Monday, November 3, 2014
Saturday, October 11, 2014
How to Talk LESS as a Teacher!
These days, teachers are being told to talk less and to let the kids explore more. I didn't really buy into the idea at first (like most stuff that gets thrown at us weekly, if not daily), but yesterday, I really tried to focus on it and give it a try.
I'm reporting my findings to you, fellow teachers, and giving you three things you can try out in your classroom.
Some things were painstaking to watch...like hearing one first grader explain to another first grade why 6 + 11 = 10, but I held back the urge to immediately correct my little friend, and what happened next was awesome... his partner corrected him, and showed him how to use the number line to find the right answer!
Maybe me talking less isn't such a bad thing after all...
Here's how I talk less:
I hope there's at least one of these ideas that you can see yourself trying out with your students. It's really helped out in my class so much and I can't wait to see where me talking LESS takes us this school year!
Have a great weekend!
XOXO
Mrs. O'Brien
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Wormy, the Sight Word Worm: Learning Sight Words in a Fun Way!
I'm excited to see my first graders' sight word knowledge grow through the use of Wormy! I hope you can use this idea with your kiddos and I pray your year is off to a great start!
XO
Mrs. O'Brien
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Fall into Reading: Fall Themed Books, Passages, and Activities to Keep Your Students Busy!
Idea: Bring a pumpkin into the classroom. Take estimated guesses from your students about how many seeds are inside.
Idea: Bring apples into the class. Study the seeds and discuss the plant life cycle. Encourage the students to go home and plant the seeds so that they can grow their own apple trees!
Idea: Have your students make their own Leaf Men made from real leaves they've collected outside.
For a more detailed explanation of how to use this product throughout the week to make guided and close reading easy, click here!
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
BTS 2014 YouTube & Giveaway
Teacher friends! I am SERIOUSLY excited (and a little bit nervous) about this post. You see, my blogging friends and I at the Primary Chalkboard wanted to do something BIG for back to school for you. BIG. I'm talking, BIG. We decided to throw a party. Here is a hint:
YES. It is a YouTube Partaaaaay! We are here sharing lots of tips -- organizational, DIY, helpful ideas-- lots of things you can do RIGHT NOW to make your back to school a little easier!
AND....We are having a huge giveaway! Would anyone like a....$100 Amazon Gift Card or $100 TeachersPayTeachers Gift Card or a fabulous Michael Kors bag (you know, the one you want but can't justify spending the money for)?
I thought so. So what do you need to do?
Did you see that? You can EVEN gain EXTRA entries in the giveaway by watching our videos and entering our SECRET WORDS into the Rafflecopter (but I know you were going to do that anyway, so... 2 birds, 1 stone). We will be linking up 5 new videos every day this week... so you can come back, watch, and enter every day!
I've got a fun ice breaker activity to show you that is sure to make all of your students' first day jitters fly right out the door! Watch how below!
And don't forget to head over to the Primary Chalkboard to watch more tip clips, enter the Rafflecopter, and gain more entries to the giveaway!!!
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