Taking Professional Leaps: Twitter PRACTICE Chat Series

August? August you say? How is that even possible?
Is it just my imagination or is summer flying past at the speed of sound? I see more and more of my teacher friends are already back in their classrooms, either in earnest -- already meeting their students and jumping in with both feet, or using this time to get a jump on all things organizational in anticipation. 

This time last year I created a RoundUP of all sorts of Resources in one place! That article is something of a classic and a terrific starting point for your research endeavors. A quick click takes you back in time and provides all manner of support! 



Let's march forward in time, too! I just created a RoundUP on my blog, Rainbows Within Reach, with a cyber ton of photographs from my various Author/Illustrator school visits -- on all things organizational. All you have to do is click the collage image below to jump across cyber-space to set your inspiration geek to super-power strength. I know how much fun it is to take a peek in the classrooms of your peers. I enjoy it as much as you do! I quit counting when I reached 185 ideas. Get your favorite cuppa-cuppa before you get started. 

I'll add two of my favorite back-to-school meet-your- classroom-buddy ideas right here, so you don't have to go searching any further. I saw this idea in a preschool setting. Every classmate has a magnetic photo and also has a name magnet. As one of the centers in the room, the children add name to friend's photo. Challenging at the beginning of the year. Super fun as the year progresses. I was in this classroom late in the fall and this game was everyone's favorite to play! 

Moving on up to the BIG Kinder-kiddos, you'll want to take a look at this brilliant enticement toward find motor work! Look at this kindergarten writing center! Photographs of the children's smiles and a sentence strip with first names on a magnetic board. Then each child has a journal with photographs and space to practice writing friend's names! BRILLIANT!

Everybody knows that back-to-school, means all things APPLE! 

Here's the cutest Piggyback Song idea. 

Combines letter recognition with singing! 

BRILLIANT again! 

{Sing to the B-I-N-G-O tune.} 

If you click the picture below, you'll go to my Apple RoundUP. 

Once there you'll see apple bulletin boards, apple graphs, apple anchor charts = ALL THINGS APPLE!

Are you still thinking of ways to make Math meaningful? 

Here's a look at 22+ different methods that teachers 'count' the number of school days, 

with their students! 

Or how about 71 ways to spell out your classroom expectations! 

Here's a "Piggyback Song" that is just too cute! 

LUV the photos for example that are included in the poster!

{Tune: Frere Jacques.}

Maybe you're looking for some School Bus Craftie-Creativity? 

I have several versions of school bus fun in this mini-article. 

Plus there are some bus MURALS to consider! 

This summer has been a WHOLE LOT of FUN! 

From the highlight reel at ETSU. 

YUP! That's left-to-right: Jack Hartmann-MOI-Pete-the-Cat Michael Levine 

What I NEVER expected to be so much fun? 

I am now hosting a WEEKLY Twitter PRACTICE chat!

TUES. Night 9 PM EST! 

With brand new newbies welcome at 8:30!

The whole concept has really gathered momentum! 

I have outlined Mystery 

#GuestEduCelebrities 

as we move forward!!!!

Last week our guest was the author, Brian Puerling. 

We had just got done hugging in Tennessee, when we took to the Twitter Chat!

Brian gave away a signed copy of his Redleaf book, 

"Teaching in the Digital Age." 

This week we have the author, Angela Watson scheduled to visit! 

Why Twitter? 

In a nutshell: 

Twitter gives you real-time, access to the entire world of professional development. 

Navigating in Twitter is ALL about the hashtag: 

# 

{to those of a certain age, 

yes, 

that is the number sign or pound sign.} 

To find our Twitter Chat in real time you enter: 

#TeacherFriends

in your Twitter search bar. 

Then get set for fun to unfold! 

You'll meet peers from ALL over! 

Possibly Brazil! 

I've just gotten all of my fall conferences scheduled! 

North Carolina first, with Dr. Jean as the headliner. 

Broward County, in Southern FL

New Jersey AEYC, next.  

and then 

FL-AEYC in Orlando, 

Concluding with NAEYC in Dallas! 

Here's to hoping that we get to meet in person, one day! 

Now 160,000 followers and nearly 30,000 Pins! Click pic to follow!