Friday Freebie...and More!!

Happy Friday!

We had a half day today. We did some School Improvement and a little grade level planning.  We're gearing up for the Common Core.  I'm still a little like, "huh?" about this whole Common Core deal, but I'm sure it will come together.  I'm so happy I have all of you to help me out!!!

I got my hair did today too.  My hairdresser probably thought I divorced her.  We've been together for about 14 years.  She spiffed me up for my first teaching interview, my wedding and two babies.  I came real close to looking for somebody a little closer to home but I just couldn't do it.  We've been together too long and I can't leave her.  I needed that cut something awful.  That's the one thing that falls off my plate when I'm feeling crazy busy.  I love a fresh cut though.

I'm sure those of you who are still teaching are spending some time reviewing different concepts.  We've been having fun reviewing word wall words.  Here are a few ideas.  Some I do whole group, with partners and as independent Word Work centers in Daily 5. 

In the pack you'll find:

Rivet - Partners
Wordo - Whole Group.  Students choose any nine words from the word wall.  Teacher calls out random words.  When a student gets three in a row they yell out "WORDO".  In order to win, student must be able to read each word they've covered.  Play several times and have kids switch boards.
Word Search - Daily 5 Work on Words.  Students choose word search to fill in.  Once they've filled it in, they place in a designated basket for others to take during Daily 5 to find the words they've hidden.

I also send home this word wall template each trimester and then again at the end of the school year. I attach one to our class website at the end of each trimester for the kids to download and print off for at-home practice.  I'm attaching it as a Word document so you can add your words.  If the font is funky you can always change it to one of yours or make sure you have "Doodle Tipsy" and "Wish You Were Taller".

I found this template somewhere on the internet years ago and tweaked it - if it's yours let me know and THANKS!!!!

Have you entered my giveaway {HERE}? Learning Resources is going to give one of you a Luna Interactive Projection Camera for FREE!!!!!  You've got to take a minute to enter. You've just gotta! Winner will be chosen sometime Sunday evening!!!!

I know you've all been super busy, boy do I know it, but I have got to tell you that we've been listening to the ABC songs that Have Fun Teaching is giving away for bloggers who blog about them and at a discount for others, and my kids CANNOT get enough of them. Right now we're reviewing the vowels, but just for fun will listen to the others.  I can't wait to start my year off with them next year!!!!



Looking forward to a gorgeous Michigan weekend...hope you have a good one too!

Alphabet Songs....Oh Momma....

Let's face it - we're all Momma's {Us bloggers of the girlie variety - I think I may have a couple of Daddy's who follow...your day will come} being in the profession that we are.  How many of you refer to your students as "My kiddos"...you care about them, you love them and you want the best for them.  So Happy Momma's Day to each and every one of us!!!!

My own hubby knows how to make this day such a special one for me.  I thank my lucky stars for that guy.  He is in complete charge for the day and I don't have to lift a finger. He's even cleaning the house from top to bottom and packing the boys' lunches.  I'm in heaven.

What to do with this lazy time?

I happened upon this freebie over at Have Fun Teaching. Have you ever used any of the Alphabet Songs from Have Fun Teaching?  I've used a few of them, projected on the big screen, at the beginning of the year.  They make for a GREAT review!!!  The kids absolutely ADORE them and they help burn off some of that beginning-of-the-year-we-still-want-to-play-first-grade-energy!!!!! 

Come see what I mean...



Get this - if you blog about this awesome resource and follow the simple steps of the contest rules they will email you the complete set of alphabet song videos for FREE {Regularly 27 dollars - for my  friends without a blog, you can check out the website and download the complete set at a discounted price of 20 dollars}.  This awesome giveaway ends on May 31st!!!

Now what to do with the rest of my day?  It's going too fast, that I do know.  We're going to eat at Mongolian BBQ for dinny tonight.  It was a toss up between that and PF Changs - you know how I love my Changs.  Mongolian won out this time.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it! 

Toodleoonies!