Beach Bummed and Whole-Brain Teaching

Yes, you read that title correctly.  Rather than Beach Bum, I am completely bummed about no longer being at the beach!  Our time there was nothing short of amazing.  I never could have imagined how joyful and magical it is to be with an over-excited four year old boy the first time he sees the ocean and experiences the beach.  I wish I could have somehow taken all that excitement and stuffed it in a bottle for safe keeping.  My one year old little girl was so enthralled that she became exhausted by all the new sights and sounds within hours, and she spent the majority of the time sleeping on the beach.  I was a little jealous.

Although I would like to say I became completely immersed in the joys of our first family vacation, I am sure you won't be surprised to know I spent a great deal of time thinking about my classroom, my new blog, and all the work that needs to be done.  It's what we all do...we can never stop thinking about it completely.  Teachers quickly learn that what we do is much more than a "job", it becomes part of who we are, teaching is not for the faint of heart nor those who simply want a paycheck.

So part of what made our trip so incredible is that one of my nearest and dearest friends joined us with her husband and two kids.  Traci was my roommate after college graduation and we have been "besties" ever since.  I bet you'll never guess what she does for a living.  Or...maybe you will.  LOL!   She is a kindergarten teacher!!!  So naturally I spent some time picking her brain and getting some fabulous ideas.  I am super excited about the plans I made to be in her class on her first day of school.  She lives in a different county and starts two weeks before we do.  So I get to sit in her class and observe (and of course help when needed).  I am overly excited.  Once you get your own classroom, when do you ever get the chance to observe others?  NEVER.  I haven't stepped foot in a kindergarten classroom for longer than a quick minute since I first started teaching ten years ago.  I can't wait to visit Traci's class.  I will also spend some time with one of her close colleagues who uses a lot of the whole-brain or power-teaching methods.  I am really intrigued by everything I have read and watched on whole-brain teaching so am also very excited about observing her! What do you think about whole-brain teaching?  Have you ever used it?  Do you like it?  Does it work?

Here are a few youtube videos if you want to see it in action.  Don't you think it looks like fun?  I know if I were a student in a whole-brain teaching classroom, I would be engaged!