Organization-Part 1

I love organization and everything about it!  My problem is my mind is always turning and I am always trying to find something better:)

As I continue to make and buy resources off TpT, I found I needed a different way of organizing them .  I tried using ziplock baggies, but that didn't work FOR ME.  So I have moved onto manila folders and love them.  Most of my laminating I do at home (usually on a Sunday night...) for activities and pieces.  However, the larger manila enveloped don't fit through my laminator so I have them done at school.

 

I am lucky that we can have our laminating done at school.  The downside is the laminating is thinner than the thermal pouches I use and I have to be a week ahead.  We hand laminating in on Wednesdays. Our media specialist is fantastic at getting it back to us on Wednesday afternoons.  She is always so sweet and I totally appreciate all she does for me!

When all is said and done, they are stored in plastic magazine racks.  I have monthly units as well as skill units that are pulled as needed.  I started to add velcro dots, but it made the envelopes that much thicker.  I am thinking of double stick tape.  Thoughts? 

Five for Friday {May 10th}

This was actually my last full week of school!  Don't get me wrong, we still have 17 days of school left, but I am taking a few days for a clinical ed workshop, my future sister-in-law's bridal shower and my son's field trip. 

Today I am linking up with Kacey at Doodlebugs Teaching with Five for Friday.  I love her Mother's Days gifts as well as the the version they made for the specials teachers.  How sweet!

Our week of teacher appreciation started off with a sweet treat on Monday.  We also got new super cute school bags, a yummy luncheon from PTO on Thursday and a little spa treatment today!

We did squeeze in a 3rd quarter honor roll as we had to wait until FCAT was over.  Way to go Zachary:)  I love teaching at the same elementary school with my boys.  I lucked out this week as his honor roll was during my planning time! 

After honor roll, we started out cherry blossom paintings.  We painted the stems on Monday and cherry blossoms on Tuesday.  I found this adorable project on Pinterest last year and am so glad I saved it! Click on the bottom picture to check it out on Pinterest. We added a brown mat and laminated them.  I hope the moms love them!

    

   

I added these adorable eyes to Daily 5 to add a little excitement to Read to Self and Read to Partner.  This added a little boost of encouragement to stay focused during this time.  We can use any help we can get at this time of the year!  You can check them out on Amazon.

Yes, in addition to Mother's Day, Honor Roll and  Walk-a-thon this week, we have started our Science Fair project.  We completed our experiment on Static Electricity this week and will begin writing it up on Monday.

So Yah for Friday!  We are off to visit some friends who are visiting at Disney.  Hope you have a relaxing weekend with your families.  Happy Mother's Day to all!

Ready, Set, Shop!

I have to admit, I have been shopping, browsing and yes even stalking several TpT stores of my favorite blogger friends.  I have even added two new units to my TpT store over the past two days.  I bundled 4 of my units into  Reading and Spelling Patterns Part 3 at a reduced price.  This includes Over the Moon (Vowel sound/oo/), Jellyfish Fun (Long vowel e spelled y and ie), Aren't We Cute (Long u, Silent e), and Rope It (Long o, Silent e). 

I also finished Nice Robot {Long i-Spelled i and Long o-Spelled o}and listed it tonight!  I am so excited that it is our spelling pattern for next week and I am actually a few days ahead of myself!

I have to give a shout out to Natalie at Teachery Tidbits.  Last night, she had a flash giveaway on Facebook for her newest unit, Life's a Beach and I won!  I already downloaded and printed a few of the games and the kids are going to {love} them!  If you would like to see more, head on over and check it out!

And last but not least, I have purchased a few favorites from Jodi over at Fun in First.  I snagged her April Poems and Songs, April Fluency, May Poems and Songs and May Fluency packets to wrap up our year.  The kids adore her poems and add them to our poetry notebook weekly.  The fluency packets are extra practice for homework and they match their poetry notebook.  That is a win-win because it allows them to share what they are doing with mom and dad at home as well as feel successful at home and school as they build their fluency.  Jodi has just posted a bundled package for A Year of Poetry.

 

So now its off to cut out some laminating, sleep, teach and then shop again.  As always, I am giving away 3 copies of my newest unit, Nice Robot,  to the first 3 people to leave a comment about what they have bought (or added to their wishlist) along with their EMAIL address. 

Teacher Appreciation Week

I am so excited that this week is Teacher Appreciation Week!  It is such a fun week at school with all the sweet gestures from students, parents and administration.  Speaking of...I need to prepare for my boys' teachers.  This year my oldest is in middle school.  I can't imagine him walking in with gifts for his teachers though.  Any thoughts or suggestions for middle school teachers?

Happy Teachers Appreciation to me!  My wish list is a mile long and I can't wait to save a little...ok, really buy some more, but you get the picture:) I am hoping to make a dent in my wish list.  I am also joining in on the sale by putting my TpT store on sale for 20% off. TpT will then take off an additional 10% and that will take you my dear friends up to 28% savings!

I have been busy prepping activities for the end of the school year.  I just posted my Over the Moon Unit- Vowel Variant /oo/ Spelled oo and ew.

I am giving away 3 of these units because I APPRECIATE YOU!  Please leave a comment about your favorite Teacher Appreciation gift/giveaway/memory ALONG with your email address.  I will pick 3 winners tomorrow night.  Good luck:)

And speaking of lucky, Katie Smith, was the winner of my 300 Follower Giveaway.     Congratulations!  

Five For Friday {5/3}

Happy Friday!  I am linking up with Kacey over at Doodlebugs Teaching with Five for Friday again.



Last weekend, I took the boys and headed to the beach with some friends after morning soccer games.  The weather was wonderful and the sun felt so good.  I remembered to lather up the kids all day, but wasn't so diligent with myself and boy was I burnt:(   Here is a super cute picture of Zach and his friends with Cheetos fingers!

We are trying to stay focused in school, but spring fever has hit my room HARD!  We are plugging away in Math on our shape unit.  We have used two and three dimensional shapes in so many lessons.  I had to take a step back and give some exploration time so my firsties were then able to focus on the lesson and not play with the manipulatives. 

We are also working on timed math facts with sums to ten.  One of our math centers in Math facts.  We use One Minute Math Practice Pages in plastic sleeves.  The kids love using dry erase markers and a timer.  I love that this program introduces one new fast a week and incorporates 40% review.  I also introduced math wraps this week. The wraps provided a little more challenge manipulating the string to the correct sum.  As you can guess, some of them got it and this little one needs a little more practice:)

The rain here in Florida actually took a little break here in Florida on Wednesday for our field day. This is me and my fabulous first grade team.  The temperature was PERFECT.   It is usually hot and muggy.

Most importantly, my class won the tug of war!  Hooray:)

Today is the last day to enter my 300 follower giveaway!  Click on the picture below to head on to enter the giveaway!  Good luck:)

Have a great weekend...and hang on summer is right around the corner!

Currently and a Shout Out

I can't believe it is May 2nd already!  Did I totally miss half of April and May 1st?  Anywho, it is time to link up with Farley's Currently.

 

It has been raining non-stop here in "sunny" Florida since Monday!  Normally, it would make this girl not so happy, but dear hubby cleaned  out the garage on Sunday and my car actually fits.  Yah for me!

I need to prioritize and not be so overwhelmed.  Enjoy each and every moment because life is too short to worry:)  So here's to making lemonade with our lemons!

I have to give a shout out to one of my favorite bloggers who always continues to inspire me with her posts and products.  

Lori, over at Teaching with Love and Laughter, is one amazing writing teacher.  Now, I can't imaging juggling 3 grade levels like she does, but she differentiates the instruction and activities in ways we can all use in our classrooms.  Last night I purchased her newest product, Fun with Parts of Speech.  It looks amazing and engaging.  I am printing it off now as we speak:)  You can click on the pictures below to take you to her blog and TpT store.

  

That's what I love about reading blogs and posting on my own.  It allows us to see what works and what doesn't for us others and ourselves.  It gives a time to reflect on our teaching and to find inspiration for our class.

I am so thankful that I have made connections with bloggers both near and far.  A huge thank you goes out to everyone who contributed  my 300 follower giveaway!  You can check out these fabulous bloggers HERE and see what they are giving away in just over 24 hours to one lucky winner!

Well, if you are still with me head on over to Farley's Currently and link up:)  Talk about inspiration!

Fitting It All In

I can't believe the school year is rapidly coming to a close.  We have 4 1/2 weeks of school left, but only 2 weeks of our reading curriculum!  Then it is time for a little review, walk-a-thon, Honor Roll Assembly for 3rd and 4th Quarter, Grade Level Spelling Bees, Mother's Day Cake Decorating, Science Fair, 1st Grade Testing, and a Retirement Party for a team member.

Did I mention on top of that I am flying to Rhode Island to give my future sister-in-law a bridal shower, I am taking a two day course so I can  have a student teacher next year and I am going on my son's third grade field trip. I need a nap:)

This week, we are working on long e spelled y and ie.  I whipped up a little game for my reading group and then move it over to the word work station mid-week.  You can head on over to my TpT store to check it out or you can click on the cover below!

 

As always, I am giving away 3 copies to the first 3 comments with an email address!

And don't forget, there are a few more days to enter my 300 follower giveaway.  Come on by and check it out if you haven't already.  Good luck:)