Back to school means... back to ROOM RECESS

Back to school means... back to ROOM RECESS

What do you do on those days when the students have to stay in for recess?  It's back to school time and for most of us the weather will nice for awhile but when the weather turns foul what then? Personally, I have a huge bin of board and card games and of course I use the old "silent reading" from time to time.  What if your students could engage with FREE games that help improve their basic skills while still being fun?

Enter Room Recess.com, a FREE educational website created by teacher Brian King.  Brian funneled his passion for computer languages into a desire to create programs with graphics and music, something his students would enjoy more than the programs they had been working on. Brian created his first game, Cheese Race, and wanted to see how his students would respond to it.  One morning, when the students were all inside for recess he asked if there were any volunteers who might be interested in testing his new game. His students ALL wanted a turn and he knew then that there was no looking back.  He has worked on creating a few simple games each week since Room Recess' inception. These games are aimed at reinforcing fundamental learning concepts in math, reading, spelling, language arts, and basic problem solving.

{CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO VISIT ROOMRECESS.COM}

The games are entirely free to play for anyone and everything created is educational. The site hosts games for math, reading, spelling, and language arts. Because the educational games are free, students do not have to sign up or create an account. Students can simply load up an activity and have fun learning while they play!

I tried out a few of the games myself and I applaud Brian for all his efforts.  The games were easy to access and to play.  The game themes would appeal to a wide variety of students.  They would be perfect for 10-15 minutes periods like an indoor recess. Why don't you check out Room Recess yourself and find out more?

Blucy Book Blast

Blucy Book Blast

About the Book

Title: Blucy

Author: Julia Dweck

Illustrator: Erika LeBarre

Year published: 2013

Publisher: Xist Publishing

Number of pages: 21


Recommended age: 3+

Summary (Amazon): Once in a blue moon, a special pet comes along. When Mandy adopts the best cat at the shelter, she doesn't realize it has a big secret and an even bigger personality. Features full screen images and pop-up text.

Blucy Facebook Page * Blucy Pinterest Page * Goodreads

Purchase & Special Offer

Xist Publishing is pleased to offer you a special Buy One Get One FREE (BOGO) offer when you purchase Blucy by Julia Dweck. The Deal? If you purchase Blucy (e-book) through Amazon, you will receive a FREE electronic copy of Julia Dweck's newest book, Mary Had a Sleepy Sheep (released September 5, 2013). All you have to do is forward your purchase confirmation email to sales@xistpublishing.com and Xist Publishing will send you a complimentary copy of Mary Had a Sleepy Sheep. Don't wait to take advantage of this great deal!

Amazon

The Early Buzz

"Julia Dweck scores another winner Blucy! This book is beautifully illustrated, features solid rhyming verse, has a most unusual main character in Blucy the cat, and will surely be loved and appreciated by all cat-lovers! I would recommend this wonderful picture book to children who love cats and for their grown-ups who will recognize their own cat's behavior in this funny story. ." ~ Mother Daughter Book Reviews

"Ms Dweck and Ms Lebarre have created a delightfully humorous read that will no doubt capture the attention of every little mischief maker. The rhythm and rhyme are wonderful and flow so beautifully throughout the book. The illustrations are absolutely exquisite. I honestly wish I could purchase every one of them to put upon my toddlers walls." ~ WhenIgrowupIwannawriteakidsbook

"The illustrations are amazing and beautiful and the story pulls you in and had Dino telling Mandy and Blucy what to do and got upset when they didn’t listen to him. He was hysterical with some of Blucy’s antics and wanted to know if Balboa could do that to. Really and truly a cute book and one that Dino will keep reading, especially now that he think he’s a catosaurous." ~ Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

A blue cat? I love color - lots of color and these illustrations are exactly that. The rythmic method used by Julia is perfect for all ages and the content is entertaining for all - including adults. My daughter loves mood rings so she found this book particularly interesting - what about a "mood cat". I am also a firm believer and supporter of pet adoptions - so another plus for this story...That Blucy is quite a mischievous cat. Blucy has special facts at the end of the story as well as a game for the kids to keep them thinking. I love this book as I have all of Julia's books and so do my kids. ~ The Stuff of Success

A Phenomenal Children's Classic. Children & Adults will love and cherish this beloved tale. Julia Dweck has always amazed me with her talent at writing children's books and Blucy is by far my favorite one yet. I laughed and giggled my way through the whole book and had to read it again several times for the pure joy of the story. The illustrations are fabulous and very colorful and I found myself staring at each page as I read and just loved the details in the illustrations. This is a RECOMMENDED MUST read story that adults and their children will fall in love with. This book will become the best bedtime story that children will want to hear over and over again. ~ Back Words, White Pages

About the Author: Julia Dweck

Julia Dweck's background in elementary education affords her the opportunity to be in touch with what children want to read and what makes them giggle. She's collaborated with leading artists in the world of children's literature to produce over 20 Amazon eBooks. Her titles have garnered placement on Amazon's bestsellers in children's color picture books multiple times with two #1 bestsellers: PIE-RITS and Zombie-Kids. These titles have been chosen by Amazon Editors for the prestigious "Kindle Daily Deal." Many of Julia's titles have earned placement on Amazon's top ranked lists based on customer review. In her spare time, Julia is a designer of educational adjuncts for children's literature, and has worked with such notable publishing houses as Penguin Young Readers. She presented at the 2011 National Center for Family Literacy for her creative use of technology in the classroom.

For more information about Julia Dweck and her books, please visit her website, Jule Loves 2 Write.

Twitter * Facebook

* Where's Blucy? *

Before we get to the $100 Book Blast Giveaway, we have a special treat for you. If you head on over to Julia Dweck's Facebook Fan Page, you will find the "Where's Blucy?" contest. Julia Dweck fans are invited to post suggestions of "blue" places Blucy could be hiding, (e.g., near Elvis' blue suede shoes). The most creative answer will win a print of the Blucy cover by the artist, Erika LeBarre. Head on over to Julia Dweck's Facebook Fan Page to enter and...

Pssssttt... if you enter the contest before August 20th, 2013, you gain 5 entries in the $100 Book Blast Giveaway below!

* $100 Book Blast Giveaway *

Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Card or PayPal cash (winner's choice)

Contest runs: August 13 to September 15, 11:59 pm, 2013

Open: Internationally

How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

Terms and Conditions: A randomly drawn winner will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. If you have any additional questions, feel free to send us an email!

* This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Julia Dweck and by Xist Publishing. *

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Proud Canadian Teacher Blog Award

Proud Canadian Teacher Blog Award

I am honoured to be presented with the Proud Canadian Teacher Award from a fellow Canadian blogger, Patti from {Madly Learning}.

In the spirit of the award I going to make sure that my followers know that almost all of my products are FREEBIES.  They are also aligned to Canadian/Ontario curriculum.  Visit my store at {Teachers Pay Teachers} to download a variety of free products to use in your classroom, or to share with others.  One of my recent favourites is the {Chalkboard Style Classroom Quotes}.

Another one that might be helpful to Ontario teachers (but is applicable to all teachers) is the {Key Words for Standardized Testing Posters}.  Using these throughout the grades and throughout the year will help students become familiar with the types of language they will encounter when writing standardized tests such as EQAO.

Make sure you head over and become the newest follower at Madly Learning.  While you are there check out the list of {Great Canadian Bloggers} and make some new friends.  

Each year I make a Back to School Survival Kit for my students.   Click on the image to download your own copy.

If you are interested in making your OWN survival kit, by adding your own words or list of items, you can find my EDITABLE Back to School Survival Guide by clicking on the image below.

Back To School Giveaway

Back To School Giveaway

I am so happy to be a part of a fantastic giveaway that Krystal, at Lessons From The Middle, is hosting to celebrate Back to School. There are over $400 worth of prizes to be won including:
~ Multiple TPT shopping sprees in sellers' stores to help you get all stocked up for a new school year
~ $10 Starbucks gift certificate to get the year started on the right foot
~ $75 gift certificate at WiseDecor to make your classroom even more inviting for your students with beautiful wall decals
~$25 gift certificate at Black Rafter Soap Works to pamper yourself a little bit after the first big week back
~Cool Duo Binders to get you organized easily
~An awesome tote from Thirty-One - who doesn't love a new bag?

There are FOUR Prize Packages to be won! Make sure to enter to win each of the prize packages - they're all fantastic and you don't want to miss out!
This giveaway runs August 10th-14th.
Good luck!

Prize Package #1
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Prize Package #2 a Rafflecopter giveaway
Prize Package #3
a Rafflecopter giveaway

JUST CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW

Prize Package #4 a Rafflecopter giveaway

ADDED BONUS SHARE THIS GIVEAWAY AND GET ANOTHER CHANCE TO WIN A DUO-BINDER PRODUCT!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget the August Facebook Frenzy is still going on. {Just click HERE or the image below}

Featured Blog and August Facebook Frenzy

Featured Blog and August Facebook Frenzy

I am honoured to be featured on a GREAT CANADIAN blog today.  {Click on the IMAGE above to visit Reading with Mrs.D} It is a wonderful place, filled with ideas about instruction and whole brain teaching.  Mrs. D is a Nova Scotian born and bred teacher. who has taught grade one in Nova Scotia, grades two and three in Manitoba, and this fall her family is pulling up roots again to move to Saskatchewan where she will be teaching grade one again!  While you are visiting her blog be sure to become a new follower, so you can follow along on her new adventure!

Next...

The last Facebook Frenzy hosted by {Creation Castle} was such a HUGE success that this time there are two running simultaneously! One is for K-2 and the other for 3-12 and Clip Art!  The frenzy starts at 8:00 a.m on the 9th and runs to the 12th.  You won't want to miss out on all the fun.  Just click {HERE to visit my FACEBOOK} fan page.  Once you have LIKED my page, click on the button that looks like this:

I have created a fun, back to school FREEBIE just for this event. You will not be able to download this from my stores.  I hope you like it...it was a lot of fun to create and I think it will be something students of all ages will LOVE.  After you have downloaded your FREEBIE from my fan page, follow along to the next stops and continue to pick your freebies as you go!

So much happening on Teachingisagift

So much happening on Teachingisagift

There is so much happening on Teachingisagift for the next week or that I thought I should give all my wonderful followers a bit of a preview. (I also think it might force me to get organized myself!)

Tomorrow (Friday, August 9th) I am honoured that I  am being featured on the Reading with Mrs. D's Blog.  Click on the image below to hop on over and see what Mrs. D has to say about lil ole me!

Next up...

A huge Facebook Frenzy (actually two) will be taking place from August 9th to August 12th.  Make sure you stop back and check it out, you don't want to miss out on the fun FREEBIE I am sharing.

And then onto...

From August 10th to 14th I am taking part in Krystal's Back to School Giveaway at Lessons from the Middle.  Click on the image above to get a preview on Krystal's blog.  

You won't want to miss out.  

Come back here on the 10th to enter!

After that...

There will be a great book blast coming for a great new children's book by Julia Dweck (another teacher of gifted students no less!) Pop back on the 13th to read all about this amazing new book and to enter the giveaway worth $100!

And last, but certainly not least...

I will be part of a Back to School Bonanza along with a host of other fantastic middle school bloggers.  This is being organized by my bloggy BFF Kristy from 2Peas and a Dog.  Keep your eyes posted on August 16th for the start of this fabulous hop around blog land!  Lots of back to school FREEBIES and tips!

Still with me?  Well, to help you keep up with so much happening on Teachingisagift...you might want to follow me on BLOGLOVIN.  If you are already a follower I would like to say THANK YOU...if you are not and would like to become one...just click on the IMAGE below.