YET: A Mindset Change

I have tried so many times to sit down and write a blog post about the power of that word YET! Every time I tried, I would just stop. It never felt like the right. Then last night, an amazing follower named Susan asked me on Facebook about it when she saw a picture of my interwrite board.

Here is a closer look at it!

I started using this word at the end of the school year last year. I saw children really changing who they were as students. 

Now before I explain, let me tell you how I got to this point. 

Several months ago, Mr. Greg from The Kindergarten Smorgasbord wrote a blog post about the word because. Jen Jones from Hello Literacy had spoken at his school in October and really talked about how when we use why with students, it creates a panic in them. When we say because it opens the conversation and makes it more positive. To read more about that, Click HERE! So that leads me into YET! 

I had read lots of articles about mindset but last summer my district offered a PD talking mindset and writing. I signed up and went. I sat and listened to all the discussion about fixed and growth mindset. Fixed doesnt want to change and Growth see what they can do to change. 

What? We can change our minds? This was so unique to me. I know it sounds silly but this just really changed ME. I teach in a school with children who come to school not knowing their names sometimes or how to recognize their names. I hear voices say," They don't know their names?" 

Yep! I have had students that didnt call their names. So, when they come to school, they just fill that they will never improve. Well, I cant sit back and let a child feel that way. I have struggled for years to figure it out. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THEM?

That is where the word YET comes in. After the workshop, they discussed how telling students when they say they can't, to say YET would begin the change of mindset. Hence last school, year the YET card arrived. 

I went in powerpoint and just made a square design with the word on it. A few weeks into school, I had a student just break down and cry. He was in sheer panic in writing class. He just kept saying he couldn't do it. I remember I walked to the board and pointed to the world. I said you can't YET!!!! From that moment on, I hardly ever heard can't again. 

This year I went to another training discussing Assessments but in the beginning she asked for the most powerful word in the classroom. I proudly said YET! The trainer was excited but I was just glad I had word with it the school year before. 

There are many books out there about mindset. I will be real honest, I have not stopped to read them for I thought I would share the two that are on  my list about mindset. 

Click HERE to read about it.

Click HERE to read about it.

So here is my challenge to you! When you hear that word, go point to the word yet. Explain that they may not not how to now but they will. It will take hard work and time but it WILL happen. 

As part of my challenge I thought I would offer you the letters that I used in my room. I just copied them on different colored card stock. Now it left me with 2 extra sets so I had a couple colleagues that I gave them to and they are using them all the time as well. So remember you can share this with a friend. 

SAMPLE letter Click HERE for FREEBIE!

Winner Wednesday: Spelling Made Simple

Well today is my first day of school! So why not have a little giveaway in honor of that. Today I'm teaming up with Jessica from A Dab of Glue Will Do for her monthly linky Winner Wednesday.

This month I figure we are all gearing up to go back to teaching or have already started like me. I decided to give away my newest product. 

This product is a labor of love. It has ABC order, WORD ART, write words, use them in a story and sentence, Rainbow write, etc.  You will be able to type in the words that you want to use. I have a menu that you can type up for your parents. 

If you would like to win. Just fill out the rafflecopter with your name and email. Good Luck!

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Tell All Tuesday: A Goal, A Wish, & A Dream

I can't believe that it is that time again for Tell All Tuesday. The difference this time is that this will be our last one! I have love teaming up with my girls Diana from My Day in K and Jayme from Teach Talk Inspire. 

This week we are ending with A Goal, A Wish, & A Dream.

This was a  tough one for me to do. I think it is because with my school year starting TOMORROW, I wanted it to be relevant to this new journey. 

GOAL: I have been sssssllllllloooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyy working on getting Whole Brain Teaching. I hope that in the next few months that I can really get that certification done and help others that want to learn WBT. There are so many curious people in my district and it would be great to be able to train them. 

WISH: My district just rolled a new BGISD Foundation and this foundation is allowing us to create our dream classroom. $15,000 will be awarded to 3 teachers. That is $5,000 a classroom. They will gut your room and fix it up before the kids come back from Fall Break. Well, this girl is going to apply. I am so stoked. I feel like Hope King and her classroom reveal. Can you image the opportunity to have your room just changed. If I win, I am getting my reading loft! LOL!

DREAM: My dream is simple, I want to head to Atlanta to the Ron Clark Academy and the TPT conference. I love the opportunity to just get inspired by other educators. Isn't that what this whole community is about? Helping and Inspiring each other? 

So now those are my hopes and dreams. Come and tell us about yours. Here is how:

1. Save the banner image above.

2. Save and use the image below. Use power point or keynote to create your image.

4. Write your blog post and link up. 

5. Spread the word on Social Media. 

An InLinkz Link-up

2gether We Are Better: Bulletin Boards

Hey guy! I am so EXCITED to be linking up with Angie from Lucky Little Learners and Ashley from Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd for this months 2gether we are better linky. I was super pumped to join in after seeing the periscope with these fabulous ladies, that I sent the email while watching. LOL!!!!! 

This month we are talking about bulletin boards. This is great because I will get a chance to ask you for some feed back on one of my boards that I seem to feel lost and stuck on. Before we get to that board, let's jump into some of my other boards. 

This board is my calendar and data wall board. I am in 1st grade math this year so, I thought why not do calendar time on the interwrite board. This way students will have technology in their hands. So with that, I decided this board could hold the actual calendar and the objectives of our lessons. I hate writing objectives on a board so this says "Our Goals". I felt this was a much nicer and kid friendlier way to say objective. 

This board is right in front of my desk. On this board will hold items that I need to keep up with during the school year. This board is a life savers. 

Now let's head to the back of my room. 

This is my Brag Tag board. (WINK @ Angie)! If you don't use brag tags, then run to Angie's store and grab them. They have helped with my classroom management so much. Using those and Whole Brain Teaching, let's just say WOW!!!!! It was a game changer in my classroom. If you look closely at the right side of the board, you will see a space, I'm super excited for this section. I am going to make a "Next Brag Tag Showing" title and the next tag they can earn will be hanging there really big. I'm hoping it will get this new class pumped up for what they could have on their necklace at the end of the year. 

  

The next boards will hold Marvelous Math Work and my Mindset  Quotes (You can get that in my store for FREE!) I want the students to rethink how they can approach math in the classroom. I will use their TRYING to show on the Marvelous Math board. 

I LOVE this board. This board is going to hold my Daily 3 strategies and Math Writing activities.

What Made Your Brain Grow? How many times do you ask a child what did you learn today and they say nothing. Well try asking What made your brain grow? I am using this board to get my students to think about their day in math. It will be an exit slip board. I will also use 1 skittle or M&M to help in that thinking. LOL! 

The bottom picture is my hallway display. I saw this idea on pinterest and just fell in love with it! I feel it is a welcome to the school year. 

Now let's get to my problem board! This is where I need your help!

This board is behind my cubbies. If you think back to the Daily 3 picture, that is cubbies behind there and this is the board behind the wall. So my question to you is WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN I USE THIS FOR? I thin 1/4 of it I will use for job chart but what is your suggestion for the rest. I can't wait to read your comments. 

Now was that fun! If you had fun reading this post then head over to some of the other blogs and check out their bulletin boards. Join our fun! Link up!!!  Save the images and write your post! Have fun and I can't wait to read it. 

ABC's of First Grade

Hey everyone! I hope that life is treating you well. I am about to head to school but I wanted to get the chance for to join in on a fun linky party that fabulous bloggy buddies and myself are doing. 

So, 

Now my job is the letters I-L! I am going to tell you what I love about 1st graders starting those letters. My letters are I-L. Now let's get started.

What can you say about 1st graders that start with I? Well, the word that comes to mind is INTERESTING!!!!! Those little fellows are definitely that... Interesting!!! They are always exploring and discovering. Their stories are sometimes better than the books we read them. 

The word that comes to mind is JOYOUS!!! They are such happy kids. No matter how many times you might have to get onto them for a behavior, they are happy. They will ALWAYS bring a smile to your face and make you glad to be a teacher. It only takes one hug and a tiny smile!   Don't you agree?

My next word is KIND-HEARTED!!! They are such sweet spirits. They don't really mean to make bad choices. They generally will care for their classmates (and teacher). They want to show new students the ropes and help in anyway they can.

The last word is LOVING!!! This is very obvious from all the other words that I chose that loving was coming. Next to my kids, they are the best cuddlers on those rough teaching days. They just want your love and affection. They are loving to all around them.


Now if you loved reading about Firsties from I-L, then head to some of the other blogs and read about their ABC's of first grade. If you really love it, then join our fun. You can copy the letters in my headers and follow the steps below.

Here's how to join in on the fun:

1. Grab the picture and banner and use it to link back to this post on your blog.

2. Write a post about the ABC's of your grade.  
3. Add your link below.

4. Advertise your post using any social media of your choice.  

An InLinkz Link-up

Tell All Tuesday: My Dream Classroom

I am here to link up again with the fabulous Diana from My Day in K and The remarkable Jayme from Teach Talk Inspire for their summer Linky Tell all Tuesday. 

This week is all about our dream classroom. 

You know, I really had to think about that and what it would look like. First I would say that I would not be departmentalized and I would probably be teaching Kindergarten. Second, this room would be huge and would have plenty of space. There would be enough space that there would be cabinets empty. Lol!!!! 

Ok since I've said that, let's look at some of the Pinterst finds that would get me that dream classroom. 

Click HERE for original pin

Okay I have had big desk before and this size deal is perfect for me. I don't usually use my desk for much except a paper bomb until the end of the day when I can go through it. Lol! Here is another desk shot that I loved as well. 

Click HERE to see original pin

Very simple and clean. 

next would be that storage space I was mentioning. 

Click HERE to see original pin

I would have two big floor to ceiling cabinets and the cabinets you see in the middle would be in the middle of my cabinets on one wall. 

Now I would also have a bathroom but I wasn't gonna put a picture of that. Lol!

Click HERE for original pin

BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS!!! I would have books galore. Since I have been reading Debbie Milker's Teaching with Intention, I have found that I need more books in my room. My students over the last few years have been taking them home and keeping them. It's okay but I have never replaced them. So I'm thinking I might have to do a DonorsChoice to help get some more and book bins. 

Now getting those books require someplace fun to read, RIGHT? So I found this image. 

Click HERE to see the website where the plans are for this!

I love this loft. It would be great to have pillows on the top and bottom so they can cozy up and read. The mailboxes could be attached. 

So what do ya think? Do you love some of my ideas? If you thought this linky was fun, then join us. Just grab the image at the beginning of this post then follow the instructions. Tell us about your dream classroom. 

Here's how to join in on the fun:

1. Grab the picture and banner and use it to link back to this post on your blog.

2. Write a post about the topic of the week.  
This week is: My Dream Classroom...

3. Add your link below.

4. Advertise your post using any social media of your choice.  

Inlinkz code:

An InLinkz Link-up

Tell All Tuesday: A Reality Show Life

I am have been so looking forward to this Tell All Tuesday. If you have been reading this summer's linky created by Diana from My Day in K and Jayme from Teach Talk Inspire, then you know we have been sharing ourselves with some fun flair. So, let's get started with 

The quest for today is to think about your life and decide what would your reality show be called. Well I had to think hard on this. I even asked my husband what he thought. Together we came up with this....

Yep, EDGE OF SANITY! This would be my title. Let me explain! I have been married for 10 years and have 2 kiddos that are 10 months apart. They are 3 and 4 years old. In the month of November until December 27, I will have Irish Twins. LOL! These kiddos keep me on my toes. They are wild and crazy. My son looks like my husband but acts like me (sensitive and tenderhearted) . My daughter looks like me but acts like her daddy (stubborn, strong willed). So with that combination, I have an adventure. 

Now, I have been teaching for 15 years in a Title 1 school. We are in the transition of a new principal for a year ( I hope longer!) and life is crazy.I have just changed classroom for the second summer. Oh, wait I forgot Im teaching summer school right now.  I'm telling you, Im on the edge. LOL!!!! Now add my love of TPT and blogging to that mix, then you have Edge of Sanity. I am trying to learn balance wife, mom, and teacher. I want to do it all! Can you relate?

Okay now its your turn. If you are loving this and want to join in, save the images below and link up with us. Tell us about your reality show. 

inlinkz code

An InLinkz Link-up