Would you want to be a student in your classroom?

This article by TeachHub poses the interesting question - what would it like to be a child in your classroom?  For me, this riveting question is a wonderful way to reflect on your practices, teaching style, and classroom climate. 

It's July and that means time to start thinking about setting up my classroom at the end of this month.  I always try to set up my room so it is kid-friendly. At the end of last school year, I did a major "de-junking".  I am switching classrooms and I'm excited to have the new space to organize and decorate.  I have some ideas I have been gathering on Pinterest to revamp my classroom...

Brain Breaks!

I use Brain Breaks in my classroom several times a day.  These breaks help keep my kids focused, on-task, and help create a positive climate in my classroom.  The fact is, many kids don't just enjoy these breaks, they NEED these breaks.  Here are some resources you can use to incorporate Brain Breaks in your classroom:

• Mind's in Bloom has a great page listing 20 Three-Minute Brain Breaks.
• The blogger of "Third-Grade-Thoughts" shares a great idea of how to manage ideas for breaks.
• Educational Materials Center offers ideas of Brain Breaks

I came up with this system at the end of last school year.  I would randomly chose a student to roll a die, and then the class would participate in that brain break.  "Boom Chicka Boom" and "Flee Fly Flo" are tongue twisters/chants that I taught my students.  I can post videos of these once school starts again.  "Your Choice" ideas include playing "air instruments" during a song, playing freeze dance, etc. 

What Break Breaks do you use in your classroom?  Please share your ideas - I'd love to hear them!

Happy 4th!

So today the "4th" doesn't have to do with Yoda or Star Wars, but freedom, liberty, and for me, supporting members of our armed forces. Each year I incorporate service learning projects that "Support the Troops" in my classroom, because I personally feel that children need opportunities to thank the people who keep us safe and protect our freedom. 

I am a little Christmas obsessed and it makes me happy to share a holiday project in July.  We read the poem "The Night Before Christmas" in my class and as a follow-up, we read "The Soldier's Night Before Christmas".  The book does a wonderful job using the rhyme scheme of the original poem and the kids love listening to it! 

After reading the book, I used the template I found at Milkwood Designs to create a hot cocoa envelopes that look like mugs.  You can download the free template here.  The students decorated the envelopes and we sent them to the USO at O'Hare Airport. 

 

There are other easy ways to incorporate "Supporting the Troops" in your classroom.  The Red Cross sponsor's "Holiday Cards for Heroes" each year and starts collecting cards earlier in the year.

"A Million Thanks" is another organization that collects cards and letters to send to members of our military.

If you have someone that you know who is in the service, you can use the website "Snapio" to send free cards and greetings to your loved one.   

Another idea is send letters and cards to a USO or organization that sends care packages.  I volunteered at the USO at O'Hare airport for a few years and the organization offered free supplies and items to soldiers who came through.  Toothpaste, wipes, beef jerkey, pop, coffee, food, and other items could be taken by the soldiers, but the most frequently taken item were cards off the table that were made by children.  I saw many soldiers choose a card made by a child, fold it up, and put it into their uniform pocket.

Stay cool today and remember those who sacrifice their lives and comfort for our freedom.  I'm heading off to a White Sox game...hopefully I don't melt in the 100 degree heat!  

Where to start...

So I have this wide open blog, and I have to decide where to start...After some debate and brainstorming, I decided to showcase two tools I used in summer school this week with a group of gifted students who were in the pre-writing stages of writing a mystery.



The students used the first tool, "Clay Yourself", as a way to visualize the characters in their story.  Using "Clay Yourself", students can completely customize characters for any story.  The website is free to use, requires no log-in, and you can save or print the picture that students make.



The second website students used while developing their characters was Read Write Think's Profile Maker.   This website allows students to fill in a graphic organizer about their character, and then it generates what looks like a FaceBook or general social networking profile.  The website is free to use and does not require a log-in.  The students loved this activity because of the novelty and because it looked like FaceBook.

Both websites are very easy to use and generate interest for my students. I'd love to hear from other teachers who use these web resources and how they used them! May the force be with you!