Mind-Boggling and Markdown Monday 1.25.16

It just wouldn't be a Monday without a little boggle. Here's your weekly Boggle board. Just download and project it for you and your students to have a little mind-boggling fun!

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen boggle boards that you can program yourself.

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It also wouldn't be Monday without a little markdown fun. Markdown Monday is a fun little linky hosted by Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations. Participants select one of their Teachers Pay Teachers products and mark it down so you the buyer can earn substantial savings. 

This week I am marking down one of my most popular products, Editable Punch Cards Monster Theme.

Contained in this packet are 5 pre-programmed punch cards and 5 editable punch cards with 7, 14, or 20 punches. Use the punch cards to track student behavior and provide rewards. When a student performs the behavior you are seeking, punch a space on his/her card. When the student earns a particular number of punches he/she receives a reward.

These punch cards are larger in size than typical ones. They easily fit in a pencil pouch or toolbox and are harder to lose or misplace.

The brag tags referred to on the pre-programmed punch cards are simply small cards with positive messages. Brags tags are a little like trading cards; they are sometimes called behavior beads. Students collect them and store them on a metal ring, cord, or thin chain. They are a visible/concrete symbol of student success and achievement, something a student can brag about. There are several styles of these available on Teachers Pay Teachers with many in my own store. A simple search using “brag tag” or “behavior beads” will lead you to them. A few are even free.

The blank punch cards are editable. You are able to add your own text and graphics and determine your own goals and rewards. Simply use the “insert” feature. Then select “text box” or “picture or clip art.” I have included text boxes on each blank card for you to begin with. You are free to use your choice of font(s) and graphics. However, please be respectful of copyright.

You'll have to  hurry if you want to save on these fun, engaging punch cards because their special markdown price only lasts until this Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. It will then return to its regular price.

Be sure to check out all the other Markdown products over at Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations. There are always terrific deals to be found each Monday!

Mind Boggling Monday: New Year ELA Ideas

Well, my mind was certainly boggled! What was I thinking? To not have Mind Boggling Monday until mid-January? EEK! A game of boggle is perfect to start the mind juices flowing again after a long holiday break. It's perfect for morning work on that first day back, allowing the teacher to catch a breath and get those housekeeping chores completed. Here's a fun, sparkly New Year boggle board for you and your students. Just download the image and project it for you to have some fun! But don't just stop with a game of boggle. Keep reading for loads of ELA activities to fill your morning back after break.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Speaking of New Year... here's another fun little freebie that you can also use to motivate your students in those opening moments of the first day back from break. Sneak in a mystery picture and sneak in some Language Arts review with identifying parts of speech. My kiddos clamor for mystery pictures! I don't think they recognize that it's school WORK. They think of mystery pictures as just FUN! You can download your New Year mystery picture HERE. And if you like this mystery picture, check out this link for a WHOLE PASSEL of mystery pictures for all the seasons and holidays.

And if a game of boggle and a mystery picture aren't enough, here's a fun game of ZAP! that also focuses on parts of speech. Click HERE to get your own copy.

What? Not sure what ZAP! is?

For those of you who don't know how to play ZAP, here's a quick run down. The game consists of playing cards in a container (generally a Pringle's can). The cards focus on a particular skill (in this case, identifying nouns, verbs, and adjectives).

1. Divide your class into several teams depending on the number of students. Determine how long you will play or how many rounds you will complete. 
2. Have a student draw a strip from the container without looking inside. 
3. The team should read the words on the strip, then confer to determine the answer.
4. If the team answers correctly, it keeps the strip. If it answers incorrectly the strip is returned to the container.
5. Teams take turns drawing/collecting the strips. However, there is a twist. If a team draws a ZAP! card, it must return ALL of its strips to the container. 
6. The winner is the team that collects the most strips. You may want to award them with a simple prize such as a treat, bonus points on an upcoming quiz/test, 5 minutes of free time, etc.

Now, doesn't that sound like a fun activity to include in your first day back after break?

Still need a few more ELA activities to fill your morning back after break? High energy or focused study? How about a game of scoot or doing an interactive notebook lesson? This set of noun task cards might be just what you need. You can read more about them HERE.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I hope that your return back to classes after break is smooth and wonderful and that you might have found an idea or two here that helped make it that way!

Mind Boggling Monday: Happy Holidays

My mind is boggled this week! It is the final week before Christmas break and we are in full, Christmas Program Practice mode. Today is our final rehearsal with the big performance tomorrow afternoon and evening. Excitement levels are HIGH!!! One way to contend with the excitement is to provide students with fun, engaging learning activities that require little or no preparation. Classroom Boggle is one such activity. Just download the following gameboard to project for your students to use. Why not join them in playing a round of boggle?

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mind Boggling Monday will return in mid-January with brand new weekly boggle boards.

Thankful for Mind Boggling Monday (Quick Giveaway)

This is one of those weeks, you know the kind... the week before the holiday week. Students' excitement is rising in anticipation of the holiday break, and we have a GREAT break- FOUR whole school days! Yee haw! Don't get me wrong... I LOVE my kids and I LOVE teaching, but this old teacher is ready for a few days to herself, days without lessons, grading papers, and even thinking about teacher related STUFF!

Fun, engaging word games and activities can help tamper student excitement and keep them focused and learning! Here's a holiday related boggle board to share with your students. Just download the image and project it for all to see.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

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Another fun, engaging word activity to help your students focus during the excitement of the holidays is mystery pictures. Based on the concept of the 100 board, students can practice identifying parts of speech or other grammar skills while "coloring a picture," typically a relaxing, recreational activity. There are over 50 mystery pictures available in my TpT Store, many of them holiday related, the newest a bundle of three Thanksgiving Mystery Pictures that help your intermediate and middle schoolers practice identifying parts of speech, a rather drab and ho hum activity turned fun with these hidden pictures.

Set Three Thanksgiving Mystery Pictures

Each of the three mystery pictures in the bundle is available separately in my TpT Store as well, but by purchasing the bundle you save money... it's like getting one of the pictures FREE!

Speaking of FREE, would you like to own this bundle without having to purchase it? Leave a comment below with your favorite way to deal with student excitement before a break, and I will select one commenter at random on Thursday evening, Nov. 19th sometime after 6:00pm EST to receive the bundle. Be sure to leave your email address in your comment if you are a no-reply blogger.

Mind Boggling Monday will take a break next week and return on Nov. 30, 2015.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mind Boggling Monday Is Back

It's been a looooonnnnngggggg time since we've had a Mind-Boggling Monday here at my desk. I definitely need one, er have one, uh want to play one.... Ah gee, see what I mean. It doesn't matter! Here's a fun Boggle board to use with your students to help them focus on learning when the Halloween fidgets hit. Just download the pic, then project it on your interactive whiteboard or large screen TV for your students to see and play.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind Boggling Monday 5.11.15

My mind IS SO boggled this Monday that I have no idea what I should be boggled by! 17 Days left, but that doesn't tell the story. So many days are special days with no classes, several are finals' days with tests to administer, one is a field trip... sigh! Time out for a game of Boggle? You bet!

Simply download the image of this boggle board and project it for you and your students to use. Try it as a bell ringer or a brain break! You won't be disappointed.

background courtesy of A Perfectly Poetic Page

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind Boggling Monday: Celebrations 5.4.15

So what is mind-boggling this fine May Monday? For me, it has to be all the celebrations coming up: Cinco de Mayo, Mother's Day, Fitness Day, Fun Day, Awards Day, Ascension, Pentecost, Memorial Day, etc... How to keep up? One simple way to incorporate a celebration, such as Cinco de Mayo,  into your classroom is via a game...

a fun activity...

a quick printable...

... or with a quick game of Boggle. Just download and project this Cinco de Mayo themed board to use with your students for a no fuss, no prep, fun, engaging, and learning-filled holiday activity.

clip art courtesy of Educlips

Something else mind-boggling this week is TpT's terrific Teacher Appreciation sale going-on on May 5/6th. Save up to 28% on your purchases.

Mind Boggling Monday: 27 Days and Counting

So, what's mind-boggling this fine Monday? TWENTY-SEVEN days, that's what! Twenty-seven days to finish all the things that should get finished, all the projects, all the plans, field trips, special Masses, Fun Day, Awards Day, etc.  EEK! How will we fit it all in?

Plus, I will be moving rooms. Our enrollment is increasing each year... what a blessing! It means that we are adding additional grades; next year we will have two kindergarten, two first grade, and two second grade homerooms. As a result the fifth, sixth, and seventh grade classrooms are moving down the hallway to the high school wing to make room for the primary grades. Where are the high schoolers going? To the new addition! The mind-boggling question: when will the move take place? Now, when we return in August, or at mid-semester next year (if by chance the new addition is not finished on time.) Mind-boggling indeed!

In the meantime... just enjoy the final days of this school year! One way to do that is to play some fun review games and skill building activities with students. One great activity to try in your classroom is Boggle. Here's a Boggle board to get you started. Simply download the image to your computer and project it for your students to use as morning work, a literacy center, a brain break, etc.

Background courtesy of Creative Clips

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind Boggling Monday 4.20.15 Autism Awareness

So what is mind-boggling this spring Monday? Just how many wonderful, teacher bloggers there are in the bloggy world, that's what is! Did you know that April is Autism Awareness Month? And that Melanie over at the Teacher's Lounge arranged a TERRIFIC product round-up to help generate funds for Austism Speaks. SOOOO MANY teacher bloggers have generously donated products to create bundles for this worthy fundraiser.

Here's just a sneak peak at ONE of the FIVE bundles available for purchase! It is chock full of awesome teaching products. You can purchase this bundle valued at over $82.00 for just $20.00 on Teachers Pay Teachers.

If you visit the Teacher's Lounge you'll find something for all levels and content areas. Make sure that you visit and grab a bundle by April 30, 2015. After that they will no longer be available.

Meanwhile, grab this Boggle board by downloading the image to your device and projecting it for your students to play use during morning work or for a literacy center.

Clip art courtesy of Creative Clips by Krista Wallden

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

How about a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind Boggling Monday 4.13.15

What's mind-boggling this Monday? A return to classes after Easter break! I LOVE my kiddos, but it's that alarm clock ringing at 5:20 A.M. that truly boggles my mind.  So what's a teacher to do?

A perfect way to clear the boggled mind is with a game of Boggle. It's fun, it's educational, and it will engage your students immediately while you get yourself back into your morning routine. Just download the gameboard and project it for your students to use as bell work. SIMPLE!

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a blank boggle board template for your students to use with classroom boggle? Click HERE.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind-Boggling Monday 3.30.15

So what is mind-boggling this Monday? Easter break! There are just three more mornings to contend with before my kiddos and I are turned loose for a much needed Easter break. Spring has been teasing us with bright sunshine, but Old Man Winter won't let us go with freezing temps and light snow. Easter should mark a definite turning point in the weather and in our hearts and attitudes! Let us hope!

Meanwhile, here's a fun Boggle board to tame the winter blues, cultivate spring's warmth, and encourage Easter hope. Just download the image and project it for you and your students to use.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind-Boggling Monday: Grades and Weather

So, what's mind-boggling this week? The weather for one! Mind you, I am not really complaining. I just am boggled. It was beautifully warm and sunny last week with temps in the 50's, early spring-like weather. Now it's dingy and cold again with temps in the 20's.  What else is mind-boggling? Grades! I can NOT believe that the third grading period is over. Tonight I have to prepare my online gradebook for printing report cards! Sigh! Where has the time gone... truly mind-boggling!

Here's this week's Boggle board to help you and your kiddos overcome anything mind-boggling in your classroom. A round of Boggle can clear the colly-wobbles, create a brain break, and set the stage for some serious word work! Just download the image and project it for your students and you to use.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind-Boggling Monday 3.16.15

Mondays are ALWAYS mind-boggling to me! I am not a morning person to begin with, top that with two days on the weekend where I don't have to follow a schedule and can sleep whenever I choose, and you end up with a boggled mind. Many of my sixers seem to suffer from this same syndrome. Monday mornings are quiet, slow-moving, and just plain hard... even for THOSE kids! You know which ones I mean!

One way to combat the Monday morning MIND-boggle is to grEet your class with a game of Boggle instead of the typical morning work. Here's a board that's perfect for this third week of March. Download the board as you would any image and project it for your kiddos to play use.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind-Boggling Monday: Testing, Argh!

What has my mind boggled this Monday? PARCC testing, that's what!

 Because I teach in a Catholic school our students are not mandated to take the PARCC tests. However, our students that are on special state-funded scholarships are required to complete this new test. This means that when I am supposed to be teaching a particular class, as many as half the students may be out testing. It has boggled my mind for sure AND...there is one more week to go! Just breathe, Angela!

One way I've been coping is doing a LOT of review and reinforcement of previously taught skills. Task cards have been my friend. Here you see two seventh graders practicing point of view with Deb Hanson's task cards.

Another way that I have been coping is holding daily Boggle competitions. Here's the board we'll be using in sixth grade on testing day this week. It's free for you to download and play with your students as well. Just right click the image and save it to your device. You can project it or print it for your students to use.

This board honors Johnny Appleseed who died March 11, 1845.

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.

Mind-Boggling Monday: Upcoming Giveaway!!!

So what's mind-boggling this Monday? My dear, bloggy friend Deb Hanson from Crafting Connections is celebrating a mind-boggling milestone... 5000 followers for her TpT Store! CONGRATULATIONS, Deb!

Deb is hosting TEN terrific giveaways beginning Tuesday, Mar. 3rd and continuing through Saturday, Mar. 7th. You can win one (or more) of ten TpT gift certificates and/or a bundle of wonderful teaching resources. Just stop by Crafting Connections each day of the celebration and enter to win!

To celebrate Deb's milestone, I created this week's Boggle board with a festive banner and some celebratory words sprinkled within. To download your copy to use with your students, just right click on the image and save to your device. Then project it for your students to see and play!

Not sure how to play Boggle? Click HERE for the original game rules.

Need a Boggle board that you can edit yourself? Click HERE for a free editable board.

Want a variety of editable boards to change with the seasons? Click HERE for a bundle of fifteen.