Okay, I have been DYING to talk to you about my SitSpots. I am not kidding. I have been so excited to blog about this and I had to wait because I agreed I would.
You can count on me, I always say.
So I waited.
And now here we are.
And, people, I might have screamed just a little too loudly when I came across these at the SCKC conference a mere week and a half ago. I might even have been shushed.
And the thing is . . . these SitSpots were all over the convention center but the idea of them didn’t register. At all. They just didn’t compute into my brain as something I had to have. I wondered what the little footprints were. I read what was written on them. I looked at them. The End. I was busy. I was presenting and Strange Vendor Men were picking me up in the hotel bar. So much to do, so little time.
And then. Someone (I don’t remember who because, once the SitSpots and Their Almighty Amazingness came through and registered, I lost all sense of myself and where I was, and I was transported into Teacher Happiness This Is Life Changing It Is All I Have Ever Wanted Where Have You Been For The Last Seventeen Years Of My Life Plus One For Student Teaching? As I was saying, someone finally explained it to me and that was it.
Hook, Line, Sinker, Sign Me Up, I’m In.
You might not recall this so I am going to remind you that ages ago, when my blog was just a baby, I wrote a post about Carpet Spots and Thoughts.
And I never found a solution.
I kept using masking tape and then I got a little talking-to from my assistant principal which was kind of scary. But it worked out because her son is in my class which means the little talking-to was please don’t use masking tape again, it ruins the carpet, and can I have a sight word list for so-and-so?
I never bought a rug.
I never bought soft tiles.
I never did anything except say to my kids over and over and over again . . . Where’s your spot? Which row are you on? Wait. I am supposed to have five rows. It looks like we have six and a half and a couple of islands and possibly a peninsula. What’s going on here? Last row — scoot up and join us, I can hardly see you back there! First row — scoot back, you’re practically on top of me and I cannot breathe For The Love Of Pete Can Everyone Just Sit Where I Assigned Them?! And what in the world is so interesting about your shoes? EYES UP HERE, please!
And then. I met Joyce. The creator/teacher of SitSpots. And my life has been transformed.
And I won’t shut up about it. I feel bad for my teaching partner because she has heard my story a thousand and one times and I’ve also pulled her into my room to view my SitSpots several times, as well. She is getting blue and black ones (not to be confused with black and blue spots which is a whole ‘nother matter). They’re on their way. And my other teammie is getting black and yellow. They’re on their way.
That’s what I’m saying, people. You see them. You order them.
LOOK AT MY CARPET NOW!!!
There is a SPOT for everyone.
And they match my color theme.
My hubby came to school to help me measure these out (one spot the same distance from the other spot) so they would be perfect, otherwise I might lose my mind and have an eye twitch. I couldn’t figure out the math to save my life, but he was able to use his engineering mind of Mathematical I Don’t Get It and now they’re perfect.
And they have not come up. Not once. And the kids have not tried to take them off, either. Not once.
I’m not kidding.
They LOVE their SitSpot. It’s actually THEIR spot. They have taken ownership over the little spot.
And what’s even better are the HIDDEN SIDE EFFECTS.
1) When a kid gets up to go to the restroom or they have to go to Speech or they go to work with a volunteer —- THEIR SPOT STAYS THERE!! It doesn’t magically disappear with the other bodies next to it. THE SPOT SAVES THEIR PLACE!
2) When a kid leaves a gold tag on their spot, we know whose it is!
3) When a kid leaves ANYTHING on their spot, we know whose it is!
And did you know they’re machine washable? Because they are. Joyce told me.
OH! And the custodians can vacuum over them. And they do not hurt the carpet. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also got STARS.
They are there for my Reader’s Theater kids and for when my kids do Oral Sharing.
They LOVE it.
I LOVE it.
Eventually, I want ALL of the seasonal shapes she offers for center activities, but for right now, I am so so so happy with my “rug”.
Can you tell? I am not sure if you can tell.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THESE SITSPOTS!
OKAY!
There are so many colors and so many options and so many ways to use these — you might lose your mind, too!!!!!
Now it’s time for the commercial/giveaway!
READY?!!
Now’s your chance!
Nine of us Cali Gals have teamed up with SitSpots to bring you a SitSpots Blog Hop and Giveaway! Just follow the bouncing blog buttons at the end of this post to hop to your next SitSpot-sational idea! You can enter to win on any of our blogs, but you must comment on all 9 for your chance to win a class set of 32 SitSpots! Don’t worry, we’re keeping it easy…Think Spring Break!
Just head to the Rafflecopter below for up to 21 chances to win.
That’s right…Lucky 21! Plus, the winner will be announced on Monday, March 17th ~ St. Patrick’s Day. Lucky! With dozens of designs to choose from, you’ll have a ton of fun spotting up your classroom space just like us!
Don’t want to wait to see if you’re one of the lucky 9? Well, guess what? SitSpots has a deal just for you! Enter Coupon Code CALIGALS14 during checkout on their site and save 25% OFF! This offer expires March 31, 2014.
Still not sure? SitSpots offers a FREE sample before you purchase. Just head to their site to request your complimentary SitSpot today!
Leave a comment on my blog and then head over to Palma at KFUNdamental to see her SitSpots in action and leave a comment to win!
Good luck!
I love the stars and different shapes! What a great product!!
You can vacuum over them?! Crazy cool!
Kelli
Tales of a Teacher
Love the colors and shapes! I would love a class set of the Sit Spots!
My sport spring break spot is hanging out at the beach in Tampa Bay area of Florida because of the beautiful sunshine and mama and papa restaurants.
Suzzanne Horton@gmail.com
So cute! I have been looking for something like this and I love all the color choices!
Love these! I saw them last year! As for Spring Break – it's still a month away for me, so I'm not thinking of it yet. At least, trying not to!
What I Have Learned
I love these…..all of these. Spring break means spring cleaning for me.
My all time favorite Spring Break spot would be somewhere warm, up in the mountain nears a cabin. I absolutely love to go fishing and hiking with a good book 🙂
jordanbailey17@gmail.com
I have only gone away once for spring break. I went to Las Vegas w/ my daughter.
I love to go to Disney Land!
I can't wait to try these! For spring break I would love to go back to the Oregon coast where I got married last summer! 🙂
I hadn't thought of all of those great ideas for using Sit Spots! I'd looove to have a set!! 🙂
Breanne
breannesimons@gmail.com
I might have ruined my rug too! MIGHT have. But I used duct tape! YIKES
So excited to get some of these! My spring break spot will be a comfy chair and a book! (Although Vegas sounds good too!)
Love the spots looking forward to getting some. Spring Break on a warm beach sounds great as we are having our 10th snow day!
These sit spots are fabulous! I would love a set!
I am a track coach so my favorite place to go over spring break is to the track!
I would love to win these!! They would be perfect for my room!!
Love these and love the way yours are lined up so well. I wonder if my accountant hubby could line them up as well as yours. 🙂
Love the stars! And love that we can write on them!
Spring Break…someplace without snow! 🙂
Love these!
Yea! Lovin the spots!
I would LOVE these!
These sit spots are AMAZING and so colorful! My favorite Spring vacation spot it typically my patio or my couch. I don't travel as much as I would like but if I could it would definitely be to some place warm and sunny!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Megan
A New Box of Crayons
I bought these recently and love them! They get used mostly for sitting spots, but occasionally I change it up and do some type of game with them either with vocabulary words or math facts. I'd love to have a set just for our games. My favorite Spring break spot is my house so I can relax and recover from the business of the weeks before. 🙂
I would love to use these with my firsties! My favorite spring break spot would be on a beach somewhere but I'll be at home instead 🙂
I want stars too!
Hi!
Can't believe this product! Sounds too good to be true. Thanks for this great opportunity. I teach kg. so imagine this product would have to be super duper! My favorite Spring Break spot is right at home. I do live in Florida though.
Carol
Amazing!! Such a smart idea!
Super cute color choice 🙂 I am so in love with these spots I cannot stand myself! My kids are constantly in each other's business (and space)… this could just be the magic ticket. Spring break: ANY where but Michigan…. we are on snow day #12.
We don't get a spring break , bit I will say Florida!
My big comfy chair with a pile of books next to it is my favorite spring break spot – because we have snow and mud still.
I was able to give a set away too. . . but I didn't get any for myself. . . boo hoo! You can read my blog post if you want. http://2ndinline.blogspot.com/search/label/SitSpots
I'd love to be the winner of this set.
My favorite spring break spot is Clearwater Beach, FL. . . it's right on the gulf and oh so perfect!
Patty
These would be so amazing to have. Next year I will be a first year teacher at a private school and they do not have the money to afford carpets for each classroom. These would be so perfect. I would absolutely love to win this gift. Oh, and Spring Break….definitely Florida.
Sit spots look awesome!! I need to have them in my classroom!! I am going to Mexico and can't wait for spring break!!
I went to Antigua a few year ago and it was amazing! This year I just want to be somewhere warm after this long and terrible winter! 🙂
I love to go to Florida for Spring Break and spend some time on the beach.
I have these in my classroom too and I LOVE them!!! They have made my life so much easier this year!
Jill
ABCs and Polkadots
Love the stars! These would be perfect!
these spots are awesome! i would love to be able to space my students out more on the carpet 🙂
For spring break, I love anywhere that includes a beach!
I loved reading all of the great ideas y'all have come up with for using Sit Spots in your classrooms! I'd looove to have a set!! 🙂
rsworrel@gmail.com
I'm so excited to find out about these!! My third graders fight ALL. THE. TIME. about who gets to sit where on the carpet!!!
This looks like the answer I have been looking for!
This looks like the answer I have been looking for!
I tried to follow each blog via GFC, but it keeps giving me the error message. So I subscribed to all of them instead. Hope it's OK and it will count toward my entries.
Tanya Rubezhov
These would be great to have in the classroom. Excited at the chance to win them!
My favorite Spring break spot is at home with my kids.
I'd like bright red and bright green circles.
Thank you for an awesome giveaway.
I entered Rafflecopter as Tanya Rubezhov.
I got these when I saw her in Vegas. I love them. My advice is to get something not pointy. I have stars (they maybe suns in the brochure). My points don't stay down as well after vacuuming. I've had mine on the floor since the beginning of the year. They are still in their spots, just the edges are starting to fray up a bit. I love them and had others order them and love them.
Love these! I would love to have a set!
Gotta have some spots! Here a spot, there a spot, everywhere a spot – spot!
My favorite spring break spot is wherever my family is…either hiking in the Sierras or relaxing on the couch. Even a day of snow boarding at Heavenly if we still have snow is great!
Perfect timing as I have to give back my borrowed carpet at the end of this year! This will actually fit all of my kids and the washable factor is irresistible!! angelashaw63@gmail.com.
Love your blog! Spring break will be short this year. We had lots of snow days! Staying home with my tots!
My favorite spring break spot it my house! I love being able to sit around and relax!
My favorite Spring Break spot is at the beach!
Getting very excited about the possibilities with these adorable little spots! My very favorite spring break destination (other than my classroom—sad but true) is Branson, Missouri. My family loves to go and play mini-golf, eat, and see some fun shows.
SynonymRolls&AntonymMoments
These look wonderful!!! So many uses!!!! My favorite Spring Break place (or pre Spring Break depending on when it falls) is Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. We go every year and it's always so much fun!
Julie
My favorite spring break spot is Maui.
LOVE these…. great ideas 🙂 TY for sharing.. 🙂
My ideal Spring Break spot would be somewhere warm on a beach…however by break will be spent doing homework for grad school 🙂
Sit Spots Look Awesome! So many uses! My favorite Spring Break spot is Florida! Love the break from the cold harsh winters of New England! :o)
Sit Spots look like a ton of fun!
love these!!!!
I am in love with Sit Spots and I don't even have any yet! There are so many possibilities.
I'd love to be somewhere with palm trees, but too many snow day this year cut our spring break down to a 3 day weekend.
We are going to las vegas, but I would LOVE to be by the beach such as mexico or some island!
Would love to be going to Florida !
Oh my word…LOVE these!
A warm, tropical beach that is preferably quiet!!
reddstrang@gmail.com
thereddishbrowncrayon.blogspot.com
Favorite spring break spot….THE BEACH!
Amazingness!!!!
My favorite place to lay in the sun and forget about the never-ending snow in Indiana is Treasure Island, FL. I have been going here for 15 years with my family. SitSpots would be such a great addition to my classroom management plan in my classroom as a new teacher! 🙂 I don't even have these yet and I am just as excited looking at all of your blog pictures!
Can't tell you hoe much I love these. I have a set for my students to line up and I am craving another set for my carpet time. They are awesome!
Mels
Ms. K/1 ELL
These would change my life!
Spring Break – somewhere quiet and peaceful!
spring break is next week :o) love the cute shapes and pretty colors!!
My favorite Spring Break spot would probably be any beach with white sand and beautiful, clear water!
Oh my gosh, love these spots!
Anywhere warn with a swim up bar!
I wanted the spots the moment I saw your teaser blog! I prefer to be at home for Spring Break.
I like to be in sunny Arizona during spring break!
My favorite spot is at home with my family and fur babies. Relaxing and playing.
I love spending my Spring Break at the beach watching my kids play.
I love these Spots! On spring break, I will be hanging out with my newborn niece or nephew (gender will be a surprise, baby is due very soon)!
Since they keep adding more and more kiddos to my classroom these would be a great way to fit them all in and give them their own spot to sit! Spring break can be anywhere as long as I'm not at school or thinking about it!
I love this product and giveaway so much that I blogged about my SitSpots and linked over to your blog so that people can join the giveaway and get the coupon code.
http://abcsandpolkadots.blogspot.com/2014/03/sitspots.html
SitSpot lovers UNITE!!!
Jill 🙂
ABCs and Polkadots
Seriously bummed I miss this in person, and by "this" I mean your on the spot reaction!! 😉 Need. Want. Must Have!!! <33
❤ -Stephanie
Falling Into First
SitSpots would be great addition to my 2nd grade classroom. I can imagine the excitement of my students 🙂
I love the idea of stars to stand on to present!
I love these! They could be used for all kinds of things!
I really want my own class set. Totally awesome ideas.
St. Pete's Beach!
I love these guys! I must have some!!
These look amazing! Already ordered a sample to see if they'll work on my carpet!
My favorite spring break spot is the Gulf of Mexico beach in Florida. Thanks for the chance to win these SitSpots. They're fabulous! klewis@umasd.org
I love anywhere warm! tzinter@hotmail.com
The sit spots look like the answer to my prayers! Fav spring break spot is Disneyland!
Please pick me!
And I like any place with less snow than here in Minnesota!
Spring Break: St. Augustine, Florida; Sit Spots: SUPER idea!!
My favorite spring break spot would have to be my couch, a blanket, and a good book (and my fur babies).
Spring Break – my house/yard, NOT commuting!
Love these spots! My favorite place for a break is anywhere on the California or Oregon Coast.
This is such a fantastic idea! Spring break for me is anywhere that isn't white!
I do home daycare and just made some of these and taped them to my floor….needless to say the kids love them, but are already picking at them. . I am defiantly going to get a sample!! Thanks!
The beach!
beach!
Anywhere HOT!
Veronica
Teaching with Giggles
OKAY first of all – which colors are your spots?! The regular or the bright? Because I. AM. IN. LOVE. with the color! It's my room color, too, but online I'm not sure which it is!
Regardless, my favorite vacation spot is that beautiful place called the beach! I love it!
Sara
Miss V's Busy Bees
ventrellasara@gmail.com
I love to visit anywhere hot but the Caribbean would be my favorite!!!
The beach, any beach!! I love the spots!!
HAWAII!
Erika
My Crazy Life
Love these Sit Spots! What a cute and useful idea! Spring Break to me would be anywhere that has sun, surf, sand, and lot of warmth.
Love these! My Spring Break would be anywhere without snow!
Thee would be so useful!
This would be such a time saver and fussing stopper! Thanks for sharing these!
My favorite Spring Break spot is a grand circle to see all my grandchildren.
Terri Izatt
KinderKapers
This is such a great idea.
I absolutely love this! I am currently a student teacher and will be a first year teacher this coming fall in Texas. I am starting to collect "classroom stuff" now so that I am not running around like a chicken with its head cut off during August .. well, at least not as much! 🙂 These are a must have!
What a neat product. These are on my wishlist!
First Grade Shenanigans
Wow! These do sound like they will solve my carpet problem. Ever since we went back to 31 kids, which is absolutely insane by the way, I have had trouble fitting everyone in – the carpet for that size group is too big, and my old carpet with 20 squares worked for the 25 we had for three years (we sat on the lines instead of the squares), but does not work now. I will check them out. As for Spring Break, mine does not start until the 12 or something of April. I am going to Cayucos. 🙂
These are fantastic!!
My favorite spring break spot is Mexico – the weather is always warmer than in Syracuse!
Colleen 🙂
Fun and Fearless in First
OMG! I feel the like the world makes sense after reading this post! I use masking tape to create rows on my gigantic rug, which has a ton of nasty stains, that I have to move EVERYDAY because it doesn't stay in one spot. I MUST have these! Good bye rug! Good bye "Stop playing with the tape." Good bye "Sorry, Mrs. M but your tape got stuck in the vacuum again." I cannot wait to buy these and get rid of the rug!!!!!!
Do you mind if I refer to this post on my own blog?
Thanks for changing my life… or at least turning this yucky day around! : )
Samantha
Teaching on Cedar Street
Do you know of anything for non-carpet floors? I have tried duck tape to mark their spots, make boxes, etc.. but they just peel it up. Any suggestions?
Omg..I can understand your excitement over these spots. I have been teaching over 35 years! Yes…35 years! Do,you know how many hours I have spent in saying…is that your spot?..please move over…no you can't sit there! Yes I know you can't see me…who is missing? First graders usually have to hear you say thing 2–3–4 times! I love this!