Saturday, October 20, 2012
Being a Teacher and A Mom
Admist the chaos, I noticed this note on one of my desks written (thank God in dry erase marker) by my 6 year old.
It almost (*almost*) made up for the chaos!
How do you balance being a teacher and a mom?
Monday, October 8, 2012
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables - Expanding Our Horizons
My son's first grade class uses the snacks as a graphing lesson. They vote on the fruits and veggies they like the best!
Here are a few lesson plan ideas for learning about various fruits and vegetables.
How do you incorporate nutrition into your weekly lessons?
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The Magical Product Swap - Learning About Main Idea! Giveaway!
I was partnered up with the fabulous Brooke Conway from 3rd Grade Troopers! We were each allowed to choose an item from our partner's Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Gabbing About Giveaways October 5, 2012
Teacher Idea Factory is celebrating 1,000 followers with this great giveaway featuring a ton of great activities from a variety of teachers.
Success in Second Grade is celebrating her birthday with a fabulous giveaway featuring six different prizes!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
From Stickers to Success: Implementing a Classroom Token Economy to Enhance Behavior Management
Are you looking for a super easy way to implement a classroom economy? Try stickers!
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When I first considered introducing a classroom economy, I found many ideas to be overwhelming and time-consuming. Like most teachers, my plate is overflowing already, so I wanted a simple solution. That's when it hit me—stickers!
I remember how much I loved getting stickers as a kid, and my students love them even more because each one is worth $1 in our classroom economy.
What is a Classroom Economy?
A classroom economy is a system that uses rewards and incentives to encourage positive behavior and academic performance. It mimics a real-world economic system where students earn and spend "money" or tokens, which in this case are stickers.
How Do You Organize a Classroom Economy?
In my classroom, each student has a small notebook. Whenever a student turns in an assignment, answers a challenging question, or is "caught being good," they receive a sticker to place in their notebook. This simple token economy behavior reward system helps track their progress and encourages them to stay engaged.
At the end of the month, we host a mini-store where students can "spend" their stickers on various prizes, such as books, pencils, and erasers. To keep track of their spending, I use a Sharpie to cross out the stickers as they redeem them.
Is a Classroom Economy a Good Idea?
Absolutely! Using stickers as part of a classroom economy is an easy-to-implement strategy that effectively boosts student motivation and behavior. It provides a tangible way for students to see their progress and rewards them for their efforts.
By integrating a token economy behavior reward system like this into your classroom, you'll find that managing behavior and encouraging participation becomes more enjoyable and less stressful. So, if you’re seeking a practical and engaging approach to classroom management, give stickers a try—you might just find that it’s the perfect solution!
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Using Mad Libs In The Classroom
To make it a bit more interactive for all, I ask the category and tell them all to think of an answer, and put their thumb up when they have one. I then pull a stick or randomly call on them to answer. They have gotten really good at explaining to each other what verbs, plural nouns, adverbs, adjectives, and nouns are.
Now, they beg to be the Mad Libs readers:
Have you ever tried Mad Libs? What other fun things do you do with those "extra pockets of time"?
Friday, September 28, 2012
Win Gift Cards From Wal-Mart
Now, they are also having a contest just for teachers! The Classrooms by Walmart Sweepstakes! From now until November 4, if you register for Classrooms by Wal-Mart wish lists, you'll be automatically entered into daily drawings to win a Walmart gift card! Dozens of teachers will win $50 gift cards, and two lucky teachers will win our grand prize - a $500 Walmart gift card!
You can get extra entries by refering your teacher friends!
Enter Here