Brain Fitness

Since everyone knows I'm interested in the brain, I thought I'd do a post on Brain Fitness.

Here are some ways I teach the kids to keep their brains fit:

1. Exercise!  Get the oxygen to the brain!  We often do exercises in the classroom.
2. Eat Brain Food!  Sometimes I bring in some healthy snacks for the kids.  (probably not fish or spinach, but maybe some carrots and berries!)
3. Ease stress!  These kids certainly understand what stress it!  I often do some Yoga moves and breathing exercises with them.
4. Listen to Music!  I've got a wide variety of music to play in the classroom, from "party" music, to mellow music for concentration. 
5. Laugh! I recently posted Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine, and  listed some of the benefits of humor in the classroom.  I have a whole box of joke books that I usually bring out on April Fool's day, but I think I'll bring them out early this year!
6. Drink water!  I encourage children to bring in water bottles and refill them throughout the day.  Of course, we have a bathroom in the classroom, too! 
7. Keep challenging your brain!  I have a variety of games, puzzles and riddles for the children to choose from.  I'm a big fan of Sudoku, so I keep a few of those for the kids.  I also found a couple of cool websites: ABCya Tangram Puzzles has  tangrams that can be done at the computer.  Puzzle Choice has tons of puzzles for kids and adults- go to Kid's Choice for lots of possibilities for printing as well as puzzles for the computer.  

How do you help your students keep their brains fit?

Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine!

Did you realize that laughter is not only fun, but actually healthy for you?  Here are some of the benefits of laughter:

1. Laughter releases good hormones - the kind of hormones that fight the stress hormones.  We all know that children these days have a great deal of stress in their lives!  (Can we say TESTING?)
2. Laughter boosts the immune system - those same hormones that fight stress help your body fight germs!
3. It lowers the blood pressure.
4. It relaxes your muscles.
5. According to a study at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, laughter during instruction increases test stores. (I don't know anything about this study other than seeing this information in several different places including THIS link.  I want to learn more about this study!)
6. Humor can help erase negative emotions.  Seriously, how angry can you feel while laughing?
7. Laughter provides a workout for many muscles including your abs.
8. Laughter is contagious, and builds social bonds.
9. Laughter is free!
10. I may be biased on this one, but I think there are few sounds more pleasant than the sound of children laughing.

I do make a point to include humor in my classroom every day.  Luckily, second graders have fairly simple senses of humor.

In a writing lesson a couple of weeks ago, (about including things to get the reader's attention) I told them there were two words that are guaranteed to make children giggle:  bellybutton and underwear.  (Of course I was very dramatic when telling this, with that dramatic pause after each word so that I got two sets of giggles!)  Try it on your kids, it works!

One thing I love about teaching little ones... they always laugh at my jokes... no matter how many times I say it!  I've been known to wear out many a joke, yet still get laughs!  Yesterday, when we cleaned out desks, I told them to take home their Christopher Columbus booklets, since "That ship has sailed".  Those booklets kept showing up for the rest of the day (yes, we're working on organizational skills) and I kept repeating... "because that ship has sailed".  I got a laugh every time!

But it's almost November, when I get to use one of my favorite jokes to wear out:

Question:  If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Answer:  Pilgrims!

Sometimes it takes some explanation, but that's half the fun!

What jokes do you share with your students?

Teacher Tip: Worth 1 Million

Bear with me until you get past my nostalgia...and then you'll see the good stuff!!  Blogging Friends....this is a tribute to you.  It is worth 1 millon of hugs, friendships, and counseling sessions!!

It has been one whole year since I started blogging and putting some effort into selling on Teachers Pay Teachers.  The blogging has been so much fun because I have 'met' so many other wonderful teachers from across the country and even across the world.  These teachers motivate me, teach me, help me, bring out the creative side of me, and make me want to become a better teacher.  I love working with these ladies < and a couple of gents!!> as we help support each other in our endeavors.  There is a true network of teachers working together to make teaching easier and education stronger....it is 'All for one, and one for all."

I learned that Facebook is a wonderful place to 'hang out' and meet other teachers.  I have had wonderful discussions with teachers in Australia, France, and Canada....and frankly, that would never have happened had I not discovered Teachers Pay Teachers.

I have learned that I love to create lessons and centers because I am no longer limited to colored index cards, a marker, and some pre-made teachery-something that I have to choose that really doesn't fit what I want to work with.  Throughout this year I learned how to work with graphics and even created the blog banner that you see up above!  I was not alone as I delved into the 2nd Grade Common Core, learned more about turning anchor charts into art, and some of my blogging friends gave me oodles of ideas for back to school classroom decorations!  It's almost like your local teachers union....only it is a teachers reunion every time we 'talk' on the computer!!

Pssstt....the good stuff starts about right here!!

The money I have earned has helped my family immensely.  I haven't earned all that much, but what has been earned has helped my immediate family, my mother, and my sister and her family.  It has been a true blessing and a gift not only from God, but from other teachers.  If you think that you would like to be a part of the same blessings, feel free to CLICK HERE and become a part of the network.  You will be amazed as to what you learn!  And, I would personally be happy to help you however I can, so you won't have to go it alone! 

Now, I haven't made $1 million like my friend, Deanna, but we've all seen that it can be done.  Deanna, you have been an awesome role model, but most importantly, you have been an awesome prayer warrior when times have been rough and CRAZY!  I could go on and on and name bloggers across the world that have made me a better teacher, but that would make this blog 10 pages long and nobody would read it at all!!  Just know that I am thankful!

I want you to celebrate with me, so I am setting up my latest packet of question posters and sort cards <all 63 pages of them> to be free this weekend.  You can find them by clicking Here.  It has a value of $15.75, but I was trying to sell it at somewhere near $11 because so many teachers receive no extra monies from their school and have to pay out of their pockets.  So, enjoy this freebie for a couple of days!

Also, because I know everyone's budget is tight, and frankly, just because I like cheap stuff, AND BECAUSE I AM CELEBRATING THE HECK OUT OF THIS THING, I am going to have a sale!  

So, go now, look at things, download the questions file, click on FOLLOW ME and take the day off, courtesy of me!!!  But most of all, tell your friends that you are thankful for them and that you love them!

Hugs to TpT'ers, TT, and the Pinning Pals!!