If you're a teacher and you're not following Fall Into First's blog... then you're missing out. The blog has tons of free and creative downloads (obviously geared towards first grade) plus downloads that you can buy for pretty cheap. There's complete math units that align with the new Common Core Standards. Instead of wasting your energy and time... you should totally invest in the math units rather than re-creating the "wheel". The blogger, Angie has her masters in Education Technology so her downloads are THE cutest printables ever! She has awesome ideas with her 7 years of experience. Follow her!!
Link: Fall Into First
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Full Moon
I never "believed" in the full moon until I was student teaching last year. One day, I was talking to my mentor saying, "these kids are crazy! Why are they so 'off' today?" She told me it was because of the full moon. I didn't believe her at first... are you serious? Just because there's a full moon doesn't mean you act like a psycho. She told me that she was going to see if I said the same thing on the next full moon. Sure enough, the kids were weirdos!
After my student teaching experience, I am now a firm "believer" in the full moon. It's so weird to see the difference between a full moon day and a regular day. The only word I can think to describe how they are is "wild monkeys". No joke. You pick them up from recess and it's like the volume is turned up, they're running around with their arms going crazy, and you can't even hear words... just screeching. Inside the classroom, they're off task, loud, mean to one another, moody... the list goes on. And yes, this isn't the only day that they're like this... many other factors play into how the day goes... holidays, weather, school events, but on full moon day... it's a different kind of weird.
Planning for a full moon day:
I'm not saying, "don't do anything productive", but plan on "not being productive" that day. You'll spend most of your day re-focusing the class than getting anything done. I usually like to have a lot of independent writing or partner work that day. Using online resources is another helpful way to keep their attention or planning rotations where the student computers are a station.
There's no way to fully prevent the kiddos from acting like crazies on a full moon day, but I listed some helpful online resources plus the link to a full moon calendar :) Awwhooo!!! (werewolf howl) Enjoy!
Full Moon Calendar
Tumble Books - This website reads stories aloud with animations. At the end are quizzes, book reports, and games.
Brain Pop - This website has a variety of cool, educational videos. They're animated and kid-friendly. There are lesson ideas, activities, games, and a bunch more resources to use with the video.
After my student teaching experience, I am now a firm "believer" in the full moon. It's so weird to see the difference between a full moon day and a regular day. The only word I can think to describe how they are is "wild monkeys". No joke. You pick them up from recess and it's like the volume is turned up, they're running around with their arms going crazy, and you can't even hear words... just screeching. Inside the classroom, they're off task, loud, mean to one another, moody... the list goes on. And yes, this isn't the only day that they're like this... many other factors play into how the day goes... holidays, weather, school events, but on full moon day... it's a different kind of weird.
Planning for a full moon day:
I'm not saying, "don't do anything productive", but plan on "not being productive" that day. You'll spend most of your day re-focusing the class than getting anything done. I usually like to have a lot of independent writing or partner work that day. Using online resources is another helpful way to keep their attention or planning rotations where the student computers are a station.
There's no way to fully prevent the kiddos from acting like crazies on a full moon day, but I listed some helpful online resources plus the link to a full moon calendar :) Awwhooo!!! (werewolf howl) Enjoy!
Full Moon Calendar
Tumble Books - This website reads stories aloud with animations. At the end are quizzes, book reports, and games.
Brain Pop - This website has a variety of cool, educational videos. They're animated and kid-friendly. There are lesson ideas, activities, games, and a bunch more resources to use with the video.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Happy New Year!
For New Year's Eve, 2 other couples, Ryan, and I went to a big party at the Montelucia. The Montelucia is a nice resort in Scottsdale. Tickets were $75 per person. We had a great night, but it wasn't worth that much money.
Hoping your New Year's Eve was a blast and that you have a joyous year ahead!
Hoping your New Year's Eve was a blast and that you have a joyous year ahead!
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