Quick How To-Review Prize Boards

I love review games.Especially ones that are EASY to implement, like my new favorite QUIZLET LIVE.But, let's be honest, it can get boring quickly. Kids are excited at first, but a game only takes a few minutes max. We need more time to review, and more student buy in!Enter REVIEW QUIZ BOARDS.SUPER SIMPLE, Create a board with numbered boxes on it. I started with 50. When a team won quizlet live, students came up to the prize board (seriously, just a sheet of paper) and signed their name in ONE box. Then I repeat quizlet live for as long as needed (bonus tip-change teams every time, have them try it silently, have them try a quizlet live relay etc. to keep up the excitement). When I am done. I pull up a random number generator 1-50 and pick a few numbers and the kids who picked those numbers get a PRIZE.EASY, NO MONEY INVOLVED, EASY TO IMPLEMENT IDEA!Try it out!Let me know how it goes!

Pockets full of joy

Around 5:45 a.m. most weekdays I sleepily walk into my local Pure Barre studio, I am immediately greeted by name by one of kind and fierce instructors.I grab my ball, tube and weights and head to my spot at the barre, front left corner with the tiny sliver of mirror.For the next 50 minutes I strive to be as crazy strong a Giselle, as hilarious as Danielle and as poised as Haley when I am working by butt off.This is a small pocket of joy in my life.While watching Queer Eye the other week this quote stood out to me."You have to create little pockets of joy in your life to take care of yourself."-Jonathan Van NessI am not sure I could love that quote more.In my early years as a teacher, I didn't have many pockets of joy for me.I was a newly wed, in the new town (and state), struggling with my content and students. I had no outlet. I had my wonderful husband, but nothing for me. And then my sweet daughter was born, who brought joy and let's be honest more stress at times. Before she turned one, my husband deployed for over 7 months. I was solo parenting, solo teaching, and surviving on grocery store sushi and popcorn. I also made the big move to Georgia all without my husband. Still no pocket of joy. I was happy, successful, and had a good, very blessed life. But, no pocket of joy, and I FOR SURE didn't take care of myself.It really took until early 2017 that I finally started realizing if I am not going to prioritize myself, who will? Answer nobody. I needed to take care of me, before I could be the best mom, wife, and teacher I could be.Slowly I added little things that provided ME joy, pure barre, my Thursday night women's small group, volunteering at church, and slowly my cup began to fill.Can you put your hand in a pocket of joy when you need it. Do you know that one thing that lights you up when you need a pick me up. Do you feel like you can't or don't have time to do this?As a mid-career (what? I'm in my mid-career, how'd that happen?!) teacher, I urge you to find yourself. What brings you joy, and make that a priority in your week. Remember you cannot pour from an empty cup.Wanna chat about your pocket of joy? Let me know! Bonus points for an awesome hobby you can teach me :)

Professional Development in your PJs

You heard that right...This July you can show up to professional development in your PJs. Try doing that at your state teacher's conference or next teacher work day at school.GERMINATE Virtual Summer Conference is right around the corner, July 10-12, 2019 to be exact. GERMINATE will allow you to experience sessions from teachers ACROSS the nation from the comfort of your own home, in your own time, at your own pace.That's right!No need to ask a presenter to repeat something they said too fast, or clicked through their slides too quickly. Just pause and rewind, baby!All sessions will be prerecorded and uploaded on the conference site. After you register, you can log in during the conference and get #allthewisdom from the ag teacher presenters.Sessions will be geared around the three circle model: FFA, SAE, and CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.REGISTRATION BEGINS TODAYAnd guess what, it is only $35! Yup, that's right, ALL the sessions, ALL the handouts, and NONE of the traveling, hotel fees, eating our every meal and sitting through sessions you might not want to. YOU pick an choose :)OR if you are busy during the dates of the conference (I get it) you can purchase the all access pass which gets you all the sessions FOR-EV-ER. Yup, FOR-EV-ER!It is going to be EPIC. Join us! Register HERE!Can't wait to begin to grow with you.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVNJ2NasmRQ&t=3s 

I did a thing...

I am obsessed with podcasts.To be honest, I am not sure why because I am much more of a visual learner.Maybe it is because I totally feel like I am just chatting with a friend.It would be freaky if I ran into Rachel Hollis or Kayse Morris someday because I totally would just hop into a conversation like we have been best friends forever.Well, I finally got a chance to be on a podcast.My amazing Instagram made friend Hannah Wedger started the podcast "Ag with Mrs. Wedger" and I was all for hoping on a call with her to chat about something I am super passionate about...Did I spark your interest?Head on over to "Ag with Mrs. Wedger" on spotify, itunes, stitcher etc. to listen!Let me know what you think, comment below

Quick How To-Heads or Tails

Shout out to my friends over at MALAD FFA Chapter in Idaho for this HOW TO!While at Idaho FFA Convention, Malad FFA posted an Instastory (I learn so much from Instastories, I am pretty sure I like stories better than the feed) about a pre-session activity their state officer did to pass time called...HEADS OR TAILSSuper simple, no muss, no fuss, no equipment (but a coin) needed.Step 1: Get everyone with you to stand upStep 2: Tell them to pick HEADS or TAILS, by putting their hands on their head or tail.Step 3: Flip the coin, announce HEADS or TAILSStep 4: All those who picked incorrectly sit downStep 5: Continue until you have two people left. Finish like a coin toss for a game.Step 6: Celebrate the winner!I can totally see implementing this is some "downtime" during FFA meetings or activities!Do you have any quick group initiative ideas? Drop a comment below!Stay G&G