Fun Links & Summer Ideas

Lately I've come across a few game sites and some other fun summer kid ideas that I feel the need to share! We all know that kids can get bored over the summer months, so here's hoping these ideas and links will help out kids of all ages! 

Whether they enjoy technology or hands on activities, hopefully there is something here for everyone. 

Enjoy! 

Summertime Fun: Pinterest Board

Highlights Kids

Watermelon Activities

Room Recess: Educational Games

Testing Tips & Tidbits

Just like many other schools across the country, our state testing begins this week. Anymore, that seems to be what schools focus on all the time, all year long. Sad isn't it?

 

Regardless of the heavy testing focus, schools are still required to administer these high stakes tests. Students are very aware of their importance, and just like on any other test, they can become anxious or nervous.

 

Thus, it's important to be even more positive with students this time of year. There are great motivational ideas and testing tips out there to help with this.

 

I am sharing a few of these below. If you have any other ideas, feel free to share! We'd all love to hear them!

 

Good luck to everyone on their state testing!

 

Free Testing Tips Bookmark

Cute Motivating Candy Labels

Testing! Testing! 1, 2, 3...

Jog Nog

Standardized Test Prep

Test Prep Stations

Soaring Through Standardized Tests: Freebie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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

Writing Pretty

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am a sucker for writing utensils!! I love to get a new pen or marker set that I can use at home or in the classroom! Of course, if you add some pretty paper to write on, that makes it even better!! 

Below are some of my favorite products or some neat DIY ideas! I hope you like them! 

I am a Sharpie Junkie!!

DIY Color Blocked Notebooks

Cute DIY Stationary

I love my cute little Jet Pen!

Crayola is the BEST!

Random Fun Finds

Here are some more great finds that I just had to share!! Thanks again to all of you who read and follow this blog! Your support is amazing!

Be Organized!

Yeah, so I am definitely one that is guilty of having that "Organized Mess" on my desk. However, it's really only as the day progresses. I always organize it and clean it up before leaving for the day, so that I can start fresh the next day.

We all know how messy the students' desks can be, too!! When I taught in the classroom, it would just astound me how quickly some desks would get cluttered inside. Now that I teach K-5 computers, this is not an issue for me, luckily.

However, I am including some great organization ideas below. One of the ideas is shown to be something you can do to help organize at home, but I can totally see it also being applicable to the classroom.

You're Under Arrest!

Tips for a Clear Desktop

DIY Organizer

Room Pictures