TpT.

I'm sure you've heard about it...

So, actually it starts in t-minus one hour - fifteen minutes {midnight} so I'm pretty sure I'm just going to wait around and kick it off right with a little midnight shopping.  Why not?

Some products in my store that you might find useful...

                                               

Happy Shopping!!!!!

Click on my store to head on over!

Starbucks Anybody? *Giveaway* *Updated*

Have some of you really gone back to school?  You have, haven't you?  I guess when your last day was in May that makes sense to be going back already.  Me, on the other hand, well I was still teaching mid-June, so thankfully and blessedly I don't go back until the end of August and kids start back after Labor Day.

Here's the problem. MY problem.  We haven't always started after Labor Day.  We used to go back mid-August.  Which meant once the calendar flipped over to August 1st my head was thinking "Back to School". Unfortunately, I can't shift my thinking and I'm already chomping at the bit. 

Can I share an ugly secret with you?

I've been buying, printing and making things all summer and then I hide them behind a chair.  No need to put hubby on high alert.  Really, I'm only thinking about him because that's the kinda wife I am.  

So, while my days of waking up to an alarm are still in the distance...as are my weekly {that's the plan...ONCE a week people, NOT daily} visits to Starbucks...I recognize a ton of you are hearing that wretched buzz of yours.  I thought I would try to make your harried first weeks a little sweeter by giving away two $10 gift eCards to Starbucks!!!!!

I can almost smell the Pumpkin Spice Lattes!!!!!

I'll choose two winners on Wednesday, August 7th, using my boys' as random number generators!

Leave a comment with advice for those who are new to teaching! 

{Giveaway Closed}

{Include your email address}

"Like" me on Facebook

Follow my TpT Store

{Leave three separate comments - for three entries - this girl is "old school" - I'm getting rid of the mall hair next week!}

Winners announced, August 7th...sometime....let's say when it's a freckle past a hair.

Toodles!

Congrats to Barbara {#8 because my "baby" is 8} and Jenalyn {#11 because my oldest is 11}!  My boys thought it would be cool to choose based on their ages!

Check your email in a few...

Enjoy!

I Think You'll Lovee the Snugg a Whole Bunchh! {I doo}

I haven't had my "official" back to school dream yet...you know the one where you get to school late, in your underwear, the kids are out of control and you can't get control of them.  Yeah, I haven't had that one yet.  I did, however, have a dream that I got a class set of iPads.  I woke up from that dream with a smile on my face - for about 3 seconds...then I realized it was just a dream.  I only had one iPad and it's my personal one.

I use my personal iPad in the classroom.  I've been told I'm crazy but it comes in so handy for so many different reasons.  I never let the kids "go off" with it...they have to use it in front of me at our guided reading table.  They use it to practice sight words, story grammar, comprehension {they love to type in an answer to a question that's "just for them" using "notes"} math facts, illustrating what they know using the Show Me app...

It's free!!!

Anyhoo...I just love using my iPad but I wanted a case that would be a bit sturdier than the one I had, but not bulky {because it is mine - and I didn't want one of those big bulky plastic ones that work best for pure classroom iPads}.

Finding a good one was on my list for the summer...

...then I was contacted by The Snugg who asked if I would accept a complimentary case in exchange for a review.  Perfect timing, if you ask me!

They have a lot of cases to choose from.  I wanted one that was a bit sassy but would protect my iPad a bit more than my old ones.  I also wanted one that you could "stand up" or "prop" the iPad up with.  My two old cases couldn't do that....

There's even a little spot on top to store a stylus...

Fits in there nice and "Snugg"

If you're in the market for a new case...I'd say you can't go wrong with The Snugg.  They have iPhone cases, Kindle covers, MacBook Air cases, and other accessories. 

They have some fun colors too!

The leather is so soft.  HA!  I don't know why that matters to me but it's like buttah! Now that I'm looking at those color choices I want one in blue, and orange!!!!  It's a fashion statement, doncha' know?!

Michigan children's author, Maria Dismondy is doing a summer series on creating family traditions. I had the honor of guest blogging about some of our summer family fun ideas....head on over by clicking below.

Have a great weekend...we're off to celebrate my "big baby's" 11th birthday...

Toodles