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I am a first grade teacher who has rediscovered a love for firsties this year. I have taught pre-k, kindergarten, first grade and even second over the past 16 years. I have been married for 17 years to my wonderful husband and have been blessed with 2 very active boys.

Pre-K Back to School

Pre-K Back to School
Pre-K Back to School

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy
Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy
Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Phonics Games

Phonics Games
Phonics Games
Image Map
   
Blog Design by:
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Graphics by: MareeTrueLove.
Widget by:Gabby Barba

Calendar Math for Primary Grades

Calendar Math for Primary Grades
Primary Calendar for the Year

The Book Whisperer


I am working on my first Resolution from the Linky and working my way through The Book Whisperer.  It inspired me as a teacher and makes me feel inadequate all at the same time.  Reading has always been important to me as a person, a mom and as a teacher.  I love that the author, Donalyn Miller, takes the time to find out the students' interests and selects books with connections for the kids.
 Product Details

As I continue to read, I have noted several times that Donalyn restates how important it is to give the children self selected reading time daily in a book that they pick.  It is about creating a love of reading to last a lifetime.  Imagine if WE could ignite that fire in first grade (or kindergarten or second...).  I think about how I have leveled so many books in my personal library.  Then I think to The Sisters and The Daily 5 philosophy.  It seems to go hand and hand with that of The Book Whisperer. Any thoughts?

I posted my  Reading and Spelling patterns Long e Game at my TpT store.  It is a sorting game with ee and ea words.  To celebrate Martin Luther King Day, I have placed my TpT store on SALE for 20%off so head on over and check it out


As always, the first 3 friends to leave a comment will get this unit for FREE!  I am working on the other 4 vowels and hope to have them posted by the end of the week.  Hope you have tomorrow off:)

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Penguins and Literacy Week



This has been such a busy, fun week.  We have been reading tons of Penguin literature-both fiction and nonfiction, magazines, A-Z projectable books and even Scholastic News!

After reading several non-fiction sources, we looked at our Thinking Maps and the children decided we should use our Tree Maps because we will be classifying penguin information.  We used the categories can, have and are.  There are so many maps available in TpT units that I LOVE and own!  I am torn as our county and the Thinking Map trainers strongly suggest the children create their own thinking maps so they have ownership of their work and the relationships with the skills used.  We are also asked to not copy things that the kids could complete without a worksheet...  So, I pick and choose what I copy with the school's copier and with my personal copier in the classroom.


I did use a fabulous web from Lori over at Teaching with Love and Laughter.  If you are looking for engaging student activities, you need to head to her TpT store.  :)  I used her Writing Through the Winter Pack to get an amazing web that helped me focus on an introduction, three details and a closing sentence.  The kids loved the adorable clip art that went along with our penguin theme as well as the structure they long for.  


Sorry, I could not get this picture to load the right way!   The kids then used their web to write an informational piece on lined paper. Lori includes various maps, webs, and matching lined paper with winter themes in this unit. 

You can click on the picture to see the unit. 

 Writing Through the Winter

As past of Literacy Week at our school, our wonderful literacy coach asked that each class make a class book and the books will be delivered to a  local children's hospital on Friday.  The kids finished up these adorable penguins and created a Penguin Fact Book.  

I used the Simple, but Cute Penguins pack by First Grade Blue Skies for the Penguin patterns and a writing template for Penguin Facts.  



The kids loved learning penguin facts, writing about them and making a book.  Their only thought was, "Can we make another one so we can keep it?".  I love this class :)

And I love that tomorrow is a Teachers' Work Day.  I will be finishing grades and getting report cards completed.  Looking forward to the long weekend!


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Five for Friday (or Saturday!)


I am linking up with Kasey over at Doodle Bugs Teaching with her Five for Friday and YES, I know I am a day late!  

fiveforfriday

Here are 5 random facts about my week!

1.  I started using the Daily 5 structure on Monday!  I have been using read to self, read to partner, word work, listening and writing all year, but on a weekly rotating basis with a few extra centers built in.  So I went back to the basics and implemented the mini-lessons between rotations too! Here is a word work activity practicing our qu/wh spelling pattern with my Digraph Sort qu, wh (available in my TpT store for FREE). 


2. My intervention group includes a mix of first graders from other classes and my group is blending/word work so I used Made for First Grade's Smitten with Mittens Centers.  They practiced reading real and nonsense words with blends and digraphs. In two weeks we re-evaluate where all the kids are and resort into different groups.  I am going to miss this group!


3.  After making mini-anchor charts with the kids to reteach addition and subtraction vocabulary, I rewrote them after school and hung them only to realize there is an error on the addition one!  I have a teeny-tiny room with little wall space (not to mention a fire marshal) so I have started making mini-anchor charts that fit on my wall of cabinets and are available for reference. 


4. My family is on a homemade pizza kick and I have to say I am LOVING IT! 


5.  I have to say I am loving my Jesus Calling Devotional Book that I started last spring.  Lately, His words are speaking to exactly what is going on in my life.I am not so good with change and I trying let go of the control.


Before I leave you, I was checking out other Five for Fridays and landed at Teacher Bits and Bobs.  Kerry posted about this necklace from Origami Owl where all the proceeds go to victim's families from Sandy Hook Elementary.  How cool is that?


Now I am off to fix that anchor chart!

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A Ramble and Common Core Chat



OK, I am exhausted!  My alarm was set for 6:15 and I hit snooze too many times to mention!
 My firsties were so sweet and so excited to see me...it made my lack of sleep worth it:)

Reading went smoother than I could imagine.  I will post more about this later, but let's just say I started true Daily 5 centers today with the 5 mini-lessons in between and it went SMOOTHLY!

But, you can't ask for everything because math was suppose to be a review and addition and subtraction were jumbled up in their little brains over break.  "Oh, my!" is all I have to say about that.

So, tomorrow is another day and I have backed up my math instruction to reteach tomorrow...again!

Switching gears!

Do you want (or need) to dive deeply into the Common Core?  Well, sit back and check out the preview of the Common Core Chat over at Tamara's blog, Mrs. Russell's Room. 


If you head over there now, Tamara has a description of what she is planning tomorrow night as well as for the next several weeks.  I love how Tamara delves into content in all her posts.  I am sure tomorrow night will be amazing. An FYI- She will be focusing on K-1 so if that is you, I hope to see you there:)
 
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Fabulous Finds


OK, in case you haven't seen the BEST pencil sharpener in the WORLD, stop what you are doing and check this out. It is a QUIET, MANUAL pencil sharpener made by Troy at Classroom Friendly Supplies. Not only does it not sound like nails on a black board so I can keep teaching, but it sharpens the SHARPEST pencils EVER~EVERY TIME!!  

http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j470/tdecoff/Classroom%20Friendly%20Supplies/greenonwhitealpha.png 

I think it is super cool that Troy is an elementary school teacher who started this business on the side.  I love supporting local businesses, teachers and the little guy.  How many electric pencil sharpeners have you purchased only to have them die half way through the year? This will be the best $24.95 you will spend and it has FREE shipping! 

The sharpeners come in Groovy Green, Cool Blue, Firehouse Red and Midnight Black.  As if that is not exciting enough ( I love red!), the more you buy, the more you save on the price.  The sharpener can be mounted or portable. I prefer portable:)


So I headed to school today to try this out and I sharpened 24 new pencils for my little firsties.  They will be super excited to have a new sharpened pencil in the morning along with our new sharpener. 

You can check out their website to order, see how to videos and to read feedback and reviews. 

Finally, Mrs. Hudgeons at Smitten with Second is giving away 2 Heart Poppin' Valentines Day Fun Units over at her adorable blog.  Head on over and check it out!

Slide01

Time to wrap up the lesson plans and get ready to return to school tomorrow. Its my first day back and I am not looking forward to the 6:00am alarm!  Ready or not, here we come.
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New Year, New Ideas, New Possibilities Linky Party



I am so excited to be linking up with Primary Possibilities today for a Blog Hop! I would like to introduce you to a very talented blogger, Julie Shope, who we are so lucky to have here sharing with you today.


I am so excited to be a guest blogger with Tammy here at the The Resourceful Apple! I am a kindergarten teacher in sunny South Florida. This past summer I started my blog Ms. Shope’s Class, and I’m still getting the hang of it! I have enjoyed learning, sharing ideas and getting connected with others! I I am thrilled to be part of this blog hopthis is my very first!




I can hardly believe that my Winter Holiday is over and I will be heading back to school on Monday! That break seemed to zoom on by! My to-do list is longer than when the break began! Oh manthat was not part of the plan!

I am a native Northern girl and now living in Florida I miss the snowwell I miss the thought of it! Heading back to school I look forward to teaching about the season of Winter and creating a Winter Wonderland in our classroom! Some of my favorite Winter Wonderland activities are





I know Penguins and Polar Bears aren’t necessarily “Winter” but they are just so funthey have to be part!!



Click here to find these activities in my TPT store.

I can’t wait to see all of the fun Winter ideas that ya’ all are working on!!!
A BIG thank you again to Tammy for sharing her lovely blog with me! Make sure to stop on over and check out my blog! Happy Blog Hoppin’! Happy 2013!
Julie Shope


Thank you Julie for blogging here at The Resourceful Apple!Your TpT units are amazing as is your blog.  If you head on over to Lisa's blog,  Growing Firsties I will be guest blogging over there.

Growing Firsties

Then come on back and download this FREEBIE!

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Resolutions 2013


OK, its January 3, 2013 and I was thinking trying to remember all 5 resolutions that went along with the Counting Our Blessings and Looking Ahead Linky.  I COULD NOT remember them all!   I know I am getting old, but I LOVE lists.  So, I went ahead and made this reminder for myself.  Then I thought that if I might need a reminder (if not today then maybe down the road in 2013) so might you:)


Then I realized that everyone's first choice might not be green, so I changed the background color a few times and Resolutions 2013 was born! You can head over to my TPT to pick up this FREEBIE!


  Many thanks to Growing Kinders, Second Grade Shenanigans, One Extra Degree, Step into Second Grade and Mrs. Will's Kindergarten for hosting the amazing linky.  It really got me thinking and brought so many bloggers together.

 


So here's to our resolutions in 2013!

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Currently, a Sale and a FREEBIE



Happy New Year!  I have linked up with Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for her Currently Linky. If you are a new blogger and need help check out an old post by Jen at the Teacher's Cauldron to get the scoop.  I remember I used to look and wonder and wish I know how to link up. Just follow Jen's steps and Farley's three rules!



To celebrate New Years, I am having a 20% off sale in my TpT store and have added a freebie for you:)


Psst!   Don't forget to check out the freebie for you!
I would love your feedback:)





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