Wednesday, March 12, 2014

SitSpots Blog Hop and Giveaway!!




Hiya Peeps! Kerri and Lindsay here...
That's right! You get a "Peas and Carrots" tonight from both of us, because we LOVE LOVE LOVE SitSpots!! OhEmGeeee!!! These little velcro spotties are the bomb-diggidy!! We couldn't believe how awesome they were when we first heard about them at SCKC.

Aren't they just sooo pretty?? And they stick onto carpet like you WOULD. NOT. BELIEVE!! Now, in my classroom (Kerri's), I have one of those rainbow carpets for my kids to sit on, so I just grabbed 10 SitSpots to put on the carpet and use for addition practice review. I used a Sharpie paint marker to write some addition facts on each one and laid the spots in rows on either side of my classroom. I plan on using these addition spots for math centers, as a way to dismiss my kids to recess and lunch (by having them stand on one and say the addition fact with it's sum), or a a sponge activity in between my lessons. Just a note...my iPhone DOES NOT do these beauties justice in the color department. They are SUPER bright and pretty in person! 
P. S. I am blaming these ugly pictures on the fact that A. I have a cold, B. I also have PMS, C. I am tired from darn Spring Forward, and D. It is conference week. Can you say Hot Mess? Yes, that would be me! Lindsay's pictures are much prettier, you'll see!!





I am so excited for my kidlets to use these tomorrow!! Now, here's Lindsay with a super fun idea for using SitSpots in Kindergarten...

Hi guys!  Lindsay here . . .

As Kerri said before, we absolutely FELL IN LOVE with SitSpots when we discovered them at the Southern California Kindergarten Convention last month!!  There were SO. MANY. OPTIONS.  Different colors . . . Different cool shapes . . .



So of course, in true Lindsay fashion, I got plain 'ol circles.  Not that there is anything wrong with circles.  They are a fine shape.  I was just completed overwhelmed with all of the choices and took 15 colored circles.  I had NO IDEA what I was going to do with 15 colored circles . . .
I already have a rainbow rug that my kiddos sit on in class . . . But somehow the idea came to me to create SitSpot Sight Word Twister!! (Try saying THAT ten times fast!)
In my classroom, we practice sight words in a million different ways.  Graphing sight words. Sight word dice games.  Sight words with HeidiSongs DVDs.  Sight word Chutes & Ladders. Sight word necklaces.
But alas, in my collection of sight word activities I had never taken the time to make Sight Word Twister, although I had seen it on Pinterest several times . . .



Setting up my SitSpot Sight Word Twister was SUUUUUUPER easy. Which is suuuuuuuuper great when you have been working on report cards for days and you just don't have the energy to do ONE. MORE. THING.
I decided to pick 4 of our trickiest kindergarten sight words to use for my inaugural SitSpots Sight Word Twister (they, do, are and said).  The beauty of SitSpots is that once I place my order for MORE SitSpots (which I plan to do soon!) I can create dots for ALL of the kindergarten words that my kiddos learn during the year.  Unlike making the Pinterest sight word Twister game, the SitSpots allow you to create any combination of words based on the needs of your particular class or group of students.  Brilliant!
There was a tiny part of me that hated the fact that I had 4 words and only 15 SitSpots (ugh.....UNEVEN!!) but it worked out just fine. As long as the words are repeated at least 3-5 times so that all of the kids don't have to clamor for a single SitSpot when a word is called you will be okay. :) 
So . . . here is how I got started.

Step 1: Used my Sharpie paint pen to label my dots with sight words.


Step 2: I made sure that the words and colors did NOT correspond (to make it trickier, of course!).  Muahahaha!!!


The finished product! 


Step 3: I created a customizable Twister spinner just to use for playing SitSpot Sight Word Twister!!  (Just click on the picture below and you can get it too!)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9gdPNfXIsbUUGRySzBjUjF3bG8/edit?usp=sharing

 Here is my spinner mat all pretty and laminated.  The laminating is a necessary and important step . . .


Step 4: Fill in the chosen sight words. 

(Note: Remember that the dot colors do not correspond to a particular word.  In fact, my slightly fluorescent dots didn't even match my spinner (GASP!!) but it doesn't matter.  All that matters is that you write in the sight words on your spinner so that each word appears once in each quadrant.)


And you all know the Erasable-Sharpie-On-Lamination trick, right?  You can use a sharpie to write on lamination and then scribble over it will a dry erase marker and erase both markers right off!  So I went ahead and used my fine point Sharpie to write my words.


So, I decided that our classroom library was the perfect place for us to play SitSpot Sight Word Twister.  I just rolled up our polka dot rug . . . 


. . . and stuck the SitSpots right down!! (And after we were done playing, I just put the rug right back down OVER the SitSpots.)


A close-up. :)


FINALLY it was time to play. I actually used this with my lil intervention kiddos since it was a smaller group, but I think this would also work well as a center too. Once you are ready to play you just use a paperclip and pencil on the Twister spinner mat and spin some words! 

Here are my kiddos all tangled up and LOVING this new game!  Even though they were clearly having so much fun, I heard them practicing their words as they clamored to put their right foots and left hands and every other limb onto the words . . . "I see a 'said'!!"  "Here's another 'do'!!"  (Yay for learning disguised as a super fun new game, right??)





Now here is the BEST part . . . As I was spinning words for my kidlets to play I realized that my kiddos would L-O-V-E the chance to be the Master Spinner.  AND spinneing the words would require that particular kiddo to also recognize and call out those tricky sight words.  (That's right . . . it would be EVEN MORE sight word practice!!)  But shhhhhhh!  Don't tell the kiddos!  They will just think it will be the bees knees to get a turn as the Master Spinner kiddo!

So there you have it folks!  Download your SitSpot Sight Word Twister mat tonight. Laminate it. And get yourself some SitSpots . . .


Now's your chance!
Nine of us Cali Gals have teamed up with Sit Spots to bring you a SitSpots Blog Hop and Giveaway!
Just follow the bouncing blog buttons at the end of this post to hop to your next Sit Spot-sational idea! 
You can enter to win on any of our blogs, but you must comment on all 9 for your chance to win a class set of 32 SitSpots! Don't worry, we're keeping it easy...Think Spring Break!

Just head to the Rafflecopter below for up to 21 chances to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway That's right...Lucky 21! Plus, the winner will be announced on Monday, March 17th ~ St. Patrick's Day.
Lucky!
With dozens of designs to choose from, you'll have a ton of fun spotting up your classroom space just like us!


 Don't want to wait to see if you're one of the lucky 9?
 Well, guess what?
 SitSpots has a deal just for you!
Enter Coupon Code CALIGALS14 during checkout on their site and save 25% OFF!
This offer expires March 31, 2014.

Still not sure? SitSpots offers a FREE sample before you purchase. Just head to their site to request your complimentary Sit Spot today!

Ready for your next creative Cali Gal?
Head over to Heidi from Heidi Songs to see her Sit Spots in action and leave a comment to win!
Good luck!

HeidiSongs Blog

97 comments:

Kindergarten is Grrreat! said...

Love the twister idea!!! Great thinking :)

Suzzanne said...

My spring break spot is hanging out at the beach in Tampa Bay area of Florida because of the beautiful sunshine and mama and papa restaurants.

Suzzanne Horton@gmail.com

Jessica said...

Love these! I saw them last year! As for Spring Break - it's still a month away for me, so I'm not thinking of it yet. At least, trying not to!

What I Have Learned

Missy said...

Love, love, love these! Would love a class set!
Spring Break for me is spent at home...in Florida!

Deb said...

What great ideas you have. I would love a set for my kiddos as well. Spring break for me is in Florida as well, but I do spring house cleaning. Yearly ritual.

Kim Dowd said...

These would be great! My favorite spring break spot is my bed. I need some rest!

kmedvigy said...

I love these! I have been looking for something other than a rug and these are PERFECT!

Unknown said...

I hadn't thought of all of those great ideas for using Sit Spots! I'd looove to have a set!! :)

Breanne
breannesimons@gmail.com

sgove said...

Love the twister idea! Spring break anywhere on a warm beach would be great as today is our 10th snow day!

dbednars said...

I love the ideas! Spring break is so far away - I just want to get done w/ winter!

Katie Knight said...

Oh my gosh! Twister!!!! You are all kinds of cute! The math facts are just plain smart too! I adore you guys!!!!
XOXO,
Katie
Teacher to the Core

Unknown said...

Love them!! What a creative idea! Would love a set!
thammons@dsdmail.net

Miss Kindergarten said...

Oh my gosh, you two are geniuses!!!!

Love, Luck and Laughter said...

They are so colorful! Love the hide-it-under-the-rug idea!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

These would be perfect for my room!!
tinysmiles34@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Love using them for sight word practice!

Jill said...

I love these!

Patty said...

Love the ideas!

Unknown said...

These sit spots are fabulous! I would love a set!
I am a track coach so my favorite place to go over spring break is to the track!

Carrie said...

I would LOVE these!

A New Box Of Crayons said...

These sit spots are AMAZING and so colorful! My favorite Spring vacation spot it typically my patio or my couch. I don't travel as much as I would like but if I could it would definitely be to some place warm and sunny!

Thanks for the giveaway!

Megan

A New Box of Crayons

Andrea L. said...

I bought these recently and love them! They get used mostly for sitting spots, but occasionally I change it up and do some type of game with them either with vocabulary words or math facts. I'd love to have a set just for our games. My favorite Spring break spot is my house so I can relax and recover from the business of the weeks before. :)

Sarah said...

I would love to use these with my firsties! My favorite spring break spot would be on a beach somewhere but I'll be at home instead :)

Carol T. said...

Wow! What creative minds out there and thank goodness for it! Looks like a fun product and colorful too! Just what we need for kindergarten. Spending my break in my favorite place - home in Florida. Time is going by too quickly though!



Suzanne Nelson said...

So many ideas! Can't wait to get some of these!!!

KS said...

Wonderful!!

Anonymous said...

Such a smart idea! I am so in love with these spots I cannot stand myself! My kids are constantly in each other's business (and space)... this could just be the magic ticket. Spring break: ANY where but Michigan.... we are on snow day #12.

Patty Rutenbar said...

I was able to give a set away too. . . but I didn't get any for myself. . . boo hoo! You can read my blog post if you want. http://2ndinline.blogspot.com/search/label/SitSpots
I'd love to be the winner of this set.
My favorite spring break spot is Clearwater Beach, FL. . . it's right on the gulf and oh so perfect!
Patty

Lori R said...

We don't get a spring break but I will say Florida!

zputty said...

My comfy chair with a pile of books next to it! Still snow and mud here at that time.

Unknown said...

These would be so amazing to have. Next year I will be a first year teacher at a private school and they do not have the money to afford carpets for each classroom. These would be so perfect. I would absolutely love to win this gift. Oh, and Spring Break....definitely Florida.

Anonymous said...

I went to Antigua a few year ago and it was amazing! This year I just want to be somewhere warm after this long and terrible winter! :)

yearn to learn said...

Sit spots great for creating a "bubble space" for students who need their space preserved. A mountain retreat is my best spring break spot. angus327@gmail.com

SMASH Lab said...

I love to go to Florida for Spring Break and spend some time on the beach.

Unknown said...

For spring break, I love anywhere that includes a beach!
I loved reading all of the great ideas y'all have come up with for using Sit Spots in your classrooms! I'd looove to have a set!! :)
rsworrel@gmail.com

Jennifer Denson said...

great ideas

Michelle Hunt said...

Oh my goodness!! These are the greatest things I've seen in a long time!! I really hope I win some!! huntmd89@gmail.com

Robbieratto said...

These would be great to have!!

Krysti said...

Love the twister idea for sight words! My Spring Break is still soooo far away!!!

Unknown said...

Great twister idea! Perfect timing as I have to give back my borrowed carpet at the end of this year! This will actually fit all of my kids and the washable factor is irresistible!! angelashaw63@gmail.com.

Tanya M said...

My favorite Spring break spot is at home with my kids.
I'd like bright red and bright green circles.
Thank you for an awesome giveaway.
Tanya Rubezhov

Meg Harasha said...


My favorite spring break spot is wherever my family is...either hiking in the Sierras or relaxing on the couch. Even a day of snow boarding at Heavenly if we still have snow is great!

Marny said...

Great ideas!!

Unknown said...

I can't wait to try these! For spring break I would love to go to the Oregon coast, where I got married last summer. :)

lanietx28 said...

LOVE them... great IDEAS!!!!!!!! TY for sharing

Katie Nussbaum said...

My favorite spring break spot is my house! Sleeping in and relaxing!

Julie Davis said...

These look wonderful!!! So many uses!!!! My favorite Spring Break place (or pre Spring Break depending on when it falls) is Savannah for St. Patrick's Day. We go every year and it's always so much fun!
Julie

Anonymous said...

My favorite Spring Break Spot is the beach!

Tracey said...

My favorite spring break spot is Maui. These looks awesome!

Karyn said...

Sit Spots Look Awesome! So many uses! My favorite Spring Break spot is Florida! Love the break from the cold harsh winters of New England! :o)

Unknown said...

My ideal Spring Break spot would be somewhere warm on a beach...however by break will be spent doing homework for grad school :)

Jennifer said...

Sit Spot Twister is an awesome way to use this tool. Thanks for sharing!

Amber O. said...

Just loving all these fab SitSpots ideas! My favorite spring break destination (other than the 8 I've already mentioned on others' blogs!) would have to be Memphis,Tennessee. I just loved when we visited a few years ago! All the Blues, and the Barbecue, and Graceland! Fun, fun times:)
SynonymRolls&AntonymMoments

katieneu said...

california or florida! i love these sit spots!

Jenn said...

Sit Spots look super fun! My favorite SB spot is a BEACH!

keri said...

I would love a class set of these. Thanks for the chance to win!

Unknown said...

I would love to go somewhere warm where I can sleep as much as I want! Love these!

ReddishAnn said...

A warm, tropical beach that is preferably quiet!!

reddstrang@gmail.com
thereddishbrowncrayon.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Florida

Kim DeAllen said...

Adore the twister idea.!!!! Thanks! ...and anywhere with warm water!!

Unknown said...

Great idea!

Ellen said...

Tons of ideas, these would be great!

Unknown said...

My favorite place to lay in the sun and forget about the never-ending snow in Indiana is Treasure Island, FL. I have been going here for 15 years with my family. SitSpots would be such a great addition to my classroom management plan in my classroom as a new teacher! :) Love the addition facts on the spots--so clever!

Brittany said...

My favorite Spring Break spot would probably be any beach with white sand and beautiful, clear water!

youngprekteacher said...

I prefer to be home sweet home for Spring Break. Love to get projects done!

Kelli said...

My favorite spot is at home with my family and fur babies. Relaxing and playing.

Unknown said...

My spring break spot -sunny Arizona :)

Cula said...

I love spending my Spring Break at the beach watching my kids play.

Unknown said...

The Twister game is a brilliant idea! Need. Want. Must Have!!! <33

❤ -Stephanie
Falling Into First

Heather said...

Love the Twister idea!!

TS said...

SitSpot Twister looks fun- I'd love to win a set for my classroom!

Mrs. Garcia said...

The twister idea looks like lots of fun!

em2thailand said...

These are so much fun and work for so many different uses! I'd love to have a set!

Unknown said...

St. Pete's Beach!

mlunders said...

I would love these!

Laura S said...

These look amazing! Already ordered a sample to see if they'll work on my carpet!

Kristen Lewis said...

My favorite spring break spot is the Gulf of Mexico beach in Florida. Thanks for the chance to win these SitSpots. They're fabulous! klewis@umasd.org

Steph said...

The sit spots look like the answer to my prayers! Fav spring break spot is Disneyland!

Unknown said...

Love Sit Spots! St. Augustine, Florida!

Anonymous said...

Spring Break - my house/yard, NOT commuting!

Unknown said...

Love these spots! My favorite get away spot is any where on the California or Oregon Coast.

Unknown said...

This is such a fantastic idea! Spring break for me is anywhere that isn't white!

Unknown said...

Anywhere HOT!
Veronica
Teaching with Giggles

Sara {Miss V's Busy Bees} said...

AH I love the idea of using math facts!! What a perfect way to incorporate movement with math. We need extra practice with multiplication and now fractions, so the ideas are turning in my head now! Thanks!!

As for my Spring Break location… every other post, I've posted about the beach BUT I would also love to go to Italy.. every Spring Break ;)

Sara
Miss V's Busy Bees
ventrellasara@gmail.com

Kim said...

The beach! any beach! Would love a set of spots!!

Erika said...

HAWAII!

Erika
My Crazy Life

Garden Full of Knowledge said...

Love these Sit Spots! What a cute and useful idea! Spring Break to me would be anywhere that has sun, surf, sand, and lot of warmth.

kristin said...

Love these! My Spring Break would be anywhere there wasn't any snow!

Jenni said...

Love the twister idea! So cute!

Shona Early said...

Just what I was looking for!

Unknown said...

I absolutely love this! I am currently a student teacher and will be a first year teacher this coming fall in Texas. I am starting to collect "classroom stuff" now so that I am not running around like a chicken with its head cut off during August .. well, at least not as much! :) These are a must have!

Miss Karen said...

Woo-hoo, love how you went straight away to begin using your sit spots in creative ways. :) You got me to follow you!

Dawn Hilburn said...

What a great idea! Can't wait to try them out myself!
First Grade Shenanigans

Linda999a said...

Sedona, Arizona for my spring break. Awesome product!

Colleen said...

These are so cool!!! I will definitely be getting some for my classroom.
Favorite spring break place... Mexico! Always good weather there!!
Colleen :-)
Fun and Fearless in First

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

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