Hall Pass Linky Party!

I'll be back in my next post to share part 2 of Khan Academy, because I couldn't pass up this great linky party!

Reagan Tunstall (have you seen her classroom? I DIE!) is having a linky party called:

This is a great opportunity to step outside of our own classrooms to see what's going on in the classroom next door! Although, do you think our kids talk about what they're doing in class when they "need a bathroom break?" Yeah. Doubt it! ;) A teacher can dream...

Product: My data tracking binders!! They have changed my teaching life like WHOA! I blog about them A LOT! I have just recently started implementing them in our ELA block as I have been finishing up ELA assessments. Click HERE to read up on these babies! There are 'lots more posts besides just this one.

Area: Our read aloud/mini-lesson area. This is where my kids beg and plead for me to keep reading, even through our lunch. This is where some of our best conversations about characters and visualizing and inferring happen. This is where my kids sit and learn to fall in love with reading. Something magical happens in this space, and I kind of love it.

Signal: My #1 transition signal is this music triangle:

My kids know that sound means STOP EVERYTHING and DROP EVERYTHING! It's kind of funny how quick they've got used to this routine. I mean, pure silence. Pretty awesome!

I am also a serious Whole Brain Teacher lover. I use a lot of transition signals and sayings. For an everyday transition like taking your math book out, I love the call and repeat. I say, "MATH BOOK!" and my students repeat back 3 times with: "MATH BOOK, MATH BOOK, MATH BOOK!" and quickly race to pull it out, place it on their desk, and put their hands on the book. I sometimes even award points for the quickest group!

Sanity: My personal Pinterest page. I have a separate teaching Pinterest and personal Pinterest. When I need a second to step away from grading papers, responding to emails or calling parents on my break, I go on my phone, put some Pandora on, close my door and PIN AWAY! My fiancé knows that when I am on my personal Pinterest looking at home decor, super adorable outfits and yummy recipes, I have had a hard day and need to escape. ;)

ooohh....ahhhh.... HAPPY PLACE!