Halloween and some FREEBIES

Yikes...October and fall weather all in the same week!!  Wow, I'm not sure I was ready for both!

This morning I finished up some Halloween logic puzzles for my little ones.  I always try to have some higher order, deductive reasoning packets in their folders for them to work on with they finish an assignment early.  I like to customize them to the season, or in this case the holiday. You can grab them in my store.

These are perfect for little learners that are new to solving logic puzzles. There are five 4X4 grid logic puzzles included in this product and of course, I've included answer keys.

If you're looking for some fun, yet educational morning work, I have this freebie for you. You can scroll to the bottom of the linked post to download it.  HERE

And here's a fun twist on a normal logic puzzle.  Click HERE to download this fun freebie.

If you need an easy writing center for the month of October, this is an exciting way to get your kiddos writing.  This is available in my TPT store.

Enjoy October!!!

Tic-Tac-Know to Review Skills

I recently posted a pic on Instagram about Tic-Tac-Know and had some questions.  Here's a post I wrote about a year ago for another blog.  I hope this answers any questions.

Looking for a fun way to review for those end of the week tests or just want to do an informal assessment of how much information your students are really learning?  Well, Tic-Tac-Know is an easy and FUN way to do just that!!

In my gifted classes we do mini-studies on various topics.  For example, one of the most recent was on kaleidoscopes.  After we did our research and had some discussion.  Then, I wanted to see just how much they retained and really comprehended, so we "played" Tic-Tac-Know.

It's really simple, but fun and effective.  I use painter's tape to mark off a large, life-sized Tic-Tac-Toe board on our carpet.

 

I compile a list of questions about our current study or whatever we are reviewing.  Next, I divide my students into two teams (Team X and Team O.)

The teams stand, in rows, on opposite sides of the tic-tac-toe board.  We flip a coin to see which team goes first and I ask a question to the first person on that team.  If it is answered correctly, the person takes a spot on the game board.   X's will stand and O's will sit, so at a glance, we can see who's who.  If the answer it incorrect, no one moves and I move on to the other team.  This continues until one team gets tic-tac-toe (3 in a row.)

This game of human tic-tac-know can be used with any subject and is an exciting way to review skills.

Some other ideas for Tic Tac Know could include:

• reviewing math facts
• comprehension questions about a book
• reviewing antonyms/synonyms
• homophones/homonyms review
• stating facts and opinions

What's your favorite way to review with your students?

Five for Friday~09-11-15

 It's Friday....who hoo!!!

 So, next week I'm headed to Vegas for the Olympia Fitness Competition.  To watch of course, and attend the expo.  Can we say FREE stuff!!!  The last time we went, we had to ship home a 45 lb box of samples!!!  And that was just the stuff we couldn't jam into our suitcases.  Here's a pic of some of the swag we snagged!

Another fun thing is meeting all the fitness gurus I live vicariously through!

Ashley Horner

                                  Vanessa Tib

Follow me on Instagram for updates on this year's Olympia fun.

Just thinking of being around all those fit people, I decided it was time to detox.  I present to you my Detox Water!!!

Cucumbers, lemons, limes, grapefruit, mint leaves, and grated ginger.  My Pampered Chef pitchers worked great for this.

Do you have a favorite recipe for detox water??

My all time fav skincare is Obagi.  I started using is about 15 years ago when I got a sunspot on my forehead. I still get excited when I get new bottles of stuff.  These came in the mail today.

I also dabble with Rodan and Fields.

What's your go to skin care regimen?

I discovered something new tonight.  While I was cutting up all that stuff to go in my detox water I turned the TV on for some background noise and this was on.  

Of course, I know about and have used Donor's Choose but I'd never heard of Think It Up.  Have I been under a rock?

I got my boarding pass to Mars this week!

Who knew you could do this?  It took about two minutes to sign up and now my name will be sent to Mars on the INSIGHT Mission in March.  You can read all about it here.  Fun, right?  Did anyone else sign up to climb aboard?

Head over to Doodle Bugs Teaching to see more Five for Friday.

Labor Day Travel Fun

WOW...where did the summer go??!!!  Most of us are back in school and getting back into the routine of things.  This is week five for me and I'm ready for the long weekend. Tell me I'm not alone!!!

Is anyone traveling with the kiddos for Labor Day?  Nothing like a little road trip, right?  Ok, maybe not!!  But...I have a fun "distraction" for the little ones. I just happened upon this little freebie from I Heart Organizing. 

Genius...I know!!!  AND free...could we even dream of something more??

So, tell me where you're headed for the holiday weekend.