Hall Pass...I'll take it!

Love Reagan {Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits} and I love this linky party!!

Let's just get started:

I love my *best seller* Flat Stanley!

This packet is PERFECT to use when reading the stories and integrate reading, writing, map skills, and a little bit of math too!  The better news is that I am totally revamping it and adding a lot more goodies to the pack.  The bad news is my zip drive which contained all of the original packet goodies died so I will be just adding an additional unit...double the goods for you!

This is the original packet:

Here's the new cover {kinda still in the works too}:

What do you think? Should I change the cover?  Add anything?  I just don't know what to do with all that blank space! 

This was a little tough.  I like so many different areas in my room for different reasons.  

I love our "rug" area.  It's where all the learning takes place {well the majority of it}.  There's so much we do and interact with in this area.  Don't mind the chaos.  It was the end of the day!  I promise it usually looks a lot prettier. It's really not a good picture at all. Oh well...you get the point. :)

My signal depends on what we are doing.  During our Daily Five rotations I use a chime.  I do not have to say a thing.  They know to immediately stop what they're doing, clean up their area, and meet me on the rug.

I also use a lot of Whole Brain Teaching strategies.  Instead of saying "class" and they respond with "yes,"  I say "friends" and they respond "yes."  The clincher to keeping it working is to change up your voice.  I use funny accents and fluctuate my voice.  They love to repeat it in a silly voice!

To get my kiddos to go to their desks from the rug, vice versa, or to line up I like to use different things like:  walk like a penguin, tip toe quiet as a mouse, walk zig zag, hop like a bunny, etc... 

I love my kiddos and even though some days I'm just exhuasted and slightly over their ridiculousness I look forward to the silly things they say and do.  I look forward to the hugs and the love we all share for one another!

Keeping sane is easy.  I literally share an office and work side-by-side my teaching bestie who happens to be a real bestie outside of school too. I can vent to her, cry with her, laugh with her, and just sit and relax.  It's so wonderful having such an awesome support system 5 steps away.

My mom is also on my "speed dial" on my phone when there's a big crisis.  What would I do without my mama?! :)

Head over to Reagan's linky to find some more wonderful tips and tricks of the trade! I'm on my way!