Linky Party ... Check HER Out - Bow Chicka Wow Wow!

Did you know there are a lot of hottie totties in blogland?  No kidding.  There are a lot of blogs that just make my draw drop.  Make me do a double {or triple, or quadruple...} take, cat calls and all! Wert whirl!

My very first bloggy friend, Rebecca over at Teaching First, is having a 400 follower Pay It Forward Linky Party. If you have a freebie, a giveaway,  or a linky party of your own she wants to you link up over on her blog!!!  Rebecca has a heart of gold, would give you the shirt off her blog, and this 400 follower celebration fits her to a 't'. 

Click Here To Join In The Fun!

I've got a sick boy at my house so I spent some time in my classroom today getting ready for a sub. {You just sighed for me didn't you??!}.  I'm breaking out like a teenager over here because of the stress.

Pimple Perpetrators

1. Assessments

2. Report Cards

3. Sick Boy

4. Tuesday Observation {Bright and early, the day after a sub, will my classroom be a shambles?!?}

5. Sub Plans





I'm torn between which way to be productive tomorrow. Clean the house? Do report cards? Which one would you do?

P.S. Thank you bunches and more for entering my giveaway.  If you haven't yet, maybe you can take a couple of minutes and give her a go!

Just click {HERE}..

Clean House? Report Cards? Clean House?  Report Cards?

Giveaways Galore, Sunny Weather and More {Lots More}...

I really don't know what I'm doing on this computer - the weather is nuts, crazy, wild and wonderful for Michigan; this time of year.  It's in the 70's, sunny and downright GORGEOUS.  Every window in the house is WIDE open and I haven't seen hide nor hair of my chitlins since 9:00 a.m. 

Staci, over at Let's Teach Something is having a Grand-tacular giveaway to celebrate 100 followers!!!!  She asked if I'd like to participate. So sweet.  Since I'm not store-worthy {truly, that's WAY beyond me} I'm offering a 10 dollar gift card to TpT but there are LOTS of other girls offering goodies from their stores. 

You'd hit the jackpot if you won...

Head on over to Staci's blog and enter!!!

Don't forget to enter my little giveaway if you haven't already...spread the word if you can!  I promise entering will give you years of good luck!!!!! Thank you SOOOOO much for entering!!!!!

Click Here to Enter!

Here's the more part of my post - I came home from work yesterday, grouchy, tired and just plain happy it was Friday!  Then this caught my eye...

Hubby had surprised me with the new ipad3!!!!!  You have to know something.  I never get the latest and greatest of anything.  Either I get a hand-me-down, a version from three years ago, or nothing at all - so when I saw this I know I jumped up and down and started screaming.  I know I did.  That thing is wonderful.  I can't wait to find some great apps and really use it to its potential.  LOVE!

Here's more of the more...

Something else you should know about me.  I'm really not all that creative, artsy-fartsy, crafty, any of those things a teacher probably should be.  That's why I am SOOOOOOO in love with blogging. Now I'm that "imaginative/fun teacher".  Now my teacher-friends say "I need to get into those blogs".  Why yes, yes you do!

From Cara Carroll over at The First Grade Parade

Saw this all over the place on Pinterest

Does that door not just put a huge smile on your face?  Of course, I tried drawing his 'stache and brows at least 20 times, finally threw down my pencil, crumpled up the paper and went running to my parapro, you know the one who did {these}, and she whipped it up in 10 minutes flat. Thank goodness for HER!

We went to the sugar bush and tapped some maple trees...the sap was running.  We've gone on this field trip a ton of times and it's always rainy, snowy, cold and pretty miserable.  This year it was 70 degrees!!!!! 

Do you remember that I got one of these?

I'm not rubbing it in - just excited!  If you have any cool apps to share please do in a comment below.  Right now my new favorite is Hanging With Friends {not a teacher app} but I found a "Confer" one {lite version = free} that allows you to take notes in this format:  Strength, Teaching Point, Next Step. You can set up groups and once you create a roster you can import it into any group.  You can also put in a reading level.  Your latest conference shows up on the "home page".  VERY cool. You can email the notes to yourself or others.  I'm curious what the non-lite version is like...that's how they get ya! {Although the full version is only 9.99 so that's not bad} 

Do share!!!!

And don't forget to enter the awesome giveaways!

Ta Da!!!! New Look.....GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Can you believe it? I have a new look!!!!  I love it!!!!!  If you are itching for a makeover go see Becca over at Jumping Jax Designs.  She said I made her job easy by my love at first sight - but she made it easy for me to make her job easy...HA!

Of course this is a cause for celebration, but did you know I'm just two followers away from the big 4 - 0 - 0?? Yup...I know I'll get there SOON so why not celebrate the anticipation?  AND...this is my 103rd post!  I yacked the night away 103 times.  Think of the friends I spared of my incessant teacher-talk.  They have you to thank for it, YOU, my faithful followers.

To thank each and every one of you for all of your support, encouragement and inspiration....

Are you ready?

This is big....

REAL big....

THREE winners big...

First Prize Winner

1.  A 10 dollar Target gift card from ME

2.  Any one product from Reagan over at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

3. A guest blog appearance on your blog by none other than Kristin from A Teeny Tiny Teacher

4. Any one product from Christina over at Mrs. Bainbridge's Class

Second Prize Winner

1.  A 10 dollar Target gift card from ME

2.  A Dozen Sweet Math and Literacy Activities from Jennifer at Rowdy in First Grade
3. Any one product from Jen R. at The Teacher's Cauldron

Third Prize Winner

1.  A 10 dollar Target gift card from ME

2.  Any one product from Lisa & Beth over at Made in the Shade in Second Grade

I know what you're thinking..."Holy moly - please let me win one of these"!  Me too - I want to win too.  I know about the don't blog twice in one day rule, but I've never really heard mention of no entering your own contests. Hmmm....

Speaking of entering here's the skinny...

1.  Follow all 7 blogs - 1 comment {1 entry}

2.  Put my new blog button on your blog - 1 comment {1 entry}

3.  Follow all 5 TpT and/or TN Stores - 1 comment {1 entry}

4.  Finish this sentence "I feel lucky when..." - 1 comment {1 entry}

5.  Blog about this giveaway - 1 comment {1 entry}

Here's a quick and easy "cheat sheet" - just click, follow, favorite and all that jazz...

A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Made in the Shade in Second Grade

TpT

Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

TpT

TN

Mrs. Bainbridge's Class

TpT

TN

The Teacher's Cauldron

TpT

TN

Rowdy in First Grade

TN

 

The winner will be chosen using the Random Number Generator on Wednesday, March 21st, sometime after my boys hit the hay {Usually around 9:00}.

Good luck!!!!

Teachers Taking Care of Teachers

Are you gearing up for a Happy Monday in the classroom?  I know I am, but there are so many who have been left without a home to live in or schools to teach in.  The 44 tornadoes that tore through 5 states on March 2nd have left many with losses that are beyond what I could ever imagine. 

Crystal over at Kreative in Kindergarten is organizing a way for other teachers to help those teachers/families who were affected by these tornadoes.  If you'd like to help out, please click on the heart below. 

In this story an elementary school principal is interviewed after the tornado.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Honestly, I cannot imagine living through such terror and then moving past it. WE can help those teachers and their students rebuild. 

I know some of my fellow Michigan bloggers and followers live close by one another. If you'd like to drop some items {Extra notebooks, kleenex, bulletin board borders, pushpins, extra books you might have, notes/cards from your students or staff} anything...and nothing is too small} off at my school I would gladly package them up and mail them.  Just email me at hollywazy4@gmail.com.  Maybe you can gather others at your school to help out and we can send out one amazingly helpful, from the heart, package{s}.  Of course, feel free to send your own - I just know sometimes I have the best of intentions and then never make it to the post office.  Together we can make a big difference!

Farley, over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade has created a Paypal account for you to donate to as well  and as thanks she created this inspirational poster for you to download for just a dollar. 

Don't just think about doing something....

Holly

Writing and a Freebie

Honestly, I thought about not blogging until I could give myself an attitude adjustment...but I just can't seem to whip myself into shape. Maybe I need you all to give me a "swift kick in the pants" as my Dad used to say.

I've had to close down shop in the classroom this week, and I *hate* doing that.  I have soooooo much I want and need to teach, yet assessments {the whole dang slew of 'em} are breathing down my neck.  Seems like I asked the kids to "get out their blockers" at least 10 times this week.  Poor things. 

And I'm grouchy.

I do have to brag though - my group this year is so darn tootin' sweet so it basically took 8 days to finish up all my F & P/Fountas and Pinnell {or Effin' P as most of us call them} assessments. I was able to do two during Daily 5 and two during writer's workshop each day.  My little babycakes were so on target; they made it easy this time around.  One kid did fall asleep in Yertle...but hey, at least he wasn't bugging anybody and could you blame him?!?

On top of assessments, after school, school-life has been nutty too.

I know a lot of you are already hot and heavy into the Common Core - we're on our way in Michigan.  Our district is doing a lot to get ready for the adoption and are doing a pretty good job at giving us the skinny.  I'm on the District ELA Common Core committee and was so impressed with the writing program our ISD {Intermediate School District} is developing.  Several of the teachers at our ELA core meeting are piloting units and shared some of their goodies.  One was this awesome paper that I tweaked {of course} and wanted to share with you.

If you do Lucy Calkins you're familiar with Small Moments {personal narratives}. At some point, early on in the program, Lucy has you make booklets for the kids to write their stories in.  I kid you not, I have tried implementing these booklets and they send me over the edge every year.  Basically, I find putting them together to be time consuming and most of all I find them to be a waste of paper.  The kids will write one sentence on each page of the booklet {if that, especially early on} and leave the rest.  Maybe I don't give them enough time - maybe I jump ship too soon, who knows?  This year I didn't even try them.  I just have the kids write their stories and then staple at the end.

What I do like about the thought process behind the three/four page booklets is it gives them a good sense of beginning, middle and end.  When I saw this paper I got goosebumps {doesn't take much, does it?}.  I was like "Where have you been all my life?!?"

Clipart: MelonHeadz and Cre8tive Hands.  Numbers: 3AM Teacher

Sorry it's in three different documents - my computer wasn't being very friendly this week either! Grrr! 

I started using this new paper right away this week and I have got to tell you - it's awesome.  So, like always, I have the kids tell their stories across their hands to their partners.  Beginning is their thumb, next three fingers their middle, and their pinky is where they wrap it all up - the end.  I have a poster of this but I want to make it cuter before I share.  Basically, the icons on each page match what's on the poster {one icon on each finger}. 

I put the paper in three different trays and the kids come up and grab which page they need whenever they need it {I like for them to get up every now and then during writing - keeps 'em focused longer}.  The first page is for your beginning where the two icons; one of a house and the other of a person remind you to include who, what and where.  On the 2nd page {and possibly third, fourth, etc. depending on how detailed they are - this why there are no page numbers} are numbers reminding them to include at least three events/details} and the last page has a gift and heart...wrap it up/heart of the story {if retelling}. This paper makes me happy.

Wanna know something else that makes me happy?  My boys are going to their cousins' house tomorrow for a sleepover and hubby and I are getting some much needed us time.  What should we do? Go see a movie?  Go out to dinner? Both?  You know what we'll end up doing?  Grabbing a quick bite to eat and running errands.  Why we always end up walking the aisles of Target or Walmart is beyond me!?!

Happy weekend!

Holly

Happy Monday and all That Jazz...

They're back....

I haven't had one of these in YEARS!  Drove up to the window, ordered it and what do you know they add whipped cream and a cherry to boot! Oh, no - no - no. I'm a purist.  Kid at the window didn't know that and he gladly remade it.  I really don't think he spit in it. I would have been able to see that right? Cuz I checked.  

Do you wanna know why I haven't been blogging? My mind is a whirlwind.  I just can't hunker down and focus in on any one thing.  Soooo, I need to give Farley a big 'ol hug to thank her for my "Get Out of Jail" card {Love this linky party}...because I'm pretty sure I belong in Blogger Jail.  I'll pull it together one day soon.. until then...

Good thing I re-read that before moving on to The Bachelor {Women Tell All...my FAVE!}.  The Poop.  To start this school year I walked into my empty room and found one lonely little creature sitting on a table.

I might have pulled a few pranks last year which just might have prompted a few people on staff to feel the need to have somebody or something keep a watchful eye on me.  By, my gosh, watching our janitor turn his vacuum cleaner upside down and pull out his screwdriver cracked me up to tears {Plug, unplug, plug, unplug} or the infamous POOP.  Honestly, I wasn't the one who started the whole poop thing.  One day it just ended up in my classroom and I never was able to find its owner.  Now, Mr. Plastic Poop drops in at various times and crazy places - of course when you least expect it.  {No worries - it's never when the kids are around!!!!!}  Mr. Poop has seen better days though - when I planted it under a desk I asked our custodian to fix he mistook it for a dirty pickle.

Laughter is good for the soul!

Go find yourself a good laugh - infuse it in your teaching, your home anywhere you can in your life.  A giggle does a body good!

Holly



Land Sakes Alive...

Land sakes alive...

Shoo....

Smellin' that soup... {Breathe in.....}

And coolin' it down... {Blow it out....}

Not a good week to have assessments to do.  No week is a good week.

 I wanna wear one of those hidden cameras for a whole day; and I want to wear a pedometer and something that can measure how fast I walk too.  Cuz this week was crrrrrrrrrazy.....you know where I'm coming from,  I know you do - that's why I love you!  Sheesh.  You know those days, weeks where you actually sorta forget to breathe.  You are a whirlwind and know if somebody was on the outside looking in they'd have the straight jacket at the ready because they are just sure you're gonna lose it at any moment. But you never do. You just whip around, do, do, do and go, go, go!!!  Imagine what that would look like with one of those cameras that attaches to your head...you know like one of those lights people wear when they go cave dwelling or spelunking?  What a hoot...

I've pretty much have learned helplessness in some key areas.  Cooking and grocery shopping to name a couple {Hubby does both} but I'm also, very much by choice, NOT very handy.  So when I accomplished THIS today...

Looks easy right?  I guess it should have been, but I usually leave stuff like assembling tents up to my husband. I did break into a sweat while putting up this cuteness but it was well worth it, wouldn't you say?  My kiddos are going to be SOOOOO excited to meet Yertle the Turtle.

I hope it's still intact when we get to school tomorrow morning. That, for surely, is questionable!!!

Oh tomorrow....what a busy day ahead.  We'll be making Cara's Seuss Juice  and writing about it.

Equal parts Hawaiian Fruit Punch and Sprite....yummmy! {Cara's idea - not mine!}

We're also having a Brown Bag Book Club Reading Celebration tomorrow - what perfect timing! I told the kids today that if Theodor Geisel were to walk in our classroom tomorrow he'd be pleased as the punch! 

We've been using our schema to make text-to-self connections and text-to-text connections too.  We prepared our brown bags today.  We wrote about our connections and attached them to the front of a brown lunch bag.

Click on the document to pick it up!  My lovely friend, Barb, made this for me last year before I knew about text boxes...

We're going to get into Book Club groups and share our connections, eat popcorn and drink our Seuss Juice. I'll probably be hiding out in Yertle because I know my kids are going to be hoppin' on pop tomorrow!!!!! {That's code for: WILD and CRAZY}

I got a couple awards while I was away...

Barbara over at The Corner on Character gave me the One Lovely Blog Award...awww, thanks!

And Miss S over at Just Teaching Kindergarten passed the Top 10 Blog Award on to me - so nice!

I will fulfill my blogger duties that go along with these awards this weekend.  That will take some thought and I don't have a brain cell left!!!  Thank you so much girls...so sweet of you both!  If you haven't checked out their blogs...head on over!

Deep Thoughts...

How many stripes does The Cat in the Hat's hat have?  We're having a debate in my class over today's March is Reading Month trivia question. 

Have a great Friday!

Holly