Catch of the Day!

Hey there, I hope you're having a Summer full of tans, lounge chairs, and relaxation. 

Photo Credit: Michelle Ayala, South Padre Island TX

One of my favorite summer habits is not only no alarm, late breakfast, beach tans, and beach sunsets, but I love shopping SLOWLY. :D  What I mean is that during the school year most of my time is managed, organized, and purposeful. Juggling Assistant Principal work and raising 3 boys can become busy and time is always an issue, so when I shop it is for a purpose. IN AND OUT.  So Summer is my favorite time to just walk around stores with no purpose...
This post will be full of fun, cool, useful, and inexpensive finds that I come across while browsing a store.

Today's Catch of the Day was "Miniature Sand Buckets with Mini Shovels" for $1 at Five Below.
If you haven't been in a Five Below... You're missing out! I love their summer floats, five dollar sun glasses, beach towels, seasonal dress up accessories all at or below FIVE BUCKS!!

Each bucket was just ONE DOLLAR. I can think of a million ways to use these little buckets.

• Center Caddie for pencils, label the shovels with group role assignments. (Leader, Technologist, Time Manager, Mess Monitor, Spokesperson)
• Welcome Back to School! Hope you Enjoyed your Summer, welcome bucket placed at each student's desk with a first day scavenger hunt rolled up in the bucket.
• Summer Birthday Favors
• End of Year Farewell Favor
• Sand Bucket Glass: Remove the shovels and use mini buckets as a beverage holder. ;D
• Happy Birthday Favor

I am personally using these mini sand buckets for party favors next month. 

Hope you enjoy Michelle's Catch of the Day!

See you back here soon! 

Favorite Educational YouTube Channels

Yes to YouTube!
As a former PreK, Kinder, 4th grade teacher, and now as an assistant principal. I LOVE YOUTUBE, and I love engaging videos being utilized as a hook in a lesson, oral language practice with songs and visuals, brain breaks, quick fact checks, reteaching, demonstrating those fun dance moves while learning, and demonstrations of DIY science experiments. Visuals, music, movement, and engaging rhymes that YouTube can provide to all of your learners in the classroom is why I feel it is useful in your lessons everyday.
The following are some channels I subscribe to!
I would love to subscribe to yours! Leave your link in the comment box.

1. Crash Course Kids
2. Mathantics
3. ScienceBob
4. Flocabulary
5. TheBackyardScientist
6. SuperAwesomeSylvia
7. SciShow
8. TED-Ed
9. Houston Zoo
10. Smithsonian Channel
11. Harry Kindergarten Music
12. Jack Hartmann
13. Sesame Street
14. StoryBots
15. Blippi
16. Cool School
17. Kidz Bop
18. Alphablocks
19. AdaptedMind
20. Lotty Learns

Twitter 101

Everyone has a Twitter... right? The real answer is no, and that's OK.
Creating an educational Twitter account is a great platform for sharing, creating, networking, and adding value to your educational craft.
Edudemic has a great read on 100 ways to use twitter as an educator.

Today was our last day for teachers in Harlingen Tx. Our district, Harlingen CISD does a really great job at promoting EdChats, Twitter Chats, PLCs, and Virtual collaboration. With that being said, we had a Twitter 101 today as our Exit Ticket to Summer Fun. All of our staff now has a Twitter Account! SUPER COOL RIGHT!

I found "13 Easy Steps to Twitter" to be very helpful.

Leave your Twitter Handle in the comments so we can follow each other! 

#connect #happy classrooms #twitterfun #twitter101 

Staff Incentives for participation on Twitter but especially participating in the district's slow ed chat. 

You're a Tropical Gem! Thanks for participating on twitter this week! The Twitter Fairy delivered fruit smoothies to staff who participated in the HCISD's district Ed Chat. 

You R "SNOW" Awesome at Tweeting! Snocones were delivered one afternoon by the Twitter Fairy for participation in the district's Twitter Chat. 

Welcome!

Welcome to Michelle's Motivation in Elementary!
Wait a minute.. you might be saying. Is that Mrs. Ayala's Kinder Fun? Yes it is!

To keep it short my professional journey has taken me places in education I never imagined for myself. I have a passion for early childhood but especially for KINDERGARTEN. I have taught PK, Kinder, 4th Grade, Instructional Coach, and now I am a proud Harlingen CISD Assistant Principal.

I recently sat in a Summer professional development session where our amazing early childhood director brought Mr. Greg from Kindergarten Smorgasbord. Aside from being star struck by Mr. Greg I couldn't help but think about how much I missed blogging, virtually making friendships around the world with educators, and reminding myself that there is more to the four walls on my campus. In the hustle and bustle I tend to get extremely passionate about my work and being in the moment that I limit my virtual travels with fellow leaders and educators.

I have a passion for growth, hard work, creating, inspiring, teamwork, and ensuring we create a safe and fun environment for kids.

So lets get this party started!