Wacky Wednesdays

Happy Halloween to everyone who has time to catch up on blogging tonight.  Since my husband and I are childless, we ended up getting Texas Roadhouse (mmm... ribs) to go and have spent the night eating, catching up on everything DVR-ed, and now I'm about to enjoy my candy (Sour Patch Kids are the best!)  Here is my favorite pin about Halloween from TPT :)  It makes me smile every time I see it :)

Anyway, since we have been teaching fairy tales all week, I took a few pictures today.  All of the pictures came from The Three Little Pigs room.   My friend is going to try to get me the links since a lot of her ideas are from other blogs or Pinterest.  Hopefully, I will have a few more pictures tomorrow.  I also came up with a comprehension assessment on fairy tales, so feel free to grab it.  It is 10 questions on Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Rapunzel, The Three Little Pigs, and The Princess and the Pea.  

Click here to get the fairy tales comprehension test.

Now, for pictures from my teammate's room.  These pictures are for The Three Little Pigs.  Hope you like them!  It's definitely been a fun week!  

Hope everyone has a great night!  Tomorrow I get to do a Currently!  I know it is silly, but I can't wait!  I fell in love with it last month!

  

Terrific Tuesdays

Well, let me start with Fairy Tale rotations went great!  You would think a giant beanstalk in the center of my room would cause problems, but I swear my kids behaved better than ever.  Of course, it helped that I told them the quietest kids would get to sit next to the beanstalk.

Now, tomorrow is Halloween.  I'm excited because after school my hubby and I are going to a movie to hide out from all the trick-or-treaters.  In all honesty, we are the babies of our older neighborhood, so typically we don't see trick-or-treaters.  In the spirit of Halloween, I took a Pinterest idea and made a special snack for my kids tomorrow.  All it took was 16 packets of Mandarin oranges and a super big Sharpie (I tried the little ones, but I swear the super Sharpie did much better).  So, if you need a quick last minute idea, run to the store in the morning, grab some oranges, and draw some pumpkin faces while your kids are at specials or lunch.  Oh, here's a hint - if you do this, DO NOT refrigerate until after you've done the faces.  The moisture makes it impossible to draw!  Here's a picture of how mine turned out today.

Last thing, then I'm getting a hot bath and going to bed.  To help our kids with their reading, we have started giving them book reports.  Our kids have to read their book and fill out the book report before they can get a book signed off by us.  

Well, we had an October book report that was perfect, but didn't have a November one created yet.  I talked to my team and promised them I would create one for November, so here it is.  I'm also going to be creating them for the other holidays, so be sure to check back before December.  

Oh, I almost forgot!  If you like this and think you could use it with your class, click here.

Hope you enjoy and have a fantabulous, wonderfully, wacky, Halloween Wednesday!

Manic Mondays

I'm just curious, but do any of you have days as crazy as mine?  I'm pretty certain you do.  Today was a great day!  I am feeling MUCH better, I had my T.A. back, and I can honestly say I felt like we accomplished so much.  I love days where you feel like you were your best :)  After all of that, I built a beanstalk going into my ceiling - yes, I really built a beanstalk.  I mean, who wouldn't want to visit a class with a beanstalk?  Then, I prepped for a meeting I have tomorrow and finally got in my car at 6:00.  That's not all though - then, I ran to Target.  Why?  Because of PINTEREST!!!!  Seriously, like I have all the time in the world to go indulge ideas I saw on the Internet.  I did grab a few bags of candy other items and surprises for the hubby, but... that is not the end.  Then, I ran to the store!  At this point it's 7:15, I haven't eaten dinner, and I am running into the store and it isn't to buy dinner.  It's for Lima beans because if you are going to build a giant beanstalk in your classroom you should definitely plant mini beanstalks, too.  Once I got home, I tossed my bag (with the Macbook) into the house and went to get Mexican with the hubby.  Mmmm.... cheese dip and tacos is great after a long day!  Heaven for me will definitely include Mexican food!  Finally, at 9:10 I walked in the house, unpacked all the random items, and here I am.  So, knowing my friends, I'm pretty certain if you are a teacher (without a baby with a bedtime) your schedule is probably as randomly crazy as mine.  I wouldn't trade it for the world, but definitely keeps me hopping.

Okay, now, I'm guessing you want to see my beanstalk.  I have to say, ANYONE could make this.  It didn't take long, was simple, and didn't cost a dime.  I took lots of green bulletin board paper and I twisted it.  Once it was twisted, I got a ladder, took rubber bands, cut them, and used the rubber bands to tie it to the ceiling.  Then, I took a container and draped the bottom of the beanstalk into the container.  You could use a box, chair, can, really anything.  After all of that was done, I cut out a bunch of leaves and attached them to the beanstalk using tape.  I also put a cloud around the top of the beanstalk using bulletin board paper.  Last, but not least, I tracked down a little man figurine (Jack) and covered the container at the bottom with brown paper.  It took around 45 minutes to make and honestly, I can't wait to see my kids faces tomorrow.  

Here's the other thing I am REALLY excited about for tomorrow.  I have this little gadget that allows me to plug my projector into my iPad.  Well, last week I was looking around and discovered that MeeGenius has Jack and the Beanstalk for free.  So, this afternoon I connected my iPad into my Activboard, so tomorrow when we read Jack and the Beanstalk, my kids are going to hear it read to them through my iPad/Activboard :)  If you are a teacher and don't have a MeeGenius account and you have an iPad, you are definitely missing out.  Here's a picture of the screen.  This is something I haven't done yet this year, so anyway - very excited!  I know, I say that a lot, but if you know me, you know it is true.

 As you can see, not only is Jack and the Beanstalk there, but also a lot of other Fairy Tales and cute books.   I'm telling you, you won't regret it.  Eventually, I want to run my listening centers solely off of Storia, MeeGenius, and Nook Kids.  Click here to find out more info and get this app.

Alright, need to go to bed!  My teammates have requested a few things, so hopefully I will be posting a couple of items in the next few days.  Speaking of which, if any of you guys ever have any quick requests, please comment and let me know.  I love doing one sheet freebies :)

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Super Sunday

I hope everyone is having a fantabulous Sunday!  I have to say, although I don't want the hurricane working it's way up the east coast to harm anyone, the weather has been a welcome change.  It's been nice to be able to snuggle up under a blanket for naps and enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte without sweat running down my back.  I don't love cold weather, but I do love the fall and seeing all the leaves change and the new smells.

Anyway, my team is starting our Fairy Tale rotations this week and I thought you guys would like to see what that looks like.  

My team and I met and came up with this schedule.  We started on a Tuesday so we can have Monday to get things together.  We figured 45 minutes would give us time to read the story, discuss the story, and do one or two activities.  We ended up breaking up the rotations because of our specials (PE, music, etc.).  Usually, we do our own classes last, but we decided we would start with our kids this time and work our way around.  We have our students travel clockwise, so it's easier to keep up with where they are going.

Hopefully, by Thursday I will have a lot of pictures of all of our activities.  We are doing Jack and the Beanstalk in my room.  I'm planning on making a beanstalk that goes to the ceiling, reading the book using my iPad connected into my Activboard, doing a Jack-to-self comparison chart, and letting the kids plant their own "Magic Beans".

By the way, the best part about making a schedule is I can email it out to everyone it may affect - office staff, administrators, etc.  That always helps because they know where our students are if they need them for anything.

Also, I have officially added my Fairy Tales - Red Riding Hood unit to TPT.  I'm working on several others, too, but wanted to go ahead and put that one up.  I hope you will check it out :)

TPT - Red Riding Hood Fairy Tale packet

Have a great Sunday!

Teachable Thursdays

This may be my quickest post ever!  I'm on Day 3 of leaving school early which feels odd for me.  I NEVER leave early in the afternoon.  I come up with my best ideas between 3:30-6:30 every day.  I'm feeling a little behind, especially going into a week where we are doing first grade rotations.  The one good thing is I know exactly what I want to do with Jack and the Beanstalk.  

Anyway, I'm fading fast (Must be the garlic knots, pizza, and Coke from dinner tonight).  Yeah, I know... it's my "sickness".  However, I'm trying to pretend I'm just tired :)  

The first sheet I created for one of my teammates.  It can be used when teaching writing, antagonists, fairy tales, folk tales, etc.  I know that there are several other Wanted posters out there, but I tried to make mine different than the others.  

I also threw together a word search template.  I had one last year, but I wanted to make a new one.  Have students fill in words at the bottom.  Once they have done that, they can write the words at different angles into the boxes at the top.  Once they've done that, have them fill in any letters that may be missing.  My high kids LOVE doing these and it's a good way for them to go over spelling/phonics words.

Hope you enjoy it!  Click here for the two freebies.

Wonderful Wacky Wednesdays

I have to say, the last few days have been crazy!  I've had a cold and it has wiped me out.  I shouldn't admit this, but I'm VERY whiny when I don't feel well.  I am in so much trouble if I ever decide to have kids because my pain tolerance seems to be non-existent.  Yesterday morning, apparently I whined enough that my T.A. decided to tally how many times I said I couldn't breathe.  Seriously, my nose was clogged, so I mean I couldn't.  Eating was like swimming.  Every time I'd take a bite, it would be like holding my breath under water.  I know, see, told you I am WHINY when I am sick.  I have to admit, the tally count was pretty funny.  I definitely love my T.A. and I love my hubby because when everyone else gets the best of me, they are the ones that get the worst of me.  I couldn't survive without either of them!

Anyway, I'm saying all of that to say that I am wwaayy behind on creating right now.  However, I have nothing for our phonics/spelling words next week, so I created these two things tonight.  We are going to be working on -ff, -ll, -ss, -zz so I created a word sort and a dice roll sheet.  Since I know all my friends out in my blogger world may not be doing the same sounds, I went ahead and created two templates, too.  This way, you can make your own.  Click here to get the phonics/spelling worksheets for free.

Hope you love them!

Super Sunday

Sorry I haven't posted the last few days.  Not trying to make excuses, but the last couple of days have been a little crazier than usual.  Honestly, I have so much I want to create, but I really haven't had the time.  I have a rule that I create if time allows, but family and friends come first (I mean it is a hobby, right?)  So, that's what I did this weekend - I put my family and friends first.  I helped one of my favorite "nieces" create her sorority paddle for her big sister.  I also went on two dinner dates with my hubby.

I also spent some much needed time catching up with some of my dearest friends.  I have to say, whether I talk to my closest friends every day or I go several months, I couldn't ask for more trustworthy, loyal, caring, friends.  I adore them!  I have the best friends a girl could have.  They encourage me (even though several of them would say they aren't good at it), they push me to be better than the best version of me, they pull me up when I'm down, and more than anything they know my heart and love me regardless of how dramatic, silly, or down I am that day.  So shout out to the best friends a girl could have!

Anyway, don't mean to not write about school, but I guess I figured as much as this is a school blog, it's important to remember sometimes what got me here.  If you have a hobby or a blog or are just in general busy, take a day every once in awhile to make sure your priorities are right and appreciate your blessings.  You won't regret it - promise!

Okay - one tiny school thing :)  I actually won one of the giveaways for the blog I posted about last week.  I didn't even know until I started getting emails today with the products I won.  I'm REALLY excited about checking them out!  As soon as I have a chance to look at them, I will let you know what I think and which ones you may want to go get off of TPT.

Have a great week!

Teachable Thursdays

I think today was one of my favorite days of this school year.  I know I've said this a ton of times, but I LOVE teaching writing.  We have had several really fun writing lessons the last couple of days.  This week we've been reading about frogs.  Since we've been reading about frogs, I've been using this as an opportunity to teach my students how to write informational stories.  

Yesterday, I used this amazing graphic organizer.  I drew it out on the board for my kids and we discussed what types of things we were going to write in each bubble.  We talked about what non-fiction meant and that when we are writing informational texts, you have to use facts, not opinions.  Then, I sent my middle and high students to their desks for them to fill out their graphic organizers on their own.  I told them they could use their books, but outside of that, I wanted them to come up with their own facts.  My lower students stayed on my carpet and we did the graphic organizers together.  They came up with the facts, but I wrote them.

Today is where it all came together.  I had my students take their graphic organizers and use them to write their informational texts.  Here's a picture of how they turned out.  To make it a little more fun, I found this cute little frog for my kids to color and I ran the graphic organizer on colored paper.  

The graphic organizers were created by A Year of Many Firsts.  Click here to get the item.

This is another worksheet that was part of the same packet.  You can't tell, but it was ran off on green paper, too.  We did it together and it went great!  Next week we are reading about fish and I can't wait for my next three or four writing activities.  I'm going to do my best to post some non-writing activities next week :)  

 Last thing - here's the scarecrow I promised to draw for you.  I hope you like it and that it's useful to you.  Click here to see how I used the scarecrow.  Hope you enjoy!

Scarecrow - Part I

Scarecrow - Part II

Wonderful Wacky Wednesdays

Wednesdays are definitely the busiest days of the week for me.  Today wasn't any different.  I woke up early, yet still managed to get out the door a few minutes later than I intended.  I'm on time to work every day, but I think I would be more functional if school started, oh, around 9:30ish.  The rest of the day seemed to run that way.  Not late, but a few minutes off my normal routine.  

Anyway, so now I am finally sitting down at my computer, eating peanut butter crackers, and drinking a Sprite.  By the way, here's a random fact.  Yes, I'm odd, but I have the habit of spinning my crackers apart.  I try to get all the peanut butter to end up on one side of the cracker.  I've done it since I was a kid.  I also eat one wafer at a time if I'm eating Nutter Butters, and I eat the top chocolate layer off Swiss Cake Rolls, then unroll them a little at a time.  I pretty much dissect everything.

Okay, seriously - told you - random.  However, random facts always make me laugh.  You may not remember someone's name, but how many times do you remember the quirky story about them?  Keep in mind, I don't have kids... I remember lots of random, useless information.

Now, onto the reason you follow me - creative ideas!  I found this ADORABLE activity by Amy Lemons a few weeks ago.  I have been literally dying to find a way to use it.  However, we don't teach adjectives until later in the year and this activity covers verbs and adjectives.  Then, it clicked - I can skip the adjectives and use it completely for verbs.

First, I met with my students and we talked about nouns, what they are, etc.  Then, I reviewed verbs with them and we talked about how a verb is an action or something you can do.  After I did that, I drew a picture of the activity we were going to do on the Activboard.  Next, we made a list of ALL the things a spider can do.  I think my favorite one on the list was tickle.  Yes, really.  My kids said "tickle".  I asked them how they know since I won't touch spiders, but they were quite adamant that they "tickle".  After that, they filled out their sheets, put them together, and we hung them up on the wall outside.  

Here's a link to the Freebie that Amy Lemon's created.  It's amazing! 

Spider Craftivity by Amy Lemons

Hope you guys have an awesome Thursday!  I already have what I want to post tomorrow!  I can't wait!  

Terrific Tuesday

I'm baaaccckkk!!!!  Yeah, I know, it sounds odd, but it's all I could think to write.  So, if you are a TPT person, I have two new thoughts/issues.  I think all of my TPT friends are going to laugh because if you create for TPT, you will know exactly what I'm saying.  

First, I just realized there's a gift card option for TPT.  I am seriously considering asking for a TPT gift card for Christmas.  I have been printing off all the new cool, cute stuff for the last 30 minutes :)  I'm also trying to go through my Pinterest stuff and make sure I didn't miss anything.

Second, I was planning to make a Mega-pack for Fairy Tales.  I've been soooo excited about it!  Well, I finished the Red Riding Hood section and I tried to email it to a friend to check out.  I decided to see how big it was and at around 35 to 45 pages it's already over 100 mb.  I mean, really?  How did I manage to create something that big.  I still have almost 100 pages to go.  Goodness!!!  What's a girl to do?

So, in other news, here is a picture of the project we just finished.  I know, it's another writing project, but I'm so proud of my kids.  I'm working on drawing my own scarecrow right now so I can share it.  That way you can do this if you want.  My list is forever long though, so it may be a few days or few weeks, but it's coming :)

While I'm at it, I've gotten a few AMAZING new freebies.  The American Symbols isn't a Freebie, but it's great!  I wish I had it last week!  I may still do it later this year because it's so cute!  Here are links to several of of the freebies I got tonight.  Hope they help you out!

Math - Quick Skill Check

Piggy-Shaped Graph

American Symbols

Halloween ABC Order Sheet

Giveaway!

This is a quick blog, but had to tell you guys about it.  The "Tales from Outside the Classroom" blog is having several big giveaways!  Definitely check it out!

Have a great Sunday night!

Super Sunday

Good Morning!

Well, I guess it isn't really morning anymore, but it does feel like it.  So, I woke up this morning and I have a stye on my bottom eyelid.  I feel like I want to gouge out my left eye or that I look like a one-eyed monster.  I had them when I was a kid, but just to play it safe I googled it.  I mean everything on Google is true, right?  To make sure that it was true I read four articles.  Yes, I know, that doesn't actually make things true, but it did ease my mind.

Anyway, basically I can't give it to anyone else, there's very little I can do about it, and I need to make sure I don't mess with it.  It just hurts!  It feels kind of like a bee stung me right below my eye.  This means that I'm spending the majority of my day with my eyes shut since that seems to help.

Now, onto teaching - I have created a new Halloween freebie.  I bought this set of cute monsters (Seriously, they are adorable!) several months ago.  I've been dying to use them, so I threw this together really quick.  By the way, on a side note, if you aren't following me yet, I hope you will think about following me.  I'm also creating a mega Fairy Tale pack right now that is probably going to be around 125 pages.  It includes comprehension activities, language arts activities, science/social studies activities, and math activities.  When it is completed and I have 50 followers I plan on giving it away to 3 people.  There will be more info on that later.

Anyway, are a few pictures of my Halloween Freebie.  If you like it, go visit me at Teachers Pay Teachers and download it.  Also, click follow there so you will know when I've created something new and feel free to pin it to Pinterest.

Math - Monster Math Problems

 

Super, Sleepy Saturday

Alright, so I know I've been absent the last few days.  We had Fall Festival yesterday and since I'm on PTO Board I was helping with finishing a lot of little, last minute things.  I felt it this morning.  I felt like I ran a marathon yesterday when I woke up this morning.  I hurt from the top of my head to the tip of my toes.  It was worth every second, but who knew collecting tickets, passing out candy, making posters, etc. could be like going to the gym?

So, I ended up resting most of the day.  Now that the weather has cooled down a little, it feels good to go to breakfast and grocery shopping with my hubby and come home and take a nap.  Plus, I LOVE watching college football.  I don't even care who is playing.  I just like to watch :)

Now, I'm trying to find my focus mode.  Isn't it crazy that I had two days off last week and I already feel behind again?  I will never understand how that happens.  Anyway, just wanted to touch base.  By the way, here is a picture of one thing I did with my kids last week.

Disclaimer:  This is a little gross, but I scored big points with my kids!!!

Every year I read poems from the book "Giant Children".  My favorite poem to read is called, "Booger Love".  It's gross, but in a funny way.  It definitely relates to first graders and it is amazing how well they listen.  Thankfully, I've read it for the last 6 or 7 years and I've never had any complaints.  Only lots of laughter!  Now, a few years ago, I discovered that at Halloween time they make a Box of Boogers.  It goes perfect with the poem, so I bring them in after I read the poem.  They are just fruity, gummy candy, but the kids get a kick out of being able to go home and tell their parents about eating boogers at school.  It's always funny because at first half the kids won't eat them.  Once I eat one and some of the other kids eat them, the majority of the kids will try one out.  It also never fails that one of the kids wants to take the box home to gross out their parents, so I usually pick a kid that I know the parents will have a great sense of humor.

Anyway, if you are interested in the book you can click on the link.  As for the Box of Boogers, you can get them at Target for a $1.
Giant Children

I will hopefully have a freebie for you tomorrow!

Wacky Wednesdays

Well, today was most definitely wacky - not bad, just different.  Like, do you ever have one of those random days?  Like tonight, I find myself sitting here thinking, "Exactly how did I get from 4:30 a.m. to here."  I'm also thinking, "How was my thumb fine one second and five seconds later it hurts and has a bruise."  I'm telling you, I think if someone ever took my brain out and observed it, they would decide there is a whole new hemisphere that doesn't exist in normal people.

Anyway, like I said, random and wacky :)  I have to admit, I did get a few things accomplished today after my 4 days off.  My kids were great and no one even moved there corn today.

Oh, and that 4:30 a.m. - yes, I was up at that ungodly hour.  I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep.  I ended up printing most of my freebies off of TPT, changing ink, and by 7 a.m. my mind was racing with new ideas.

One of the things I found on TPT was so cute!  It is called Stupendous Story Elements.  I ended up printing probably half of it this morning to use over the next few weeks.  It has some great writing ideas and graphic organizers for reading comprehension.  Here's the link and a picture of what it looks like.  It was created by A Year of Many Firsts.  I am amazed by some of the things I find that are free on TPT.  I am definitely giving this a full 4.0.

Stupendous Story Elements

I hope you like this as much as I did!



That was my first find of the day!  My second find was something one of my sweet teammates was working on in her room.  I went to ask her a question and she was drawing a graphic organizer for next week.  We are reading the story "Fun with Fish" so she was making a worksheet with the title "Fishy Details".  I pretty much begged her to let me make the sheet since I have the clip art.  I told her if she'd let me do it, I could also put it on my blog.  So, although I created this version it started with my friend Alicia.  That's the best part about my team!  They give me plenty of opportunities to create :)  It's probably why I've taught 1st grade for so long.  Why move when you have a great team?

Oh, by the way, here's a link to my Fishy Details page.  Please let me know if it doesn't open.  I'm still playing with Google Docs.  I'm starting to get the hang of it (I think), but not certain :)  Fishy Details

Hope you had an awesome day!  Hopefully tomorrow I will have pictures of our new writing project.  I'm VERY excited (a.k.a. geeked out over it)!

Terrific Tuesdays

So, I go back to school tomorrow and my mind is so full of ideas I have no idea how I'm going to sleep tonight.  I have definitely filled up on Pinterest and my mind seems to be spinning.  My husband said just last night it's always obvious when teachers are on a break because all he sees on Pinterest are classroom pictures and holiday activities.  I've tried to explain that if he would get his own page it wouldn't be so bad, but he chooses to use mine.  I think he secretly likes to see what I'm about to be buying, but I just let him think I don't realize what he's doing.

Anyway, so since I've spent time on Pinterest, I thought I'd include pictures of some of the activities I've done and some that I'm planning to do this fall.  Maybe it will save you a few hours so you can go wash clothes or cook dinner!  Yeah, I know... me either :)

This is vanilla pudding with green
food coloring added.  You put it
in a clear cup, draw a face, & add
Oreos to the top.

Here's the first thing I'm planning to do.  Jenaya Shaw a.k.a The Lesson Plan Diva created this.  I fell in love with it the minute I saw it.  One of the things my 1st graders need to be able to do is sequence events using the words first, next, then, last.  Since it's October, I love this!  She also has several others if you will check out her site.  

Lesson Plan Diva

We do Fun Fridays every week for kids that have behaved during the week.  I'm planning on doing these for the Fun Friday before Halloween or for a snack on Halloween.  All you do is buy cups of Mandarin oranges, take a Sharpie, and draw little faces on the cover.  Nice, simple, & healthy!

This is a Nouns freebie I found on Pinterest.  If you follow this link, it will take it to you on TPT.  It isn't my creation, but it's GREAT!  I'm planning on printing it tonight.  Free Fall Noun Sort

I did this game in my classroom last year and it went great!  The best way to do it is use stacks of paper towels.  They stack higher and are easier to knock over.  I had a hard time finding a pumpkin that would work.  One of my friends loaned me a plastic pumpkin.  Please know if you use a plastic pumpkin (One that looks like the picture) it will come apart and it will leave orange streaks on a tile floor.  I ended up switching to a stuffed animal pumpkin and a kick ball.  They worked just as well and didn't fall apart or leave marks.  Just be sure to show your kids ahead of time.

I also used the skeleton video with my class last year and they loved it!  If you go to YouTube type in Skeleton Dance.  Be sure to check it before you show your kids.  So far, I've never ran across a bad video, but I always double check to play it safe.

Hope this gives you some new, simple, doable Pinterest ideas for the next few weeks.  All of these ideas and more can be found here.

Holiday - Fall Fun

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Marvelous Manic Mondays

I find it funny that the title of my post is Manic Mondays although today wasn't so manic.  Honestly, not trying to rub it in for all of you that had to work, but I had off today and I have off tomorrow.  Ever since I started doing TPT, I LIVE for days off!  I use every second I can to create my next round of centers or searching blogs and Pinterest for cute crafts, writing ideas, and clip art.  I am rarely looking for things to do because I have a list a mile long of what I want to do when I have time. 

Anyway, here's a picture of one of the things I've been working on today.  I can't wait to finish!  My goal is huge packet for $3.50 and when I say huge I mean 100 pages huge!  Let's just hope I can pull it off in a day.

Also, I've told you that I LOVE teaching writing!  I know that's odd, but it's my idea of fun.  At the end of the year, I take all of my students writing and I make file folder books for my students to give their parents.  The great part is it only costs $2 (I like pretty ribbon) and that's it!  To top it off, my parents loved them and they end up with a keepsake.  This year, I may try to get them bound, but we will see.

Okay... time to eat dinner.  We will pretend that I live in a state that does Mountain Time, okay?  

Have a Terrific Tuesday!!!

October - Currently

I've never done this before, but I found this on another blog and loved it!  Any time I see these "Currently" things they grab my attention.  I'm not sure why, but I just love them regardless of knowing someone or not knowing someone.  So, tonight you get one more post.

I don't know much about this teacher, but I know I LOVE this idea of hers :)  Hope you enjoy!  Oh, and if you decide to do this, you post on the two before you and one after you.  It's called "The Rule of 3"!  Love this!

If you like my October - Currently it links to this blog.  Pretty cool!  Hope you enjoy! 

Super Sunday Surprise

Alright, so woke up this morning and it felt like Christmas.  I know, I'm such a nerd.  My clip art was in my inbox.  The hard part was I had to pretend like I didn't see it for around 6 hours.  Between getting ready, church, errands, etc. I couldn't do anything with it until I had at least finished that stuff & of course, my Sunday nap.

Okay, here's the explanation to my freebie.  We do Fun Fridays at school every week, so this past week my kids tried 3 types of popcorn - butter, cheese, and caramel.  One of my teammates found a bag at Target that had all 3 mixed.  First, we sorted the popcorn.  Then, we tasted them and voted.  After all of that was done, we graphed it.  The kids thought it was great.  I pulled up the graph on my Activboard, so as I pulled out a vote I colored it at the same time as the kids.  I tried to make it like Survivor where one type would be ahead, then the next one would move ahead.  It definitely kept the kids interested.

Anyway, since you are taking the time to visit my blog, I'm going to post all of the pages here for you to see.  If you like what you see, go over to TPT, download it, and leave me a comment.  I promise I will respond (Even if it takes a week or two).

Math - Popcorn Graphing

Hope you enjoy!  Tomorrow I'm going to start making my Fairy Tale centers.  I can't wait!  I've decided I'm going to have a passport item (It's really going to be more of a little story book), puppets, and a few other surprises.  I'm excited about doing something a little different and I'm glad to have a break from leaves, scarecrows, and pumpkins (At least for a day).

Have a great Columbus Day!