Memory Book for Students --

Woohoo I have 100 followers!!!!!

So I must say this was not my original idea, I adapted this from the Busy Teacher's Cafe site.  But here is my version of the Memory Book!  I plan to make a book for each student to fill in.  Here is how I put mine together ...

I printed the cover on colored paper and the rest on white paper ( I printed mine B&W for the sake of saving ink)  Just fold the white paper in half so that the text is on the outside then slide it in the cover staple and your done!

Click here to Download Memory Book!

It's been WAY too long!!

WOW! I can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged ;-(

I have been super busy and lots of stress both personal and professional ...  I found out I am being displaced ... our district is projecting extremely low numbers for next year which is normally the case, but they are lower than usual this time and so their are more displaced teachers than vacancies this upcoming year.  So what does that mean for me???  Well if I do not get picked up by another school which could be likely, they will no longer have a substitute list and therefore all displaced teachers will become long term or short term subs until they find a permanent place for them.  On a good note I keep my salary and benefits regardless of what happens.  But I'm still pretty bummed out I has so many plans and things I wanted to do for next year... but I'm trying to stay positive and I always say "Everything happens for a reason"

Well now enough with that hopefully I will keep up with my blog and have some stuff to share soon!

Linky Party -- A Few of My Favorite Things...

I'm linking up with Katie over at Persnickety Pickles for this fun non-teacher related party!  

1. My Family & Friends -- I love spending time with them and hanging out!  We moved to TX and so now I don't see them as much as I would like so when I do I make the most of it :)


2. Ice Cream -- Absolutely have to have my ice cream!  And I'm not picky I can just about eat any flavor, but right now I've been enjoying Pralines and Cream!


3. My Puppies -- They are like my kids, I love how when your having a bad day or just need some extra love they're always there for you :)


4. My MacBook -- I love this thing and not sure I could do without it ... It hold everything important to me, crazy how far we have come with technology and how important it is to so many of us.


5. My iPhone -- Funny I wanted an iPhone for such a long time, but never wanted to phone bill!!!  Well I finally caved, and now I can't imagine life without it!!  


6. My New Car -- Hyundai Santa Fe... oh how I love you!  I had been driving around a beat up car that was soooo ready to be let go and now I have this wonderful new car and couldn't be happier :)


7. Summer -- I love summer time and spending it outside laying out at the beach or poolside!!

Hope you enjoyed a few of my favorite things ... go link up and join the party!

Pom Poms!!

So my students have been chatter boxes lately and it's still way too early for that to be happening!!!  Soooooo I decided to change up how my kids can earn their Free Friday.  So heres how it works -- each group has a bucket and when their caught being good or staying on task they earn a pom pom, but the twist is that if they aren't behaving or talking whatever it is then I get the pom pom.  Basically their goal is to have more than me by friday and they get their fun friday!  Seems like no big deal -- oh but having them compete against me seems to make the difference, they don't want me to beat them so all I have to say is Pom pom and they get quiet really quick!  So far so good hopefully it will continue!

So I would Love to hear what you do in your classroom to keep your kiddos on task!

I'm getting there

Here are just a couple of the pictures I took today of my classroom library -- still need to finish leveling all my books and putting the labels on.  But the baskets are labeled and waiting for books to be back in them ;-)  Here's to a busy weekend!

If you like the labels used or considering leveling your library and need labels, head on over to Ladybug's Teacher Files!!

Library under Construction!

My Library is currently undergoing a makeover!  Thanks to the Wonderful Ladybug's Teacher Files, if you have not checked out her blog you will thank me, she is absolutely amazing and has a ton of awesome resources.

I have been wanted to redo my library and debating on if I wanted to keep my library organized my genre or switch it to be leveled.  However when I came across the wonderful files already created from Ladybug's blog I figured it was a no brainer and I have been working on leveling all my books using scholastic Book wizard as well as AR bookfind to determine the reading levels.

It's definitely a work in progress, but I am so happy to have finally taken the plunge to do it!  Here are a few pictures of the books with the new labels on them as well as the library under construction ... We have a 1/2 day teacher prep day so hopefully I can get more done tomorrow and post some after pictures.  Hope this link might be helpful to anyone else looking to level their classroom library.

New baskets ready to be labeled and filled with books!

Labels courtesy of Ladybug's Teacher Files!!!

Books being labeled, its sure a process, but well worth it in the end ;-)

Life Cycle of a Butterfly

We have been learning all about animals and their life cycles -- today we learned about the life cycle of a butterfly and we did this super cute activity using dry pasta noodles.  Very easy and cheap, the kids loved it!

Here's what you need:

Star Shaped pasta for the Butterfly Eggs

Spiral Pasta for the Larva

Shells for the Chrysalis

and Bowtie Pasta for the Butterfly!

That was sooo last week ;-)

I know this was from last week, but I was on spring break and had no pictures to post... so anyway today was back to work and thought I would share my nest from Oh Boy 3rd Grade! Linky Party ...

Here's the GOOD ... 

This is how I organize my lesson plans and all the stuff for that day.

These hold my guided reading books for each of my groups.

And my new found LOVE!!!  This was found on Mrs. Patton's Blog and I loved it so much I ordered as soon as I saw it!!  It's truly amazing I am so glad I got it!!!

A view of the Teachers Area

Behind my desk ...

Here's The not so good ...

This shelf just becomes a drop off place, as many times as I try to declutter, by the end of the day it's cluttered again *sigh*

 Well there you have it -- My Nest!  :-)

Another Great Giveaway --

Over at Mrs. Durning's Fairytale you have the chance to get her  *Easter Math Center Giveaway*

Go on over and become a follower of her blog & TpT store and post about her giveaway!!!

Good Luck!!!

I hope it works!

I finally got it to work (I hope)  anyway, anyone out there willing to give it a try I would REALLY appreciate it!  I'm working right now to put as many as I can of other blogs on my page as well!

It's on the side bar to the left of this post if you would be willing to try it out and let me know if it works -- THANKS SOOOO MUCH!!!

Also if you want to create your own button -- check out this blog on how to get it to show up on your blog!

$1 Deals at Lettering Delights!!!

If you have not been to this site before -- you will love me for it (but you bank account might not) however today your in luck -- Basically EVERYTHING on the site is $1, a few items are $2, but wow can you say awesome deal on some of the cutest clipart and fonts!!  I just finished spending ... $35 but hey that's well over $100 if it had been regular price -- so I'm excited!

Lettering Delights

Super Excited -- I have 20 Followers!!!!

Can't believe I just started this blog last week and I already have 20 followers!!!  I am so excited :)  -- since I have started my blog I have come across soooooo many other teacher's blogs and all the awesome ideas everyone shares its truly a great thing we have going on!!  So anyway to show my gratitude I would like to share my Writing Notebook Sheets -- hope you enjoy!

CLICK HERE!!!

Awesome Giveaway from Diane & Kelly...

Check out this awesome giveaway from Diane & Kelly at Made for 1st Grade!  They are giving away their circle story Activities --

Click here to check out their blog!!

My Firts Linky Party!!!

I joined the Classroom photos Linky Party hosted by Always First Grade ...  So excited to participate in my first Linky Party, hope you enjoy a tour of my classroom!

I had this sign made at vistaprint.com

Classroom Library...

Beanie Baby Posters for Reading and Comprehension Strategies above and below are from Christina Bainbridge's Classroom!  She is awesome check out her website here for other great ideas!

Target Math --

The front of the classroom

Genre Poster's from Beth Newingham's Website ... another awesome teacher with GREAT ideas!!!

Math games and manipulatives

The "Think Station" this is an idea from Mrs. Bainbridge -- when my students have made a poor choice they go to the think station and fill out a form which makes them reflect on what they were doing wrong and how to make a better choice next time.

This was an idea I found in the Mailbox magazine -- students are able to make their lunch choice as well as allowing me to take attendance to see who isn't here.

Behind my desk ... seems organized now -- I only wish it still looked this way :)

This now has a list of rules we made together as well as all of my students names pledging to follow all the classroom rules!

Clip chart -- used for student behavior!

Hope you enjoyed my classroom tour!!!  Have a Happy Monday :)