A class of 29?

After 3 years of having a class of just 23 - 26 children. I am wondering how I will cope with a class of 29. With two children who have special needs. I am nervous but also excited about the challenge. I have met the children and they all seem lovely. They've got something about them.
I am feeling excited - bring on the challenges!

Printables

The teachers at my school are Sparklebox crazy. I have to admit, I haven't used it as much and I think I've just worked out why....mrspancake.com! I've always felt the images on sparklebox were a bit...I'm not sure if 'dated' is the word but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say. The images on mrspancake.com on the other hand, appeal more to me. For lots of helpful printables for Numeracy and Literacy visit both sites and let me know which one you like best! ;)
http://mrspancake.com/
http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/

To Sir (or Miss) with Love

In my school, I am known for the tear jerking power point slide show presentations that I create for members of staff. Whenever someone has left, retired or got married, I have surprised them with a slideshow with (embarrassing) pictures of themselves (sneakily acquired from various members of their family). I try to time the slideshow to a meaningful song and by far the best song I have found for someone who is leaving is a song called "Goodbye My Friend" by Susan Krauter. Is so beautiful and moving and will make anyone cry (can you tell I enjoy making people cry - in the nicest sense of the word of course).
Find the music and lyrics here:
http://www.trunorthmusic.com/Lyrics/GoodbyeMyFriendSONG.html

Point to the ceiling

Always looking for ways to get my children from their tables to the carpet with the minimum of noise and fuss. I sing! We have several songs, but they like this one along with all the actions.
Point to the ceiling, point to the floor
Point to the window, point to the door
Clap your hands together - 1,2,3
Put your hands upon you knee
Hand in the air
Fingers on your nose
Thumbs on your ears
Wiggle your toes
Point to your friend, point to your chair
Point to the teacher, hands in the air
Hand on your head, fingers on your nose
Thumbs on your ears...lips firmly closed. :)

The phoneme igh

This I knew would be a tricky one to teach. I had a soft toy of a Policeman that snoozed and snored when you pressed a button. Adults and children alike are amazed at how his belly moves to the beat of his snore. I bought it in a sale at Harrods (you get a whole range of snoozing animals!) and had never thought of using it in class, until I had to be observed teaching a letters and sounds session.
The plan was, I introduced "Inspector igh" while asking the children to be very very quiet as he was asleep. The story was, that he worked at NIGHT, when everyone turned out their LIGHTS, he comes home and SIGHS as his boots are too TIGHT. You get the picture. We go over these words using flash cards, a presentation on powerpoint, magnetic letters etc.
I then show children an envelope addressed to Inspector IGH (by this time the children are on the edge of their...bottoms! as they sit on the carpet ;) and I say let's open it as he is fast asleep...
It's a letter warning him of something...it has words missing! What could these words be? As a class we need to fill in the missing words. Obviously all the words were igh words. The children loved it and loved the fact that they could spell all the words.

Boys can't or won't dance?

Most of the boys in my class don't like dancing. They are only 7 but think they are too cool. They love football and sport but ask them to dance and they make funny faces and stand there shyly.
I think I will show them the clip of 11 year old Aiden on Britain's Got Talent tomorrow before we do our daily routine of "Wake and Shake". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nz73UPzktQ

Amphibians!

We were learning about the 6 main animal groups in Science last week. My colleague created a slide show presentation with links to videos of animals on Youtube. She found this great song by Kermit the Frog called Carribean Amphibian and added it just for fun! The children loved it! It is an old clip but does the trick and helps children remember a frog is an amphibian :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCDshh48ypg