Monday, August 13, 2012

Guest Blogger - Mitten Friend, Kimberly from Funky First Grade Fun!!!

My name is Kimberly. I feel honored and super excited that Holly asked me to do a guest post on her blog! I've been a follower/fan/stalker of Holly's blog for a long time. Recently, we discovered that we both live in Michigan. At the end of July, I had the pleasure of meeting Holly (and Barb) at the Michigan Blogger Meet Up.

This summer, I've done some thinking (more like rethinking) about math work stations. You can read my post (Revisiting Math Work Stations) for some information about why I felt like I needed to rethink the whole math work station thing. Perhaps it was just an excuse to buy more containers. Although, I'm pretty sure I already own enough Rubbermaid to build a small island in the ocean. Oy...

Today, I'd like to share a game that my students play during math work stations. It's actually two different games. The forms that I'm including are for a Lego Addition work station and Lego Subtraction work station. You can click on the picture below to download it if you'd like your own copy.




My students use 1 die at the beginning of the year and 2 dice to give them a challenge when they are ready. I bought these adorable Lego cups (instead of the bags for the legos at each work stations) for extra fun.  I found them at a local party supply store.






Thank you so much for reading my guest post! A special thanks to Holly for inviting me to visit.  I hope you'll stop by to visit my blog sometime soon. 


Thanks to my mitten friend, Kimberly, for that awesome post!
{And for the freebie!}
Be sure to go visit her blog ... she's pretty awesome!

Don't forget to do some Back to School Shopping at the BIG sale!!

Click {HERE} to see some of the fun items I've created this summer!

Click the Picture to Head to my Store!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Get Your Shop On!

Hey Everybody!

By now I'm pretty sure you know all about the sale going on over at TpT!  You've got to head over there right now - I mean, stuff is already super reasonably priced and now you can take 28% off!!!! Holy moly...that's awesome!!!!



Click the picture to head on over to my store!

Here's what I've been working on this summer! 












Happy Shopping!

Friday, August 10, 2012

Back to School Product Premier Blog Hop

I'm being forced to say it, it's really super hard for me to do this - but friends, it quite possibly might be back to school time.  I'm pretty sure it is because I've caught wind of a big sale coming up at Teachers Pay Teachers where many stores will be offering up to 28 percent off!!!  It's time to fill up those carts people.  Don't hold back - you know you need some new goodies to start the new school year off right!


I am so excited about the blog hop that Christina Bainbridge is hosting because you get to check out a ton of what many TpT sellers consider to be their hot ticket items!  How cool is that?  Just hop around, check things out, and load up that cart! {I may need to double-cart this sale...you know push one, and pull one from behind}


I pretty much hate tooting my own horn, so much so, that very few people in my "real life" even know about this blog.  I have no idea why that is...it's just this "thing" {or "ting" as my husband's Polish family would say} I have.  I'm very happy sharing my ideas "under the radar"...

But....

I'm also really happy to share one of "must have" products.  Well, at least I must have it, that's why I made it.  Anything that I make and put in my store, I use myself because I need it.  So I figure if I need it you probably do too!!!  See, no tooting at all...just speaking out of necessity here!

Here's the product I'm talking about...

Click the picture to head on over to my store!

Every year I say I'm going to start off super organized so hopefully I'll STAY organized. Part of what helps me stay organized is helping my students put and keep things where they belong "Every object has a home in our classroom".  We have a folder for just about everything in our room and I find if I make them each different in their own way I hear "Which one is my writing folder?!?!" less {I'm not making promises that it won't be heard a few times throughout the year...even, say, in January!!!}.

I thought I'd pull out a few of the pages from this pack to show you exactly what you'll be getting if you decide to put it in that cart of yours!

Whether you do centers or workbook pages - it's nice to have a place to put
 math work you're still working on.

Give your students a place to respond to literature - I glue mine to the front
of a spiral bound notebook

I use the poly folders for durability - put label on front.  Also included in the pack
are "return to school" & "keep at home" labels.

Uses for these colorful numbers are endless!!!!

I use the done/working on labels for my math folders as well as our writing folders.
 Print on 1" x 2 5/8" self adhesive labels.  Pack also includes "Done" labels.


I really hope you will find this product useful and it enables you to check one more thing of your seemingly endless to-do list!!! 

Thanks to Christina over at Bunting, Books and Bainbridge for hosting this Blog Hop!

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

You Get What You Get...

Have you ever said that to your kids? I used to say "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit" - which, I've just realized can be quite controversial amongst teachers. I had no idea that some people found this not to rhyme.  Hmmm...I guess it doesn't really rhyme for me either.  I mean I pronounce the 'e' in get as a short 'e' sound not a short 'i' sound - but for this particular saying, I switch it and make the short 'i' sound so it WILL rhyme.  No big deal...I can be flexible.

Speaking of flexible, I really try to teach my firsties how to just roll with it.  Something doesn't quite go our way and I'll say in a sing songy voice "Oh well...next time". Or maybe our special has been cancelled {yeah, okay - I'll admit, THIS one is hard for me to roll with} we'll say "That's okay - we're flexible".  With different situations that come up like this throughout the year you'll often hear that response..."We're flexible".  I'm hoping this life skill will stay with them throughout...life.  It's an important one!

Back to "You get what you get..." or "You git what you git".  I used to say "...and you don't throw a fit".  Then one day it struck me that I didn't really like that so much.  Of course you don't throw a fit - you're a BIG first grader.  First graders don't throw fits {or so I say}.  So, instead I say "You get what you get and you appreciate it".  Doesn't that sound more positive? Manners are another important life skill to teach and I'm sure, like me, you not only encourage but expect those "please" and "thank you's" - with a heart felt thank you comes a feeling of appreciation rather than entitlement.  Oh boy...that's big stuff. 

I made this little sign to put up in my classroom this school year and thought you might want one too.  I put the same saying in a doc with a few different frames and clipart options.  Choose the one that matches your classroom decor best!



Edited to add one more - this one was inspired by Heather over at Heather's Heart




Click the pictures to pick yours up for free.
There are other choices {different clipart, frames, etc.} too!
But if you don't see exactly what you want - You get what you get...



Toodles!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Currently...AUGUST!?!

Ummm, I'm telling - Farley said the "A" word and then she said the "S" word too!!!! We aren't allowed to say those words in my house...not yet anyway.

Just a side note for my newer teacher friends...when a kiddo tells you that their friend said the "f" word...always clarify! Fart tops the list of really bad words in a first grader's life...that and stupid!

August and School are bad words in this two-teacher household!  Nahh, not really.  We love 'em both - we're just not quite ready for them yet.  We still have another month!!!

I'm linking up with Farley today...even though she says really bad words! ;)  Potty mouth!


My B2S {Love the abbreviation - then I don't actually have to say you-know-what }Must Haves...

1.  Personal laminator - I bought mine at Walmart and it was an instant love connection!


2.  Scentos Markers!!!!  I love these things...I bought some for my students, my own boys, and to grade papers with!!!!  They just make me smile...they are so happy looking too!  Click {HERE} to pick up my Spell It, Smell It freebie to use with these fun little guys!

3.  I was going to say coffee {preferrably Starbucks} but that's a given.  My newest addiction {thanks to my uber healthy friend and soon-to-be bloggy buddy Barb} is Coconut Water & Pink Lady apples.  No joke!!!!  I'm going to TRY to snack healthier throughout the day this school year. 

Have you tried it?!? Mmmmmm....
Oh my gosh - these are the most scrumptious apples around...I've been eating two a day...

Farley's waiting for ya!

 
P.S.  My newest product is available on TpT!
 
I *love* making this milestone special for my kiddos!
You can click on the picture to head over to TpT.
 

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Product Swap 'til You Drop!

Okay, so if you're anything like me when you shop you're a waffler.  What's that?  You go to the store, you look around, you find something you *think* you'll like, but you're not exactly sure if you REALLY like it enough to spend the money.  If you are as fashionLESS as I am, you really doubt your sass-sense. I wish I had sass, I really do...but I tend to gravitate toward mom jeans or teachery clothes...you know what I'm talking about.  So, then I find myself taking sneak glances at people around me.  I take a look and if they look "cool" {in my book} I figure what they have in their cart must be "in fashion"...

Phew...

So, with that, today is the day that you get to look around at all the products that we teacher bloggers think are pretty darn cool!  You get to take a look at what's inside OUR carts! 

Is this button as cute AS a button?!?! {3AM Teacher!!!!} 
Thanks to Jessica over at Mrs. Standford's Class for hosting this lovely event!!!! 
My swap partner is Kerri from Ms. Kerri and Her Krazy Klass!
{Who has a snazzy new look on her blog! Be sure to visit and follow!}
 
I couldn't wait to download, print, laminate and play around with her Be a Letter Detective product. 
Click the picture to head over to her TpT store where you can buy one for your classroom!
{Don't forget to follow so you keep up to date on her newest products}
Here's Kerri's description:
This packet includes a sheet for every letter. The students can practice identifying the target letter by highlighting or circling the letters. There is a variety of fonts used on each page. All the clipart is from Scrappin Doodles. This is great for introducing letters or reviewing them. I use these with my reading group that still needs help recognizing letters.

Common Core standards met in this pack:

* RF.K.1. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
* Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet

What I love about Be a Letter Detective is that it can be used with kiddos as young as preschool who are just beginning to identify some letters, with kindergarteners who are firming up this skill and even with first graders who need a little extra oomph.

More of what I love...{ready?}
*It can be done individually, in a small reading group, or as a whole class
*It's easy on my printer! {But, oh so cute!}
*It meets CCSS {Common Core Standards}
*The letters are in different fonts - I like this because so often when my students see a "funny g" {we call it a "book g"} they have trouble distinguishing what letter it really is.  Same can be said for an "i" that has a little hook, or any other letter that isn't made with the traditional "ball and stick".  With this activity students have to look very closely when finding individual letters, causing them to notice each feature of a particular letter.
*It's cute {Did I already say that?}
*If you use the Treasures series - the letters follow the order they are introduced
*You can really play up the detective theme!

Need proof?

I laminated this one.  Here's what I plan on doing with it...

In a small group or in a word work center:

Use highlight tape to highlight the letters! {Kids love this!}

Or

Circle letters with vis-a-vis markers or dry erase {Another kid favorite!}
I printed this one off in B&W - I can print it off for the whole class or place in a center.  Highlighters...another, you guessed it, kid favorite!

OR

Print it off in color and put a colorful or SMELLY marker in their hands!!! ADORABLE!!!!

Before you introduce the activity you can really play up the fact that they will need to do some detective work. They'll eat that all up!!!!  If you put it in a center or do it small group and you give them a magnifying glass....they'll do anything you say! {After looking up their friend's nose, investigating a freckle, you know the drill - gotta let them get that out of their system first!} I have some like this:

Wouldn't they just LOVE being super sleuths and find those letters?
If you are a teacher who really loves to play things up...

Imagine what you could do if you owned this garb?  You'd have your kiddos in the palm of your hand!

Head on over to Kerri's blog, follow. Then go to her store, shop. Then go find yourself some super sleuthing stuff to wear and have some fun with your students this school year!







Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Michigan Meet Up July 2012

I woke up in the middle of the night more than a few times before the big Michigan Meet Up.  I don't know why I get so nervous. Okay, I do - I'll be honest with you here...I knew the next day I was about to meet up with some pretty amazing blogger friends and I'm pretty much starstruck.  To meet the person behind the blog just makes me get all jittery. 

Then I get there, and once I see the smiles....

...I forget about my butterflies!

I learned so much from these people!!!!  We talked about networking, some blogger do's and don'ts, and lots more!  You can tell this was put together by some very organized teachers...LOL!


And look what I won!!!!

Click on the book to visit Maria's blog!
I had some dental work done the day before. I was so afraid that my tooth was going to fly out of my mouth and into somebody's froo froo coffee so I did a lot of listening and not much talking.  You don't know how hard that was for me...

I'm pretty sure you're already following most of our blogs, but there were some friends there new to blogging {and a couple that I hope caught the blogging bug..BARB!} so here's the roll call:

Front Row:
Kimberly @ Funky First Grade Fun
Bethany @ B2 Squared Learning
Katie {A new to Michigan friend who I bet will catch the blogging bug once she lands a teaching job here!}
Kate @ EduKate and Inspire
Erin @ Kleinspiration
Karla @ Teach With a Smile
Maria @ Be the Difference
Patty @ Second in Line

Back Row:
Rich @ B2 Squared Learning
Nan @ Third Grade's a Charm
Me
Barb {You know "The Barb" who I mention here and there in my blog?  I think she *may* have just caught the bug...I'll keep workin' on her!}
Marquin @ Writing for Wrinkles
Christina @ Bunting, Books and Bainbridge

I can't wait to do this again! But watch out...my chompers will be in working order!
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