If it's Free, it's for Me!

Hello, All,

I am on a roll with two posts in one week! I am hoping to keep it up/improve it!  This was our first week back from Christmas Vacation, and we had a full 16 days away from school.  I missed my kiddos, but it was a welcomed two snow days that we had! I was a little worried that the kids were going to either be half asleep or super hyper when they came in on Monday morning.  To my surprise, we had a great Monday and a great rest of the week.  I had told them that we were almost half way through the school year and now it was their responsibility to start working towards becoming 3rd graders.  They are now 2.5 graders!  They ate this up and have been doing really well with challenging themselves this week.  I am one happy teacher!

Now onto why my post is titled "If it's Free, it's for Me!"  I will take anything that's for free, as most teachers will.  I am a taker of the paint swatches from Home Depot, Lowes, and especially Walmart.  Over Thanksgiving Break, I was at Home Depot with my husband and I was walking by the carpet section and my teacher eyes spotted the carpet square samples!  I knew I was going to do something with them, but I wasn't sure at the moment as to what they would be.  After some thinking, I brought them into my classroom and introduced them to a group of my chatty students.  I told them that the squares were special "Quiet Carpets." They were so intrigued! I explained that they were to rub the carpet whenever they felt the urge to talk.  This has been working so well that some of them bring them to their ELL class.  So basically, I am using the carpet samples as a sensory outlet.  They are taking their minds off of talking and are getting that stimulation through their contact with the carpet.  I am hoping that this stays working well, since Spring Fever will be coming up soon (not really, but one can dream) and I am going to need to calm the chatting down.  

 

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow me on instagram! @owlalwayslove2ndgrade