Back to School Blogger Blitz Giveaway!

Let me just say, I LOVE GONOODLE! In case you don't know, GoNoodle is a FREE website that provides teachers with engaging, desk-side brain breaks for their students. Earlier this year, I honestly believed that EVERYONE had GoNoodle... then I found out that one of my team members didn't have it... "Is that where all the kids get that 'Pepsi Cola' song?" (No worries, she has been converted.)

WHY GONOODLE? 

1. It's science.   GoNoodle improves student academic performance. You can read all the science here. 

2. Classroom management. If improving student performance wasn't enough to convince you, giving students the opportunity to move in the classroom helps them release energy in a positive way.... and without disrupting your well planned lessons. 

3. It improves teacher performance. For me, gonoodle is a chance to breathe. It gives me an opportunity to relax and laugh with my kids. Sometimes, I NEED that to keep going. GoNoodle makes ME a better teacher. 

4. GoNoodle LOVES teachers.  GoNoodle has donated to several teacher blogger meet ups that I have attended. They LOVE teachers and they LOVE students. I've got a giveaway and a discount code at the end of this post that prove it! 

HOW I'M DOING IT 

1. Class Incentive. My students can earn a GoNoodle during the day by participating properly in lessons or staying at the appropriate voice levels during centers. 

2. Morning Meeting. I try to give my kinders a chance to GoNoodle at the start of morning meeting everyday. When my lesson starts and my students aren't participating properly,  I can remind them that they already had a turn to dance/hop/etc. and that now is a time to sit quietly, use walking feet, or do whatever my students are expected to be doing at the time.  

3. Lesson Plans. My teammate just wrote two GoNoodle videos into one of our writing lesson plans. We are using them to activate prior knowledge next week! 

4. Indoor Recess. Cold weather, rainy days. It's all good. I just turn on a GoNoodle Indoor Recess and my kids don't even miss the playground! 

5. Kindergarten Graduation. I have a pirate themed classroom, so naturally, Pirate Prep, by the infamous Koo Koo Kangaroo, came to mind for kindergarten graduation last year. It was adorable! BIG THANKS to Koo Koo Kangaroo for allowing us to use their song!!! 

     I'm giving away 25 GoNoodle Activity Books to help you get your little ones excited the new school year! Enter below for a chance to WIN! And, if you don't have GoNoodle, go sign up for a free account!  You can also visit the GoNoodle shop and use the code BTSwithGoNoodle for 15% OFF EVERYTHING! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Classroom Reveal

     For starters, let me just say that I had no idea how many items I had been collecting in my classroom over the past years. The above photo is a picture of one of THREE trips I made from Memphis to Nashville for the sole purpose of moving my classroom. My classroom had to move directly from one school to the other, seeing as neither my old nor my new apartment could possibly fit all of my classroom materials and furniture.  Thankfully, I was able to store my furniture and boxes in different areas around my new school while I waited to get into my new classroom! 

    Getting a classroom ready is unbelievably hard work, and you have no idea what it is like until you have done it. You know, there were many days where I wanted to be relaxing by the pool, since I have the summer "off," but I was getting this room ready instead. Seems to me that we teachers mostly just take off pay, not work. Am I right? It also seems twisted that I am required to decorate my classroom... but I'm also required to purchase all of the materials used for decorating (including sticky tack and staples) myself.  I also get to wear many different hats during the "classroom decorating" phase.  For instance, I sledge hammered that TV mount off the wall...

One of my favorite conversations of the school year so far...

ME: " Excuse me, do you have a sledge hammer I could borrow?"

DISTRICT WORKER: " Well, yeah... but it's a little big. I think what you are looking for is just a hammer."

ME: "Nope, I need a sledge hammer."

DISTRICT WORKER: Points to sledge hammer... "Honey, thats a sledge hammer." 

ME: "Yep, that's what I'm looking for! Thanks!"  

     No, the mess you just saw did not belong to a previous K teacher. I had the joy of moving into the old art room! I also got to clean out all of the old art teacher's cabinets, which were disgusting and crammed full of junk. But, now that they are clean, I have cabinets and I haven't even filled up all of my cabinet space yet! The storage in my new room makes my little teacher heart SO happy! 

     

     Thankfully the carpet in my classroom was replaced with tile over the summer. Unfortunately, this (combined with having to wait on painting that never happened), left me with only a week to move into my room. I was panicked! I am blessed to have the most selfless and talented mother who drove to Nashville and spent three full days making my classroom happen. Trust me, without her, my classroom would still be looking a mess. She stayed at school with me until almost 10pm one night and I am so thankful for all of her help!

     I am really enjoying this classroom and how it turned out. The kids and I have plenty of space to move about and plenty of storage for our supplies. Obviously, I still have some finishing touches to add to the room, but I am purposely saving wall space so that I can add more as the school year progresses! My NUMBER ONE favorite thing about my new room.... NO MORE HIGHLIGHTER ORANGE! (Check out my old classroom below.) 

5 Fun Facts

      I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week 2015! Today I'll be sharing 5 fun facts about myself. I'm excited to learn more about my friends, so I'm doing my best to participate... but honest to goodness... I don't really like talking about myself. This feels a little too much like the first day of school... Don't judge! I promise, I'm not nearly as boring as I sound? 

Fact #1 I can't smell!

     This is my go to fact for any "get to know you" activity like this. I have isolated congenital anosmia. That's doctor for... I was born without the sense of smell! I am missing a nerve, so I have never and will never be able to smell anything. I'm not making it up... it is a real thing. 

   

Fact #2 Hot wings. Mexican food. 

    This is a go to answer when I have to tell about my hobbies... and can't include teaching related items. HELLO... teaching is my hobby people?!?!?! What kind of rule is that??? I'm not sure if hot wings and Mexican food is considered a hobby by most people... but it is a hobby in my book. These are by far my two favorite kinds of food.  If its left up to me to decide where to eat, you can bet your money that I'll be choosing a place that serves either Mexican or hot wings.  Margaritas anyone? (This may be influenced by the lack of smell... I experience taste, but not flavor.) 

Fact #3 I'm a NERD.  

     And I've never been in the closet about it. I play Halo live on a daily basis (and yes, I'm an SR 130), I've read the entire Lord of the Rings series FIVE times, and in my high school days I may have been to midnight premiers of a few different movies... in costume. Not even a little bit shy to admit it.

Fact #4 I'm an outdoors girl.

    I'm a VERY girly girl, but I'm also an outdoors girl. My baby brothers are both amazing climbers and they got me into this a few years ago! I think climbing with them sort of sparked my love for being outside. I'm not very good and I don't do it very often, but when I am climbing... I LOVE it! Something about making it to the top of a climb is exhilarating and empowering for me. I also love hiking and walking on my slack line!  

Fact #5 My favorite thing about Nashville.

     Traffic. HA! Just kidding... that's what I HATE about Nashville. My favorite thing about living in Nashville is being in the same city as my boyfriend, Clinton. I have LOVED getting to spend time with him every week and I am so thankful for the support he gives me, especially with it being back to school time.  I obviously have him on my mind a lot, because he sometimes secretly appears with me in the products I create... Yep that's us "Em and Clint" in my Knock Knock Joke Partner Plays. #tptnerd

Pool Noodle Literacy and Math Rods FREEBIE

Run! Run! As fast as you can to Dollar Tree! These pool noodle connectors can be turned into all kinds of fun classroom materials, and I'm sure they could be used in any grade. I have been seeing them in Dollar Tree since late May and pondering what fun I could have with them. Then it hit me! Word rods! Beginning sounds, middle sounds, ending sounds! Simple, fun, hands on word changing rods to engage my kinders during literacy centers. 

   But, thats not all! They make excellent math center activities as well! Even SELF CHECKING math centers. 

How To 

All you need are pool noodles (Dollar Tree),  pool noodle connectors (Dollar Tree), scissors (or a knife if you are OCD about having straight cuts), and a sharpie! 

First, cut your pool noodle into three parts. (Pool noodle not pictured, sorry, I accidentally used them all before I took the pic). Next, cut the ends of the connector to shorten it and SAVE the pieces. LASTLY, cut down the connector from one side to the other so that the pool noodle can easily be rotated inside of it. 

Slide the connector onto the pool noodle, use the Sharpie to add the words, addition sentences, etc, and you are all set to go! Wait... what about those extra pieces? We used them with foam letters to create name bracelets, but you could create letter bracelets, number bracelets, sight word bracelets... the possibilities are endless! 

If you don't want to create name bracelets then check out the ideas for using pool noodle pieces that I found on pinterest. Just click on the picture below to download some free recording sheets to use with the pool noodle rods. 

Martin Institute 2015! (Slideshow Included)

    Last week I was honored to present at the Martin Institute Conference 2015: The Heart and Soul of Teaching with my friend Greg Smedley-Warren from The Kindergarten Smorgasboard. This was my first time presenting at a conference and to say that I was nervous would be an understatement. We were told to expect about 30 attendees, but the 50 handouts we prepared were gone in a flash, space filled up, and the highly accommodating micon staff had to Ustream us into another room! This should have been intimidating, but call me crazy, the closer we got to beginning our presentation the more excited and relaxed I became. So, as it turns out, I LOVE presenting and I can't wait for a chance to do it again! This entire experience has just confirmed two basic facts that I have always known: 1. We teachers comprise a POSITIVE, SUPPORTIVE, and ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY. 2. No matter how experienced we are as educators, we all have something to share and we all have something to learn. 

Highlights from #Micon15: 

1. Obviously, presenting on how to Kick Start Your Centers! 

2. Listening to Dave Burgess, the author of Teach Like a Pirate. (If you don't have this book already, go buy it! Dave is down to earth and full of wisdom that is applicable regardless of grade level. Motivating, inspirational read!)

3. Connecting with and listening to so many exemplary teachers.

4. Dinner and drinks with the Davis Academy teachers! Love them!

5. Rocking my awesome new t-shirt that was custom made by A+ Images, Inc.! I was so excited when my shirt arrived in time for the conference. A+ Images is a company that truly loves supporting teachers. They are great with custom orders, class shirts, and also have really great teacher apparel. Be sure to come back and check them out after you download your slides. 

6. BLESSING! You may already know, but I am moving to Nashville this summer where I will be teaching K in a Metro Nashville Public School. I am excited about this new adventure, but leaving my sweet school is painfully difficult. Since the time I began considering a move I have been prayerfully petitioning the Lord to choose a passionate new K teacher for BCA, someone who would love our sweet littles, help them achieve their full potential, and MOST IMPORTANTLY glorify God by helping them know, love, obey and exalt Jesus! Well a teacher at Micon came to my session, heard about BCA for the first time, and decided to look into the school. WOW, God DOES work in the details! One week later and God has provided BCA with a new K teacher. I absolutely adore Callie Nichols and am having a wonderful time teaching summer school with her now! 

    If you were in our Kick Start Your Centers session at Micon15 then I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Hopefully it wasn't too painfully obvious that I was new at this! I am so sorry that we did not have enough hand outs prepared (not to mention space), but I am so thankful that so many of you joined us anyway. Ya'll were the highlight of my summer! 

    If you missed the session, or just want to review, click below to access all of our slides!

   And be sure to visit Greg's blog and show him some love! So thankful to have such a sweet friend who inspires courage in me and many others regularly. (He had to drive 3.5 hours just to get to Micon, so seriously, show him some love!)

Nash Teacher Bash

    Summer is in full swing and I have been BUSY BUSY BUSY...gearing up for conferences, summer program, and my move to Nashville. I am so thankful I was able to take one last weekend and kick back with some of the most inspirational individuals that I have ever met! The teacher blogger community is truly an amazing family and I feel so blessed to be a part of it. Our weekend was all about winding down after the school year and having some FUN together. 

Friday Night - My First Sounds Game! 

I hitched a ride and made a sweet new friend, Elizabeth, The Speech Owl! Turns out she is related to some friends from my hometown. It really is a small world y'all! 

Check out our cool GoNoodle shades! 

Saturday Afternoon - Lunch at Atmalogy 

This delicious meal was catered by Jim and Nick's BBQ  and provided by GoNoodle! Talk about a company that supports and loves teachers!  ESGI also was a presenting sponsor for our event. 

It was so good to reconnect with so many old friends who I got to know at the meet up in French Lick earlier this year. 

I made new friends with the Glyph Girls from my hometown! SMALL WORLD! 

Did I mention there were prizes? There were prizes! AND I won! 

I can't wait to get started reading my new book! Thanks Scholastic! 

AND I went home with a bag full of goodies from some giving companies that are all about supporting educators! Can't wait to bust out those Scentos markers in the classroom. 

As you can see, we packed the house!

Saturday Night - Dinner, Shopping, and Drinks 

We had dinner at Chuys and I absolutely loved sitting with Erica, Kim, and Lauren and chatting about all things K! After dinner we shopped a bit and headed over to the Opryland Hotel for drinks.

Lots of laughter and fun throughout the night! I must have heard, "Do NOT post that on social media!" a dozen times. 

Sunday Morning - Brunch 

Brunch at Monell's Manor was just other worldly and the service was great! Hate to tell them - teacher bloggers NEVER turn off their cell phones! 

The only negative was saying goodbye! Seriously hope I don't have to wait until Spring to see y'all again!

A BIG THANK YOU to ESGI, GoNoodle, and all of these amazing companies who donated to our meet up! 

AND and EVEN BIGGER THANK YOU TO THE AMAZING HOST AND HOSTESSES for making my weekend extraordinary! I cannot wait to be in Nashville with you all.