Tap. Rock. Jump. Wiggle. Jiggle. Spin. Pace. Slide. Shuffle. Clap. Snap. Flap. Our students these days do every single one of these actions or movements, right?  Our classrooms are full of kinesthetic learners--children who learn best when receiving sensory input.  Children whose memories retain information better when they've learned it through a hands-on activity.  Children who simply cannot keep their bodies calm and quiet when it is time to listen with their ears, watch with their eyes, and learn with their brain. My crew in Room #2 this year is a lively and large bunch of 28 eager students who need sensory input to stay focused and finish tasks.  Thank goodness for outdoor recess, Go Noodle  "brain breaks," and my repertoire of build-on songs like the Hokey Pokey and She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain! All three   get us up and away from our desks for short periods of time to refresh and rejuvenate after li...
Pumpkins, caramel apples, and cornstalks!  Oh my! The month of all things autumn and holiday-themed is 15 days away my friends!  In honor of that,  I am linking up with my blogger buddies from Teacher Deals and Dollar Steals to provide a selection of resources you'll want to use in your classroom!  Please pour yourself a glass of apple cider, hot cocoa, or flavored coffee, and settle back to peruse my October products!  Be sure to drop what you'd like in your TpT cart but WAIT to purchase them!   They'll all be discounted 20% in honor of the FALL INTO SAVINGS SALE I'm participating in!  It starts Friday, September 18th and runs through Sunday, Sept. 20th, so mark your calendar!  Remember to take time to leave feedback on your prior purchases before you checkout, so that you can use the credits you've earned!  Also, watch for notices about the event on my Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram feeds! I've highlighted "four from ...
Hello again, my friends.... I know that it is not Sunday.   I know that in the lyrics of this musical favorite from The Mamas and the Papas it is  Monday, Monday .    But I was busy hanging out with my son and some other favorite family members yesterday, so forgive my belated arrival at this bi-weekly party hosted by Michelle over at  Big Time Literacy !   Know that I love this link-up for many reasons.  It allows me to reflect honestly and humorously on precious and important moments in my life.  It allows me to express gratitude.  It allows me to write letters.....which is a lost art really.  I corresponded faithfully with my mother's father, who lived in South Dakota, when I was little, and appreciate the opportunity to be a"pen pal" of sorts to many every time I write this post.  Thanks in advance for sharing my stories..... Dear Little Guy In My Class Who Is Mesmerized By My Guitar-Playing , Yes.....I do play a C-G-D7 cho...
Welcome friends! Life has been a bit of a TSUNAMI of late what with the start of school fourteen days ago and the work required "after hours" for my online reading endorsement.  Since I don't have time to write or create much "new" content for my beloved blog, I thought I'd start to share past posts that you may enjoy or relate to!  Enjoy this one from September 2015...... Whew!  After surviving  two full weeks plus four days of school, I must say that this three-day weekend is a welcome respite! This tired teacher plans to take advantage of the following activities.... Time to sleep, time to read, and time to hang out with family and friends are all on my agenda.  I'm looking forward to one last family get-together at the lake on Sunday, and one last lounging time at the pool with friends on Monday. Today is my time for resting while writing and reflecting though, so here's my September contribution to Farley's mont...