Fidget Spinners…YAY?  Or NAY?

As a part of our morning message, I asked kids to write about fidget spinners and if they think they should be allowed in our room.  It was very interesting to hear their opinions and I was surprised by how many kids said NAY!  They are working on providing EVIDENCE when they write something and they were all able to give evidence for their beliefs.  As someone who fidgets I appreciate anything that will help keep me focused.  However, so far, fidget spinners seem to be more of a distraction than a way to help kids concentrate.  We will continue to use them in our room with the rules we have created as a class.

Creativity - Part 2

I told you so.  They are amazing.

Happy Mother’s Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying Mother’s Day!  I will update the blog next weekend…there will be a lot to post!  Stay tuned!

Your kids truly enjoyed creating these booklets!

Creativity

More pictures to follow!  I will do my best to capture their works of art all week long!

Your kids are SO creative.  I love watching them create new and amazing things on a daily basis.  They create with paper, tape, cardboard, string, LEGOS, and a million other materials.  I LOVE IT.  I was the kid who sold my art when I was their age (no lemonade stands for me!), so it makes me happy to see so many of them putting so much into their creativity.  They are creative.  They are kind (I get great gifts on a regular basis!). 

One of the catalysts to our latest bursts of creativity was a stapler.  Yup, you read that correctly.  But, it’s not just any old stapler.  I bought a LONG REACH stapler that will staple booklets.  It’s amazing.  Truly.  Every day, I staple booklets.  Every day, they create some of the best work EVER.  They write.  They illustrate.  They make comic books.  They research.  They work with one another.  They work alone.  IT’S THE BEST THING EVER. 

The stapler that changed the world!  Okay, maybe not the world, but close.

Fidget Spinners/Devices

The invasion has begun.  We have a few new rules due to the onslaught of new devices invading our classroom.  

Spinners with flashing lights will NOT be allowed in our classroom.  They are too much of a distraction.

We have had to come up with some rules in the last few weeks. 

 Here is what we’ve come up with so far:

•  No fidgets or spinners in community circle (during our meetings, student of the day, mini-lessons, etc.).  

•  When both hands need to be used (on the computer, for example), they are not allowed to use fidgets. 

•  If fidgets are distracting kids, they will be asked to put them away. 

I am someone who fidgets.  I have putty in my purse and use it on a regular basis.  However, fidgets have become a new distraction.  They are preventing kids from focusing, which negates their purpose.  I'll let you know if we have any new updates as they come!  Please know that it is not my intent to ban fidgets.  However, I have had to take them away from kids and will take them away for good (per kid, not the whole class) if kids continue to have issues.  I will not ban them from our classroom.  But, I wont' let them distract everyone either!