Sharing Is Caring

So I sat down to write tonight and couldn’t think of anything going on in our classroom.

Other than a lock down yesterday. We weren’t told if it was real or a practice so half my class was in a panic and the other half got the giggles. I won’t say which half I belonged to.

Today we had spring pictures which I forgot about until a really handsome Watch Dog walked in and asked if we were ready. I may have stuttered a tiny bit.

Working with mostly women will do that to a girl.

And did I tell you that this guy was a fireman? Yep.

So, anywho, I love my hubby. Just thought I’d put that out there.

And . . . well, that’s about it.

So instead of sharing MY OWN IDEAS with you (because I don’t have any at the moment and I mostly copy what others are doing anyway), I’m going to share three things I’m using this week instead.

1. My blogging pal, Reagan over at Tunstall’s Teaching Tidbits, led me to some fun brain breaks over at Teach Train Love.

(click to see)

And if you get tired of those, then here are 20 more.

(click to see)

My favorite so far is the Footloose brain break. Because I love Footloose. And I can imitate Keven Bacon (Wren) when he gets angry in the warehouse, and smokes a cigarette and throws it, and then drinks a sip of beer and throws the bottle and, because throwing stuff didn’t work and he is STILL angry, he decides to dance his anger off. Yep. That scene. I can imitate that. Except I use an invisible cigarette and an invisible beer bottle and I can’t really dance. But Kerry cracks up every time I do it so I’m thinking I must be good.

2. Have you used ReadWorks? It is saving my life. It is Common Core Aligned. And sometimes it beats the pants off my regularly scheduled curriculum for the day.

For example, when we worked on Classify and Categorize, instead of reading a story that I don’t like and doesn’t really classify and categorize anything unless you count living things and ONE rock, I read Chrysanthemum and we classified and categorized FRIENDLY and NON FRIENDLY character traits.

Yes, please.

Anywho, you just click on that website, find the reading comprehension strategy you’re working on, click, and then find your grade level. Each comprehension strategy has three lessons and gives book ideas, passages, and follow up activities.

I don’t know if you already know this about me, but I’m a hero on my grade level team.

You might not have known because I don’t wear my cape every day so don’t feel bad.

3. Signs of Spring Write the Room for Math Fun from Marsha at A Differentiated Kindergarten

(click to see)

Even though I teach first grade, these are a great review and are totally fun for my kids! I love it. I can only do centers twice a week so I have my upper grade helpers put the cards up around the room in a different place each center day. (Otherwise my kids wouldn’t really have to hunt and then I’d have to deal with the whole, “She told me where it was and I wanted to find it on my own!” thing. That kind of thing makes me want to wash my ears out with soap.)

I love this pack. It’s fun. It’s springy. It’s math. It’s write the room. Done.

So there you have it.

Three things.

Sharing is caring, don’t you know.

Comments

Miss Kindergarten says

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Shut up!!!! ReadWords looks AWESOME!!!
diditeach says

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It was a long, how many minutes until Spring break kind of days so thanks for the smile:)
Mrs. Leeby says

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Thank you! I am doing my Kevin Bacon dance over here!

Irene

Learning With Mrs. Leeby
Miss Trayers says

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Could use some new brain breaks-thank you for sharing those!

NotJustChild'sPlay
Jessica says

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Ha ha, your posts are sooo funny! 😉 I'm having the same problem lately where I'm a total newby and often don't have any of my own ideas to share. But, if you don't mind, I am going to pass some of these along. OMG, I am all in favor of using real children's literature any day of the week over some of the canned stuff, so ReadWorks will be a total bonanza!!!

Jessica
The Learning Metamorphosis
Bevin Reinen says

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Hi! Thanks so much for featuring my brain break vids. They definitely serve a good purpose in the classroom, and if nothing else, they're fun! Hilarious what you said about the Footloose one! I'm pretty amazing at the Bazooka Bubble Gum rap (at least that's what the kids say so I'm going with that). I love your blog and how much personality you put into it. Happy to connect with another first grade teacher! 🙂
EveryNewBeginning says

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Read works has saved my tush with my after school kids this year. Love it so much!
Reagan Tunstall says

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I tried to use the brain breaks and lo and behold my school blocks the website. Along with almost every other useful website in the world. I am SO glad you were able to use them!!!
Lisa Mattes says

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VERY excited about all three! AND laughing, too!
ReadWorks ROOOCCCCKKKSSSS!
Growing Firsties
Kim says

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Hello Sweet BlogFriend!

I am finally catching up on my pals–and you were first (as usual!). I just recommended your blog to three different people–all in one day! It started with talking about that music box…

I love that you have fourteen gazillion followers–and yet you so graciously share links to other people's stuff. You can bet I will be checking out Brain Breaks AND ReadWorks! Did you know that I still get lots of links from your blog address? Yep, that's the kind of friend you are!

So glad that you got a firefighter visitor. Sending you (and Murphie) a cyber hug…

Kim
Finding JOY in 6th Grade
Katie Knight says

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I am in love with everything you posted…. The brain breaks…yes please …. The reading web site… Now you are my hero…. And write the room- what's not to love! Thank you!

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