Bouncy Bands for Bouncy Kids!

Do you have wiggly kids?  Who doesn't, amiright?!  I have a handful this year and coming up with ideas to use has been overwhelming.  I mean, there are SO.MANY.THINGS out there that I had no idea where to start.  Not to mention the million of "flexible seating" options out there.

So, when I got an email to try out Bouncy Bands in my classroom, I jumped on it.  {No pun intended-lol}  Well, actually, I hopped.  It was at the beginning of our school year and I forgot about that email, until we had a small talk about "learn-ature" in the classroom and bouncy bands came up.  Then I remembered and shot an email right back saying "I'm IN!"

Now, before I continue, I have to disclose that I am not allowed to take pictures of my students to share on social media.  I also received these bands to use in my classroom for an honest review.

My thoughts before trying: "I just don't see how these work.  I'd certainly want to play with them all day!"

After giving it a shot.  "AHHMAAAZING!"  I have one student in particular that has sensory issues.  I put the one on his chair and it was an almost INSTANT transformation.  He went from being a kid who constantly rocked his chair almost over all the time to one who sat still, or rather, didn't rock that chair!  He actually sat and concentrated on lessons-but instead of "bouncing" on the band, he sat his feet on top and was completely still!  When his OT came in to do her weekly evaluation of him, she was shocked at his improvement.

{This really was an accurate picture of my student!}

It's not really the only way my one particular student uses it.  When he's taking quizzes and tests, his feet are going strong-bouncing along, kicking it, instead of bouncing.  He finishes his tests and quizzes right in the mix of everyone else.  He's gone from not completing anything to completing about 90% of his work on time.  {Just keeping it real.  It may be a fantastic product, but it's not a miracle worker ;) }

I prefer the chair bands over the desk ones for the configuration of my classroom, and the kinds of kids I have this year.  The desk ones are great too, but I've found that in my group situations that kids are kicking each other or trying to put their feet on it at the same time, therefore defeating the purpose this year.  I can't say that it would be that way in all group desk situations because of the make up of my wiggly classroom.  The chair option is also great for moving around the room-whether it's to travel with a particular student or to have others use it too (if you need to share them).  I do plan on giving it another shot later in the year.

Before you run out and purchase-I want to warn you though.  There are many knock-offs on Amazon-and who wouldn't want to score a deal?!  But, those knock-offs are as good of quality as ordering directly from Bouncy Bands {or if ordering on Amazon, make sure the manufacturer is Bouncy Bands-they are prime eligible!}.  Their rubber will not hold up as well.  {and, well, after trying this out in the classroom and knowing how putting them on does take a little muscle work-I'd certainly hate for these things to break and shoot across the classroom!  Yikes!}  You are in luck though.  I have a deal for you!  If you purchase now through October 15 on Bouncy Band's website, you can get 10% off your order by entering in the code RULIN  

If you don't have cash but have a little time, many teachers are getting their bouncy bands through donor's choose!  Click HERE to get a few tips on getting funded!

These are truly a fantastic product.  I'm disappointed that I haven't tried these sooner.  Each year it seems that we have more and more students that have sensory issues as well as not being able to sit for very long without fidgeting.  Please check out Bouncy Bands site for more info and to get yourself one!  It is definitely one item to have in your classroom.

Classroom Rules--Keep it Simple!

In the many years that I have been a teacher, coming up with rules has always been a struggle.  I could never find rules I "liked" well enough to buy...  Kids would come up with about a million and one different rules...  I never had the same rules each year!

Last year, I had a big "ah ha" moment.  Why throw rules at these kids like they don't know what to do.  I mean, most kids KNOW how to behave-or know at least what it SHOULD look like, right?  I mean, when's the last time one of your little babes said, "WHAT?!" when you say you shouldn't run with scissors?!  Kids have enough to remember during the day, why add to it with a bunch of rules?

What we did:  Kept it simple!  TWO rules:  1.   Be Kind.  2.  Work Hard.  Think about it.  Doesn't ALL of those other minuscule rules fall under one of those 2 rules?
*Write your name on your paper:  Work hard (or be kind--to your teacher! ha!)
*Raise your hand to speak:  Be Kind
*Walk in the school: Be kind (I mean, if you run, you can hurt others, or even yourself and that's not kind!)

I created a quick, simple packet to include these.  These are actually rules I'll have in my classroom for TWO years in a row so far!

It includes the rule poster (as well as the font letters I used to create the other parts of the display)

It also includes a little pocket chart sort where you can work together (creating that caring classroom climate) sorting those many rules we had under the 2 BIG headings.  {Don't mind my electrical strip that goes down my wall.... off centered..}

As well as a few pages for the kids to work on during the first few days of school to review what our simple rules should be like!

Also included are sample letters we sent home to our parents last year.  We also include a clip chart in each of our rooms as we are to have the same system across the grade level.  I worded it in a way that the letter could be sent no matter what kind of clip chart you had.

Aren't using this across your grade level?  No worries!  I also included an editable template for you to create your own.  Of course you are free to use the wording I used too, since you'll receive that copy too.  I also added in an editable template for you to create other rules to sort in the pocket chart just because I know that I couldn't have managed to get every rule every classroom could possibly have had in my little ole packet.

Click {HERE} to grab this packet!  Please remember that if you do use this across your grade level, the packet is for one classroom use.  If you click and purchase additional licenses, you'll get those at 50% off!  Thank you so much for being considerate!

Pumpkin Behavior System!

Hi y'all!  It's been awhile.  This is why:

Family "selfie" at the hospital--after meeting their little brother for the first time! 

*This was last week with me and last night with his big brother Carson!  I just love baby toothless smiles!  Melt my heart!

Camden was born on his due date (mama had an induction set for that day, since I knew he was going to be big---and since he was my #3 son, they knew it would be okay to go ahead!)  We had a pretty easy birth (compared to my other two, that is!) and he's been pretty easy going so far (again, compared to my other 2!!!) :P  He's even given us 6-9 hours of sleep each night, with a few less in between there---but it's all more than I slept when I was preggo!

Next week starts "H" week... you can call it what you want.  Halloween.... start of the Holiday season...  a week of H*#@?!! :P  I've found through my experience that you can either dread it, or embrace it.  I've found the latter to be what saves my sanity!  While checking out the dollar store before Camden's one month appointment (which is next door!!!), I found these adorable styrofoam pumpkins.

Walking around inside, they had these packs to create pumpkins!

Driving home, I had the idea of having the kids create pumpkins for fun---but I wasn't buying one for each...  That's a bit pricy.  However, thinking about our bucket filling and class community, they COULD create it as a team (which is their table)---but they had to behave to get pieces!  And out popped this quick freebie that you could use if you want!  {click on the picture to grab your freebie to use in your classroom!!!!!}

Each group gets a laminated sheet with their team name.  I write TREAT on it.  If anyone has to move their clip or the team isn't behaving, I erase a letter.  If no letters are left at the end of the day, they do not get a piece for their pumpkin.  I haven't decided if they need to have ALL of their letters to get a piece or not.  Since it's the week before, I would suggest that having any letter left gets them a part.  I will let them know that they can lose a piece of their pumpkin too!  Fast forward to day 2... if they have a piece from day one, but have NO letters left on day 2, out pops the piece!

(my poster pictures and names match the sets I got at the Dollar Tree.  There is a second set in the pack where you can name your own team, but the pictures are the same)

*You don't need the Dollar Tree pumpkin, any would do.  However the Dollar Tree one can be used year after year.  The same with the pieces.  I had to go to 2 different ones to collect all 4.  I was thinking of using all of my kids' Mr. Potato Head pieces!  How fun would that be?  (and I know, since we have them too... there are Halloween versions for pumpkins of Mr. Potato Head!)

Here are the different pumpkins you can make from the Dollar Tree:

I know that it could be awhile before another post, so I wanted to let you know about this!  Another fun thing we do this week is our "hunts."  You can read my original post HERE and HERE.  I have parents send in flashlights with their kiddos.  We turn the lights off and "hunt" for our math or language arts problems!  Give kids clipboards and a flashlight---holy engagement batman! :)

I just created and uploaded a Second Grade version--completely aligned to the Common Core Standards.  Since I moved to second grade, and I had many of the kids last year, I needed something a little "different" and the skills SHOULD have been easy from my first grade packet.  You can check out my packs by clicking on the pictures below!

Second Grade:

First Grade:

Now, run.  Don't walk!  To your nearest Dollar Tree Store!  Get those pumpkins and have a fantastically frighteningly good behaved week!  Halloween is on a Friday!  It can't get better than that! ;)  (But that means November is the following week!  Oh, my!)

2 easy classroom management

Well, first, I have to tell you that I have had lack of pictures lately because I am currently packing up my classroom.  I have been asked to move to SECOND grade next year.  I've spent my entire career (of course, that's just 13 years) in K-1, so this is a big move!  The best part is that I'm moving back to my old room, that I was just in love with.  My current room lacks a lot of things... I'm not looking forward to moving a classroom when 7 months pregnant and during the humid, hot summer... but I know I have a great support system at school with many willing helpers.

Here are 2 things I do in my classroom that help keep me sane.  Hope that I can help you too!
 
1. Nametags.  I HATE how kids pick at their nametags.  It doesn't matter what you do, the little fingers ALWAYS find it.  Tape under, over, ends...  Velcro...  Last year, I decided to move the nametags to the sides of the desks, and use magnets.  We use our nametags for many things, from spelling names at the beginning of the year to using the numberline for math.  I didn't want anything permanent-so the magnets work perfectly.  The kids can take the name tags off at any time to put on their desks... you know, for substitutes or guest speakers--or to use to spell, add, subtract.

The best part??  No more dragging desks when it's time to move seats.  I have the kids take their belongings out of the desk and move their stuff and name tag to the new seat.  What used to take 15-20 minutes to drag desks, now take less than 5 to get settled!

2.  Table names.  Those table names should have a purpose.  Why have something hanging that kids look at ALL the time that isn't very useful?  I got these fabulous cards from Creative Teaching Press.  I laminated them and use a wipe off marker to rename the tables every few weeks.  I pick high frequency words that are tricky.  BUT, when I move to second grade, I plan on using vocabulary words and even some math facts!  The possibilities are endless, and since I can easily wipe off what's there, I can do whatever I want!

You can find these fabulous mini posters at Creative Teaching Press {HERE}!  They are WELL worth the money!  (There are also a variety of other designs that could work too!  My room has a lime and turquoise feel, so I went with the Dots On Turquoise!  They are the 10" cut outs!)