Sunday, July 29, 2012

Classroom Ring Masters!

Mrs. Lirette over at Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives is giving away a great package to help your students learn sight words.  Please check out her giveaway by CLICKING HERE.  Your students will be RING LEADERS of sight words in no time if you win this packet.  If you don't win, you can still pick up this great set for a great combo price by visiting her TpT store.  Good luck!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

New Bloggers!

I have received my 2nd Award!  All this blogging is new to me, but it is nice to have new followers.  I was happy when I reached 50, but I am looking forward to getting to the 100 mark.  This time it is the Liebster Award! 

 
Thanks so much, Crystal from Ms. Jones' Junction.  I'm so glad you found my blog and introduced me to yours.  :)
This award is named for the German word "Liebster," which translates to "beloved" or "favourite", and is given to a "new, up and coming blogger."

Here are the rules:
1.  Link back to the person who gave it to you. Post the award to your blog.
2.  Give the award to at least 5 bloggers with less than 200 followers
3.  Leave a comment on the 5 blogs to let them know that they have been offered this award.
 
I am giving the award to:


I can't believe that I only have ONE more week of summer vacation before going back to school.  WHERE DID THE SUMMER GO?  WOW!  Check out these new blogs.
 


 


Sunday, July 8, 2012

Birthday Bags

Today's project was BIRTHDAY BAGS!  I plan to hang a handled birthday bag for each month across the top of my bulletin board using Command Hooks.  On each child's birthday, I give the birthday boy/girl a birthday crown to wear, a sparkly birthday pencil with a fun eraser, a birthday sticker, a birthday card, and a present (toys from the dollar section of Target or Dollar Tree - think stickers, toy cars, lip gloss, etc.) that he/she chooses out of my birthday box (which is a box wrapped like a giant gift).  This year I plan to have a gallon size Ziploc bag that already has the crown, pencil, sticker, and card for each child already in the monthly birthday bag hanging up ready to go so that I am not frantically getting those things together the day before (or of) the child's big day.  :)  I made monthly labels to put on my jungle-themed bags that I found at Hobby Lobby.  (I LOVE that place!)  Here is a pic of the bags.  I was pleased with the way they turned out! 


Here is what the finished product looks like!  :)

If you would like a copy of the monthly labels for the bags -CLICK HERE.
As always - if you pick up a copy, please leave a comment.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Teacher Tool Box and Math Stations

Well, I broke down and made myself one of those super cute organizers that everyone has been blogging about.  I have to say it was SUPER EASY and turned out SUPER CUTE.  Obviously, my room is done in a Jungle theme so that is how I made my box - giraffe and vines.  The only color box that Lowe's had was dark blue so I would really like to paint my box.  Hmmm...part 2 of teacher tool box project?  Have any of you all painted these plastic toolboxes or does anyone know the best type of paint to use to paint these?   



My next project is fixing up my new bins for Math Stations.  I would love to know what you all do for math.  Do you have a series that you use?  Do you not have a series and totally rely on your own math activities?  Do you use a series and then do stations on the side?  So many options!  My district uses Harcourt Math (orange workbook with a big elephant on front).  I am not crazy about the series, but it isn't horrible either.  I think I would classify it "middle of the road".  I usually teach math as a whole group lesson at the SMART Board and then call small groups to my teaching table just like I do in reading to do the Math Workbook page from the series.  While I have these small groups, my other groups do themed math activities at stations or go to the computer.  My VERY favorite activities come from the very talented Julie Lee.  I just love her stuff, and so do my students.  :)  So...what do you all do for math time?  I would LOVE to know.