tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74088108926816957612024-03-13T11:56:16.830-04:00Forever First GradeTaking care of little minds and hearts.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-54014864063231952032014-08-05T13:09:00.001-04:002014-08-05T13:09:11.758-04:00Aug Currently & Jersey Girls Teacher Meetup!<center style="text-align: center;">
This past week has been a whirlwind of happy things. (Oh, summer, how I love you!) </center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
I'm linking up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2014/08/august-currently.html" target="_blank">Farley</a> in Oh Boy Fourth Grade! (a little bit late) for an August currently:</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-P7C21BG_4kWtR0_-9vtJcVmU-6TRsgTc_g7Rg_sj7sIWGObQdGdQA31CNBWap0PMAg2UqC0SQ9C8qwUYLwpt3KY0H16dS7aD_1tCGT8LCJkjm_gow6CAvHUFLwhc4pQXRALTAHbm4U/s1600/aug+currently.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-P7C21BG_4kWtR0_-9vtJcVmU-6TRsgTc_g7Rg_sj7sIWGObQdGdQA31CNBWap0PMAg2UqC0SQ9C8qwUYLwpt3KY0H16dS7aD_1tCGT8LCJkjm_gow6CAvHUFLwhc4pQXRALTAHbm4U/s1600/aug+currently.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
First....there was the Jersey Girls Teacher Meetup right in my backyard! Well, ok. Not <i>in</i> my backyard. Actually at the Cheesecake Factory, whose ridiculous yum cannot be duplicated in my backyard. This was my first teacher/blogger/TpT meetup and it was so much fun!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48Kv0A4USC-K9v4ibY-CcAPhlPt9JA9uTaxC-rQptiZB4xsC1SWAlc8LbWtxbm1swzTMpZIDRKsHfMMqHhdIkKojbhBBG62l02rkMTIGsGhVpTT-FZ8DYKCH-6qfQBxhIRF2aInFM7hA/s1600/Jersey+Girls+July+2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48Kv0A4USC-K9v4ibY-CcAPhlPt9JA9uTaxC-rQptiZB4xsC1SWAlc8LbWtxbm1swzTMpZIDRKsHfMMqHhdIkKojbhBBG62l02rkMTIGsGhVpTT-FZ8DYKCH-6qfQBxhIRF2aInFM7hA/s1600/Jersey+Girls+July+2014.png" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
We talked so much about teaching and TpT, it was like... <i>my peeps! I have FOUND you!!!</i></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
These lovely ladies are (from bottom left, up and around):</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Amy from <a href="http://www.eclecticeducating.com/" target="_blank">Eclectic Educating</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Sue from <a href="http://scienceforkidsblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Science for Kids</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Me :)</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Maria from <a href="http://everyonedeservestolearn.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Everyone deServes to Learn</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Lisa from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bloomabilities" target="_blank">Bloomabilities</a>/<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Dandy-Doodles" target="_blank">Dandy Doodles</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
(who is practically my neighbor! Get out of town!)</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Amie from <a href="http://glittermeetsglue.com/" target="_blank">Glitter Meets Glue Designs</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Karen from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Silly-Sam-Productions" target="_blank">Silly Sam Productions</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Maria Whelan from <a href="https://twitter.com/JerseyTeacher" target="_blank">@JerseyTeacher</a> (on Twitter)</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Linda from <a href="http://primaryinspiration.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Primary Inspiration</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lauren-Kenny" target="_blank">Lauren Kenny</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
and Ashley from <a href="http://anchoredinlearning.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Anchored in Learning</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It was really neat to meet so many teachers from districts all over New Jersey and find out about all of our teaching positions, from kindergarten to first to ESL to basic skills to retired 1st/Reading Recovery and then some... but we all had blogging and TpT in common, along with other things we found out along the way. Thanks so much to Maria for hosting (and even bringing us all adorable teacher pads)!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Of course, I have also been shopping away at the TPT Back to School SALE, which ends today:</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7408810892681695761" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Forever-First-Grade-By-Lindsey-Brooks" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8Q42v_ao5_FVOTFLlgCm-U6dBgfPm00bd71Vq8TARbrzIFwh20EeCUspQ772w06v96jP7JX8dJ-Nv7Ar98HOBNKaqs7eNl8LLHy9jHD_qop-Rwwd6txMH3d9NrXTRtjei0uldSTJCEk/s1600/Store+banner+BTS+Sale.jpg" height="80" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Good thing my little store is having a great couple of sale days, since I am enjoying shopping at everyone else's! :)</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="B542ABB5-15DF-4876-9E92-21D38A3B5265" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='width:540pt;height:405pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Lindsey\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:href="cid:0A31CFC1-0C44-456B-A0CA-FC3240D71D03@home"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75"
coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe"
filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="B542ABB5-15DF-4876-9E92-21D38A3B5265" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style='width:540pt;height:405pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Lindsey\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:href="cid:0A31CFC1-0C44-456B-A0CA-FC3240D71D03@home"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-43864240475788663352014-08-03T14:48:00.002-04:002014-08-03T14:51:45.460-04:00SMARTboard Tutorial: Changing the Name Boxes to Your Students' Names<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I have mentioned before how much I LOOOOOOVE creating SMARTboard attendance files. I am super lucky to have a SMARTboard in my classroom. We do not have them in our Kindergarten rooms, so it's my first graders' first experience with one and doing attendance on the SMARTboard in the mornings (aside from the fact that it's SO easy to see right away who's here and not here) gives my kids daily practice with handling this giant new tool right from the get-go. 'Cause the thing with the SMARTboard is that sometimes you have to press sort of hard to make it work, and my little guys typically do not think you are allowed to press that hard on a piece of technology. They need practice to get comfortable moving things around on it, and daily attendance allows for this without the added anxiety of it being an academic activity where they could do something "wrong" and then not want to use the SMARTboard again. Once they get the hang of this (within just a few days), using the SMARTboard for other activities becomes no sweat!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Of course, SMARTboards have a learning curve for teachers, too. I remember when I found out that my SMARTboard was coming (but wasn't in my room yet) and I went to a summer PD class offered by my school district on SMARTboards 101 (I also took 102. Yeah, I was totally a SMARTboard overachiever before I had one, lol). I sat and watched and took copious notes. I even got to try a little bit on the one SMARTboard they had in the classroom for demonstration.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
But THEN... a month later when my own SMARTboard arrived in my classroom, I felt like I really had no idea what to do with this new and exciting beast of technology which was plopped right in the middle of my nice big whiteboard space (oh. hmm. Well, that's... ok....don't complain.)</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihd3zaA9Bo_Pe_VvyGDnR6anUMWwptMm5qYGR5Fw_z_P8ApgQ7Tn8qE7fL_QxuYoQFFSZ_xFMqOq9nMsk8gjC8hTu9Pfp3_WxyWQRb5UFIoUaCXL_qkhahs_oWxncs_kqruTfX6ZCQ1Rc/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihd3zaA9Bo_Pe_VvyGDnR6anUMWwptMm5qYGR5Fw_z_P8ApgQ7Tn8qE7fL_QxuYoQFFSZ_xFMqOq9nMsk8gjC8hTu9Pfp3_WxyWQRb5UFIoUaCXL_qkhahs_oWxncs_kqruTfX6ZCQ1Rc/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
That was a few years ago, and believe you me, there was a learning curve to actually using it in the classroom. Now I feel like I have a pretty good handle on it (although I'm sure it has plenty of cool features I have yet to figure out). I use it a lot, and eventually ventured into making my own SMARTboard attendance to match my classroom owl theme, then others for some of my colleagues' classroom themes, then others by request for TpT or just for fun.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The SMARTboard attendance files available in my store do come with a second slide that gives directions on how to change the names to your own student's names. However, especially with the learning curve of technology, I thought it might be helpful to include a tutorial here with some screenshots in case you find that more helpful. So here we go!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 1: </b>Open up your new SMARTboard attendance file in SMART Notebook. If you don't have SMART Notebook software, this file won't work. My files are for SMARTboards only, not other interactive whiteboards. I am going to use my Mod Owl themed attendance file, but the tutorial would work the same with any other SMARTboard attendance file of mine. Here's what it looks like when you open it:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtei8CzjwlH_A_PKdhV8Z0ZigaJWkLf-KRaIq9H0JlSUZoYAmXG-7O8kOm8m-ATlAMkgo-A3xIvlYZFEfxoml4YcXbZbEjmr64uA4ekY5hDIkeZs5AezDz8GC9K8xJ94jlturphQEuFms/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtei8CzjwlH_A_PKdhV8Z0ZigaJWkLf-KRaIq9H0JlSUZoYAmXG-7O8kOm8m-ATlAMkgo-A3xIvlYZFEfxoml4YcXbZbEjmr64uA4ekY5hDIkeZs5AezDz8GC9K8xJ94jlturphQEuFms/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+1.jpg" height="338" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The file comes up in Notebook software. If you look on the left, there are two slides to this file. The first one is the attendance file itself. The second slide is your directions for changing student names. Just click on that slide if you want to see the written directions that come with the file. You can print them out if it helps.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 2: <span style="color: red;">SAVE THE FILE ON YOUR COMPUTER.</span></b></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Yes, I put this in big red letters. You want to save the original file so that you always have this blank, unchanged version. This makes it easy to start over for your next group of kids. Call it something like "SMARTboard attendance Original" or "SMARTboard attendance Template".</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 3: </b>Click on one of the owls (or, of course, if you have a different themed file, click on one of the cupcakes or astronauts or sock monkeys... you get the idea). It will look like this with a dashed box around it. The box will include both the owl and the word "Name". Why are they together like that? Because when your student moves her owl, she will want her name to go along with it. Then you will know that she is here!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaUWYn43R5mEOKx3iAopHWNYmkFE7G0amgMxEm2PMIErHTaeOIjvxIjIZbmq65SM2iKMH33NWRBSouSDdHhbXM5L1YXMwS4fu555RAXJwqRHYfu426Gq9Nf7TzU6Q0uGW_jYy53kSxkM/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaUWYn43R5mEOKx3iAopHWNYmkFE7G0amgMxEm2PMIErHTaeOIjvxIjIZbmq65SM2iKMH33NWRBSouSDdHhbXM5L1YXMwS4fu555RAXJwqRHYfu426Gq9Nf7TzU6Q0uGW_jYy53kSxkM/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+2.jpg" height="320" width="233" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 4: </b>To edit the Name, you will need to separate it from the owl picture. To do this, click on the arrow on the top right of the dashed box:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JFEAt_GtVmPnTmJ7x325k3v2PCzzL_m5vh6_td6j3BLljEjG_wGPrbLBwbaXMZGnQy2MGFM49CgkMdrsaqNplrmp6n91sOg-yal7XLqXTQMx0K6KV9nRxJfh5tJpXxlLuinqOrN91vE/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JFEAt_GtVmPnTmJ7x325k3v2PCzzL_m5vh6_td6j3BLljEjG_wGPrbLBwbaXMZGnQy2MGFM49CgkMdrsaqNplrmp6n91sOg-yal7XLqXTQMx0K6KV9nRxJfh5tJpXxlLuinqOrN91vE/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
When you click the arrow, a menu will pop up that looks like this:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK7vc3dFYpqy6_2huJ4UVAa_Yv_ui0dc4obCBNhXnrQXU-jsRY4R1rmn1MxrmrvyIQDNiQLJ8N3dLVNQ6KdhZmFeATmtvZpIWGf2MZmW7yODC5rYoLC57UGepQI9K-AXV1cun_jXTFvY/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK7vc3dFYpqy6_2huJ4UVAa_Yv_ui0dc4obCBNhXnrQXU-jsRY4R1rmn1MxrmrvyIQDNiQLJ8N3dLVNQ6KdhZmFeATmtvZpIWGf2MZmW7yODC5rYoLC57UGepQI9K-AXV1cun_jXTFvY/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+4.jpg" height="400" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Select "Group" and then a smaller menu will pop up. Select "Ungroup".</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVkd4CAn5vPyym3WjlbQgmuU-TiUvA1O42n6Ns1eBm0cTuX3i7J5yF-XaLwOZme3NB8_obvn1E5SOMIFT2F-rcnpQ5xOWJ8PAb4qaOah2Id7w4IBensLn9lKGR36pyH86-Wponcn10a8/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVkd4CAn5vPyym3WjlbQgmuU-TiUvA1O42n6Ns1eBm0cTuX3i7J5yF-XaLwOZme3NB8_obvn1E5SOMIFT2F-rcnpQ5xOWJ8PAb4qaOah2Id7w4IBensLn9lKGR36pyH86-Wponcn10a8/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+5.jpg" height="367" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
What that does is to separate the owl graphic from the "Name" text box so that they become two separate things, each in its own box. It will look like this:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChRIdw-oNKy5-bmeY27fsZOT7BqHRZvjGWxfGRGZQFxLdjKtCgwOwzm7C88TI7ri8Pepu7HXa55t7dFUf4tmdVqWl78sjUDPh76AKlH-kcW1GzmTq_BhK70I5Zwpa2FK1KHhEJw5CTog/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChRIdw-oNKy5-bmeY27fsZOT7BqHRZvjGWxfGRGZQFxLdjKtCgwOwzm7C88TI7ri8Pepu7HXa55t7dFUf4tmdVqWl78sjUDPh76AKlH-kcW1GzmTq_BhK70I5Zwpa2FK1KHhEJw5CTog/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+6.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? Two boxes with arrows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 5: </b>Click somewhere on the screen outside of the boxes (it has to be somewhere on the attendance picture though, like in the sky, etc.). This will make box boxes disappear but the owl and "Name" text are still two separate things. Click on just the "Name" text and a box will appear just around that.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVxt-3OVUc2whD1DfgIjDqaxpMWRByLdyXwZvDlCWLS2Z19nFxQMBgvIB-nBZxS7XVQsyRlchlPXBS6EZg2vEedPRIJ9ByrkLvNhSzcDEejyWQ2diaMr06ChpatnI2z3fZdTADrIb_Lo/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVxt-3OVUc2whD1DfgIjDqaxpMWRByLdyXwZvDlCWLS2Z19nFxQMBgvIB-nBZxS7XVQsyRlchlPXBS6EZg2vEedPRIJ9ByrkLvNhSzcDEejyWQ2diaMr06ChpatnI2z3fZdTADrIb_Lo/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+7.jpg" height="320" width="172" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good news - this is a text box that you can type in!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 6: </b>Click in the name box (it is a text box) to erase the word name. Type in any name you want.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAN9KL5XpqqTyAIC6EBjzR53UC2CNxu85jE0PByaHwsuESFJuBI7AkDCuSen8VFook5S1QqJuye1kw5D08MUftZRRkrKPRlswpg1A_A7mhgfdFzvZ0WbTEQ59vZMNfjfkxYLF6OdWJIE/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAN9KL5XpqqTyAIC6EBjzR53UC2CNxu85jE0PByaHwsuESFJuBI7AkDCuSen8VFook5S1QqJuye1kw5D08MUftZRRkrKPRlswpg1A_A7mhgfdFzvZ0WbTEQ59vZMNfjfkxYLF6OdWJIE/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+8.jpg" height="320" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's my name!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 7: </b>Now you want to group the newly added name back together with the owl so that when your student moves her owl, her name will go with it and you will know that she is here. To do this, we are basically going to follow the ungrouping directions above to regroup the graphic and the text box.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Since your text already has the dashed box around it, hold down the shift key and click on the owl. You will see both boxes again like before:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChRIdw-oNKy5-bmeY27fsZOT7BqHRZvjGWxfGRGZQFxLdjKtCgwOwzm7C88TI7ri8Pepu7HXa55t7dFUf4tmdVqWl78sjUDPh76AKlH-kcW1GzmTq_BhK70I5Zwpa2FK1KHhEJw5CTog/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChRIdw-oNKy5-bmeY27fsZOT7BqHRZvjGWxfGRGZQFxLdjKtCgwOwzm7C88TI7ri8Pepu7HXa55t7dFUf4tmdVqWl78sjUDPh76AKlH-kcW1GzmTq_BhK70I5Zwpa2FK1KHhEJw5CTog/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+6.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Click on either arrow and, like before, select Group, but THIS time instead of selecting UNgroup in the smaller popup menu, select Group. (So you select Group, Group..)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sIFtlGckLfIiybqGDJBAlNdn5dCU5NJeMpd7ctHfh5k7OMpO7mu-lYxAi0AVNH0XDzrJJ4W02bUdOgFtgAtYSoUtE4VmY8iqhMorATg6UmalzsD9iaxyrG7UjKaQJKMhFHw4I0MzSRA/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sIFtlGckLfIiybqGDJBAlNdn5dCU5NJeMpd7ctHfh5k7OMpO7mu-lYxAi0AVNH0XDzrJJ4W02bUdOgFtgAtYSoUtE4VmY8iqhMorATg6UmalzsD9iaxyrG7UjKaQJKMhFHw4I0MzSRA/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+10.jpg" height="284" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
That's it! Now Lindsey's name and owl are once again grouped in one box...</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdAM8lr5UFkO70zSJR_FYnq7O6rJjINuWOP6onXXgx-f5IcHXyi_l1HiN4NciX8B7xPssUGISzJxuA8OaIGgPmNIBnkZFGolJEd0IkgtkB9u1Z3bbMghk2mfxWM5KcOHDtKMz5gB8kHM/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdAM8lr5UFkO70zSJR_FYnq7O6rJjINuWOP6onXXgx-f5IcHXyi_l1HiN4NciX8B7xPssUGISzJxuA8OaIGgPmNIBnkZFGolJEd0IkgtkB9u1Z3bbMghk2mfxWM5KcOHDtKMz5gB8kHM/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+11.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
... and they can move together up into the tree!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNA19_CBAMDmSo3sTSGWv5hnLhdmILqmkGZVP9n1uWibjSCZxNuZ-v4lGF0PiE6SjijA795ZlO4LgZxiNYg2R7PMs27nomkJ6bjYucfUX3GtBKhhDdtTGsiYs1yuQGqKIe20-MBlZPP0/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNA19_CBAMDmSo3sTSGWv5hnLhdmILqmkGZVP9n1uWibjSCZxNuZ-v4lGF0PiE6SjijA795ZlO4LgZxiNYg2R7PMs27nomkJ6bjYucfUX3GtBKhhDdtTGsiYs1yuQGqKIe20-MBlZPP0/s1600/SMARTboard+tutorial+12.jpg" height="302" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 8: </b>Now you do that for each student that you have in the class (but don't move them into the tree, leave them where they are at the bottom). Yes, it's a little bit time consuming, but it's not hard and after the first one it will go much faster. Click - Ungroup - Edit Name - Group (Done!)</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 9: BE SURE TO SAVE WITH A DIFFERENT FILE NAME.</b> I don't want to save over my blank template, so once I have all of my student names in, I save under the year (Such as Attendance 2014-15). Anytime you need to edit, go ahead. You can delete whole owls just by clicking on them and then clicking delete. You can add more by copying any owl and pasting it in (or clicking on the arrow at the top of the box and clicking "Clone").</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<b>Step 10: </b><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">IMPORTANT!!! Once your students have moved their owls up in the morning, you can close the file by clicking the red "x" in the top right corner like most programs. It will ask if you want to save the changes you have made. DO NOT SAVE!!! </span>Once my students have moved their owls into the tree, I do not want to save them there for the next day. I want them to be at the bottom again so they can do it again tomorrow. So DO NOT save the changes. Just open your Attendance 2014-15 file again tomorrow and all of your named owls will be waiting at the bottom to start again.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I hope you have found this tutorial helpful. If you would like a new SMARTboard attendance theme, I sell several in my TpT shop (currently 16 when this post is being published) and am happy to make a customized one if you request it to go with your classroom theme. Here is a sample of what I have as of August 2014. Click on either picture to be taken right to the SMARTboard category in my TpT Store:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7408810892681695761" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Forever-First-Grade-By-Lindsey-Brooks/Category/SMARTboard-Attendance" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfJeXcvOUq-IDgp1Tu_vvr2NIsfh8h189vzeH61jjrg-ykLxSMUdYjgdQe64N-n8vC98Vohrywmc4A3OFfXeN8l1rqBUSOZg81sdLISrBUL-G0ObHUUt0FIr2pGhuhpgVS3-F0exEHLg/s1600/Slide2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Forever-First-Grade-By-Lindsey-Brooks/Category/SMARTboard-Attendance" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReRkHsfDlxxEWEkJcXZ4XJ9-SSWh9OHxLzV7kE4Ty_qRPOMGKuMO3BZ_sgU9jEtVyO3CsnVvDRjD6pP8B0kbMio24tLR1jjIsRvRuk9k8TJ_IZGp2snB9GsksL63mUOW4_ufg0MM1JJk/s1600/Slide3.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Have a great school year!!!</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-19110620085636673162014-08-03T00:54:00.000-04:002014-08-03T00:54:00.477-04:00The Perks of Being a Teacher<center style="text-align: left;">
There are many rewards to being a teacher, no doubt, and many, many of them come from the job itself. But I am always grateful for the refreshing and recharging break of summer, and the chance to spend time with my own precious hubby and girls. During the month of July, my girls are each involved in children's theater, and this weekend was each of their full length musicals.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
My older daughter as Featured Dancer in The Wiz:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP2Og06qqVfVNhzTUB1SWup6aUqv_9yRuYu1dt0VP8HDi66GBfQU_83dOGujYwiopvatyfIJPr7b5rkKqQMsAzgmt7uZnhiXazt_NsfoD5wBhtuYGWwB3P09WbR-7XW5CeKczL85oyRE/s1600/IMG_8185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDP2Og06qqVfVNhzTUB1SWup6aUqv_9yRuYu1dt0VP8HDi66GBfQU_83dOGujYwiopvatyfIJPr7b5rkKqQMsAzgmt7uZnhiXazt_NsfoD5wBhtuYGWwB3P09WbR-7XW5CeKczL85oyRE/s1600/IMG_8185.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Handsome Hubs as Featured Dancer/Yellow Brick Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwXjy6FnLcNQSrnDV0EapgZIMpZsFXSyUE8yHUTA6jBGxzN7Ji2arv3XtYkuobeeHUO_4nxtskehNhFtFkUPkBuEQf_Bz-zmNmko-yDem3jqn4Cd5tcJKIeFyUcUxgQIKSAnSQ98s-nI/s1600/IMG_8103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwXjy6FnLcNQSrnDV0EapgZIMpZsFXSyUE8yHUTA6jBGxzN7Ji2arv3XtYkuobeeHUO_4nxtskehNhFtFkUPkBuEQf_Bz-zmNmko-yDem3jqn4Cd5tcJKIeFyUcUxgQIKSAnSQ98s-nI/s1600/IMG_8103.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFsPc1hEqdaDLUGWo9K0qqfcsKule7P6hzvSGdhB8u2UABYm1DXG-fELXuPWe6ADCHK_y959vKDent1BrDER_wJJWMuj27br7J8iXMWBfyX2IpF-nerinkX1JroqcfFuiHbjzL4otCA4/s1600/IMG_8124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFsPc1hEqdaDLUGWo9K0qqfcsKule7P6hzvSGdhB8u2UABYm1DXG-fELXuPWe6ADCHK_y959vKDent1BrDER_wJJWMuj27br7J8iXMWBfyX2IpF-nerinkX1JroqcfFuiHbjzL4otCA4/s1600/IMG_8124.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Center as Featured Dancer/Winged Monkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And my younger daughter as Pearl the Pirate in Peter Pan Jr.:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySrI6HZ9CkcQ31aiIRcSSg5WqtXwrCqTbRnZgwLAYS9ZkGm-26lSo5zafjzYhICcww5lAZQeYfyj7wlgI9ZVB7Ra_1Egj6Y7i1BWeGIhTjnLrY-4MNc9LgIvfUTkWHUwPgS5uGzyROck/s1600/IMG_8173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySrI6HZ9CkcQ31aiIRcSSg5WqtXwrCqTbRnZgwLAYS9ZkGm-26lSo5zafjzYhICcww5lAZQeYfyj7wlgI9ZVB7Ra_1Egj6Y7i1BWeGIhTjnLrY-4MNc9LgIvfUTkWHUwPgS5uGzyROck/s1600/IMG_8173.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSqYi6p6PMjKEZIaKEcBOJGM1a_XlIADJi8wB6AiGiq5vAmCKhJknSg3-NCWOqkUQEn4DyjsIpeCC4SUkcpL9zQEln_YHy9LK-rX5nL24XE73tbyBF81UM5vSOVyoRLyYNhR14QLivHA/s1600/IMG_8143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSqYi6p6PMjKEZIaKEcBOJGM1a_XlIADJi8wB6AiGiq5vAmCKhJknSg3-NCWOqkUQEn4DyjsIpeCC4SUkcpL9zQEln_YHy9LK-rX5nL24XE73tbyBF81UM5vSOVyoRLyYNhR14QLivHA/s1600/IMG_8143.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swabbing the deck, me hearty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm so proud of my girls and feel so grateful that my job allows me to do all the crazy transportation (one attends camp in the morning, the other in the afternoon, in different age groups) that goes along with this great summer experience every year. I've also been busy finishing up a few TpT projects and getting ready for the big sale, being a crazy Type A person home for the summer who is crazily tearing apart our attic, basement, playroom, garage, and little one's room to purge and reorganize (almost done!!!!), and soon we will be heading off for a wonderful Vermont vacation! Whew, I can't wait! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In the meantime, enjoy your wonderful summer if you are not already back at school (if you are, Happy New School Year!!!) and don't forget to fill up your cart for the TpT sale! Click below to head on over:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Forever-First-Grade-By-Lindsey-Brooks" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsb51HfOko3XZ3eZrJiaVTIt8tnYcHW25dAsXvPSP8OmfoYl6ZiD7gbbGkMrfJxArME6bOxi8Illz5lfRw7pTnO2D99HtNqQDocdh1XMaEJqfUtM1qup7ZuRuqiB2Woo80PIFa_mPe1w/s1600/Store+banner+BTS+Sale.jpg" height="80" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center>
My newest products are Boho Birds Labels for Math Tools and SMARTboard attendance:</center>
<center>
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Labels-for-Math-Tools-52-Labels-with-Photographs-Boho-Birds-Theme-1361067" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCC5DcKpcSbzGf3BKHPsbnMCO4_5ttjLlnB9gpRZfigYBxGqXf_wkDilpwqK10FPNmqZeYctAsVoGV_tvFYRgxyWgAs6eF7qzmpOK4ytgl1D9U0lcDRB_Fko8X2Yl2y3Pj8xG9AFhXys/s1600/Math+labels+Boho+Birds+Cover.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Boho-Bird-Theme-1362493" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DPTFp62SK63D7zJNqjDSaGI5uWhgWEzjnoFpf0LrDoDy1MP14GdTb4-10YtpnR8MOp7quMGZyQYmSPTK-J7lruQIDlONpkSVBeuFUjFUbQ9EzjfJaUBhplb9qS_-a8DroHJEThLlo4E/s1600/Boho+bird+smartboard+attendance.png" height="610" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Aren't they pretty? It was requested by a TpT buyer... and I like it so much I almost want to change my owly classroom theme. Almost...!!!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-63888592103831450772014-07-25T20:29:00.004-04:002014-07-25T20:29:44.342-04:00Solving the Morning Work HEADACHE!<center style="text-align: left;">
I have a love/hate relationship with morning work. I love that it is a routine, useful thing for students to do when they are unpacked but others are still coming in. I love that it's independent and encourages my students to read and follow directions. I love that it gets my kids settled and ready for the day. I love that it reviews important concepts.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I hate finding it.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I hate that I am super well-planned and usually have all of my copying, etc., done for my lessons done with plenty of time to spare, but that there is no particular morning work that I use (other than random things that fit what I'm teaching), so I spend more time looking for and deciding on THAT than actual lessons. I don't want to spend time on morning work. I want to spend the 5 free minutes I have before the kids come connecting with my friends and colleagues since we don't have common lunches or prep times. <i>And because I like them. And it relaxes me and makes me happy, and what better way to greet my kiddos?</i></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Here is me thinking about morning work:</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQluT3qP9ag0fQRqdosUzw21tjyXKCLd9RfJ1kcQFPQlC6aP2s-oA-CqFQIy7beKNSZDCb3RwHVRyV2NqO4ttIZ3x9MQ1DCKQna-6bDwattWt-XPvzsqzlKZzPSenUxAA2S0yrZhKh04/s1600/headache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidQluT3qP9ag0fQRqdosUzw21tjyXKCLd9RfJ1kcQFPQlC6aP2s-oA-CqFQIy7beKNSZDCb3RwHVRyV2NqO4ttIZ3x9MQ1DCKQna-6bDwattWt-XPvzsqzlKZzPSenUxAA2S0yrZhKh04/s1600/headache.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ow. My head.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Here's the thing. I have lots of great review worksheets that I can use as morning work. I can also whip up a mean set of morning work boxes in no time. But WHY?</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Of course each year is different, but I essentially teach the same concepts around the same time each year. So WHY am I spending time choosing and re-choosing morning work every day of every year? It makes no sense. And so... </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3bs1Vc3V-c9RTsn-DwFyRfDDULPtNwgMYx1fMlpeEZu3FZCt-YCkCI0C79oloDZldAjRV3BxnP0AbznnYKkG3dOphIi6IbQC_i6JYDIzL2qogeboR-ZFea414Z3pW-0lseM0m_cxu8U/s1600/resized_piseed-off-harry-meme-generator-it-ends-now-beb316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3bs1Vc3V-c9RTsn-DwFyRfDDULPtNwgMYx1fMlpeEZu3FZCt-YCkCI0C79oloDZldAjRV3BxnP0AbznnYKkG3dOphIi6IbQC_i6JYDIzL2qogeboR-ZFea414Z3pW-0lseM0m_cxu8U/s1600/resized_piseed-off-harry-meme-generator-it-ends-now-beb316.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It was a major goal of mine this summer to create morning work that I can use OVER AND OVER each year. I wanted it to be relevant and cover a variety of topics so that I am not digging for morning work to review math one day, word study the next, and so on. And heck, make it Common Core based, because I teach in a CC state. And so it begins! </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Enter... <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank">Morning Stretch</a>!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQJCVnv1bjrit3J532AwatKdHysBjHXFWpVtX2Z5LVPr3oWIx3E5R_X1wwaxkDAw3JifwNxV3xPdlD6GJMKtaJOy8-cYNTolDxrw7NGjEDTifO5jLg4-lcNXv8TaeyQBdL94YHjs8zgo/s1600/morning+work+cover.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
I'm super excited about it! Here are a few sample pages:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBFLficYXRFcg601AeuiAWkAAPWTvnOp6vyxKqYMheR-xPggE5nAUdAExqis1xIT_0ZdOHNZCzcoQnGJTbxrL0dbIJYqXw15Awe5GvA7L4dyOzC4nN_rh5eTgXvSqoM8k1Ca1wyUl6lk/s1600/morning+work+4.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7x6I219L5G3HOzRJA3JxtaKf16vu2KQJsfIZZ3kD-cVLQk18VdwxpDxVmKzcIgSAQT3YOh3cPDITaUf17hNqyt4eITTQ2P7WpWhAExse8NA3MnhuLhyphenhyphenwHDNAvKoXSRjYt0QGENjA48kU/s1600/morning+work+5.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhCoR5RyQhce7XHAKdRA3wTbWTqhP71TkisESj-3C8fAqF_XfiPZZyaV7zLxwbzKQDcUTqa841r7H32wy9CZdmrFwRwLQH4Tp_kKidN37kwQeVISrdwaLwTRmc4QG-Cf8IsKRKmIeUAw/s1600/morning+work+6.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OsM904RxilIqOq-d8Y3fe_jxgQilEZjJXfJIfDXWsziTnfTMnufrl-rADwDA5J2rhNvHXG_G9-xp1NZ_lxunKUTxMQbw_soomPabZys1rMQAw6H8zT-Tk22UUPwgP5NfueAfc8T-OMc/s1600/morning+work+7.png" height="400" width="300" /></a><span id="goog_127232422"></span><span id="goog_127232423"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
You may notice that each page has a blank face that asks how students feel today. That's because I want to know. (My tagline is "Taking care of little minds <i>and hearts</i>"). There's a story behind this. When I used to throw together morning work boxes, I'd sometimes throw that "How are you feeling?" space in there because it was easy. (Yes, I said it.) It was one less problem I had to make up or spelling feature to work out. BUT... it often turned out to be the most informative piece of their morning work. When a student is angry or sad when they walk in the door, we are sometimes too busy with kid stories and lunch money and library books and emails from parents and the office to notice right away (Again.. I said it. Teacher truth.). I quickly found that this little box of feelings gave me incredibly important insight into my kiddies' hearts. And so. It stays.</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
I am really happy Morning Stretch! You can find it in <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Forever-First-Grade-By-Lindsey-Brooks" target="_blank">my TpT store</a> here - <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Morning-Work-Common-Core-Morning-Stretch-SEPTEMBER-1315858" target="_blank">Morning Stretch September</a></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Here's a sneak peek at October!</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wu1rJvMpC7SdklhipsQgrmbJKwbcS3coUGdwvWe2Ly7ryKtU_AmOXt0-nkqMMv956I1q1FYTO_ZtPUwFQla9Jbi6HhrSE1mvMJ5oP64vudGdvLfYE956NpMXIIlOjs7YP0rDwbHQ6Xg/s1600/Morning+stretch+october+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wu1rJvMpC7SdklhipsQgrmbJKwbcS3coUGdwvWe2Ly7ryKtU_AmOXt0-nkqMMv956I1q1FYTO_ZtPUwFQla9Jbi6HhrSE1mvMJ5oP64vudGdvLfYE956NpMXIIlOjs7YP0rDwbHQ6Xg/s1600/Morning+stretch+october+cover.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk77gmRCKfOS0a7DYxY3c_XtvUEG6kY0D6aKoi-Y8ETHxb0OKw6fO7V-VCEGV5HGpMewx6DN7JF71ByE5YsVw-i-VOPXu9_uRsXvC186P0O7Q5MVuj2S8eeTFTD9hve1EvfJGgk2Ccd0/s1600/october+morning+stretch+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhk77gmRCKfOS0a7DYxY3c_XtvUEG6kY0D6aKoi-Y8ETHxb0OKw6fO7V-VCEGV5HGpMewx6DN7JF71ByE5YsVw-i-VOPXu9_uRsXvC186P0O7Q5MVuj2S8eeTFTD9hve1EvfJGgk2Ccd0/s1600/october+morning+stretch+1.png" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyxQh-BiXigBTWe3eyfZS7b5QHgHbIhx3CH-crIEvtZqm4zThM1cg6ODdjBtR1Wfj5_6AanvS7xqcL0aa7iFJbFdKzP7BAJ1GALcRh9R2haBWBNzZM6pd0cLdpkeQ4qMZuBr5166tzPA/s1600/october+morning+stretch+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyxQh-BiXigBTWe3eyfZS7b5QHgHbIhx3CH-crIEvtZqm4zThM1cg6ODdjBtR1Wfj5_6AanvS7xqcL0aa7iFJbFdKzP7BAJ1GALcRh9R2haBWBNzZM6pd0cLdpkeQ4qMZuBr5166tzPA/s1600/october+morning+stretch+8.png" height="320" width="241" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Do you have morning work headaches?</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-45286725501599202572014-07-23T16:43:00.001-04:002014-07-23T16:43:06.408-04:00Wordless Wednesday! July 23: The BIGGER, the Better!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://secondgradesugarandspice.blogspot.com/2014/07/wordless-wednesday-july-23-color-me-teal.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCI1UEampA13em_4KVZCOYP4zfLJKZSeE7NBHZ560rUOGHb7Y7GZ0kUSyduuOXebkuic5D4x8-8XY2krAFuh7DbdjY5szIr8V_brygV5FBKyOY9Mw80yCGdWRXPv0ynm2F1HfrYJEnZI/s1600/WordlessWednesdayLinkyPic+-+Sugar+and+Spice+Miss+deCarbo.png" height="411" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Today I'm linking up with Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday!</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINkT7_XnXbvvGZ1yyL7eA-vAonbhAZ0LhXQQTWmXdDKmQB_rQ5Y1jbvbd11TYB_VIzLZfqfqRKvVySNgP7v_ZnZg34dAMpIh-xSTbMzo_3fZas7DBcN0LtLIyOMORteASSLc7z1cZrb8/s1600/blog+7+23+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINkT7_XnXbvvGZ1yyL7eA-vAonbhAZ0LhXQQTWmXdDKmQB_rQ5Y1jbvbd11TYB_VIzLZfqfqRKvVySNgP7v_ZnZg34dAMpIh-xSTbMzo_3fZas7DBcN0LtLIyOMORteASSLc7z1cZrb8/s1600/blog+7+23+14.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
This picture is a little old, before I got cutie patootie owl schedule cards to match my theme, <i>but I digress... </i>I have always liked using magnetic numbers to show the date. I think they look neater than writing, and let's be real... anything to save me a minute writing on the board every day? I'll take it! I also sometimes use the set of magnetic numbers for math demonstrations, etc.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The only problem with my board numbers was that they were way too SMALL. I am really lucky to have a big classroom, and I want to make sure that the kids can see the date easily, as they have to write it relatively often. Same goes for math demos... bigger is definitely better. So I finally bit the bullet this summer and ordered THESE:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmvsSlrcnkGxNzrY_FAmtqBGW78svPHTa3NrmEm9RE7LeIuLvADT6zKAvCJbemPbD7OhBPSIAsAo3YG7ZA_3wWi0Xsrj_K953JNIx52siCU4O1AiuGomPkLWreXen_4AOoV_cHoG3oeI/s1600/magnetic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmvsSlrcnkGxNzrY_FAmtqBGW78svPHTa3NrmEm9RE7LeIuLvADT6zKAvCJbemPbD7OhBPSIAsAo3YG7ZA_3wWi0Xsrj_K953JNIx52siCU4O1AiuGomPkLWreXen_4AOoV_cHoG3oeI/s1600/magnetic.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It's Lakeshore's <a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/product/productDet.jsp?productItemID=1%2C689%2C949%2C371%2C928%2C155&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181113&bmUID=1406148074238" target="_blank">GIANT Magnetic Numbers & Operations Kit</a>. I ordered it for $29.99. I love that it comes with counters and symbols along with the numbers. Perfect! And it's BIG! </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
What are you looking to improve around your classroom this year?</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-18693725675371298932014-07-19T19:16:00.002-04:002014-07-19T19:16:19.252-04:00A Teacherly Initiation<center style="text-align: left;">
A year in the life of a teacher (add hubby and kids and TpT shop) is pretty busy and crazy, so it can be hard to remember what on earth I was doing last summer (or yesterday), but one of the very memorable things I did just about a year ago was begin my lil TpT shop!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Dashboard" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjtSgKHtJ4TdFSwy8mhNpY027vUHdNEz-Sj1gc_JIv2KIeN5Pm8BchjQ6r8fKW-MOKXx4SYnk92i7TyhxhI6us6QNOXcA2l04r63ut3fL1FLhjcMW_DBQvKNE78WiHcU6yBWSeyOUGkA/s1600/Round+Logo.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Back then, I didn't have a nice, round logo (well, no one did... the site used square logos. Remember?) or even exactly the same store name, but I did have ideas and the will to learn. Fast forward a year and now my hubby are lucky enough to reap some rewards from my TpT earnings, including replacing these babies which have been with us since we first got married 16 years ago!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGn2oWMaT5h69uS-n7X-dFYC1e-QXZTrErnOcs2UKEdox57bkOGD-Qmid39a8EfIpSXBxcMu3-9QoYwZmlv0gA8XYxPS_f_CMCF3q8aPyhjj3xLZnNt-n_41pKh8C1sB-LyKhb37DqJU/s1600/IMG_7933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGn2oWMaT5h69uS-n7X-dFYC1e-QXZTrErnOcs2UKEdox57bkOGD-Qmid39a8EfIpSXBxcMu3-9QoYwZmlv0gA8XYxPS_f_CMCF3q8aPyhjj3xLZnNt-n_41pKh8C1sB-LyKhb37DqJU/s1600/IMG_7933.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Oh, friends, you have served me well. Well, mostly. Other than the fact that for about two years now I have had to run loads through the dryer twice to actually get them dry. But I can't complain, you have been there for me. I hope the guys from Home Depot who hauled you away have big plans for you (or at least organ donation for your parts).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was time. Hubby and I brought the girls to Home Depot, and all of the appliances that light up and sing and do fancy things like... um... make ice... kept the girls occupied while we took care of ordering our new W/D set. We had researched at home so it was pretty easy. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fast forward about a week to delivery day... they arrived, knocked on the door, and... <i>the heavens opened</i>. I kid you not, it went from a perfectly sunny day to a horrendous rainstorm with thunder and lightning. My hubby went out to the truck and he and the guys were stranded there!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAci3pFwXYotFqKqUdCD-iEkbv5lg-4C1WVXHC215tAbyPa2aQY6x6s3mrhHo6dKbS35HvLoBDoEeZlOOb91cETP0p6BZsd3R-x-A0-NAp5RyLFBcYxqJW0BXj3pdIPBGEim5wHl9E_V0/s1600/IMG_7936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAci3pFwXYotFqKqUdCD-iEkbv5lg-4C1WVXHC215tAbyPa2aQY6x6s3mrhHo6dKbS35HvLoBDoEeZlOOb91cETP0p6BZsd3R-x-A0-NAp5RyLFBcYxqJW0BXj3pdIPBGEim5wHl9E_V0/s1600/IMG_7936.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But the heroes of Home Depot and my Handsome Hubs made it happen (thank you SO much, guys!), and here are my huge and lovely new washer and dryer!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOk2We-8M8Gt6e6b9dWeDspFzOddMO3bxNG5gHEYwZLzw-qVS29Cd03AHBzp0ZVT3mmIfW_hfTR9NqXXJlZuBJmdup_6TnoXljlkjsuNM-pW_939r6RM5CrHlP9yVYCdoUvl9z0mdhFo/s1600/IMG_7937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOk2We-8M8Gt6e6b9dWeDspFzOddMO3bxNG5gHEYwZLzw-qVS29Cd03AHBzp0ZVT3mmIfW_hfTR9NqXXJlZuBJmdup_6TnoXljlkjsuNM-pW_939r6RM5CrHlP9yVYCdoUvl9z0mdhFo/s1600/IMG_7937.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you, Tpt!!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So where's the teacherly initiation in all of this? My first wash load was... drumroll... MY CHAIR POCKETS! I can't believe I could fit them all in one load and still have <i>so much space!</i> What!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CUIlrsKjVhtdKkMNLnXj68DCgMKbbIJJBMnuQIahKi33D9L0ReRqPFVeGDYocy3msXHlKNrpe2yIyGglyFFAz5ksvRjQmfTrMudwY7rC-29wtWNG9yoBUAL9J-4LfYoRP7VWqzmQkWI/s1600/IMG_7938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CUIlrsKjVhtdKkMNLnXj68DCgMKbbIJJBMnuQIahKi33D9L0ReRqPFVeGDYocy3msXHlKNrpe2yIyGglyFFAz5ksvRjQmfTrMudwY7rC-29wtWNG9yoBUAL9J-4LfYoRP7VWqzmQkWI/s1600/IMG_7938.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friends, <i>I have never SEEN those suckers come out so CLEAN. </i>EVER!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7py5itdC31-ROqvpAFylfC62vex7YflxfwU0Nab2jc5-d8DxRqyAdL6pR2ZH1SAK3FQa1Bmdz4oNFhTQZpyV8Ar2fLPuVkkSdeo61Y_aHaBqU0t9yqmc7pQ9_HfUGyJ79tkO1FQYhXA/s1600/IMG_7939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7py5itdC31-ROqvpAFylfC62vex7YflxfwU0Nab2jc5-d8DxRqyAdL6pR2ZH1SAK3FQa1Bmdz4oNFhTQZpyV8Ar2fLPuVkkSdeo61Y_aHaBqU0t9yqmc7pQ9_HfUGyJ79tkO1FQYhXA/s1600/IMG_7939.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I couldn't put them in the dryer, so here they are, all perty and clean and hanging on my lil drying rack. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I am pretty much in awe of my new W/D and the fact that I was able to buy them with TpT earnings. So glad I took that plunge a year ago! Ready to jump in with your own store? Click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Signup/referral:Elexie" target="_blank">HERE</a>! Thank you, TpT!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" style="text-align: center;" /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-29524518209614056382014-07-15T10:25:00.000-04:002014-07-15T10:25:03.921-04:00The Candy Class' 500 Follower Giveaway!<center style="text-align: left;">
Hey, all! I've joined up with Jolene at <a href="http://thecandyclass.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Candy Class</a> to help her celebrate 500 followers! She's having a 5-day giveaway on her blog, so check it out! </center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thecandyclass.blogspot.com/2014/07/500-follower-giveaway-day-three.html" target="_blank"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVfmVGyE4lpeqKH7Hh4A_Yh2VcE5mf8aNddMiCHrYLlnDEEhsUbdKEk6A2OTg5JmCmO2dfPynqqbxwJ-IrxoCoEibHweBw2-kBKFRhGME0bus4avxg6FZRai2jZlus-eXA0Nz6tnkm1w/s320/Slide01.jpg" width="320" /></a></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Today is Day 3, and she is giving away lots of great prizes for both K-2 (including my bestselling <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Are-Friends-Reading-Comprehension-Pack-1077895" target="_blank">Frog and Toad Are Friends Reading Comprehension Pack</a>!) and 6 - 8</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmvNlEH1MY947OA1b6jtv1SglI_slgGwpdH46ZwTsx1h8mMjde7ClyvfKnHCUwZCe89Mm3Ocg7C2CAzhMorY1zGhbCf9c77BmCTOEjfclVFiQ37lrS7juvuaLpXIaehZBNDGMZBLZysM/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmvNlEH1MY947OA1b6jtv1SglI_slgGwpdH46ZwTsx1h8mMjde7ClyvfKnHCUwZCe89Mm3Ocg7C2CAzhMorY1zGhbCf9c77BmCTOEjfclVFiQ37lrS7juvuaLpXIaehZBNDGMZBLZysM/s1600/Untitled.png" height="345" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRy4C_nnVv_V6vvdxWKhEBxKFKA7T0C-2T6Ixc7vqc6u1L5IejlEJ3rj-YghaC3fqRLHakzTd0HMKP_gL318_fYkvTMuDRLy1Iw7ET6rsSXfVEjtlvCYe27l5uYX1JRTF1vRSvnoCPOY/s320/Slide07.jpg" width="320" /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
Want to win? Just enter through the Rafflecopter here or on Jolene's blog! Good luck and congrats, Jolene!</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<a id="rc-a1df373" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a1df373/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>
<a id="rc-a1df374" class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/a1df374/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget.rafflecopter.com/load.js"></script>
<br /></center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-26019888943565395682014-07-12T00:00:00.000-04:002014-07-13T22:23:02.952-04:00You Oughta Know About... Smart Apps for Kids AND Automatic Downloads!<center style="text-align: center;">
I am so excited about this! Today I am linking up with Jasmine from<a href="http://buzzingwithmrsmcclain.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Buzzing with Mrs. McClain</a> for the You Oughta Know Blog Hop, where teachers are shouting out about things that work well in the classroom!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://buzzingwithmrsmcclain.blogspot.com/2014/07/you-oughta-know-aboutusing-bathroom.html#more" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KbU-8l2z_HddIk6uNEBAIGzje9jJ4CEyzQPzH8HOYs4064lGQ8odHMMbucNI4Uq31n83iwjLSbuySMJ5LGfG1WxE8FJkOwFCbCBf9xE70uityEEMi7ginr2Y0iewprJdMhY2InZUzVk/s1600/yououghtaknowbloghopbanner.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
So here's what I think you oughta know about... If you have iPads in your classroom, you NEED to know about the website <a href="http://www.smartappsforkids.com/" target="_blank">Smart Apps for Kids</a>! </center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.smartappsforkids.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7SMcINBbQXAizzULbMnH-FQ6HqZk2lQ7STb6Gn219kEIln7HEb4vOkTDlE-HuI9LKAkgi4edd5PwvNeP03zrU9RL-SnYzBFHATMq6ETtW-zvVce2M6tvma4WA1YFrOTpGM9VmWTDiyA/s1600/6a00e3982283618833019aff38fd19970b-900wi.png" height="70" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Smart Apps for Kids is <i>ahhhhhhmazing</i>. I kid you not! Every day they feature a Free App of the Day (generally for preschool or elementary but sometimes older). But most days they feature ridiculous amounts of free and discounted apps. The apps are not theirs - they scout out what is free right now and tell you about it! Most days there are several apps listed and on Fridays they host Free App Friday, which often features over $100 in free apps! The apps they feature are sometimes free for that day only or a few days only, so be sure to check them out and grab what you like while it is <i>free!</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-04iYJatY4Fz1Vgb7_sgWMENrxU5CKAzyYIS-AOI4ozpVCTxev1CBcYOediztNB-e_VQf9jKQPcN40qYxLRJ9eSXJRcYyyTDKl93EJcIeK79860gFYJkQ2TF35rg1b9GzPLexg0ml4PE/s1600/9cz8jbKcE.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-04iYJatY4Fz1Vgb7_sgWMENrxU5CKAzyYIS-AOI4ozpVCTxev1CBcYOediztNB-e_VQf9jKQPcN40qYxLRJ9eSXJRcYyyTDKl93EJcIeK79860gFYJkQ2TF35rg1b9GzPLexg0ml4PE/s1600/9cz8jbKcE.gif" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In my classroom, I have 4 iPads (and typically about 22 kids). We use them for projects, etc., but when we have indoor recess, the kids have free time on the iPads on a rotating schedule and I need to have good stuff on there that they can use independently but is also educationally relevant. I don't have an app budget at all... zero dollars... so Smart Apps for Kids has been a lifesaver! I subscribe to them via email and Twitter so that I don't have to remember to go and check every day to see what's new.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also... and here comes the second thing You Oughta Know... did you know that if you have multiple iPads, you can download something on one of them and have it automatically download on your others? It's TRUE! Go into Settings and on the left hand side scroll down to iTunes & App Store. You can see it hilighted on the left in the picture:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ235ugBDN4-WDPRRYzDvbmpiE1N44ZSEz87QgoXAeO2JM8AWhbPeEtx2oiUFM0OPmFVVLduXd7wJW5x6ABnPUZ5DMDqDqa9AgYrVujuPRC2Pu_bQJtpPZPbuRoU39veFYbWesnNrKP8/s1600/ipad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZ235ugBDN4-WDPRRYzDvbmpiE1N44ZSEz87QgoXAeO2JM8AWhbPeEtx2oiUFM0OPmFVVLduXd7wJW5x6ABnPUZ5DMDqDqa9AgYrVujuPRC2Pu_bQJtpPZPbuRoU39veFYbWesnNrKP8/s1600/ipad.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Then see where it says Automatic Downloads on the right? Yup... you can turn that on or off for Music, Apps, Books, and Updates and it will automatically work on any other iPad you have with the same Apple ID (the email ID that you use in the App Store). In the picture above, you can see that Music and Books are turned on and Apps and Updates are turned off. I just slide the little bar to the right to turn them on and, <i>presto</i>, I only have to download things on one iPad to have them show up on all 4!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Because I wanted a different email on my home iPads/iTunes account and my classroom iPads (I didn't want all of my classroom stuff showing up on my home devices and vice versa - yikes!), I set up a gmail account just for my school iPads and made that my userID. Since I only download free apps, I don't worry about linking any accounts to it or anything, and I have never once had to actually check that email account since I set it up. :) </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
This tip is especially helpful for both saving time downloading new apps onto all of your devices (you can do this with your home stuff, too) but updating everything at once automatically - <i>yes, please</i>! :) Hope these tips make your life a little bit easier when it comes to managing iPads in the classroom and finding quality free apps. :)</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Speaking of making your life easier, I have just posted something I've needed myself for a long time - <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Morning-Work-First-Grade-September-1315858" target="_blank">Morning Stretch</a>! It's Common Core aligned September morning work for first grade. Talk about making my own life easier... and I am known to scramble in the morning to figure out what morning work I want to give! (Fortunately, I'm the only one who knows that.... and now you, lol). </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Morning-Work-First-Grade-September-1315858" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2zaSHQ_K6lHCX5hsI3zVEX6KNPfd4iKsUv-7SRcksEgYIalEWkBBT1L9ZztsO1pW1g1xfs9aDwa_Ayg3fO5HdzAfht4EDVieZDCQ4-xWNIqlcmW6E8emtlKfJNH3h2BoHbdTHcbM8Mc/s1600/morning+work+cover.png" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Check... done... one less thing to worry about in September! I'll bring you more on this soon, but for now, guess what else you oughta know about? The great ideas from the other teacher in the You Ought Know hop!<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<br />
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<!-- start InLinkz script -->
<br />
<div class="InLinkzContainer" id="421760">
<a href="http://new.inlinkz.com//luwpview.php?id=421760" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div>
<script src="http://static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js?v=007" type="text/javascript"></script>
<!-- end InLinkz script -->
<br />
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-80114632027887307342014-07-08T22:00:00.004-04:002014-07-08T22:00:30.674-04:00Fab Vocab!<center style="text-align: left;">
When you read aloud to your class, you come across lots of great vocabulary words, right? There is so much rich conversation around these words that happens when we are having story discussions, but what happens to those amazing new words after that? If you don't keep using them, they just flutter away when the book ends.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Now, don't get me wrong. I don't expect my firsties to remember and use tons of new story vocabulary, especially if there isn't anything to "stick" it to our classroom lives (for example, some of the farm vocabulary in <u>Charlotte's Web</u>, which I adore, and read every year). But there are lots of colorful, descriptive words that we come across in books that the kids <i>could </i>be using in everyday life if we scaffold it.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
How do I do that in my classroom? I keep a stack of index cards and a Sharpie nearby when I am reading and when I come to a word that I think is fascinating (oh I definitely play up cool new words), I'll say something like, "Wow, that's a great/smart/interesting new word! (Or "whoa, that sounds like a high school word!" - They think that is the super coolest thing ever) How can I remember that word?" I'll scratch my chin and look around and then <i>amazingly</i> find just what I needed to jot that word down! So I'll write it down and say it a few times (of course, the kids get into it too, they like to say fancy new words). And then I'll look all confused again and say, "Wait, what did that mean?" And since we discussed it in story context, they are more than happy to remind me. So smart, those firsties. So smart. </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Then I wonder aloud how I can remember what it means. Sometimes a problem solver will suggest to draw a picture. If they don't, I'll suggest it after they've given me some ideas. Now, all of this takes a very brief amount of time, and I don't want to stop and draw right now and totally lose the mojo of the story. So I'll ask if anyone can do me the <i>huge </i>favor of reminding us all what that word means. I am never short on volunteers for that job. I'll pick someone, they take the card to their table and illustrate while we continue reading. They keep listening too, and often I'll find my illustrators stopping to look up at the story, staying connected.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
When the illustration is done, they bring it back to me (usually I am still reading) and I just quietly reach out my hand to take it. I'll lay the card down until after the story and then show it to the class. I do ask the illustrator to put his/her name on the back. Then I add it to the "FAB VOCAB" section on our word wall. These are not like our sight words on the word wall - I do not expect them to be spelled correctly, etc., should the kids use them in their writing. And the great thing is that <i>they do!</i> Once a fab vocab word goes up, I'll use it if I can when I am teaching or talking and the kids follow my lead. It's pretty awesome at the end of the year to have a nice collection of great vocab words and kids who actually use them in everyday language! (Many of my kids speak English very well but are bilingual, often speaking Chinese or several Indian dialects at home, and they still get to know lots of great new words!)</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3YUP9I_H7ggeN0G2VelJ8g0wxBuxfDwPSRgezrzWdOe31sNmItDhiwXrGdD57BUsqpx7SGBvQ3jOtGSQ1f1NnwSQk-yknS5_3f93DwmqTR9Au1NVI67ixyOS9sDOzv5BJG91ORv22wY/s1600/July+3+2014+iphone+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3YUP9I_H7ggeN0G2VelJ8g0wxBuxfDwPSRgezrzWdOe31sNmItDhiwXrGdD57BUsqpx7SGBvQ3jOtGSQ1f1NnwSQk-yknS5_3f93DwmqTR9Au1NVI67ixyOS9sDOzv5BJG91ORv22wY/s1600/July+3+2014+iphone+064.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Of course, I don't do this with every new word in every book we read*. Lots of times the kids will ask to put new words on the Fab Vocab board and I'll say "Not right now", mainly because it would take way too much time to do that with every new word in every book I read. We save it mainly for our chapter books and I do refer to it during writing lessons on word choice, but it is always there. At the end of the year, I just pull them down and send them home with the illustrators.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
*I also don't have a plan <i>at all... like... ever...</i> for what words will go up here. It happens completely in the moment when we read new and interesting words in context, so every year the Fab Vocab board is totally different!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
How do you help your kids to hang on to some of the new and rich language in the stories that you read together?</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-58663414875140854872014-07-02T13:23:00.002-04:002014-07-02T13:23:30.296-04:00July Currently<center style="text-align: left;">
Hey guys! I know, it's been a while... We finished school at the end of June and I needed a little bit of a break from all things schooly! This year was great in some ways and very challenging in others so I do welcome the drop in intensity that comes with summer! Today I am linking up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2014/06/july-currently.html" target="_blank">Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade</a> for a July "Currently"!</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbUZxm_TCT6Y37ZfC8cCf9CL0P-8TVy8kI_GtzfYY1gnK8j3g5rpxaXZYkAstsn2cbR699fYDL7xbdKcM3METvIY78-j9nutgGIfBhLLLspfY60OKrpiXHO_YbxUMwUaLbMOTcFVY44M/s1600/July+currently.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbUZxm_TCT6Y37ZfC8cCf9CL0P-8TVy8kI_GtzfYY1gnK8j3g5rpxaXZYkAstsn2cbR699fYDL7xbdKcM3METvIY78-j9nutgGIfBhLLLspfY60OKrpiXHO_YbxUMwUaLbMOTcFVY44M/s1600/July+currently.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The end of school was crazy busy and then my kids were in school a week longer so I was able to go in to some of their events, which was so much FUN! We live in an area with lots of parents who stay at home, so I know it can be hard for my girls sometimes that mom and dad can't come in for all of their events. But they are so sweet and understanding, and we get to as much as we can. I use pretty much all of my personal days for their school events. This year, that included an awesome Philly Zoo field trip for my own first grader and the <a href="http://www.locksoflove.org/" target="_blank">Locks of Love </a>event at her school where she proudly donated her long hair to help make wigs for children who have illnesses that result in hair loss.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5lxPqitYpykCVR6WHGUGgEgLLNNPM5jTUJUbAmgeMWdD1tpjLqf03M2RUEimyCM7pT3aZOXssucGoIaraNQryE5n2eowIE8o2XxzdfTfRh_nIDitMJMNZmTXsPQJAPkycR1QjmBeIA0/s1600/photo1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil5lxPqitYpykCVR6WHGUGgEgLLNNPM5jTUJUbAmgeMWdD1tpjLqf03M2RUEimyCM7pT3aZOXssucGoIaraNQryE5n2eowIE8o2XxzdfTfRh_nIDitMJMNZmTXsPQJAPkycR1QjmBeIA0/s1600/photo1.JPG" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4EpGK2VC1-Ndfj_jkAN_uqo_7oGTXsZqbP2c9oNSBP7aMOxmwqRmPxam7Aw62f6LAU8wWEJQDDkRGrMnQu6WdGSiznaGnvgX8Zf3Cf9amFVeg5N52b-zJUOk8tpIUDb6_QR9DVlwKf0/s1600/june+16+2014+cam+289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4EpGK2VC1-Ndfj_jkAN_uqo_7oGTXsZqbP2c9oNSBP7aMOxmwqRmPxam7Aw62f6LAU8wWEJQDDkRGrMnQu6WdGSiznaGnvgX8Zf3Cf9amFVeg5N52b-zJUOk8tpIUDb6_QR9DVlwKf0/s1600/june+16+2014+cam+289.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReXDmGi0DjzhgVqErEkuQLWEjVMHuAIssAmzfZz-LrGrAqpg_iaPKcTCTCrw76v8eYwdePkR9s0Kazv76l-dfWKJhSFmIpHiyiiUHf0MMiywiIpNAsUNd7zSAI2ifvWsuLQchM4Ffq1U/s1600/photo2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReXDmGi0DjzhgVqErEkuQLWEjVMHuAIssAmzfZz-LrGrAqpg_iaPKcTCTCrw76v8eYwdePkR9s0Kazv76l-dfWKJhSFmIpHiyiiUHf0MMiywiIpNAsUNd7zSAI2ifvWsuLQchM4Ffq1U/s1600/photo2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So proud of my little cutie! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Now we are juggling children's theater camp in the morning for my little one and in the afternoon for my middle schooler. Mom's taxi is racking up trips but I really don't mind... it's nice to have to go outside a few times a day, even in this 95 degree heat! (My classroom was like the arctic this year, so having to go out into the sun is a welcome change. Fortunately, my blower did get fixed at the end of the year!).</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Once I had a little breather, I was able to work on some TpT projects that I wanted to get done - updating my fall and winter writing paper packs, adding summer, and bundling all 4:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summer-Writing-Paper-1289473" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIrqXyVFvt1rOYKcy6TRfMcrQUwqPTWLrV4mSWtZRdIiRejHiHq7LL1Wez_-jLxn0zDCWdaxDApK5EOOSzN6uBfv-HrT5eQdVzKc0TPmN3vQLLYW4BVUq7tRCNDus7kD0fc4jm41G51M/s1600/Summer+paper+cover.png" height="320" width="241" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Yearlong-Seasonal-Writing-Paper-BUNDLE-1295351" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8AnhisadheowjSeMJUApwAVDbx3pet8BWIbPTn3Lvj0ZgdY8VqNWclfQv8_v7k1wp7Vk5droDiJrU_GrY11L_NuHQ5jgKEolVxTv3l-L9OinJTm8n-cCLgWHf4hr0Fy81ovceW5X4V4/s1600/Writing+paper+BUNDLE+cover.png" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Then I created a set of calendar cards and monthly headers for a friend who is doing a full year maternity leave in first grade this coming year (her first full year, congrats Erika!) and wants a Polar Pals polar bear theme:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polar-Bear-Calendar-Cards-and-Headers-1296574" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2829LgNFa6bZxCEeVn8xjdFUrhd0wA48CFOsIOD5bR3iUB5y1gnVuhZW1R5ppjV4QmgTbvRrnYs1EQOM-cRTJmpDk9wb-o8ujURz4EC3TyGKjbvNt1BuMRuQ4rVES0s8DvctQKjW0KoY/s1600/polar+bears+cover.png" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then, because I was thinking about the beginning of the year and what might make life in September the <i>teeniest bit easier</i> for myself and other teachers, I made this Grandparents Day freebie pack:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grandparents-Day-No-Prep-Freebie-Pack-1293758" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrc1gu6P5925gUy8ZYI5zKs7HSU18xX0_0O6PR8qYvFlbk38Gup5rdD4gCmhKyCXOdssozkhVIElyhB6fWTsMYpjB0c0wMARlTi18ETkj-4NGQtlEeLYvIhDL9uRuh9O9azIxf_YWn0Vw/s1600/Grandparents+Day+cover.png" height="238" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grandparents-Day-No-Prep-Freebie-Pack-1293758" target="_blank">Click to download FREE! Enjoy!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I hope you are all enjoying the summer! Looks like the storms are headed our way so we'll see whether our upcoming fun events will work out (Trenton Thunder baseball game with fireworks, friend's party, family pool day!)! Fingers crossed but I'm not so sure lol... Happy early 4th!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-49301989967007913132014-05-25T18:08:00.003-04:002014-05-25T18:08:58.173-04:0016 more days...<center style="text-align: left;">
This time of year is always bittersweet. We have 16 school days left with the kiddos, and though that equates to about three more weeks, we are definitely in the final push. I have only one DRA left to do, my DSAs (word study assessments) are done, the kids have completed their self portraits and letters to their second grade teachers... all that stuff that goes along to their second grade teacher.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Of course, we are still working... we just planted seeds, are deep into close reading, are writing memoirs, and are learning addition and subtraction strategies to take us into more difficult skills. (You know how it is... if we don't do meaningful work right up until the end, the natives will go wild! Lol).</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I am starting to feel sentimental about my kids moving on, even though this has been one of my more challenging classes. I found this great project on Pinterest that I just finished and framed to send home to parents:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZD0cP03h_Y19SnHsuN1aZSXfwMjw7XBZANiLwWdSS2A-GvqHbo-OJAYe8uOHKsHDrdKkkxdN6YSWeo95SK66pq5rvNSMe3GyS2OUzLsbxiW8HofduEaXymzPkuKcu3cAEv9hj0GQPZs/s1600/collage+2014+for+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZD0cP03h_Y19SnHsuN1aZSXfwMjw7XBZANiLwWdSS2A-GvqHbo-OJAYe8uOHKsHDrdKkkxdN6YSWeo95SK66pq5rvNSMe3GyS2OUzLsbxiW8HofduEaXymzPkuKcu3cAEv9hj0GQPZs/s1600/collage+2014+for+blog.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I wish you could see my kids' faces, they are just precious. My two little future CIA Agents (they actually said "Good guy spy for the president"... but I couldn't fit that on the chalkboard) are just peeking over the chalkboard, all secretive. So cute. It was not my original idea... it came from Pinterest, where it links back to <a href="http://www.weareteachers.com/community/blogs/teacherslounge/teachers-lounge/2013/04/22/year-end-activity-career-photo-collage" target="_blank">this blog post on We Are Teachers</a>: </center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qQASlxtOSU9WftZlHjgBCoyL_aFQEuwSnN1xd_HisxHcMSyLE9GxZLPLWYa-PGsDvG1asHbRSNrri0DaZveGyY9pDi-ZQSeTviVsMVSwdyHRcFmZBHegkCDwnAsT5H1glXn_N-Udpfc/s1600/ef9dfaec70879463772cbedfdd187df8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qQASlxtOSU9WftZlHjgBCoyL_aFQEuwSnN1xd_HisxHcMSyLE9GxZLPLWYa-PGsDvG1asHbRSNrri0DaZveGyY9pDi-ZQSeTviVsMVSwdyHRcFmZBHegkCDwnAsT5H1glXn_N-Udpfc/s1600/ef9dfaec70879463772cbedfdd187df8.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">You just take pictures and then plug them into one of the (free) pre-made collages on PicMonkey. I tried my version in black and white, but I liked it better in color with the polka dot background (which I added later in Power Point). Then I went to the Dollar Store and bought cutie patootie color frames (pink, green, and blue) for them. I am going to tie them up with a ribbon and add a poem to thank the parents for their help and getting to spend my days with their little loves.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
One more little way I am going to make the end of the year special is by changing my SMARTboard attendance to a graduation theme once June rolls around. I just posted these. Happy end of the year!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Graduation-Theme-1254670" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigKOC2EP47pWMYqlr5FE8TASlaRoeG291WkD5NtxH2jp9LtbWoBjpyEvtlWow8kMen3bY4dLz0zFPAA4Moggb7sNLEzCp8M3AlAA0BmjNH374WCIlqf9XrTGkngRdZ17oyIuMY71Iq7ZI/s1600/Graduation+SMARTboard+attendance.png" height="320" width="314" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Graduation-Theme-1254670" target="_blank">SMARTboard attendance - Graduation Theme</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I made this one for my class, The Wise Owls, but anyone can grab it on TpT!</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Graduation-Owl-Theme-1255088" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT6U3C7xUENiF2CrWi-kbfFA52lM1jwe-68MXZlWMVE-nFlDntYs5nmnvfnBzxnI0LoTXAti8XDrlGfaJROsRJraJOF2vSSmifDQKD18U3wkUIW-DmUS5Q5HL0p2YrWGbzWFde9cLKbk/s1600/Graduation+Owl+SMARTboard+attendance.png" height="320" width="319" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Graduation-Owl-Theme-1255088" target="_blank">SMARTboard Attendance - Graduation Owl Theme</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Happy summer to those of you who are already out and... 16 more days!!! :)</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-84665430452084541132014-04-19T12:32:00.001-04:002014-04-19T12:51:21.523-04:00Hoppy Spring!<center style="text-align: left;">
Did you have to make up any days during spring break because of all the snow this winter? This past week was our spring break and we had to go in on Thursday only. I know, it seems crazy to go in for one day in the middle of a week off, but it was on our calendar from the beginning as an Emergency Day, so we knew it was a possibility. We've done it before, I'm not complaining, no big deal. And I actually had 17 of my 21 kids, so I'm guessing some parents out there were probably glad school was open! :) </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The only real problem with coming in for one day in the middle of the break is that that day is like an island in the Sea of Days Before and Days After. It's very hard to do good academic work that flows from what we did in class a week ago or what we will do when we go back on Monday, so most of us did a mix of academic stand-alone activities and fun spring or Easter things. </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
One thing we really enjoyed was reading <u>The Easter Egg</u> by one of our favorite author/illustrators, Jan Brett.</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRJglpQx8FcIo0fASq9mWhjq7CpC1foqHTjfHfM9BU4W9OLhlhMY6cLq7EV63Mn2YKiJp28SgBYZuHBiQftpO7wWhfqYypcF7o4Fh5LC5fRz2XNu2mb-nYDLfxSMYb7PRSQECAheVX0Y/s1600/61yJqYiKJeL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRJglpQx8FcIo0fASq9mWhjq7CpC1foqHTjfHfM9BU4W9OLhlhMY6cLq7EV63Mn2YKiJp28SgBYZuHBiQftpO7wWhfqYypcF7o4Fh5LC5fRz2XNu2mb-nYDLfxSMYb7PRSQECAheVX0Y/s1600/61yJqYiKJeL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It's an adorable story that reminds me of <u>Arthur Writes a Story</u>, with its message of finding your own way to do something great. After reading, we did some of the great activities in <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Easter-Egg-By-Jan-Brett-Story-Activities-616666" target="_blank">this free TpT pack by Smiles from Second Grade</a>, including story mapping, summarizing, and designing our own Easter eggs.</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Easter-Egg-By-Jan-Brett-Story-Activities-616666" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWza91kVNCsltYgS9F5zzhL-bayPcaENlhMi6fnBcME8VXoGLqRo2Ra0-WtZBgDwHm9RXrFyNKaSxrhRbLM3AdexIJ56Ncvlzk6dX3apPpBZ5AW176pjPBrB7iQVfoJZWBx5Hbsb86_Q/s1600/original-616666-1.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
And some writing from my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Paper-1115441" target="_blank">Spring Writing Paper pack</a>:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Paper-1115441" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShYyXSB6vZ-CmVizaTJUNeps7pLt5YaPIwFBVWkux7Jd00P4uzN0xI6ZSWT0G7b9WkQrzjZup2Di_HPMr3U2hZgAfaTYRcaciQ3Jev4O8i0OQDQr-gXbTOnVVny4ji2Hncdi-ObTt8EM/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+cover.png" height="320" width="239" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjf2TS9hI9cDkhGY_Ncn9r5mXpUGHcUPGqY_hKZyXkbVnJMAG-olyLXw4DjPUPiNgLV13GQcnf6ZsNa2I8wFao5SOfsUWB935kYMIBqTJ3JDTmYfY84jiKOYa-sviv7nZqJmaUzaPemTg/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+10.png" height="320" width="241" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;">And boy was it refreshing to take the time to do crafts... something I know most of us feel like we can't justify anymore on normal school days even though in our hearts we feel like it's right for our kiddos to cut and color and glue. :( It was a great way to make this oddball day into something special!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
So I walked into my classroom Thursday morning and said to myself, "Hmm. What can we make with stuff I already have here?" And.... voila!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pziN62nd_K79dqP0cerui6tYZSFmRNYMpcYwTGLaWZLdqqzxDpAXbPkHSxtrfodIPa0_QvFNEe7F2WFqd3_MIZMfP6_VAEiVY6VlH2q5thuchWiGS6vBrgwUnHgnL7evkj8aJpziz_k/s1600/IMG_6631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pziN62nd_K79dqP0cerui6tYZSFmRNYMpcYwTGLaWZLdqqzxDpAXbPkHSxtrfodIPa0_QvFNEe7F2WFqd3_MIZMfP6_VAEiVY6VlH2q5thuchWiGS6vBrgwUnHgnL7evkj8aJpziz_k/s1600/IMG_6631.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Easter bunnies! <i>So. Easy. </i>And cute! I used lightweight tagboard and cut the egg shapes. (The kids could certainly do it themselves with tracers or directions, but it was faster for me to cut them - I did it freehand, 5 at a time). Then I drew the bunny head shape, hands, and feet onto one piece of white paper and photocopied it onto lightweight white tagboard (one page per student). I wish I had it here for you to download, but I left it at school - Anyway, it's super easy to draw them. :)</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
In the morning, I put out cotton balls on each table along with 6 colors of tempera paint (like I said, I used what I already had... I took out any colors that looked springy!). I modeled for the kids how to blot the cotton ball into the paint and then use it to decorate their eggs. I kept a paper plate on each table for used cotton balls.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53GwhYAHdDTvfmCbQbBhFwzkVRnzPMyVS90bpIH2EBsRfPqk26Fd2Ysy9DsiY0pzV8kQ52AnUk91DEi4as5n8rafwD7Fd8svsMEYb29xE03AHASPQviJn3MTMtPUnM06NJbiH3iFGYxs/s1600/IMG_6625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53GwhYAHdDTvfmCbQbBhFwzkVRnzPMyVS90bpIH2EBsRfPqk26Fd2Ysy9DsiY0pzV8kQ52AnUk91DEi4as5n8rafwD7Fd8svsMEYb29xE03AHASPQviJn3MTMtPUnM06NJbiH3iFGYxs/s1600/IMG_6625.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1D80-vcUrk46BQalqZ_7lvWcr0WMuGFjjYivAZDZCfZl6DInD7l0MGRZ-0dUC7PVGhg9JV0BMhqlbc8apvT7sT0v9V2fsgMTnmxAMWXPx_glj2SeidHFQFEoo1ylM5aKxm87_c0Xkhg/s1600/IMG_6627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1D80-vcUrk46BQalqZ_7lvWcr0WMuGFjjYivAZDZCfZl6DInD7l0MGRZ-0dUC7PVGhg9JV0BMhqlbc8apvT7sT0v9V2fsgMTnmxAMWXPx_glj2SeidHFQFEoo1ylM5aKxm87_c0Xkhg/s1600/IMG_6627.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I showed the kids that they could blot in stripes or randomly but they came up with some pretty good ideas. They loved getting creative!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4oead9fiIeFF0yUnlrr_uyNhmzuJke30Q2LQdHkyd6tsvb_x9qDTReALimoflcLwQ3Qt-2_L_6S6BLc5Vrdvxm9ZJeYQdX8xl2jYWXFaUOSTXadegXLLacdnJO3mXZ0g4CFWpfCs8Q4/s1600/IMG_6626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4oead9fiIeFF0yUnlrr_uyNhmzuJke30Q2LQdHkyd6tsvb_x9qDTReALimoflcLwQ3Qt-2_L_6S6BLc5Vrdvxm9ZJeYQdX8xl2jYWXFaUOSTXadegXLLacdnJO3mXZ0g4CFWpfCs8Q4/s1600/IMG_6626.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0vy5VMd6m6R0hN5b-6IBQl3GHIusT97KFYo4XXgKdKCdLYcJ8pDlUM1m2gwtPE5Sk_MZZcohBUEymmVqYrjO-lWjG6NvRf2uL_c7mgP9BZsM2ycVdcElOJ_8PAihO-B6o1_lryvaM_c/s1600/IMG_6621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0vy5VMd6m6R0hN5b-6IBQl3GHIusT97KFYo4XXgKdKCdLYcJ8pDlUM1m2gwtPE5Sk_MZZcohBUEymmVqYrjO-lWjG6NvRf2uL_c7mgP9BZsM2ycVdcElOJ_8PAihO-B6o1_lryvaM_c/s1600/IMG_6621.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3jAEy_cUtAzXekyxM4vJq8Tp3GpnMoAr0GwoNTde1PXnYwBTbmaL6M7FwqRQItmi3Jc2Ugs7pfcVvcX4QKeyCgUMt1JHhKdt-KiWND0clXIuEUViiAV3ubSN08TaEfitTqV4Sy-tZzk/s1600/IMG_6622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3jAEy_cUtAzXekyxM4vJq8Tp3GpnMoAr0GwoNTde1PXnYwBTbmaL6M7FwqRQItmi3Jc2Ugs7pfcVvcX4QKeyCgUMt1JHhKdt-KiWND0clXIuEUViiAV3ubSN08TaEfitTqV4Sy-tZzk/s1600/IMG_6622.JPG" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlu_zi__I2xNWxM_M3GdNg3TyL_PkHhcG-L46-Vw6qjAXyeoXJg6Sxgfzx2ifCJa_GnYgn0snvZU89uzDNSzQWXlqydnBaHNdwHK2ScZ1IBC4xPd-wHSgS1FsMdEjPCCz1w_FFmEtBxaI/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlu_zi__I2xNWxM_M3GdNg3TyL_PkHhcG-L46-Vw6qjAXyeoXJg6Sxgfzx2ifCJa_GnYgn0snvZU89uzDNSzQWXlqydnBaHNdwHK2ScZ1IBC4xPd-wHSgS1FsMdEjPCCz1w_FFmEtBxaI/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Tempera paint dries relatively quickly. We put them in the hallway to dry. Later in the day, I had the kids cut out the heads/hands/feet. They decorated the bunny heads however they wanted with crayons and Twistables (like colored pencils). We glued hands and feet with glue sticks and heads (since they were a little heavier) with white glue in glue bottles.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4AXRjjiY1f-QMQ32voKqqLS2Psf67yGC_2vrSKF_-SmbN_h1u2N7FAw8k08LcBbK4pMcY86_RJ52eRLiiGdQtYAakhFm6ZDsQ8Ugi14thFy2ztNAzOqbcPztD6969Czxw5uzMfMFMN0/s1600/IMG_6633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4AXRjjiY1f-QMQ32voKqqLS2Psf67yGC_2vrSKF_-SmbN_h1u2N7FAw8k08LcBbK4pMcY86_RJ52eRLiiGdQtYAakhFm6ZDsQ8Ugi14thFy2ztNAzOqbcPztD6969Czxw5uzMfMFMN0/s1600/IMG_6633.jpg" height="234" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLCg0sgE2WdC8tm0h98lwUXGJn4JxQ7vinRXcltQ1kkJAuQPd0Bk0pLK7KyWZTrTl4IXtu_KIzwb21qymp07uPD2DkKmW9wrxjgvd9GyCwgHfzeI0B9ltOHt05CqXX8O8f9rgigOVMBI/s1600/IMG_6634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLCg0sgE2WdC8tm0h98lwUXGJn4JxQ7vinRXcltQ1kkJAuQPd0Bk0pLK7KyWZTrTl4IXtu_KIzwb21qymp07uPD2DkKmW9wrxjgvd9GyCwgHfzeI0B9ltOHt05CqXX8O8f9rgigOVMBI/s1600/IMG_6634.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Hehe... you can see one of my little friends at the bottom added a hat... because we watched Here Comes Peter Cottontail and he had a hat in the video. :) I love they they came out so springy and each one has its own personality! Happy Easter!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-71985715178267871862014-03-08T20:54:00.000-05:002014-07-13T09:19:24.345-04:00SMARTboard Attendance Fun!<center style="text-align: left;">
One of my favorite things to create is SMARTboard attendance files. The kids love them because they get to move something around the SMARTboard with their names on it. SMARTboard attendance is great at the beginning of the year if your kids (like mine) have never used a SMARTboard before. Because they have to do attendance every morning, it gives them a daily interaction with the SMARTboard. They learn that it's ok to press kind of hard (some kiddies have such a light touch in the beginning) and they figure out how to manipulate items on the board. I recently updated the very first one I ever made to match my own owly classroom, and I still love it. Click on the picture to check it out in my TpT store:</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Mod-Owl-Theme-836200" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnGaJ7l11LUaN7vuUpyiLpKEL0JfDws2jHqGDG6L7uFay_WhyoNRFuL5oj_hFG7HpZEpUImruhPcviZEVwxXjXgvAejSNBKFJm4Nw_ndnIM1yIeCso9lyrCgeK8beHUeXyipQ2fComUM/s1600/mod+owl+smartboard+attendance.png" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Once I got the hang of making SMARTboard attendance files, they became one of my favorite things to make. I made some to match my colleagues' classrooms:</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Cupcake-Theme-819531" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZ4HMKESb7a9O3LVIjBBLUEovr2nWEuClo5ZcOhXFcGjCVy9BI2ag_fhIm73hNhoDvRGjn-E12sCWjL6462M_Ku42HRUl2YqI4VB6nQXq6269-m-z-ehmDYOnwc85hh1owFMQaiMKxsA/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-08-08+at+3.17.31+PM.png" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Sock-Monkey-Theme-846338" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPZrwuSVxlNN0FefELkzwbkO5GB7ZLqFXAr4Q_jNK8rNUPhMKuiLzY54IemDj7cIgytTQznD7ZzmCiNhEmOZcVBhmS1octliQkzlcjFvOvpU4P3uRAly6fAUFy4K7vQoli_pr9cZ8OEQ/s1600/Sock+Mky+screenshot1.png" height="312" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
And then some that are seasonal or holiday themed:</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Polar-Animal-Theme-1033887" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiya-Ae2nhWE43zwLQhGLtU94m5h7BZmIs5e1PqZVeyU6vKMKF6HZM-EpuZXd7u1XEDPW9mnZaGLUu8LTIZdXR-FvuIO6f7h2A_C1BeihFFTuR-xNIoqGGQ1s1-lU2-nJrcLIwTFSpfQK8/s1600/polar+friends+smartboard+attendance.png" height="320" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Glittery-Penguin-Theme-1030773" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqdVWIbey6gsm6JAzOXSl00N9BaLRnd9Z782_k8RUChcRFXEbNHgwzt-tN0sYJ6onK6STUymnFcbdmxGyLgTGXwzsblVXXjzucaSnvY-2cJXWWv7QeTSObvSwp4qaKt9n0bM_e7oP9_-M/s1600/sb+penguins1.png" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Glittery-Snowflake-Theme-1030847" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgALkpmTxPBAo2_wbmDv-ud7Uowr58h0aF_z-NW1JQWHEEUtzLkn-zEWBde0bANw3tOFifsecKtXHDgpxT2jTriDy6wRrPNc6cb0W2FBF2AO7HQpeh7IJfqSy74BnaBcmc8R7q33w8SAzU/s1600/sb+snowflakes1.png" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Glittery-Heart-Valentine-Theme-1034099" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2qHNWDo_QZIzKqyOQLDnan-SbI7gylQhHAOfi8QzXZQMSwMvUf1vBiIGIBB_yzcqoqcn7PuI8iVmWiwWfKZdDVETLAduIl0rgVD9SO7K33dfbsor3SnvErYyk-4cZZlAY7-8yFit360/s1600/valentine+smartboard+attendance.png" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
And some just for fun!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Glittery-Music-Note-Theme-1040644" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxAQwc7DfFFSais3x5Dkb3SqX2O-xeoVjQZqi-UnFne8Brm8yN4f9mYFEva7oOaLaW21nJ8u7lVY_tHA65SUACr52YxyUyYLlijbzQ0yQkHKW9Ks6S10KHzTAwxBG66CMCydqad5s9yLw/s1600/smartboard+attendance+music.png" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Space-or-Astronaut-Theme-800397" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTez6BaMIGJ-aBqcGP88VrFkfcaE3LMulqNq6PtOKBT-75-OYL6PzRJl1FW_WIXAsWt1J2cCsjPUClqYlnDI1GBqnArH9Xh9mcM200NCGpaApQ92hRSyQ3xVxrP0-NCsB0I9oUrg2kOMk/s1600/space+att.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Hollywood-Movie-Glitter-Star-Theme-1030651" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt18BcK3zzVe4QFDWgpoEikAzzVVnlxI3KYYW7faX_FVcQaJEM7Lww5w9oBq5tWf1ti6eeu0Y-757gDwTpvua3NYxv9aYrwxEKwri9XT37XJT8C-txx6IMQGoAtbDz8IDo7pbT2DqSpw0/s1600/hollywood+movie+star+smartboard+attendance.png" height="300" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Wild-West-Cowboy-Theme-812930" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFwHSq7_ZgdORH1rSkuaPq_GFblp4fK8E8dNfxMMeXEeuhf_PmOkT99T692wY9Y1lxdsGiKnP74Ixetw-Akf0Zvc8baY4_P_cPql6AlTTJph2d64wRA2KPPQzhw3uleHghdTLKZJ8HWU/s1600/western+smartboard+attendance.png" height="305" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Here is my latest one. I just made it last night after a very trying week, and it cheered me right up! I plan to use this one ONLY on student birthdays to make the day extra special. Of course, it will have to wait until next year since so many birthdays have already gone by now that it's March... but I have it ready to go and it's already one of my favorites! </center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Happy-Birthday-Theme-1150382" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBbHJ0r3tQr3eBwxrTUb5SO21EXJmm3SBu8ti7R1b-01jT7jyidpM5oebXazVYCr20NhL0XVEhwSmaCX_eecrhVQVt0TFq2JVHYOfFYOZYN0hUTqN3V44QQoXwUV8FSodzdecF8xszBA/s1600/birthday+smartboard+attendance.png" height="304" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Which one do you like best? What things do you love to create? :)</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-78151599775690666302014-02-24T22:04:00.001-05:002014-02-24T22:21:39.320-05:00Taking Care of Their Hearts (AKA Mid-Year Social Skills) <center style="text-align: left;">
Hey, friends. I was all set to do a completely different blog post today, one about the math work we are doing right now, including a freebie and announcing the upcoming TpT sale. And I'll get to that post soon, but today, something else, something arguably more important, has stopped me in my tracks.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The tagline of my blog and TpT store is "Taking care of little minds and hearts". Yes, the academics are important. But equally important is the fact that my babies are six and seven, and <i>sometimes being six and seven is hard. </i>And being adults long past six or seven, sometimes we have to consciously remind ourselves of this.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Today we were waiting for buses and there were only a few kids left in my classroom, happily chatting and playing Silent Owl (silent ball with a stuffed owl). I was walking around the classroom, changing the date and class schedule on the whiteboard to get ready for tomorrow, and tidying up around the room. And there on the floor near our coat closet, I found this:</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsDSH9-sfS5GWX0-Pg3jsy1WckN_vipla0zWgsTmal1OZN-DeWj3I9FBCLUTAiRxVl4EZ5ZmSVBZKp2QIiXvz8cdDvd_HlFc3EB-wo8XUnnssWloeg70CHBy7BCfTf-BelNmDqw9rtE4/s1600/kid+picture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsDSH9-sfS5GWX0-Pg3jsy1WckN_vipla0zWgsTmal1OZN-DeWj3I9FBCLUTAiRxVl4EZ5ZmSVBZKp2QIiXvz8cdDvd_HlFc3EB-wo8XUnnssWloeg70CHBy7BCfTf-BelNmDqw9rtE4/s1600/kid+picture.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cute, huh? I'm not sure exactly what is going on in this picture, maybe a birthday party with a balloon and cake? At a swimming pool? Outside in the sun? Regardless, it's cute. Smiling people, clearly a picture about something that made the child artist happy. And then I turned it over to look for a name. And I saw this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f12A1-l_GP2kye8RxclS0eIOSUTLH0oGLl8HgO1SoE7IpJQD73WOlqnlSgDmNhfolBN7d8FzUynXPSjN1ZPibkasu4Y06Y405HXzs3polQlimvmvCdBhcKZV1drQk67c3B1Gr26SA5c/s1600/kid+picture+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f12A1-l_GP2kye8RxclS0eIOSUTLH0oGLl8HgO1SoE7IpJQD73WOlqnlSgDmNhfolBN7d8FzUynXPSjN1ZPibkasu4Y06Y405HXzs3polQlimvmvCdBhcKZV1drQk67c3B1Gr26SA5c/s1600/kid+picture+2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I literally felt my heart sink. The rest of the kids were called to their buses and the room was empty and I was standing there holding a picture that someone felt the need to write that on. I have no idea whose it is. The spelling doesn't give it away because I have a very high class this year and many of them would have no trouble writing this well.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
So now I am trying to decide what to do. My class this year has needed <i>a lot</i> of work on social skills, taking turns, working together, thinking of others. If you remember, in <a href="http://forever1stgrade.blogspot.com/2014/02/oops-i-assumed.html" target="_blank">one of my recent posts</a>, some of them truly thought that doing their homework was considered an act of kindness. The thing is, not one of them is a mean kid. Sometimes you have really difficult and negative kids or kids who have poor attitudes or are mean to others. My kids are not like that. Each one of them is truly very sweet, but I have a lot of kids who struggle with impulse control and think of themselves before others. Some of this is just the egocentricity of their age, and some of it I think it just the mix of personalities and the fact that a group of my boys are neighbors and it's a lot of togetherness. They are all really neat kids, some just happen to need more work on social skills. And so tomorrow, we will take the time to address this in an impromptu class meeting. I don't even plan to show them the picture, just bring it up as a hypothetical and act out some solutions. We do this pretty regularly, and I have seen some improvements.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Which brings me to some of the other things that have helped my class to take care of each others' hearts this and every year:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Teaching-emotion-communication-children/dp/1885477910" target="_blank">The Social Skills Picture Book</a>:</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Teaching-emotion-communication-children/dp/1885477910" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99EcJG-_UY4eD7tO2CQLLhyphenhyphengGMXyiMDsKMcq8C3wRFm04sEM0u9uIRAkAS3ltPnY2Lclt9TOTIvNHgSyYqMphu-2uyBQwD2UsSyexnbIQBC56UQIdZFyyqoKA7fpXLSE3s5saaU9hGgc/s1600/51S-BoPpsTL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I. Love. This. Book. Yes, it is technically a book for students with autism. But it's also just a book that clearly names and defines basic social skills. I was introduced to it by a longtime first grade teacher who used it in her class for years, and I have used it with my class every September for the past few years. It's not a book you read to the kids. But it introduces some basic social skills that are important to every class, such as taking turns when talking, how to listen, "don't be a space invader" (personal space), etc. It gives very clear names to these behaviors and includes realistic pictures of the behaviors. I usually introduce one social skill during most morning meetings and act out examples as well as nonexamples. (The kids find nonexamples hilarious, but they are actually a comfortable way to show kids - "Hey! You know how you've been shoving to get in line first? Not cool. Try this instead.") Plus it gives our class common language for expectations and redirection.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
2. Monthly class meetings:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
We start each month with a class meeting. We begin by sitting in a circle and doing affirmations. I start by turning my body to the student to my left and I say, "<i>Good afternoon</i>, Milo. <i> I like you because</i> when things are hard, you keep trying." Then Milo says thank you and tells me why he likes me. Then he turns to the person on the other side of him and starts a new affirmation. We go the whole way around the circle. It actually only takes a few minutes because my students know they have to listen to other people's affirmations and give them respectful quiet while they are talking (this is your basic <a href="https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/" target="_blank">Responsive Classroom</a> stuff). Affirmations have to be about "inside" things, not about what they are wearing, or how fun their birthday party was.</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPMzft3LdPVUfZVpN-itsLKG1HIgeRomMPS4HFe3J8gCfHRWP7MwVPqD_5cWRdDk2ydfgvRIsZ7LUfxHr7okqqAhAO96vDMkSjsHhK0GUgEEnLntzVCbXum3-m-Ty5aVFX-HzLTLC8q0/s1600/february+18+2014+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPMzft3LdPVUfZVpN-itsLKG1HIgeRomMPS4HFe3J8gCfHRWP7MwVPqD_5cWRdDk2ydfgvRIsZ7LUfxHr7okqqAhAO96vDMkSjsHhK0GUgEEnLntzVCbXum3-m-Ty5aVFX-HzLTLC8q0/s1600/february+18+2014+015.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
The next thing we do at class meetings is a shared writing chart of four Gator Greats for the month that just passed (our school mascot is a Gator) and then three Gator Goals for the new month. The kids are the ones who come up with things they feel proud about (greats) and the things they know we need to work on (goals). Sometimes they are academic (we had just started How-to writing, so they thought a good goal would be to learn all about it and get good at it!), and sometimes they are behavioral (clearly, lol). But they are always student-generated, which I think makes them feel more genuine to the kids and makes them more committed to working on them. We post these in the room until the next month's class meeting.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
3. <a href="http://bit.ly/1drotlY" target="_blank">Class Dojo</a></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5e6DcrwGetYtNOhd51HMGIjLJRt43Fsm8c6C5cUD1y-RMrR7Zst-j2DNmm6CgJ77AzZ1nJANhjwUlFEHBbtr7WyH37AlnVEYj_GyTz5qCPfSX7WVvIlqGEoODcAErDmsv_3L2QezBcQ/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5e6DcrwGetYtNOhd51HMGIjLJRt43Fsm8c6C5cUD1y-RMrR7Zst-j2DNmm6CgJ77AzZ1nJANhjwUlFEHBbtr7WyH37AlnVEYj_GyTz5qCPfSX7WVvIlqGEoODcAErDmsv_3L2QezBcQ/s1600/Untitled.png" height="209" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
We started using <a href="http://bit.ly/1drotlY" target="_blank">Class Dojo</a> in January and it is AMAZING. It's a classroom management tool that allows you to give or remove points for specific behaviors. The picture above is of a demo class, not my real class, because I didn't want to publicize how many points my kids really have. It is free and SUPER EASY. You just sign up at their <a href="http://bit.ly/1drotlY" target="_blank">website</a>, plug in your kids' names (I just use first names), and it gives each student a silly monster avatar. I keep it up on the SMARTboard for parts of the day, and you can also download the app for your phone or iPad so you can take it with you and your kids have the same behavior expectations everywhere you go (even just walking down the hall!).</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
You can use the pre-made positive and negative behaviors, or you can make your own to use. Here are mine. Positive:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBgaAIpBtz1LqmA72Hx4MZrpxcIFVxEkhpUptAR2Bp1HsO97W5vuCisYUr2euAqZBmcCExOcO0boyhvHC-xYF1H-9CmKHZG3ZW-zQHdMxw7HHVzeq-I-wepJmkSOFmDm4LThILQl5FKw/s1600/dojo2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBgaAIpBtz1LqmA72Hx4MZrpxcIFVxEkhpUptAR2Bp1HsO97W5vuCisYUr2euAqZBmcCExOcO0boyhvHC-xYF1H-9CmKHZG3ZW-zQHdMxw7HHVzeq-I-wepJmkSOFmDm4LThILQl5FKw/s1600/dojo2.png" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
.. and Negative:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyUIDT7zDU2sS9KUIa4Ik6M7JtzWpnHB-dJYKcIm96gyXyBkVhCqualb529bR7GPTPbCFme5xd8S_yZRfyaNbe-X7b91f_JKLJYL2aekwV1uUWUyVNGLvmTDRhOrUTg5EZC9bZUw_OAI/s1600/dojo3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyUIDT7zDU2sS9KUIa4Ik6M7JtzWpnHB-dJYKcIm96gyXyBkVhCqualb529bR7GPTPbCFme5xd8S_yZRfyaNbe-X7b91f_JKLJYL2aekwV1uUWUyVNGLvmTDRhOrUTg5EZC9bZUw_OAI/s1600/dojo3.png" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
It keeps a running total, and the kids can visually see what they are gaining and losing points for. It has really helped my kids to self-monitor their behavior, which has majorly turned some behaviors around. Also, if you are interested, you can give the parents codes to log in and they can see their kids' points (and only theirs) at any time, including what the behaviors were that they gained or lost for. This can be great at report card and conference time - behaviors are all recorded without me keeping notes and parents can't say they didn't know. This has been a HUGE help to me this year, and I find myself redirecting kids much less since they know that their own choices matter. When kids earn 10 points, I let them pick a prize from the prize bin (you could also use simple prizes like iPad time) . At the end of the day, you can see a whole class pie chart like this:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5aA4XzTR8dpyakJUijSrNH4iTOERsMhrIszapAt7ndN7YDn8bFcBpWEwH8aRDXEtiIaciBKAW6tHu9a_VhjM9kb5guNFcneza4mLkXKq3GkKKWuifdR6BIUlpHju1GRPArH92HBXrlg/s1600/dojo4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5aA4XzTR8dpyakJUijSrNH4iTOERsMhrIszapAt7ndN7YDn8bFcBpWEwH8aRDXEtiIaciBKAW6tHu9a_VhjM9kb5guNFcneza4mLkXKq3GkKKWuifdR6BIUlpHju1GRPArH92HBXrlg/s1600/dojo4.png" height="400" width="640" /></a></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
This has really made my class want to work together to get that 100% positive, where nothing else worked quite so well to bring them together. We had our first 100% on the hundredth day, which we HAD to celebrate with a pajama day later that week.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
4. Reading and Writing Buddies who take care of each others' hearts.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I include this in my partner work minilessons. When we learn how to be good reading buddies, we learn that our buddies will make mistakes. We don't laugh, we don't make fun, we don't jump in and solve words for them. We act like coaches and talk to your buddy's heart. (Your soccer coach wouldn't run out and score the goal for you, he'd remind you to use your strategies). Same thing with writing buddies - we <i>do</i> need to tell each other when things need to be fixed. But we do it with both your buddy's work and heart in mind. We chart examples of how to tell your buddy to make revisions ("I think you need a period here" instead of "You forgot a period!"). We practice. And practice. And <i>practice.</i> </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I really do think that with first graders, and many kids, they don't mean to do things that hurt others, they are just so darn impulsive. So I try hard to keep things positive while giving my kids the skills to solve problems verbally with each other and an open enough classroom that we can talk about problems we are having and solve them together. My kids know that it is a big deal to me when they are Problem Solvers. A big part of this is having the tools to fix hurting hearts because little hearts get hurt easily. I constantly use language about the heart. I tell the kids they make my heart smile or make my heart shine. I tell them how important it is to take care of each others' hearts. And we'll talk about that tomorrow and how we can save someone's heart who is scared to show a beautiful picture because someone might make fun of it.</center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-17713579353314404022014-02-18T22:21:00.002-05:002014-02-18T22:21:34.568-05:00Happy 100 Day.... Finally!<center style="text-align: left;">
I was starting to wonder if we'd ever make it to 100 days this year with all of the snow we've had! Our 100th day was supposed to be Feb. 12 but snow days have pushed it back so that we finally reached it 6 days later! And this morning, we woke up to a few more inches of snow overnight that had iced over because, although my little town is pretty good about plowing, our whole state is in a salt shortage! So we did end up with a 90 minute delay, but that's ok... we made it!</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoRYBHFPlgoZDscITv_F4yz5gx9MW_mGArwtjLLl-TLR7zC25_pn4xoiffI7kbRDxA2BaFglYvb-5tprT3qvcG0l1vkT2aB7EGFC4enVUe1UdwKKJsgcxpYDwR3hEjB37Nc7pZQx5h1o/s1600/february+18+2014+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoRYBHFPlgoZDscITv_F4yz5gx9MW_mGArwtjLLl-TLR7zC25_pn4xoiffI7kbRDxA2BaFglYvb-5tprT3qvcG0l1vkT2aB7EGFC4enVUe1UdwKKJsgcxpYDwR3hEjB37Nc7pZQx5h1o/s1600/february+18+2014+087.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It <i>is </i>super cool to bundle those 100 straws, isn't it? Firsties LOVE that!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
In my school, our half day kindergartens <i>really </i>do up 100 Day. All the parents come in and they have this huge party in the cafeteria with banners and balloons and cupcakes.. it's a <i>Big. Thing. </i>And when I say Big Thing, I mean the kind of wonderful thing that we so rarely get to stop and do; the kind of thing those kids will remember forever. They LOVE it.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
And then they come to first grade and they expect another big party. We don't quite roll like that, but we do find ways to make the day extra special!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
First... I ordered this <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/100th-Day-Shirt-Adult-MEDIUM-1064854" target="_blank">amazing 100 Day shirt</a> (with super sparkly silver tally marks!) from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tea-And-Coffee" target="_blank">tea and coffee</a> on TpT, whose store is just full of adorable hard goods. They carry adult sizes only in the store but were SUPER accomodating when I asked about having a kiddie size made for my own sweet lil first grader. I don't teach in the district where we live, so we're not in the same school, but we ended up having the same 100th day!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwkFFofukqcoZLQ9YwP61U07bOY6nxn7ZBfwR4bk_Ti2IRNKTZpNnZ6PKQgBZ-4QydFWEMl1cj1npkLSxeC32dIgRiTW9b_aSquatN7OYpPIzr66kZqh77HJDya-zjph7peBqUCPMVQA/s1600/feb+18+2014+005+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwkFFofukqcoZLQ9YwP61U07bOY6nxn7ZBfwR4bk_Ti2IRNKTZpNnZ6PKQgBZ-4QydFWEMl1cj1npkLSxeC32dIgRiTW9b_aSquatN7OYpPIzr66kZqh77HJDya-zjph7peBqUCPMVQA/s1600/feb+18+2014+005+crop.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVING our 100 day shirts! Got so many compliments!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
When my kiddies came in with the delay, it was already 10:15, almost snack time! Their first job was to write 100 words. Most of them jumped right in. For those who seemed to find the task a little more daunting, there was the dangling carrot... it was their ticket to our special 100 Day snack! This great activity came from the amazing <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-My-Favorite-100-Day-Activities-192384" target="_blank">freebie My Favorite 100 Day Activities</a> by <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Carries-Creations" target="_blank">Carrie's Creations</a> on TpT. It's just one of many awesome 100 Day activities in her free pack!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IEEieTyLFsYjUm7jfASiRAOQWTeOgP1L5oVETwGR5WKBi7UHZSG0VJitNvZw9A3fzygsNSQlCsVI5I4YBYOwqkUqxdoLvVAG3jW2k-CXfsl47JK1a_R8Fl-Vx19-9wPXBzMnGoRgN4A/s1600/february+18+2014+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IEEieTyLFsYjUm7jfASiRAOQWTeOgP1L5oVETwGR5WKBi7UHZSG0VJitNvZw9A3fzygsNSQlCsVI5I4YBYOwqkUqxdoLvVAG3jW2k-CXfsl47JK1a_R8Fl-Vx19-9wPXBzMnGoRgN4A/s1600/february+18+2014+096.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSW44KCxZ_HA9lq0iEnYIK4aWXQqrlfikVyJo64_jiwCWbv3INjNsM2OOONmX93hERem2MlcwUP5DjbV4MV8VJRBhcqfcw6McWT3W6NyajrDQG2jN486XTtIABx5p-1aLzZRM4n2Q66A/s1600/february+18+2014+125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSW44KCxZ_HA9lq0iEnYIK4aWXQqrlfikVyJo64_jiwCWbv3INjNsM2OOONmX93hERem2MlcwUP5DjbV4MV8VJRBhcqfcw6McWT3W6NyajrDQG2jN486XTtIABx5p-1aLzZRM4n2Q66A/s1600/february+18+2014+125.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love how they started with "owls" - we are the Wise Owls - and then pill bugs and bess beetles that we are studying in science!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJYTlDzrhkW6_AiiTsSRgSqXmQdbjpdJoDDPXiBUqtXsFOwKspoGaIR9c_wl5kRHLgTT_BQiMBWK9TxqgjwWffPue9IXhY31QpfvEWLrURO7I9ZVybiB3d2ZfB3mHDMa1iJNl-kw2hDM/s1600/february+18+2014+128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJYTlDzrhkW6_AiiTsSRgSqXmQdbjpdJoDDPXiBUqtXsFOwKspoGaIR9c_wl5kRHLgTT_BQiMBWK9TxqgjwWffPue9IXhY31QpfvEWLrURO7I9ZVybiB3d2ZfB3mHDMa1iJNl-kw2hDM/s1600/february+18+2014+128.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome words! Not just word wall words, lots of our word study words and other great ideas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This year, I have <i>no food allergies</i>. NONE. I shouldn't say that too loudly, or I know I'll get a new kiddie with a bunch... which isn't all that unlikely since I had one student move over Christmas break and another one moving this Thursday. I'm sure I'm up for the next new firstie! Anyway, with my <i>current</i> lack of allergies, we lived it up with a 100 Day trail mix!<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<center>
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHLYywvzv0EYPf7JtKN0z5fyOt5nSihdjJGYQ2TpF034uhWn7ov44yq1DSoR5Dx40MftkM8qMc-K9LYDiP8JWLygIUbZukCTm6AVpmXq3U3mBvilyRBxubrl-fzwiiWPmYxuj1e0r1Y/s1600/february+18+2014+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHLYywvzv0EYPf7JtKN0z5fyOt5nSihdjJGYQ2TpF034uhWn7ov44yq1DSoR5Dx40MftkM8qMc-K9LYDiP8JWLygIUbZukCTm6AVpmXq3U3mBvilyRBxubrl-fzwiiWPmYxuj1e0r1Y/s1600/february+18+2014+088.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My kiddies got to pick 10 each of Cheerios, Kix, popcorn, Scrabble Cheeze Its, chocolate chips, Swedish fish, goldfish crackers, white chocolate chips, candy hearts, and pretzel sticks. Yummy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
After snack, I did something I feel like I rarely get to do but wish I could do more often:<i> I gave the kids control over what they wanted to do.</i> They got a 100 Day Choice Board that listed all of their choices, put it on a clipboard, and off they went to activities set up all around the room. They just had to color in each box as they finished an activity. I didn't tell them where to go or for how long. Our school doesn't really utilize centers in first grade, so I never really know how this will go, but it was awesome!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3QUgbxmFE7VVLK0gSnvFirMwpXlLYWfsTr1Hb-6ILUsJxLNAAgIRwIJneLw7GpLyue6xMfwCjG04EdLjw-IF3K1eG-ukb2RpophOUjOQdu2cJe2D1q_E5Ee9MyI4L3rGnjSJ5ttbiiI/s1600/february+18+2014+098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF3QUgbxmFE7VVLK0gSnvFirMwpXlLYWfsTr1Hb-6ILUsJxLNAAgIRwIJneLw7GpLyue6xMfwCjG04EdLjw-IF3K1eG-ukb2RpophOUjOQdu2cJe2D1q_E5Ee9MyI4L3rGnjSJ5ttbiiI/s1600/february+18+2014+098.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I made the choice board super quickly in Power Point last night. I was going to add in the activities and print it this morning, but with the delay, I didn't have time to do that once I set up the activities, so I just handwrote them. And the kids totally balked at my unprofessionalism and refused to do it. Hehe, just kidding. My kiddies were over the moon with the choice board! Since we had already done "I can write 100 words" and had our "100 yummy things snack", they got to color in two boxes right away. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7adeanux96cygg/100%20day%20choice%20board.pdf" target="_blank">Click here for a blank copy</a>.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
So here were some of their choice board choices:</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOF2IJjNNn147ByWfBzHSfRbKpGLiludII_GLekbk2RaMyP_GGw98up81APukBu79rJ_F6OhbXO1I9tZGd1zSZuVhhXbuNixW8-K5s2nbSOnqrdNMar2Od6fWarfRzSwHs2c5ohOhp9M/s1600/february+18+2014+102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIOF2IJjNNn147ByWfBzHSfRbKpGLiludII_GLekbk2RaMyP_GGw98up81APukBu79rJ_F6OhbXO1I9tZGd1zSZuVhhXbuNixW8-K5s2nbSOnqrdNMar2Od6fWarfRzSwHs2c5ohOhp9M/s1600/february+18+2014+102.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Estimating how many things were in each bucket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49nj19X1kTpPd15nMNBL7x_m4-2gPZ1OBpDHAb5hyphenhyphenodfzo4QFXGNlqdhT909HHCi0P12t_dy49wccv9tK0PKlg77OweAfoaQoCLFOLjn0hvAtYnNBCScQZKvacwpgVt-1OebIz2oya58/s1600/february+18+2014+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49nj19X1kTpPd15nMNBL7x_m4-2gPZ1OBpDHAb5hyphenhyphenodfzo4QFXGNlqdhT909HHCi0P12t_dy49wccv9tK0PKlg77OweAfoaQoCLFOLjn0hvAtYnNBCScQZKvacwpgVt-1OebIz2oya58/s1600/february+18+2014+105.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
What's Missing? LOVE this game - Jennifer White from <a href="http://firstgradeblueskies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">First Grade Blue Skies</a> did a wonderful recent blog post on <a href="http://firstgradeblueskies.blogspot.com/2014/02/exploring-numbers-to-120-freebies.html" target="_blank">Exploring Numbers to 120</a>, which included this fantastic freebie. The kids play in pairs and one covers up 10 spots on the 120 board and then the other has to "guess" what numbers they are by looking at the board and noticing their positions. They record the numbers on the recording sheet included, then take off the markers to check. She used adorable little erasers from Target, which I actually tried to buy yesterday but they didn't have any. I used counter bears instead!</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpljjGH5J2uSuUAoi1sXIIUURnmZVuw8bz2wPSIoUfL_Dp028EEWH0SEJc-xCT6dEgUSBYuGSpVB71BNAaiKynHYn2ZRTUU0huKagCvfBF12oIuDisADfM7kkOmNIPUQZUfp2TTeNYZXg/s1600/february+18+2014+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpljjGH5J2uSuUAoi1sXIIUURnmZVuw8bz2wPSIoUfL_Dp028EEWH0SEJc-xCT6dEgUSBYuGSpVB71BNAaiKynHYn2ZRTUU0huKagCvfBF12oIuDisADfM7kkOmNIPUQZUfp2TTeNYZXg/s1600/february+18+2014+106.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coloring 100th Day bookmarks was a popular choice. I laminated them during lunchtime.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKMqs5W3RB1btN-3kyJ1sx68WPUZS7zRG5ec-LldTclEbZNo8RAYV92zhEudmr85o7QejOBaSFl6ypSvGbZKUlKVhAxCBNo44HBW2-q9km24YdqGY7p5ObPfp9t4Zq0-Si3PfNTQiX-A/s1600/february+18+2014+118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKMqs5W3RB1btN-3kyJ1sx68WPUZS7zRG5ec-LldTclEbZNo8RAYV92zhEudmr85o7QejOBaSFl6ypSvGbZKUlKVhAxCBNo44HBW2-q9km24YdqGY7p5ObPfp9t4Zq0-Si3PfNTQiX-A/s1600/february+18+2014+118.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bookmarks were also from Carrie's Creations <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-My-Favorite-100-Day-Activities-192384" target="_blank">My Favorite 100 Day Activities</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5J6zyS3lyDZzfDrDTOaVVaFSYNJClu7AoHq1ifMveDPMElceg2xj0jS8G4rrsXSoTWoeRJubibbLupJk3vXtX5hagkOQZJBHlGINFW9TlxO0LjdeV9e1az4NzQuIbyzKNXnTHraZNGA/s1600/february+18+2014+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5J6zyS3lyDZzfDrDTOaVVaFSYNJClu7AoHq1ifMveDPMElceg2xj0jS8G4rrsXSoTWoeRJubibbLupJk3vXtX5hagkOQZJBHlGINFW9TlxO0LjdeV9e1az4NzQuIbyzKNXnTHraZNGA/s1600/february+18+2014+108.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on some 100 piece puzzles = instant teamwork!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_KjQiP1tac3V_v0I7uivQ6B2sZ_YtJddXdHGFe7LKP8PR7qwlGWN8GBkMSRrzsXjgx2RkAd3VqGFzxMebPRn4De5yWBO1QaWLIcubBE893ew5ihYDMBQKn6hTirv8s1yTq287EidaZk/s1600/february+18+2014+115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_KjQiP1tac3V_v0I7uivQ6B2sZ_YtJddXdHGFe7LKP8PR7qwlGWN8GBkMSRrzsXjgx2RkAd3VqGFzxMebPRn4De5yWBO1QaWLIcubBE893ew5ihYDMBQKn6hTirv8s1yTq287EidaZk/s1600/february+18+2014+115.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/100th-Day-Making-Words-FREEBIE-465237" target="_blank">Making Words out of "hundred days"</a> is a freebie from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Primary-Reading-Party" target="_blank">Primary Reading Party</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
I love this Making Words activity because her freebie includes a couple of different options for the cutouts ("hundred", "hundred days", or "one hundred") and she includes separate spaces for 2, 3, 4, and 5+ letter words. Love her layout! It was great for my kids.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuWq5mTBuG9MuTVslbCqlSsfYJIPhgo4DcwNs30wj-zCqo_r0GphZo1NEX3NuHXKKL8oOTuosOZswk8etlX2fwcVNrDTG5suY232RHSs34I-KsqQtZ0Zzvjly2t-zdHAIQRsYH2VrAa4/s1600/february+18+2014+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuWq5mTBuG9MuTVslbCqlSsfYJIPhgo4DcwNs30wj-zCqo_r0GphZo1NEX3NuHXKKL8oOTuosOZswk8etlX2fwcVNrDTG5suY232RHSs34I-KsqQtZ0Zzvjly2t-zdHAIQRsYH2VrAa4/s1600/february+18+2014+121.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-My-Favorite-100-Day-Activities-192384" target="_blank">Carrie's 100 Day pack</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
"When I am 100 years old, I will... find a gigantic house and make new clothes and make BIG meals and meatballs with sauce." So darn cute! She told me, "When I'm 100 I'll be a grownup!" Wonder how old she thinks I am...? :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next we shared the 100 Day Collections that they had brought in for homework and then sorted them with the help of this cute sorting mat, again from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-My-Favorite-100-Day-Activities-192384" target="_blank">Carrie's pack</a> (Can you tell I loved it? Go download it now!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzQG5sUgxebv0V22W7x2-I0Sz1Q5OEu8eSRSEA1G9icQjj0ROPBzjclIJip2ZX_56VI7YqBdZ_SgwxUbd2-E7mn5mCb7ZsFaIRzm6hmur3_K3es3DIA0S1-qTRlW7TIkIFo2gY1UIX9w/s1600/february+18+2014+139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzQG5sUgxebv0V22W7x2-I0Sz1Q5OEu8eSRSEA1G9icQjj0ROPBzjclIJip2ZX_56VI7YqBdZ_SgwxUbd2-E7mn5mCb7ZsFaIRzm6hmur3_K3es3DIA0S1-qTRlW7TIkIFo2gY1UIX9w/s1600/february+18+2014+139.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5ke1Jq_jh4Esfm_CtHTqa5fHMB5Ta6bT6pXXpnt72giiXXwbRSt1X0aGYrKNpvxkA_8xEOgjxXDyRF13S8bRHPXt2ewrvMcbMet0omwtFmgTk8Gt4-HkHR3W_NfDCklpNkwWfHVIQ8c/s1600/february+18+2014+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5ke1Jq_jh4Esfm_CtHTqa5fHMB5Ta6bT6pXXpnt72giiXXwbRSt1X0aGYrKNpvxkA_8xEOgjxXDyRF13S8bRHPXt2ewrvMcbMet0omwtFmgTk8Gt4-HkHR3W_NfDCklpNkwWfHVIQ8c/s1600/february+18+2014+142.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lt_WiYKC3Nz0_-uGi44vHMOnGSvNfB_D19QA6ns9KAeHl0Ajcapa0NPqZxJcqoLpVE1DgrIciToa-PInH3UTSIdIJT-ddVSt__4kyHWwOZ71AgvFk5-pG8Ixl8uqJNhMfD7rw7L76uU/s1600/february+18+2014+135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lt_WiYKC3Nz0_-uGi44vHMOnGSvNfB_D19QA6ns9KAeHl0Ajcapa0NPqZxJcqoLpVE1DgrIciToa-PInH3UTSIdIJT-ddVSt__4kyHWwOZ71AgvFk5-pG8Ixl8uqJNhMfD7rw7L76uU/s1600/february+18+2014+135.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYgVpCQ_Gm_Y2L94ygmiX4s5qSezQh8nrujZtuy3Mxc-OzrVG5HvBuliaJlDqCZeTolLJjUQim1yizsp3AHkdq6dG2_5VEZWheojIC907iMfSsIEUNE45RzzgSdB8mHimJnd7LV8O5TU/s1600/february+18+2014+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYgVpCQ_Gm_Y2L94ygmiX4s5qSezQh8nrujZtuy3Mxc-OzrVG5HvBuliaJlDqCZeTolLJjUQim1yizsp3AHkdq6dG2_5VEZWheojIC907iMfSsIEUNE45RzzgSdB8mHimJnd7LV8O5TU/s1600/february+18+2014+145.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Of course, some collections just didn't fit as neatly onto one little sheet. No worries! If a student's collection didn't fit, I just had them cut up the boxes, spread them out, and sort!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We finished our day with Cait Jacob from Sliding into First's <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Activities-for-the-100th-Day-of-School-freebie-507908" target="_blank">100 Day Chart mystery picture activity</a>. It includes color coded number cards to hide around the room, then the kiddies take a 100 chart and color the numbers in as they find them to reveal a secret 100 Day message! They LOVED it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WGzoBWlZ2cS4-m7gDAn43KjNP8wDzpWQVKl18N307kJlJGfFwS6zdbzg6sK2d80aJ3_4i5ykcDakXz005oIiw6CnhWtAg-cANLgGKAadqfVxVfMqbcgrW_jdDb5NJ1JV-0Ji6zmlWWA/s1600/february+18+2014+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WGzoBWlZ2cS4-m7gDAn43KjNP8wDzpWQVKl18N307kJlJGfFwS6zdbzg6sK2d80aJ3_4i5ykcDakXz005oIiw6CnhWtAg-cANLgGKAadqfVxVfMqbcgrW_jdDb5NJ1JV-0Ji6zmlWWA/s1600/february+18+2014+137.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXE6GEcXh2RbMtsjTUO9wrFvIO3hv2OFfx-I6fE0Ye0ASP5N8CrCa5JFlHBpM5LEN7RWaQYP65fVsVAlFEVl9ponoLccyKMBt4DfMUzJA6cnEy72EoOEEYbBo56iBTA6SoUrx_uqEz20/s1600/february+18+2014+149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXE6GEcXh2RbMtsjTUO9wrFvIO3hv2OFfx-I6fE0Ye0ASP5N8CrCa5JFlHBpM5LEN7RWaQYP65fVsVAlFEVl9ponoLccyKMBt4DfMUzJA6cnEy72EoOEEYbBo56iBTA6SoUrx_uqEz20/s1600/february+18+2014+149.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qo8Wmn17qJBRwJIt-mT5cd4wGoPDV8W28G31SwdHgW9MqSBFI62nr-DpyA4ZHeko05M_VtqwYgGuaQSQmVxkLqfjUU1sgrErjAJNpnivgkB3SDf84Es7ajOs3Oi_I9SmbhhmRJw8SDs/s1600/february+18+2014+152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qo8Wmn17qJBRwJIt-mT5cd4wGoPDV8W28G31SwdHgW9MqSBFI62nr-DpyA4ZHeko05M_VtqwYgGuaQSQmVxkLqfjUU1sgrErjAJNpnivgkB3SDf84Es7ajOs3Oi_I9SmbhhmRJw8SDs/s1600/february+18+2014+152.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used to have a HUGE, comfy chair here. Then the state said no more upholstered furniture.<br />Now I have a very sad, ripped little chair. Boo. But it does the job until I find something better!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Finally, I am very happy to report after my earlier post about our 100 Acts of Kindness project, that the kids did a beautiful job completing over 100 acts of kindness before Feb. 14, as challenged! Here is our bulletin board:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivv5jEiYE2auUpudGUNWt4OwzHKexsEDqLU7HuzOsWUWUDzpLbnFviB1B4sS2_JTUUoOaNm_EsKsP_3RRVVrni4zwjszm_DxphXZSEdAotyLo21d6VqV3namOo1y3QuLWBVmc_n6Q2AwA/s1600/february+18+2014+153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivv5jEiYE2auUpudGUNWt4OwzHKexsEDqLU7HuzOsWUWUDzpLbnFviB1B4sS2_JTUUoOaNm_EsKsP_3RRVVrni4zwjszm_DxphXZSEdAotyLo21d6VqV3namOo1y3QuLWBVmc_n6Q2AwA/s1600/february+18+2014+153.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So pretty! I hope you have... or had... a wonderful 100th day!</div>
<div>
<br /><center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-79909651714852966302014-02-15T15:17:00.000-05:002014-03-16T14:32:35.883-04:00Come on, SPRING!<center style="text-align: left;">
It's <i>still </i>snowing here in New Jersey.<i> </i>I like snow. The occasional snow day is glorious. But snow days that are so heavy and icy and wet that the kids can't play outside and that cancel spring break days to make up school means enough already! <i>KnowwhatImean? </i>I'm excited that we got to have our valentine party on Valentine's Day (albeit with a snow delay), and I don't really mind that our days off for Presidents' Day have been cancelled because we need to get back into some routine, and eventually we will reach the 100th day of school (which will be, as of now, the 18th - was supposed to be the 12th!).</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
But in the meantime, one thing that has made me really happy is working on <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Paper-1115441" target="_blank">SPRING writing paper</a>. I've been able to wrap myself in clipart of sun, flowers, bunnies, and all things happy and springy! My seasonal papers are my best sellers, and I actually had another teacher ask if spring would be coming out soon (which was a crazy feeling - whoa! Someone is looking forward to my next product! :D <i>Happy dance!</i>), so here it is... Now we just need some sun to go with it! </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Paper-1115441" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPlsvhmsp_j-p5AvTnHO1VZZVU8MXKiyNaWAdk63TZZyStuhboOmrIk9QOU-diuHWPF_9pqlmybOOSi4wcTOVfM3a4Tx644I5Yp3qv69jIbQH-JURrdhM3PtnMZkY68A3O_IXjLhBnHA/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+cover.png" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center>
Here are some sample pages - you can click on the TpT preview to see them all!</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazykq25xJft1UMfGl4mfxC6RM2WrwX1L-JWeoU_nSurTabW4hIIVdAu8IQN2eD8jFtIO18SJyHKaWwIPJ7zybONyZqe6WSK8-4BwiZnjtiUp1dGh_4pJ3uwJzG56djN5MMLXxUllU8hc/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazykq25xJft1UMfGl4mfxC6RM2WrwX1L-JWeoU_nSurTabW4hIIVdAu8IQN2eD8jFtIO18SJyHKaWwIPJ7zybONyZqe6WSK8-4BwiZnjtiUp1dGh_4pJ3uwJzG56djN5MMLXxUllU8hc/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+6.png" height="200" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOfUeig5YzSZSg1be2PmpojMhK0KIIsirPZfFouiP-sXWAQsIUmA2hcX3pFeNOAbuu2_psEE-PpQchAYVK5lw67YQ-ZAbv71CKRpTxBAzes3ZwVPP-UBoLR0OXS3aLuvh8Jy2vHLopX4/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOfUeig5YzSZSg1be2PmpojMhK0KIIsirPZfFouiP-sXWAQsIUmA2hcX3pFeNOAbuu2_psEE-PpQchAYVK5lw67YQ-ZAbv71CKRpTxBAzes3ZwVPP-UBoLR0OXS3aLuvh8Jy2vHLopX4/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+4.png" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBo5WNVIg4JrrhF9xCH9fQMKdOVFHhaLfM72dxz0Fx_DZVvO9oJpjT90f6q8sfJ4vEBeIKHefMcoIB-ZDAwO708a-6rpIqnrJe8zM9BcSDOdvot2_5XHVVfNRNvNbbFUjIgg4J6ilLu8/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBo5WNVIg4JrrhF9xCH9fQMKdOVFHhaLfM72dxz0Fx_DZVvO9oJpjT90f6q8sfJ4vEBeIKHefMcoIB-ZDAwO708a-6rpIqnrJe8zM9BcSDOdvot2_5XHVVfNRNvNbbFUjIgg4J6ilLu8/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+10.png" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Paper-1115441" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9WFjc481F61BI9yYSZU3-eLAyhHqpJT1J2_DOSePapcNlXc6bXHW6ZL8i8MP0AsygB9mjiTEMvYy99Q5r28Bj4hwJCTrgUtFdG4Awd7f-RafGOb1Ic-GLcoaNIwSE5r1kuDZ1WyQKaU/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+prev.png" height="640" width="481" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Paper-1115441" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjk2r5C5bjWuIWLDGwxjSlLWR56Bgm2VZNNMi5y6NTxsw55ehy9PZ0leH-Jp6kBJ2kYMFMreLl_HONmJMgNm3E0nyDikLwp2-ipatxGBB-BhXtExfXSILtiM6GdBbEQmoC57CDp9T9AM/s1600/Spring+writing+paper+22.png" height="640" width="481" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<center>
</center>
<center>
Happy spring.... almost!</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-55759908340703488462014-02-08T11:47:00.001-05:002014-02-09T08:43:53.598-05:00FLASH FREEBIE - THIS WEEKEND ONLY! <center style="text-align: left;">
I love my kiddies at school but am also always so happy to spend weekends with my own girls. </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXnsyUakcylcItIOm1yB0uqlJWGqs1YRYpd_1HsErfz1tso_R8q69AyxNWjzWGA4b8HxAXACwQZd0IEul1b_bjcf7LAWEXCsFvBp3sg_aLa6EKPbuvB534LA946C1wPOHZ2_qgxz1Y0I/s1600/feb+1+2014+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXnsyUakcylcItIOm1yB0uqlJWGqs1YRYpd_1HsErfz1tso_R8q69AyxNWjzWGA4b8HxAXACwQZd0IEul1b_bjcf7LAWEXCsFvBp3sg_aLa6EKPbuvB534LA946C1wPOHZ2_qgxz1Y0I/s1600/feb+1+2014+121.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Enjoy this weekend with your family and send your own kiddos some lunchtime love on Monday with this flash freebie. There are 24 printed notes and 24 blank ones to write your own love notes!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FLASH-FREEBIE-Lunchtime-Love-Notes-Set-3-Puppies-1095980" target="_blank">Click on this link or the product cover below to download Lunchtime Love Notes - Puppies!</a></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FLASH-FREEBIE-Lunchtime-Love-Notes-Set-3-Puppies-1095980" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh89w5zOhqaqlG8FVUPmvhAZvbv56Uz4ApQmVyI0KwFzs6hhz2yFqen0rkzSpiVsR4i72sy17SYzEZGP4vjRTEyxf8TdTg6r5Pj8DGEOSjxx1IZEmZrCn0kI_ceXufyoKOrKi5ISi_iyZc/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+cover.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ws3qYSY9AJvIystwkrypK9U-5Ypu-uAc4DY1BwoXpV5L9wR39FEiU61o4cFgqPqVndIlnX0nSPbEL_owL6e8Ab-McTYU-2NhfqTte4EZ7Xpzs6IWk_mlo8pdbp1SnpkLRlRKSe6UIuY/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ws3qYSY9AJvIystwkrypK9U-5Ypu-uAc4DY1BwoXpV5L9wR39FEiU61o4cFgqPqVndIlnX0nSPbEL_owL6e8Ab-McTYU-2NhfqTte4EZ7Xpzs6IWk_mlo8pdbp1SnpkLRlRKSe6UIuY/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+2.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMNQe1XM2LoU9osAd4lPmSk2UI7cz5vh0_StlbBpGXqYfoB0oSQaVMERczPJ4Cy1-MYiBQXnzA0HJ27vOVn602CvigZMesyfwaogmwCiJZFWZFd44xhVThnksSohx_ipFPSomYpgUxZA/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMNQe1XM2LoU9osAd4lPmSk2UI7cz5vh0_StlbBpGXqYfoB0oSQaVMERczPJ4Cy1-MYiBQXnzA0HJ27vOVn602CvigZMesyfwaogmwCiJZFWZFd44xhVThnksSohx_ipFPSomYpgUxZA/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+1.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhLLkQpNeljDhtSEgGr3Vyey1Q4_tIrZYLaVMPYD9pXg1AYF5Qv_JDIvj7pu7-oOfPOVKB2xs3w6FIAVkbPndtcc2xmRK-HETbuevSQDJk-t5ebiAqw2ru1mUSsRzPqtwyHsG6yst-RI/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhLLkQpNeljDhtSEgGr3Vyey1Q4_tIrZYLaVMPYD9pXg1AYF5Qv_JDIvj7pu7-oOfPOVKB2xs3w6FIAVkbPndtcc2xmRK-HETbuevSQDJk-t5ebiAqw2ru1mUSsRzPqtwyHsG6yst-RI/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+5.png" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhLLkQpNeljDhtSEgGr3Vyey1Q4_tIrZYLaVMPYD9pXg1AYF5Qv_JDIvj7pu7-oOfPOVKB2xs3w6FIAVkbPndtcc2xmRK-HETbuevSQDJk-t5ebiAqw2ru1mUSsRzPqtwyHsG6yst-RI/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhLLkQpNeljDhtSEgGr3Vyey1Q4_tIrZYLaVMPYD9pXg1AYF5Qv_JDIvj7pu7-oOfPOVKB2xs3w6FIAVkbPndtcc2xmRK-HETbuevSQDJk-t5ebiAqw2ru1mUSsRzPqtwyHsG6yst-RI/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYYGXvMG_nP4ZJSpaUJkCutgcAHuzRC2GswFSY6cTmnF9v9mjlbVTC5ppKFFVGbg_sEBJc0xB80vkH2ZAGarb2V3tjklpkE6tzzAtqRfWvJ-evsZ_QPYzzj93rSbTjxSvavKMOTKCNvk/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYYGXvMG_nP4ZJSpaUJkCutgcAHuzRC2GswFSY6cTmnF9v9mjlbVTC5ppKFFVGbg_sEBJc0xB80vkH2ZAGarb2V3tjklpkE6tzzAtqRfWvJ-evsZ_QPYzzj93rSbTjxSvavKMOTKCNvk/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+3.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRAITtKSDdiBQywoAYxAfAjKWCQaoFbcBTfn3fVQB89Nn5xvk68P_VIS5MfS3p7SoOZ-gODpwaq_3xyFOFxAYuA1OFoRBuqsjUS3NjSqRaWCqRo8ul27wwfqUjV4gWpgeRVJEWI0Fgfs/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRAITtKSDdiBQywoAYxAfAjKWCQaoFbcBTfn3fVQB89Nn5xvk68P_VIS5MfS3p7SoOZ-gODpwaq_3xyFOFxAYuA1OFoRBuqsjUS3NjSqRaWCqRo8ul27wwfqUjV4gWpgeRVJEWI0Fgfs/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+4.png" height="239" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGuA3fCqkdsEsmL7Z2R7cDX0qjMMZEcIxR7K846JCpR7IF1pkIv6bNr-qSP0K5jiSHzZvn-_g9y08xa2hRFgQm6mht8m8phrVwsb9DP5lMIOLXAsDKdrO2O7fxuVXvKHH8vdn_lcFleE/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJGuA3fCqkdsEsmL7Z2R7cDX0qjMMZEcIxR7K846JCpR7IF1pkIv6bNr-qSP0K5jiSHzZvn-_g9y08xa2hRFgQm6mht8m8phrVwsb9DP5lMIOLXAsDKdrO2O7fxuVXvKHH8vdn_lcFleE/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+6.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiK0RXQPs9oj4XI6nSZhbRPnk7-am0R2PwBYpDU6HIFBJB947Ly5wnivgYBPHsCFB_BrvfBPyqHugUplmQRkgwYILS7af3Cmo61-GaKryxSolfwA03KB08aM79nw4q0OmGZ1APY6N8FMH7MM28xyyWj1z4bZyIYg3z3i41VNrmvH8CiVmHaVpyuvmc6Fw=" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="post signature" border="0" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: center;">
</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
</center>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-vij4YoaShFE%2FUvZeyANj2NI%2FAAAAAAAAC7I%2F61qScRKusQM%2Fs1600%2Flunchtime%2Blove%2Bnotes%2Bpuppies%2B5.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhhLLkQpNeljDhtSEgGr3Vyey1Q4_tIrZYLaVMPYD9pXg1AYF5Qv_JDIvj7pu7-oOfPOVKB2xs3w6FIAVkbPndtcc2xmRK-HETbuevSQDJk-t5ebiAqw2ru1mUSsRzPqtwyHsG6yst-RI/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+puppies+5.png" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fi304.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn200%2FMaddestHatter2728%2FBlogsignature.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiK0RXQPs9oj4XI6nSZhbRPnk7-am0R2PwBYpDU6HIFBJB947Ly5wnivgYBPHsCFB_BrvfBPyqHugUplmQRkgwYILS7af3Cmo61-GaKryxSolfwA03KB08aM79nw4q0OmGZ1APY6N8FMH7MM28xyyWj1z4bZyIYg3z3i41VNrmvH8CiVmHaVpyuvmc6Fw=" -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-87507264650034768432014-02-06T21:33:00.001-05:002014-02-07T21:01:57.104-05:00Oops. I Assumed.<center style="text-align: left;">
You know what that means, guys. Lol. It's not good.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Last year, I downloaded this FANTASTIC <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/100-Acts-of-Kindness-514733" target="_blank">"100 Acts of Kindness" freebie</a> created by<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jennifer-Dougherty" target="_blank"> Jennifer Dougherty</a>:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9VZPUBGWadm4r5pQgbxWHW4o2qGmek3B5ujg9UwJ5NqgW9V0g4ic8m275q7sJ6Iawst_Err0u6owKMkP4qLMZBKpXvRTa7S6kkNv7DpL8_se6__1QQyiIlcVcaZkRWQ4fbw2dP5ThjI/s1600/original-514733-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9VZPUBGWadm4r5pQgbxWHW4o2qGmek3B5ujg9UwJ5NqgW9V0g4ic8m275q7sJ6Iawst_Err0u6owKMkP4qLMZBKpXvRTa7S6kkNv7DpL8_se6__1QQyiIlcVcaZkRWQ4fbw2dP5ThjI/s1600/original-514733-1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I can't say enough about how much I love it - how it ties the 100th day and Valentine's Day together. It is<b> so</b> simple, too - a page of 5 hearts that each student fills out with acts of kindness that they have completed. If you have 20 or more students, you end up with 100 Acts of Kindness! And it's FREE! And it makes an amazing bulletin board!!!</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Juy1VunXNqqfUnngKjAIhT_4UlCSOcDjG8Q2MOtqe3giWOG-WWMA9J0y9DaVl1e2RAu9Q97t4EgQf8qNldgxsNoN0aAhU1CpiJG52wYoITieoLMd5u2Ae0Cnk-XPEKgqDG2hStIKB8/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Juy1VunXNqqfUnngKjAIhT_4UlCSOcDjG8Q2MOtqe3giWOG-WWMA9J0y9DaVl1e2RAu9Q97t4EgQf8qNldgxsNoN0aAhU1CpiJG52wYoITieoLMd5u2Ae0Cnk-XPEKgqDG2hStIKB8/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? So cute! My class' acts of kindness last year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So... you're thinking... this sounds ideal... what's your problem, Lindsey? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I gave this project as a homework assignment the week before Valentine's Day. I asked the kids to record their acts of kindness and decorate their hearts "to make them as beautiful as your kind acts". I didn't ask them to do any other homework that week. (Bonus... no papers to mark all week! And think of the trees you are saving!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sounds great, huh? And it IS!!! Except. That I assumed. BOTH TIMES I HAVE DONE IT.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last year, I assumed that when I sent it home with directions, the kids would do 5 acts of kindness and write about them. That week. Except that instead, when they came in, a bunch of them said things they had done "one time"... like... hmm, let me think of some nice things I have done, ever. "I fed my baby sister with a bottle." <i>I thought your sister was four? </i>"She is." <i>Confused look. </i>"But I did that when she was born!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hmm, that wasn't really the idea; the idea was to spread some kindness <i>during the week of the homework assignment. </i> So I learned from last year, and this year, I added the specific direction that acts need to be done <b>during this week</b> and recorded. Much better!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Except. I assumed again.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I sent this project home on Tuesday after a snow day on Monday and then we had another snow day Wednesday, so in my happy, cheery heart, I was thinking, "Oh! How great! The kids have an extra <i>full day</i> to do kind acts and then make their hearts! And they even have a few more days to make them extra lovely!"</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And then today, my first ones came in.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And some said:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I did my homework."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I wrote books on my book log."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I listened."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And others said:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I was nice."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I was helpful."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"I behaved."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So this time I assumed the kids would know what I meant by kind acts (since we have been working on kindness all year). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But they didn't. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Which actually led to a very good class meeting today about the difference between an<b> act of kindness</b> and a <b> responsibility of a first grader</b>. We ended up defining acts of kindness together, as: <i>Something <u>you don't have to do</u>. You do it <u>just to be nice</u>. </i>We also talked about writing specific acts, such as how you were nice or what you did that was helpful. And I emailed parents to explain the assignment better and I sent home new hearts to all of the kids so anyone who needed or wanted to rethink their acts of kindness could do so. And I extended the assignment until Monday.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have to admit that, at first, I was disappointed that the kids didn't know that homework is not really an act of kindness (or who knows, maybe they just really do it to make me happy lol). But in the end, we all learned from this teachable moment, myself included. Don't assume.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Maybe I'll do this project right next year... :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some other "sweet" things I'm using this February:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Glittery-Heart-Valentine-Theme-1034099" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhtLVPKWyOcW7lmL6BzYxIJbpp4A4namd1mEe7pcymV52pWUwiDLdUD3yG4HH61SrZtUpTTZcwWxo2xb_Jpb-F8I5MFAmHTMgnqV8gJ3wZb_JihgWXNcE0pkdhjlTCynqKDzTR2DKZtg/s1600/valentine+smartboard+attendance.png" height="320" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTboard-Attendance-Glittery-Heart-Valentine-Theme-1034099" target="_blank">SMARTboard glittery hearts attendance!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/February-Owl-Calendar-Cards-and-Headers-805478" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCh_Ao32Uj0MRbXKpuWI863ZclyudJsn_13VKjhdukZlPZSlQO3V6YSJFcgAApJr9Z2OXl9c2K87EdSUwOdQ9vV-Xqn3nSkx_ijyesr4qZqlM-m4mT2jvxV54pPuOUBIqOyqn_1zwrB0/s1600/February+Owl+Calendar+Cards.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/February-Owl-Calendar-Cards-and-Headers-805478" target="_blank">February Owl Calendar Cards & Headers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lunchtime-Love-Notes-Set-2-Sweet-Tweets-1078077" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhP014cW2cXRlBNhjStGtRVLUCsGhT7cuewoNdlN5A9Y5TFelN6r7gSAeNNo7UZVfatsB-d8Ubd42k_T_zfNtP1yQIOwzPiEiEqOyzAex6V9L6hpK8RAvRPhUXwJKFgpj-2ng-Tje9eMs/s1600/lunchtime+love+notes+sweet+tweets+1.png" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Lunchtime-Love-Notes-Set-2-Sweet-Tweets-1078077" target="_blank">Lunchtime Love Notes (for my own kids!) - Sweet Tweets</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcRMKZsj9fj6USWrsUAuZSg4FavBrv0xRlmDJUyBDbEvkGdo-gsoHGpCBFTB4MQ0zgaghhUciqcr6uX8OwBfH-KUbAep4mXfXWeFcuxcWFLGSa6djMl0pxuRbRQgkLvZFNGD_Qk_DRW0/s1600/Blogsignature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcRMKZsj9fj6USWrsUAuZSg4FavBrv0xRlmDJUyBDbEvkGdo-gsoHGpCBFTB4MQ0zgaghhUciqcr6uX8OwBfH-KUbAep4mXfXWeFcuxcWFLGSa6djMl0pxuRbRQgkLvZFNGD_Qk_DRW0/s1600/Blogsignature.jpg" height="145" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-86364095453422247462014-02-03T09:29:00.000-05:002014-02-03T11:14:44.132-05:00That Darn Groundhog...<center style="text-align: left;">
So for yesterday's Superbowl here in New Jersey, the weather was a balmy 46 degrees, warmer than in either Seattle or Denver. I'm not gonna lie, I pretty much watched just to see if my numbers in the pool would win (they didn't). But it was fun anyhow. Kind of like watching Sharknado on turf in its "so bad I can't look away"ness. And then this morning, we woke up to.... what is THAT?!? Another foot of SNOW? </center>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybcRZlgOFPeesIJkW3p6mr2L1p2sMitAJFqMpJ4B8Fgmv_Ps41TWElKJpGxQIhKXb3xpPyCGwGZjTvaq7B90oRIUKdx1lqzsnRpcV3nD4WKR8QtmaKdaNd-f0CIlS16uLjGlsaOVPrxc/s1600/feb+3+2014+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybcRZlgOFPeesIJkW3p6mr2L1p2sMitAJFqMpJ4B8Fgmv_Ps41TWElKJpGxQIhKXb3xpPyCGwGZjTvaq7B90oRIUKdx1lqzsnRpcV3nD4WKR8QtmaKdaNd-f0CIlS16uLjGlsaOVPrxc/s1600/feb+3+2014+004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out my front door right now. Pretty... but my shoveling hubby might disagree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
That's right, a snow day... no exclamation points there, because this is our third one this year, which means this time we lose a day of Spring Break, bummer. So the groundhog was correct. Maybe this is all his fault! Lol. I'm not actually upset, though. My family has the odd situation of dealing with three different school district schedules, since my kids go to school where we live and Handsome Hubs and I each teach in different districts and never the thrain (yeah, totally made that up) shall meet and have the same week of Spring Break. So it's harder for other people to lose Spring Break days than it is for me.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
So anyway... back to the Groundhog and his prediction. We always start our nonfiction reading unit at the beginning of February and I love starting it off with some fiction/nonfiction discussion about Groundhog's Day, because some of it is real and some is legend. Before reading, we view these free online videos:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.starfall.com/n/holiday/groundhogsday/play.htm?f" target="_blank">Starfall - Groundhog's Day</a></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.mightybook.com/MightyBook_free/books/groundhog_day/groundhog_day.html" target="_blank">Mighty Books - Groundhog Day and Possum Night</a></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
and I usually find the New York Times slideshow of actual Groundhog's Day pictures.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
We discuss why we might categorize these as fiction or nonfiction or elements of both. Then we do the same with Groundhog's Day tests, such as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Groundhog-Gets-Pamela-Curtis-Swallow/dp/0142408964/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391436944&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=groundhog+gets+a+sa" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Groundhog Gets a Say</a> by Pamela Curtis Swallow.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<u><br /></u></center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgECzDmEVVzJtl5BaDFDAwwI2tS7NSNfC8VbJpuzH1FZANHCBDnULSQ33BZ0S42wENkYyxCPU6y2UEaMVcghrhIgdfLsT-NFTW2XaovWxkBRqiJ9Hf_bgUAq1jFM0d1BdxH8TL9Jzy9Bz0/s1600/51RGKq8B6KL._SX258_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<u><br /></u></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Sometimes, if we are lucky, there is a good Scholastic News that goes with Groundhog's Day, too! </center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
Speaking of Scholastic... Have you ever saved a book order that you didn't use and wondered what you could do with it? Here's an idea for the beginning of your nonfiction unit - Give each student a book order and have them cut it up and sort the books into fiction/nonfiction!</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dK50Udoha_b3at3B_9NDhDDAWe_3pN23zeTnCrq60Id8dtIoc5IW70xgHkbzOd5ox-muZjYEFQTw-S95RsbPq6rnjlv3B83FWH-XCrw39iwdhBN3NwbRHLDOIKk8xPsworDs0BUhVfM/s1600/feb+1+2014+210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dK50Udoha_b3at3B_9NDhDDAWe_3pN23zeTnCrq60Id8dtIoc5IW70xgHkbzOd5ox-muZjYEFQTw-S95RsbPq6rnjlv3B83FWH-XCrw39iwdhBN3NwbRHLDOIKk8xPsworDs0BUhVfM/s1600/feb+1+2014+210.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
A few tips I have learned to make this easier for you, since it takes some time for the kids to cut and sort and you may not want this project to go on all day:</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
1. I use regular construction paper (9 x 12) and have the kids fold it down the middle so they have equal space to glue fiction and nonfiction.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
2. When I hand out the book orders, I always tell the kids to open it and cut it down the middle with scissors so they have separate pages to look at and cut from. I have learned by experience (lol) that if you leave the pages together, the kids will invariably cut through all of them when they cut their first few books out.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
3. There is often a nonfiction section or page in a book order. If you have any students who are having trouble finding nonfiction, you can scaffold by helping them find that jackpot nonfiction section.</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
<br /></center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
</center>
<center style="text-align: left;">
4. Some books like Magic Tree House or Fly Guy can be a mix of fiction and nonfiction, like the Groundhog's Day books and videos we used. Allow that to open discussion. When the kids ask, "Where do I put this one?" I turn the question back to them and ask what they think. Sometimes they will leave it out since it doesn't clearly fit either side, sometimes they put it on the fold in the middle. Either way, they are thinking about it!</center>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-4713310932409577452014-02-02T17:33:00.000-05:002014-02-03T11:18:02.554-05:00Where in the World is Mrs. Brooks?<div style="text-align: left;">
Whoa... I have been out of the blogging zone for a long time! I didn't exactly make a New Year's resolution to get better at it because I knew that things were about to get crazy in January, so I am making a February resolution. There's so much I've been wanting to share with neat things going on in our classroom (including the live "organisms" currently spending time in our room for science!). I've taken plenty of pictures and have lots of stories. I also had a really dumb A-HA moment. I'll get to that too.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But for right now, I feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted from my shoulders because I just got done with report cards and helping my 6th grade daughter with her science fair project (that story will come!) and my first grade daughter with a school project and my family is all involved in a musical right now, plus a million other things that have kept me from blogging (I'm looking at YOU, COOKIE BOOTHS!). I know that you all have the same time constraints and manage to do it all... I don't know how! But it'll be fun to share all that stuff with you as well!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I also want to share with you some wonderful ideas and products that I have been using from other teachers because I have gotten a wealth of amazing and adorable and incredibly helpful things from others recently. Can I tell you how constantly amazed I am by the fact that no matter how much pressure is put on us to be competitive, teachers are instead just naturally wonderful and all want each other to succeed? Sigh. Of happiness. You guys rock. All of you.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Alright, right now, we are having a very fancy celebratory dinner at Taco Bell (lol) for Handsome Hubby and Tootsie Roll (my older daughter)'s lead roles in Shrek the Musical! See you SOON!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAfz89fjpLFYUK1b0JYWAS0mqNYM9manPUkAwWHnxJ69SQQ1OmP-m0fLzObwjF9KHaduVDMedLABqT7kiHNbbec3wQd1i3Q7q_2MORM2023lqxrKC6PNd-qYtWl2o7Wku6Hn0Vy-71_0/s1600/feb+3+2014+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAfz89fjpLFYUK1b0JYWAS0mqNYM9manPUkAwWHnxJ69SQQ1OmP-m0fLzObwjF9KHaduVDMedLABqT7kiHNbbec3wQd1i3Q7q_2MORM2023lqxrKC6PNd-qYtWl2o7Wku6Hn0Vy-71_0/s1600/feb+3+2014+002.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curly Jones and I playing Tic Tac Taco Bell while they get our order ready.<br />
Always a good way to pass the time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-6163026110024526272013-12-15T10:03:00.001-05:002013-12-15T10:03:51.896-05:00Student Gifts & A Little Elf Mischief...<div style="text-align: left;">
What do you do for student holiday gifts? Like many people, I hope for a reasonable holiday book in the Scholastic book orders and then order 23 of them. This year's selection is admittedly not my favorite, but it is cute and the kids will love it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRGbce5aq8eBqr375iCgLrjEVFZOU2I56TO-kyVD7zSn4gZ6nqyOHXoIf9LQf6BiTmJckaKfVwFgShg8zVllFvrA8S8CSqkqQpXnV2l8QzV5xJpPkCCk1C41fRmL0hwBSmsvwF687gh4/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+063.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Usually I hit the Dollar Store for some cute wintery wrapping paper, but this year, I happened to be in Michael's and found this Debbie Mumm owly paper:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcBo2Cwu5ckN_7a3W4z5cP3OMTp0QHVtQDHx5LD0th7PfFTPuNUzJ5_9uSdIs3Rnje_Gr25EGXvk4Q61J4nzzm8PCgjYR3ubGIGT2PI4TQ8xjscKFBD1vlooVcO2X-6JbYGwqdxk0Rrg/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcBo2Cwu5ckN_7a3W4z5cP3OMTp0QHVtQDHx5LD0th7PfFTPuNUzJ5_9uSdIs3Rnje_Gr25EGXvk4Q61J4nzzm8PCgjYR3ubGIGT2PI4TQ8xjscKFBD1vlooVcO2X-6JbYGwqdxk0Rrg/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+061.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
$6 a roll was a little more than I usually spend on paper that my kiddos won't even look at before tearing off (lol) but it was so darn cute for my Wise Owls that I couldn't resist. I bought two rolls to make sure I had enough for 23 books, and I guess you get what you pay for, because I didn't even make it through one roll! Now I am super excited to have a full roll ready to go for next year. You know how excited we teachers get over being well prepared! :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Most of my area was closed down with the snow we got yesterday in central New Jersey, so here is what I spent some time doing:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8UJaq8MAGVzR-QDhUwQFOe1kemY-kuBU_BCo4CuIrJZYv4o_iaaUKfbLQRaHrol0o1uv8sllKoc0W27VeML386PijtyqsarPl2V40GfSdI1fM1i6JmGC0ASpQFDvHva5QLBLgRvm65s/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8UJaq8MAGVzR-QDhUwQFOe1kemY-kuBU_BCo4CuIrJZYv4o_iaaUKfbLQRaHrol0o1uv8sllKoc0W27VeML386PijtyqsarPl2V40GfSdI1fM1i6JmGC0ASpQFDvHva5QLBLgRvm65s/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+062.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ahhh... wrapping in front of the fire... kinda makes me wish every Saturday were like this!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Meanwhile, our family elf, Blitz, has been up to more mischief...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKu2S4V06yUs8GP48IA2tGwCTyzFuLiDJr_u_rBy-aPsl1QujaxjC6k8OdrlGNP9tqqoSe0iJwxSzwawPTvWkJIRrueyqZOWnquCrJagD8IKxX-fB9JO44o2pE8lEYgtOMVesuAYlm5M/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKu2S4V06yUs8GP48IA2tGwCTyzFuLiDJr_u_rBy-aPsl1QujaxjC6k8OdrlGNP9tqqoSe0iJwxSzwawPTvWkJIRrueyqZOWnquCrJagD8IKxX-fB9JO44o2pE8lEYgtOMVesuAYlm5M/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She showed up in the kids' bathroom taking a marshmallow bubble bath.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then on our very first day of snow, she led the girls down the hall from their bedrooms with some signs...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKByDoIhAVZTBVXhP66ug79ndNrqbBdJGa5EYqbvJ4hcAQOVSk2EdllMfnMCfdFyH7qOLct6PXcZrSnBWaJkZBbsDkIvD4M4GDvIsg8DosCMVHpfyH8s_AdAJMXlCoYM5gjqyluhDpQjg/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKByDoIhAVZTBVXhP66ug79ndNrqbBdJGa5EYqbvJ4hcAQOVSk2EdllMfnMCfdFyH7qOLct6PXcZrSnBWaJkZBbsDkIvD4M4GDvIsg8DosCMVHpfyH8s_AdAJMXlCoYM5gjqyluhDpQjg/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+014.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wx-JhUQijIaOA2V1ko8jwOAkz2au8cGPr08xeb3fdoaswW5kpOFwVS__If8-7x0uL9HDrAUywCFd7aDOre-ByZJRovfl8TAXdK7mnhbZE-cXX6zABZf9DaihYwbazEdINfH-k1o1PDs/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wx-JhUQijIaOA2V1ko8jwOAkz2au8cGPr08xeb3fdoaswW5kpOFwVS__If8-7x0uL9HDrAUywCFd7aDOre-ByZJRovfl8TAXdK7mnhbZE-cXX6zABZf9DaihYwbazEdINfH-k1o1PDs/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+015.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGR4JytXChIGNRauw5JEIlBxpN9blC1zQFFM_4zldNKU8UnypzRTNOLPBrK6Gaz4o-wGzIOIYwZb1YrCmkvd53k1LVy0E_HwJPd8FobEBPfQpIW77w71_GvarnpZ4EuYbHunDE2y7XmI/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGR4JytXChIGNRauw5JEIlBxpN9blC1zQFFM_4zldNKU8UnypzRTNOLPBrK6Gaz4o-wGzIOIYwZb1YrCmkvd53k1LVy0E_HwJPd8FobEBPfQpIW77w71_GvarnpZ4EuYbHunDE2y7XmI/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOluCuim6rYmVslFupn1Qn7u3-hCLP17hh3UZdu2YYmTzCgdvwRgOzaCyo2FKD_AkXjqUaVG3AW0Z-_3x_MC6XUMG7_NqjfJo7ntXVHF11uqLWMWeez9MUTA9IBOclMopZ6daRpXw9Fs/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOluCuim6rYmVslFupn1Qn7u3-hCLP17hh3UZdu2YYmTzCgdvwRgOzaCyo2FKD_AkXjqUaVG3AW0Z-_3x_MC6XUMG7_NqjfJo7ntXVHF11uqLWMWeez9MUTA9IBOclMopZ6daRpXw9Fs/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
... all the way to the front door, where she was staring out at the Winter Wonderland!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She had also left us our own snowy wonderland in the living room:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ4f0nVWx4qr0_j80Og2cTB7rJe9qveVTdJXlnN-0eoQ71OvScC2kxtSCxymnlnbb-cnxghpgd9BCekNluBbqI3nML8ZjyluLJnY1Hh3eZalo-8y0by9mzUekZ1AEU0aYbnvx19E6a6c/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ4f0nVWx4qr0_j80Og2cTB7rJe9qveVTdJXlnN-0eoQ71OvScC2kxtSCxymnlnbb-cnxghpgd9BCekNluBbqI3nML8ZjyluLJnY1Hh3eZalo-8y0by9mzUekZ1AEU0aYbnvx19E6a6c/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZO7HLwZjPI6qqQGDEkAMi3JEsZmK9LjGRkNdMkMZoDocRsxrf9XxaUvwODeNTnC1k-rc6wBse0KYFJYXV5oMwvlhEqw28JlCPVvcN0XutHelrgls9D2msrvJuB4QTiI8qreBdoBCd8E/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZO7HLwZjPI6qqQGDEkAMi3JEsZmK9LjGRkNdMkMZoDocRsxrf9XxaUvwODeNTnC1k-rc6wBse0KYFJYXV5oMwvlhEqw28JlCPVvcN0XutHelrgls9D2msrvJuB4QTiI8qreBdoBCd8E/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
She and Barbie played a little checkers with peanut butter cups, yum!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE617uaFEM4kGHMWMJDtPoBxYwauAibjO7sRyo8ljFJlEc8hinC05JOIm_gOj-LJZpmDYSPNwUPyYSD1EyirK9zsSuck8qY3OKHH358ERSS_jV32Wf1JrpapvTBv4cjwjLMkw0-J7QstY/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE617uaFEM4kGHMWMJDtPoBxYwauAibjO7sRyo8ljFJlEc8hinC05JOIm_gOj-LJZpmDYSPNwUPyYSD1EyirK9zsSuck8qY3OKHH358ERSS_jV32Wf1JrpapvTBv4cjwjLMkw0-J7QstY/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dun dun dunnnnnn.... this warning came after a day when my girls were not particularly nice to one another. (Chocolate crackle coal.... a Dollar Store find!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOklGeMUjKQ0X27w6e9A-GznP6LyxmUySXxUTGHJkfDsVPve_W4VoUj23oSCyNc0tzDh59slp_lfMi5SGeOLvg4juZsnZN3d7UX4TdMbNmP3bdXdwhN1kkX8V1xQ5j6sAIr-Vk5m-yeA/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOklGeMUjKQ0X27w6e9A-GznP6LyxmUySXxUTGHJkfDsVPve_W4VoUj23oSCyNc0tzDh59slp_lfMi5SGeOLvg4juZsnZN3d7UX4TdMbNmP3bdXdwhN1kkX8V1xQ5j6sAIr-Vk5m-yeA/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh, Blitz! You stinker! Writing on our pictures with dry erase marker!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVlzV0kFncrRI800zFe_g-JWdoCZQtfi7Tv5i8DF0SEC2VEZe9UMnHV6Pr5Bd3ut6b-idh8GA9WFZD9MjhuOl6kRlXSdMWMbPe085Cv1SqP2woZI4o9UDKhhbNxZBlG89-sp6Yhiltlw/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVlzV0kFncrRI800zFe_g-JWdoCZQtfi7Tv5i8DF0SEC2VEZe9UMnHV6Pr5Bd3ut6b-idh8GA9WFZD9MjhuOl6kRlXSdMWMbPe085Cv1SqP2woZI4o9UDKhhbNxZBlG89-sp6Yhiltlw/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+044.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tsk, tsk....</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz30W4OoTXJfFETY7BgUGPVY0cJLFCUSR9ynzNDPr__rdQ34i0r76hyX0bofOHpK_zTviyYyUAeIr8QFMIk8hkqanxbInMAAuwQY1O7PzcR1tPZ-H-Ps9xdl8qMcZNO9_84MdzhRzBVA/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOz30W4OoTXJfFETY7BgUGPVY0cJLFCUSR9ynzNDPr__rdQ34i0r76hyX0bofOHpK_zTviyYyUAeIr8QFMIk8hkqanxbInMAAuwQY1O7PzcR1tPZ-H-Ps9xdl8qMcZNO9_84MdzhRzBVA/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+050.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then she did something nice and put candy canes on the tree. :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8MuRQuipsxTX2Hgfvzbwt8VVBYEyoSuwPP0GZM5vB0C3GaTfE-gakMvPElRcREqCmseolXzY2bXsjVFpLfAcDomUp_P-ychxYUuz0nWScgqXNixp-4pqkWUWMVjYzpLiTAJYupEDwQc/s1600/december+15+2013+iphone+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv8MuRQuipsxTX2Hgfvzbwt8VVBYEyoSuwPP0GZM5vB0C3GaTfE-gakMvPElRcREqCmseolXzY2bXsjVFpLfAcDomUp_P-ychxYUuz0nWScgqXNixp-4pqkWUWMVjYzpLiTAJYupEDwQc/s320/december+15+2013+iphone+051.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh, Blitz. What <em>will </em>you do next?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ok, now I'd better start writing lesson plans and my reflection to my pop-in observation that occurred this past week (glad to have that done!) while my poor hubby shovels us out of snow and ice.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hope you are staying warm this weekend!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-39056786525331465222013-12-10T23:03:00.001-05:002013-12-14T20:53:11.217-05:00Super Readers and SNOW DAY... Sort of...<div style="text-align: left;">
My kiddos this year are super strong readers. Several of them entered first grade at an end of first grade level and none of them are really struggling readers; which has led me to some major retooling of the things I typically work on during the first half of the year. Overall, they don't need much in the way of decoding strategies (although we did review them). What they <em>do </em>need, though, is a lot of comprehension work. Like many strong first grade readers, we are working on understanding that we don't always understand a word simply because we can say it out loud correctly. (Metacognition! Remember that word from college?)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since my kids are reading longer and harder books and often word solving in their heads, I really needed a way to make sure that both my reading groups and my independent readers are accountable for understanding what they read, as well as a way to explain this to parents. So I decided to try something with one of my higher groups - treating their group more like a book club and giving them comprehension questions (reading response logs) to check in on how they are doing with their longer and harder books. So far, I am really happy with how it is going! I feel like I have a much better sense of their understanding of the story, story vocabulary, inference, and story message, and I know that even when they are reading without me, the books are an appropriate level. Here is the first one of my reading response logs that I have prettied up as a unit. It goes with Arnold Lobel's <u>Frog and Toad Together</u>, which is a guided reading level 18/20, DRA K, Lexile 330L.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsF1s6H0r3RkR5Di8kgB7aHVrrqatcCjC9ijy1sO5UtDvGrFmLN4Lpsf_azL_-37DH6-SZTvtt9kyrp5MlmpWoKAsTvIuqX4nwz-lKQMj6UbDqGLJAiceAx6WKCl-I-J-Vc4OC0Slqs4E/s320/FT+together+cover.png" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" target="_blank"></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It includes comprehension question pages for prereading and chapters 1 - 5 as well as answer keys.</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9NWRhHU9Env8WzWEyVZfhKbNoD8EEXbFc3ngYUl_xJXpLJWGbdpXHsBa8vXz8ffQcrrPPmdmDATG__FX-AWRIDfhJW2WNJlCFFYOUy5vNGIw7S_-V2xnlhjRphb1HSrOosFFZlN8zZQ/s320/ft+together1.png" width="241" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-and-Toad-Together-Reading-Response-Log-1017874" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoNrZw7l_yUTtmzndwwNUd_JrcVp467eFXHBxqQrKQFmAJNPr2LEKOuTKFThAuRnvF6SsKxeCSLthTeTv0sNFBgIrjOBEqc5lUoT7aoZyaiXyOkp9V8WxEg_5CUSWG44_hOMnwABCmtM/s320/ft+together6.png" width="240" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdEg4AlpSOPJg28aL_9J9RFGwGXD-r2Git0aASREP0XNmZaGpXpYoBjOROY0wi9VLABb17R7Au0m_zj3aSHUXd06Bcts4ZmHYLFKgJEuYCxJL9WdJhT1-CAFHoAbFHs3bJqb09c-s6KU/s320/ft+together7.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In other news, most districts around me were closed today (including my husband's and my kids') but mine soldiered on through a crazy snowstorm. I was actually home with a migraine, but did drive in to set up for my sub and got caught in the storm on the way back, making my typical 30 minute drive home a 1 hr 20 minute drive... with a migraine. ACK! Fortunately, I made it home fine and crashed into bed for a few hours. My hubby took this picture of my girls and their Snow Day achievement:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxHj510Ipt0FfPGuUsaWA-H33QhqYjoGtyi06qNHBObx3uTOIgAV0u66LGOBSSphR3ZqM0SF2Y0qzgdUAtJZ0z8CUW1mdA__9bwkVYFTHM-6Zs2ih0n6AeyDRG2VQsF7A5sqT2mAwkI8/s320/snowmen.JPG" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Have you gotten any snow yet?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-77954353084025847322013-12-08T02:06:00.001-05:002013-12-08T02:06:08.857-05:00Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives: Word Detectives On the Case!<div style="text-align: left;">
My kiddos at school are working hard on learning parts of speech. I wanted some fresh, new activities that would make nouns, verbs, and adjectives fun and motivating, so I decided to make my kids Word Detectives! Here is a peek at the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nouns-Verbs-Adjectives-Word-Detectives-On-the-Case-1013347" target="_blank">new unit</a> we are using. My kids are having a blast, and many of my Wise Owls are now adding more adjectives into their writing as a result. Bonus!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nouns-Verbs-Adjectives-Word-Detectives-On-the-Case-1013347" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nouns-Verbs-Adjectives-Word-Detectives-On-the-Case-1013347" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZO328WG6AgNwmY7SuLzCEZiyZXF60eZ9nO96zT-hekSboJTPWO06Hrc4njwOt7504J-xMMfdAcmSGmaQk7hoQ4hjqzGYth463TLgsJBbqeJuGr5nnnGHAxhhjW-GrWqdxun8K-kEnMc/s320/wd1.png" width="241" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nouns-Verbs-Adjectives-Word-Detectives-On-the-Case-1013347" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nouns-Verbs-Adjectives-Word-Detectives-On-the-Case-1013347" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19e4SsgQhqhDK08f8bXg4SbK8mnb__UgbrHE5ifPnumtMV1jJvFSwWgn_O-qojYH0TIiRXhK4Ku3bUWEd4OJzEgW7LY-WFdfQAkOgOE_XBBKzP5shHYfPPZa60SQ-PS7gDadOY0Mf4-E/s320/wd21.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: left;">
I have to keep my kids motivated to do important learning as the holidays get closer, and this is helping! Hope your kiddies aren't too crazy yet!</div>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-60314455933264573162013-12-07T12:32:00.002-05:002013-12-08T08:34:38.739-05:00Elf on the Shelf in Effect!<div style="text-align: left;">
I am an Elf on the Shelf newbie! To be honest, they always creeped me out a little, lol. But this year I decided to try it with my own kiddies at home. I blame Pinterest with all of its creative ideas! It just looked like so much fun! And it is... it's been a stressful few weeks and setting up Blitz's (we have the girl elf, my daughters named her after Blitzen) shenanigans has actually been a fun stress reliever. I can't really use an Elf in my classroom but I am having a blast at home so I thought I'd share some of Blitz' adventures so far:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx8fqtNG9dv-Ost7Yc8lKU64PuTHo2xwF7Vdx79dbAfglDSiOb0ukXLQs5eCsaMzbiXHowd43SnF-UMtSI_ZTviEm3RyqwC7Q8VzNwkNhtMR0tWX8bdexnhUCZl20bIuAajaEDYDpee4/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQx8fqtNG9dv-Ost7Yc8lKU64PuTHo2xwF7Vdx79dbAfglDSiOb0ukXLQs5eCsaMzbiXHowd43SnF-UMtSI_ZTviEm3RyqwC7Q8VzNwkNhtMR0tWX8bdexnhUCZl20bIuAajaEDYDpee4/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+073.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blitz arrives hanging by chandelier :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv52HIIB0S86vN2hw_KvsFdfztszIcl8cGzm1gQQtaZr8aBtye7eF_5gvCoSgpUclHrpAmOQWDCHPKfRV1jjWnKWejggSSItKYXpiM-wk0NnPTyLAKjCKVMsYjvAzg8fdwC8YPdAtdwXE/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv52HIIB0S86vN2hw_KvsFdfztszIcl8cGzm1gQQtaZr8aBtye7eF_5gvCoSgpUclHrpAmOQWDCHPKfRV1jjWnKWejggSSItKYXpiM-wk0NnPTyLAKjCKVMsYjvAzg8fdwC8YPdAtdwXE/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+069.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blitz takes a ride on Tasha.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaJFguNv2sbJwzUa8a1DnbhMytmfDRIJ0SieD5OHm4QEVBda-88CPvyFdui5Ucwx9uwB75DF55ehkEVjZjWRZJDb6VNRS4Iqsk5WW6-Gc6AhwmpqjHB93BSFnMqGr4Ntu0jGb7QdoTvs/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDaJFguNv2sbJwzUa8a1DnbhMytmfDRIJ0SieD5OHm4QEVBda-88CPvyFdui5Ucwx9uwB75DF55ehkEVjZjWRZJDb6VNRS4Iqsk5WW6-Gc6AhwmpqjHB93BSFnMqGr4Ntu0jGb7QdoTvs/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+072.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Portia gets in some Elf snuggles</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gqlCq_0AZkqCmLkSQvjL6FIu2znPeNe0vKacviSHzr7qiKB0vqN0wiu7x0eE1RtIMNy2dCC44jl1AL81lqoa79bwhw0jqQJ4eWT6JpBGYAndYFgKHY9T0dQIQzmnWwhnY6uuujmutAo/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gqlCq_0AZkqCmLkSQvjL6FIu2znPeNe0vKacviSHzr7qiKB0vqN0wiu7x0eE1RtIMNy2dCC44jl1AL81lqoa79bwhw0jqQJ4eWT6JpBGYAndYFgKHY9T0dQIQzmnWwhnY6uuujmutAo/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blitz takes the gold!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAjM0w-COCoSUoVTu0PEsKBOsecVGDDxUfOgPSdeSOYQTeyH_rpRZ1GkyL8PeDXBctdQI0NbgW2_PmHzSzZAMOsPlJ952EoxeXs3GbDtZHgvYIGftD1PXIQAoA24w8azFM5gcJSLHZl4/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAjM0w-COCoSUoVTu0PEsKBOsecVGDDxUfOgPSdeSOYQTeyH_rpRZ1GkyL8PeDXBctdQI0NbgW2_PmHzSzZAMOsPlJ952EoxeXs3GbDtZHgvYIGftD1PXIQAoA24w8azFM5gcJSLHZl4/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+070.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just hangin' around...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj989oSt6T2S-t1HAGWBZoTe7ZBkvin08zoB3sOYgYnX9QFU6Nky7rwLh-uDP0esHZDQGrV8WL4Ke_beShhdga8qHmZ34qUNk8wYHpx1Mzw7n0CzBU3P552obTx_LAjiMGRQrJ8J97pQBw/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj989oSt6T2S-t1HAGWBZoTe7ZBkvin08zoB3sOYgYnX9QFU6Nky7rwLh-uDP0esHZDQGrV8WL4Ke_beShhdga8qHmZ34qUNk8wYHpx1Mzw7n0CzBU3P552obTx_LAjiMGRQrJ8J97pQBw/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Storytime with her friends</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uuUx9X4PekKYU7lZN1h-6_bWkr3xaY-CtkOQ7UGSG_NJEvAV5b2f_dIpk91uTayqVwL-jROx2rJ3HNH2WXDB7MvLg58g3KEOI9UxX04i241jO8CxlhpgM2j6NwKoq0KN8duzv_gnpzI/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uuUx9X4PekKYU7lZN1h-6_bWkr3xaY-CtkOQ7UGSG_NJEvAV5b2f_dIpk91uTayqVwL-jROx2rJ3HNH2WXDB7MvLg58g3KEOI9UxX04i241jO8CxlhpgM2j6NwKoq0KN8duzv_gnpzI/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh my...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JUH3hXQ_fAI6e6FOdEKI8o_ejXEJdwyYD67sZAUP-dF38W-Anb67pNbKwDimv7RpdKb1zhbvSWV8df1zlC4KXoE6iv5IyqIiaXCPY-E6rq4vKkYeyKoFIQL4GPkVG1ANztZhFdB0v9Y/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JUH3hXQ_fAI6e6FOdEKI8o_ejXEJdwyYD67sZAUP-dF38W-Anb67pNbKwDimv7RpdKb1zhbvSWV8df1zlC4KXoE6iv5IyqIiaXCPY-E6rq4vKkYeyKoFIQL4GPkVG1ANztZhFdB0v9Y/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+085.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Super Blitz! (Suspended from a beam by fishing line)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQ5n9fXB1Qnp6FnDykqul5OdhuJljkdIvUz-SLR8bWDUBwo5Lmw5d3Y29nbEOYyl9plC3Mn2emTH4fmDzviiGCvIF5btzMPA6E5lYr6EQxUXvpFXedrCjLVz2axE8kDyalSb59GN8p28/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQ5n9fXB1Qnp6FnDykqul5OdhuJljkdIvUz-SLR8bWDUBwo5Lmw5d3Y29nbEOYyl9plC3Mn2emTH4fmDzviiGCvIF5btzMPA6E5lYr6EQxUXvpFXedrCjLVz2axE8kDyalSb59GN8p28/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+088.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Uh oh... The Lego guys are tired of her shenanigans...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOblY1FpaYIGHhJDIhvJN5nwYoa55T7Q0mL-cviuTJujaj6O2t9-7WWMEsY7gEXtwZJiwP_9K92_o-fdsOAj83vXLx1Fn78Mcbp4m48smnLXVPTlM-Y6JveLSMiGkLUJeRNXdqhBXsUw/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOblY1FpaYIGHhJDIhvJN5nwYoa55T7Q0mL-cviuTJujaj6O2t9-7WWMEsY7gEXtwZJiwP_9K92_o-fdsOAj83vXLx1Fn78Mcbp4m48smnLXVPTlM-Y6JveLSMiGkLUJeRNXdqhBXsUw/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+090.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All dressed up for a night on the town.... and following traffic signs, of course!</div>
<center>
</center>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjargWnBpcnJ2pRAtv912BuXoBBqeiEmmi0YqKu8atXHx17eO0QqNOs3U1HCwgt47ijiRf0Jj-gIcD_EdDKgx2o1j8JstKIPCaIFMNfi7PPLCYRKka7nhOzuf_b8nnfsnFKVO35EGjUGpE/s1600/December+7+2013+iphone+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjargWnBpcnJ2pRAtv912BuXoBBqeiEmmi0YqKu8atXHx17eO0QqNOs3U1HCwgt47ijiRf0Jj-gIcD_EdDKgx2o1j8JstKIPCaIFMNfi7PPLCYRKka7nhOzuf_b8nnfsnFKVO35EGjUGpE/s320/December+7+2013+iphone+096.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<center>
A heated game of Guess Who with Rudolph!</center>
<center>
</center>
<div align="left">
Stay tuned for further Blitz excitement! Hope these chilly days hold some fun for you, too!</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div align="left">
For more Elf fun, link up with Seusstastic's Elf on the Shelf Classroom & Home Elfcapades Linky Party! Click on the link to join the fun!</div>
<div align="left">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://seusstastic.blogspot.com/2012/11/elf-on-shelf-linky-party.html" target="_blank"><img alt="http://seusstastic.blogspot.com/2012/11/elf-on-shelf-linky-party.html" border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ohNJaj3wjhP7y7AWB0ZjfL4dKF_Hhs11LPyK4nSNIh7Qb7VqdPrmvqWBRQtsT9McDIz-1Z_S00n2zC-5KjHvmn5N0xGkPfk080mFMhvudr4L1bjXhr8nszQqn7QjnO5VOS9TsWaoSK0/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-11-28+at+6_34_06+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<center>
</center>
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7408810892681695761.post-29466205723985616572013-12-01T19:18:00.000-05:002013-12-01T19:19:48.523-05:00Christmas to the Common Core PLUS Science!<div style="text-align: left;">
Whew! I'm SOOO excited to have posted my newest unit, <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" target="_blank">Christmas to the (Common) Core PLUS Science!</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGcCbnoEA0AYnQ2AM3oGA9c5bg-7UkKbewcku-jiihB3JwaXwMdQXObdo8tF31Ae0DwoZ-gp_03cknIArk_PXa3oS9AGrNVatv-qguKHx2-Z8HUTMPXekI2OVKSrQGrsBSyxHYgqmOvE/s320/xmas+cover.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
It's 71 pages of print-and-go Math and Language Arts activities, plus a thermometer practice book (Fahrenheit and Celsius) and two full science experiments. Here is just a sneak peek:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSE3EED3F7Rr2XBfK81SxHMF8S4NhzmVDuX4pQjZYLptQLkuQDtzPrFcENFPkt2Q1Sha20bV7txa6rPNrowUZbUo1BzWjev6uWfR1fP9vu-RhLmg4DGiOTBNyd26cee27eVPpAkp9uTM/s1600/xmas2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaSE3EED3F7Rr2XBfK81SxHMF8S4NhzmVDuX4pQjZYLptQLkuQDtzPrFcENFPkt2Q1Sha20bV7txa6rPNrowUZbUo1BzWjev6uWfR1fP9vu-RhLmg4DGiOTBNyd26cee27eVPpAkp9uTM/s200/xmas2.png" width="150" /><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilumuITdCwRszc-Q5DTOLcmP2mte2tt-zGth8n1v99_-aaIObGMg7mCH8cs-YyQif2o_NTi6EmRAaAK_nKXaXOYhM8cJiYbO6iytlNg-FUdPeVxP-CIJmKJDmDopsn9MDnLHSKMosHiDU/s200/xmas1.png" width="149" /></a></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKZFH2ohDmoipOpGjsgmTeeCv-Op72RKaZEWeqcxe7ZtUh74svoTVjtjDdg4n74qaCAggF9VFlKJgycEYlc6ykUbdAdoZ_-06z8fCqtCzwUcpmc7gkrOYqWQ-Gdr-y2P9hlqoCxTwGi0/s1600/xmas4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKZFH2ohDmoipOpGjsgmTeeCv-Op72RKaZEWeqcxe7ZtUh74svoTVjtjDdg4n74qaCAggF9VFlKJgycEYlc6ykUbdAdoZ_-06z8fCqtCzwUcpmc7gkrOYqWQ-Gdr-y2P9hlqoCxTwGi0/s200/xmas4.png" width="150" /><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51U2kfwJxDy2IX98n7xdxULjwQkWh3Hd1xWM04D8G0QEkqF4Qh8N5nt-volLgRHWD9UHcoxKn-PMjPAVq-3PCwnM9ZdCGDrK6KNOdS6bS92clZtAnCS45weHBI4f-ej0wwjTjf5xV94s/s200/xmas3.png" width="151" /></a></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1r0bHR1qjsfn07bfgFIWoUqR42-R9ZrCZykzkAF6GgZsdUg64PBHQE88ev0Sz81M-eD7x58qqbYYOdxpmG-bnSRtUnREy-40YbjQFv28EGG_1wgD7FvLl6t2BhqAkl2EqfsF1rWuirI/s1600/xmas9.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1r0bHR1qjsfn07bfgFIWoUqR42-R9ZrCZykzkAF6GgZsdUg64PBHQE88ev0Sz81M-eD7x58qqbYYOdxpmG-bnSRtUnREy-40YbjQFv28EGG_1wgD7FvLl6t2BhqAkl2EqfsF1rWuirI/s200/xmas9.png" width="148" /><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Unit-Christmas-to-the-Common-Core-PLUS-Science-1003985" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy25QjXgOyeNtvkIIE72sEGL68B5ZX6WmGOaqQfZJoO7G25w89iMc1reHwUEMsBFOMgp_PGttYKcYwJ3Lj0IumAbRyiRueVY3yfyR5IK9NwxoucebTbXmALhByMPRiBf5YFqhLCc4a9aY/s200/xmas6.png" width="149" /></a></a></div>
<br />
Also, my Handsome Hubby created the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Background-Digital-Papers-by-Dastardly-Designs-995103" target="_blank">Christmas tree background</a> for the cover, which I have posted as a <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Background-Digital-Papers-by-Dastardly-Designs-995103" target="_blank">FREEBIE</a>! Enjoy! Happy Thanksgiving and happy shopping at the TpT Cyber Monday/Tuesday SALE! I can't wait!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<center>
<img alt="post signature" class="left" src="http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn200/MaddestHatter2728/Blogsignature.jpg" /></center>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.com0