Friday, August 23, 2013

Pounding the Pavement and Compound Words

I'm so excited. After weeks of trying, the hubby and I finally snagged seats on a bus to Washington DC to take part in the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Anyone who knows me knows that I am always ready to pound the pavement for something that I believe in and I am ecstatic about the opportunity to participate in such a historic event.
So in honor of my upcoming trip, I have created a Compound Word Song Freebie! (Yay!).
Initially, when I planned our compound word unit, I watched and sang Dr. Jean's "Compound Word Boogie' on Youtube a gazillion times, so that I wouldn't forget it. I had my pictures printed on cardstock, cut and magnetized (I put magnet dots on the back),  had my marker poised over my magnetic dry erase board and COULD NOT REMEMBER THE SONG!! No matter how hard I tried, I could not get the beat in my head. For some reason I cannot explain, the only tune that would come to my head was "Sally the Camel". ARRRGGGGGHHHH!!!!
So in Super Teacher fashion, I just made up a compound word song to that tune. I wrote it on my dry erase board leaving blank spaces for pictures (I switched them as the verses changed) and the children LOVED IT! In fact, we began singing the song during transition times. The children all stop what they are doing and yell out the compound word (which makes the little teacher in my head start doing the running man).

If you use these with your children, let me know how they like it. While you are there, click the follow button so you can be one of the first to know about my new products.





Remember Your Passion

RAM




Classroom Freebies Manic Monday

Saturday, August 17, 2013

You "Get" to Read This!

I am officially on vacation (Applause! woo hoo! oh yeah, oh yeah!). By vacation I mean completing administrative work for The Children's Magic Shout Out Foundation, attending the 13th Annual Stop the Violence event, working on my teaching tips book, updating my blog and planning my routines and lessons for the new school year which begins September 4th. 
A wise man (my boss, who doesn't read my blog, but you can never be too sure :-D) reminded me that I "get" to do these wonderful things, I don't "have" to do them. I "get to help underprivileged children. I "get" to stand up for what I believe in. I "get" to prepare myself for molding young minds. The best part is, I "get" to share my crazy world with all of you lovely folks. 
Hopefully, I also "get" to get all of those posts that I meant to put up during the school year. Don't be surprised if you see a post on Arctic Animals on a 90 degree Sunday, rest assured, they were covered in January (I think). 
I will try to throw a freebie or two in also. (Why else would anyone come to this page? :-D)

If you haven't already, visit my TPT store and download my current available freebies 



Update: My two week break, turned out to actually be one and a half, as the staff must report to work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the second week for staff development and to prepare the classrooms. This means I "get" to spend more time than I thought perfecting my room layout for the new school year. Yay me!

Remember Your Passion
RAM

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Endings & Beginnings

What a crazy week this has been. While most people are preparing for back to school, I am preparing for the end of the school year and the beginning of a new one at the same time! My school runs year round and only closes for two weeks in August. So while I am closing the year out and saying goodbye to my future kindergartners, I am also preparing for a new batch of  little ones, who are just beginning their preschool journey. 
Good thing I have those two "vacation" weeks coming up. :-)
In the spirit of endings and new beginnings, I am finishing up some lingering projects, closing out some business ventures and focusing on what's ahead. I am putting together a teaching strategy book (tough project), I will be uploading some new things to my TPT store and working on making my blog look as spectacular as some of those others I have seen. 
I am so new to this. I still haven't learned how to link to my blog when I write comments. Hopefully, somewhere in those two weeks, I will come across a good blog tutorial. If anyone knows of any, please leave the link in my comments.

And now for a freebie--Just because.
I saw this quote on leadership at a community center where I was volunteering and had to have it for my classroom. 

You can get it from my TPT Store




While you are there, become a follower so you can be among the first to know about new freebies.

*Remember Your Passion*
   R.A.M