Creativity to the Core

Learning Makes Us Who We Are

Blog

Pitbull, Earth Day, & Zumba…What a combo!

This week our 3-5th graders started FCAT testing. Each year, we begin FCAT week with a pep rally to relax the students (and make the teachers look crazy!). This year, K & 1st grade teams did an FCAT country version of Timber by Pitbull. We all dressed with bandanas and cowboy hats, but our wonderful Kindergarten team leader made a special appearance as Pitbull. He had the kids swoooooooning!

What more can I say? This is hilarious!
Today is Earth Day, and I was determined to find an effective activity that reviewed necessary skills with my firsties. Cue the key detail sort! I found a wonderful main idea and key detail craftivity for Earth Day that was a challenging, yet fun cooperative learning activity for the kids (Click here to check it out!). Each page had a main idea listed with an illustration. The kids had to look through the details and decide which detail described which main idea. It was tricky at first, but after a few minutes they got the hang of it. I enjoyed hearing them debate amongst each other, and use key words to find the correct main ideas. Tomorrow I will make them cute with some construction paper and display them. Can’t wait!
Because of FCAT, we cannot take recess at our normal time as it would distract the upper grades who are testing. So, I decided we needed a little fun in our lives! After lunch, the kids thought I was getting ready to start math. Little did they know…
ZUMBA KIDS TIME! Thank you, YouTube!
They LOVED it! A few of the kids even told me that they got cramps! Ha! Work it.
Have a great rest of the week!

Stability Balls in the Classroom

I have been wanting stability balls from my classroom ever since I was in undergrad. However, when I was hired I thought that we would not be allowed to have them. Our school is very strict on not bringing outside furniture into the classroom if it is not approved by the county. So, I just put the idea on the back burner.
Then, my partner teacher went to a PTA meeting where the principal discussed these stability balls. I practically screamed when I heard! I jumped on the opportunity, pulled up the research I had on them, and went into the principal to request them in my room. I currently split a class set (20) with my partner teacher, so we each have 10 balls. I use 6 at my small group table and 4 at my writing center (both pictured in the back in the picture above).
Needless to say, I was extremely excited…except for the fact that you have to blow each one up with a hand pump. It takes for.ev.errrr!
Pros over regular chairs: The balls are suppose to increase oxygen flow to the brain when students are working, and allow them time to move. Sometimes we teachers forget that they are only 6 years old. Children NEED movement throughout the day. The balls have helped with this tremendously. They are also used to help students with ADHD focus throughout the day.
Cons: Some teachers say that they get sick watching the kids bounce up and down all day. I haven’t really found that to be a problem in my classroom. After the first day or two, the kids work and bounce lightly. I tell them, “If you’re bouncing like your at Jump Zone, then we have a problem.” 🙂 They seems to connect with that and understand that the balls are to help them while learning.
But there are some rules:
Usually, the only one that has to be enforced is #3 – Keep TWO feet on the floor at ALL times! I do have a few little ones who like to hug the sides of the ball with their legs and balance during reading groups…so they get one warning and then its off to a chair!
But overall, I have very few problems. I love the stability balls. I can’t even remember what I did with chairs at my table anymore!

These stability balls are from WittFitt. I have found them to be the most bang for your buck. They are very high quality and only about $25-30 per ball depending on the height of your students. Witt Fitt balls also have the four little feet on the bottom. BEST THING EVER! There are no balls rolling through my classroom during the day! Check them out at www.wittfitt.com.