YOU WIN! DIY PD!

Happy Birthday, America!

To celebrate our country's birthday I'm giving you FREE registration to my upcoming workshop. No joke! It's a DIY (Do It Yourself) make and take workshop. If you don't have the time or money to go to a conference, this is for YOU! Every day the rest of July I'll have something that you can make make to start your school year. You know all of those things you want to do during the school year, but you just can’t find the time? Well, get out your scissors and construction paper and we’re going to have some fun!!!

What will each day bring? Maybe a game or a learning center? Maybe a story or something for classroom management? You’ll just have to join me each day on my blog. I can guarantee you that it will be simple and inexpensive to make and that your kids will LOVE it! You might be surprised how these basic tools can be adapted different age levels, skills, and content. (Yes, primary grade students are still little kids and will like these materials just as much as kinders!)

You know how I always talk about PLAIN VANILLA? Children don’t care about polka dots and glitter and fancy stuff. They are happy with something simple. And, you want to know why? Because YOU add the magic to anything! Your enthusiasm and positive attitude will be contagious and your kids will reflect it when you introduce these games, stories, and learning activities.

Why games are important?

A teacher told me that her administrator told her not to play games because they were a waste of time! And that’s why I have to start by talking about WHY games are important. All you have to say is, “Let’s play a game!” and you will naturally engage your students. But there’s more than PLAY going on with these games!

Standards– Sugar coat those standards by developing a game around the skills you want to reinforce.

Executive Function – Through games children can develop task initiation and completion because there is a beginning and an end. They also learn self- regulation and delayed gratification.

Active Learning– With games children can talk, interact with friends, and use multi-sensory materials.

Purposeful Practice for Automaticity– In order to master skills children need to repeat and practice them. Clearly, kids would rather do that with a game than with a worksheet.

Intentional Teaching– Teachers can create flashcard games, board games, or a variety of games based on any skill (letters, numbers, sight words, vocabulary, math facts, science or social studies, etc.) Think about skills in your curriculum and there’s the content for your game.

21st Century Skills – Children will naturally develop cooperation, collaboration, and communication as they share and play games.

Brain Research– The brain likes anything that is novel and challenging. Games add that element of fun and motivation to academic content.

Differentiated Instruction– Games can be adapted for specific needs and used for small group, independent, or take home practice.

Limited English Learners– Games can provide that visual and auditory connection in a non-threatening way.

Instructional Time – Take advantage of transitions and those few extra minutes during the school day by playing games.

IF YOU WANT TO CATCH A RABBIT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RABBIT TRAP! LET'S GET BUSY MAKING THOSE RABBIT TRAPS TO CATCH YOUR NEW LITTLE BUNNIES!!!