Let's take a gamble and have some fun! Wednesday's Post

Happy Wednesday!  Yesterday was a REALLY good day bc my nephew Jack was born! I got to spend a fun day with Jack's sister and brother! I just LOVE my niece and nephews..such cuties! Today is a fun post bc I can PIN blogs and TPT items! Don't you just love Pinterest?!? I do for teaching and for my personal life. I love that everything is visual and organized. It makes it so easy to find items when you're on a time crunch.  Today's task is to pin a teaching blog and TpT items.  So take a look at what I find to be my favorites!

Today I pinned 2 teaching blogs that I not only find interesting and inspirational, but also visually helpful!  I pinned The Kindergarten Smorgasboard and  Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits.  Both of these blogs give teachers a lot of great ideas for lesson planning, activities within the classroom, and pictures for those of us who need visuals. ;)  Greg from "The Kindergarten Smorgasboard" seems like he is passionate about his teaching and what he shares...sometimes you can check out his YouTube channel too.  I pinned both of these blogs to a board I have have on Pinterest...

I also pinned to new blogs who have linked up with me this week... The Land of I can...A Kindergarten Blog and the second blog I pinned was Kindergarten Kisses.  I am so glad these sweet ladies linked up with me this week!  Stop by their blogs and follow!!! I can't wait to see what else they share on their blogs!  Thanks ladies! Maybe in the future we can collaborate and do something big for this "teacher bloggy world"!

Here is the link to my Pinterest boards...I have over 20 boards for education! Hope you find them helpful! Click here!

Next up, TpT items...I love Teachers Pay Teachers!

Take a look at the items...

First up Miss Wolgy created a literacy activity called Book Museum.  In the beginning of the school year I have my students bring in their favorite book. This is a great way for my students to start thinking about books, why they like to read or what they like to read. Overall they start building an interest in reading.  Students bring in their books, we set them down at our tables and walk around looking at the books. We do a few activities with the books and then share what makes this book our favorite.  I never really had documents to use with this activity. Students just wrote on paper. Needless to say Miss Wolgy's packet saved me time and it goes along great with what I do in my classroom! Go Check it out and follow Miss Wolgy while your at it!

The second item, Direction Cards, is from Molly's Kindergarten.  These cards saved me on time and classroom management!  These direction cards are great visuals for your students.  It saves me on repeating directions over and over...I think we have all gone through this before! It's okay that we have to repeat verbally, but having a visual to post your directions in the classroom is helpful!  I put magnetic tape on the back of each card (there are over 40 cards to choose from) and post them on my easel or whiteboard.  It's so easy and again these are GREAT VISUALS!  Go check them out and follow Molly from Molly's Kindergarten on TpT!

I am going to add to this task for Wednesday and pick a few items that I think would be great packets/activities within anyone's classroom....

Mandy Marchant created an item for Mother's-to-be!  I thought this was a creative item that would help out anyone who is going on maternity leave!  Who doesn't love to stay organized?!? You can put everything you need in one binder. This item also has a letter to your families.  There was a sub that found this item so helpful when the teacher who left on maternity leave, left a binder with all of this info, from this packet, filled out. It made her life a lot easier!  Check out this packet and follow Mandy!

The next item that is on my list comes from Lacy's Letters.  The item Cyndi created was a Rhyming Little Books Bundle.  The item I am sharing is the bundle, but you can purchase the books seperately too.  I just think a bundle is always a great purchase! This product is perfect for whole group, small group, centers, guided reading activities, etc!  The Rhyming Little Books are a great way to add to your study of rimes, rhyming words, and word families!  This item also is aligned to the Common Core...so if you are a Kindergarten teacher, go check out this product from Lacy's Letters and follow Cyndi too!

If you want to check out any of my items from my TpT store click here!

Don't forget to ENTER my GIVEAWAY and link up!!!

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Tuesday's Tips #letshavefunlinky

Good morning! Today I can't wait to share some tips that I have learned along the way with blogging, TpT, teaching, and through social networking.  I have learned that there are so many ideas and inspirations out there, so connecting with other teachers can be very important.  I am definitely not an expert in all of these areas, but have learned a lot and hopefully I will share a few tips that you find useful.

BLOG:   If you are thinking of starting up a blog, the one tip that comes to mind first is to pick a blog name that represents you and one that you will want to keep.  You want to make sure your followers know your blog name and URL, especially if you plan on joining in on the TPT world. You will want to make sure both names are the same.  It will make it a lot easier for your audience to keep up with you.  Another important tip would be patient and make sure your content represents you!  I'll be honest having a blog and keeping up with writing can take a lot of time.  However, in the end you will find that you can make a lot connections with other teachers and inspire each other.  Don't get overwhelmed and set goals/lists if needed.

TPT: Just like a blog pick a username that will represent you and do not feel like you need to add a lot of products right away.  Your items will represent you.  Any product I have posted are items that I would use in my classroom or created for others in hopes that they would find useful in their own classroom.  Use the TPT blog or sellers forum.  A lot of teachers collaborate and are always willing to help each other out.

CLASSROOM:  1.Build relationships and communicate not only with coworkers but with your students and parents as well.  Communication is important!
2. Always be YOU...believe in yourself!
3. Manage your time well and be flexible.
4. Set expectations and go over routines right away...starting on the first day!

SOCIAL MEDIA:  If you are starting out pick 1 or 2 social media outlets that you find interesting and fun.  Do not feel like you need to join all of them right away bc there are a lot!  I find Instagram and Pinterest to be my favorite social media outlets.  Both of them are visually appealing and easy to manipulate. Pinterest is a great organizational tool.  Instagram is a fast way and easy way to share visuals of activities in your classroom, ideas, and information.  Both are great tools to connect with other teachers.  Now that I am comfortable with those two, I plan on learning more about Facebook and Twitter.  I have accounts with both of those social media outlets, however I do not use them as much. Overall, create an account with a social network you feel the most comfortable using and one that you will enjoy.

Hopefully you found some tips useful!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!


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Make your Masterpiece #tptsellerschallenge Week 3 & Giveaway

New week, new challenge! This week were were asked to create a new product for our TpT Store or finish one we have already started.  This was the perfect challenge to complete some items that have been already started and never were completed until now.  I can now check my "AllAbout Plants" and the "Reading Logs with Mystery Pictures" packets off my to-do list.

Here are just some of the printables found in this packet....keep reading to understand a little more about this "All About Plants" packet.

I absolutely love my "All About Plants" packet.  This is a packet that I started a long time ago.  We study plants in our first grade classrooms and never really had journals or any resources to help guided our teaching. I will be using my plant journal and the seed journals during the spring time.  I created this packet in black and white to make it easier and cheaper to print. However, the vocab words/sorting activity are in color, which is something that I can print in color and laminate to keep for the following years. My goal was to create a packet that would include everything I needed to help guided and teach all about plants.  I know that everything in this packet will be used whether it be the experiments, journals, folder cover, or even the vocab cards. Now go check it out at my TpT Store!

The next item I completed was the "Reading Logs with Mystery Pictures"... just a little twist on your average reading logs!  This packet I actually just completed on Sunday night. I thought it would be ok to add this since we started this challenge on Monday.  I created this packet to help motivate students to set goals (minutes) to help build their stamina when reading at home.  When they finish reading a book or a part of a book, students can fill out the mystery picture.  Students will be recognizing numbers and having to keep track of what they are doing.  Another learning opportunity! :) I made mystery pictures for every month and included an extra one during the month of December.  This activity gives students a much needed break.  Overall, I know that students can spend a whole day at school and there are times when teachers/parents want them to read for homework. I find that this helps students compete their reading for the week/month. Then they are excited to do another fun activity after a long day of learning... and reading!

Don't forget to link up! Click here if you want to join in on the fun!

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DARE TO DREAM #tptsellerschallenge Week 2

It's Week #2 of the TpT Sellers Challenge with Third in Hollywood, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Teach Create Motivate, and Sparkling in Second.  I definitely needed a challenge...can you tell?  I haven't blogged in a while. Hopefully this will help me get back into blogging bc it is something that I do enjoy. This week we are all asked to to reflect on what we want out of our TpT business...what are our BIG DREAMS.  This gave me some down time to reflect on my goals and dreams....so here they are...drumroll please....

*TRAVEL:  I want to be able to take some time to travel. There are a lot of places that are on my list that I would like to visit. Some places here in the US and some out of the US.  I have never been out of the US and would love to go somewhere...Ireland, Italy, and Spain are on the top of my list.  One day I will pick a place and plan it!  Overall I want to take time to travel more here in the US and visit places I would never think to go.   There are so many places to experience it would be so much fun! Should I close my eyes and point on a map to pick my next travel adventure?

*GIVE TO OTHERS:  On my list I have save and spend...that kind of takes care of my dream to travel and to give to others...but they are a big dream. One of my big dreams would be to pay for trip for my whole family.  Wouldn't that be fun?!?  My parents and siblings have always been so giving, which one of the many reasons I love them so. I would love to treat them to something nice, like a vacation!

*SAVE and SPEND:  I know, sounds crazy right?!  This is a BIG dream of mine. I would love to be able to save enough so I am financially secure.  I would like to continue to save, so that I can continue to pay off bills and not worry about them each month, which has been a big blessing with TpT so far!  From there I would then like to save enough to spend money on things I might need or even want.  I love to shop-so buying new clothes, new decor for my place, a new house, a new car, etc...would all be things that I would like to do.  Obviously, I wouldn't do all of this at the same time.

*GROW: Luckily I feel that through my TpT business experience I have been able to grow as a teacher.  I want to be able to continue to make meaningful and engaging resources that are of value to any classroom.  I want to continue to use all my social media resources to continue to connect with other teachers. I have learned about many resources, children's books, tech ideas, etc through you all. I feel that we are all inspirations to one another and can help each other grow as teachers.  It's hard to look into the future but as of right now I want my TpT business to grow and then hopefully grow into another adventure...whatever that may be! I have learned so much and will continue to grow.

Don't forget to link up and join in on the fun!
Hope you are all enjoying your summer...I know I am! :)

Monday Made It

I thought I would link up with Fourth Grade Frolics for the annual "Monday Made It".   I have made quite a few things but haven't had the time to complete everything just quite yet.  Where has this summer gone?!?! Anyways I thought I would share a few of the things that I have been making.

I found this Monday Made item on pinterest which is a great place to find inspiration. I don't remember who I saw had these hanging in their room...obviously not the the same rules but the idea of places the rules on brightly painted wood.  Side note- I got my wood and paint from Walmart (not a huge fan of that place) and found that their supplies are a lot cheaper than Hobby Lobby and Michaels.  My classroom rules or expectations were always printed on a poster board and hung in the corner of my classroom.  Since our school implemented PBIS, we created school wide expecations. So I thought I would create our school expectations and mod podge them onto wood that I painted.  My hope is that the expectations stick out a little more...hopefully they will be a great reminder for some students.  I haven't hung the expectations on the wall yet...nor do I know where I actually want to place them in my room. However I thought I would still let you see what I made!  Eventually I will take pictures of my classroom when it is complete!

My second Monday Made It is my "I Mustache You a Question" packet.  I plan on using these question cards during my class meeting.  I will let students pick a question card and even use the mustache and eye glass props.  Students will love this!  The questions ask students about themselves, their family, school, and there are also yes and no questions to make is quick.  I plan on including common core questions soon (when I find time to create them)...fingers crossed that will be soon!  I just thought this would be a catchy way to not only get to know each other but to catch the attention of our friends.  Many teachers have a questions of the day in their classrooms...this could be used for that as well.  You don't have to even use it for the question of the day or during a class meeting.  You can use these question cards as a back to school activity and/or as a time filler.  Possibilities are endless! ;)  Click on the picture to be directed to this item.

Now it's your turn to link up! Good luck with getting your classroom ready for the new school year!

Don't forget to check out my TPT store for more back to school activities or even classroom decor!!

Random things to share...

I just looked at my calendar and reality set in...work starts in about two weeks.  Where did this summer go?  However, I can't worry about that right now because today was the perfect day! It was BEAUTIFUL outside.  The sky was blue, the temp was just right, and I got to enjoy it ALL day! These kind of days remind me of my grandpa.  On days like these, he would say"Thank you God for this beautiful day!"...so true!  

Anyways back to thinking about school...I have been thinking about the first few weeks of school and realized I need to fix a few things, get my classroom back in order, buy new borders...the list could go on and on.  I will save you the boredom and stop listing all the things I need to do and show you what I have been up to...

I went shopping to buy a few things...I found borders... a lot of borders...I probably DID NOT need these borders...but I had to get them! :)  I already have a few of these borders in my classroom, but the bird border I did not.  I plan on using that with my "Learning is Something to Tweet About" activities board.  Check that out here! 

I also went to the Dollar Tree and found a few things...I have to go back to buy  more tubs.  I need a few more in my classroom library.  I also found really cute Eric Carle stickers I just couldn't pass up. Along with that I plan on making a "Where we are..." sign for outside my classroom door with the pizza pan.  The last item I found were the bookmarks.  I plan on having my students make these bookmarks to start off our Reader's Workshop.

I created new posters for my classroom.  I recreated my daily morning routines poster.  I also make mini copies for students who need this at their desk as a reminder...this is usually needed in the beginning of the school year.

I have also been busy creating and updating items at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Below you will find just a few of my newest items.   

The classroom Jobs matches my classroom decor theme.  The "Back to School Bucket List" pack I plan on using with my students as a back to school activity.  We will keep these until the end of the school year to see if we accomplished things on our Bucket List.  I also creating Subtraction Word Problem packets.  I know this is an area that most first graders need extra practice in as well as K and 2nd grade students.  Addition packets coming soon! 

I created a small packet of editable pages from my Teacher Planner.  I did this for my Classroom Decor set as well.  A lot of you asked to make those packets editable...I couldn't do it for those large packets but could do it by making the smaller packets.  I also created this "Weekend Writing" journal for my students.  Every Monday I have my students write about their weekend and share it with the class.  My students always come to school with stories to tell, so I figured this would be a great way to not only work on writing skills but to also write their thoughts down and share with the class.  Anyways, like I said these are just a few items I have added to my TPT store.

Check out my store to see the rest of my items...speaking of TPT...Did you know that if you follow stores you can receive updates on the products that you purchase??  The seller can notify you to download a newly updated item that you previously purchased. So if you see the FOLLOW ME button on anyone' store do it!  One more thing...if you RATE the items you can earn TPT credit for the next items you buy from TPT.  So FOLLOW the stores and RATE the items! Hope that helps! ;)

One more thing...I created these classroom postcards to use this school year.  YOu can also find these at me TPT store.  These are my newest items at my store. 

What have you been doing?

Fall Conferences and using Technology...

Conferences came and went...

Are you running on time when it comes to conferences?
Do you have anything out for parents to look at in the classroom or hallway?

I thought I would take this time to share what I did for our fall conferences...

I always have my students color a pic for the front of the folder that I share with parents...inside the folder I keep the conference form, writing samples, a useful sheet with reading behaviors, student self-assessment, math objectives sheet (which shows whether their child is proficient, advanced or below basic), students letter to their parents, and anything else I think is important to show parents.  Below you will see what I included in the folder (some of the items can be found at my TPT store)

These items can all be found here...

I set up the hallway where parents can sit down while they are waiting, write a letter to their child, and view their students work.  My table in the hallway always includes writing paper and writing utensils.  I also included a QR Code that linked up to a video of photos of my students throughout the school year, via Animoto.  On my large bulletin board I posted my students writing pieces about Fall (I got this idea from Jen over at Finally in First...check out her blog).  Then each student recorded their fall writing piece on our classroom fotobabble and then created a QR Code.  I asked the parents to bring a Smart Device, if they had one, so that they could view a small video of our class and listen to the fall writing pieces.  If they did not have one I provided the classroom iPad. A lot of the parents where thrilled to see their child's work and write a letter to their child.  I heard positive feedback on tying in technology to the conferences.  Take a look at some on of the pics below.  I hope all of your conferences go well!

Table outside my classroom...

Sorry this shot is blurry...this is my BB of my students fall writing. I linked up each writing piece to a QR Code, which then led the parent to fotobabble...a site where my students were able to record their fall writing piece.