Tips and Tricks...and a freebie!!!

It is the last day of Teacher Week 2013 at Blog Hoppin and I have had a great time sharing my ideas, and learning from all of you. I have met some new friends, got some new ideas and even begun my first free product - keep reading to the end to grab it! :) 

But first, my tip of the week. This is something I have done since my first year student teaching. I am not sure where I got this idea, so if anyone knows where it originated from, please let me know.  It has worked wonders for me and it is so simple. Note: For the purpose of this post, I am using my son's "friend," Sulley Monkey, as my puppy friend Silent Sam (not the 'drink') is at school taking care of my boxes, but you will get the picture. 

Introducing my friend Sulley Monkey! He goes everywhere with me. So I will need your help to keep him safe and happy. 

Sully is very friendly and likes to make new friends. So he will be hoping to spend time with each of you today. Also, there is something very special about him. What is so special about him is his ears. He can hear even the smallest noises. Since his ears are so sensitive, he likes it quiet! He will be looking for a friend who is sitting quietly and listening, so he can sit with you!

So, as a supply I would bring my friend with me and introduce him at the carpet, or during whole group instruction. He worked in all of the primary grades and usually up to grade 4. When I noticed most of the kids working hard to be quiet and listen, I would give my friend to one student to sit with. Then it was that child's job to find someone else who is sitting quietly to pass my friend along to (after a little visit). I thought I would have a problem having him hanging out with only one student, but remember, he wants to meet as many new friends as possible, and the students took that on as their responsibility.  In fact, he became so popular, my grade 3 students wanted to eat lunch with them, even though he normally only visited during work periods. It doesn't matter if your friend is a monkey, doggie, elephant, etc. As long as it is cuddly, friendly and not too big (you still want them to be able to see you and listen). 

Now, I mentioned yesterday that I was creating a freebie. If you read yesterday, I discussed my Time-In Station. My first freebie is a Feeling Chart to post at my Time-In Station. If you would like a copy, you will find it here!

Please note that this is the first time I have shared, and when I was viewing on Google Docs, the colour was distorted. Please try to print only one page and check before printing the entire thing. I am off to get a new printer this afternoon and won't know for sure how it will look. If you do print this, please send me a message and let me know if it works. Thank you!

I hope you enjoy this freebie, and if you love Melonheadz as much as I do, then you may want to continue this theme in a Behaviour Clip Chart, created by Bridget at Literacy Without Worksheets. 

What's even better, is its free! I know I will be using this beauty. If you would like a copy, visit her here.  Don't forget to leave her some love!

Thanks Bridgit! They are sweet!

That's all for now! Thanks for a great week! Now go check out the other trips and tricks at Blog Hoppin'.

Yours in "Tips and Tricks,"

Jackie (a.k.a. Ms.M)

Where did the time go?

The week quickly got away from me! I can't believe it is already Friday again! I was planning to post throughout the week, but since it is still summer, I couldn't decide what to write about, so while I thought it over, I lost track of time and now it is Friday again. 

As I stalked the many blogs I follow, and saw your beautiful classrooms. I was thinking about setting up my classroom. Unfortunately, I do not have a classroom YET. Our school is under-construction and they are still in demolition mode. Although I am still hopeful that we will be in for the first day of school, I am thinking I will be teaching out of the library and doing a lot of outdoor activities. 

In the meantime...

Thanks Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching

1) A Kid in a Candy Shop

My "husband" (almost 7 years together but no "official" wedding...but that is a whole other story) loves cars! All kinds of cars! He lives and breathes cars! Seriously! Well my car-guy, just got a new job working at Hyundai (where we recently bought a brand-new family car). Not even two weeks at this new job, and he is calling me to come in to do the paperwork, so he can get a car.  

We have been down to one car for a couple of years now, to save money, as his work at the last place (a small car detailing shop which he loved, but it was only seasonal) slowed down a lot in the off-season and he worked only part-time for a friend.  So with this new, full-time work, I was eager to save money, pay down some debt and all that "fun stuff" but instead we are getting a second car.  Don't get me wrong, it has its advantages, especially since I work 40 minutes out of town, but I have to laugh, giving a car-guy a job at a dealership, is like putting a kid in a candy shop!

This is the car he has chosen - Hyundai Genesis

2) Swimming Lessons...

So my 4-year-old loves the water! When a heat-wave hit us late last month, we went out and got one of those large size kid pools for the neighbour and ourselves. I think the one day, he was in from 9 am to 5 pm - making a career out of it! I would like to say that he loves to swim, but that wouldn't be the complete truth, he actually likes to play around in the water.  When we go to my friend's and hang out in her "big pool," he spends most of his time on the stairs! He has some anxiety and gets really nervous about things, but we couldn't have him nervous about water. We live on Georgian Bay, and his grandpa has a boat.  Knowing how to swim is a must! However, his anxiety sometimes gets the best of him...the best of us...so, when the opportunity came up for private lessons, with someone he trusts, I took it! 

Meet Jazmin, my "little sister." She isn't actually my sister, she used to be the little girl I babysat, beginning when she was 3 years old. We have been so close ever since. Well, now she is 22 years old *sigh* and she is an amazing, loving, sweet young lady and my son just adores her! We got talking about his need for lessons, but how nervous he gets, and being as though she is trained to be a swim instructor and a lifeguard (there isn't anything this girl can't you), I realized this is the perfect opportunity to get some real swimming lessons in. Last night was his first lesson, and he did great AND she was wonderful with him! Seriously! 

3)...and Sisterhood

So above, I introduced all of you to Jazmin and told you how great she was with my son, Hayden and how much he adores her! Well, I could go on and on forever about this girl, and her lovely family, but since this is only #3, I will try to keep it short. Jazmin has been accepted to teacher's college and starts in a couple of weeks. I am so very happy for her! She is going to be a fantastic teacher and students, parents and her staff are going to love her! She is always telling me that I was meant to be a teacher, that it is in my blood and the same goes for her! Not only is she on her way to becoming a teacher, but I get to carpool with her every day and live the adventure (again) with her! I am so thrilled! On top of that, a very good friend, and past-university-roommate has made the decision to return to school to become a teacher as well. So in the spirit of beginning teaching, I am linking up with Ash at The Polished Teacher for her Student Teaching Linky Party. 

Click on image to enlarge!

Head on over to The Polished Teacher to join the Linky Party and help our new teachers get off to a good start! 

4) Miracle Treat Day

Yesterday was Miracle Treat Day at Dairy Queen, where all of the proceeds from Blizzard Sales went to help Sick Kids Hospital. Not only is it a great cause, but also a great excuse to treat yourself to some delicious ice cream. Well my boy and I made an event of it! It is important to me that he understands how good his life is. We do not have designer everything, we do not go on luxurious holidays, or own our own home (yet) but he is happy, healthy and spoiled rotten (with love and toys) by all his family. We talk often about how everyone is not as lucky as he is, and how we can do just little things to help, such as contributing to events like this. Well, I think he gets the picture, because here he is with fists full of change to donate. Not to mention how fun it was to race the coins in the fun "machine." 

 

5) Organization and Preparations

I may not be able to get into my classroom, but I have begun the preparations for the September start up...I am just doing it at home.  We have moved some things around and gotten rid of some furniture and brought in some new (to us) items over the last few months (honestly more than a few months, but who is counting...) and the result is chaos. My mission is to organize the chaos, that that when I return home from the chaos that will be my classroom at the beginning of the year, than I will have some sense of order in my life.  

Image from Organizing Solutions

Wish me luck!!!

Wish me luck! So far I have only managed to keep up on the day-to-day chores and organize 1/10 of my son's toys! If you know my son, you know that is quite a feat in itself! Now to keep going! Good news is, my brother is planning to come visit, so it gives me more purpose and reason to stick with it! I will share some before and after pictures soon!

Thanks for sticking with me! If you have any organizing tips, or advice for new teachers to share, please comment below!

Yours in Friday Fun, 

Jackie (a.k.a. Ms. M)