Snack Time Linky Party

Christina Bainbridge is hosting a Snack Time linky party.



Last year we had snack right after specials.  The kids would get hand sanitizer as they were coming in the classroom and then get their snack that was set up on the back table.  We would then have about 10 minutes to eat snack.  I just allow them to socialize, but they have to stay at their seats and use inside voices, just like at a restaurant.  We spent lots of time in the beginning of the year talking about expectations during snack time. 

I send home a snack calendar on the last Friday of every month so that they have time to prepare if they have snack on Monday.  I assign the dates in ABC order.  It works out to about 1 time a month. 

If someone forgets snack, we use leftovers or extras that the parents have sent in.

Our schedule is different this year, so I don't know how our snack time will flow this year, but I'll come back and post when we get started to let you all know!

My Promise to My Students

Clutter Free Classroom is hosting a New School Year Resolution Linky Party! 



Every year I "promise" myself to stay organized, put things away, have nice neat piles, but the truth is I just live better in organized chaos.  As soon as I put something away, I can't find it!

So this year I'm making a promise to my kiddo's...my promise is to stick to Daily 5, no matter how hard, tricky, unlike me, it may be!  I have read the book and totally LOVE IT.  It seems practical, makes total sense and is basically exactly what I've been doing, just more regimented.  I'm excited to start it out! 

Do any of you have any tips for starting Daily 5?!?!

Pinterest Linky Party

Have you pinned yet??  I'm addicted!  Pinterest is such a great resource for all things school.  From bulletin boards to Daily 5.  If you don't already Pin...you should!  Follow the link below to find others that Pin and have joined the linky party. 



Happy Pinning!

Back to School Linky Party

Jodi over at Fun In First is hosting a linky party about back to school activities. 




The teacher next door to me is a close friend of mine.  We teach with our "doors wide open."  Not literally, but sometimes it is!  We do a lot together.  So in order to introduce the kids to one another and allow them the chance to meet the other teacher we do our first snack time together. 

We bring together our two classes and talk about what good friendship looks like.  We make a list on the board as we brainstorm together.  Then we get out various snacks that we have brought in like pretzels, animal crackers, chex, peanuts (check allergies first!), dried fruit and some M & M's.  Then we talk about how we like each one by itself, but how all together it tastes so much better, just like doing things with your friends is so much more fun.  We mix it together and serve snack to our classes. 

It's a delicious snack and super fun first day activity!

Post-It Linky Party

Creat - Teach - Share is having a Post It Linky Party...

I love post it notes!  I use them in my classroom all the time.  Here are a few of the ways...

1.  I use them to remind myself of things.  My computer screen is framed in post-it's!
2.  We do a lot of graphing in the first few weeks of school and the kids love having their own post-it to write on and put on the board.
3.  Before we start a new unit, the kids will write one thing they already know and we will post it on a small board.  After the unit, we write one thing new they learned and we go back and look at the old post-it's. 

Those are just a few of the ways we use them in my 1/2 classroom.  I'm excited to get new ideas!