Update!!

If you follow my blog faithfully, I want to apologize for being MIA lately.  Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to get any better either.  We have conferences next Monday and Tuesday, after spending hours testing my kiddos to see where they are at and filling out report cards, I am done.  The upside to being at school every evening this week is we have Thursday and Friday off!!  Woo-hoo!!!! 

I am also due with baby number 3 in 5 weeks, oh my, yes 5 weeks.  I think I am ready, but exhaustion has set in once again.  I am super excited though to finally get our boy after have two wonderful daughters.  So unfortanely, between conferences and preparing for another baby, my time is gone.  So if you are thinking I have given up, I haven't, just more important things taking place right now. 

Thanks so far for your support and hopefully after the baby arrives and things settle down a bit, I can get back to sharing and creating for you wonderful followers. 

Common Core: How many ways can you make 10?

We  have been working on addition to sums of ten in first grade.  Today we had to find all the ways to make ten.  I started by having the kids use a ziploc bag.  I divided the bag in half using some fun duct tape.

In each bag I placed 10 counters.  You can really do this with any sum, but since our lesson was making sums of 10 that's what I used.  The students would start by having 0 on the left side and 10 on the right.  So 0 + 10=10.  Next I had them move one counter to the other side, they would write the addition sentence 1 + 9=10, then they moved another counter 2+8=10, and so on.  It was fun to see them realize the pattern you get when you move them.  Having this hands on visual helped my kiddos a lot.

I created this little paper to use as a pre-teaching lesson before having them do the activity page out of our math series.  By preteaching the lesson with this paper helped them to do the activity page more independently.  I have included this activity page as a FREEBIE to use in your classroom. 
Just click the image below.  The students draw the counters in the "ziploc" bag and then record the addition sentence.  Enjoy!!

Sunday Funday!!

Wow, I spent 6.5 hours in my classroom today, what a great Sunday (insert sarcasm)!  I'm starting guided reading and centers this week and wanted to make sure I had everything prepared!!  I still am not sure about this, but hopefully the kids will pick it up.  I know it's going to take a lot of modeling, modeling, modeling and practice, practice, practice.  I just have to "Keep Calm."  I'm also trying to stay caught up and eventually get ahead because I have to prepare maternity lesson plans for end of November/December and I am already stressed out about that.  If anybody has any tips for centers/guided reading or maternity lesson plans, please, please share them.  I will be back later this week for our hands-on math lesson, so be on the lookout for a freebie!  Hope you all had a great weekend and a much better Sunday than mine. 

Addition

We started in our math series this week and it seems to be going pretty good.  My district adopted the common core series called "Go Math."  Does anybody else use this?  I'm not in love with it, but that's what we have to use.  The hardest part for my kiddos is that everything in the very beginning is written in story problems. AGGHHHH!!!  That immediately scares my little ones away, if they can't read the story problem, then they think they can't solve the problem.  Anyways, my goal this year is to spend as much time doing hands-on activities so that my students can master these standards.  So today we did a "FUN" addition plate activity.  Wow, my kids worked so hard and QUIET, yes I said QUIET for about 20 minutes on this.  I found this activity from http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/. If you have not checked out this website, you need to, it has so many common core math activites you can use divided by grade level.

Here are some pictures of what they did.  Each student should have a paper plate with 3 compartment, counters, die, and a response sheet which I am giving to you for FREE!!
The student rolls their die and places that many counter in the small compartment, rolls it a second time and places that many counters in the second small spot.  Then we have been talking about the plus sign and that it means you put numbers or things together.  So after they have their two small sections filled with counters they "join" them together in the big bottom part.  Students then have to draw their picture on the recording sheet and complete the addition sentence.

Here is an example of the worksheet that I created to go along with this activity.  I included the vocabulary so students learn how to read an addition sentence.

 

I loved watching their little minds at work.  If you would like to download the worksheet to go along with this game, click on the picture below.  Happy Teaching!!

 

Posted Product

I wish every weekend could be a three day weekend, don't you?  I got a lot of work done, but man there is still so much more I need to do. Worked in my room all day Saturday, trying to get lessons ready and prepping for when we start guided reading/centers.  I plan to start centers and G.R. next Monday with my kiddos.  I'm nervous, there are so many procedures and rules and steps to follow, but I have faith that they can do it. 

I had a request for a black and white version of my guided reading/reading recovery labels, so I couldn't say NO!!  I just uploaded them to my TpT store {here}.  If you like these labels, but need them in a different color scheme, leave me a message and I will be happy to work with you.  Here's a little peek at these labels.

Back to School Sale!!

Every girl loves a back to school sale especially me.  So I was excited to hear that TpT is having a sale where you can earn up to 28% off all items in my store and many other great teachers.  So stock up and save for the upcoming school year.  Follow Amanda at The First Grade Garden and join the linky party, just click the image below.  Happy Shopping in my store, just click {here}.

Liebster Award!!

Thank you to Amy Hope from TheHoundsToothTeacher for nominating me for the Liebster Award.  I so do not deserve any awards, because let me tell you, it is hard keeping up in the blogging world, but I'm giving it my best shot.  Go check out her blog here, she is the sweetest thing!!

Now for the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.
2. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
3. Present the award to other bloggers who have less than 200 followers and leave them a comment on their blog.

I am passing on the Liebster Award to...

                    Mrs. Wehling's First Grade

Go check out their blogs, some cute ideas!!

Math Journals

I created a little FREEBIE for all you wonderful blogging buddies.  This packet can be used to create math journals.  You can use only the covers and add your own pages behind, or use the sample page I included in the packet.  You can check it out here!

Winners!!!

Thanks to all who entered.  If you didn't win this giveaway, no need to worry, there will be more throughout the school year.  If you would still like to purchase my job packet, click {here}

I am hoping to complete my classroom by this weekend and I will post some pictures so you can see it in action.  Enjoy what's left of summer vacation!!

Classroom Jobs

I have been working in my classroom trying to get it all ready for the school year.  I am trying to be super organized this year since I will also have to plan for maternity leave between Thanksgiving and Christmas break.  My goal is to get my room 100% completely done by the end of this week so I can focus on lessons and planning for this semester.  I am laughing as I type this because as much as I say I am going to be prepared, we all know that you are never prepared when it comes to teaching first grade, RIGHT?? 

Anyways, last year I didn't use classroom jobs, so I thought I would go back and give them a shot this year and see how they go.  I created some job titles to use to display in my classroom.  I think I plan to attach my signs above a cute library pocket, then I will use popsicle sticks and place students names on them to place in the pocket for whoever has that job for the week.  I think I will change jobs every Monday to keep studetns excited about them.  I don't have a picture to share with you, but once I get them posted and set up in my classroom, I will take a picture and share it with you!!

I just uploaded this packet of jobs to my TPT store {here}
I included three different designs, so one of them is sure to suit your fancy!!  Here's what they look like!

 I would like to give this packet away to 2 lucky winners.  All you have to do is leave me a comment about anything and your email address.  You have until Tuesday (7-31) to leave me any comment plus your email.  I will announce the winners on Wednesday (8-1)!!  Good Luck!!

If you can't wait until then to have these jobs, they are on sale {here} for $1.60 now through Sunday evening. 

FREEBIE and completed packet!!!

Whew, after working diligently on this adorable gray, pink, and black packet, I have finally finished it and uploaded it here: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Labels-Posters-for-Organizing-your-Classroom-Gray-Pink-and-Black 

This packet includes:

*56 Book Basket Labels to Organize your classroom library!

*Months of the year {3 Designs and sizes}

*Calendar Pieces

*Table Signs 1-6-large and small sizes

*Guided Reading Labels {one design is Levels aa-Z;  the other design uses Reading Recovery Levels} You can choose which ones to print and use.

*30 Classroom Supply Labels

*13 Center Posters Large and Small

*Happy Birthday Postcards {5 designs}

You can use all or pick and choose what you want to use!  These are all primarily what I use in my classroom. If you would like me to add other labels to this for other things you might need in your classroom, I would be HAPPY to add them FREE of charge. Here's a snippet of what's included!

I also have a FREEBIE discipline chart that correlates to this packet.   Make sure you check it out {here}

I am in love with this new color scheme and will be making more packets.  I am also going to be working on some other organization packets like the one above in different colors and themes. If you would like to see a specific color or theme, please let me know and I can see what I can come up with.

New Grey and Pink Design

I was messing around with some different colors today and put together grey and pink!!  I totally fell in love with it and have started making out a complete packet full of classroom decor.  So far I have included:  Days of the week, Months of the year, Calendar-Yesterday Was, Today Is, and Tomorrow Will Be, Guided Reading Levels including the correlating Reading Recovery Label.

I am also planning on adding Library Book Bin Labels such as Alphabet, Colors, Apples! 
And, I will also be adding labels to organize bins of stuff like markers, crayons, scissors, etc.!!
Are there any specific library labels or bin labels you would like to see in this packet??

Also is there something specific you would like to see in this packet that I might not be including???  Any input would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Here are some pictures of what the color scheme looks like!!

Polka Dot Galore and FREEBIE!!

I love brightly colored polka dots, so as I have been revamping my classroom, I created some brightly colored dot posters/signs!  This packet is 132 pages of DOT FUN!!  You can check it out here, http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polka-Dot-GALORE

I included the table signs for free here:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/DOT-Table-Signs-Tables-1-6

If you love the signs, then you will love the Polka Dot Packet.

Here's what's included:

Enjoy the rest of your summer, I only have three weeks of summer left!! :(  How long do you have??

Postcards and Giveaway!

It's hard to imagine that I have to go back to work in three weeks.  Where did the summer go?  I got a lot of stuff done, but there is still so much more that I need to do before I go back.  Last time we talked, I let you all know that my husband and I are expecting our third child in November!  We have two adorable girls, ages 8 and 3, so we were really praying for a boy this time.  Wouldn't you know it, the good lord answered them and we will have a sweet BOY sometime around November 28th.  We couldn't be happier!

I gained some motivation and created some "Back to School Postcards" to give students on the first day of first grade!!  I haven't done a giveaway for some time now and I am due for one.  Here's how to get a free copy of my "Welcome to First Grade" Postcards.

Leave me a comment with an awesome BOY name (first and middle).  You have until Tuesday at midnight to enter.  I will choose one winner at random Wednesday.  Please leave me your email so if you are the lucky winner, I can get these to you.  If you are not a first grade teacher, but would like me to create some for your grade, please let me know and I would be more than happy to create some for you!!

Vacation Is Coming

I have been super busy so far this summer cleaning out my house, remodeling our basement bathroom, and preparing for a BABY!!  Yep, I am going to have another little nugget running around sometime in late November and I am excited.  My nesting phase has kicked in full gear and I am wanting to get so many things accomplished before the start of the school year.  I have also never had to prepare for a sub for 6 weeks, so if there are any suggestion on how to do that I would greatly appreciate them.  My husband and I will get to find out for sure what we are having in three short weeks on July 9th and I'm super excited I can hardly contain myself.  I will keep you posted on the sex of the baby in July.

We will be taking a family vacation this week, driving down to Houston, Texas.  I was looking it up on google maps today, and boy howdy, I sure hope my almost three year old will be able to stay occupied while driving for that long.  We will also be making a day of going to Galveston and seeing the beach, I am excited for my kids to see it for the first time.  Any of you blogging buddies out there from the Houston/Galveston area, let me know if there are any fun things we for sure need to do while we are there. 

Last but not least, Happy Father's Day to all those amazing fathers out there.

Let Summer Begin

I am officially on Summer Vacation, woo-hoo!!!  I am excited to hang out with my kids this summer and relax for a while.  I am also taking a college course, that of course is not very exciting, but it has to be done.  I have some goals to get my house in order, since it has been out of sorts for the past school year.  I am in need of cleaning out clothes, clothes, and more clothes and toys, toys, and more toys. 

I of course will tell myself to go and work in my room so I can feel prepared when school starts, but I tend to say that every summer and never really go up there until the few weeks before school starts. 

What are your plans for the summer??

Homestretch

Wow, we are down to the homestretch.  Only 10 days of school left.  I can hardly believe it, but so excited for summer and being able to hang out with my kiddos and do some fun stuff.  My students are so ready for summer to start, it's getting hard keeping their attention, but we will keep plugging along.  I hope to get caught up this summer with some new products. 

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I am having a sale of 20% off in my store, plus the additional 10% from TpT.  So stock up for next year and save.  Have a great Sunday and a wonderful work week!!

Random Thoughts plus a review!!

I have been so far behind on life in general.  Haven't been feeling the greatest lately and the end of the school year is kicking me in the hiney!!  We officially have 25 days of school left and as all teachers know it is the craziest, busiest time of the year.  I apologize for leaving all you wonderful followers in the dark lately.  I have also been trying to complete two classes I am taking for ESL and I have no motivation to read my last three chapters and write my last paper.  GRRRRR!!! 

Weather was crazy here in Kansas, with a total of 112 tornadoes that touched ground.  I hope all my fellow Kansan teachers are safe.  We spent our Saturday evening following and watching the weather hoping our family and friends were safe.  My 8 year old daughter also made her First Communion today, so we celebrated with friends and family.

I also want to take time to share with you a K-5 Reading and Math program that I have been using for the last six weeks. It was a free trial and it provides some great activities to help your kiddos with Math and Reading.  The one thing that I really liked about it was that students can take a pre-test to see what level they are on.  Then lessons are set up just for them on their individual level.  Each activity is split apart with a game to keep the kids interested.  It's also great because parents can log into their child's account and see how they are doing.  If you are looking for another great technology resource to use in your classroom, you can check them out at any of the following places.

Website: http://www.k5learning.com
Blog: http://www.k5learning.com/blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/k5learning
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/k5learning

 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!!  Twenty-five more days, can I do it????  Yes, I can!!!!

Easter Activities!!

I am getting Spring Fever!!  It has been so nice here in the midwest, upper 80's today and hardly any wind.  I am so excited our KU Jayhawks beat Ohio last night and are in the championship finals Monday evening.  Go KU!!!  We are down to about 33 school days and I am getting pretty excited to spend the summer with my two girls, but there is still a lot that I need to get done with my kiddos.  I love Easter and all that goes with it. 

Here are some ideas you can use with your kids for review of compound words and math facts!

This first basket, kids are matching words to make compound words.

Click on the image to download the recording sheet!!

 This basket, kids will match an addition or subtraction sentence to the sum or difference.  You can really do anything with this and the kids will love it.

Here is the recording sheet for the math egg activity!

Some other ideas to use with those plastic eggs are:  synonym matching, antonym matching, or even send an egg home with each student and have them fill it with an item.  The kids have to guess what each kiddo brought by shaking it and making predictions.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!  We only have a four day week,  whoo-hoo!!  Anybody else have only four days this week??



It's Almost April!

Wow, I just counted down how many days we have left until summer and I counted only 37!!!  That is crazy, but I am getting pretty excited.  So sorry I have been MIA this past week, Spring Break ended and I had to go back to work, as we all know how crazy it can be to go back after a week off.  I hope to be posting some Easter/Spring freebies to my blog this weekend, so make sure to check back.  Leave me a comment and let me know how many days of school you have left!!!

Also, stop by Erica Bohrer's blog and enter to win her Scholastic Spelling Booklet.  She is giving away 10 autographed copies to some lucky winners.  I sure hope that I win!!!  She has amazing stuff for teachers.  Click on the link below to go and enter her contest!!  Good luck to you all, but I hope I win!!! 

http://ericabohrer.blogspot.com/2012/03/20-super-spelling-centers-contest.html?showComment=1332899796772#c8134590701552562649

Passing the award on!!

O.K. as I mentioned in the earlier post, I will be picking 15 blogs that deserve an award.  This was tough because there are so many great blogs out there and they are all WONDERFUL! 

Here are my 15 blogs I chose to recieve:

Rules to follow:

1.  You must link back to the person that awarded you the award.

2. Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers.

3.  Follow the person who sent it to you.

So here are my 15 in no special order:

1.  Laura from peaceloveandfirstgrade.blogspot.com

2.  Laura from tattlingtotheteacher.blogspot.com

3.  Heather from peacocksandpenguins.blogspot.com

4.  1stgraderockss.blogspot.com

5.  Mrs. McHaffie from mchaffiek.blogspot.com

6.  Debra from thepaisleyapple.blogspot.com

7.  Beth Ann from familyrunningmyjourney.blogspot.com

8.  Dee from firstimpressions34.blogspot.com

9.  Nina from lovelylittlelearners.blogspot.com

10.  Ashley from live2learn-ashley.blogspot.com

11.  Brenda from primaryinspired.blogspot.com

12.  Jessica from underthealphabettree.blogspot.com

13.  Tammy from foreverin1st.blogspot.com

14.  Kelly and Diane from madefor1stgrade.blogspot.com

15.  Ms. Boyle from greatfirstgradeexpectations.blogspot.com

Stop and check out these blogs!!

K-2 Linky Party and a new Blog Award!!

Check out the K-2 Linky Party.  Lots of great blogs out there, click on the picture below to see them all!!



I'm also so excited to be recognized again by Michelle from "Our Sweet Success" with the "One Beautiful Blog" Award. 



I will be posting later some blogs that I think deserve the "One Lovely Blog" Award.  Thanks so much to all those that have joined me on my blogging journey, it means a lot!!

"St. Patrick's Day" Irish Giveaway

And the winer is #14.   This is what Jen said she likes to do on St. Patrick's Day!!

 

Jen R. @ The Teachers' CauldronMar 18, 2012 05:07 AM

I love to get creative with my cooking/baking and see how festive I can be :)

♥ Jen
The Teacher's Cauldron

Thanks to all who entered.  I love giveaways, and as many of you know I am always doing them.  So keep checking back and be on the lookout for more goodies!!

If you would still like my Easter packet, you can go and get it {here}!!

Enter a lower limit:
Enter an upper limit:
Random Number:

St. Patrick's Day Giveaway

So in honor of my hubby's Irish heritage, he thought I should do a giveaway because of him.  And I said, "What the heck!"  So in honor of the good Ol' Irish, I am going to do a short giveaway.  You have a chance to win my new "Basket Full of Eggs" Easter/Spring packet that I just uploaded to TpT.  Click on the picture to go and check this packet out!!

Just leave me a comment telling me what you like to do on St. Patrick's Day!!  Of course, you need to be a follower of my blog and TpT store.  Contest will end Sunday, March 18th at midnight.  Good Luck!

"And the winner is......"

I am so excited to announce the winners from the "Double your Luck Giveaway"

And the winners are:

Amy from The Resource(ful) Room from Michelle's blog

And

Pamela Faulk from First Class Teacher from  my blog

Congratulations to the winners!!

Thank you to all who entered and joined our blogs and TpT stores. 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

An Award Winning Blog!!!!

I want to thank Michelle from Our Sweet Success for rating my blog a Top 10!!!  This is my very first award for my blog and I couldn't be happier!!

I am returning the favor to those blogs that have helped me and the other wonderful blogs that are out there.  Be sure to go and check them out!!

1.  http://buzzthreetimes.blogspot.com/

2.  fun-in-first.blogspot.com

3.  lessonplansos.blogspot.com

4.  mrsjohnsonsfirstgrade.blogspot.com

5.  madefor1stgrade.blogspot.com

6.  ericabohrer.blogspot.com

7.  lasts-a-lifetime.blogspot.com

8.  squirrelbottomdiaries.blogspot.com

9.  msrachelsroom.blogspot.com

10.  sweettimesinfirst.blogspot.com

Congratulations, now choose your Top 10 to keep this award going!!

Teachers helping teachers!

It never ceases to amaze me how willing teachers are to help those in need.  With the recent tornadoes that have swept through the United States, many lost their homes, schools, and personal belongings.  Many teachers lost all their belongings and supplies with the tornadoes and now have to start completely over.  I cannot even fathom having to start from scratch to build up your supplies and resources.  Therefore, teachers from everywhere again are joining forces to help those in desperate need.  Please link up to help these fellow teachers by clicking on the heart below. 

A Weekend Away

Wow, this weekend flew by fast, but on the upside, after this week of school, we have Spring Break!!!!  I am so excited to have a week off to catch up on stuff!!  I have been pretty MIA this weekend and felt lost without being able to check everything on my computer.  I started my Saturday morning with a "Stress Relief" massage with a great girlfriend of mine.  After my two and a half hours of spa relief I loaded up the car with five friends to go to a Bachelorette Party in Kansas City, MO.  We stayed at the Argosy Casino and did a little gambling.  I am so not a gambler, feel awkward doing it because I don't really know what I am doing.  So after I was up twenty dollars, I stopped!!  I finally made it back home and I am exhausted.  Anyways, hope you all have a great week at work and if you are on Spring Break, enjoy!! 

New Design with bonus giveaway!

So if you haven't noticed, my blog got a new look!!!  I am in love with it!!  My sweet friend Michelle from "Our Sweet Success" helped me tremendously along the way.  I don't
 even want to count how many messages we have sent each other back and forth on facebook.  But seriously, she was a lifesaver.  If you ever need any help with a design for your blog, she's the one to ask for help.  You can check out her page by clicking on her  button below. 




So I thought to celebrate this awesome new design, I'm doing a special giveaway.  Just leave me a comment telling me that of course you are a follower of my blog and one thing you like about the new design!!  Every person that follows me and leaves me a comment with their email will receive my "Hoppin Through Sight Words" packet.  You can check out this cute activity {here}.  This great giveaway will end Friday at midnight!!  That's it!!  Have a great day and TGIF finally!!!

"Double the Luck" Giveaway

I'm teaming up with the sweet Michelle from "Our Sweet Success" for a lucky giveaway.  There will be one winner from each page.  The winner from each blog will get to CHOOSE one packet from my TpT store and one packet from Michelle's TpT store.  How cool is that, you get to pick whatever item you want!!!!  You have four chances to win! 

BONUS!!!  If you blog about our giveaway, you will be entered a 5th time, be sure to let me know what you did and don't forget to leave your email!!

You can also go and enter on "Our Sweet Success" blog page by doing the same thing!!  Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you are the lucky winner!!  Good Luck!  Contest will end on Friday, March 16th and winner will be announced St. Patrick's Day.

May the Luck of the Irish be with you!!

Ten Frame Work Mats and Flashcards

A Freebie for you!  With the new common core standards, students use ten frames A LOT!!!!!  I've created some fun looking ones for your kiddos to use.  Click on the picture below to go get yours!! Be sure to leave feedback!!!

"Leap In" to a HUGE Sale!!!

A HUGE Leap Year Sale.  I will be having a sale in honor of leap year on Wednesday, January 29th.  TpT is also giving an extra 10% off everything in the store.  So jump on over to my TpT store {here} on Wednesday and save BIG!!!

I also plan on clearing out my Wish List and making the purchases I have been wanting.  I am pretty excited for this sale, hurry up Wednesday!!!