#SpookyHalloween Sale

Don't be SCARED - it's just time for a little #SpookyHalloween sale! Head over to Teachers Pay Teachers and join us and several friends as we offer you some BOO-tiful savings!  Offers are good Monday, October 30 through Wednesday, November 1st!

Good Calls Home

Grab your GOOD CALLS HOME freebie from It All Started with Flubber 

Hi, friends - happy fall to y'all! Today we are just updating a post we made earlier this month about the book Kids Deserve It by Todd Nesloney and Adam Welcome.  In that post we offered a free resource to log your Good Calls Home.  Now this resource is also available as a FREEBIE in our store on Teachers Pay Teachers.  If you missed it, head over there and grab yours.  Click on the link in the caption above.

If you've not tried Good Calls Home, please do!  It will absolutely make your day!  A word of warning, though - I've learned that I can't do these after 8:00 at night for a couple of reasons:

• First, I do want to talk to the child, if possible, so it's best to call before they go to bed.
• Secondly, I am without a doubt too pumped up to wind down my own night! It's true—these calls are such a boon to kids' confidence and self-esteem, but also a huge boost to me as a teacher!

I cannot state too strongly just what a positive impact these calls have on the kids, parents, our classroom climate, on building and maintaining a culture of open communication and parental partnerships—and to me!  If you build this into your monthly plans, I promise you won't be disappointed.  These few minutes will pay off in many ways beyond just the time you spend on the phone.

Please leave us a comment below and let us know what your own experience is like with Good Calls Home! We'd love to hear from you!!

Group Students Like a CHAMP!

Do you lose valuable teaching time trying to group students in your classroom?  Well, that was the case several times a day in my classroom.  Some years the students can transition more seamlessly than others, however this year has been a challenge!  I needed something easy, fast, and engaging!

That is when "Group Like a CHAMP" was born!  Simply give each student a card and have them put it in a safe place like a folder or on top of desk with contact paper.  When you need to place students in 2, 3, or 4 groups, you will call out a symbol that is on their card.  For example, I was working on math stations and needed 3 different groups.  I called out Fruit Groups - watermelon, grapes, and oranges.  Students look on their card, see what fruit is on there, and walk quietly to the correct station.

The transition took 10 SECONDS!!  Yes, 10 SECONDS!!

Group Like a CHAMP Link

On top of that, the students LOVED it!  They couldn't wait to be put into groups again to see who they were going to be with.

Group Like a CHAMP Link

Every student card is numbered - student 1, student 2, student 3, etc.  There is also teacher reference card, so you know can quickly call out what you are wanting.  You want more good news?  There are 3 different options for each grouping of 2, 3, or 4 groups!  

Enjoy this resource 50% off the next 2 days!  Follow me on Facebook and TpT for more discounts and ideas!