What I Listen To (Fun Classroom Edition)

Do you ever have times in your classroom at school when you just want to have a little fun? Or times when you don't mind the kids being a little less "structured"? Or when you need a fun song for a transition or a game?

Well, I certainly do.

I'd say the week and a half before school got out this year, I played this playlist about 50 times. And the kids sang and danced and worked their TAILS off each and every time. It was a lot of fun, I must admit. And, when you're stressed and tired and have a ton of work to do, it always feels good to take part in an impromptu sing-along with your kiddos!

I put together a playlist of fun, clean songs that are appropriate for children that I can play in moments of happiness. And, I wanted to share it because when I was making it, I had trouble finding a lot of songs that were *just right*. I've had the same playlist for about 5 years and every year (first grade or third) the kids are DELIGHTED when I ask them if they want some "fun" music. One day, I tried to find good stuff on Pandora for them and I swear, my kids begged me to play our playlist because they're familiar with those songs and love to sing along :)

So, here's the music we play during the good times...

1. Fun, Fun, Fun - The Beach Boys

2. Baby Hold on to Me - Eddie Money

3. Hakuna Matata - The Lion King

4. Gotta Go My Own Way - High School Musical

5. Upside Down - Jack Johnson

6. ABC -Jackson 5

7. I Want You Back - Jackson 5

8. I Just Can't Wait to be King - The Lion King

9. The Time of Your Life - Randy Newman

10. You've Got a Friend in Me - Randy Newman

11. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Isreal Kamamawiwo'ole

12. Send Me on My Way - Rusted Root

13. I'm a Believer - Smash Mouth

14. Build Me Up, Buttercup - The Temptations

15. Start of Something New - High School Musical

16. Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts

17. Strangers Like Me - Phil Collins

18. Two Worlds - Phil Collins

As you can see, a lot of old songs and a lot of Disney. But, I'm telling you, every class I've ever had has adored these songs. 

And, there's something so freeing about just turning the music on and letting them sing along as they work. 

Try it, I promise you won't be disappointed!

What I Listen To (Classroom Addition)

One thing I've always done in my classroom is play music. I play it every day, all day. 

And, no. I'm not exaggerating.

I read somewhere early on that it's good for your brain to have soft music playing. So, waaaaaay back in my second year of teaching (okay, 5 years ago) I made a playlist of songs to play in my classroom.

Well, guess what?

I'm still using that exact same playlist today!  I haven't changed a single song. And, did I mention I play it all day, every day? I honestly and truly do not get tired of the songs because if I did, I would change them. They're all just so soothing and calming and I almost don't even notice them except when it's really quiet.

I obviously don't have any scientific evidence to back this up. I've never conducted research on the subject. But, I think it helps my kids. If nothing else, it helps with classroom management and classroom environment. If I ever forget to turn the music on, the kids remind me. And, sometimes, when they're all working quietly, they'll start humming along with the music and my heart melts because it's all just too sweet :)

I'll post later about the playlist I use when we want to have fun. But, for now? These are just soft, sweet classical tunes that you can play during a normal school day.

You can find all these songs on iTunes. I'll list the song first, the album and/or musician second. And, all the Disney songs do not have any words - they're just musical versions.

1. Largo from Concerto in D Major - Vivaldi (Baby Genius)

2. Brandenburg Concerto #2, mvmt 1 - Baby Genius Artists

3. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Baby Genius Artists

4.Finding Nemo - Thomas Newman, Finding Nemo

5. Allegro from Spring-The Four Seasons - Baby Genius Artists

6. Field Trip - Thomas Newman, Finding Nemo

7. Menuett in A - Hits Unlimited (Classical Music for Kids)

8. Relaxing Piano - Relaxing Piano Music

9. Clocks - The Session

10. Dead Already (American Beauty) - The Session

11. Minuet in G

12. Nutcracker Suite, Miniature Overture - I.Q. Music Orchestra (Be Creative)

13. Beauty and the Beast - Jim Brickman, The Disney Songbook

14. Theme from Spin and Marty (Instrumental) - Walt Disney Presents Songs from the Mickey Mouse Club

15. Turkish March - Hits Unlimited (Classical Music for Kids)

16. Reflection (Instrumental) - Jim Brickman, The Disney Songbook

17. Harry Potter - The Session

18. The Sting - The Session

19. When You Wish Upon a Star (Instrumental) - Jim Brickman, The Disney Songbook

20. Only Time - Enya

21.Orinoco Flow - Enya

22.Hooked on Mozart - The Royal Philharmonic, Hooked on Classics

23. Air in G Minor - Baby Genius Artists

24. Fur Elise - Baby Genius Artists

25. School of Fish - Thomas Newman, Finding  Nemo

26. Canon in D - Classics for Kids

I have an iPod dock that just stays at school. And, I use my old iPod that also stays at school. It works really well for me because I have other playlists for school on there that I use. Do you play music in your classroom? What do you play? I'm always looking for new songs I can add so please let me know if you've got any great ideas.

What I Listen To (Gym Edition)

I was thinking this week that I might blog about some of my playlists. I have a bunch and I get a lot of questions about my playlists that I play at school. I'll share those soon. But, tonight I'm going to share another playlist - because I just made it! 

 

So, I mentioned in one of my recent posts that one of my goals this summer is to consistently work out. I've actually been walking every day for about an hour - but I had to get back in the habit of going to the gym. I -HATE- the gym. I never want to go. Once I get there, it's okay. But, getting in my car to drive over there and then having to shower when I get home - uh. I'm lazy, ya'll!

 



I pretty much had to do something to psych myself up to go. So, I did what everybody does: I made a new playlist! I actually haven't made a workout playlist in a long time and any time I've worked out in the last few years (which, admittedly, was pretty much never) I just used my old playlist.

 

I tried my new songs out at the gym today and they were AWESOME! I just wanted to share it in case anybody out there needed a little "get movin" motivation like I did :)

1. Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Ray Dalton

2. Good Time - Owl City & Carly Rae Jepson

3. Here's To Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne

4. What Makes You Beautiful - One Direction

5. 'Till I Collapse - Eminem

6. Arcadia - Ash

7. Die Young - Ke$ha

8. Come & Get It - Selena Gomez

9. Whistle - Flo Rida

10. Done - The Band Perry

11. Up Up & Away - Kid Cudi

12. Feel This Moment - Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera

13. Starships - Nicki Minaj

14. Pom Poms - Jonas Brothers

15. Don't Stop Believin' - Glee (I prefer this version, because I'm a dork)

16. Cruise (Remix) - Florida Georgia Line ft. Nelly

17. Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

So, there it is.

 

 Do you know of any songs I should add or any songs that you love to listen to at the gym? I think a good playlist makes all the difference in a good workout :) And, I'm open to any great songs I can add to my list. I mean, if I'm going to be miserable, I might as well be miserable with good music, right?

On Display, On Display, On Display...

 They're baaaaaccckkkk!!!

 

I can't tell you how sooooo excited I was for the Real Housewives of New Jersey premiere tonight. I love all the Housewives franchises. (Well, except for Miami. Who watches that?) But, hands down, New Jersey has always been at the top of my list. I've said it before here on this blog, but I think the Guidice family is comedic gold. Gold. They should have their own show. I know Teresa has her faults, but I think all the other women are just as horrible - if not more so. And, I can't even begin to tell you how happy it's made me to see all the peoples on the internet start sticking up for Teresa. Yay #trehuggers! (Isn't that name hilarious? No, I didn't make it up. Do your research, people!) Ha.

 

I've never blogged about a tv show before. Well, that's not true. I have. But, I've never blogged about an episode of a show before. And I have a lot of thoughts about tonight's episode that I need to share. So, if you're not a fan of the show, this is not the post for you. Sorry.

 

-The show opened up with all the housewives  headed back to the Jersey Shore to see the damage after Hurricane Sandy. Sad stuff. Also sad? Rich and Kathy drove all the way out there to see their RENTAL HOUSE. Really, guys?? The damage to all of their homes was pretty severe. So severe that Teresa walked into her place and said "My house! What happened to it???" Um, a hurricane hit it. Remember? And, then she said she would have "drownded" if she had been in the home because she can't swim. Awesome.

 

-My favorite scene all night was seeing Teresa cleaning out her closet with a massive pile of hooker shoes and bedazzled clothes. And then she informs us that she's teaching her girls to give in times of need. And, really, what hurricane victim doesn't need gold glitter pumps and lacy dresses to wear while cleaning up the remains of their home? I'm picturing people on the Jersey Shore parading around in destruction dressed up like the girls on Sex in the City. Ha!

 

-Milania is my favorite person on the show. Heck, she's my favorite person on any show! But, she mad me sooo sad when she was saying how much she missed her family. And, she forgot little Gino's name! So, I thought it was adorable when Antonia sent her a letter (with her name spelled wrong, ha!) and Milania called her back and asked for a playdate. I'll get to the playdate in a second, but I just have to say how sweet it was to see little cousins love each other so much. Growing up, my cousins were my best friends so I completely understand that. And, best quote of the night comes from little Miss Milania, while holding a cosmetic mirror up to her face: " I hate my nose hairs! I need them to be gone!" LOVE HER!

 

-Now, about this playdate... I applaud Teresa for trying to set one up. She realized that the girls deserved to see each other and immediately let Milania call her cousin to set one up. Melissa was all cagey and non-committal and of COURSE waited until she was at Caroline's to text her about it. And here's the thing. Melissa was wrong. She made the playdate all about her. I mean, did she honestly think Teresa was going to talk about her in front of her child????? Come on. There is absolutely no reason to think that. Do I think Teresa says stuff about Melissa in front of her own kids? Yes. Should she? No. And Joe was horrible to call Melissa "Horsey Face" in front of Milania. But, I've never seen any instance where Teresa's been anything but sweet with her nieces and nephews. And, it's pretty amazing that Melissa brought all this up in front of Caroline, dragging her into it, and then had the guts to say it was none of her business when she asked Joey to dinner. Um, you made it her business. And, you made it America's business by coming on the show to cause trouble. There, I said it. Then, at the playdate, she was awful. She wouldn't let the kids just play and she was kind of mean about the communion, too. I'm sorry, but if you think Teresa is the problem in this situation, you're crazy.

I don't think Teresa is innocent in all this. AT ALL. But, what frustrates me is that all the others gang up on her and say she never takes responsibility for anything. But neither do they! They all do the exact same things and somehow, she's the bad guy? I don't buy that. It just irks me how Melissa and Caroline and Jacqueline and Kathy all feel that they are sooooo innocent and such victims and that is CLEARLY not the case.

 

-So, can we all just take a minute to DIE LAUGHING about the fact that Caroline moved to Hoboken to be closer to her precious sons? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Seriously. She wonders why her daughter has self-esteem issues? Maybe because your entire life revolves around your boys and Lauren feels like the red-headed step child of the family? It still doesn't make me like Lauren, because she gets waaaaay to involved in the affairs of her parent's friends. And, luckily, there was no sight of Albie or Crittofer tonight, so that's always good. One more thing about Caroline: I read online that she was majorly playing damage control this season because she realized that she came off as a whiny shrew last season, and no one liked her anymore. Well, that certainly seems to be the case. And, that's fine. Whatever her intentions, I, for one, would welcome a nicer Caroline.

 

-Now, Jacqueline. Look, her son is adorable and it was really sad to see him struggle. But, don't let her fool you. Her whole shctick all the time is "I don't want the drama!" That's clearly not the case. She wants it. She needs it. She thrives on it. This chick gets in Twitter wars with people all the time. She involves her teenage daughter in it. She eats it up. Always has.

 

-And, why is Kathy even on this show?

 

Okay, that's my two cents on the first episode. Can't wait for the rest of the season!

Summer Bucket List

 

One and a half days, people! That's all I've got until it is officially SUMMER BREAK for this tired, tired teacher. I'm having mixed emotions, honestly, because I loved, loved, loved my class this year. Just loved them. But, like I mentioned, I'm so tired. I need a break.

 

Which leads me to...

 

 

a linky party!

 

Here is my summer bucket list: the things I want to do and accomplish these next two months.

 

1. Sleep

 

 

All I want to do is sleep. I'm one of those people who likes to stay up realllllly late and then sleep away the morning. I know, it's bad. But, it's what summers are for if you don't have kids at your house and don't have to be at work in the morning. The only hitch in this plan might be the little puppy who lives with me. Hmmmmm.... maybe she'd like to sleep downstairs this summer?

 

2. Exercise

 

So, I've been  on a diet. I've lost ten pounds or so in the last two weeks. I have a loooong way to go. So, my biggest goal this summer is to stay on track (or get more on track) with exercising daily. I'm not what you'd call an "exercise enjoyer." You know those people who say "I feel so much better when I run! I feel so alive!" Yeah, that's not me. Even when I was in great shape and the skinniest I've ever been, I hated working out. But, it's gotta' be done so I'm gonna' do it... begrudgingly. And there will be lots of whining...

 

3. Swim and Lay Out

 

I kind of just love to lay at the pool all day. I keep my float in my trunk year round. My friend Brittney has a pool and we just all congregate at her neighborhood pool almost every day. It's awesome.

 

4. Real Housewives of New Jersey

 

People, I cannot even tell you how excited I am about the new season of RHNJ! I'm having trouble sleeping at night just thinking about it. (Okay, that's a lie.) But, I am so looking forward to it. The fighting! The drama! Are they friends now or enemies? Will Milania get her own spin-off? Will Caroline stop being a bitter old hag and be nice? What will Teresa mispronounce? Was Melissa really a stripper? Will we have to hear about the misadventures of those Manzo momma boys? I. Can't. Wait.

 

5. The Bachelorette

 

I realize I've listed two tv shows on my bucket list, but I love tv. Especially in the summer when I'm not dog tired at night and can sit and enjoy a show without falling asleep halfway through. And, The Bachelorette will be awesome this season. I loved Desiree last season on The Bachelor and I can't wait to watch her find her true love date a bunch of strangers. Sign me up, ABC. I'm there. You convinced me.

 

6. Play with the Pup

 

 

As always, there will be tons of puppy love going on over here. I'm so happy to not have to cage her up all day and let her just play.

 

7. School Prep

 

 

I fully intend to take a break from school. For a few weeks. But, we're adopting a new reading series next year and my teammates and I have big plans to meet this summer and try to plan out our weeks. And, that will make me feel a lot better to have that accomplished. I also want to do some projects and organization for my classroom. But, that's not a job - that's like teacher Disneyland, right?

So, to sum up, this summer will be me sleeping, watching tv, swimming and playing with the puppy.

Sounds like heaven... I can't wait!




Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me....

  Guess what we learned about last week?

 

Swash-bucklin', plank-walkin' pirates.

 

And, boy was it fun!

 

I wracked my brain for a topic that would be fun for the kiddos and fun for me. Oh, and I also wanted the kids to have some stuff to do independently so that I could finish about a million and one things that needed to be done to close out the school year.

 

We started the week with an anchor chart.

 

 

We built our schema, thought of questions and then started our research. I read them the following book and they had a BINGO board with terms from the book that they had to write down the definition for as we read.

 

 

This book was the best - it even says so in the title! I happened to find it in a garage sale a few years ago and it's been used a few times. Good purchase, I must say :)

 

At the end of day one, we also started reading Treasure Island. I'll be honest, I'd never read it. But, we started it and the kids were absolutely ENTHRALLED in a matter of minutes. I think it's pretty cool that the kiddos got so sucked in to a classic book like that so easily. We read a children's version, of course. But, it still has the classic song in it:

 

"Fifteen men on a dead man's chest,

Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum!"

 

Okay, okay. Maybe my kids shouldn't have been exposed to that - but, it's a classic! And, they don't know what rum is. And, besides, they made up their own version in a matter of hours. Yo ho ho and a bottle of glue has a nice ring to it, huh? Ha!

 

The next day, the kids used books about Blackbeard the pirate that I printed off A to Z Reading to make a huge bubble map of the infamous buccaneer. They were pretty wrapped up in and it took them forever and a day to finish them. Which is fine by me because I was wrapped up in my own stuff. So, I forgot to take pictures of the bubble maps. Oh, we also read another really good book that day:

 

 

This started quite an impressive streak of pirate babble in my crew.

 

Wednesday, we strayed off a little bit and read this book because we took the Math Constructed Response Assessment (gag me) and my kiddos were all spread out and arrived back at the room at different times:

 

 

It's so cool! It's a mystery about this boat a long time ago where the crew went missing. I had the kids make a hypothesis first. Of course, they almost all thought it was pirates. But, as we read clues (that the kids recorded in their notebooks), we eliminated pirates as a possible cause because the cabin was neat and tidy and nothing on the boat was disturbed. From our reading, we knew that pirates caused destruction on board ships they plundered. The kids were so into the story and we had a ton of great discussion. They were using a lot of inferencing and synthesizing. Very cool book...

 

Thursday, we did a lot of crafts. We started off inventing our own pirates. They had a list of things to think of: what they wear, what they do, what they look like, things they like and dislike. Then, they went back to their desks and made wanted posters for their pirates. They turned out so cute!

 

 

We were having a 50th Anniversary of our school on Friday and the principal asked us to make sure the hallways looked good. So, I got it in my head to make pirate faces out of paper plates. The sign says "We aaarrrghh ready for 4th grade, mateys!" And, the pirates have little speech bubbles telling what they are excited about next year.

 

Friday was the best. In the morning, we made treasure maps. They did SUCH a good job! They had a rubric to follow but basically they had to make a map with a compass rose, map key and at least five symbols. Then, they had to write a letter explaining the directions to find their treasure. They had to use direction words and highlight them.

 

 

 

Notice the pirate talk?

 

I bought the kids eye patches out of the party section at Target and we made hooks out of tin foil and red Solo cups. Mr. Hedgepath dressed up as pirate for us and we had a treasure hunt around the school that ended on the playground with popsicles!

 

Today, we finished Treasure Island. I let one of the boys read while I slipped out for a second to get some paper in the hallway.

 

How adorable is this?

 

Well, this will be my last school post of 2013. We're on our last week and there will be NO blog-worthy activities going on, I'm afraid.

 

 



Happy Mother's Day!

Somehow, I got blessed with the best Mom a girl can have.  She's funny and silly. She's currently obsessed with Duck Dynasty and has called me "Jack" more Times in the last two days than should e allowed. She taught me everything I know about decorating and taught me that if I like something, I should buy it. She's not a cheapskate and neither am

I :) She went to every single baseball game that my brother had from age five to, well, now. And believe me, that's a lot of games. She loves and adores my little puppy. She's honestly my best friend and I love her so much. I'm at my grandmas right now and so I have access to lots of old pictures. So, here's to the best mom around...

Here's my mom as a baby. Can't we all agree she was the cutest thing ever? 

I love you, Mom! Thanks for everything you do for me!