Genius Hour

I first heard about Genius Hour this summer at the Colorado Educator Technology Conference I attended this summer called innedco. It is based on Google's idea of working 80% on what you need to and 20% about working on learning about and developing your passion.

THIS HAS TO BE MY FAVORITE THING I HAVE EVER TAUGHT. I feel I did very little on my part. The kids did the bulk of the work. Genius Hour is brilliant! Here is the process I took:

I researched Genius Hour like crazy. I created a Pinterest board about it. I used some blog posts an videos about it to show my students what I was looking for.

Then I found a FREE Genius Hour Work Book on TpT from a Double Dose of Dowda.

I showed the kids how to research using Kiddle. Have you kiddled? I am so thankful for this awesome FREE educational tool. Kiddle is a site that is hosted by Google. It is a kid friendly search engine. Kiddle is filtered to be kid friendly. The search summary information is streamlined, a larger print and has a picture. This makes researching so much easier with younger students.

Next I conferenced with the students individually about every two weeks to track their progress. I was also there to help if they asked for it long the way. Some students really used me as a resource and some I would only talk to at our conferences. That kind of help was my favorite because they did the entire presentation on their own and they surprised me with their knowledge.

My students were required to create a 15 minute presentation. They were to teach us something and become experts on it. We had a huge range of projects, from books to art to space and fashion design. We had iMovies, blogs and hands on demonstrations.

I recommend connecting your students with experts in their field. It is better if you have a personal connection. Two students were able to visit with a horse trainer and two students were able to interview someone who works in fashion.

Gabby Douglas and NASA did not get back to us ☹️. 

Some of the highlights for the class was the presentation on guitars. This student was able to shine as she showed use an iMovie about the different kind of guitars. Then she printed pictures of different types of guitars for the class to color. She finished her presentation with a duet with her mom.

I had a student research bionics. I was not sure about it when he told me about it. He created a very informative iMovie about bionics and how they help people.

I had a student use the hopscotch app to create video games for the students to play.

One student studied barrel racing. She created an iMovie, posters and brought in tack to show the class. I was able to connect her with a horse trainer and she visited the training facility. She videoed her experience and included it. She is taking lessons and competes in barrel racing so she was able to show a video of her riding. 

I had a student create a blog about art, paint a picture and have the class paint. 

I had a student research Gabby Douglas, present her biography, the history of gymnastics and performed a routine.

I could really go on and on. They all did wonderful. It's amazing to see what 3rd graders are capable of. 

I recommend this for any class! Please comment with any questions. 

 

Move Your Bus

Through the blogging/ Instagram/ Periscope world I heard about Ron Clark and RCA. I follow them on all possible social media and I am constantly in awe and inspired by their school. I recommend checking out Ron Clark and the teachers at his school.

I have looked into visiting RCA and learning from the source. I hope to do it.... someday!

What I have done is start to read some of his books. (Okay I will be honest.. I have been listening to them! It seems to be the only way I can get through a book these days.) I hope to "read" them all soon. They are pretty short so I feel confident in my goal.

I started with Move Your Bus. I had seen it on social media recently so it seemed like a good one to start with.

This book puts people into several different categories:

Runners- The people who go above and beyond all of the time.
Joggers- The people who do a good job but not the best job.
Walkers- The people who do only what is expected of them.
Riders- The people who are only along for the ride.
Drivers- The leader or boss.

Ron Clark takes you through several scenarios so you understand the different rolls these people play in a work place. He also gives tips on how to improve yourself. I think that this book is a must read for any boss but it also makes you think about yourself. I felt like he was talking about me and to me. There have been phases in my life that have shaped who I am. This book made me want to reevaluate my daily routines and it also made me REALLY want to go visit RCA to see all of the amazing things that they do. I recommend reading this book! My next Ron Clark book is The End of Molasses Classes. I will let you know what I think.  Have you read a Ron Clark book or visited RCA? Let me know what you think!

Kwik Stix GIVEAWAY

I love an awesome school supply. I was recently introduced to a new favorite, Kwik Stix. I have been trying to find every way possible to use them.

What are Kwik Stix? They are bright colored paint sticks. You roll them up and paint with them. They dry fast and you don't need water! I had my students test them and they LOVED them. We used them on construction paper and canvas. Here are some pictures of our projects:

I had to try them myself. They are so easy to use! 

We used them on construction paper.

Emily used them on canvas as part of her Genius Hour Project

Now you have a chance to win your own set!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Primary Resources

I have recently been using Educents as a go to for classroom needs. They offer a HUGE variety of hard good and digital educational resources at a very reasonable price plus they offer a variety of incentives and deals. For example if you sign up using the link above you will get $10 off your first $25 purchase!

One of those great deals is the February Primary Resource Bundle! You receive some amazing k-2 resources (worth $100) for the great price of $19.99. You can use these resources year round! When you make the purchase you will even earn $1.00 in edubucks to use on your next purchase!

There are a variety of great resources in this bundle including:

Economics in the Classroom: This interactive activity is a great way to teach some economic principles in the primary classroom. Each student receives a job card and a task card. They go around the classroom to earn and spend money. After three rounds, including supply and demand round, students reflect on their choices and feelings about the activity.

You will also get my Dollars and Sense money unit. 

This unit teaches a variety of money skills. It includes adding money, money poems, money facts and word problems. 

Make sure to grab this great deal while you can! 

Handwriting Tools

Teaching handwriting is so important. I find that this is not taught as widely as it once was. In third grade we transition from print to cursive. I have students that struggle with handwriting and really struggle with the transition to cursive. This year I have used a variety of techniques to help improve the handwriting of some of my struggling students. We have done salt writing and sand paper tracing.

While this has helped with the formation of letters, the most helpful tool has been the grips from Pencil Grip Inc. 

I was not instructed on how to properly teach handwriting and pencil holding while I was learning to be a teacher. Pencil Grip Inc. sends a helpful diagram with their pencil grips. This was very helpful for me! I was able to see that one of my students was not holding his pencil correctly. They have the perfect grips in their 3-step training set to help correct this grip. With the crossover grip this student can't tuck his thumb in and it has really improved his writing. 

My other student enjoys using the pencil grip. She says it helps her as she works hard to write correctly. I really have never thought about how specific grips can impact and improve a student's grip. 

If you are looking for a tool to help improve student handwriting, you should try one of the pencil grips offered by Pencil Grip Inc. They are reasonably priced so you can try some in your room! 

SUPER Link Up

The Broncos are in the Super Bowl! If that is not reason enough to celebrate we are having a SUPER link up and giveaway! I am coming together with some wonderful bloggers and TPTers to share a SUPER classroom tip, a Super resource and a SUPER GIVEAWAY!

My super tip is coming to you just in time for Valentine's Day! My teammate told me about this handy tip my first year of teaching and I have used it ever since and shared it several times because it works! When the students enter your room anticipating all of the Valentine fun the collective class energy is over the top and you can feel it. (Maybe that is just my room.) Well the tip is to help calm all of that excitement and make it through the day. Are you ready? Its simple and WORTH IT! Let the kids mail their Valentines first thing in the morning. Just being allowed to pass them out takes away some of the crazy anticipation and makes your day more manageable. TRY it, then come back and thank me (just kidding but you will want to.) 

As part of the giveaway you have the chance to win some great resources from all of the TPTers that are participating. I am contributing my Think Tank Business Plan. This fun unit incorporates economics and creative writing. It is based on a Shark Tank idea of a business plan and creating an invention or business. Students can work individually or in groups to come up with a new product and then pitch it to the class. You can even take it further and host a market day where the students sell their items. It would be ideal for 2nd to 5th graders. 

Now it is time for the fun part (or the even more fun part) the amazing giveaway! We have so many awesome prizes! There are three chances to win! 

 The grand prize includes: A Tieks Gift Card,

There will be two runner up prizes!

 The runner up prizes are awesome too! It includes GoNoodle Swag, A Knowledge Bound Gift Card, A set of Grips From Pencil Grip Inc., A Classroom Friendly Sharpener of your choice, Educational Resources from your giveaway participants, Sit Spots Gift Card, a bling whistle from Champagne and Polka Dots and a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card.

Make sure to enter the rafflecopter below and then make sure to check out the other awesome bloggers and read their SUPER ideas!


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Thank you for joining me this season! My little idea of giveaways after the Broncos games has really taken off. I was able to connect with so many great sellers. I hope you were able to, too! Now get ready to cheer on the Broncos! GO BRONCOS!!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Currently February

How is it February? I am linking up with Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade for this month's currently.

Listening: We are catching up with Grease Live. I am loving it so far I don't care about the reviews.

Loving: My sweet little family had a fun weekend and now we are snuggled up. My girls are almost three which is hard to believe and so much fun. 

Thinking: My upcoming weekend is unbelievably busy.  

My brother is coming 

My mother in law is coming

My sister in law and niece are coming 

A family friend is coming

I am taking Friday off to see my niece's gymnastics meet

Saturday is Ed Camp

Saturday is my grandpa in law's birthday

Sunday is my dad's birthday

Sunday is Super Bowl

Does that stress you out? I am! It should be fun though. 

Wanting: A snow day! Its supposed to be bad tomorrow. Denver is getting hit with a ton of snow. I could use a day to catch up. 

Needing: To catch up on some work! We have been testing and now it is time for conference prep!

Swooning: I am swooning over tieks!!! I want them so bad but I am waiting until ballet flat weather comes back. 

Thanks for reading my currently! Come back on Sunday for a SUPER giveaway!