A Whole Lotta...

I love blogging!

Just wanted to put that out there in case you weren't sure.

First of all, my house is clean!  It was clean on Friday and I worked really hard to pick up after my three messy boys for the last two days so it would stay that way.  I was able to sit around today and do a whole lotta...

Church goin'
Blog stalking
Sledding
Coffee drinking
Blog stalking
Coffee drinking

It was blissful because I'm usually running around doing a whole LOTTA lotta...

Since you might have been doing your runnning around today instead of living on the blogs like me,  I'll give it to you in a nutshell.  My bloggy buddy Kelley over at Buggy for Second Grade is having a giveaway.  She's trying to reach 300 followers and she's oh, so close!  Go over, follow and enter her giveaway for a $25 dollar gift certificate to Teachers Pay Teachers.  She's announcing the winner on Wednesday, just in time for the big sale going on for Leap Day!!!!

If you haven't checked out this post over at TBA {here} you might want to. New bloggers are linking up over there and I've found some brand spankin' new ones...you know you'll make their day by following....you'll probably make a few of them jump up and down and scream a little bit when they see their numbers grow.  C'mon - you know I'm right!

I've hit a winning streak - did you notice?  I've been winning some giveaways...I don't know where this stroke of good luck has come from because my saying is "If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all"...which isn't entirely true...my bad luck goes in spurts like that week when I pulled out of my driveway and forgot hubby's car was there and I took his mirror right off the side....and some other snafoos.  I'm so hoping this good luck sticks....I won a Starbucks giftcard and two awesome TpT products from Amy over at Krazy About Kiddos, I won this from Miss Foote over at Chickadee Jubliee...

Click on the picture to go to Storiarts Etsy shop

Just today I found out I won another giveway {You aren't hating me, are you? Please don't take me off your blog roll, please don't UNfollow me} over at Miss S's blog Just Teaching Kindergarten.  She's a sweety pie student teacher.  Maybe you could head on over and follow her blog.  It's always nice to support those just entering the field.  I won a whole slew of goodness from Miss S...a $15 dollar gift card to Target {Now I KNOW you've jumped ship...come back...please....I'm having a give away soon and it's gonna be just as good...so stick with me...pllllllllease}, some awesome clipart from the one, the only, The 3 AM Teacher, some goodness from Jen over at The Teacher's Cauldron, by the way - don't freak out when you go over to Jen's blog like I just did...her blog looks way different and, MY WORD, it's so dang cute!!!!!!!! From Shawna over at The Picture Book Teacher's Edition I won an awesome unit for the book The Mitten Tree!!!!!!!

Okay - I would be rolling my eyes right now too, if I were you.  Here's what you have to do - go find a few more followers to help me get to 400 and then wait for my new bloggy reveal sometime in March and you too might be a WINNER!!!!

On another note, Chrissy B over at Buzzing with Ms. B wrote an amazing post today about her guided reading groups.  She and I run ours pretty much the same.  She motivated me to get more organized with my note taking so I went over to Zazzle and made myself a couple of cute binders.  I haven't purchased either one yet because I'm undecided and need your help.  Which one do you like best?

We'll call this one "circles"

And we'll call this one polka dots

Notice the customization - would you use different words?  Look at the front cover and the spine...you like?

I was going to wait until the summer to get myself organized with my reading and writing notetaking/running records, etc. but I'm so darn motivated right now I have to roll with it.  So put in your vote so I can order it, receive it and get moving before I win another giveaway and get side tracked.  HA!

Have a great week everybody!!!!!!

Holly

What Time is it? It's Friday Freebie Time!

Hidy Ho!

I cannot believe it is Friday already.  This break has gone by faster than any other. I tried dragging my feet, but it didn't work.  We were supposed to get a whole slew of snow and hubbers was hoping for a snow day - but it didn't happen so off to work he went.  I have a house of crazy boys - I decided to end the week with a bang and let both boys have friends over.  Oy...

How else should a person spend their last day, but organizing their computer files?? Oh my goodness - they are a MESS.  Does anybody have tips or trick to organizing them?  I have a Dropbox account but was just notified that it's close to full...I have a flash drive but it never seems to be where I need it.  I need it at school and I left it at home.  I need it at home and it's at school.  One file is on my hard drive at work, but not on my flash drive, or it's on one flash drive and not on the one I have with me...please tell me I'm not the only one with these woes?!? 

So, in my cleaning frenzy I came across these and thought you might be able to use them.  I actually don't have them up in my own classroom because I've been too afraid to climb that high to put them up...I'm not like my partner who I've caught hanging things by standing on a chair that she placed ON TOP of the desks!!!! Good gracious.

So here's my Friday Freebie...

Edited to give credit to The 3 AM Teacher for the cute clock clipart! Go check her out if you haven't already - she's one talented teacher/artist!

You might not need it now - but save it in your probably organized files and use it next year.  Just be sure to let me know if you grabbed it AND tell me either: {A.} Your files are a mess too or {B.} You're an organizing diva and leave some tips!!!!

Thanks bunches - happy Friday friends!

Holly

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

I've always said I should write them {those funny things my firsties say} down ... but I never do and then I forget. There are a couple humdingers I haven't forgotten though {How could I?!?}. 

Don't they just make you chuckle?!? 

Link up with Jeannie to share some of your knee slappers...


Holly

Dandy Random ~ Giggles & Pictures

Theriously girlth {ode to Kristin - now I'm in "the know"}, I had to turn the couch cushion over today - it was all smooshy and stuff.  It had "blogging" written all over it.  That and Ellen...I had MONTHS of Ellen dvr'd that I finally caught up on {somewhat} today.  Tomorrow is already Thursday....put the brakes.....on this......break. 

For those of you working this week - here's a little pick-me-up...have you seen these?





On Youtube there is something called "pronunciation book" where you can listen to words being pronounced correctly - so if you're learning English, this would be helpful.  Well, some guy with a funny bone calls his "pronunciation manual" - it looks the same as the other one, but he says the words incorrectly.  Ellen was in stitches and it had me rolling too.  I like how he says the same word a few different ways.  HA!

To make you feel a wee bit better - I did go into my classroom today.  I brought my boys with  - which is always...interesting.  They had a blast in the gym rolling around on scooters, shooting hoops and just running around like crazy kids. I was able to get quite a bit done. Lots of organizing and I'm all planned for next week.  PHEW.  

I am in total love with my new chairs around my guided reading table...

They slide under the table like butta...

I just have to share my new Reader's Toolbox and Tools that my parapro made for me...

Old

New

Here are a couple of the strategies/ "tools" up close...

She's way more talented than I am..that's for darn sure!  When she brought in the finished product I gave her the biggest hug ever and stopped just short of a big fat smooch...

We celebrated President's Day last week.  I don't usually "do up" that holiday but there were so many cute things out there in blogland I couldn't resist.  We combined Cara's "statement and question" writing {here} because my kiddos are having such a hard time with these with Erica's craftivity {here}.  Her's is a two-sided activity but I didn't have anywhere to hang them up so you could see both sides, so I had my kids choose which one they wanted to do - Abe or George.  They turned out really cute.  You can't really see very well, but Abe's eyes are pennies and George's buttons are quarters.

 

 Well that was one dandy random post....

Top 'o the Tuesday Night to ya! *Freebie*

March is a magical month - with it being reading month...which, is a BIG month at our school, AND a visit from that rascally leprechaun!!!!!

First, can you all join me in a virtual hug for Beth at Made in the Shade in Second Grade?!?!  That girl let me in on a little secret called POWERPOINT.  Here, I've been maneuvering around Word, throwing things at my computer...who knew creating in Powerpoint is WAY easier?!?!  Give it a go if you haven't already!!!!  I'm one happy girl, for it!

Lisa and Beth posted {HERE} about their leprechaun traps.  They have their families create traps at home for a neat family project....and have some imaginative creations that come back to school in hopes of catching that pesky guy.  I warn you though, those girls...I'm sorry, I have to take a quick break before I say this...

Okay, I'm back - those girls, {breathe, breathe, breathe} don't believe in leprechauns.  I know, I know - they've got it all wrong...but their activities are ALL RIGHT!  You'll want to check them out, but I think it's pretty obvious who's NOT going to get that pot of gold. 

I have the kids work with a partner to create traps.  I just throw out a bunch of "stuff": toothpicks, paper plates, styrofoam cups, string, yarn, sequins, craft sticks, markers, crayons, shiny gold paper - you get the picture.  I have them look at the materials first and then they talk with their partner to make a plan.  I do set some limits like 2 cups, 2 paper plates, etc.  Then they draw a "blueprint" of their trap, write out a to-do list and then have at it.  They have SOOOOOOO much fun!  As they finish up they find the perfect spot in the classroom to place their traps and then move on to writing about what they would do if they caught that pesky guy.

You can find these activities and more in my St. Patrick's Day mini-unit.

In other news...I have not been happy with the chairs my kids sit in at my guided reading table.  They are HUGE sleigh chairs.  I have six of them at my table, and of course they don't fit, my kids don't fit and they don't push in very nicely either.  My classroom is about the size of a postage stamp, so space is a hot commodity.  My friend...can you guess...Barb has the perfect solution that she uses in her equally small classroom.  I made a trip to IKEA {I hate shopping, and I really hate shopping at IKEA...I know you think that's impossible, but it's true} for those guys and I'm already in love.  My boys put them together tonight and I can't wait to slide them right under that table so neatly.  Here's what I got in case you're in the market.

Oh, and being the Polish {through marraige} girl that I am...

Happy Paczki day!!!!!

Yes, I did take a few nibbles of one of these...deeeeeelish.  Happy Fat Tuesday!  Click on the picture if you're wondering what a paczki {pronounced: poonchkey}is.  Mmmmm....

Holly

Michigan Blogger Bash

Hey Chicksters,

Oh my goodness - I had such a great time at the Blogger Bash....you know something? We have some awesomely cool teachers in Michigan!!!!

{And I didn't get lost!}

I walked in and told the hostess I wasn't quite sure who I was looking for - she says "A group of sweet, wonderful, kind, talented, lovely, cool, blogger chicks?" {My heart was beating so loudly, it was hard to hear - but I think that's probably what she said}

I rounded the corner and there they were...I heard them before I saw them.  HA!  Just kidding - but we were a gabby group!

We went around the table sharing lots of different things - your wildest kid moment, what technology you have in your classroom, are you married, do you have kids, how long have you been teaching....lots and lots of topics flying every which way good thing Andrea pulled out her notebook to do some note taking. No kidding - she doesn't go anywhere without her note taking tools.  Not to be showed {Shown? Showed?} up, Rachel whipped out her notebook AND her purple flair pen...

Don't think for a minute, Rachel, that your purple flair went unnoticed...love those things! Beth tried nabbing it - but I told her that wouldn't be right. 

Lots of giggles and stories that made my jaw drop.  Which teacher do you think has been spit on, kicked, chased a little one out a window and has been called every name in the book?  There wouldn't be just one in the bunch to tell a war story...

Jessica got the award for traveling the farthest...are you home yet?  I think she said she had a three hour drive.  Hopefully that field of deer I saw on my way home didn't decide to cross over to the other side as you were driving along.  Wait, I don't think you went my direction...right?  You went north? Or was it west?  Maybe east? No, I went east, I think.

Here's who was there...go check out their blogs if you haven't already!!!!

Lisa & Beth @ Made in the Shade in Second Grade
Amy @ The Resource{ful} Room
Kara @ Spedventures
Rachel @ Ms.Rachel's Room
Christina @ Mrs.Bainbridge's Class
Jessica @ Apples and Papers
Andrea @ Stepping into First Grade

Thank you, girls, for making me smile and for renewing my spirit every time you blog! When did you say our next meet up was going to be?!?!?

Holly

Michigan Blogger Bash

Hey Girlies,

Tomorrow is the big day...

I would like each and every one of you to say a quick prayer that I do not get lost and arrive to the bash MORE than fashionably late.  I get lost a lot. We're not talking just a little lost.  We're talking, never make it to a friend's rehearsal dinner lost.  We're talkin' drive an entire hour WEST when I was supposed to be driving EAST.  I blame that one on the bun in my oven and the doughnut I was snarfing down.  I've arrived to work late because I was trying a route I didn't normally take and got lost.  Yes, I'm directionally challenged {hair challenged, fashion challenged...} but you love me anyway, right?

I am going to bring my GPS but that doesn't really mean anything, because half the time I swear it has to be wrong, I freak out, and I either call my hubster or a friend in a panic.  I have issues, don't I?

 If you don't have anything planned tomorrow at, say, 3 o'clock you should think about joining us.  We'll be at Applebees in Lansing.  You can email Amy at The Resource{ful} Room for info. 

One more thing...

I'm saying toodles to my Elmo {Actually I'm passing him on to a friend} and buying one of these guys...

Click on the pic to take you to the IPEVO website.

It's an IPEVO.  My media specialist showed me one and I was hooked. Oh my goodness girls.  It's 70 dollars vs 700 dollars {cost of an Elmo} - it's smaller so it takes up less space and the resolution/quality is every bit as nice as that of an Elmo.  You can pull the lense off of the stand {It's the same feel as a small microphone} and point out kids sitting crisscross applesauce, you can look at things on the ceiling, the floor...any which way.  So flexible!!!!!  You can take pictures just like you can with the Elmo. LOVE this thing!!!! 

If you've always wanted a document camera but don't have the big bucks to fork out - I'm telling you, this is the route to go.  The only "shortfall" is that it has a USB hookup so you have to plug it in to a computer rather than right into your projector or television.

Okay...must go get my beauty sleep.  Don't want to scare any bloggy friends away tomorrow!

Holly