12 Fun Ways to Get Your Kids Quiet

As teachers, we always have classes that make us exhausted by saying, "Please be quiet", "Quiet please", and/or "No talking."     Throughout the school year we are trying to find different ways to get our students to be quiet.  Here are some fun ideas to try!

1) Play a Quiet Song-  Pick a special song and play it as a signal to let the students know it's time to work quietly.

2) Use a Special Sound- Use chimes, bells, triangles, whistle, and/or a rain stick.

3) Sing a Song-  Sing a song to the students.

4) Play a Quick Game of I Spy-  Call out to the class, I spy something...  It will get the students focused on the game verse their conversation.

5) Movement Break-  Get the kids up doing some type of physical exercise.

6) Brain Breaks-  Have the kids do some cross lateral movements.

7) Do a Random Countdown-  Pick a random number and count to it.  Once you get to that "special" number the kids will then be quiet.

8)  Hand Signal-  Come up with a hand signal as a visual sign to be quiet.

9)  Quiet Bubbles-  Blow bubbles throughout the classroom to quiet students.

10) Soft Speak-  Start speaking quietly to the class.  They have to be quiet in order to hear you!

12)  Use a Call Back-  You say, "Class" and then they repeat, "Yes"  or any other call back type.  See a previous post for ideas!

Try some of these and let me know if they work for you!

My New Students are MY KIDS

Well, we are officially into the school year and the bond I am creating with my students is amazing.  I think I have the best 4th grade students on Earth!

I think about these kids while I am in school and out of school. I think about what they need to be successful not only in school, but in life.  I think about whether or not they are making friends and had a good day.  I am thinking about whether they understood my lesson on character traits or could I have done a better job explaining it to a few of them.  I am thinking that I did not get to conference with each student today about their learning but at least I got to make a personal connection with them on something that interests them.  I am thinking about how to get them to have the internal drive to be the very best that they can be while staying true to who they already are.  I am thinking that I only have 160 more days with them and it's not enough for the impact I want to have on their lives.

So, these students are not just my students...they are my kids!  They are part of my heart now and  they always will be!

It's Almost Summer Break!

Where did the school year go?  

It seems like yesterday we were just heading back from our last summer break!

As we head into this break, I want to share 5 things I was most grateful this year:

1. Being able to share my love of books every day with students.  Seeing their excitement when they are able to get lost in a book or read a book they thought was too hard for them!  
2. I am grateful that I work in such an amazing building with some talented teachers.  Being able to share ideas with them, laugh with them and spend time with them makes me smile.
3. Turning a non-reader into a reader melts my heart!
4. I am so happy that I tried so many new technology resources this year!  What an enhancement they made to my daily lessons.
5. I feel so lucky to work with such an amazing community of parents!

I Love Books!

I love books!  I love to read!  I love to get lost in someone else's world!  

Unfortunately, it wasn't always this way because I was not a strong reader in 1st grade compared to the other students.  However, I had an amazing teacher who didn't just push phonics on me or sight words down my throat, instead she started to lay the foundation of loving books.  Thank you Connie Merritt for reading all of those Amelia Bedelia books as they sparked my love for reading.  (Something my youngest child, Breana is also fond of reading!) 

As teachers, our number one job is to spark some type of light into our student's lives.  For me, as a Reading teacher that spark is to help my students become lifelong readers by helping them find that "just right" book which is the beginning of laying down the foundation to love books!   Each year, I am challenged with doing this and it's exciting.  As this school year wraps up and I look around my classroom as each of my students are lost in a book, I get teared up as I also helped them create that foundation.  

I am so blessed to be a teacher.  :)

Being A Child's Champion

You could read the research or you hear about it in your education courses but nothing really make a profound impact on you until you see it in a student's eyes.  Being a child's champion, cheering them on when they don't believe they can do it is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job!  As educators our job is not to just "teach" the standards but to make an authentic connection with our students by learning about who they are, what they like/dislike and to empower them with the skills they need to be successful in life.  

Yesterday, while conferencing with my students I was congratulating them on the successes they have had in making new friends in middle school, being responsible students, being self-advocates as well as making growth in reading and writing so far this year and most importantly, telling them how proud I was of them.  It was the smiles on their faces and some tears in their eyes that spoke to me….they knew I was their cheerleader.  That I believed in them.  That is worth more than ANY paycheck….ANY day!   

I am not "just" a teacher, I am a child's champion!

Get Those Kids Moving

As I stated yesterday on my Facebook page, it's critical to get our students moving especially after a break.  Here are 10 quick ways to add movement in your classroom!

• Keep it Up-  Have students stop "working" and quickly play a game of beach ball volleyball.  Have students toss around a beach ball around the classroom not allowing it to hit the ground.
• Stand Up-  As you are teaching new information, have students who are answering questions stand up if they know the answer.  Make sure to wait a few minutes to allow other students to come up with the answer as well.
• Task Card Rotation-  Need to review some information you taught prior to the break?  Create task cards for students to practice these skills.  Put a variety of different task cards in various spots in the classroom (set up like centers) and have the students move around answering the questions.
• Surf the Web- Go to Gonoodle.com.  It has great brain break activities.
• Core Fitness-  When you notice you are losing your students, stop and get them out of their seat doing any type of core fitness- sit ups, push-ups, wall sits, jumping jacks, and/or lunges.  Get that blood flowing!
• Dance Party-  Students love to dance even in 6th grade!  Play a current song and have a dance off.  Do it weekly and give out prizes!
• Whistle While They Work-  Need the classroom picked up?  Have the students whistle to a song while they clean up!
• Charades- Have students act out concepts being taught in the classroom.  Great for visual learners!
• Power Walk-  Put those coats on and head outside for a quick power walk!  Even 10 minutes will help students refocus!
• Mindfulness Activity-  Sometimes, students are stressed out when they get back from their vacation.  Teaching students deep breathing techniques can help them learn how to deal with pressure and stress.  

I hope these give you some fun new ways to add movement to your classroom!

Happy 2015!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!  

Looking forward to what 2015 will bring for me!  Hopefully it will be more blog posts!

My last day of summer break...

Today marks my last day of summer vacation.  I would have to say it's bitter sweet for me.  In 19 years of being a teacher, this was my first summer not teaching summer school, tutoring, working at a restaurant, teaching a graduate class or facilitating professional developments for teachers!

AND.....I have to say... 

I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

We had so much fun as a family doing so many things from going to the pool, to skate parks, to traveling, to reading endless number of books!  Seeing summer vacation again through my children's eyes was magical for me.  I am looking forward to next summer already!

With that being said, I am also SOOO EXCITED for the start of a new school year!  I love setting up my classroom, to planning team building ideas and lessons to the professional development!  (I will post pictures of my classroom this weekend!  I love the new set up!).  I also get excited to see what my colleagues did over the summer and reconnect.  Lastly, I LOVE the school supply shopping!  Every year, it's like Christmas for me when I get to buy new supplies for my classroom.  :)

How are you feeling on your eve of going back to work for the 2014-2015 school year???

What have you read this SUMMER???

Summer is a time when I get caught up on all the books I could not read over the school year!  I am looking for more suggestions on what I MUST read before school starts.  What are your suggestions???

What have you read this summer???

A Student Thank You

In high school is when I found my true calling...being a teacher.  I have never looked back and have enjoyed everyday I spend in my classroom.  I started my career teaching a variety of elementary grades and I truly loved it.  About 8 years ago, I made the switch to middle school.  It was a hard choice but needed at the time.  I quickly found out that the "light bulb" moments you get being a K-5 teachers does not happen as frequently in middle school.  However, I have learned to accept it and still believe that each day "light bulbs" are turning on they just are not as bright or as loud!  :)

Last week was the final week with my students.  It is always a bittersweet time for me as I am sad to see them go but I also know that I have given them the wings to fly even higher.   Once of my students wrote me this note and it made me cry.  Yes, I did challenge this student because I knew she could learn amazing things and go places she never thought with her learning.  This note proves that my high expectations does pay off.  I know Jenny thanks me in this note, but it's me who really should be thanking her for what she taught me.

Love My Job!

It always makes you smile when a students tells you, "Mrs. B, you were the hardest teacher this year that really made me work. Thanks for that. I have become a better reader and writer." Yep, high expectations yield high results! Love my job!

http://rochestersage.org/2012/04/17/they-made-a-difference-for-gifted-children/

WE WON!!!!!

We just found out that our 6th grade video for the "Jackie Robinson, Breaking Barriers"  Colorado Rockies contest is the GROUP WINNER!!!!!!!!

I am so proud of our students!  They will be honored on the field before the game tomorrow night as well as on the jumbotron!  Lastly, they will be in the May edition of the Colorado Rockies Newsletter!

Here's a link to our video if you would like to see it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUUYj6U3ei4

A Teacher's Impact

Ever have the feeling that you know you were born to be an educator?  Today, was one of those days for me and it's the best feeling in the world!

Today, I was stopped in the hall by a previous student's parent and we were talking about how quickly her children have grown up.   I can't believe her daughter who I had in 2nd grade and in 6th grade was graduating high school this year.  I asked her how she was feeling as a parent to have her first born graduate and head off to college.  She told me she felt Mae was ready, she was excited about her going and this new adventure she would have.

I agreed with her (matter of fact, Mae was ready in 2nd grade to go off to college... :) )  But, what she expressed next really made my heart melt.  She told me that because of me and the impact I had on Mae, she has decided to enter the elementary education program at her school.  She said that Mae always talks about my teaching and the bond I created with my students.  Mae wants to have the same thing with her future students.

WOW!

They always say we never know the true impact we have on our student's lives and that's so true.  Who knew, 10 years ago when Mae entered my classroom as a scared, shy young girl that I would plant the seed to truly help her figure out what her passion is in life....to become a teacher.

Thank you God for the gift you have given me as an educator.  I am truly honored and blessed to spend my days with such amazing, young children.

Do you have a story you would like to share.  Please leave it in the comments!  I would love to hear how you are impacting your students!

A Teacher's Impact

You will never truly know the impact you have on your students life.  

Make sure each and every minute you spend with them is meaningful.  

Followers Freebies!

Yeah...it's Saturday!  

I wanted to let you all know that if you follow my blog you will be entered to win FREE products from my Teacher's Pay Teacher store or on one of my future professional development classes!   Once a month one lucky person will be selected!  

That lucky person could be you so follow me today!

Wonderful Writing Thoughts

Happy Friday!  I wanted to share with you some quick thoughts I have about writing!

As we all know, writing is a way to express your thoughts, whether it be through a story, article, poem, book, note, blog, text message, etc.  Often times, it seems like students struggle getting those "thoughts" down on paper.  I can't blame them.  It's hard to find the right word(s) to use and especially hard when there are restraints put on you as a writer.

This year, I am teaching 6th grade language arts for the first time ever!  It's been quite the eye opener for me as an educator and I believe my craftsmanship of teaching has really benefitted from the challenges.  My learning curve has really been uphill for most of the year.  Now that our school year is coming to a close in 7 short weeks, I feel like I finally am grasping the art of writing instruction.

Where am I on teaching writing?  Well....

Writing is a process (a transition).  It's a connection made between the writer and the reader.  It gives voice to something that would otherwise be silent.  Writers want to spark emotion in their reader and they can only do so if they take risks, which means making mistakes.  Giving students the permission to make mistakes allow for growth to happen.  As the process of writing unfolds it's messy but well worth the time and energy.

All students bring to the classroom a different viewpoint on writing.  Some love it.  Others can't stand to pick up a pencil.  I never liked writing as a student, so I can understand the frustration some students feel when they are asked to write something.  This is why I make sure to not only say but to show my students why the written language is so important.

Each and every day my students write whether it's a free write to build fluency or it's a short informational text article to recap what they read.  Either way, they are given the opportunity to practice this skills that need time, energy and elbow grease to master.  Happy writing!

Finally...My First Blog!

Everyone has a bucket list of things they want to accomplish in life.  For me, one of those things was to start a blog and finally I can say...it's done!  A huge thank you to Megan from "A Bird in Hand Design" who has designed this blog for me and has helped me every step of the way!

This blog will be filled with inspiring ways to dream up the most creative lessons, activities and projects for your classroom.   It will also be a place for me to share my journey of teaching with all of you!  I hope you enjoy reading and following me!