Don't Be A Bully!

I hate bullying! I hate all kinds of bullying! I do not like the fact that this issue is increasingly becoming more and more of a serious problem in our society. I worry for my own kids as well as all kids that I know and love. 

Bullying is mean, hurtful, dangerous, unnecessary, demeaning, cowardly, and just plain DUMB! I have already begun to instill into my own kids that bullying will not be tolerated. Whether they are bullied themselves or they become a bully, I will not tolerate it! 

Bullying has had some serious repercussions in recent times. Some kids even go as far as taking their own lives because of being bullied so severely. It's time to make this epidemic STOP! 

It's gone too far and we all need to work together to educate everyone about why bullying is not okay, how to stop it, what to do if it happens, and how to recover from it. 

Just because bullying is mostly seen in a school setting, does not mean that it does not exist in the adult world as well. 

ALL BULLYING is NEVER OKAY! Let's take a stand. 

Below are many resources for educating people of all ages on this disturbing trend. 

Cyberbullying

Bullying Prevention

The Bully Bucket

How Will I Stop Bullying?

The Thumper Theory

Stop Bullying: Speak Up

Anti-Bullying Awareness Video

Back to School Freebies and Ideas

I know that even though many of you still have weeks left of vacation, so many of you are already thinking about and planning for the new school year. 

With that said, I am including a few links below to either free resources or great ideas to help you prepare for the new year! 

Enjoy! 

Back to School Resources for You

How to Get Cheap Classroom Posters

Schedule Cards

Good Listener Poster Set

Getting to Know You Sheets

Classroom Rules Signs

Parent Inventory Sheet for Open House

Stickers & Rewards

Kids of all ages LOVE stickers! I'm an adult and I still like them!

In my computer lab, I give stickers out as rewards and also occasionally let kids pick something from my treasure box. It's important to reward students who are consistently doing the right thing.

However, things like good manners, etc. are something that should just happen and don't necessarily need a reward each time.

Everyone uses rewards differently in their classrooms or with their own kids at home. Kids love it and thrive on it!

Below are a few sites where you can find great selections of stickers and rewards!! I know that I also love to check out Target's dollar bins or the Dollar Store for items as well.

I hope everyone is starting off the new school year well! Happy Friday!

Stickers Ahoy

Schoodoodle

Oriental Trading

Kids Love Stickers

Ready for the Year!

After many hours of hard work this week, I am officially ready to welcome students into my computer lab tomorrow! I am teaching K-4 this year, due to a huge student population increase (last year I was K-5). I am excited about this, even though I have to travel next door to our other building, the "middle" school, in order to teach my 4th graders. 

Below, I am posting a few pics of my classroom. I used Angry Birds and Social Media as my major theme this year. I hope you enjoy! 

Best of luck to everyone as you begin your new school year!

My Angry Birds "Volume Reminder Sign"  and more

Facebook Page bulletin board

Facebook Page bulletin board

New Computer Numbers

Word Wall

Sign to help the kiddos

Mini "Words with Friends" display

This year's schedule

Safe seat with some awesome signs that I found online

Rules

Twitter "Feed" a.k.a. My Objectives

Back to School: Part 4

Well, my brain is surely in back to school mode now. I can't deny it: I go back to work on Monday. ((sigh))

However, I just keep finding so many AMAZING ideas for the classroom, that I just had to do another post and share my findings. 

Today, I am focusing mostly on the classroom setup and organization. 

I hope these ideas and tips are useful or can be passed on to others who are looking for "somewhere to get started" for the new year. 

Enjoy!

31 Books to Read About School

Great Ideas from Kindergarten Kindergarten

Classroom Photos

Let's Give Them Something to Talk About

Around the Class

How to Decorate without Upsetting the Fire Marshall

Introducing...Me!

Classroom Scavenger Hunt

Thanks for entering!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway for the Angry Birds Classroom Management packet. 

The winners have been chosen, and Terri and Mindy you are the WINNERS! Please check your inbox! Congrats!

We are close to 10,000 views on this blog and I need to plan something super spectacular to celebrate. 

Suggestions? Ideas? 

Have a great Sunday everyone!! 

Classroom Management Giveaway!

I have created another Angry Birds freebie!! This packet focuses on Classroom Management: Angry Birds Style!

I know with the new school year quickly approaching, classroom management becomes a huge focus in the classroom. I hope this packet will help!


Packet includes goal setting mini-charts, Stoplight resource, and positive notes.

Please enter the Giveaway below for your chance to win! This contest runs from July 24-28! I will be giving away the packet to 2 lucky winners! Best of luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back to School: Part 2

There are so many great ideas out there for getting a new school year started off on the right foot!! If you have any ideas to share, please feel free to post them in the comments or share them on my Facebook or Twitter pages. 

Teachers are each other's best resources!! Enjoy more links! 

• Back to School Party
• Classroom Expectations
• Back to School Bag
• Creative Things to Do For Back to School
• Cute Decor and Ideas
• Creative Back to School Ideas

Summer, please SLOW DOWN!

I don't know about the rest of you, but I cannot believe it is Mid-July already! I only have 3 full weeks of Summer Vacation left after this week. :-(

With that said, I am definitely thinking ahead to the next school year, even though I don't really want to be thinking about vacation ending. 

I teach elementary computers and I have been looking up neat ideas to help organize and "spruce up" the computer lab for next year. 

Below are some links to many ideas that I have found so far, but I am also open for input as well! 

Feel free to share ideas/tips below or via my Facebook or Twitter pages. 

2012-2013 will be my 8th year of teaching at the elementary level, but only my 2nd in the computer lab. I am looking forward to another great year!

• Control Tree and Word Wall
• Computer Lab Posters
• Computer Lab Reminders
• Technology in High Heels
• Wall Keyboard
• Shortcuts
• Computer Lab Photos
• Rules

More TpT Freebies-Cooperative Learning

Again, Freebies are just awesome! TpT has so many of them, it's almost impossible to browse them all! 

Today, I started looking at some of more recent Freebies listed under the category "Cooperative Learning". 

Some of the items listed below would be perfect for Back to School! 

Minute Olympics: Range, Median, & Mode

Beginning of Year Activities

Whole Brain Attention Getters and Grabbers

Race Around the Clock

Wacky Science Inflate a Balloon

Ocean Themed Group Table Signs

The Meaning of the Original Olympic Motto

Find Someone Who...Icebreaker

Camp/Outdoor Theme

Cooking With Chef Ad J. Tive

Random Aids and Fun for the Classroom

Today I have happened upon a few posts about different organization ideas or fun tips to help in the classroom.

Most of these ideas are FREE! We all enjoy free resources right? Anyway, I hope these are useful. Enjoy!

Types of Games to Use in Classrooms

Computer Lab Bingo

Free GameBoards for Task Cards or Flashcards

20 End of the Year Reflection Questions

Labeling

Lesson Plan Template Freebie

Classroom "Helpers"

Classroom Organization Tips and Ideas

Even though many of these will not personally help me in my own classroom, I sure hope they help others. I teach Elementary Computers, but did teach in the classroom for many years in the past. I only wish I had know about these awesome ideas then! 

Putting Together the Classroom Library

Guided Reading Organization

Writing Centers Organization

Dry Erase Storage

Math Mania!

It's time for some great Math resources! Some are holiday related, so I hope that they are useful in the coming weeks.

By the way, The Groundhog saw his Shadow today, so 6 more weeks of Winter. I certainly don't believe it based on the mild Winter we've been having here in Missouri, but who knows.

Anyway, enjoy the Math freebies! Happy Groundhog Day, too!

Abraham Lincoln's Least Common Multiple

Winter Kids' Math Pack

Math Hunt: U.S. Presidents

Super Star Math Recording System

Fun Printables and Rewards

I always try to change up the rewards that I have each class work towards for their good behavior in my Computer Lab. I don't want the students to lose interest in acting responsibly.

One common one that I try to rotate often, is a Game Day. The students love it! They are allowed to play any online games as long as they are not violent. I have many sites saved to my bookmark site.

I have also used a reward called "Free Seats". This allows the students to sit anywhere they like for one computer session. However, I still reserve the right to move people as needed.

A new one that I've also tried, is "Fun Stations". Basically, depending on the grade level, they are allowed to play games online, color pre-printed coloring sheets, play card games, do origami, etc. I have the stuff set out ahead of time. They really enjoy having some options.

Here is the link for my "Fun Stations" document (complete with links to resources). It is from my TpT site:

Fun Stations

I am also including three other fun links to Printables or Fun Ideas to use with children. Enjoy!!

Print Activities

More Coloring

Crayola