Brain Breaks! Good for the brain GREAT for learning!

After attending two of Eric Jensen's conferences I know more than ever how important it is to incorporate brain breaks throughout the day in your classroom.  Changing states is important to learning.  I used several brain breaks last school year and it was a lifesaver.  Students and parents loved it.  I could see kids giving themselves those quiet brain breaks during the state test last year.  I know some may not believe me, but I had a handful of discipline problems (most happened outside the classroom) and I attribute some of that to these brain breaks.  The kids also knew when it was time for one and they would come up and ask me if we could take a brain break.  They loved them and it took less than three minutes every time.  Think of those three minutes as an investment in having them engaged for more time than you would otherwise. Do not take too much time teaching these brain breaks, just explain real quick and then do it.  I am compiling a list explaining the brain breaks which I will post real soon.

I was on pinterest the other day and I saw an idea of putting brain breaks on popsicle sticks to choose randomly and then I got an idea.  Why not put the names of those brain breaks on a random name generator and use technology?  I went to Super Teacher Tools and started plugging away the names of some of the brain breaks (more will be added later) for the random name generator.  Let me know what you think.  All you have to do is go to the random name generator and plug the names of the brain breaks that you would like and voila, you have a random brain break generator.  In case you haven't used this site, here it is and Enjoy!

http://superteachertools.com/

By the way, the above link is also great for randomly calling on students and forming groups!

Rock Star Theme 2011-2012

Just here reflecting on this last year of teaching.  I came upon these pictures of when I was setting up my classroom for the 2011-2012 school year.  I wish I would have taken more pictures at the end of the year to see the beginning and the end.  I will do that this year for sure.  I had a Rock Star Theme and I loved it.  I'll post more pics if I find any.

I used plastic table clothes as a background for the plain white walls.  This is where I posted my anchor charts for reading.   

The purple bulletin board became my Data Board and my objectives were posted on a Thinking Map.  

On the map titled "World Tour"  I would post with a colored thumb tack places mentioned in books we were reading.

Half of my reading library is shown here.

                                                           
                                                                      

I posted my Alma Mater right outside my room!!  NMSU Aggies!!!  Focus my students on being college ready!

                                             

My classroom theme!

I am really excited now!  I finally decided on a theme for my classroom and I am sticking to it.  I have gone back and forth many times with it, but I'm sticking to an Olympic type theme for the year.  Our school theme has to do with being a champion so it will fit right in.  The reason I was wrestling so much with the idea was because the Olympics end before school even starts and it doesn't last all year.  With all this in mind, I know I can make it work.  Now that I have my theme set in stone I can start working on what I am going to do for classroom decor and such.  I will keep you posted.  I know I started my blog and went MIA, but I will be back real soon with great things I hope!!!

My first blog attempt

I opened this account in January but was never too sure if I should do this until now.  I'm a rookie at blogging, but I thought I would give it a try.  Now that I have been off for 4 weeks, my days are starting to blend together and believe it or not I am so ready to start school.  There is only so much of daytime television that I can handle.  I'm reading three books at a time and can't commit to just one right now. So this is what my crazy yet boring summer is like.  Don't get me wrong I'm enjoying it, we need this break so that we can be ready to run full speed ahead when school starts.

I've been going crazy on Pinterest just pinning away all the great ideas that I can find for my classroom.  So far I have way too many pins so now I need to slow it down some more and actually put those into action. After this 4th of July week I'll be putting my plans into action and also posting lots of pics.  HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY EVERYONE!!