New Facebook Group

Last Thursday, I did not tutor due to the little one recovering from getting her tonsils out so today I will tell you about some news thing going on.

• I have a new Facebook Group where I will be posting exclusive freebies. I already have one up now. It is also a place where you can share things that you would like me to create, test some products before I put them for sale and give me feedback on them, find out about exclusive sales (I have one going on now) only for group members, and more! You can join the group by clicking HERE. 
• I have a Themes Survey that you can complete and get your choice of one product $3 or less in my store. I want to know what themes for each month do you use for your learning centers in reading and math! You only have until the end of the month to fill this out. Fill it out HERE. 
• My Primary Math Task Cards Bundle will be getting additional task card sets that are already up for sale added to it. That means the price will go up once they are added. If you want to grab them for just $30 now you can get any new sets I add for free! 
• Quite awhile ago TPT lifted the mandatory $3 checkout, but when you don't spend at least $3 on TPT the sellers get charged 15 more cents. Due to that and another charge coming soon I have no choice but to increase most of my $1 products to $1.50. These include many of my Write The Room Phonics products and more. The bundles will thus go up as well. Many of my $1.50 products will increase to $2.00. I am sorry that I have to bring the cost on to you due to my cost going up. I don't make much money on TPT and right now it is my full time job. So it is my hope that my faithful followers will understand. Check out my dollar products HERE. 

Thank you for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings! Keep on smiling!

Ways to Use Technology in Class

Today, I thought I'd share some of the ways that technology can be used in class and I would love you to list your favorite ways to use technology in the comments so we can learn from each other!

• Desktop computers, laptops, IPADS, or Kindle stations to play learning games.  I also like to use the computer for Virtual Field Trips!  It's fun to take children to the White House, Times Square, or even to Egypt to see the pyramids. 
• Using a projector to teach, which helps keep you facing your class, which helps minimizing management problems when your back is turned to a chalkboard or dry erase board.  Children love following along with a book you are reading by placing it on the document camera or Elmo.  This eliminates the problem of I can't see the pictures!  It's also fun for students to come up and solve math problems or answer reading questions.  I also enjoy using the zoom feature as a microscope when teaching Science.  
• Digital Cameras are a fun way to integrate technology.  Give each group of students a digital camera and have them search for different patterns in the classroom or take them outside.  Put them up on a Powerpoint and have the students describe the patterns.  Digital cameras are also terrific for writing. Students can take pictures and then use the pictures to help tell a story!
• A listening center where you can put books on tape or CD for children to following and a recording to sheet for them to draw their favorite part and write a sentence or two about it has always been a favorite of my students.  
• Use a recorder for students to practice reading a book in the corner and then playing it back so they can hear themselves.  Then they can try reading again to be more fluent.
• A camcorder would be fun to use to tape students doing a skit or Reader's Theater.  Even more fun is putting a student in charge of the video taping.
• Ipods or a boombox is a must to play music in the classroom.  Music can be used for transitions (clean up before the song ends), to learn academic material, get the wiggles out, and just for plain fun!

I hope that you enjoyed my ideas for technology in the classroom!  I look forward to your wonderful ideas. Special thanks to The Learning Station for creating the picture for this post.  Hop over to their FB page by clicking HERE they will be giving away to everyone on their FB page a FREE CD in the very near future. As in any day now!  It will only be up for one day.  They are waiting for CD Baby to finish uploading it.
*** Update the CD is available until 9am Eastern on 9/27/13 and it is the Literacy in Motion CD with Green Eggs and Ham and 19 more songs!

Thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings.  Keep on smiling!

Teaching Blog Traffic School

Are you a blogger or do you sell things online?  Are you interested in learning how to get more followers on your blog, to your store, facebook page, twitter, pinterest, etc.?  How about learning easy backlinks to get more views on your blog?  You can learn these tips and more by joining Charity's Preston's awesome Teaching Blog Traffic School!  Click the picture to join today!




How has it helped me?  In just over a year I have over 400 followers on my TPT store, I have sold over 1,000 items, just shy of 400 blog followers, over 3,000 followers on pinterest, and over, 1,400 facebook fans.  I also have almost 270,000 views on my blog.

I would not have had the knowledge to gain so many followers in so many places or have the views I have on my blog if it wasn't for the ideas that came from this class.  Check out some of her videos on her you tube page by googling Organized Classroom Blog and you are sure to see how incredible the videos are.

She also has a forum and chatrooms that are online for TBTS members.  What are you waiting for?  Come join me at Teaching Blog Traffic School.  I get a commission if you use the link I have provided.  I would greatly appreciate it.  Once you click the picture, you have to pay using the link on that page and not veer off to the main page or I won't get credit.

Thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings.  Keep on smiling!

 

I Have Who Has "Silent Letters" - Insect Theme

Teaching about the insects has always been one of my favorite themes as a teacher so I am going to be making some games and centers that goes with this popular topic.  What boy doesn't like bugs right and some girls too!  Silent letter sounds was always tough for my previous 2nd graders so I decided to make the fun I Have Who Has Game centered around silent letters.  This game uses silent letters for GN, KN, MB and WR.  There are 30 cards and it is priced at only $1.99.

If you are interested click on the picture to head to my store!  As always I appreciate any feedback and ratings!  I am also in the process of making a before number dolphin game to 120 and a silent letter word sort! Be on the lookout in the next few days!

Happy Easter and Get To Know Me!

Happy Easter my friends!  I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you!  My TPT store is on sale for 10% off today go have fun! TPT Store!

I have been tagged! So, I am going to answer these great questions I've been asked, and then I'm going to hope that I tag 10 blogs that haven't been tagged yet. I apologize in advance if you get double-tagged.

Jaime at Thrills In Third Grade got me!

Here Are The rules:

* Post these rules

* Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you

* Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag

* Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged!)

1. What state do you teach in? Florida and actually Brevard County my whole life!

2. What is your all-time favorite movie? Pure Country

3. Are you a sports fan? What's your favorite team?  Big time, I love the Detroit Tigers (baseball) and Orlando Magic (basketball)

4. If you could be anywhere RIGHT NOW, where would that be? In the classroom with the children because I love making them smile!

5. What was your reason for becoming a teacher? I wanted to help make a difference in as many children's lives as possible!

6. If you had to change professions, what would you do? I would want to promote country music singers!

7. What technology do you have in your classroom? (i.e. Smartboard; document camera; computers;responders, etc): I am currently a substitute so I have whatever technology is already in the classrooms, but only use it if it is in the lesson plans.

8. Do you own a pet? What kind? What's your pet's name? I have a dog, she's a Shih Tzu, and her name is Snuggles!

9. If you had to recommend a book for  me to read, what would it be? Have You Filled A Bucket Today?

10. What is the best thing you cook? hahaha me a cook yeah right!  I guess I cook a pretty good turkey.

So, now I have to find 10 unsuspecting bloggers that I hope will still be my friends if I sneak attack.

Hmmm...

Teaching Tales                                LMN Tree

Best Practices 4 Teaching               Mix Minder

Hojo's Teaching Adventures           Super 2nd Graders

Pre-K Paradise                               Kindergarten Lifestyle

Fern Smith Classroom Ideas          Empowering Little Learners

Now my turn for questions!

1. How long have you been teaching?

2. What states have you taught in?

3. What subject is your favorite to teach?

4. What is your teaching philosophy?

5. If you could travel anywhere you wanted where would it be?

6. Who is a famous person dead or alive that you would like to meet?

7. What is your favorite tv show?

8. What is your biggest pet peeve?

9. Tell us something that other teachers might not know about you?

10. Give us a link to your favorite teaching product that you have made! 

Positive Fridays - April 2nd, 2012

Wow, I have a lot of great positives to cover for this week. whohohoooooooo!  I hope you have a bunch to share with me too!

- So Saturday, Hoppin' Hopkins ran the bounce house because well I "hop."  I was also persuaded to get into the dunk tank by the hi-five coordinator who said he had teachers donate money to get me that was going for the kids.  That made it super hard to turn down so I did that in Titusville at Family Fun Fest at Fox Lake Park.  It was all children who threw the balls to try to dunk me and most of them were really really ones.  After the first couple of dunks I ended up enjoying every minute of it!  Here are a couple of pictures of the fun I had!

 

I was told I was the hit of the Family Fun Fest as children were talking about dunking me all day and continued talking about dunking me at school.  That meant the world to me that I made the children so happy!

- I got called in to sub in 2nd grade on Monday at one of my favorite schools.  Like I said in my last post it is rare that I get to sub in 2nd grade so it's so awesome to do 2 school days in a row!  The children were absolutely spectacular.  They listened so well, worked hard, and made me so proud.  They told me they want me to sub for them again!

- Tuesday, I was back at what is now my favorite school and the principal gave me a letter of recommendation to help me find a job!  She said so many things that made me smile especially that she would not hesitate to offer me a job if she had one available!  She also noted that my personality makes everyone smile among other great things.  The 1st graders were also very kind and made the day fun!

- Wednesday, I got called in to teach Kindergarten at the school I was at on  Monday!  I had this class back before Winter Break so it was awesome to see them again.  The day began with a boy crying as his mother brought him.  I remembered he had dunked me twice so I brought that up and boy did he grin and stopped crying instantly.  He ended up being so sweet to me all day!  I know I touched his life!  We had so much fun playing Reading games! They are a great group of children.  One Kindergarten child made me smile when she called me cute, smiled the biggest grin, and gave me a hug.  It's the little things in life that matter!  She filled my bucket!  This has never happened before!

- Thursday, I had a blast with 1st grade back at the school I was at on Tuesday.  My day started seeing two excited 3rd graders.  Their smiles are just contagious!  They know how to fill my bucket!  The first graders were excited to have me and said so many nice things to me.  They helped me deliver plastic eggs to the 3rd/4th graders that said "Crack The FCAT."  I filled them with candy and an individualized note to each child to let them each know how amazing each one is.  I know I filled each of their buckets.  Of course I gave the first graders eggs too.  No note because I don't know them as well as the 3rd/4th graders and they aren't taking FCAT.  The 1st graders were also so sweet and helped make some special for the 3rd/4th graders for next week.  You'll have to read next week's Positive Friday to find out what we did for them!  In the event they get on with their parents, I don't want them to know yet. haha  I ended the day seeing 3 3rd graders who had huge grins on their faces and were so happy to get the egg from me with the nice note!

- No school today due to Good Friday, but I have a busy week already lined up for next week including 3 days in a row in 5th grade at the school I was at on Tuesday and Thursday so I am so very excited!

Don't forget to share your positives from the week and try to fill as many buckets a day as you can!

Daily Five and Sight Word Freebie and More!

First off all Easter Products are on sale today, heavily discounted some 50% off, go take a look!!!  Click the TPT sign on the right of the page!  

For my birthday last week I got the book The Daily Five, which I have started to dive into.  I am excited about trying it next year if I can get a new job, especially in the younger grades, but may try parts of it with intermediate children too!  I made this EEKK poster, which if you do the Daily Five you know it goes with Read to Someone and simply means Elbows to Elbows, Knees to Knees.  If you like the poster click on it and you can download it for FREE because well I'm a nice guy. haha

Next up, is a Sight Word freebie!  This fishy game is sure to be a blast with your high level Kindergarten, 1st grade or low level 2nd graders.  Basically after reading a sight word they get to pick starfish and get the points on the starfish, but there is a twist.  They can pick as many as they want each turn, but if they get a 0 they lose everything including from previous rounds!  If you like it take a look at my addition game too!

For more Freebie's check out Angela Watson's Linky Party!  

Then you have my Under The Sea Between Numbers matching game!  It also includes a worksheet.  It is currently on sale for just .99 cents, but hurry at midnight tonight it will go up to $1.99!  As always free to teachers I work with, students and parents!  Just send me an e-mail, see the about me tab to contact me!

Top 10 List

Heather over at HoJo's Teaching Adventures has an awesome Top 10 List Linky Party going on.  So well I just had to participate!

My Top 10 reasons to teach:

10. We have spring break and summer off!

9.   We are constantly learning new things all the time!

8.   Receiving hugs from children.

7.   Hearing children's laughter.

6.   Watching the growth of the students over the year.

5.   Being recognized by someone for your hard work whether it be a child, teacher, parent, peer, or administrator.

4.   Helping a child get through a tough situation.

3.   Seeing smiles on children's faces.

2.   When a child has an ah-hah moment and that light bulb pops on!

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1.   The kind things children say to you each day!

If you'd like to like me on FB click here: Hoppin' Hopkins' Happenings FB page

Don't forget to hop on over to Heather's Linky Party and tell her I sent you over there!

Thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings.

Brian :-)

Winners and a St. Patrick's Day Word Sort

We had 30 entries in my contest!  Congrats to Amy B and Julie L my two winners of my contest!  I'll be e-mailing you soon and you'll have 24 hours to reply back to my e-mail.  You each get to pick 1 item from my store that I will e-mail you for free!  I hope you can find something you can use!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Next up, I have another great word sort that is in my store that those of you who teach 2nd grade and up might enjoy.  It's an "oo" word sort!  Click the picture to go to my store to make a purchase if you like it!  

I can't believe 15,000 views on my blog!  Unbelievable!!!

As always thanks so much for stopping by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings and a special thanks to those that entered the contest!

Brian :-)

Friday Positive Share - Week of February 28th

Wow, do I ever have a lot of fun positives to share with you again and some of them are thanks to you my wonderful fans, friends, teachers, students, parents, etc.  You rock!!!

- I am over 9,200 blog views, that is amazing!  Once I had 10,000 it will be time for another surprise for everyone!

- I just hit 100 blog followers on Google Connect.  You all are amazing!!!  Love all 100 of you!

- I sold 5 products (6 total) since last Friday.  I know that's not a lot, but for a new person to Teachers Pay Teacher it is an awesome feeling!

- I was featured in Teacher Pay Teacher Newsletter, which was really awesome for a new seller like myself - TPT Newsletter

- Well on my last blog post I mentioned I'd let you all know how last Friday went.  The Kindergarten children were so excited as each one walked in the door.  A few 3rd graders saw me outside the room and stopped to talk to me and tell me how much they missed me.  Then the Kindergarten children had to tell me how much they missed having me teach them as I had been with 3rd/4th grade for a whole month.  That is like an eternity to 5 and 6 year olds, but they told me they were not mad at me and never could be!  So sweet!  Then at lunch, as I stepped into the cafeteria I hear my name being called out over and over again.  Sure enough it was those amazing 3rd and 4th graders.  I went around to talk to each child individually.  They were so sweet and many told me how much they missed me and that I was their favorite sub!  I hope to come back to sub for them again as I also miss them so much!  I'll see both of these classes in the cafeteria today as I sub for another Kindergarten class!  I'll report next Friday any positives that come from today!

- Tuesday and Thursday I also subbed for Kindergarten classes at another school.  The children were so kind to me and worked so hard.  One class shocked me as they started picking up their own trash after each assignment without being asked!  Both classes told me how much they wanted me to sub for them again and that I am nice and not mean like other subs who yell at them.  Both told me they want me to always be their sub!

- Then a moment happened Thursday that just touched my heart in a big way.  A girl who was done with her work and writing sentences on a white board came up to me and said read this Mr. Hopkins.  It said I love you, Mr. H.  I told her she was so kind and that I love you too.  She starts writing again and says how do you spell more.  I told her and she said you have to read what I just wrote.  Under what she previously said she writes I love you more.  It is the little things like that, that inspire me to continue to teach and look for another full time teaching job!

As always, please share your positives by posting in the comment box!  I love reading great things that happen to others.  It does not have to relate to teaching in any way.  Just let me know what was good about your week!

Thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings!

Brian :-)

Pinterest

There is a lot of talk going around the internet about the legal part of Pinterest.  Pinterest basically owns whatever you pin or repin and if you end up in a legal fight you have to pay their attorney fees as well as your own.  Crazy if you if ask me as it is all in the fine print.  Laura Candler wrote an amazing post on this subject on her blog, which explains it a whole lot better.  Click on the Permission to Pin button for more from Laura.



I am granting you permission to pin any of my pictures.  I own 99% of the pictures that I post on my website and will not sue you so no worries there.  Shoot I don't even have enough money to sue anyone!  I will not be deleting any of my pins unless the owner themselves asks me to do so.

Next, I want to tell you about a fun group on Facebook that you may want to come be a part of.  It is called Pinning for Bloggers!  You can post any of your blogs or teaching products (free or for sale) in this group and the members there will repin it for you!  We just ask if you post things to pin, please pin the things that other members post as well.  The majority of people coming to my page are from Pinterest and this small group fromt he Facebook group is a large part of it.  What are you waiting on?  It is a fun positive group.  We stay away from negativity!  Come be a part of the fun by clicking on the picture below!

As always if you like what you read please head over to the right side and join my blog through networked blogs and/or google connect.  I'm getting so close to 100 fans!  Can we do it before Friday's Positive Friday post?

Keep on hoppin' with me on Hopkins' Hoppin' Blog.

Brian :-)

Country Morning!

I hope everyone is having an amazing Leap Day and had a great day with the children doing fun activities!  Today, I want to take a trip back down memory lane.  I started my teaching career in 2003 when I took over for a popular teacher teaching Kindergarten.  It surprisingly to me, took me no time at all to win the hearts of those children and their families!  Many families from my first year of teaching have stayed in contact with me.  The children I taught from that year are now in 7th or 8th grade!

One of those amazing parents wrote a children's book a few years ago called "Country Morning."  It is written by Christine Lynn and the publishing company is Tate Publishing.  Nobody asked me to do a book review on it.  All opinions are of my own.  Clicking the book will take you to the site on Amazon, where you can see inside of it!

Country Morning is a story about life on a farm in the early mornings!  Those of you, like my Grandma, who grew up on a farm get up bright and early and know all about those wonderful farm animals get ready for the day.  The sun is rising while the animals come out to start their day.  This book is also a perfect book to teach rhyming words.  It has such beautiful and crisp illustrations that make the pictures come alive!  I can literally imagine myself waking up at a farm and going to see the animals as they are just getting up for the day!

I was blessed to have Christine come read to my 2nd graders many years later even after transferring schools.  The children had a blast listening to her read this wonderful story and asking her questions about the writing process!

I would love to see this book in every classroom library.  Most young children love farm animals and this book is so perfect for grades Pre-K through 3rd.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I have!

Thanks for hoppin' by Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings!

Brian :-)

Positive Friday - Week of February 20th

Well where do I start.  I'll start with my teaching adventure positives!

- I ended last week getting some amazing we'll miss you cards from 3rd and 4th graders.  I can't wait to see them again when I drop off Kindergarten in the cafeteria today!

- Check this out, I am a movie star!!!  Thanks Carolyn!

- I subbed in 6th grade on Wednesday and got some nice compliments about the shirt I wore and even had a student in my class who I had previous taught in Kindergarten.  She was well behaved for me!!!

- I subbed in 1st grade at my former school on Thursday and got to see so many of my wonderful friends.  I also saw 2 6th graders who I had previously taught in Kindergarten and both seem to be doing well!  A boy in the first grade class was so excited because he finally had a "boy" teacher he said.  He said the subs are always girls, finally a boy!!!  At the end of the day he comes to me and thanks me for teaching him for the day and tells me that he'll let his teacher know he wants me back again!  So sweet to touch the life of a child in one day!

- I am beyond excited to be with the amazing Kindergarten class who got me into one particular school because they can't stop saying good things about me.  It should be a super fun day today to teach them and get to say hi to the 3rd/4th graders.  Be looking for next week's blog post on positives from that!

- My blog is exploding in front of my eyes.  I had over 900 views from last Friday at 7pm until Saturday at 7pm.  The views have continued as I'm over 7,000 now.  I began Friday with not even 4,000 views!  You all are AMAZING!!!  Don't forget to enter my contest and get your freebie while your at it!  http://hopkinshoppinblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/200-fb-fan-giveawaycontest.html

- I had some wonderful help this week from my grandma and brother with raking leaves.  They just won't stop falling, we bag them up and they keep coming down.  I know up North they are all down, but not here in Florida!  Got more to do this weekend.

- Some of you like me are huge country music fans.  I am so very excited that a singer of a duo that I grew up listening to is putting out new music.  It's Kix Brooks, formally of Brooks and Dunn!

Don't forget to follow my blog and post your positives in the comments.  I really want to hear about your week.  It would make me super, super, super happy!

Brian :-)

March Behavior Notes

First off I just hit 200 facebook fans! whohohoooooo!!!!  Thanks so much to all of you who have stopped by to like that page.  If you aren't a fan on my facebook page head on over now!  Facebook Fan Page!  How about a freebie today and a giveaway/contest starting on Wednesday?

I know, it's not quite March yet, but it's better to be ready ahead of time right?  I created these awesome positive behavior notes for March with shamrocks.  There are two different sayings.  One is a fun one, use them both or use the one you like best.

I use these in the classroom by picking a day of the week, putting all names on them and dating them.  Any child who has a good day gets to take it home to their parents.  It keeps the children on their toes to behave because they really want one!  I even tried them in a 3rd/4th grade classroom for February and the students got super excited!  I believe these will work great all the way through 5th or 6th grade.  It builds great great parent/teacher relationships due to the communication and great student/teacher relationships as the students feel so good to receive them!  Click the picture to go to my TPT store to download them for free.  If you don't have an account you can set it up for free!

You can also click the pictures below to go to my blog posts and get your freebies for January and February.  Those up in the cold north can probably still use the Penguins, which are my most popular download!

Brian :-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Good Morning amazing fans, friends, students, fellow teachers, parents, and family!  Happy Valentine's Day to each and everyone of you.  I am working on a new freebie for you.

If you are a student, parent of a student or a fellow teacher of mine all my paid products will always be free to you.  You are the reason that I teach!  Send me an e-mail with your name so I know who you are and tell me what item you want and it is yours!  This isn't just for today, but anytime! 

I am really enjoying spending an amazing time with a great bunch of 3rd and 4th grade students.  I wanted to share that we are having an Ice Cream Social party.  The children are bringing in the toppings, silverware, bowls, etc. and I am supplying the ice cream!  They will also get to exchange Valentines.  I thought other teachers may enjoy this idea for their classroom for future parties.  I am going to enjoy my time with them as I say goodbye and look for other subbing jobs on Tuesday because their teacher will return.

Thank you all for believing in me and supporting my blog.  I am simply amazed that it has done so well.  I now have almost 3.600 views.  I am simply amazed!  Thanks for hoppin' by to Hopkins' Hopkins' Happenings!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Brian :-)



Graphics from http://www.digiscrapkits.com

Positive Friday Share - Week of February 6th!

Happy Friday everyone!  Wow what a great week it has been!!!  I have so much to be thankful for this week.

1. I went to a fantastic concert at the UCF arena and got to meet and get my picture taken with Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, and Jerrod Neimann.  The show was also fantastic!  Here's a picture for anyone who is a country music fan of Chris Young and I!

2.  A terrific fan on my facebook page shared a terrific Geometry Powerpoint with fans on my page!  Thank you so much Amy Brown!  You can check it out and purchase it for only $1 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-in-the-City-PowerPointGeometry In The City

3. I am so proud of the students this week.  They really worked extra hard and put forth a great effort in their work. 

Ok now it is your turn to share your positives for the week!  Please click the reply button and let me know how your week went at home or at school.  You can also go to my facebook fan page by clicking here: Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings FB Page.

As always I would love for you to follow my blog via RSS Feeds, Google Connect, and/or Networked Blogs.  Thank you so much!

Brian :-)

Positive Friday share for the week of Jan. 30th!

Wow, what a great wonderful week!  I have a couple of wonderful positives to share with you today.

First, my blog now has 75 followers and on facebook I am up to 156!  If you aren't following me on either yet, please do and don't forget to also follow on networked blogs.

My other positive of the week is something small, but it was very nice.  Being a man, I rarely get compliments on my clothes, especially from the kiddos.  Well one girl complimented me on my shirt in the lunchroom and a boy complimented me on my shoes.  Neither are new and in fact the shoes are probably a couple of years old.  It was just nice to hear something nice from children who were in the upper elementary grades!

So what positives do you have to share today?  Please either reply to this blog post or head on over to my facebook page and let us know at least one positive thing that happened to you.  This can be from school or home!

Positive Fridays

Each Friday, I am going to try to post a blog for everyone to share in the comments some positive experience at school or your personal lives.  This has been a big hit on my Facebook page and I hope it will on my blog as well.

I was praised by the assistant principal on Wednesday during a parent conference.  I was told that I'm very organized, structured, am always working with the students and that the students really love me.  It made me feel so great hearing that and to hear it from the assistant principal in front of a parent was truly awesome!

I hope that you also have a super positive experience to share from the week.  Please reply on the comments below and don't forget to sign up on the RSS feeds to the right of the page!  It looks like this, but don't click it here, go to the right side of the page!

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All Comments 

Here is hoping that your Friday was spectacular!

Brian :-) 

Blog Contests and More!

Howdy my friends and followers!  Unfortunately, Google Connect is going away so if you signed up under Google Connect to follow my site you won't able to in the future.  Please sign up under the RSS Comment Feed and/or Networked Blogs.

Teaching First has 200+ followers!  Wow!  To celebrate Becca is having a 9 packet giveaway.  Check out her blog for more information: Teaching First Giveaway

Do you have an ipod, iphone, or ipad?  If so here is a fun giveaway for an awesome App that you can download and use with your children!  Sharing Kindergarten App Giveaway

Lorriane is having an appreciation raffle.  Head on over to her blog to find out more!  Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies Raffle 

How about winning a flash drive with teaching resources already downloaded to it!  Tabitha is having an amazing giveaway for having 500 fans.  FlapJack Educational Resources Flash Drive Giveaway

My friend Ashleigh has an awesome giveaway on her blog as well.  How does a $25 gift card to Amazon sound to you?  Yup that's what you can win!!!  Check out the details here: Ashleigh's Education Journey

Good luck to everyone with the contests!

Finally don't forget to check out and like my hoppin' Facebook Fan page: Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings Facebook page

Until next time, keep on hoppin'


Brian

Penguin Good Behavior Freebie!

Today I bring to you my second ever Freebie!  I hope to put out at least one for each month if teachers seem to like it.

Back when I taught Kindergarten another teacher gave me the idea to use the cute little note pad cutouts that had things on it like a Sun, School Bus, Frog, etc.  She told me to put a cute little saying on it tying it to what was on the cutouts and gave me some examples.  For example the sun might say Joe had a Sunny day today.  The frog might say Joe had a Frogerrific day.  Or Joe had a Hoppin' day.  I was also told to pick one day a month and not let the students know what day it was so it was a surprise and they would try to behave each day so they could get a good note home.

I put the names on the notes before hand, dated them, and wrote the messages by hand.  On that particular day any child who stayed on green (good day) was given the fun behavior note in their folder.  Their parents were so happy to receive the notes and it really helped build a good parent connection.  The children also seemed to try to behave so they could get the note!

So I decided I'd make some behavior notes that are similar to this.  All you have to do is put the child's name on it and date it!  Here is January's behavior note freebie.  It will open in Google docs, if you prefer Teachers Pay Teachers - listed for free, post a comment and I will leave that link as well.  I'll try to have February's done before February!

January Fun Behavior Note

Until Next Time Keep Hoppin' To It,

Brian :-)