Saturday, May 25, 2013

May Highlights/Shout Out linky and Memorial Day Weekend Sale

I just want to say, I am so sorry I have not been around in a while. I try to post at least 1 time a week, but who knew May could be so busy!  Honestly, my kids have been keeping me as busy at home as I am at school. My daughter's Birthday was at the end of April and my son's Birthday is the beginning of June. We decided to take them to Disney last weekend to celebrate their birthdays. Our hotel was amazing!!! who says you don't get perks as a teacher. The Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee Florida has a teacher rate (depending on the dates you go). It is the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in. They have so much for the kids to do, that you don't even need to leave the hotel if you don't want to. 
We ate breakfast with the characters from Shrek.  It was worth it just to see the look on my kids faces! (but it does cost a pretty penny)
IMAG1734.jpg

IMAG1735.jpg 

IMAG1737.jpg 

Of course, 3 hours at the hotel water park was just not enough, so we also took them to Disney.
IMAG1759.jpg
This week my Daughter got her 3rd principals honor roll award (straight A's for third grade)



IMAG1763.jpg
I chaperoned her 3rd grade trip to SeaWorld!  yay Shamu!!! She got soaking wet!
IMAG1770.jpg
We are a Hot Mess in this picture, but we had a great day!!! We got home at 6:30, took showers, ate dinner and I absolutely passed out by 8:30. (I guess I'm not as young as I think I am)
IMAG1789.jpg
Then over last weekend, I sewed on some extra legs for my son's costume for our first grade play "Goin' Buggy". I wish I could post all the costumes, because the kids looked so stinkin' adorable and they performed great!!!
IMAG1792.jpg

                                                                                                                                                       I was really hoping to make some new things for Teachers Pay Teachers and Teacher's Notebook too, but that will just have to wait another 2 weeks for school to be done.  Up Next, I am joining this Shout Out Linky to share 2 great new products and blogs I've been loving lately. Link up with Growing Firsties (click the image to go to her page)

I do want to mention 2 great products I purchased at the last TpT sale. I know everyone probably did this right after the sale, but as you can tell I've been pretty busy.
I wanted to make something like this first item my self, but she did such a great job--there was no need. I purchased "Ready Made for 2nd Grade" from Lyndsey at A Year of Many Firsts. I have just finished putting all the packets together. I gave my students a peak at the coupons and they were like "Do these really work?" How cute!  I told them that if they complete their summer packet and bring it to me at Open House for next school year I will give them a prize.  She absolutely thought of everything!!
I also purchase an "Editable Teacher and Lesson Planner" from April at A Modern Teacher. She really thought of everything in this unit. I printed everything out and made myself 3 separate books, using our binding machine at school. 1 book for lesson plans, 1 book for a calendar planner and 1 for my gradebook.
I can't wait for next school year, so I can use them. They came out beautiful.
With only 2 weeks left I have to break out my End of the year Memory book and my Letter-to-myself activities. I added some new graphics to the memory book so I think it looks much better.






Every year, I have my students write themselves a letter saying what they think they will be when they grow up. I save the letters and mail them to the students when they are ready to graduate. Of course, some come back because kids move. But I love hearing from all my former students and their parents. I can't tell you how many emails I get from Mom's after their High school senior receives a letter from their self.  It is a very rewarding project and I just love doing it!  
Well that will be it for the weekend--I am having a sale, starting tomorrow Sunday May 26th-Tuesday May 28th for Memorial Day at my TpT store. So if you are not too busy eating hot dogs and burgers this weekend, head on over and do some shopping.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Teacher Appreciation Sale & more!!!



I'm Linking up with Learning with Mrs. Leeby for TPT is having a Teacher Appreciation Sale this week on May 7-8. My store will be discounted 20%, TpT will be offering an additional percentage off to equal a total of 28% off your purchase. You just need to enter code TAD13.
I love when my kids write me sweet little notes. This is what one of my little loves made during Working on Words this week.

 If you do stop by my store, everything will be on sale. However, I've posted a few things you may need for the end of the year. I have updated my Mother's day Files, Classroom Chronicles and End of the Year Memory Book.






Mother's Day plant Holder! What a great gift!

Mother's Day Card


Are you on instagram? I'm doing #teachertalktuesday with Apples and ABC's and What the Teacher Wants and #padteacherchallenge with The Pinspired Teacher. Here are a couple of my new additions to #padteacherchallenge

What a Funny book!  My son's first grade teacher is reading it and he can't stop laughing. So of course, this will be my next read aloud too!

X-Acto can you hear me?  I love this sharpener!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is the first Sharpener I have ever had that has lasted me all year long!
LOVE< 3 it!!!!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Mother's Day, Freebie and #teachertalktuesday

Rain, Rain, Go away!!!
Today we were supposed to have Field day.  But, boohoo, we were rained out.
My kids were so not in school mode. So we put some finishing touches on our Classroom Chronicles Newspapers and started some work for Mother's day. Honestly, I am actually behind. I usually start my project at least 2 weeks in advance. I like to get it laminated for my students--and that can take some time. We always make a beautiful poetry book, with portrait and hand print. 
I call this book "Because You Love Me" as inspired by Celine!


This year, I have also added a cute little flower pot card and flower pot holder to give to moms.
Check it out.

Mother's Day Craftivities
I added a sentence strip around the cup!

Mother's Day Craftivities pack
Front of the cup holder. I guess you could use this for any old plant, and not just for Mother's Day. I just thought it would be nice for the kids to give their mom something prettier than a styrofoam cup!

Mother's day craftivities card (more options available)
One way to make the card. I also gave an option to make it into a full page card, instead of a shape card.

Mother's day Craftivity-Card for mom.
So here is the front of the card--I guess I am working backwards today. The kids then wrote on the b&w version of the pot. I made a Happy Mother's Day one for them to decorate and a Dear_______, version.
 Looks like more rain in the forecast for tomorrow too.  We were supposed to have our school-wide carnival, but that has been pushed back to next week. So, I might be able to get more crafts done tomorrow!!!  
Oh, 1 more thing--did you get to check out #teachertalktuesday on instagram?
It was so much fun taking a peek into so many classrooms and "chatting" with new friends. I even figured out how to add an instagram button over on the side bar!  By the, way is my sidebar too crazy? I'm trying to streamline it a bit, but haven't had the energy.  Anywhoooo, check out my new Teacher Instagram page, and stop in on Tuesday and search the tag.  

Freebie Time: The 3 Little Pigs was a hit this week. We compared the original to The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs (see side bar book carousel for the books we read). I gave them several other versions to read--next week we will be writing our own version of the 3 Little pigs.  I hope you enjoy the freebie!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

AdSense