How to blow up a Balloon!!!????

 

So last year we found this cool idea from Erin at First From Franklin.

 

 

 

 

http://firstwithfranklin.blogspot.com/2012/05/10-day-countdown-baby.html

 

We came up with a list of fun things to do each day, typed them up, printed it and stuck it in the balloon.  If the student doesn't have to move his/her clip down throughout the day, then they get to participate in what it says in the balloon the next day.  The kids are so excited about popping a balloon every day and want to make sure that they are following our rules so that they can do whatever is inside the balloon.  The following is what we decided to put in our balloons:

 

May

9^th – Gum-we gave them gum to chew all day long

10^th – Sunglasses-this was the day that we went to the zoo for our field trip, so we gave them sunglasses to wear to the zoo

13^th – ink pens-they will get to write with pens all day

14^th – lunch in the room with the teacher

15^th – extra recess

16^th – move desks-they get to arrange the room the way they want to for the day

17^th – mystery readers (other 1^st grade class)-they get to read with the other 1st graders

20^th – kickball-we will have a kickball game between the 2 classes

21^st – nature walk-they will go outside and take a walk and do a scavenger hunt

22^nd – Movie Day

 

The best part about all of this is that I learned something about Crystal last year when we did this activity.  We were in my room after school and started to blow up the balloons.  I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life.  Crystal doesn't know how to blow a balloon up.  Bless her heart, she tries but it doesn't work!  LOL!

 

I was sitting there blowing up balloon after balloon and realized that she couldn't do it.  She was trying with all her might and blowing, making noises and turning red.  :-)  Needless to say, by the time I had all of my 10 balloons blown up, she had her one balloon halfway blown up.  I had to blow the other 9 up for her.

 

This year, I was so excited to do it again just so I could watch her try to blow a balloon up (I know it probably isn't very nice of me), but I have never seen anything like it before.  LOL!  She must have been practicing or something because she actually was able to blow up a few more balloons this year.  Although it took her 14  2 hours.  :-)  I only wish I could have a video of it for the full effect so you could hear the noises and see her face as she tries so hard to get 1 balloon blown up.  But, I did capture some of it with pictures.  Check it out! 

 

 

Taking in deep breaths before her attempt to blow up her first balloon!

 

 

After 15 minutes LOL!  Here is what she had on her first balloon!

 

 

 

 

WOW!  2 hours later!!!  :-)

 

 

 

 

 

SHE DID IT!!!  14 HOURS LATER!!!

 

 

It really didn't take that long, but I think I had about 4 balloons done by the time this first one was blown up! 

 

Needless to say, we had a fun time blowing up balloons and we did have a good laugh about it at Crystal's expense (Thanks Crystal). 

 

Hope all of you have a great week!  Kristi  

Read to Self and Behavior Chart

YEAH!!!!!  We did 9 minutes today of read to self with the Daily 5.  I was so excited because the kids did a great job!  I will say that I was a little nervous to start this, but they have really done a great job with it!  We were going to start the work on writing today but ran out of time so I plan to start it on Monday.  I'm excited to see how it goes. 

I've started a new behavior clip chart this year as well.  This is how it goes:
1.  Toad-ally awesome student
2.  Frog-tastic Outstanding
3.  Jump for Joy
4.  Ready to Learn
5.  Slow Down
6.  Hitting Rough Waters
7.  Frog Overboard

I was curious on those of you using this type of behavior chart, how do you use the positive part of it?  I have been using the positive part quite a bit as a motivator to follow the rules at this point of time .  When do you have them move up on your chart? 

 

Hope all of you are having a great beginning of the year.  I look forward to hearing how you are using your behavior chart.  Have a great weekend!  Kristi

Mystery Student

A few years ago toward the end of the year when my class was ready for summer break, I counted up the days and realized that we had several days of learning left to go in the year.  I needed to do something!!  So, I developed what I called the "Mystery Student" to encourage good behavior.  I have decided that it is desperately needed again this year.  I informed the students that I had drawn 5 names from the sticks.  These students are not told who they are, but do know that I am watching for 5 different positive behaviors. 

They are:  

1. Working hard and quietly
2. Sitting Criss Cross Applesause
3. Having good eyes and being a good listener
4. Raising your hand
5. Lining up with and walking in the hall with bubbles and ducktails

Throughout the day, I will make comments like:  I wonder if my mystery student is working hard? etc.

The next day, I will announce who the mystery student was if they followed the rule.  They then get a ticket, put their name on it, and put it in a container.  At the end of the week, we have a drawing and the name that gets pulled out will receive a positive written letter that goes home to their parents. 

I thought that since it is that time of year, this may help out.  My students love to find out if they are the mystery student and as soon as I say "I wonder if my mystery student is being a good listener" etc. they straighten up quickly. 

I hope you have a blessed Easter!

Kristi

Shoulder Buddies - WOW!

Okay, so I may be officially addicted to blogging now. It is no secret to those who know me that I enjoy writing, but really...this is my first evening home this week and I choose to blog. :-) Here's why...

Monday was our first day back from Spring Break and I decided to try something new with my kiddos. You see, we are very blessed to have a Kagan trainer in our building and last year (my first year teaching) she began doing some district wide training for us. I will admit that I was a bit hesitant to try the Kagan structures--especially last year. I was so afraid of losing control of my classroom. I think I have mentioned before I am a bit of a control freak. Shhh...

Anyway, I managed to try some structures last year and over the summer I prepared some Kagan materials (i.e. Quiz, Quiz, Trade cards, Showdown cards, etc.) that I could pull out and use quickly and easily this year. I also created "teams" and "shoulder buddies" so that I could very easily get students into groups for various structures (Numbered Heads Together, etc.). You may be wondering about this because a total Kagan classroom would already have these groups sitting together - not me, I confess I love my rows! We move desks to sit with teams or shoulder buddies from day to day depending on what activities I have planned, but we always get back to rows at some point. I do all my direct instruction at the front of the classroom with students sitting on the rug in assigned spots. Well, I had not figured out how to make that work with my shoulder buddies...

Let me pause here and say that Kristi has the same style - or maybe I should say I have the same style as her since she is my mentor teacher. :-) We'll come back to that later...

Anyway, just before Spring Break I had my evaluation conference with my wonderful principal (heehee - blessed again to have a principal who was my friend long before she became my boss). She made a comment about using the shoulder buddy system to help some of my firsties who struggle to stay engaged...so over the break I started thinking about how to make it work for me. I also realized there was no better time to experiment and try to become comfortable with a new routine. This class is wonderful and knows my expectations. I knew they could handle it - and would be patient with me as I figured out what we were doing. LOL!

I came back Monday and assigned new shoulder buddies (I do this each 9 weeks anyway) and - SHOCK - new assigned seats on the carpet so they were sitting by their buddies. I have had an awesome week watching the system work. I ask questions as normal - only now I remember to have them talk it over with their buddies before pulling a stick to answer. It has been going great and I am tweaking as I go...

One funny learning experience so far:

Mrs. Ratcliff: Pulls stick of student with a history of struggling to listen and asks, "What did you and your buddy decide?"

Student: Scratches head and looks at ceiling. Long pause.

Mrs. Ratcliff: "Were you listening to your buddy?"

Student: Shakes head. "No. My ears were turned off."

Mrs. Ratcliff: "I am sorry to hear that. We do not have the option to turn our ears off at school. You will need to move your helmet for not listening."

That is my behavior plan - break a rule, move your helmet. See below (picture was taken before school started - now the clips have helmets on them with each student's name).

Like I said - learning experience! I then labeled each student either Partner A or Partner B so I can alternate who talks first to ensure all are participating. I can also then ask the listening partner to repeat back what the other partner said if needed.

Back to Kristi - she worked up the nerve and started shoulder buddies on the carpet on Wednesday. She's loving it too. :-)

I'm also excited about a bulletin board idea we are doing tomorrow! We'll blog with pics when it is finished, but here's a pic...and  the link to where we found it.

http://bulletinboardideas.org/1160/april-showers-bring-may-flowers/#.T3TaXraLM30.pinterest

Have a good night!

Crystal