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Monday, September 10, 2012

Monday Made It



          Ok...so I know it's not totally Monday Made-It since Fourth Grade Frolics is only hosting it monthly now, buuuutttt I couldn't wait that long!  I wanted to show you how cute my Where Am I?  board turned out!!  I'm sure you have seen all the cute ones over on Pinterest.  Well... here is my version!!

       
          I used a small magnetic white board that I got from Target, hot glued ribbon around it and then segmented it off with more ribbon.  I then just created the different choices that students have, printed, laminated, and attached!  Wow!  It was that simple!! :)



 I left one space empty, but I have some students that recieve extra services, so I may add the option of 'other' to that last spot.  I just hung it today after school.  I've also got to add my new #26 up there too.  I lost it between home and school.  I will go over our new little classroom management station with the kiddos tomorrow.  Hopefully, it will go swimmingly!!

So what do you think? 





Till next time...
Monday, September 3, 2012

September Currently

          Hi everyone!  I hope everyone has had a great Labor Day and is ready to start off a great week. 

To start off my week, I am linking up with Farley for her September Currently.  This is my first time doing a currently so hopefully, it's going to be right!!

So here goes...






















I tried to make it larger, but it was blurry.  Any help out there???

Till next time...
Sunday, September 2, 2012

The Birthday Box

          Hi everyone!  I hope all of you are having a fabulous Labor Day weekend!  Any weekend is great, but a 3-day weekend is even better, right?!

          What I wanted to show you tonight is how I help make my little sweetie's birthdays special while at school.  They get to blow out birthday candles!  I have this cute little box that I think I got at DollarTree and covered the top with matching cardstock.  I then use those little candle holders to punch holes down into the box.  This little box has lasted MANY years, I just replace the cardstock as needed.  The first time I bring out the birthday box, there are "ooohs" and "aahhhs" from everyone!  I take their picture with the birthday box, we sing, and they get to make a wish, and blow out the candles. 

Smiling picture before the candles are blown out.

Make a wish and blow out the candles!

          The vast majority of my students come from homes where they have had the traditional birthday parties and blowing out the candles is nothing new, but there are those few that every now and again, I've wondered if they have had had this experience.  You sometimes never know what they go home to or have to live with and just this small part of childhood that many of us take for granted is something I want for each of my students...to make a wish and have the hopes of it coming true. 

          Now, I'm not saying that those sweeties that get to blow out candles every year at home are not excited because they are!  This is one of the most anticipated things that happens on their birthday!  If we don't do it right away when their birthday arrives, I have to listen to "When are we doing the birthday box?" and "Are we going to do the birthday box?"  Of course, I can't keep them waiting for too long!!
          
          I can in no way take credit for this sweet idea!  When my youngest son (who is now in 9th grade!) was in first grade, his super sweet teacher did this and I have had this tradition in my classroom every year since.  My sweeties love it and I do too!!

          Do you have any traditions in you class that you do each year with your class?  I'd love to here about them!

Till next time...

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Common Core and a FREEBIE!

          Dropping in quickly tonight to offer you a FREEBIE that deals with the Common Core standards.  I've been a little under the weather this weekend so I'm getting my school week stuff done and then, I'm off to lie back down!
          Like many of you, our state is implementing the Common Core Standards.  I'm really excited about this new set of standards, but it is a bit overwhelming!  Our 2nd grade is looking at what we have and what we need to implement these standards with fidelity.  There are many things that we have that we are able to use, but there are MANY things that we are having to either create or find from our great fellow teachers on the web. 
          As we move along in our units, the things I create I plan to post here for you!  Up for grabs tonight is a graphic organizer for the RL.1 standard and the RIT.1 standard.  These standards deal with the 5 W's (who, what, where, when, why) and an H (how). 
        


           Hope you like it!
         
          Till next time...
Saturday, August 18, 2012

A Hot Mess


      The first week is in the books and believe me, I have been a HOT MESS!  I thought I was only going to have 25 new sweeties, but in walked number 26 on Monday morning!  That is a little scary, having sooo many, but we'll make it through!  They are all so sweet!

I'm checking in very quickly today to tell you about an awesome giveaway that Sara over at Smiling in Second Grade is having.  It is for a personal laminator!  Wow!  That would be amazing to have at home for all those quick jobs!!  Hop over to her blog to enter!!  Good luck!

We're off to Stone Mountain to enjoy the afternoon!

Till next time...
Sunday, August 12, 2012

Bittersweet Tomorrow and a Freebie

So tomorrow is the first day of school and I am super nervous/jittery!  Our pre-planning week went by without a hitch, but WOWZA was I ever exhausted!

I think I have my room ready to meet my 25 new little sweeties!  They all seemed sweet and excited about the new year when I met them for Open House.  I'm just have a few bittersweet feelings though.  It's going to be so strange when I walk into my class and I don't have the same class I've had for two years!  We started out in 1st together and we all moved up to 2nd together!  We had become such a little family and we could definitely have used some therapy on that last day of school!  Even my boys were boo-hooing!!

Anyway, I think I am ready!  Well, ready or not, here they come, right?!?!

I'm offering up a little freebie today too.  I always post a little welcome poem on the board outside my classroom door.  I've, of course, created it with an owl theme this year.  I've also included grades pre-k through 5th. 

Hope you like them!




 Till next time...
Wish me luck!!!! 
Sunday, August 5, 2012

All good things must come to an end...


           So, I've been away for a few days because I went to the University of Georgia for graduation!  Two of my coworkers and I graduated on Saturday after two long years of grad school!  So excited!  One of my fellow graduates (and coworker's) daughter gave us a graduation party in Athens so we went for an extended weekend celebration!  So I officially have a title behind my name...Not so sure that I'll use it, but it's nice to know I have it!  :)

Here we are after we have walked through the arch leading onto campus.  (Legend has it that if you walk through the arches before graduating, you will never graduate!)


    
          Anyway, today was the day when all good things must come to an end...the first day of pre-planning.  I did not even get to see my classroom though!  We were in meetings ALL day long!  Does your school do that too??  I completely understand why we have to meet, but jeesh... they have no idea how long my to do list is!!!!

       This week, I am linking up Tara over at Fourth Grade Frolics.  
          I posted about my owl transportation ribbon organizer and my owl lunch choices ribbon organizer, but I hadn't made one yet.  I've since made them and taken them to my classroom.  I haven't quite decided where I'm going to hang them yet, but they turned out soooo cute!  I can't wait for my little sweeties to use them!!

Made-It # 1:




This is my owl transportation ribbon organizer.  I plan to use clothespins with sweetie names on them.  I couldn't for the life of me find any clothes pins that day to demonstrate so just pretend you see clothespins.  For the bus riders, I also plan to put the bus number on the pin.  Super cute! 













Made-It # 2:





This is my owl lunch choices ribbon organizer.  I plan to use it to check their lunch choice and attendance at the same time.  This will be used with clothespins as well.  The clips will start off each day in a small basket and as they come in, they will read the menu choices and choose what they want.  I'll have a student helper put the clips down each day.

I love how I left the little tassels at the bottom of this one.  It turned out really cute!








Made-It # 3:
I bought these little lunch containers a couple of weeks back when I saw a pin on Pinterest showing this.  I knew that I couldn't wait to make these containers for my groups!  I plan to put them in my small group area for use during guided math.






Hope you like all these creations!

Till next time...
Thursday, August 2, 2012

Versatile Blogger Awards!!!


         Wow! I am so honored! Four Versatile Blogger Awards!!   I was nominated by these great bloggers!

Bee at Bee Teaches
Carrie at The Common Core Classroom
Rachel at Teaching with Z
Julie at Owl See You in Third Grade

You must check out their blogs!



Now...for the rules...
  • Thank who nominated you.  (DONE)
  • Include a link back to who nominated you.  (DONE)
  • Include the image of the award in your post.  (DONE)
  • Give 7 random facts about yourself.  (DONE)
  • Pass the award on to other versatile bloggers.  (DONE)
  • Let the bloggers know you have nominated them.  (DONE)
So...for 7 random facts...Here goes...
  1. I have been with my husband since I was 15.  We were high school sweethearts!  I have loved him from the moment I met him!  He is my soul-mate! 
      2.  I was born in South Dakota, but believe me, I am a hot southern mess!  I have a horrible southern
           accent, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!
      3.  I am a HUGE reality TV fan.  I am ashamed to admit that, but it's true!  I must come clean.  I'm not   
           into the housewives or Kardashians, but I love Survivor, Amazing Race, Pawn Stars, and Hard Core
           Pawn.  I know...it's sad, sad, sad!
      4.  I love scrapbooking!  I am looking forward to being able to pick it back up after the last two years
          of grad school!  I even taught a class at my church and worked in a scrapbooking store on the
          weekends!
      5.  I am a techno-geek!  I love anything and everything to do with technology.  I may not know how to
          do something technology-wise, but I try to learn and am willing to learn!
      6.  I am in love with the Yorkie breed of dog.  We have had 2 Yorkies in our 22 years marriage.  Our first
          one came along before we even had kids!
      7.  And the last random fact will make you go EEERK!  What?!?!   I have died before!  When I was a
          toddler in South Dakota, I was very sick.  I had asthma, but they couldn't figure that out at the time.
         They thought I had cystic fibrosis.  Anyway, obviously I am still here since you are reading this!

Now for the nominations.  Drum roll please...

I know, I know...that's not enough, but these are really some great blogs and you should check them out to see why I nominated them!  Plus, I really need some sleep.  I'm getting a new kitchen floor bright and early in the morning...

Till next time...
Saturday, July 28, 2012

Double Posting in One Day...Oh My!!




          I saw this awesome blog hop about the book First Day Jitters and knew I had to link up!!  Ashley over at Fierce in Fourth is hosting!

          I get jittery every year even after teaching for so many years, but the top three reasons I am nervous this year are:
  1. Our school is getting a new principal...AND a new assistant principal!!  Our principal got promoted to a new position at central office and they did fruit basket turnovers with all the A.P.'s for some reason!  
  2. We will begin implementing the new common core this year.  I am excited, but nervous/jittery!
  3. I will have a new group of second graders this year.  I have had the same students for the past two years.  I looped up to second with them from first.  We had become such a close-knit group that we all were sobbing on the last day of school.  We definitely needed therapy that day!!
Till next time!

Pattern for Lettering Displays

          So...I've told you that my school is doing a Keys4Success theme, but that I'm mainly using owls and integrating them into the Keys theme.  Well, this little display is what I'm using outside my classroom in my main colors.  I'll add some owls in the mix later...

          But...what I've got for you tonight is the pattern for this display.  It can be used for ANY of your titled displays.  I plan to make a few more to use in my class to label different sections of my classroom - MATH, READING, etc...
          Another great thing about this post is that I went to DollarTree and low and behold...they had a great supply of scrapbook paper in their teacher section!  In my colors, no less!!!!
They had polka dots, squares, chevrons, little swirlies, diagonal stripes on one side and solid on the other.  Totally cute!  And, there are 10 sheets in a pack!  So you can make cute little displays to your heart's content!!  ;o) 

Click on the picture to grab your copy of the patterns!

I'm off to enjoy the rest of my day with my honey!  It's our 22nd wedding anniversary!  :)

Till next time...
Thursday, July 26, 2012

Three awards in two days = Excitement!!!

      I am so thankful and humbled to have been awarded the One Lovely Blog Award not once, but twice in the past two days. I am SO excited.
Once from Cheryl over at Spotted Around the School and the second from Donna over at Working 5 to 9 Math.  Definitely check them out! 

The rules of accepting the award is as follows:
  • Follow the blogger who gave you the award.  (DONE & DONE!)
  • Link back to the person who gave you the award.  (DONE & DONE!)
  • Pass this award to 15 new bloggers.  (DONE) 
And, here they are...
  1. Hope at Teaching with Hope.
  2. Heather at Can't Make This Stuff Up...Adventures in Teaching.
  3. Brittany at Closing the Gap...in a Cute Outfit.
  4. Ashley at That's So Second Grade.
  5. Melissa at Teacher Treasure Hunter.
  6. Rebecca at First Grade Fascination.
  7. Meagan at Buzz Around in 2nd Grade.
  8. Jaime at Bright Concepts 4 Teachers.
  9. Mandy at Teaching is Bliss.
  10. Cassandra at Adventures in Room 5.
  11. Chasity at Second Grade is the Bees Knees.
  12. Erin at Sample's Superstars.
  13. Gwen at Learning with Mrs. Brinn.
  14. Lori at Live, Laugh, Love Second.
  15. Carol at Still Teaching After All These Years.
Whew!  That is hard - picking from all of the great blogs out there!
______________________________________________________________

I also received this award from Kelly over at First Grade Fairytales:

 
I am so excited about this!!  Thanks again!

The rules for this award are:
  • Link back to the person who gave you the award.  (DONE)
  • Post the award to your blog.  (DONE)
  • Give this award to at least 5 bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  (DONE)
  • Post to their blog letting them know they have been offered this award.  (DONE)
  1. Traci at The Bender Bunch.
  2. Sarah at Co-Kindering.
  3. Liz at Polka-Dot Firsties
  4. Liz at Leaping Into First Grade.
  5. Rebby at Classroom Compulsion
Enjoy your AWARDS!  Visit these great blogs!!


Till next time...
Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Newbie Blogger Blog Hop




Ok...my first blog hop...I'm not quite sure if I'm doing it right, but here goes.


Since I am a brand-new blogger, I thought this would be a perfect first blog hop!  I'm linking up with Kelly from First Grade Fairytales.  She's my latest follower and left such kind words!  Thanks Kelly!

For this blog hop, this is what is being shared:
1.  what state you are in
2.  your current teaching position
3.  your teaching experience
4.  when you started blogging
So, here goes...
I live in Georgia and I currently teach second grade.  I began my teaching career in 2nd and stayed in 2nd for 11 years.  I then taught 1st for 10 years and finally got to move back to 2nd this past year after looping up with my first graders.  I hope to finish my career in 2nd!  I absolutely LOVE it!!  I am truly a newbie blogger!  I began blogging just this month (July '12) after finishing my masters degree in mathematics education.  

Till next time...


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Getting my Classroom Ready...Owl Lunch Choices

       I've been really busy trying to get my classroom ready!  Which means I've been trying to get more owl stuff integrated!

Of course, I've STILL got to finish unpacking and organizing my classroom since I moved  rooms!  The decorating has not happened that much yet - just little bits and pieces.  When I get home, I think of all the cute things I can add to make it cute and homey.  We spend so much time in our classrooms, we should make it cute and homey!  Right?!?!

Today, I made a ribbon orgainizer for my lunch choices.  It coordinates with my transportaion ribbon roganizer!  Simply print, laminate, attach ribbon on the back, and use clothes pins for students to choose their lunches.  I’ve included three different colors so that you can use all the same color, or mix and match the colors.  Your choice!  Hope you like it!!



















Don't forget to follow my blog and TpT store!

Till next time...

How I Use Student Binders

       I received a sweet comment from a reader about how I use organizational binders with my students.  It's probably a good idea to share that info with you! ;)

       Each student has a 1 1/2 inch clear view binder.  That way we can put those CUTE binder covers in there.  Inside, they have an agenda (our system provides these), and two pocket folders (the plastic kind).  The agenda is where students write down their homework and I place their behavior information for the day.  The first pocket folder is behind the agenda.  That is their "homework" folder.  This is not a folder with prongs - just the pockets.  I put stickers on each of the pockets: Keep at Home and Bring back!  I like to use the plastic because they hold up so much better, but if they don't have the three ring holes already punched - Watch Out!  It is a PAIN to punch them! 

The left pocket is for things to be "keep at home."  These things might be announcements, daily work, etc.  You know, those jillion things that are sent home that you don't need a reply for.  One of the rules on the binder cover is that they are supposed to clean out their Keep at Home section each night.  They usually do a good job of this.  Occasionally, you have to remind them!  The right pocket is for things that they need to return to you...homework, permission forms, lunch money in an envelope, etc.  Pretty easy so far, right??

The second pocket folder can be used for anything that you want, whether it be sight words, homework sheets, whatever you feel is best for your class.  I have used it mainly for sight words since the homework is taken care of in our students' agendas.  Last year, I didn't even use the second folder because I looped up to 2nd with my students and my students had already mastered all the sight words that our district requires.

Also, if I need to I will put page protectors in their binders if there is something I want them to keep in there.  That could be maybe a poem we are working on, a readers theater script, etc...anything!  The first year, I use plastic pencil pouches in the binders, but I found them cumbersome.  They just put 

I could say this is the only way to do binders, but that is sooo not true, but it is what works for my students and me.  When it's time to pack up, I just tell them which pocket to put their item in.  It keeps them organized, their parents are able to find what they need, and I love that they are not searching in the bottom of their bookbags for that homework or lunch money! 

I hate that I don't have pictures, but if you have any questions - just ask!

Till next time...
Saturday, July 21, 2012

Organizational Binder Covers

Who all uses organizational binders in their classroom?  I love them!  My parents love them!  Not so sure if my students love them, but they sure do help them stay a bit more organized!

Can I get an "AMEN"??? 

Every year, I have had fellow teachers ask me about my binder covers.  I like to include my rules for their binder right on the cover so that I can have them refer back to them if needed.   Most of the time, my sweeties have taken very good care of them and haven't had any problems.  I found the rules that I use several years ago and I don't know where they came from.  If you know, please let me know so that I can give credit where credit is due!!

Today, I'm including two binder covers that I have used in the past.

Hope you like them!

Follow my blog for more cute and useful stuff to come! 
 



What do you think?

Till next time...
Thursday, July 19, 2012

Another FREEBIE!

A quick post today offering up a FREEBIE!

Up for grabs today is some Parent Homework.  Your students will love that you are giving their parents homework and your parents will love that you want to know more about their child!  It's quick, simple, and painless!!  This is great for your meet the teacher night.  Just give it to your parents and have them return it on the first day of school!

Just click on the graphic.


What do you think?? Please leave a comment letting me know.
Till next time!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012

OWL - CRAZY!!!

Ok...I've gone a little bit owl-crazy.

I'm not really sure how it happened, but it's definitely happened!  They are just so darn cute!  I've also gone a little ribbon crazy!  I have lots of plans for these little spools of black, pink, and blue! 

One of the projects I have been wanting to do is create a cute transportation organizer.  I was inspired by this:





This is from the blog:
http://owlsandpolkadots.blogspot.com/

So cute!



I wanted it to be easy to use for me as well as my students and most especially any substitutes that I may have.  I plan to print out the following  transportation organizer, laminate them for durability and hot glue ribbon on the back so that it can hang.  A long tail of ribbon will hang from the bottom so that I can clip clothes pins on it.  The clothes pins will have student names on them and if it's a bus rider or van rider, also the bus number or van name. 

I created mine in three different colors because I'm not sure if I'm going to use the same color for each of the cards or if I'm going to mix it up.  In my TpT store, you can see the three different colors I have created.  I am using primarily pinks, blues, greens, and black in my classroom this year so that is what I used in this  
product.
Just click on the graphic to take you to TpT. 


 (I learned how to do clickable links!  Whoo-hoo!!!)

What do you think about the product??

If you decide to download, please come back and leave a comment! Or tell me what you think of the blog so far...
Thanks!


Stop by soon...more cute stuff to come!!


Till next time!











Tuesday, July 17, 2012

School Themes and a FREEBIE!

Does your school do a new theme each year?

Mine does.   You name it, we have probably done it!  Which means I have a lot of themed stuff.  I used to go all out, but as time has gone on, I have kind of scaled it back...This is good because this year, our theme is "Keys4Success."  (The 4 keys are  Respect, Responsibility, Safety, Persistence).  This is the hardest one we have ever had!  So...

For this year, I have decided to do an owl theme in my class this year.  I am soooo excited!!  I always try to match our school theme to my student binder covers, but my plan from now on is to use the owls and incorporate them into whatever theme our school adopts for the year. I've made a new OWL Book binder cover to share with you!    Hope you like it!







Click HERE to go to my TpT store. 



















Till next time...


P.S. If you decide to download, please leave a comment telling me what you think.  Thanks!
Monday, July 16, 2012

On a personal note...

          I spent the weekend at the youngest Harris son's baseball tournament!  He's 13.  His team came in 2nd after 3 games of baseball (SIX hours!!!) on Sunday in the horrible heat! I am so proud of these boys.  They have really worked hard and the team that beat them for the championship displayed less than admirable sportsmanship.  Despite this, they held their ground and we (the parents) were so proud!  It really is nice to see the fine young men that they are becoming!  They even won rings for this tournament!  This was a first!
 
Pretty nice, huh!?

          I also wanted to tell you a little about myself.  You'd think I would have done that in my first post...Oh, well!!
          I am a veteran teacher.  I've been teaching for 22 years.  Wow!  In some ways, it feels like I just got started, but in others, it feels like forever.  I'm glad I still feel excited about teaching!  I love getting ready for the new year!  I taught 2nd grade for 10 years in another county.  I came home to teach in my home county and have been at this same school now for 12 years.  This first year at my current school, I taught 2nd which was awesome!  Then, my principal asked me to move to either 1st or 3rd.  I chose 1st.  I spent 10 years in 1st!  Then, this amazing class came along and I asked to loop up to 2nd with them.  This was last year.  This little group of sweeties was amazing!  All year long, I dreaded the last day!  And for good reason too!  We all needed a bit of therapy when the last bell rang!  It was heart-wrenching!  One of my little girls even cried herself to sleep I was told!!
          My awesome family includes my husband (my high school sweetheart), two boys (ages 13 and 19), and one sweet little Yorkie, Tiger.  My oldest son is in college, while my youngest will begin high school this upcoming year!  Where, of where has the time gone?!?!  We are constantly on the go and we love it!
   
Till next time...
 
Friday, July 13, 2012

My Classroom in progress and Shopping!!

My boys and I were supposed to go to a water park today, but the rain got in the way so what do we do but go to school and work.  They were not thrilled, but the promise of going twice next week brought them around.

I've included some pics of my classroom in progress, and believe me, it is definitely a work in progress.  I had to move classrooms this year.  I really didn't HAVE to move...just call me a glutton for punishment.  Really, it was just that I'd be closer to my team and I gained five additional feet in the length of my room.  That makes a HUGE difference as you all know!

This is toward the back of the room from the front door.
This is toward the front of the room a few feet from the front door.

This is toward the far side and the back of the room.  My students and I love our cozy reading center!



 As you can see, I have my work cut out for me!  Our system is on a 4 day work week during the summer so I won't make it to school tomorrow!

While my sweet hubby took my youngest son to baseball practice, my oldest son and I went shopping.  He is 19 and not too thrilled to be classroom shopping with mom, but he went.  He's really a sweetie! This my haul!


 I want to make the tubs in my math manipulatives area all uniform so off to DollarTree we went!  On the way, I decided to check out Dollar General.  I am so glad I did!  They had some really cute stuff!
From Dollar General:
The blue and pink tubs in the back, I plan to use with my Brain Bubbles.  I'll use these for enrichment and for students who finish early.  The pink will go with ELA and the blue will go with math.  These two colors match what I have going on in reading and math already.  The pink wire baskets will be used to hold papers for our writing.  I also got some tacky stuff to put my stuff on the wall and some spray adhesive.  I'm just not too excited about those so they didn't make it in the pics! 
From DollarTree:
I got the blue-topped shoe boxes to store my math manipulatives.  I also got those three sectioned storage trays with tops to store my base ten blocks for my groups.  This has been all over Pinterest.  I plan to put my base ten blocks in there and my groups can pull them out as needed.

Wow!  This is my longest post so far!  I hope you stuck it out with me!

Till next time...








Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Chick-fil-a and My Classroom

Today I got to  read with the Chick-fil-a cow.  It's funny...I can be silly all day long with little kiddos, but I was really nervous in front of all the mommies and grandmommies!  It was fun though!  There were a lot of itty bitties there, which was different than my normal crowd of second graders.  The first story I read  was Harry the Dirty Dog, then we did the chicken dance and they got to dance through the little red door with Cow.  Trust me, if you have never been to a Chick-fil-a Dwarf House, going through the little red door is a big deal!  The next story is always a favorite with kiddos and adults alike - If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

I didn't get any pics of the actual storytime with my camera, but the marketing director did so I'll be sure to post those when she sends them to me.  I did, however, get to spend some time with one of my sweeties that I've had for the past two years.  (I looped up with her class.)  Can you say PRECIOUS?  That's what these two girls are!

My sweetie from last year and her little sis



I worked really hard in my classroom today.  It's so hard moving and unpacking.  You realize what you really use and what you don't!  I've got to seriously start the de-hoarding process!  But then again...I might need it! 

Till next time!
Monday, July 9, 2012

Great Ideas Gone Awry...and a FREEBIE

Most of you have seen a ton of great ideas on Pinterest, me included.  I had some great idea of painting one of my bookshelves and modge-podging some cute scrapbook paper on the inside.  Well...I really wanted to post some cute pics for you, but it did not turn out picture worthy.  In fact, I took all the paper off because it looked SOOO horrendous!

Tomorrow, I plan to get into my classroom to start the decorating process. That is, right after I have storytime with the Chick-fil-a cow at our local Chick-fil-a.  That should be an experience!!  I'll take get someone to take some pictures of that for me!  I'll also get some pics of my classroom to show the progression.

Now, for the freebie!  I've been working for a little bit today getting my back to school forms ready for the new year!  I jazzed them up just a little for this year.  I hope you like them!



Here's the link to download from my teacherspayteachers site:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bombdiggity-Back-to-School-Forms

I haven't learned how to embed the link into the pic, but that'll come!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, July 8, 2012

First things first...

This is the first post to my first blog ever...

I'm a little nervous about starting this blog, but I hope it will be a place that you can come to find great information.  I have been teaching for 20+ years and will be graduating from the University of Georgia in August with my Masters of Education in Mathematics Education.  I've always thought of myself as a reading person.  I'm sure some of you can relate, right?

But, two years ago, I started this journey in gaining this masters degree in math ed because 1. I wanted the pay increase, and 2. my system was paying for the endorsement part of the degree so why not go ahead and get it started since they were paying for almost half...Anyway, here it is two years later, I am completely DONE!!!  And boy does it feel good!

Along the way though, I learned to LOVE math so I'll {(HoPeFuLlY)} be giving some reading/language arts information, but also some great math information too.

Hope you'll stick around!!
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