Tips & Tools 4 Back2School Blog Hop - Week 5

 It's Sunday -- Time for another tip & tool for getting back to school.  

Today's post is brought you by a super-fun bloggy buddy -- Amy at Learning Lessons with Mrs. Labrasciano

Give her a hand ya'll -- she was one of the lucky ones that was living the blogging gal's life in Vegas this week and she made it back with a blog ready for our Sunday blog hop.  I don't think I could have been that super!

Stop by her blog and take a peek at Setting Up a Classroom Guide

Don't forget to check back next Sunday for another Primary Peep's tip & tool!

You "Oughta" Know About...Finger Management!

I am so excited to participate in a fun blog hop called "You Oughta Know" with Jasmine from Buzzing with  Mrs. McClain. 

Don't you absolutely love the title??  I think it is so catchy!  Especially when you find out what it is about...

Have you ever sat in a colleagues classroom and something catches your eye?  When you inquire about it, they tell you and you think ---- Wow!  How have I never done that?

This is just like that --- but virtually and through blogging.  What a brilliant idea.  I can hardly wait to read about all the a-ha's my fellow teacher bloggers have to share.  I'm pretty sure I will find some great new ideas I haven't used and so will you!!

So what is Finger Management, you ask?  I'm sure some of you already have something like it in place.  This little system is one I have used for years now.  This is my 14th year teaching and I have to admit, it is one of the most used classroom management systems I have and I can't imagine life without it.

In the beginning I used ASL signs for students to signal if they wanted to go to the restroom.  I loved it but I needed some other quick signals for daily questions.  You know: 

"Can I get a drink of water?"

"Can I sharpen my pencil?"

"Can I get a tissue?"

"Can I?"

"Can I?"

"Can I?"

etc...

And this is what I probably look like when all those questions begin to come at me all at once.

The amount of questions found in a classroom from day to day can be great in quantity.  Having a system in place that eliminates the need to vocally ask those questions that EVERYONE has, is a wonderful thing.  It really eliminates so many taps on the shoulder/waist (or other?!), anonymous voices from across the room & interruptions during read-aloud time, small group work, or whole class instruction.  So I came across this idea (I'm pretty sure from a MAILBOX magazine because that's what we did before Pinterest & TPT).  It suggested to assign those common questions to a number of fingers held up.

  

For example: Holding up 1 finger = restroom

2 = tissue

3 = pencil

4 = drink of water

5 = another question

I simply included this management system into my procedures and it worked like a charm!  It not only eliminated the crazy teacher syndrome but created a classroom atmosphere with less chaos than normal.  Who wouldn't want that??

So then, TPT comes out and WAHOOZA!!  Jodi from Clutter Free Classrom has these cute little signs that fit with the idea. It was probably one of my first purchases ever!

You can find it in Clutter-Free Classroom's TPT store HERE.

You can also visit her blog and she even has a video about it.  Click the picture below and take a look.

So that is is my first "You Oughta Know" post!  I hope it finds some of you in a state of "now why haven't I done that?"  Be sure to follow the hop and learn some other great a-ha's!

An InLinkz Link-up

Tips & Tools 4 Back2School -- Week 4

Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike...Guess what day it is?

SUN-DAY!

That means it is time for another tip & tool from my favorite bloggy buddies.

This week's tips/tools are brought to you by Julie at A First For Everything.

This week she is sharing a task card freebie for reviewing short vowel sounds.  Yup -- I said it, TASK CARDS!!  What teacher doesn't love task cards?  They are such a great tool and can be used in so many different ways.  Stop by her blog and take a look.

And don't forget to check back next Sunday to find next week's tip and tool from another Primary Peep.

It's a HOT July CURRENTLY!

I can't believe that it is already JULY!  Where in the world did June sneak off to??  This summer needs to S..L..O..W   D..O..W..N!

Well, since it is a new month, it's time for that monthly link-up with Farley at Oh' Boy 3rd 4th Grade.

LISTENING - Kids are at SAC (Sports Athletic Conditioning) Camp & Summer School and hubby is working on his own computer, so I can enjoy the quiet while I get this blog post done and some last assignments for class completed and turned in.  It is sometimes nice to not have tv/music and loud conversations happening around you.  Only in the summer do I find these moments.

LOVING - My first online course of Grad School is about to end today and so far I have a 100%!!  Let's hope I knock this post-test out with the same.

THINKING - I probably should have take one more online course to get the most out of my summer time.  I still have a lecture course but I think I could have handled the workload.  Oh well -- I'm off to enjoy the rest of my summer.

WANTING - I had big plans to get lots of TPT things created and haven't been able to yet.  I think it is time to begin!

NEEDING - To get my head wrapped around school planning.  Or...maybe not yet!

4TH PLANS - Nothing big planned here.  We will probably hang out at home and let the kids light some fireworks.  I'm sure my hubby will want to cookout to add to the festivities.

Tips & Tools 4 Back2School Blog Hop -- Week 3

I'm late...I'm late...For a very important date!

I'm so sorry I am late with my post for our Primary Peeps Tips & Tools.  You are not going to want to miss this one!!    

This weeks post is from one of my favorite Peeps (Well----let's face it.  They are all faves!).  You must hop on over to PAWSitively Teaching and check out her wonderful freebie.

It's only free for 1 week so hurry on over!!

I am so excited to have this product so I can use it to introduce my next year's group to using their interactive notebooks correctly and already have the book in my cart for my summer Amazon order.

Don't forget to stop by each Sunday (next week I promise to be on time) and find out who is next.

Tips & Tools 4 Back2School Blog Hop -- Week 2

 Guess what?  It is Sunday and that means it's time for a weekly "Tip or Tool for Back To School" from my bloggy buddies: Primary Peeps.  

It's never too early to start grabbing ideas and FREEBIES!!
This week -- take a peek at my girl, Missy from The Dirt Road Teacher.  She has a really great tool that I am so excited to get my hands on!!  I am definitely in need of some organizing tips to get my volunteers busy and helpful.  If you want a copy, head on over by clicking on her button below.

  

And don't forget to check back again next week for another tip & tool!!

Tips & Tools 4 Back2School Blog Hop -- Week 1

Some really great blogging BFF's and I are working through the summer to bring you a Weekly Blog Hop.  Our little group is called Primary Peeps & (in my eyes) are some of the best bloggers & TPTers around!!

Each week we will be blogging to bring you some FANTABULOUS freebies and tips to get in that back-to-school mode we usually put off till the week before.

Kicking us off is the one & only...Leah from Grasty's 2nd Grade Goodies!

This week she is sharing an AWESOME math freebie that I am excited to get my own hands on.

Click on her button above to grab it for yourself and find out more about this wonderful tool for Back-To-School.  Then don't forget to keep coming back for more.  I'll be posting every Sunday to link you to the next Blog.  

Enjoy - because it is never too soon to start thinking about getting back to school...well unless it's September I guess.