CATW

Our first and second graders took part in Christmas Around the World the week. We have 8 classes between the two grades. Each teacher picked a country they would discuss in their room. They would do a lesson, read a story, and do a craft. Some teachers even had treats for the students to try. My classroom was Mexico for the second year in a row. After last years adventure with making piñatas (which took way too long), I decided my craft was going to be a poinsettia ornament.

My class was the last class for the week. I decided to take a photo of them in the Mexican attire, and holding a Mexican flag (I made it last year out of butcher paper.).

TPT adventure and WBT Practice Cards directions

Like many teachers, I LOVE browsing all the great ideas on Teacherspayteachers. Today, I was looking for a comprehension test for a chapter book we have been reading during our read aloud time. Well, I was unable to find a test to go along with the book. That is when it hit me! I can just create one, and then put it on TPT for others to use if they are reading that same chapter book.

I began looking into what I needed to do to get started. TPT requires you to post your first item as a FREE item in your store. That was great because guess what? Remember the picture of my practice cards from the beginning of the year? Well, I made the direction sign on my own. So I had something to post in my store for free. One thing I learned at the regional conference was that all materials on TPT about Whole Brain Teaching should be free.

Click on the picture below to head to my TPT store, and get your WBT practice card directions now.

Corn Cob Toys

My class excited to make corn cob toys during in Native American unit in Social Studies. Thank you to Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom and the Oklahoma Pork Council for awarding us our grant.

Thanksgiving Feast

Every year our second graders have a feast with their families in our gym. They really enjoy it. This year they each pumpkin pie to take with them to the feast. The pumpkin pie recipe came from Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom.

Gilcrease Museum visitors

Today we had special visitors from the Gilcrease Museum. They spoke with the students about the Native American, and they danced for them. The students enjoyed every bit of it.

Pumpkin fun

One of the great things about receiving the Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom grant is all the great activities my student's get to enjoy. I had the classroom set up with several pumpkin stations today. They really enjoyed being able to feel the inside of a pumpkin.

Bushels for Books

I am always thankful for those organizations that have a special place for education. Oklahoma Farm Bureau began a new grant this year called "Bushels for Books". The grant program is setup to where farmers from regions across Oklahoma donated a bushel from their crops to purchase books for classrooms. My class is the lucky recipient for the Northeast Region. My principal and I attended the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Pancake Breakfast to receive my books.

The Oklahoma Fame Bureau gave acknowledgement to my school and myself on their Facebook page.

Boats and STEM

This week my students have been working on a STEM boat project. We had been talking about absorbency. The goal of this project was the students would design, build, and test a boat. They had several opportunities during the week to make changes. The only catch was they were given so much money to spend, as when they were broke. That was it. Some of the boats turned out really amazing, and they held a lot of weight. Then some boats sank immediately.

Butter

Our science unit over matter is always fun in my room. After the students learn what a solid, liquid, and gas, I read the story, "The Butter Battle" by Dr. Seuss. Before reading the story I give each student a 1oz container filled halfway with heavy cream. While I read the story, the kids shake the containers. We stop and discuss how it started as a liquid, and how we are changing it to a solid. The kids enjoyed eating their butter with saltine crackers.

*Butter lesson is from Oklahoma Ag in the Classroom. 

Practice card parent letter

As mentioned before the practice cards take the place of our behavior sheets. When a students has to be reminded of a rule more than once, you give them a white practice card. The student will spend 2 minutes (during recess or free time) practicing that rule, and they will take a note home for their parents to sign. The practice card stays in their packet until the note comes back signed. If the note does not come back after 2 days, you send the student with a copy of the note to a co-partner in the building. That adult will have them practice the rule, and then send them back to class.

I found a great letter at Teacher Will Run for Books. She has both the needs work note and the great job note.

Johnny Appleseed and an apple volcano

This week we have been learning about apples and Johnny Appleseed. The kids always look forward to the last day of a unit because they know it will be filled with fun and discovery. I was excited when planning for this week because I realized our science unit over matter would be happening during the same time. I knew I wanted to do something they would remember. Apple volcano!!! We would still be using apples for Johnny Appleseed, and it would also cover solid, liquid, and gas.

(Don't mind me. I always dress up on fun days.)

Practice Cards

The final thing I want to share, today that I put in my room, is the practice cards. As you can see they are all numbered, minus the ones under the directions. These will basically take the place of my weekly behavior sheets.

I just wanted to show you them. I will talk more about practice cards later on.

Super Improver Wall

Another component to Whole Brain Teaching is the Super Improver Wall. On the left you can see the color key for the cards on the right. Every student will start the year out as a "fan" in my room. Now the color key and labels can be tweaked to fit your classroom theme. I just used the theme from the book "Whole Brain Teaching for Challenging Kids" on page 102. 

The way I understand this to work is that everyone starts out on the same level (even ME). The first level everyone will have the same goal to earn their 10 stars.  Some students may earn the stars at different rates than others in the room. Once the student has earned a new level, you replace the card in the right with the new colored card. At the second level, every student will receive academic or behavior goals for just them. When a student reaches "living legend," they get a picture on the wall. It will remain there for years to come.

We will have to see how this works out in my room. By the way, I found the card with stars template and certificates for free on Shayla Blaschko's TPT store.

Scoreboard

One of the main components of Whole Brain Teaching for classroom management is the use of the Scoreboard Game.

As I am getting ready for the new school year, I want to make sure my scoreboard has a place on the front whiteboard, and that it is visible for everyone in the room to see. I will have to teach my students about the scoreboard day 1 of school. 

So the idea of the scoreboard is that when the student's are doing something (follow the instructions quickly, following class rules, everyone participating, etc.) to make the teacher happy, they receive a tally mark under the smiley, and they get to celebrate with a "Mighty Oh Yeah."  Now when the student's are doing something ( not following directions, not following class rules, not everyone participating, etc.), they receive a tally mark under the frowny and get a "Mighty Groan." 

WBT Conference

This past weekend myself along with two colleagues went to the Whole Brain Teaching Regional Conference in Lubbock, Texas. If you have never been to a Whole Brain Teaching Conference, let me just say you are missing out. You receive so much wonderful information to start implementing in your classroom immediately. The best part is the conference (regional and national) are both FREE!!! That's right I said free, and what teacher doesn't love free things. The part I enjoyed the most was that our wonderful presenter, Farrah Shipley, didn't hand out papers, read from them, and then except us to remember it. She used the amazing techniques Whole Brain Teaching offers to present the information. It was much more engaging. 

Look at my awesome door prize, I won, from the conference. It will get a lot of use in my classroom this year. 

OK Ag - 1 day tour

If you have never been on an OAITC 1-Day tour, you need to signup for one. They are in the summer, and one typical leaves from Tulsa and the other from OKC.

On this tour, we went to a pecan farm, Wi Rogers birth home, dairy farm, and a ranch. 

(Getting ready to leave)

(Group picture at Will Rogers home)

(Picture at the ranch)

(Dairy farm in Claremore)