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Saturday, March 15, 2014

Sparking Student Motivation: Question of the Day

Happy Saturday!  It has been a very lazy one for me, which has been awesome.  The past few weeks have been long and I needed today to just relax and hang out!  I am linking up with Joanne from Head Over Heals for Teaching for her wonderfully inspiring Sparking Student Motivation


A few weeks ago I starting putting up a brain teaser each morning to get the students minds rolling.  I called them 'Question of the Day'  The students quickly fell in love with this and would come in looking for the next questions or the answer to the question the day before.  (I even had former students who come to say hello in the morning trying to guess!)  If the students correctly told me the answer they would receive two tickets.  They could give me as many guesses as they want throughout the day.  


I don't remember where I got these brain teasers from, so I made my own.  I am going to offer them free to my wonderful blog followers because...this is my 100 post!!!!  I cannot believe I have written 100 post in less than a year!  Click the image below to get 30 brain teasers to use in your classroom!



Well I am off to relax some more!  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Sparking Student Motivation: Chicken Dance

Happy Saturday!  I hope you have had a great day!  The sun was shining bright here and the temperature was warm!  The snow is melting so spring is on its way!  I am linking up with Joanne from Head Over Heals for Teaching for one of my favorite linky parties of the week.


This Friday was a Friday!!  It was a long week and we were just not feeling school, myself included!  I was teaching math and the students were falling asleep and had no energy.  I was getting tired just looking at them!  I knew I had something fun planned for the end of class, but we needed to get through some not as fun stuff first.  I looked at my students and I said we need the Chicken Dance.  They looked at me with puzzling faces and I told them to head over to our classroom library (the only large open space in the room).  They did and I grabbed my computer and opened itunes and I found the Chicken Dance.  Yes, the Chicken Dance.  I pressed play and we danced!  The whole class was into it, which was amazing because in fifth grade some think they are too cool!  It did not get silly or crazy, just fun!  We danced through the song twice and then continued our math lesson.  The students were more awake and ready to conquer percents!


My favorite comment I heard from one of students was...(she was talking to another student) "Is she really going to play the Chicken Dance?" The other student replied, "Of course, it's Miss L.  She is always doing crazy things!"  Yes, I am always doing crazy things, but I don't mind!  You do what you have to do!

Before I go, I want to tell you about two amazing giveaways you MUST check out!

Nick from Sweet Rhyme & Pure Reason is having a One Year Blogging Anniversary giveaway.  



Erin from I'm Lovin' Lit is also having a fantastic week long giveaway.  She has a free item each day for you to pick up, along with a new giveaway each day!




Check out these fantastic giveaways!  I think I am off to watch a movie in bed!

Friday, March 7, 2014

Fuel Your Faith and Calling all New York Bloggers!

It's Friday!  I am excited to be linking up with one of my best friends and most inspiring friends!  Jessica from Joy in the Journey has started a wonderful linky party called Fuel Your Faith on Fridays.  If you have not checked it out...check it out!




I spend a lot of time in the car commuting back and forth to school.  I like to listen to the radio and pray.  I the song "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets came on the radio and a God placed this song in my heart.  The chorus has become my prayer for my students.  Teaching at a Christian school gives me the ability to talk freely about God.  I always try to instill in my students that God has a wonderful plan for their lives, they just need to keep their eyes on him.  This chorus of this song talks about that.  

Here is a the complete song.  Listen and pray that your students would be strong in the Lord!  We all know they are going to do great things!
  

Attention New York Bloggers!!!

I want to meet all of you!  I am looking to plan a New York Blogger meet up in the near future and would love to have you all join me!  New York is a big state and I am sure we are spread out in many different directions.  I would love to find a central location so we are all traveling about the same distance.  If you are interested in meeting up with other New York bloggers, please fill out the form below so I can start planning!  I hope I can meet you all!!!  It will be so much fun!!!



Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Tried It Tuesday: Super Teacher Worksheets

Happy Tuesday!  Do you ever have one of those days when you just aren't feeling the teaching???  I may be the only one, but today was one of those days for me.  It took me about half the day to get into the swing of things.  It was just one of those days!  I am happy to be blogging tonight!


I am linking up with Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper for her weekly Tried It Tuesday!  I want to share a website that I often go to for extra practice worksheets for my students.  Super Teacher Worksheets is a subscription based website that offers many different worksheets for teachers to use in the classroom.  Subscription is $19.95 for an individual or $300 for a school.  You get access to hundreds of worksheets on various topics!  There are a few free worksheets that you can print and try out before you buy a subscription.  



I love the many different topics at all different levels.  I use the worksheets for extra practice or morning work.  They also have some great holiday worksheets and puzzles.


I like their simple worksheets that are very printer friendly!


One of my favorite products in their science scavenger hunts.  My students love hunting around the room to answer questions.


One of my favorite blogging friends is having a fantastic giveaway!  Check out Angela from The Teacher's Desk 6.  I am donating my Spring Multiplication Work Problem Task Cards for her giveaway.


Tomorrow is Wednesday!  We can do this!!!  Have a great night!!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

It's March already????

Happy March!  I cannot believe we are into the third month of the year!  Where have the first two months gone???  I am excited to be linking up with Farley for her monthly Currently!



Listening-  I DVR just about all of my TV shows during the week...Saturday mornings is when I usually catch up on them!  Right now it is Grey's!

Loving- It was my first week back after snow days and winter break...I made it through and today is Saturday!

Thinking-  I am heading out to a special sale at the Scholastic Warehouse!  Super excited to hopefully get some treasures!  I will share whatever I find!

Wanting-  I have been a horrible teacher when it comes to grading papers.  I have a huge stack to conquer this week-end.  Hopefully I will be motivated to finish it!

Needing- I have too much stuff! I need to declutter everything!  I am just really bad at it, but it needs to be done!

????- Can you guess what question I answered?  Leave a comment and I will choose someone to win a product from my store!

Make sure you link up with Farely!