Teaching with Mel D

Virtual Teaching Expo Question and Answer

Yowza! That was a lot of work! I hope you enjoyed my presentation and will use some ideas of mine.                 

You want to know what l learned?                                            I learned that I loathe watching myself on video.                 I learned that the camera doesn’t add 10 pounds, it adds 50! Yes, you heard it here! 

I learned how much I love my job! 
I learned to appreciate how much my students have grown since the beginning of the year. 
I learned not to let those creepy politicians ruin my teaching experience. 
I learned it’s about the children, not a 6 hour long evaluation. 
I learned that I am a good teacher with lots of ideas that I can share! 
I learned it’s not a good idea to cut my own bangs the day I am filming a presentation….lol. Only me! 
What did you learn?? What will you try out? 

If you are reading this & didn’t get your ticket, calm down, it’s not too late. Go to Virtual Teaching Expo & register. 

Having tech issue or a brain fart? Here is a video from Leslie from TBA to help you out. 










Here are some product links of some of the items I discussed in my presentation! 

Other misc. items I discussed. Simply click on the pics to take you directly there. 

Student recognition necklaces. Print on labels or card stock. 

Homeworkopoly direction link here!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. You did it! I know it was A LOT of work for you in a short time but I'm so excited you got to share all of your creative ideas! I can even use several of them in homeschooling and in the group co-op classes I teach. I (as well as hundreds of others) APPRECIATE all the time and effort that you put into this expo. Thank you Mel!

  2. It was such a great experience & I'm so excited to be a part of it! It was my pleasure to participate..it kept me busy & that's what I need. I could have talked for hours about my classroom! I thought of a ton more ideas I couldn't have included. When is the next one :o)

  3. thank for all of the great tips, I have a very challenging class this year and I've tried lots of things but nothing has seemed to work. I came across your warm fuzzy post last weekend and have prepared the kids all week for the transition over starting Monday. I just loved your ideas, thanks again.

  4. Thanks Nicki! I'm glad you enjoyed my part of the presentation! My stomach is in knots right now! I hope your kids love the fuzzies as much as mine do :o)

  6. Thanks Mor! I am trying to access your video right now & am having issues. I've never used foldables but would love to learn how! Thanks for the sweet comment!

  10. Thanks for all the great tricks. I have been teaching 17 years and listening to you today, gave me more ideas to use with my "nuggets" (I call them "chickadees"). At times I thought you were talking about my class! Too funny! No matter where you are in the country, kids are still the same! Thanks so much for all you do for kids (and teachers)!

    • Thanks so much for stopping by to comment on the presentation! "Chickadees"…too cute! Yes, wherever you are…the kids are going to act the same. This year…haven't seen anything like it. I'm exhausted!

  11. Thanks so much for a WONDERFUL Saturday afteroon! Your ideas and enthusiasm was great! Well worth the time and a wonderful source for professional development:)!

  12. Thanks for an awesome presentation! I enjoyed everything that you shared- took notes on your ideas. I am sure your students are just bursting at the seams to talk to you all the time-maybe they just don't have anyone at home who will take the time to listen to them about their days, so they keep it bottled up until they come back to school the next day.
    Pat yourself on the back- hopefully your bucket can be filled this weekend!

  13. Mel I just wanted to let you know that you are fantastic. You have a lot of awesome ideas and I wished that you could spend a day or a week with me just giving your ideas away! Your ideas about the fuzzy's are amazing! I am going to totally "STEAL" your ideas and tweak as I need to. (which I am sure yours are perfect so I wouldn't have too!) You put so much time and energy and especially love into your teaching and it shows. I am sure that your students just love you and can't wait until they return to your class every morning!
    I have one question (well actually 2). How do you have time to do it all and second… the fuzzy's. Do the children have access to the fuzzy's when you reward them or are you handing them out most of the time.
    Ok I lied another question how many fuzzy's do you find in your laundry because when I do monthly management I might find play money, cotton balls, beans, marbles throughout my laundry and my house!
    My main question is… Do the kids go and get their own fuzzy's when you reward them with one or do you hand them out? Thank you for spending the afternoon with me today! You are truly an amazing teacher and you can come visit in Maine anytime!
    Thanks again!

    Alexandra

    • Alexandra you are too sweet! I'm so glad you got some ideas!
      Question 1: The children do have access but I have to be by the fuzzies when they take them or when they have to turn them in. I caught a few stealing them so they lost the privilege of that one a few weeks ago..little fuzzy thieves!
      Question 2: I've never found a fuzzy in my laundry…lol!
      Question 3: They get their own unless they are at their seats & I reward them because they are working so good. I will either do it or my teacher's assistant (one of my classroom jobs) will do it.
      Maine? Never been :o) Let me know how it goes for you! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog.

  14. Thank you for an amazing presentation. I have been teaching first grade for 10 teachers at a private school and classroom management has always been my downfall. I am so excited to use your warm fuzzies in the third trimester to see how it will work. I love the coupon ideas and know my first graders will too. Thank you for all your hard work and for sharing with us. You are amazing.

    • Thanks so much for stopping by! Look at Walmart or Joann for the fuzzies if you need them right away. We usually order them yearly on our supply list. The coupons are a hit in my class..that is for sure! They love them! Thanks again for filling my bucket!

  15. Mel – I must admit that I tuned in to the Expo mainly for your presentation. I always tend to have the class full of "wild boys" so your ideas will definitely be implemented. I'm also so excited to have received a Candyland goodie bag gift! My questions are how do you have time for everything??? (I know you're also a Pinterest junkie!) and Where do you find all of your cute clipart for your classroom? Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful ideas with us!

    • I'm glad you are were able to attend the expo today! Yay! I can't wait for you to try out Candy Land…my kids are obsessed with those games!
      I am a night owl so a lot of work I do is at night. I don't have kids so when I get home from work I am on the computer all night. It keeps me busy & focused & that's what I need. I have an iphone so I am pinning on my lunch hour or whenever I have a free moment in the evening & weekend. I love pinning! As far as clip art…I use Scrappin Doodles & Thistle Girl…look on my side bar—->>>>> I also use KPM Doodle on Etsy. Graphics get really expensive & so do all the licenses..that is for sure. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks for stopping by my blog :o)

  16. Hey Mel! I'm watching the Virtual Teaching Expo right now. I downloaded all of the things from the goodie bag but can't get them to open. Is there a certain program I have to use to open the documents? Thanks for your help! I'm a first year teacher so I am definitely loving all of the ideas! I'm desprate for a new motivator. I tried doing something similar to the fuzzies but just rewarding each table group. It didn't work well, but I'm looking forward to trying it this way. Thanks again!

  17. Ha ha – I'm laughing at what Alexandra said – I know that I'll totally find fuzzies in my washing machine. I'm notorious for putting things in my pockets during the day! Thanks for sharing with us and all of the built-in positivity too is very encouraging. I need to build up that in my classroom and can thanks to your intrinsic based ideas!
    – Leslie

  18. I have such a challenging group this year too and I'm so thankful for this presentation. I've been teaching for 17 years and I really needed to find something that would work. I think the fuzzies will be perfect, especially for my students who are always so well behaved.
    ☼Libby
    Dual Kinder Teacher

    • It's works for good and not so good students. Maybe it's the year or something because every teacher I talk to are having issues…well at least in 1st grade…lol. Good luck!

  20. Thanks for all the great tips! You provided an enormous amount of ideas!
    One question – what happens if a student owes you a "fuzzy" but doesn't have any left in his fuzzy holder to give you? Thanks Leanne

    • That does happen & I have them write their name on the board & we start tallying owed fuzzies. When they earn them we just erase their tally's one by one until they are paid up.

  21. I got so much out of your presentation! YOu have so many ideas that I think I need to start tomorrow!!! I have to get going and get my group in shape. I know all of your ideas are a lot of work to get going but I have 32 little darlings in my class this year and I have to find something new to try!!! Thanks again.

  23. Hi again. I was watching your presentation again and was wondering if you have a print out that has the reasons to give and take a big or little warm fuzzy? I would like a copy so I can remember when I first start it.

  24. Mel, what a joy to watch your presentation! I even cut our date night short last night so that I could get home and watch the rest of you. Fantastic ideas, and I just can't imagine how you do them all? Unbelievable! You and your hair looked fantastic, so let that go.:) Do you let the kids take the fuzzies home or do they stay in their desks all year? I am new to all this blogging, Teachers Store, Teachers Pay Teachers, and Pinterest stuff, and wish I had found it all years ago. I plan on slowly getting my feet wet and hope that someday I can share my ideas with others too. Thanks.

    • You are so sweet! I'm glad you enjoyed my presentation! Tell hubby sorry about date night…lol. Classroom management has taken me years to get down and it does change from year to year depending on the group I have.
      The fuzzies stay in the containers in their desk. Blogging, TPT & Pinterest are so addicting! There is so much out there! I started my blog in May…go for it! Let me know if you need any help :o)

  26. I've watched the first 2 parts of your webcast, but my hub-bub has come home and I've got to quit. I'm really enjoying it, but wondering – you say the kids have to keep hands off the fuzzies' container. How do they get a fuzzy when they owe you one? Maybe you talk about that yet, just haven't watched it. Have enjoyed what I've seen. Thanks!

  27. I watched the videos again and have another question! I understand the use of the Fuzzys but am wondering how you tie that into your use of the behavior clip chart. Do you take a fuzzy and move their clip or is it taking a fuzzy OR moving their clip?
    Thanks!

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