Where Have I Been?!?!?

Well I'm still here. I think you'll forgive my absence the last month if you knew what was going on....This is my school year so far:

*We adopted a new mathematics program called Everyday Math (everything EXCEPT the manipulatives. YEP no manipulatives to do a manipulative-driven curriculum). If you teach it or have taught it in the past, you understand my stress....

*We are a Phase IV Literacy First school and have begun year 2. If you've taught Literacy First, you know how tedious THAT is. I'm assessing each student on the continuum constantly!!!!

*We are continuing RtI

*We are integrating the new Common Core Skills in our classrooms.

*Our district has adopted a new progress report/report card process.

*We are adopting a new teacher assessment model, the Marzano Model. AHHH!!!

*We are now having to post our learning goals and objectives in our classrooms at all times. I'm observed at least once a week by my principal and literacy coach as well as other teachers, principals and administrators.

I have already been to the emergency room for chest pains since this school year started. I've also taken on the step-mom role to my 11 year old stepson who is in 6th grade. I also have a 7th grade daughter who is an athlete and ALWAYS has practice or activities to go to. As stressful as life is right now, I'm trying to maintain my sanity any way that I know how. Chocolate and caffeine have been my BEST friends these last 2 months.

We are nearing the 2nd full month of school and the 28th day of classes. I can't believe it's already getting close to report card time!

I just finished my latest TpT product. I am introducing writing to my first graders slowly but surely. If you've seen the first grade common core skills for writing, I'm sure your heart skipped a beat or two as well. We are not allowed to do writing during our literacy block (no I don't get this either), but it is what it is.

I LOVE having class books in my room. The kids get so excited and want to show these off to brothers, sisters, moms and dads. We make class books constantly so that not only my class know that they are authors, but it gives them a way to practice predictable text as well.

I am making a set of class book templates for every 2 months. I have created 2 templates for each theme. The topics of the class book templates depend on the theme you are working on during those two months. For October and November, the topics include pumpkins, Harvest, Thanksgiving, Halloween and more! Here is a preview of each template. I have also included a book cover for each class book. All you have to do is add your name!

If you are interested, click on the picture to view the template pack in my store. I have also included common core standards these writing activities support! If you purchase this template pack, be sure and let me know what you think!

Teachers Pay Teachers Sale

Most of you in the blog world know what's coming up. It's a little like Black Friday......

It's the TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!!!!!

I have TONS of stuff in my cart waiting for tomorrow so that I can take advantage of the seller's personal sale, and the extra 18% off from TpT. 

I've decided to participate this year. My store is a little bare, because I haven't been at this for very long. I do have a couple of products that would be AWESOME for Back to School!

Click on the pic to go view my store:

It's Back to School Time!

I can't believe it. Where has the time gone? There was so much I was planning to do with my summer, but little got done. It doesn't help that this Oklahoma heat has been unbearable. All we've been able to do is hunker down with the a/c on full blast.

Unpacking my classroom is usually one HUGGGGE pain. Last year I had to move classrooms. I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I don't know if it's because I've been teaching long enough or if it was pure luck, but getting my room ready this year has been a CINCH. 

Here is a before and after picture, along with more detailed pics of each area:

Here is an overall look at the back of my room:

Here is the front of the room. Don't hate! I scored the awesome chevron rug at Big Lots!

 

 This is the north side of my classroom. YES I thank GOD every day for all the cubby space!

Our back to school night is Monday, so I am right on track. I've got parent packets ready, just need to finish up goody bags and my "All About Me" powerpoint to show on the SMARTBoard.

I'd love to see pictures of your classroom! If you have some posted on your blog, please leave me a comment with your blog address. I'd LOVE to look at them!!!

NEW! Sight Word Activity Pack

I have been working for WEEKS to get this new product ready for summer and back to school. I created a Dolch Sight Word Actvitiy Pack that includes all kinds of resources and printables to help your students work on learning their sight words. 

Click the picture to view this in my store.

Included in this activity pack are over 100 pages of printables and resources using the Dolch Word Sight Word Lists. In this resource pack you will find:

1. Bulletin Board/Word Wall "Word of the Day" Posters

2. 220 Dolch Sight Word cards designed in a colorful rainbow theme, ready to be used for word walls, games and centers.

3. 95 noun cards designed in a colorful rainbow theme, ready to be used for word walls, games and centers.

4. Over 40 pages of printables- including checklists, sight word books, word sorts and word searches to reinforce the Dolch sight words.

5. Noun pocket chart cards and recording sheet that can be used with the noun cards in the pocket chart/word work center.

6. 1 sight word poster, and 6 "I Can" posters that can be used to reinforce sight word meaning and choices for practicing sight words during centers or free time.

HERE IS A FREEBIE!!!!!

I am offering you the sight word and "I Can" posters for free as a "preview" to the rest of my pack. I am having a 20% sale for the next 2 days as well if you would like to grab the pack!

Click on the picture to download!

Please leave me a comment if you purchase this pack, and let me know what you think.

A Freebie and a SNEAK PEEK!

The restlessness has set in. You know what I'm talking about. That feeling that you get where you THINK you should be doing something, and something work-related, NOT housework. You're almost in a panic, looking at the clock thinking....I would be doing my reading block right now, or we'd be having lunch.....yes, you and I have School Detachment Disorder!!!


I could find an excuse over the weekend- it was Memorial Day weekend. I counted it as a holiday and didn't let myself think about the fact that it's "summer vacation".


Today, well I've run out of excuses for myself. I ran errands this morning, thinking that would get rid of this feeling- I switched our insurance to a new company (YAY no more USAA!!), mowed the front lawn and took one of my mini schnauzers to the groomer.....


Guess what? The feeling didn't go away. :(
Now I feel even more guilty that I'm not at work.
SOOOO, I sat down at the computer and thought- what could I do to pass the time!


Well, here you go- first is a freebie that you can download from my store on Teachers Pay Teachers: click the picture to go to my store:

 

I created three teacher quote posters. Thank you to Scrappin Doodles,  Fancy Dog Studios and Pink Lemonade Company for the awesome borders, frames and papers!

If you have a specific teacher quote that you would like to see on a poster, please let me know. I'll create a poster and add it to the current free download.

Now...a preview of coming attractions:

 I am making a HUGE Dolch Word Wall Pack- stay tuned for more information and a chance to WIN this awesome activity!

I'm Free at Last!

What a whirlwind of a week. I am checked out and free for 2 and a half months! Sort of......


Because of the impending implementation of Common Core, I'm going to a plethora of teacher workshops this summer. We are also adopting 2 new kinds of math curriculum, Every Day Math and Singapore Math. I know NOTHING about Singapore math, so it should be interesting!


I'm also on the Healthy Lifestyles committee with our physical education teacher for our school. I have a workshop in July to go to for that. 


In the meantime, I'm going to be working on some new "back to school" packets. You will get a sneak peek here first and a chance to win each one, so make sure you keep checking back!


So what kinds of professional development are YOU doing this summer?

The Final Days......

This week has been so busy! We are nearing the end of our school year. The 23rd is our last day. I have so much to post about, but I'm too tired! In the last week, we've had a field trip, Olympic Days and Senior Send-off. Plus we are trying to fill out our check-out sheet so we'll be ready to checkout of our classrooms. 



I wanted to post about a freebie that is in my TpT store. I don't know about your kids, but mine are getting tired of the same 'ol behavior tools. Mine LOVE LOVE LOVE the iPad. So I created a behavior tool based on the iPad. Even if you don't have an iPad in your classroom, this can STILL BE USED!

Included in this freebie is a printable ipad with blank spaces where the apps will go (includes a beach background). The apps will be stickers. There are 20 app slots to last approx. 4 weeks. When students show positive behavior, they will add a sticker to their iPad, creating an app. When they will up all 20 app slots, they can turn their card in for a reward card. There are several choices in cards, ranging from iPad time, to individual time for games such as Angry Birds, Magic Piano (a hit with my class), Temple Run and Toontastic. Also included are non-iPad rewards, such as extra recess and sitting by a friend. I'm planning on using this next year with my first graders.


I hope you can use this freebie! Just click on the picture to go to my TpT store where you can download it. Let me know if you use it in your classroom!