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Back to School Activities – Free Sample and Whole Body Listening Download!

I finally, completed my 71 page Back to School Writing Prompts and Activities packet! Click {here} to check out the packet on TpT.  I have been doing these activities in my classroom for a number of years now.  The packet contains 10 different back to school activities, an extensive back to school picture book list, and four file folder word walls with pictures.  The packet focuses on the first week of school and on establishing classroom rules and routines.  I am a firm believer in establishing rules and routines the first two weeks of school.  This packet reflects that, with over half of it dedicated to activities that will help create an effective classroom environment.  Lessons scaffold off picture books such as First Day Jitters, Know and Follow the Rules, The Little Engine that Could, Hands are Not for Hitting, Words are Not for Hurting, Listen and Learn, Mary Wore Her Red Dress, and Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal.

Have you heard of “Whole Body Listening”?  I have created an eight page free sample around the “Whole Body Listening” section of the packet. Click {here} to download the sample.  My school’s exceptional speech therapist introduced it to me 10 years ago.  Our school, is home to our district’s ABA program of four classes.  I am the consult/inclusion teacher for first grade and often the mainstreaming classroom for the first grade ABA students.  “Whole Body Listening” is based on an article by Susan Poulette (see below for mor info).  We use a “Whole Body Listening” social story at our school and we use the term for appropriate listening skills.  Social stories work well with ABA students (students on the autism spectrum) to explain appropriate behavior.  Social stories also work well with general education students.  For more information on “Whole Body Listening” download my sample.

*Susanne Poulette, a New York speech pathologist coined the term “Whole-Body Listening” with this article (click {here} to read it): Whole-Body Listening: Developing Active Auditory Skills, Susanne P. Truesdale Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools Vol.21 183-184 July1990.

Filed Under: Back to School, Free Downloads, Teachers Pay Teachers, Uncategorized

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mrs. tabb

    July 21, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    that looks incredible, erica! I feel like I haven't "spoken" to you in for-ev-er!
    Hope all is well!!

    lanesha =)

  2. ChristiS

    July 21, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    Looks very interesting! I can't seem to get the sample to come up…only the whole packet! I'm sure I'm missing something! LOL

  3. Erica Bohrer

    July 21, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    Lanesha, I know! I have been beaching it a lot this month and relaxing on the freelance work. How are you doing?
    Christis, I just made it so that the sample is now in google docs. I hope this helps.

  4. Alessia Albanese

    July 21, 2011 at 7:38 pm

    Thanks for sharing! A wonderful package (I LOVE the Whole Body Listening poster!).

    Alessia
    Mrs. Albanese’s Kindergarten Class

  5. Sabrina

    July 21, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    Hi, I am a new follower, I am not a teacher but I have 2 kids… I guess I'm a kind of teacher right? I like your blog and I'm going to tell my daughter's 1st grade teacher about it. Have a great day!

  6. Rachelle

    July 21, 2011 at 11:25 pm

    Love this Erica! Thanks so much for all of your hard work!
    -Rachelle
    whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com

  7. The Sherman Four

    July 22, 2011 at 3:38 am

    yes for some reason the $8.00 one comes up but not the sample! 🙁

  8. Stacey

    July 22, 2011 at 6:12 am

    Can you help us to get the sample? Thanks!

  9. Erica Bohrer

    July 22, 2011 at 8:04 am

    The Sherman Four and Stacey, to get the google docs version go to where it says "click {here} to download the sample." It is working for me when I click it. Let me know if you get it from there. Also, when you click on the pictures, it should take you to TpT where you can click "download preview file" and it will also download from there.

  10. Mrs. Lamb

    July 22, 2011 at 11:46 am

    This sample is great. I use Whole Brain Teaching techniques and this really supports what they are all about. My 2nd graders love WBT and so do I! Cant wait to use this too!
    Rachel
    http://www.mrslambsclass.blogspot.com

  11. Lauren Blackmon

    July 24, 2011 at 2:43 am

    Thanks for the cute freebies. I love the ideas you have…so good. I have some great freebies on my blog now. Come check them out. I love freebies.
    -Lauren
    http://www.weeklyhive.blogspot.com

  12. Jodi

    July 24, 2011 at 2:46 am

    I love to use social stories with my autistic students and I know the whole body listening poster with come in handy for my two autistic students I will have this coming school year. Thanks for sharing!
    Jodi
    Fun-in-first.blogspot.com

  13. Miss Ice

    July 24, 2011 at 4:46 am

    These are awesome! Thanks!

    http://frozenin3rdgrade.blogspot.com/

  14. dbs0786

    July 26, 2011 at 9:47 pm

    Would you consider posting your lesson plans for the 1st week? I've bought the packet and am trying to plug in what should go where and how long each activity might take… it'd be great to see how you managed in the past. dbs0786@gmail.com Thank you! I've spent all summer following your blog…love it!

  15. Janet

    May 24, 2012 at 5:41 pm

    I love the whole body listening poster and have it hanging in my preschool room. Thanks for sharing.

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    December 9, 2012 at 7:33 am

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    May 15, 2014 at 3:00 pm

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    May 15, 2014 at 3:00 pm

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    May 15, 2014 at 3:01 pm

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  20. Chelle

    June 15, 2014 at 2:00 am

    Erica, thank you so much for the sample packet. I am not a teacher but I try to help out at home as much as possible so I use these resources around the house and am so grateful for such a wonderful resource!

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    February 11, 2015 at 2:50 pm

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📚 Back-to-school magic starts with the right read- 📚 Back-to-school magic starts with the right read-alouds!
These are my absolute favorite first-week books for building classroom community, easing those first-day jitters, and setting a positive tone from day one.
From Our Class is a Family, All Are Welcome, The Book of Rules, and so many more — these stories never miss.

Which one is a must-read in your classroom? Drop it in the comments and I will send you the links to my follow up activities!

#BackToSchool #ReadAlouds #picturebooks
These play-doh first day gifts are cute and practi These play-doh first day gifts are cute and practical!  The play-doh gives your students something fun to do while you are busy greeting students at the door.  Then once everyone is in, then you can unpack supplies as a class. 

Want the link to the FREE tags and to see what else I do on the first day?  Comment “first day” below and I will DM you the links!

#teacherhack #teacherfreebies #playdoh #teachersfollowteachers #backtoschool
How do you handle this situation? Do you put the How do you handle this situation?  Do you put the new student at the end of the alphabetical list or do you start over with a new one?
I know I am next for a new student (I have 24 kids and everyone else has 25), so I am holding off until the night before the first day.  I wish I could just wait but I like modeling where their bags and mail goes, both of which are set up using numbers.

True story: One year on the first day, I had a no show.  Then I was assigned a new student.  That student fit perfectly in the alphabetical order spot that was left.  I should have played the lottery or something.  What were the odds of that?!

#teacherproblems #teacherhumor #primaryteacher
5 things that are worth the money for your classro 5 things that are worth the money for your classroom!

1. A color printer.  We don’t have color printers at school and this has saved me from having to remember to print something at home. I brought in mine from home and then bought a new one for home. 
2. MacBookAir - This is my personal laptop.  I bring it home on weekends and holidays but for the most part I keep it at school.  I did need approval to get it on our district WiFi, which meant my phone could not also be on the WiFi.  There is a one device per teacher rule.
3. A lay-flat binder for my plan book, dismissal binder, and sub binder.  These save so much space and they are flexible. 
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Want the links?  Comment “links” below and I will DM you them. 

#classroommanagement #amazonfinds #classroom #teacherhacks #firstgradeteacher
✨Center time just got so much better! ✨ These 1st ✨Center time just got so much better! ✨
These 1st grade phonics-based literacy centers keep my students engaged, independent, and actually cheering when I say it’s center time. 🙌
Year-long skills that spiral and build (short vowels → digraphs → blends → vowel teams → multisyllabic words and more), primary lined recording sheets, supportive visuals, and activities that are easy to prep once and reuse all year.

Perfect for Science of Reading classrooms, Fundations® users, Daily 5, or anyone who wants structured, decodable practice while you pull small groups.

My students know exactly what to do… and I get to teach without interruptions. Win-win! 📚💛

Comment LINK if you want a full year of ready-to-go phonics centers and a free sample set!
#PhonicsCenters  #LiteracyCenters #FirstGradeTeacher  #Phonics #WordWork ReadingCenters
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Do you want the links?  Comment “sunflower” below. 

#classroomdecor #tptcheckoutmyclassroom #firstgradeteacher
Teacher Tip: Sort and store your printables for th Teacher Tip: Sort and store your printables for the upcoming weeks in a file tray above drawers for the days of the week.  This helps to keep you organized for the weeks ahead.
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Have questions?  Ask them below!

#classroomorganization #classroommanagement #teachertips #teacherhacks
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