August Facebook Frenzy

I'll be participating in a Facebook Frenzy from August 9-12! This month's theme is "Back to School!" You won't want to miss the free downloads! There are several awesome teachers participating! Head over to my Facebook page and "Like" my page so you won't miss it!



The Frenzy begins on August 9th!  You will have 3 days to visit several Facebook Pages and download all of the FREE products!  It's so much fun!  If you have ever visited or been part of a Frenzy in June or July, you know what I'm talking about! :)

Click the image to go to my Facebook Page and "like" it!

Major Freebie Alert!

Hey friends!  This is a quick post to let you in on some BIG news!  Lots and lots of Teacher bloggers, like myself, and TpT Sellers have been working hard this summer to put together TWO e-books full of amazing Common Core Aligned Freebies!!!!  You have to check these out!  Look for my page...I'm offering a fun rainforest themed freebie!

Leave a comment and let me know what you think! 

Weekends are running out!

I'm so thankful to be spending this weekend with my family in SF!  We went to the NEW Exploratorium today!  Wow!  What a great hands on experience for the whole family.  I suspect we'll be back many times this year while visiting my college freshman!  I'm glad we're spending the weekend together.  I know the next few are going to fly by as I start to get my classroom ready, so having the family together is nice.

But, I did find a little time in the hotel room this evening to sneak away and post a new product!  TpT on the go! : )

I finished a product late last night (shhhh...maybe that's why I was dragging a bit today)!  This is a fun, back to school themed "Go Fish" game!  Like all of the centers games in my store, I try to make them creative enough to play several different ways.  This game includes directions for 2 ways to play: Go Fish and Matchmaker.  Of course, you'll probably have lots more ideas of how to use these cute cards.

It includes the first 20 Dolch sight words so it's perfect for your Kinders and Firsties! Take a look here:

Click on the picture to visit my store!

I am working on a version of my "I have, Who has" games for the beginning of the year, specifically my little Firsties that will need some reinforcement with letter naming.  It will also be great for Kinders, of course!

Be sure and follow my blog on Bloglovin' so you'll know when it's posted!

Ok, I better close my laptop : ( and be social with my kiddos!  : )

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Home Sweet Home!

I have been away from my "home sweet home" most of the summer!  Good grief!  When I stopped to think about it, I really haven't been in my home for more than 4 days this summer!  No, really!  OMG!  This summer has been jam packed with fun stuff, so I am not complaining, but I would like a little time to veg!

So, I just got back from The Extraordinary Educators Conference in Chicago, Il. It was my first time to Chicago and to this particular conference.  It was a blast!  I loved every session, every presenter and that beautiful city!  I learned so much and am still on overload.  I plan on going through my notes and rehashing those ideas for this school year.  I plan on tweaking my Math tubs, Writing Centers and integrating more technology for sure.

So, on the four hour airplane ride home, I pulled out my laptop and created some lesson plan templates.  We are not required to have lesson plans turned in or completed, but I always try to use a plan book.  It never works.  I always end up with notes scratched in spiral notebooks in various parts of the room.  Makes me sound unorganized (and maybe I am, just a little), but I always know what I'm teaching.  I'm going to try to USE my plan book this year.  And for me to use it, it better be fun and CUTE!  So, I used lots of color and made it work for my brain.  I thought I'd offer it for you, if you would like to try it.

I plan on taking it to Staples and having them color copy it front and back.  I'll add some other pages that I'm working on and then have them bind it or 3 hole punch it.  I'm still thinking about what I want.
I am working on a planning sheet for my math tubs and writing centers, too.

But for now here ya go!  I hope y'all can use it, too!

Click the picture to download this pdf!

Ok, now I'm off to pack for a weekend in SF with my family and then a late night with Hugh Jackman!  (oops, I meant The Wolverine premier!) ; )

Advice for New Teachers!

Today I'm linking up with Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Aquainted Linky Party!

This week's topic is:  Advice for New Teachers!  So here goes...

First, let me say, "Congratulations!"  You are so lucky you chose this awesome profession!

Buy

Invest in your feet!  You will be on your feet for 7+ hours a day!  You will move around the room quickly and walk the kids across campus at times.  You may have duty (more standing and moving).  You will be up and down on the carpet and helping kiddos do lots of things.  Take care of your feet! :)

Always

Listen to your students!  Really listen.  You will learn so much more about each individual student if you listen.  Let them talk to each other and listen to those conversations (it's not eavesdropping if you're the teacher :)  )  You might discover their interests, struggles, worries, or dreams!  You can also assess so many skills by just listening!

Never

Never get into a power struggle with a six year old!  It doesn't accomplish what you want and YOU won't win.  Be calm and consistent when a struggle begins!  Refer to the above advice and Listen!  Remember, you are the adult!

Find

You will meet many students during your career.  You will spend 6+ hours a day, 180 days with these precious little ones.  Find something to love about every one of them.  If you don't, they will know!  Each and every one of them is someone's baby!

Make

Make emergency sub plans!  You never know when you may need these, and I hope you never do!  But, just in case, it's best to be prepared.  Make a plan for a stand alone day that you can prep and have ready in the event you need it.  If you ever do need it, you will be happy you took the time to prepare!

Be

Be Kind to your students, staff, parents...everyone!  Your students will catch you if you're not.  Even when you get frustrated with a child, parent, or teacher, take the high road and model kindness for your students!

I'll finish with this thought.  Teaching is the greatest profession.  I've been teaching for 16 years and never dread going to work!  Make sure everyday is fun and engaging for your students and you will have fun and be engaged right along with them!  

Good luck and have a great year!

Extraordinary Educators National Conference 2013

I am having a blast and getting so many great ideas!  I was so fortunate to attend presentations by Abby Mullins of The Inspired Apple and Cara Carroll of The First Grade Parade!  They were fabulous and so down to earth.  I enjoyed their energy and honesty!   Cara shared her awesome ideas for running math tubs in her classroom.  Abby's presentation walked us through how she plans an ELA lesson.  Loved them both!

And this is WHY teachers need to attend conferences!  We attend excellent sessions, learn new ideas, are reminded of our own great ideas, meet new teachers with different ideas and COLLABORATE with other teachers.  I'm so thankful that my friend and grade level buddy, Renee of Fantastic Froggies, wanted to attend this conference.

We have taken in the sites when we are not in sessions.  We have taken an open air bus tour of this beautiful city, we've shopped way too much, we walked the magnificent mile, went to the top of the John Hancock Tower, toured the city again in the rain (we did jump off early :)  ), ate Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, yummy cupcakes and the best part is...it's only Monday!  We have two more days in this awesome place!

Check out my pictures on Instagram in the right column!

The famous "bean" in Millennium Park!

I can't wait to start getting ready for my new school year and using some of these great new ideas!  

Chicago!!!

We are having a blast in Chicago and we haven't even been here a full day!  Today we are touring the big city by open air bus!  Renee is introducing me to the wonders of Instagram and I think I may be hooked!  I'm borrowing her cute button that she created to invite you to follow our adventures on Instagram. Click the picture below or on the right sidebar to follow me then search  #Chicago2013sde.  



Have a great weekend!

Hoppin' to Chicago and a Shopping Spree!

I'm so excited!  This afternoon I leave with my good friend and teaching partner, Renee from Fantastic Froggies,  for Chicago and the Extraordinary Educator's Conference!

This is the book I had bound with all
of the session handouts!  Renee made
the covers for us!  So cute!

We have been planning and looking forward to this since March!  I am looking forward to the amazing presenters and topics...and hoping to see some of my favorite bloggers and TpTers!

I'll try to update with pictures if I can!

Ok, now for my shopping spree!  Since I go out of state to visit my family each summer, I sometimes miss out on the sales at home.  Well, yesterday, I finally got to Target and picked up lots of school supplies!  I'm a little OCD when it comes to school supplies.  I like for all of my students to have the same items and only CRAYOLA!  I am really picky about that one...off brands don't make me happy, so I spend my own money to make sure I get what I want!  I love school supplies....

Cat in the Hat book bags....I have so
many ideas for these!  Literacy bags?

I'm hoping to take these to get cut
in half!  I've never had that done
before!  I'd like to use these for math journals.

Can you ever have too many spiral
notebooks?  Since we are the froggies
I always get everything in green...I'm
pretty sure the Target employees think
I'm crazy!  

Plastic folders for my memory books!

Crayola Crayons!  Love them!

Addition and subtraction write on- wipe off
cards!  I see math centers!!!

Pocket charts!  Not sure about their destiny yet!

I'm off to finish packing and then off to the "Windy City"!

Friday Freebie!

Hi friends!  I have been enjoying my last week with family in Texas!  My girls and I head back to CA this weekend.  It's always bittersweet.  I'm excited to get home and be in my own space, but I know it will be a very long time before I see my sister, brother and father.  :(  

Once I do get back to CA, I have so much to do!  My oldest will be starting college in the fall and we have lots to get in order before she moves.  I'm sure there's much more to do than I even know!  

But for now, I am happily on vacation and blogging!

I'm being featured on Kelsea's blog, Teacher's Gems for her Five Fabulous Featured Freebies Friday!  I got a "sneak peak" and can tell you that you will not want to miss these freebies!  Kelsea's blog is full of great ideas and resources.  You will definitely want to check it out!  

Head on over and get your freebies!  

Favorite Pins Friday!

Doodlebugs Teaching is taking a break from Five for Friday until August.  So to tide us over, I'm linking up with First Grade Parade for Favorite Pins Friday!  This should be fun!  I love pinning!  If you are interested in linking up, click on the adorable image below!  So here are my favorite pins from this week. 

 

I've been pinning this Giveaway that I am also participating in!  There are so many great items you can win!  

I saw this AMAZING idea recently!  I really want to try this next year!

I plan on creating and using lots of Anchor Charts in my classroom next year.  I've used a few in the past, but really like all the great ideas I've seen from other teachers.  I've created a board specifically for Anchor Charts just so I have some references!

I'm always on the lookout for ways to organize around the house! 

I purchased and pinned these books this week.  So excited to finish them both before school!

That's it for this week!  I'm going to Pinterest now to get ready for next Friday!  :-)

If you would like to see what else I've been pinning, check out my boards!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July!  Here is your last "Freedom Freebie"!

And a little something extra!  Happy Birthday America!  Today Only everything in my store is 20% off!

Have a Happy Fourth of July and be safe with your fireworks!  It is so dry around here that we will definitely be taking some precautions...we don't need any  more fires in this country!

Click the Picture above to go directly to my store!

Click my store button to go right on over and shop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Fourth!

Freedom Freebie Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!  Here is your "Freedom Freebie" for the day!

These worksheets were a favorite in my class this year.  Download them now and use them later!  Once the students complete a page, they color by answer.  My kids absolutely loved these and never knew how much practice they were actually getting!  (Sneaky teacher!)

And don't forget to enter the Giveaway each day!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm also linking up with Comprehension Connection's "Word Work Wednesday" Blog Hop!  

There are some great ideas for your classroom!  I encourage you to hop along and check out the awesome resources and ideas for Word Work in your classroom.  

Check back tomorrow for your final "Freedom Freebie" and a Surprise!

Enjoy!

Freedom Freebie Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday!  Today's Freedom Freebie is a Math Center Favorite from my store.  My kiddos loved playing this with a buddy, in small groups and whole class.  It's one of my first games that a Rafflecopter giveawayI made for my store!  It's not fancy, but it is fun and provides great practice for your firsties or second graders at the beginning of the year.

And don't forget to enter this awesome Giveaway that I'm participating in....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scroll down to enter!!

Have a great day!!