It's Sale Time! *Freebie*

Some blogger friends and I are having a sale today!  We're feeling mighty lucky!  Lucky to have you in our lives. Lucky to be able to share our ideas with the world.  Lucky to be teachers!!!!  We hope you'll feel lucky with all the great deals...

Go check out Mrs. Wheeler's Blog to find other great bloggers who are having sales!

Here are some of my personal faves...

 

 

We're finishing up our unit on How-To writing; which means it's time for a celebration!  The kiddos are going to try out their how-to stories on their writing partner and then they will fill out a certificate for their partner afterward. 

Sweet and simple.

Click to download in Google Drive
Frame & Clipart: Creative Clips
Fonts: Mrs. Stanford, Mrs.Cupcake & Miss Tiina

Hope you'll visit my store!  Thanks for all of your support...Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Five For Friday - It's Deja Vu All Over Again...

Should I change the name of my blog to "Five For Friday"?  I haven't been around since last Friday - I know.  But sheesh, I am ready to self combust!!! 

Today was a half day - records day.  A whole 3 hours to get report cards done.  Do they really think you'll finish them in that amount of time?  I'd barely get my mass of assessments all strategically placed and I'd have to clean 'em all up...

I was torn....hunker down and do report cards?  Or clean and organize my classroom?  My head was swirling. I hate it when that happens.  I would start one thing, stop mid-way because I'd think of something else I should do.  Then my friend called and said "Let's have some fun"...

Nothing beats prank calling other teachers {on our lunch hour of course}... we were laughing so hard we had tears streaming down our faces.  I think that may have been just what I needed because after that I tore it up in my classroom.

My week wasn't all bad...

Thanks, Doodle Bugs

Aint' she purrrrrty? ETA: I did not make this - I am craft-challenged.
A dear friend made it for me...

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Even Leprechauns Go Potty {at least that's what the note on the lid said}

My son's nail biter of a basketball game - yup, it was the 4th quarter...



Chai Tea Friday

 I was walking into Starbucks this morning and this guy from a local radio station was hanging out trying to get people to kiss him.  I don't know whether to be relieved or offended that he didn't ask me for a smooch.  Hmmm...

And here's what I'm working on...

Any highlights from your week?  Do share!!!

Happy weekend!!!!!

Top O' the Snow Day to Ya! {A wee bit random}

This time last year I was bummin' because we hardly had an inch of snow all season and not one measly snow day. Love my job - but that early morning call telling me to turn off the alarm and snuggle back under those already warmed up blankies...well, who would complain about that?

Got that call again today - my third snow day this year.  I was like the Cheshire Cat! 

My boys, of course, feel like they should be thanked.  They did, after all, sleep with frozen spoons under their pillows.  So we celebrated our day off with...

Snow Day Pancakes

We weren't really expecting this one, {or believing the meteorologists...there's always so much hype about the weather around here} so our snow day pancakes were "snowless" {whipped cream}.  They were still delish!

I spent the day finishing up my St. Patrick's Day pack {And drinking coffee.  And watching Downton Abbey}.  Have you watched this show?  Oh my goodness...it's a good one!  It's my newest addiction...that, and Candy Crush.

If you're looking for something to do with your kiddos for St. Patty's Day check out my newest creation.  I tried to include lots of variety. 

Click the preview to check it out at my store.

I've also got a freebie St. Patrick's Day pack in this post that you might be interested in!

Since I had some extra time on my hands today I was wondering about all of you {If you've read my other posts, you know I can be pretty nosey}.  Who you are, where you're from, what grade you teach ...if you'd like to share, I'd love to read it and I bet my other nosey followers would love to read about you too!

Actually, what made me wonder about who you are is this article that I read today - it talked about the average teacher only lasting 4.5 years in the profession.  That made me so sad...so one more question...how long have you been teaching?

Toodles!

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