Sparklers!

Today I am revisiting this blog post that has continuously been my top viewed post for the past two years {you may have also seen this image posted on Pinterest}!  It's a great classroom management post and a good way to get you thinking for next year {for those of you over-achievers}.

I have used this fun little classroom management tool in my room for four years and it is HANDS DOWN the BEST way to get your kiddos transitioned in a timely and quiet manner.  I've used this with both my first graders and kindergartners.  

This year {since I went back to kindergarten and no longer had individual desks, instead had tables} I placed the magnetic holders on my dry-erase board in front of the class.  It worked just the same...wonderfully! :)

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I love playing little 'classroom management' games with my kiddos!  My first graders LOVE to play the "beat the teacher" game.  How to play "beat the teacher:" I have an area on my dry erase board where I write "Mrs. McHaffie vs. Class," every time a student calls out an answer or something of that nature I get a tally mark.  Every time the students raise their hands, THEY get a tally!  Whoever has the most tally at the end of the day wins!!  So simple and easy and the kids LOVE it and it really helps with calling out!

Sparklers is a version of a game I was introduced to when I was interning.  These cute little "sparkle balls" as my kiddos call them are from your local craft store.  I got the magnetic holder to place on each group of desks {I've grouped together 5 desks to make a "clump island" :)  }  from the Dollar Tree!!

Here's how the Sparklers work:  When we transition from one area of the room to our individual desks, each "clump" has an opportunity to earn a sparkler for their "island."  Once the "island" has earned 6 sparklers they earn some type of reward.  They earn a Sparkler by going to their desks quickly and quietly, getting out their needed materials, and showing me they're ready to work and/or listen for directions.  This helps with making transitions run smoothly and we are able to get right to their next lesson!  

Their rewards are NEVER food and/or candy. I reward with them with things like: a choice of a new eraser or pencil to add to their 'toolbox' or I might let them be the first to line up for the rest of the week.  Something easy and simple like that!  The best part is... the kiddos L O V E it and really encourage one another to earn Sparklers for their group!!  It's so fun being in first grade!

Any cute and fun classroom management ideas from the "peanut gallery"?  :)

Valentine Ideas

Valentine's Day will be here before we know it!!  This year I've been trying to come up with some cute, new ideas for my kiddos to give and to receive!

These butterfly valentines will be for my kiddos to make for their parents!  So simple, easy, and A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E!!

 This treat I've done before and they're always a big hit!  Another quick and easy treat for the kiddos from me to them!  I am working on a cute tag to attach to the cookie-pop as well and will have that up shortly.  This is just a sugar cookie with a lollipop stick attached.  I found the lollipop sticks at Wal-Mart last year in the party crafts section.  They were called something else, but that has slipped my mind!  While the cookies are baking, I add the sticks to them half way through. 

There are some really cute Valentine craft ideas on Cara Carroll's page as well!  Be sure to check those out too!  Any other cute ideas that you do??

Gus Groundhog

Wednesday was an extremely busy day for my class.  We were celebrating Groundhog's Day, the 100th day of school, and a classmates birthday all wrapped up in one day! Needless to say, we survived....or I survived!  

This year I totally got into Groundhog's Day!  It is so much fun!  I never really went into depth on groundhog's with my kinders but this year I purchased Cara Carroll's Groundhog Unit and MAN did I go to town!  There are so many cute ideas out there!  

This is Gus, our class groundhog.  I don't really consider myself crafty or artsy but I think I did a pretty dang good job of making my groundhog!!! :)

 I L-O-V-E this groundhog six week project!!!!!  This is so great and an awesome addition to our Calendar Math Books!  I downloaded Cara's template {no sense in reinventing it, PLUS is absolutely ADORABLE} and made it into a book!  I laminated the front and back covers and printed their names on labels (this was not intentional...I accidently laminated the book before writing their name, but they still are cute).  My kids are loving keeping track of the weather and really 'investigating' information about the groundhog's track record!

 We did some cute activities for the 100th day of school, but I have to be honest, I spent more time celebrating Groundhog's Day.  One of the activities we did I took from Deanna Jump!  How cute are these portraits?!  The kids loved making themselves 100 years old!

(sorry the picture quality is not so great on these pictures)

I'm so happy our busy week is over.  Onto Valentine's Day activities and Presidents!

What about Florida?!

I just would like to say....I WANT A SNOW DAY TOO!!!!! Can I get a beach day instead?! My goodness!!! I wanna catch up on all this fun blogging stuff too.

:) Okay... just needed to get that out!

Happy Friday!

Valentine's Day Party

Every year my kiddos and I declare February "heart healthy" month!  We request healthy snacks for snack time and discuss ways we can keep our hearts healthy (it ties so wonderfully into Valentine's Day)!  I don't know about you but the sugar highs my kids get from all the candy and JUNK during our holiday parties makes them C-R-A-Z-Y, which of course in turn drives me crazy!  So for Valentine's Day every year I throw, along with my kiddos, a Valentine's Day Breakfast!  

I set it up so that parents and grandparents are allowed to sign up to bring in a yummy breakfast treat and join us first thing in the morning for breakfast!  We make cards for our loved ones, make place mats, create invitations inviting our loved ones, and decorate the room.  School starts at 8:30 for us and I usually invite the families to join us for breakfast at 9am. This gives us time to come in and get settled.  The parents and/or grandparents join us for breakfast and then take their food items along with them when they leave around 9:45!  It's so awesome!  No preparing, no mess, no cleanup!  The added bonus is you now have a full day to finish all other items on your list and your kiddos aren't bouncing off the walls!!!!

I usually do a card exchange at the end of the day, however, after purchasing Deanna Jump's Valentine's Day unit, I will be helping my kiddos make Valentine's Day scrapbooks!  LOVE IT!

What do you do special for Valentine's Day?

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Meet the Teacher

Cara over at The First Grade Parade is doing a cute little teacher "link up" and encouraging all of us fabulous teacher bloggers to do a little 'meet and greet'.  So cute!  So here goes my soapbox! 

This is me and my amazing husband of four years.  We've actually been together for 9 years (how we met should be made into a Lifetime movie). We met when we were just 18, and yes, I know we still look 18! My name is Kelly.  I've had MANY nicknames through the years (many of which rhymed with Kelly), however, the one that always seems to stick is Shocker (my last name used to be Shockley).  

I love being with my family and friends.  I long for girls nights and martinis!  I'm seriously addicted to Starbucks and spend all my money on things for my classroom and jewelry.

I graduated with my bachelor's degree from Flagler College in Florida and am currently getting my master's from Walden University online and I graduate THIS MAY!!!!  I'm SO excited to be D.O.N.E.!!!

My hubby and I have two sweet little boxers, Nelly and Milo.  

My husband just started is own clothing line, BUILT Clothing, so kids aren't really in to near of the future for us.  We're enjoying being in our 20's!

I have been teaching for three years now and love every second of it!  I taught kindergarten for the first two years and am now in FANTASTIC first grade!  I love first grade and hope that I am able to stay here for a V-E-R-Y long time!

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                           
A:  I would probably be a detective or forensic scientist.  Not sure why, but I am OBSESSED with murder mysteries.  Plus I'm extremely nosy and always want to know what happened and how and why! :)

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                  

A:  Reading and going to the gym.  Seriously, can't get enough of either!  I also am liking this blogging world!                                                           

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                   
A:  I wanted to be in tv productions and a meteorologist for the longest time!  My mom always tells me that when I was really young I would say I wanted to be an ice-cream scooper!  Ha!  I think I just liked the idea of EATING all the ice cream!
 
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                
 A: Cookies!!!!!!  Starbucks, Real Housewives (all of them), The Bachelor, Teen Mom (1 & 2), Jersey Shore, and wine! :)

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                     
 A: SNAKES and free falling.  Just the word snakes freaks me out!

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                                 
 A: To the beach or to the mountains!  Me and the hubby love to go hiking!  Really anything outdoors works for us!
                                                          
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                

     A:  It's not what you know, it's who you know!

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                 

    A:  Respect.

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                      
A: My sense of humor (which is really the ability to make light of a situation).  I enjoy making people laugh!

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                             
A:  Jennifer Aniston... man, to look like her when I'm her age!!!  also, Heather Whitestone (she was a former Miss America) and probably (totally stealing this from Mrs. Carroll) fellow bloggers whom I've been "stalking"; Cara Carroll, Deanna Jump, Sarah Cooley, and Babbling Abby.  I would really like to pick their brains! :)

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:
I was a complete tomboy growing up.  The movie Doc Hollywood was filmed in my SMALL hometown of Micanopy and McIntosh, Florida.  I'm friends with Ricky Carmichael (the former Supercross champion) and I long to live in Australia (men with Australian accents melt my heart!) :)

So...what about you?!

Snowmen and Character Day

This week was a pretty fun week!  We spend some time learning about winter weather and did a lot of fun snowman activities.  The first one, featured below, turned out so adorable.  After reading many snowman inspired books we created our own snowman story.  I got the writing template from The First Grade Parade, however just 'free-handed' the size of the snowmen template.  The kids had to come up with a creative story about their snowman and then create their snowman!  They did such a great job! 

 This is a snowman activity I've done for the past three years, however, also saw that Mrs. Carroll does this as well!  I think the original idea came from a TLC lesson.  First the kiddos paint a snowman body with a marshmallow (this is BY FAR their favorite part), then after it dries, the cut out their snowman and glue him to a bigger paper.  We read the story Snowmen at Night and then do a reader's response.  Didn't they turn out so cute?!  I think so!

 The two snowmen above are playing a guitar and dancing in the snow!  I LOVE their creativity!  The dancing snowman even has a spotlight!!!!  How adorable!  The snowman below is going sledding down the hill of snow!  

 This snowman activity was taken from Deanna Jump's unit on Snowman.  It's a MUST grab!!  I did, however, change it up a little bit.  I was out of light blue construction paper so I cut the snow globe out of plain old white paper.  Then I had the kiddos illustrate their snow globe and then use blue water color paint to paint the background blue.  Then I used glitter modpodge to paint over once everything was dry!  Some look like they're underwater but HEY, I had to deal with what I had! :)  I think they turned out cute!  Next time, however, I will be prepared with the proper construction paper color.

 This week at our school was Celebrate Literacy Week and as a culminating activity, the first graders had Character Day on Friday!  I had my kids do a Favorite Character Book Report and bring in their book to share with the class.  They LOVED it!  Here we are getting ready for our Character Day Parade!!  We had so much fun going through all the other classrooms!

 Here are a few who were dressed up (and some others who snuck in).  We have two Fancy Nancy's, Pippi Longstocking, The Pied Piper, Pinkalicious, Alexander, and Mia the ballerina kitty. 

 I must say, these two were my FAVORITES:  This is Pippi Longstocking.  You can't really see her hair but it is braided and curled up w/ the support of a clothes hanger.  She also had a monkey that she carried around her the ENTIRE day, except of course while we were on the playground. :) Adorable!

 And this sweet boy is dressed as Alexander from the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!  He was so proud of his hair sticking straight up!  I must say this sweet friend was so excited to be dressed as his favorite character he INSISTED that I read HIS book FIRST (and I did, of course)!  So cute!

What does your school (or YOU) do to celebrate literacy?! 

Sight Word Jenga!

Since starting the Daily Five I've been on the hunt for some cute game ideas that I could easily adjust to make into a sight word review game.  Then I had a brilliant idea (that I'm sure is 'old news' to most of you) to change plain old Jenga to Sight Word Jenga!  

It's SOOOO easy.  All I did was write sight words on both sides of the Jenga blocks.  The kids play the same way, however, when they pull out the Jenga block they have to say the sight word.  They earn a point each time they say the word correctly.  The player with the most points WINS!  So fun and my kids LOVE it!  I have a worksheet that I created to go with it so the kiddos are able to keep score, however, I'm still trying to figure out the whole 'google docs' and 'scribd' thing (yes, I know I'm young and should know how to work the technology, but honestly, I'm struggling ) :(

Will have it posted, hopefully, SOON!

Happy Friday!

Character Day

I am so excited!  This week is Celebrate Literacy Week and on Friday my class, along with the other first grade classes, will be participating in Character Day!! This is a chance for my kiddos to dress up and if you know ME, and my kiddos, we L-O-V-E to dress up!  I already know who I will be dressing up as... no other than... Fancy Nancy!!!  :)  To prepare for this fun filled day of literacy fun, I have sent home a Character Book Report.  You can download it HERE.
The kids have all week to complete the report and get the costume all together.  On Friday we will each get a turn to sit in the Author's Chair and tell all about our character, our favorite book that our favorite character is in, and why we love them so!  I can't wait to post the pictures of us all dressed up!

Who's your favorite character?

Snow Day... in Florida!

Okay...it wasn't really snow but we sure enjoyed acting like it was! :)  Since we NEVER get to play in snow in Florida, I created these extremely simple 'snowballs'.  I printed sight words on white copy paper, cut them in half, and balled them up into 'snowballs'.  The kids had to open the snowball and read the word before they could throw it.  To make it more exciting they had to yell the word out!  My kids could not have had more fun!!!

Here we are with our snowballs in hand and our targets in our mind and in sight!!  ... Don't mind my messy desk, or the sweet friend on the chair...oops!

In action...laughing the ENTIRE time!

 I highly recommend this 'snowball' activity.  Such a great way for them to 'let loose,' have some fun, and practice their sight words! :)


Onto another note:  Can NOT get this stinkin' picture to turn the right way to save my life BUT this is a picture of our peace doves that we created during our Martin Luther King Jr. Unit.  I snagged this idea from Mrs. Larremore's MLK mini unit!  So cute, even though they kind of resemble fish more than dove's. :)

 I sent home these awesome bookmarks to give parents some great reading strategy ideas to use at home when they're reading with their little one's.  I got the copy of the book mark from Mrs. Bainbridge's website, then glued them to poster board, and laminated them! So simply and easy and I know the parent's will use them because my first graders are obsessed with book marks! 

Here's to another great week and the WEEKEND!! :)