Monday, August 12, 2013

Fun Friday...Ode to Teeny!

Hello!  Let me preface this post by saying this idea for Fun Friday was inspired by Teeny {I don't like to call her by her actual name b/c Teeny sounds cuter} over at A Teeny Tiny Teacher.  Her blog is great and also hilarious so you should def. follow her if you don't already!  You can read about how she does Fun Friday by clicking here.

When I saw Teeny's post on Fun Friday last year, I knew I wanted to do it!  We work our first graders so hard all week long that a Friday break is in order!  I began doing Fun Friday last year but I didn't have a board.  I wanted to make one but never found the time.  Here is what I did {in case you don't have time to make a board right now}:

  • Selected a few areas that my students could visit {games, puzzles, whiteboard, computers, etc} 
  • Wrote them on the board and decided how many students could visit that area
  • Wrote corresponding numbers underneath {as shown below}


Computers
1.
2.
3.
4.

  • Drew kids' names and had them tell me where they wanted to visit
  • Wrote kids names next to the numbers
  • Sent them off to have fun
It worked fine but sometimes I'd have limited time and I hated to spend time writing everything out.  Can you guess what was #1 on my summer to-do list!?  That's right.  I made my Fun Friday board! 

Here it is in all it's glory:



Ahead of time, I will decide which areas are open and how many students I want at each area.  I will put the craft sticks in as a visual to show my kids.  As I draw student names, they tell me where they'd like to go and I remove a stick from that area.  When all craft sticks are removed from an area, they will know to select a different spot.  *NOTE: I do not let my students switch spots during FF.  It would defeat the purpose of the board.  Plus, FF is typically only 20 minutes or so.

xo
Megan 

8 comments:

Busy Bee Z said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates
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Busy Bee Z said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I love this! I also have been doing FF for a few years, and tried to make something like 'teeny's' board last year that was OK, but not GREAT. I had cards for each center and numbered hearts with a pushpin for each. It would have been great had my little firsties not accidentally stabbed themselves with pushpins. oey! I will try this! Great idea! Thanks for sharing.

jaime from www.adventuresinwholebrainteaching.blogspot.com

Nancy C. said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

We do "Friday Fun" in our first grade. It's pretty much free choice of certain activities. Kids need to turn in their homework on Friday, or they don't get to do Friday Fun. The only activity that I need to monitor is the computer, and I do that easily by setting my timer on my iPhone for 5 minutes, and every 5 minutes I just say, "switch" and a new student gets a turn. It usually works out pretty well.

Renee S. said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Love this--especially the idea of gluing the poster to a hanger--you are one SMART teacher!!

Any chance you would share your pictures you used on the library pockets for my personal use??

Thank You

Renee
sreneestewart13@gmail.com

Cindy Calenti said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Looks wonderful!!!!! Enjoy your Fun Fridays

Cindy
Granny Goes to School

Unknown said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

I actually do this when we have to have inside recess. Kids love it! And it is quite and kids stay in one place!

Kristin said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Thanks for the shout out!!! Love this system!!!!! I think it's genius! :)

Kristin said... Best Blogger Tips[Reply to comment]Best Blogger Templates

Do you think I would be committed if I made yet another Fun Friday chart?

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