It's a GIVEAWAY from Creation Castle

Guess what?  It's another GIVEAWAY!  Head on over to Creation Castle's blog at http://creationcastle.blogspot.com/ to check out all of the great prize packages.  Another great chance to get some new teacher-created materials!   Emily is giving away her Integrated Fairy Tale Unit which is fantastic.  Hope you can get yourself entered. 

Inspired by Ginger Snaps Blog

You need to check out Ginger's post from Ginger Snaps about a great technology website.  Click on the image below to visit her post.

 

The website she is talking about is:  http://ifaketext.com/.  I was trying to think of new ways to engage my students during Lit Stations.   I like them to respond to their reading during Independent Reading Time but I want it to be a quick response and something that gets them excited.  I started wondering if there was a fake texting site so I went searching on Google and, lo and behold,  I found this site.  It's really easy to use and the kids enjoyed "texting" their written responses to me. The kids loved it so much that I created a product called Text Me! Reading Response Sheets. Here is a quick picture-if you want to see the skills included, click on any image to go to my TpT store.

 

 

 I would love to give one of these babies away for FREE!

 I am currently working on a nonfiction version of Text Me!Reading Response Sheets for nonfiction.  Leave me a nonfiction question that you would like to see included in my new product.  If I haven't already used that question, I will send you this product for FREE!  I will give this away to the first three questions I haven't used!

What is your classroom theme?

I have finally finished my first classroom theme package-The Learning Clinic.  My friend and colleague, Katy Keller, inspired this theme.  She had asked me to create a few items for a medical themed classroom last year and I did but then I found some super cute background papers from Jessica Weible's website, JW Illustrations: Clipart. And guess what?  Yes, I had to redo it all and I have to say I think it turned out pretty darn cute.  So, Katy, your project is done.  I sure hope you like everything as much as I do! 

Now, what should be my next theme?  Mad Scientists, Airplanes, Americana???? 

p.s.  You can find my products at our TpT store:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Beth-Mitchell-And-Emily-Steffen

3rd Grade Theatrics' Huge 100 Followers Giveaway!!

Congratulations to Christy at 3rd Grade Theatrics for reaching 100 Followers.  Visit her website to enter her 100 Follwers Giveaway!  Just click the banner below to take you to her page!  Thanks for letting us be a part of your giveaway, Christy!

 

 

Teach Like a Champion Tuesday

Hello!  Beth and I decided it would be great to start highlighting some different strategies from the book "Teach Like a Champion".  If you have not read this book, you need to put it on your must read book list!  It has some amazing (yet simple) strategies to use in your classroom to help it run a bit more smoothly.  This past year, we worked on implementing four of the Teach Like a Champion strategies into our staff development time and then during our observations, our principal was looking to see these in action. 

Today, I want to highlight SLANT!  Slant stands for:
S: Sit Up
L: Listen
A: Ask and Answer Questions
N: Nod Your Head
T: Track the Speaker

This is a simple yet very useful tool to use in the classroom.  My goal this year is to start from the beginning of the year and it will become habit before long and this way I know that I have will the full attention from my students (and it didn't take much time to get them attentive).

Check out this website for more detailed information: http://daviskm2psy3010.wordpress.com/slant-strategy-three/

I have attached a FREEBIE SLANT poster that Beth made for our staff this year!

Click here to get it for free!!

Band-Aid Box Freebie

I got this cute little box from Michaels for under a dollar.  I whipped up this label and glued it on the front.  My students would just go and help themselves to a band-aid.  This simple little box saved me time over and over again.  I was not interrupted during small groups or while reading with the class with the dreaded question, "May I have a band-aid?"  I know many of you are probably thinking that this little box was abused but I went over the guidelines at the beginning of the year and explained my expectations.  I told them it would disappear if it was not used properly and we didn't have any trouble with it at all.  Hope you can find this freebie useful in your classroom. Click the picture to get to the link.

 

Click on picture to access this freebie!

It's a GIVEAWAY!!

July 1st!  I can't believe that June is gone!  But that means it's time to get serious about preparing your room for the upcoming school year.  Why not start with this giveaway hosted by 180 Days and Counting and Tabitha Savage?  It's always fun to get new resources!  There are three prize packages!  Check out the pictures below!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway