Ten Tally Marks!

When our class does a great job at following directions or at doing a nice job in the hallways so other classes can learn, we earn a tally mark.
When we get to ten tally marks, we earn a class reward!

Sometimes we get to take off our shoes for the day, sometimes we get free time to play or draw, and today we are having a popcorn party!

Here we are watching our video and chomping away happily:

I Did It!

I sold my first product on Teachers Pay Teachers!  Seriously, folks--that totally made my day, and it was a RUFF day.  (and yes, I spelled rough wrong on purpose, thanks for noticing.)  (And yes, I just started a sentence with the word 'and.')

But anyway, here's the product I sold if you're interested:

It's my Engineering Station.  I got the idea from a Sally Ride science workshop I attended back in September.  I asked parents to send in broken electronics, and we got things like old vcrs, dvd players, cd players, electric pencil sharpeners, remote controls, calculators, cell phones, etc.

My students use tools to take apart the electronics and record their observations of the parts and/or how the machines work.  Then their task is to use some of the parts they found to design their own machine or invention.  FUN.  Seriously, though--my kids are IN LOVE with this activity.  Kids that I've never seen get excited about anything have been running to me as soon as they finish an assignment to see if they can work in the Engineering Station.  GREAT critical thinking skills and creativity, people!  Not to mention it's funny when 7 year-olds say "engineering."

Here are some previews for you visual folks.  Click on any of the photos to check it out in my TpT store and to read more about it.  Thanks for stopping by!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Engineering-Station-Pack

Spelling Task Chart Freebie

Hey there!

I whipped up a little chart to display in my classroom so that my kiddos will know which Word Work/Spelling activity to complete each day.  We have 4 differentiated spelling groups (we use Words Their Way-eh...), and we rotate on Mondays to introduce the new sorts and on Fridays to assess.  The rest of the week the students work on their word sorts/patterns independently, so I have changed our morning routine to ensure that all students get spelling practice daily.

Please feel free to download this chart if it would be helpful to you.  I included a chart with 3 groups and one with 4 groups.

I'd love to know if you are able to use this or if you have any ideas of how to improve it!

Hope you all are having a good week so far.  Can anyone else not believe that it's only TUESDAY?!  How am I already so tired??  :)

Please click on the screenshot to download this Freebie from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Thanks again!  (8 days till Turkey Break!...not that I'm counting...)

Currently in November

 Well, it's a good thing I posted October's Currently a few days ago.  Since it's November now.  LOL.  WHOOPS.  Yeah.  But anyway, yay for Farley's Currently!!  Thanks, Farley, as always!

How do you feel about It's Always Sunny?  Hubs loves it, but it's gotten a little hit or miss for me.  This week's episode was pretty funny.  Sometimes it's just too far out there.

Happy Hour.  Enough said.

Sleep.  I'll never take it for granted again.

I can't complain too much about not having a fall break since we get off the entire week of Thanksgiving.  Yeah buddy.

I do need sleep.  I do need a maid.  I do need lots of other things, like a secretary (yes, just like Farley!  My teamies and I talk about this all the time)!  Like a bigger house to hold all the toys!  :)  But I truly can't complain.  I am SO very blessed in my life.

Pandora is the best.  Sometimes I put it on the Ambient Music station or other soft music, but the Kids Music station is great.  Unless a dance song comes on, and your entire class stops working and starts dancing.  In which case you should change the station or simply skip to the next song.  

Now head over to Farley's blog to share your own Currently and to meet some new bloggers!!

Happy Friday!!