Sending 2016 Off with a Bang - 20% sale on entire store

With only 3 days left to 2016 and my well needed / well enjoyed winter  break I figured it would be fun to have a 20% off my entire store sale. Every teacher loves to stretch their dollars! Have a great weekend. Enjoy these last few days of break! Happy New Year from the Activities to Teach Family to Yours!

Click here to visit our store and save 20% off our entire catalog.

Wiggly Bums are Getting Yoga Balls

Finding ways to keep my kids "in their seats" and heads off of desks has been a challenge as of late. One would think in a science room that a student wouldn't want to put their head on the desk (not knowing what were there last) but that does not seem to stop them. Just as I haven't been able to keep them from putting their feet in the seats or the seat next to them. And if I can get their heads off the desk, it seems half of them won't stay in there seats.

In an effort combat this I have decided to introduce a set of yoga balls in place a chairs in my classroom next week. I used my 3 - $10 Amazon holiday gift cards to buy 3 Amazon Basic yoga balls and a, hoping to add another 6 balls over the next few months.

Being a DYI Gal, I was able to replicate a 9 ball yoga ball storage shelf I saw online (costing over $120 to buy) and built it for less than $25. Even managed to use some green spray paint I had in my workroom to paint it our school colors. Thankfully Lowes is close by my home and had the right PVC pipe and connectors.

In progress shot of my yoga storage unit. This is one layer. The 2nd and 3rd shelf goes on when it gets into the classroom. 

Like many other teachers, I am searching for generous souls willing to support my classroom - even at the cost of 1 yoga ball at a time. I love Amazon and how easy they are to shop with. A student of mine from 2006 (my first year teaching) suggested I create an Amazon Wish List to share. Something I had not thought of before. I have done the Go Fund Me (they charge a fee to send the donation) and was foturnate to get a Donor's Choose funded by the ACC & Duke power. But I did not know about sharing an Amazon list. So here's hoping for some success and possible donations.

Click to visit Dr. Y's Wish List for Yoga Balls & Classroom Needs

On while the paint drys on the yoga rack and I patiently wait for yoga balls to be donated, I am off to cut a 8 ft by 4 ft board of whiteboard material to create 32 - 12" x 12" student white boards. Cost to me $13 for the board, $6 in blue painters tape, and a few hours of labor. Cost online for 30 pre-made boards over $60. Time well spent and money well saved. DYI is the way of a teacher's life.

Off to Recharge My Science Brain

Although I don't like missing classtime with my students, getting out of the classroom is mentally health in order for teachers to recharge their science brain and pick up fresh ideas. Now my students nearly broke my heart yesterday but telling me "your class is the only reason I get up in the morning to come to school", I was able to hold back the tears and pack up to head off to the SC State annual science conference.

In addition to attending workshops, visiting vendors, and networking at the SC Science Conference 2016, I am also presenting two workshops. After 5 years working internationally in Educational Technology in Panama, I am excited to be back in the US classrooms and attending state level science conferences. Tomorrow's workshops are focused on Using 3D model makers from paper to engage learners and how to use technology to offer choice into your classroom. The hands-on workshop is full with 23 or 24 spaces reserved. I am curious to see how many seaLet's see how many come to the Tech Intergation workshop

In Search of Money to Buy my Students Brains!

I am back in the classroom after 5 years in Ed Tech Admin. Back in the good old USA after nearly 15 years of the past 20 abroad. Super excited to be teaching the new STEM Gateway Medical Detectives program from Project Lead the Way at Getty's Middle School.

It is really awesome working with 6th and 8th graders as we explore Forensic Science, BioMedical activities, and Crime Scene Investigation. The kids are getting antsy and over excited about their upcoming Sheep Brain dissection. How cool is that? How many 6th and 8th graders get to go to school and dissect a sheep brain? All 298 of them hopefully will. That is if I can find enough funding to purchase the brains.

If you have a spare $5, $10, $15 or more dollars and you would like to donate it to a great authentic hands-on CSI classroom activity, we would love your support. I have set up a Go Fund Me - Buying Brains campaign. Parents and family have started donating so we are heading in the positive direction. Hoping to see a little more support and donations.

I will be posting pictures in a few weeks of the dissection activity. But for now, here are some cool shots from training days.

Our Go Fund Me Link: https://www.gofundme.com/289m6cw4 

Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week - Win $10 at TpT

As another school year wraps up and most of us teachers are working to keep moving forward one day at a time, the annual week of Teacher Appreciation begins May 2nd. To help start the fun and express our recognition for a job well done, Activities to Teach is raffling off 2 - $10 TpT Gift Certificates.  Just visit our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ActivitiesToTeach/) and LIKE our page and then under "GIVEAWAYS" click the link to enter.

We will announce the 2 winners at Noon on May 4th. Codes will be messaged to the winner via FB on the 4th. Deadline to enter is midnight May 3rd.

Good luck...and THANKS for being a Teachers!