Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Inspiration and Faith

Well, this post doesn't really relate to teaching except for the fact that at this time of year we all need a little inspiration! We also need to be reminded (as we scramble around to get ready for a new school year) of what is truly important in our lives!

If you want a good read, please check out the book, Realer Than Real by Ryan Wilkins. It is the story of one family's true life events and how their faith helped them through some very difficult times in their lives. This book will make you laugh and then the next page will have you crying. What a good writer this author is!

We are friends with this family and have followed their struggles in recent years. You can find this book here: Realer Than Real

Monday, July 29, 2013

Crayons & Curls: Glue... Dot, Dot, Not a Lot!

Crayons & Curls: Glue... Dot, Dot, Not a Lot!

You have to check out this post about glue! It is always a problem for a few students and this book is just perfect!

Thursday, July 25, 2013

How Do You Do Dice??

I have been seeing a classroom dice storage project all over Pinterest and blogs since last summer and I finally decided to work on completing it. I think this will really be helpful for students to grab their dice for math stations and go! It will also help with the problem of certain students (you know you always have a few) that refuse to roll the dice correctly so it doesn't shoot all the way across the room!
I had purchased the magnetic boards at the Target dollar spot earlier in the summer and decided one of them would work perfectly! I found the magnetic dice containers (or whatever they are really made for!) at Michaels the other day and loved the colors they come in. I purchased the gold, white and black to coordinate with my board but they also come in red, green, and silver! 
I just picked up some letters while at Michaels and added that to the top and the letters included some polka dots so I threw those onto the bottom of the board just for fun!
I hot glued my ribbon hangar on the back so it doesn't come loose when hanging.

This was so simple to create and I love how it looks! More importantly, I think it is going to be a great asset to the management in my classroom! What do you think??

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

"Whatcha Wearin'?" LINKY!

So, I am going to try to link up with The Hands-On-Teacher to join her "Whatcha Wearin"?" blog about what everyone is wearing the First Day of School. This is perfect for me because I spent the weekend shopping with a friend and I bought several new outfits for school. This is what I think I am wearing the first day!

http://www.cotesclass.com/2013/07/back-to-school-style-whatcha-wearin.html#comment-form

In case you are interested, the top is from The Buckle and the sandals are from EuroSoft and so comfy!

Monday, July 22, 2013

So Excited!

Sorry for being MIA for the past week ( not that anyone missed me!) I went on a much needed girls only weekend to Kansas City and did nothing but SHOP! It was so fun!

Anyway, I will have followers some day especially after my blog looks great! Which brings me to the exciting news! I have heard from the sweet Nancy at www.uniquelyyoursblogdesign.blogspot.com/‎ and she is beginning my blog design!! I can't wait to see what she develops! If you haven't seen her beautiful designs go check it out!

Check back soon!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Whew! It is over! and BOY Assessments

Well, the big family reunion at our house was a big success! I am a little exhausted but it was so nice to have family together! Now, I am really thinking about the beginning of the year. Those assessments we do the first few weeks are so important and give us so much information but they are so hard to manage considering we are still trying to get our rules and expectations in place! I have posted a new product on TPT that should help with one of those assessments and your students will think you are the best teacher ever because they will have so much fun! Go check out my new Beginning Sounds Scoot Game at TPT! You will be glad you did!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Liebster Award

How fun! I have been nominated for this award called, The Liebster Award by Second Grade Serenade. Here are the rules for accepting this nomination: 1. Link back to the nominating blog. 2. Nominate 5 and up to 11 new blogs that has 200 or fewer followers. 3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator. 4. Share 11 random facts about yourself. 5. Create 11 questions for your nominees. 6. Contact your nominees and let them know you have nominated them. Here are the blogs I have nominated: 1. "> 2.
Life is Great in Second Grade
"> Here are the questions Second Grade Serenade asked me: 1.What is your favorite TV show? It would have to be Modern Family. I just laugh so much when I watch that show! 2. If you could move anywhere in the world where would it be? Definitely Hawaii! We have been to Hawaii a couple of times and it is so beautiful! Love it! 3. Name of favorite childhood teacher and why? That would be Mrs. Wingett. She just made learning seem so fun! 4. One thing you would like to do differently this year? I would like to organize my Writer's Workshop differently this year. 5. When do you return to school? August 5th 6. Target or WalMart? No question....TARGET!! 7. Which celebrity would I like to meet and what would I say to them? I would love to meet Ellen DeGeneres. I would tell her that she is so kind and I love how her show helps so many people! 8. What was your proudest moment? That would have to be when my children graduated from H.S. 9. Apple juice or orange juice? Orange juice 10. Yoga, cycling, or Zumba or none of the above? None. I am a walker. 11. Are you an early bird or night owl? Really I am neither. I don't like mornings and I go to bed by ten most nights! 11 Randoms facts about me: 1. I have been married for 29 years. 2. We built a new home and have been in it less than 2 years. 3. My husband works for a Bank. 4. I love the Huskers! 5. I love to read my Kindle. 6. I have 2 boys. 7. I have too many black and white clothes. 8. I love summer shoes! 9. I can not tolerate people who don't wait there turn! 10.Shopping is a hobby! 11.I have way too much jewelry! Questions for my nominees: 1. What grade level do you teach and for how long? 2. Are you married and for how long? 3. Frozen yogurt or ice cream? 4. Do you teach Zaner Bloser handwriting or DeNealian? 5. Do you have a pet? 6. Do you have a hobby? What is it? 7. What is your favorite movie of all time? 8. How many work days do you get at the beginning of the year? 9. What are you afraid of? 10.What makes you sad? 11.Do your students get recess? If so, how many a day?

To Desk or Not to Desk

The question of the day is: Do you have a teacher desk in your classroom or not? I have gone the past couple of years without a teacher desk but I kind of miss having the space to put things throughout the day. I never sit at my desk though. So this year I am thinking of splurging on some type of desk and hutch unit for my classroom. I am kind of excited to have a decent type of desk instead of one of the cheap metal units the district provides! What do you think? This little beauty is at Office Max. I am liking the display shelves! So, friends, desk or no desk?? Have a great day!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Show Off Your Pile Linky!

Christina Bainbridge at Buntings,Books, and Bainbridge is hosting a Link Up to show off the goodies you have purchased for your classroom so far this summer. Come on....you know you have that stuff hidden away! I know I do! Check it out!

Friday, July 5, 2013

Target Finds and a Quick Freebie!

I don't know about the rest of you but I just can not pass the dollar section at Target without taking a little lookie to see if there is anything interesting I can use for my classroom! Sometimes (like today!) I find quite a bit (and spend quite a bit!) Well, here is what I found today!


The top picture shows cork boards and colorful push pins, and what looks like a cookie and hamburger are actually coasters! No, I don't make my first graders use coasters in class but they were an inspiration for a fun activity! Watch for that coming soon! There are 6 coasters in the pack. The binders are next and I love the colors and designs! I plan to house my short vowel materials in these. Last but certainly not least, are metal magnetic boards with cute little ribbon hangers! I think these will be just great for word work activities using magnetic letters, etc. Aren't they cute! Love the designs and colors! I might keep one for my teacher space. Maybe?? Well, if you are visiting me and you read all the way through this long post, I say THANK YOU!! You deserve a FREEBIE!! Go to my TPT store and follow me (PLEASE!!!!!) and you will find spine labels for these or any binders. I made them for short vowel materials. There is one for each short vowel!
Here is the link: 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/My-First-Grade-Gems
Just copy and paste it and you are there!
Thanks Friends!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy Independence Day and a Freebie!!

I hope everyone has some wonderful plans for The 4th of July celebrations! We did some celebrating with good friends last night. Love the beautiful fireworks!! In observance of this holiday I am making my Pledge of Allegiance pack on TPT free for today only! All I ask is that you follow my blog and my TPT store if you grab it and give me some feedback...please.....pretty please!! Remember, I am new at this so I could use some feedback and followers! Thanks for helping a newbie!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/My-First-Grade-Gems

HAPPY 4th of July!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Fun Writing Sticks!

As I was toodling around town the other day, I noticed something that I thought would be so fun for the writing station! You know that sometimes it takes some kind of fun "tool" to get some little ones excited to go to the writing station! Well I found some really fun writing "sticks." I say sticks but they really are pencils! At the top is a fun animal and the pencil looks like a twig from a tree! I am going to try  to post a picture! Don't judge! :) I am new at this remember!! You can find these at Marshall's!
It is hard to see but the first one is a panda, then an elephant, and a giraffe! They had others also!

Monday, July 1, 2013

Blog Away!

WOW! It is amazing that I am making my first post as a blogger! I am working on getting this blog really cute because as a First Grade teacher that is so important! Am I right?? I feel like I am talking to myself (I do that occasionally!) because I am sure no one will read this! I have also started a TPT store this summer and I am loving creating products! Please check out my TPT store!
I will be back soon with a freebie! I need to go take a walk! HA!!