Just Kick It!

Sssh! The baby is sleeping! And Kitty, you better behave this time and not wake BabyP like you did this morning! Yes, I know you received some sort of personal satisfaction from doing it, but I would appreciate it if you would use your indoor voice when you want my attention.

Today my vocabulary improvement quest continues, and I am excited about a few goodies in the game department.  Online games? No! I have links to plenty of those! What I am in need of is some good, old-fashioned, let's-get-these-kids-out-of-their-chairs games.  And I hit the jackpot on a really neat site, The Teaching Channel.  I guess I have been living under a rock because this website has been around since 2011. 

The video below is the one that brought me to the website.  

But I really like this idea, too!
Really? Vocabulary paint chips? Why haven't I thought of that? Hmmm... trips to Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart will probably be in my future.

Here are a few other websites where I have found Vocabulary inspired games and activities:

• Flipit Word Parts (This activity screams for ActivInspire.)
• Expansions: An Online Book of Vocabulary Games (My students stare at a computer screen a lot.  I need ideas like these to mix it up sometimes.)
• Visualizing Vocabulary (Some of these methods have been around for awhile but could easily be updated using technology, such as Google Sites.

ActivInspire Me, Please!

One of my goals this summer has been improving my prefixes/roots/suffixes lesson plans, and although I have pages of ideas, my follow-through leaves a lot to be desired.  With August approaching,  I need motivation.  I need inspiration.  I need ActivInspire!

Over the last few years, ActivInspire has been my go-to resource whenever I feel the urge to be creative.  When I am in a rut, I google new and creative ways to use this software in the classroom. Here are a few ideas I may use this year, and you might like them, too!

Freebie: Daily 5 Center Signs

Download Variety Pack

I love summer! And this summer, with its wet baby kisses and raspberries, has been the best of all! As I write, BabyP sits in my lap with one finger in her mouth while I try to type one-handed.  I think she is feeling those two pearly whites, which are perfect in this mama's eyes.  Baby, don't you know Mama needs to use the home row keys?

Now on to the freebie! Teachers Pay Teachers is littered with Daily 5 materials, but most of it is geared towards elementary school.  I created center signs with a middle school audience in mind. They are available in five different color schemes as well as one variety pack.  Hope you enjoy!

"There's nothing so peculiar as a penguin..."

Teachers often have a lot of hidden talents.  While I was in college, I spent a lot of time learning how to use Photoshop.  Ten years later, I am still improving my graphic design skills.  One of my favorite things to do in the summer is create newsletter templates.  I don't often use them myself, but I like to post them for others.  You can download this newsletter template from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  

Behind the Scenes: This particular newsletter was inspired by one of my favorite cartoon shorts: Walt Disney's "Peculiar Penguins" from 1934.  Did I mention that I was Disney fanatic? I find inspiration in so many unusual places!

• Penguins Newsletter
• Penguins Labels
• Penguins Paper