Leaping to a New Year!

Happy Sunday all!  I'm sooooo poooped.  This week has been exhausting.  We have been bombarded with testing, scores, evaluation papers etc. etc!  It has been such an overwhelming week, I'm a bit scared what this week will bring.

But the little ones and I managed to find some time for a cute little craft.    We complete my Kangaroo craft for the beginning of the year  Look how adorable they turned out,

This is my wall of fame.  So the students who tried their very best and had neat handwriting and great ideas would be on here.  Aren't they so cute.

This sweet little one can't wait to read.  

The little ones loves creating this guy!  I am excited to have them keep writing and see how far they grow this year.  

I am so excited to be sharing with you soon, my Fall Writing Center Starters and Topic Cards.  

Stay tuned, you will LOVE it!!

Happy Sunday!!

Oldie but Goodie Replaced!!

Hey all!  Happy Thursday!  This week is going by so slow because it is SOOOO hot in our school!  The little ones and I are seriously sweating all day long!  

Okay so I have been recreating so many things lately, this is my last one I promise!  I'm so excited to share it's so cute.

  What do you think about this little cute craft for Columbus Craft?

I even made a cute hat the little ones can wear to celebrate Columbus Day!

There are so many cute printables for writing and for assessment as well.  Your little ones will truly enjoy this packet.  Here are some of my faves in this bundle.

 

Aren't they so cute? I know my little ones will learn so much with this packet!

This packet includes:

-stencils/directions/pictures for Columbus craft

- 6 writing prompts (full/half page, Black and White, primary and secondary)

-writing/drawing prompts

-fun facts page (can be used as a study guide)

-true/false quiz for social studies grade (can be used as a worksheet)

-writing a letter to Columbus

-spelling/making new words

-abc order

-2 word of the day prompts

-sequencing

-can-has-is

-adjectives

Okay!  So I usually give a few away right?  Well the first 2 people to comment on this letting me know they follow my TpT will win this pack.  If you comment after I will give another one away using random generate! =) 

Congrats to #1 #2 and #4!  I will be sending you this packet shortly!

Let me know what you think, I love to hear your thoughts!

Good Luck!

Out with the Old & In with the New {Fire Safety} - Part 2!

So I have been recereating a lot of my products lately. It's so much fun to add new printables and edit some of your old work.  It keeps things fresh and fun!  I have recreate my Fire Safety Craftivity

Fire Safety Week is celebrated this year from Oct 6-12.  I am excited to show my newest REcreation!

Look what I included when you flip it open.

I added a writing prompt!  =) 

This would be perfect for the little ones to write about what they learned during Fire Safety Week.

Here are some more sneak peeks at what's inside.

I want to teach my students about the importance of how to prevent fires and what to do in case there happens to be one.  One might say they are too small to learn such things but I think no one is too young to be safe and be cautious.  I want them to know what to look out for and how to stay safe.  Here are some more new printables that I made.

 I love these because it allows for my students to create a discussion with their parents about this.  This way they can discuss it and come up with some sort of agreement or plan to make sure everyone is on the right page for a safety plan.

This packet includes:

-stencils/directions/pictures

-writing prompts half/full page primary/secondary lines b & w

-letter to firefighter

-abc order

-making words

-fire safety checklist

-adjectives

-true/false worksheets (canbe used as a quiz)

-fun facts

-review guide for possible quiz

*new printables include*

-firefighters can, have and are

-word of the day

-4 writing prompts

-different versions for fire escape plans

The craft is my favorite thing of the whole pack!

Grab this now and be prepared for Fire Safety Week right around the corner.  You can click here to take you right there.  Don't forget to let me know what you think.  I love to hear your comments!

I have been also been recreating my Columbus Day Pack!  Stay tuned this week for that and a little something else. =)

*want to win this*
follow my pinterest and leave me a comment letting me know under what name and i'l pick 2 winners tonight to get this!

Congrats to #8 and #12!  Will be sending you the packet shortly. =)

Enjoy!!

Writing Center Starter Topics - September Freebie!

Hey all !  Happy Tuesday!  

 I want to share a freebie with you!  I have been working on a FULL writing center packet lately and thought it would be nice to share my first one with you all for free. 

YAY!!

  This is a small.. and I mean small glimpse of what I will be including in my future writing packets to come. Next one is coming up in a few weeks for October. =)

September is full of fun things!  There are holidays like Grandparents Day, Labor Day, Fall, Johnny Appleseed and if your like me, your finally back at school.  I tried to have a lot of different variety of writing cards for the little ones to be excited to write about.

Isn't is so darn cute and easy to use?  I used book rings to hold it all together.  It was so easy.

Here are some prompt cards included.

These writing cards are appropriate for 1st-2nd.  I think the little ones will love flipping through the cards during center time and decide which topic to write about.

Here are some writing printables I added as well.

I included 2 different kinds (each have primary and secondary lines)

The way to create these writing centers is easy.

*cut and laminate the cards for future use

*using a hole punch, punch the top left part of the card.

*put all cards together using a book ring.

*have kids flip through them to decide which topic to write about during center time.

*write

This freebie includes:
*35 writing topic cards to choose from
*4 writing prompts (primary * secondary lines)
*directions and pictures to set up the center

Now in the beginning of the year some of my little ones struggle with writing.  That is totally fine.  I plan on having them try their best with writing and just work on their drawing to explain what they are trying to say.  Slow and steady wins the race and within time they will build the confidence to write more and more.

It's so easy to make and will last a very long time.  You can put this in your September bin and take it out every year for the month and your writing center is set.  Ahh I love the sound of that!!

Do you like what you see?  Click here to grab it for free.  Please let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions on it.  I am so excited to share my next writing pack with you so stay tuned!

I have also been recreating my products!  I will be sharing my new  (updated)products with you this week:
Fire Safety
Christopher Columbus

=)

Classroom Pics Made Public - Finally!

Ahhhhh !  So finally, I have finished my classroom.  Many of you have been finished a while ago and some of you have been in school for months now.  Well little old me starts school on Tuesday for meetings and Thursdays with the little ones.  So exciting!!

Well last week I started on my classroom and had it done in a few days. I had to work quickly.  Here are some pics of my class when I walked in!

As you can see it needed a lot of work!  And work I did!

I love love love the bright colors this year.  It gives my room such a nice POP.

You see my obsession with her with the brights? LOL.  I think the kids will love this reading corner.  I used to have a reading chair last year.  I also had a different rug.  I changed things around a bit so this can be the reading corner or reading center when the little ones need to buddy ready.  Last year I didn't have a special spot for them.  And I know they should be comfy when reading by themselves or with a bud so this looks and feel very home like doesn't it?  I hope they love this corner and hope it will encourage them to want to read!  I made those crates last year.  If you want to check out how I made them click here to take you to the post for step by step directions.

  

I am trying something different this year.  I am trying a "Wall of Fame" in hopes that it will encourage my little buddies to always want to try their absolute best in order to get on this board.  Last year I didn't have so much board space to display their work so I would hang it up on a line in my classroom which was fine.  However I wanted to display more of their work and I was able to make space for it this year.     I plan on putting work on here from students that have shown improvement, are creative and tried something new and different.  I want everyone to feel special and I think this would be a nice way of doing that.  Can you tell that the background paper is fabric?  Another one of my new obsession.

This is my word wall.  I personally love it.  I also used fabric for the background paper.  I really like how fabric is more sturdy and gives the board a different and unique touch.  It will hold up better than regulard board paper when I have to change words around often. I truly believe you need one of these no matter what grade you teach.  There are so many visual learners that just by looking at something every few times a week will remember it wether its a word or information.  I don't think a teacher should be without it.  There are so many fun things we can put on our boards but it should always be educational so our little sweethearts benefit from it. =) 

I am loving the way this turned out.  I used my Chalk & Chevron Management Pack for this board.  It has the weather, date, days of week and seasons.  I think it came out so cute. I am loving the chevron borders too!

This is another reading corner. I got the oh so cute pillows from Walmart. I plan on having the students come here each and every morning for about 5 minutes and have someone be in charge of the calendar and weather.  I haven't done this but am so excited to do so.  We go over calendar towards the end of the year and it's a quick chapter.  With working on this all throughout the year, the students will understand it better and it's a fun way to get your little ones thinking.

I love my new cubbies.  I got these from Shop Get Organized.  I ordered a few sets so I was able to get a discount which definitely came in handy because I ordered a lot. LOL

I am loving this!  This is contact paper.  I got it from Amazon for $11.  There were 2 rolls that came with it so I have plenty left over.  I will say I had a minor panic attack because I couldn't flatten it without bubbles coming up but after a good while trying, I found the best strategy!

I love the way it looks from this angle.

As you can see, I have created a Boggle Board this year!

I got this for free from Rockin Teacher Materials!  I was so excited it was free. 

This is how it looks from the front.  It even comes with a very cute printable for the students to work on.  How I plan on using this is fun.  I will give the printable to students at the beginning of the week.  The students that finish their work early can take this out and try to find as many words as they can.  At the end of the week whoever has the most words (spelled correctly) will get a special treat.  I think this will be great and keep the kids on their toes.  Each Monday Ill change around the letters to make new words.  How many words can you spot?

This is my other board. I have my classroom jobs, hand signals and behavior clip chart.  It's very visible to the little ones so they can refer to it when needed.  I love the colors too.  Purple is my favorite, can you tell?

I already showed you my other reading corner but I wanted to show you from a different angle.  Can you see the mats? These are bathroom rugs.  I love the quote and had to get it.  It says "Keep Calm and Dream On".  I think it's perfect for my little ones and feel like this would be my motto for the year.  

FInally this is right by one of my reading corners.  I display my books for the month.  I like reading to my little ones.  It's a time for just a fun read and share ideas and opinions.  If you notice on my left hand side if my latest obsession...my Teacher Binder for the year.  I will be blogging about this within the week so stay posted.  It is definitely something you will love!

Well that's it!

That's my classroom display and I am so glad I can share it with you.  Cheers to a new and great year with some absolutely awesome little people. =)

I am linking up with I'm Blog Hoppin  and A Classy Collaboration  to show off our awesome classrooms.  Link up!

Tomorrow there will be a freebie, I promise you won't want to miss. 

Back 2 School Must Haves!

So a week from today we will be meeting our new little ones.  Wow summer time flew time by but I am excited to meet some new kiddies.  

I finally finished my class today.  So that means pics will be coming your way this Sunday!  Woo hoo! I have done a few different things this year and can't wait for you guys to see.

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some of my back to school must haves.  Some of the things I just can't be without during the school year.  Maybe some of you share the same ideas with me.  Let's see!

My tumbler!

My absolute favorite must have!!!

This is my wedding one!  I can't wait to bring it to school.  Last year I started to bring a tumbler in with cold water and lemon/lime slices.  Seriously, it was delicious. I don't usually enjoy water, but this kind is just so tasty.  I would bring in another water bottle to refill and by the end of the day I would have drank 2 which I can only imagine being healthy. So I definitely want to continue the same tradition this year. =)

To spare a long post,

 I made a collage of my favorites!

*Aside from regular sized staplers, you definitely need the mini ones!  You can put them anywhere and always have them in handy.  I bought a pink and purple one this year and can't wait to use them.

*Pencils!  Ahh who doesn't need pencils.  

Okay, really, you can never get enough of pencils, especially with the little ones.  They could have 5 pencils on their desk and in a matter of 5 seconds they are crying because they can't seem to find them.  So I always have pencils on hand!

*Colorful pens!  I like to keep grading fun for the little ones.  I think red pens (although I use them at times) can be harsh.  Using colorful pens always make you smile.  So I definitely need those!  Plus they are cute and pretty to look at.

*Sharpies!  Ugh.  I feel like I need all different kinds of sharpies in my life.  Thin, skinny, sharp tip, fat tip, any kind of tips!  Believe it or not, you will definitely need one or the other at some point throughout the year.  So why drive yourself crazy trying to make a think point look cute?  I just buy all different sizes and keep them in my desk for when I need them.  They are life savers!

*Finally, my favorite, chocolate.  I feel like chocolate makes any one feel better.  It's sweet and delicious.  Is it healthy for you?  Some doctors would agree it's great while others say no. LOL  I only listen to the one's that say they are good for ya!  It's good to grab small pieces for a long day.

* I didn't put this up, but I also like to carry a travel size *advil*.  Sometimes I am just not feeling my best and advil does the trick at lifting my spirits to get through the day.  

Whats are your must haves?  I'd love to hear your ideas and see if we have the same things on our list!

Stay tuned on Sunday for my class pictures!

Feed the Brain with a Healthy Snack - Freebie!

Do you have snack time for your little ones?  I do!  We have lunch (more like breakfast) from 11-11:40am so it's kind of early.  By the time 1pm rolls around ALL of our tummies are rumbling!  So I like to have snack from 1:15-1:30pm.  That gives my little ones time to stretch relax and munch on their snacks!  Although sometimes there are those cute kiddies that forgot their snack at home or mom forgot to pack it.  It happens!  
Everyone is so busy in the morning getting ready.. who can blame them? 

Sometimes I bring in chips or pretzels for kids but that can get expensive!! I'll buy one bag of chips for $3 and it will only feed like 3 or 4 little ones.
Aside from expensive I have to get out plates and napkins and pass it out.  I don't mind that at all, however I need snack myself to re-energize.  By the time I am done passing things out snack time is over and so is mine!  

Well I thought if I got myself organized, I could have snack planned and prepped weekly.  

This is what you need to get this all set and done and not have to worry about it!

I got all of this at Walmart

*bin $1

*zip-locs $ 2 (200 baggies)

*cereal (oversized bag) $4

Now it was $7.  If you don't want to spend that much, you can write a letter to you class parents asking if they can kindly donate a large snack bag or zip-loc bags.  I usually send out a letter to parents for zip-locs at the beginning of the year to store manipulatives, dice and anything small that can get lost quickly.  I always have tons left over so that would be a perfect money saver right there.

What I do next is take a measurement cup (1 cup) and start scooping out the cereal and into the baggies.      Make sure to suck the air out of the baggies before locking them to ensure freshness and to help it last longer.  If you don't do that the cereal will get stale really quick. =*(  

I fit about 20 baggies into each bin.  So I had 40 bags in all. Now I figured if the bag was $4 and I made 40 bags, that's a bag per student...so that .10 cents each bag?  Did I do that correctly?  LoL If I am right, then 10 cents is great.  I feel happy about that when I break it down.

Moving On.  =)

I got these freebie editable labels from First Grade Teacher Lady.  I made up this cute little poem and attached it to the bins.

It's cute right?  

If you think you would want to do something like this, you can grab these tags here for free!

This is how the bins turned out in the end.   =)

Isn't it adorable?  I love it and can't wait to bring it to school.

What do you for the little ones if they don't have snack? 

I'd love to hear your ideas!!

****************************

I originally had this post to go live on Thursday.  I was on vacation this week to the wonderful Bermuda!  Such an amazing trip!  I leave you with some pictures of the amazing island. =)