Fill My Bucket...Ron Clark Style!

This year, my class is going to be going all out to become "Bucket Fillers".  I can not wait to build classroom community along with the self-confidence of each student by using this strategy. Kudos to whoever came up with the "Fill My Bucket" idea...it is GENIUS.

As I began to think about how I wanted my bucket system to work, and what types of behaviors/skills I wanted to encourage/teach/reinforce, one person came to mind...RON CLARK! If you haven't heard about Ron Clark or his academy located in good ol' Georgia...OH MY, OH MY, OH MY!!!! Last year, our entire faculty was privileged enough to be able to go to the Ron Clark Academy and visit, observe, stand in amazement at the remarkable things that they are doing to amp up the learning and make it BEYOND fun and meaningful! I am telling you what...if any one person can motivate teachers to make every moment with our kids count THIS is your man! I am not going to babble on about Mr. Clark because I could seriously go on for HOU---RS!!!! Instead, I am going to link you to his website so you can see for yourself: The Ron Clark Academy...prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor! See...already babbling! Oh...BUT one more thing...if you have not seen the Ron Clark Story (movie) it is a must for any teacher! So incredibly motivating and will definitely hit home (many times) for any teacher!

OK...MOVING ON...back to bucket fillers! So, this year I have decided to implement some of Ron Clark's Essential 55 into my classroom (side note: This books is FANTASTIC). Although I think "friendship skills" are of great importance, I also think it is so empowering to teach young children how to treat others both inside and outside of the classroom.  Many people say, "that's the parents job!" and although there are some crazy amazing parents out there (I love my classroom parents too!)...let's face it...this is not reality for every child. So, it becomes the teachers job and I am more than happy :) to incorporate such powerful lessons into my classroom. Since 55 "rules" (I call them principles) are hard to remember, I have created " The Top Ten Essentials" (every bucket filler should know). These are ten of Ron Clark's Essentials that I think would best enhance the classroom atmosphere that my students and I work to create each day! Each rule is taken from Ron Clark's Essential 55 and some are slightly modified to appeal to a younger audience :). Of COURSE I had to make them cute for the classroom!  I plan to hang these essentials up around our buckets as they are put into practice! I highly recommend introducing each "rule" at separate times. All at once = BRAIN OVERLOAD! Once they have an understanding of the rule, have had time to practice inside and outside the classroom, or simply as the occasion arises...introduce the next rule. I also recommend allowing students to share how they are applying these principles in their life. The stories are so adorable and motivating...even for youngsters!

Whew...that was a lot! Click on the picture below to download the "The Top Ten Essentials" posters.  

The Bestest Children's Author...I Tell You!

It's day three of the Clutter Free Classroom's Prompt of the Day Linky Party. Up on deck...favorite children's author. Do I seriously have to choose just one? I am pretty sure that my list of favorites is oh...say...a couple pages long! I just love SO many. A few of my classroom favorites include Mo Willems (BIG hit with my students), Mary Pope Osborne (Magic Tree House = L.O.V.E.), E.B. White (Charlotte's Web...need I say more?) and the list goes on and on and on! BUT...if I had to choose one favorite (at the moment) I would say...drum roll please...Barbara Park and her "bestest" collection of Junie B. Jones books. Yes, at times we do have to discuss a few of the "bad words" used in the stories but how can you not love this little character? She is so stinkin' cute and the kids just think that she is hilarious!!!! These books make it so easy to sell young readers on the idea of "Practice Makes Perfect". They just can't get enough of her and I so enjoy watching them giggle as they are reading about all of her very own "Personal Beeswax".   

To encourage reading and student achievement, our school always has an Academic Celebration to kick off the summer and celebrate all of our student's achievements each year. So...WHO did I just HAVE to invite to join us at our first grade tent??? Junie B. Jones of course! I had one of my dear, sweet cross country girls dress up as Junie B. herself and let me just tell you, I was amazed at the resemblance. Of course, the students went  B.A.L.L.I.S.T.I.C.!!!! They were able to get their picture made with her and continued to talk about their visit with Miss Junie B. for the remainder of the year! She will definitely be making her way back to our classroom very soon!



All the Singin' Ladies

Miss Kindergarten is hosting a linky party to share songs in the classroom and boy Ohhhh boy, if this is not a linky party for me I don't know what is! Let me just tell you that I love...and when I say love, I mean LOVE to sing! I swear I have dreams of one day becoming a true pop star...for real! But until then ; ) my classroom can be my stage. Each year I am pretty sure that my students "inherit" this love for singing too because every time we have a new concept they always say..."Do you have a song for that?" So, here is one of our favorites. It is all about subtraction this time set to the tune of "We Will Rock You".  The best part of this song is watching the students try so, SO hard to maintain the beat on their desk! Truly HILARIOUS!! Love it! Click on the picture below to get your singin' and dancin' on! I will definitely be posting more songs later on! Stay tuned and have a fantastic Wednesday!

Rockin' Randomness and a Little Thing Called Pinterest

Why is it that every time I walk into my classroom, I get this crazy excited/nervous feeling in my stomach? Then it hits me...the REALIZATION of how much WORK I have to do and yet there is sooo little time! Yikes! However, I am super excited about a new school year and can't wait to hit the ground running (which is why I am already in my classroom...4 weeks early!) If you are feeling the same way, here are a few FREEBIES that may just help you out!  :)

A great way to reach your students even before the year begins is by sending a quick little note letting them know just how excited you are to be their teacher! This year, I am sending a postcard a week before school begins and let me just tell you...It ROCKS! :)  You can click on the picture below to snatch this up! This download is not just for second grade. It will include postcards for grades K-5.

                                             Next up on the list...Magic Snack Mix.

Can I just say...THANK YOU PINTEREST! If you are not a member of pinterest, you have no IDEA what you are missing out on. Please post a comment below and I will be more than happy to send you an invitation. The ideas for classroom, lesson plans, themes, organization...are out of this WORLD! If you are already a Pinteresting Person, you can follow my boards here! 

As I was browsing the other night, I found the most adorable back to school magic snack mix. Quite possibly one of the sweetest things I have seen. You attach the poem to the snack mix and BAM...you've got an awesome treat to have waiting for your newbies during your back to school night! I wish I could take credit for this creative little poem, but you can hop on over to Amazing Grace to say a big THANK YOU for such a fabulous idea! You can download the poem below. I have two...one if you are rockin' out with a music theme and one general classroom theme. Enjoy! 

Just Call Me...The Life of the Party

I am linking up yet again with The Clutter Free Classroom's Prompt of the Day Linky Party! Today’s topic: favorite picture books. “Based on the illustrations alone, my favorite picture book is A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon.” There are just way, WAY too many amazing picture books to choose from but this book was honestly one of my favorites this year. This story also provides a great lesson in being unique!  If you have not read this story, definitely add it to your list of  “Must Reads” this year! I promise it won’t let you down!

                                            Yes, that is in fact a pumpkin!!!! :)

Around Halloween, my students participated in pumpkin book reports. One of my students created her pumpkin to represent this very story and let me say it was absolute cuteness. Again, LOVE this story!!! I will be posting more information about pumpkin books reports as the season arrives. Trust me…it will be here before we know it! What are your favorite picture books?