Currently...and a {Sale}!

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      It really is December 1st!  This year has seriously sprouted wings and flown by!  My grandmother always told me that the older you get, the faster time will seem to pass!  She was certainly right!  My goodness, these next 3 weeks before we get out for Christmas break is going to be a blur!  It seems that we have something every single night until Christmas!  Even our school Christmas party is tomorrow night!  Talk about starting the season off early, but we wanted as many to be able to attend and if we waited...well, you know...

      December 1st also means it's time to link up with the fabulous Farley for Currently!  So here goes...

Nothing says Christmas like a bunch of zombies!  Ha!  I really do like Christmas movies, but I am a little obsessed with The Walking Dead!  A LOT of this season has been shot in and around my hometown so it's really cool to see all the local places!  If you follow me on Instagram, I have posted some pics of the different locales.  

I love Christmas!  I am so glad it's here!

You know that teacher bag we probably all took home with great intentions?  Mine is still sitting in almost the same spot it was when I first brought it home!  Yours too?  Yeah...good intentions...  I really wanted to get some things done, but alas, they did not get done so now I am cramming to get it done (and I'm blogging too --that helps get it done faster, right?)

Christmas shopping needs to get done quickly!  Our first exchange gifts get-together is with my mother this coming weekend!  She and her husband spend the winter in Florida and want to get an earlier start this year so we're doing Christmas this weekend!  I at least have to get them done!!

I absolutely need nothing!  I have plenty of wants!  Just ask my husband! But honestly, I don't need a single iota!  I really want to concentrate on being content in all things!

My favorite tradition is decorating for Christmas!  I hate getting all the boxes out, but once I get everything going, I love it!  Each little ornament and decoration has such meaning!  Memory lane and Christmas all rolled into one!  Ha!

Well, Thanksgiving and Black Friday have come and gone.  Now, it is time for Cyber Monday and to wipe your wish list out!  Click on the pic to take you to my store!  Everything is 20% off and if you use the code CYBER, TpT is giving an extra percentage off!

I have added a few new things this week:

Scan and Listen Christmas Listening Center

Scan and Listen Winter Listening Center

Holiday Magic-A Christmas mini-unit

Happy shopping and I hope you have a great first day back after the break!

Till next time...

Getting Ready for Christmas!

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Wow, it's been a hot minute since I've blogged!  You know, it seems like we just got started with school and now we're getting ready for Christmas!  It just does not seem possible!

I've been thinking a lot lately about my listening center!  I feel like it is so important for my kiddos to listen to good quality literature, but I must face it...my listening center stinks.  I mean, like

PPPPEEEEE-YYYYEEEWWWW!  It really stinks!  

I have a ton of books on tape (yeah, I know - I'm old), but the tape players never seem to be working correctly and you spend your time trying to fix them instead of being in your small group, which means I don't use my listening center.  I tried to convert them using audacity.com, and some of them turned out great while others - not so much...  So you see, I needed an intervention!

Enter QR codes!  My kiddos LOVE to watch YouTube videos of books they love so I thought QR codes may be the answer!  I didn't want them unsupervised in YouTube so I downloaded them in SafeShare first!  Love, love, love!!!  You just print out the single page in the pack that has the QR codes, laminate or put in a page protector, and VOILA! ---Your students are all set!

You can't get much simpler than that!  You can provide a copy of each book in the center or not.  Since, the actual video is of the book being read, it is not really necessary.

I hope this helps you and your stinky listening center too!  ;o)  And, for sticking with me through this post, I'll send it FREE for the first 3 folks who comment!  Just leave me your email address!

Till next time...

November Currently...

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It's time to link up with Farley over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade!  That is always such a fun linky!

So here goes...

In my house during the Fall, there is always a football game going on so it's no wonder I'm listening to football.  Well...I should say it is my background noise as I'm writing this and then I'll find something else to listen to!  

I am loving the cooler weather!  Summer is Georgia can sometimes be brutal so I alway look forward to the beautiful Fall days with all the pretty foliage!  

I would really love to POOF! have it be Thanksgiving Break next week!  I really need to stop wishing my life away!  

I am seriously wanting a fairy to come and clean my house, grade my students' work, write lesson plans, and anything else I need to get done!  Anyone got one of those to share?  If so, send her my way...and soon!!

I am needing my sweet, precious 10th grade son to focus on his grades and not his social life!  Ugh!  Those of you with teenagers can probably relate, but wowzer...his grades have slipped and he's got to get back in the groove!

And now, for a yummy pin...

Buffalo Chicken Dip!!  Yum!!!  I could eat this stuff all the time!

          

Here's the link for this awesome dip!!  It's from A Bitchin' Kitchen!  Yummo!!!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Now, head over and check out the fabulous Farley and her fabulous linky!

Happy Day After Halloween Sugar High!

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      So, it's Friday, which means it's time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.  It's been a hot minute since I've linked up with them!

                                
      The week started off with my son being sick...right when I was about to leave for school...So the whirlwind of trying to find a sub and getting my plans to school began!  Thank goodness, it was a short-lived illness and he was back to normal by later that night!

      We had our yearly Literacy Days competition this week.  It is a district/area competition and we got really late notice of it this year, but somehow our amazing staff got our school competition ready in time!  I'm not sure if any of your schools do something similar, but for the K-2 level, they have the categories of poetry recitation, read-aloud of their best writing piece, and a play.  For the 3-5 level, they have the same categories, except the writing is not a previously produced writing piece --they must write their writing at the competition!  Anyway, each homeroom should provide a classroom winner for each category except for the play.  We usually try to do at least one play for each of K-2 and 3-5.  With the late notice this year, we did not do a play.

      The great news is that my two classroom winners won for our grade level and get to move on to the district level competition.  They were awesome!!

Read Aloud Winner and Poetry Recitation Winner!  

         This is our school district's 60th Anniversary and they have some special events planned.  This past Wednesday was an early release day and we had a parade honoring our school district!  Each school was represented in the parade.  At first, I thought, "Seriously??" However, I changed my mind!  It was such a great event and sooooo many people showed up to support our district!  It was really a lot of fun and uplifting to see our community as one.

      Our float was "Past, Present, Future."  We had past principals and staff along with our present students, and had some of our students dress up as a future career.  We have heard a lot of positive comments about our float and participants!

                               

      I love seeing them dressed up for their Book Character Dress-up Day!  They are just so darn cute!  I didn't get any pics of my team, but we were the 3 Little Monkey Jumping on the Bed!  (We only have three 2nd grade classes so we told everyone that the other 2 monkeys were at the nurse's office because they bumped their heads!)    

      Here are a few pics of my class and our parade...

      And, now...Thank the Lord it is FRIDAY!  It has been a fun week, but a L-O-N-G week! I hope yours has been fun too!

Till next time...

What? What? A New Blog Post??

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         October has almost passed right on by and not a peep from this blogger!  It has been crazy busy as I know you already know.  It seems when back to school time and then Fall hits, there is no time for anything, but I am determined to slow down and smell the apple cider!  (I would've said the pumpkin spice, but I can't figure out what that craze is all about - not a fan of pumpkin! GASP!!!)

      Our school celebrated Red Ribbon Week all last week.  Each day, we had a special day and/or event planned.  Monday, was Wear Red Day.   Look at these little cuties all in their red!

      I also found out on late Sunday into Monday that my DonorsChoose project had been funded by Sonic!  Oh happy day!  It was an even better surprise to find out that it would be delivered within days.  Gotta love DonorsChoose and Sonic!!  Plus, our 2nd grade team was chosen for a Partners in Ed field trip grant!  We were soooo excited!!  

      Tuesday was our World Series of Reading day.  Our fabulous media specialist always plans for all day reading contests within our school during the World Series and the SuperBowl.  She splits up the school into two teams and we read all day!  The kids have a blast and the team with the most points wins a treasure tower token!  They think that is great!!  This year, some of my sweet kiddos I had previously got to come and be buddies with some of my students this year!  

                     

          We also had a door decoration contest.  One of my fabulous parents did this door for me and we came in first place!!!  Love!!!

      All week long, students have been purchasing strips of duct tape to tape our principal to the wall and for a teacher to kiss a goat!  Thank goodness, I didn't win the kiss the goat contest!  I was worried for a minute that I was going to have to do that!  At least, it was a baby and not an adult goat!!!

      Here's our principal stuck to the wall!

      To end up our very busy spirit week, we had a masquerade dance.  Our art teacher had them create masks to wear during the dance.  Students paid for a wristband to get into the dance and then they jammed out for an hour and a half!      Look how cute they are in their masks!

      Now, you can see why I've been an absent blogger!  This is just one week and I know your weeks are like this too!  

      Hope you have an awesome week ahead and remember to slow down and enjoy!

Till next time...

Drum Roll Please...And the Winner is...

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Christin from Shifting Teacher K-2!!

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I've sent you an email Christin!! As soon as I receive your response, I will pass it along to the great people at Classroom Friendly Supplies!

Congratulations to you!

And, thank you to everyone who entered!!  Y'all are awesome!!

Till next time...

Freebie Friday and a {{GIVEAWAY!!}}

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Hi everyone!  I hope your Friday the 13th was better than mine!  I'm normally not one to even think about Friday the 13th, but after today...I might have to give it some credit!!  My kiddos were H*L* on wheels today, I almost backed into a bus in our school parking lot, and not one, but TWO cars almost hit me on the way home!!  What?!  I got home and haven't left!!

Anyway, I've got some kiddos that do not know their sight words so for that small group of kids, I am printing out this little FREEBIE for them and highlighting the words that they know.  As I periodically check them, I will just continue to highlight the words.  The students keep them in their book bags so that their parents can work with them each night.  I'm linking up with Teaching Blog Addict for Freebie Friday!




                            

This folder contains the Dolch sight word list plus the Dolch nouns and some additional sight words.  Click on any picture to take you to my TpT store for this FREEBIE!!

And don't forget to enter for this awesome birthday giveaway for a Classroom Friendly Supplies precious pink pencil sharpener!!

  
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Good luck!!

Birthday {{GIVEAWAY}} and Monday Made-It!

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Happy Monday y'all!! 

      I'm stopping by quickly tonight to link up with Tara over at Fourth Grade Frolics.  The two things I want to show you tonight is how I'm going to manage WHO is in my small, flexible groups.  Now, the pics only show 4 students, but that's all the clothes pins I had at home.  It's be a dream to have only 4 students though!!  ;) But, when a student needs to move to a different group, all you need to do is move their clip!  How simple is that?!  Instead of putting student names on the clips, I am putting their Magic Number, which is just their classroom number that I use to help me stay organized!  That way, I won't have to remake them year after year!  Yay!!

      

       I have them for both reading and math groups.  Each set has up to five groups.  Click the pics to take you to my TpT store.                                      

                                                     

                               

                               

      Now, for the exciting part!  My birthday is September 11----this Wednesday!!  And, in honor of my birthday, I am having a little giveaway!  Nothing too extravagant, but one that is a sure crowd pleaser!!  

      The awesome Troy over at Classroom Friendly Supplies contacted me a couple of weeks ago and asked if I'd be willing to do another pencil sharpener giveaway for their BRAND NEW precious pink sharpener!  Of course, I said, "YES!!!!"  

      So...since it's my birthday week, the time has come to post about this awesome little giveaway!  Enter and tell your friends to enter!  This is an amazing sharpener!!  You can read my original review HERE!

Just look at those points!! 

My favorite pencil sharpener...now in my favorite color!!

                                               

                                      

       

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Good luck!!

Till next time...

Labor Day Currently

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Happy Labor Day y'all! I hope you have had a fabulous day of rest and relaxation! We have had a very lazy day...and it's been wonderful!!

I'm linking up with the fabulous Farley for her monthly Currently linky so here goes...

      It is football season at our house!  And, it will be on from now till there are no more games... My hubby played football for Clemson, and he has watched the Clemson/Georgia game twice now...

      I'm loving having this extra day.  Why can't we have Mondays off all the time.  It's make things simple, don't ya think?

      I'm thinking I really need to get my lesson plans done.  In fact, I just finished and now printing!  Yay me!!

      I'm wanting my laundry to magically get done.  I don't think it's going to happen, but a girl can wish right?

      I'm needing a pedicure.  Not much to say about that.  : /

     And, to show myself some love, I want to try to take more time for myself.  Sometimes as moms and wives, we forget about ourselves.  Instead of a shower, maybe a bubble bath instead?  Sounds good!!  I also want to try to leave more stuff at school.  We as teachers work too much!!  And lastly, I want to reconnect with my friends, not just on the weekend, but during the week as well.

      Well, that's it for now.  I hope you all have a great week.  

Till next time...

Five for Fraturday

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      I'm a day late linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching because I fell asleep...and slept for 12 HOURS - make that a little over 12 hours!!! Can you say T-I-R-E-D?!?!

                                         

      We had a great third week of school. Lots of stuff going on!

We practiced Read to Someone and they did an amazing job!! I was so proud to see them reading to each other in the correct way! It does a teacher's heart good to see!

                               

                               

      We also got to celebrate our first birthday of the year with this little cutie!!  To read more about how I use the Birthday Box, you can go HERE. 

                              

                              

       We also had an all day training on Scholastic's new program called iRead. It really looks amazing and I cannot wait to get started!! It is computer based, but also has a whole group and small group component.  It will look at what your kids have done on the computer and group them for you in order for you to do small group instruction with them.  That little item is called The Groupinator.  I cannot wait to use that bit of awesomeness!!  There are some technical issuers that have to be worked out before we begin so we are supposed to get started at the end of September.  Can't wait!!

                                     

      While I was out my poor kiddos ended up with the sub from CrazyTown!!  Apparently, he threatened to hit them with a stick, a paddle, or a belt?!?!  What?!?!  Is he crazy?  He also left them alone to go up to the office.  Now, my kiddos were no angels while I was away, but seriously ---- What was he thinking?!?!

      On Friday, we had an almost all-day celebration of PBIS.  The morning was filled with rotations to different areas of the building where someone was there to discuss the expectations for that area.  For instance, we went to the cafeteria to discuss cafeteria expectations, then rotated to the hallway to talk about hallway expectations, etc., etc.  At the end of the day, we had a pep rally with the local high school cheerleaders coming to pump them up!  We also had a cup stacking demonstration from most of the grade levels.  

      

                                        

This is one of my kiddos competing.

      And to end the day, we did a little Adventure to Fitness.  If you haven't tried this website, you can read about it HERE.    The kids love it.  It is great for indoor recess or if you have some time at the end of a crazy day! 

                             

      I hope you enjoy your Labor Day with rest and relaxation.

Till next time...