Motivating your Students

Recently, with the Common Core Standards in place; the pacing of our Math curriculum has become insane. There is so much to cover within a given time period. This often makes it difficult for mastery of this skills because we are often have to go on to the next skill or topic. Being that this has been this way for a while, my awesome co-teacher and I decided that we needed to switch some things up and add some more fun to math.  Our students needed to be motivated in order for them to want to learn and enjoy math. This is especially true around this time of the school year.

My co-teacher was reminded of a game that we both pinned from Pinterest, but never had a chance to incorporate it.  If you are anything like me, I pin links, but don't always get to utilize them, or simply forget that they are there.  This particular game is known as Grudgeball. It is a twist on basketball, and the goal of the game is to have your group/team have the most amount of X's or points at the end of the game. This game can be incorporated or adjusted to fit any content area or grade level's needs. We decided to use it as a review game. We provided our students with questions to answer independently. Afterwards, we broke our students into groups randomly (four to five groups). We used sticks with our student numbers to pick groups or you could have the students going around the room calling off numbers 1-4 to represent the groups. Students were then placed into an area of the classroom and given time to review their answers to the questions with the group. If students within the group have different answers, they had to discuss and explain how they came to their answers and come to a consensus. 

As the students were comparing answers, one of us divided the board into four groups and labeled. Each groups had five rows of four X's, for a total of 20 X's under each group. We also set up a "basket" and shooting lines. (Think of a two and three pointer in basketball.) we used an empty trash can and walked 10 feet away from the basket and placed a piece of tape on the floor for the first shoot line and a second piece of tape about another foot or two from the first taped line.

To start the game, we explained the rules and stressed that we will go in group order to answer the questions. The group will answer their question, and the other groups need to agree or disagree. If they agree students one student in the group gets to shoot a ball (we like one that can't bounce and is fairly small; about the size of a baseball or softball). That student can decide if they want to shoot for two extra points or three extra points (based on taped lines on the floor). If a student misses the basket, but answers the question correctly they can erase two (2) X's from any group/team they want. They can split their points into different groups. If they get the basket from the first taped line on the floor, they can erase four  X's and if they get a basket from the second taped line, they can erase five X's. If the group gets the question wrong, they do not get to erase any X;s and we move onto the next group. The students are very competitive and it becomes a fun battle as to who will erase from which of the teams. Often times, they majority of the teams go against one, or teams align with one another. Once a team no longer has X's, they have to start adding X's back, following the same point value rules. This continues on until the end of the review questions.   Again, the team with the most X's wins.

The students absolutely LOVED this game.  I mean, really LOVED.  I hadn't seen my students so excited about math.  I think the competitive nature of the game gets the students hooked; and promotes students collaborating. This was a Pinterst tried and true success! I hope you can find a way to incorporate it into your classroom too!

Happy reviewing!

Katie Mac

Sunday mornings

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal and always have been! It is not uncommon for me to have breakfast for dinner too.  On Sunday mornings, I try to make myself a breakfast that is filling and remind me of home! Growing up, it was usually a treat to have a big breakfast on a Sunday; whether it was homemade pancakes or good 'ol NY bagels!

Being on my whole healthy kick, has kept me from these carb filled breakfasts! That is until I started making my own protein pancakes. These pancakes are good; but they have that "healthy" tasting feeling. I can taste the banana and know what I am eating is good for me; yet are not the pancakes I grew up eating! 

Through my tone it up girls I found a healthy eating pancake that actually taste like a pancake!  For my other breakfast lover friends, you have got to try @kodiakcakes! They are all natural, non-GMO, and whole grain pancakes that are easy to make just like your other box mix. They have ingredients you actually can read and understand and are packed with 14 grams of protein in a serving. 

They come close to my mother's homemade "best damn pancakes you've ever had." Just a whole lot healthier.... Sorry Ma!

Motivational Labels

Motivational Monday

It's finally here; my first teaching post!  With state testing starting, I figured I should create something for my students to get them motivated or even take their minds off of the test, if only for a moment.  I won't lie, this was a process for me; more went into me selling "commercial" products that I have created than I originally thought.  So with some guidance, here is my first product on my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  The best part; is it is FREE!  I created little motivational notes that I can attach a treat to and place on my student's desks at the start of each day.  They were a hit with my sixth graders and the students were anticipating what note (and treat) that they might be getting the next day.  Some even took the notes and taped them to their desks to keep them motivated.  This is also great for my non-teacher friends; perfect for parents to give as a morning note or to place in their child's lunch box.  Please stay tuned for more quality products, and be sure follow my Teacher Pay Teachers store too. 

Click the link below for this awesome freebie! 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Motivational-Ms-Mac

Happy testing,
Katie

You CAN do anything

If you set your mind to do something, you can do anything! Tonight I walked across 2000 degree which I never thought I would ever do! Fear has kept me from doing a lot in my life.... But no more! Now I feel like I can do anything! Not many people can say they walked across fire, but I look at it as a metaphor that can be used in all aspects of life! Fear can no longer control me! It is all about your state of mind; if you say you can't then you won't! As Tony Robbins would say, "divorce the story and marry the truth."

Reaching Goals

Tonight I met a personal goal!  Staring January 1,2015, I was determined to run 100 miles by Valentine's Day! Not only did I make it; I exceeded it! 101 miles ..... BOOM! Even though it may seems small to some; it was a total accomplishment for me (totally not a runner...)!

Setting even the smallest of goals can feel like the biggest accomplishment!  Thanks to my TIU girls and my other supporters for giving me the strength, energy, and motivation to reach this goal! So proud of myself for making it! 

 Set a goal today and give yourself a deadline! Believe that you can do it and you will!! I'll be your biggest cheerleader! "Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars."

OX

Motivational Monday

Aren't Monday's the worst???? I wake up half depressed that the weekend is over and think about all of the things that I have to do over the next five days. Yuck!

Often times as teachers, we never have enough time to complete that never ending to-do list (you know what I'm talking about.... Uggghhh).  Monday's are just reminders of all the stuff that didn't get done the week before! With that being said, I am determined to stay motivated!

I think I found the perfect way to assist me in this quest! There is a great app out there called 'Burn This.' The best way I can describe it.... A mix of Instagram and Pinterest that is all about fitness, clean eating, success stories and quotes to get you on track and motivated to start the week ahead!!  I absolutely love it and best of all, there are challenges on the app where if you post a pic and use a certain hashtag; you are entered into winning free stuff (all health related). Additionally, you can follow your favorite motivator, or simply look at hot bodies (who doesn't like that?). LOL!  Check it out!

Foam rolling?? What's that??

I'll tell you what... I think this is one of my new favorite things to do. You know that feeling from doing all those squats and dead lifts at the gym? When you are so sore that you can't walk for the next two days?? Well, roll those sore muscles away!

I was introduced to the foam roller by my TIU girls. I bet you have one at your gym and didn't even know it was there or what it was used for.  You basically lay on top of the foam roller to target whatever muscle you are looking to stretch/massage. For example, if you wanted to "roll" out hamstrings place the roller under the muscle, hold yourself up and roll from above the knee to your tush. You can also turn on your side and hit your pressure points! Ahhh....It hurts so good!!  Don't forget friends... I'm not a personal trainer.... Just sharing what I love. You should definitely research more about it and see what it looks like in action on a video!