Back to School {Linky}

I am linking up with I {Heart} Recess for her Back to School linky.  I love making goals or myself, both professionally and personally.  Here are my 2013-2014 goals:

 

Personal: I always feel so much better after a good workout.  I want to make it a priority every night to go to the gym and break a sweat.

 

Organization: I love labels.  Everything needs its place and a label to go with it.  This is a goal I would like to continue this school year.

 

Planning: I am starting a new grade in a new county, so everything is new this year.  I am excited for a change, but change is also scary.  We have a lot of planning time put in to our schedule so this will definitely help.  We have to stay a week ahead with our lesson plans, so I'd like to stay two weeks ahead.

 

Professional: Last year I implemented Daily 5 for reading.  It was hard to get used to, but it was definitely worth it.  This year I am doing the same for math, so I am anxious to see how it goes.

 

Students: This year I want to help my students set realistic monthly goals.  I'd also like to find a way for them to chart or keep track of the growth that they make.

 

Motto: Take it a day at a time.  I always try to plan so far in advance and think about what's next.  I need to slow down and enjoy what I'm doing at the time. 

Check out her blog to join this fun linky.  What are your goals for this school year?



A Freebie and Monday Made It

September Writing Prompts

Get ready for September! This resource has 16 different September writing prompts. Laminate and cut out for a great activity for early finishers or a center.  Click here for this freebie.

Don't forget to stop by Maniac Mondays to check out some other awesome freebies.

 

Reading Display

I am also linking up with Monday Made It.  I made a READ sign for my classroom library.  It was very easy and you can create it to match your classroom colors.

 

Materials:

Cardboard, foam, or wooden letters that spell out "read"

Scrapbook paper in the colors you want

Mod Podge

Foam brush

Any other decorations

Directions:

Trace your letters onto scrapbook paper and cut out

Brush Mod Podge on the letter and place scrapbook paper on top

Flatten out any air bubbles

Wait about ten minutes for it to dry

Now you need a second layer.  Brush Mod Podge over the top of the scrapbook paper, and a little on the edges to seal it all in.

Let it dry and decorate :)

 Here is my final product...

 

 

Organizational Binder Covers and Spines Freebie

Organizational Binder Covers and Spines

I am linking up with Classroom Freebies and Monday Made It for my freebie this week.  It is one of my favorites!  I am completely OCD and needed something to help me keep the bazillion amounts of papers that I accumulate organized. This document has 42 pages of binder covers and spines. Take what you need.

 

Click here to download this freebie!

 

Organizational Binder Covers and Spines- Part 2

You can find my second set of organizational binder covers and spines here at my TpT store for $5.00.  This document has 57 pages of binder covers and spines.  The following labels are included in part 2:

Making Predictions, Inferences, Story Elements, Text Organization, Character Traits, Problem/ Solution, Text Features, Author’s Viewpoint, Author’s Purpose, Main Idea, Summarizing, Drawing Conclusions, Compare and Contrast, Fact and Opinion, Common Core, Technology, Centers, Student Information, Vocabulary, Word Wall/Sight Words, Work Work, Grammar, Sentence Structure, Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Professional Development, Assessments, Phonics, Word Families, Rhyming Words, Dictation, Spelling, Parent Letters, Author Study, Poetry, Gifted and Talented, IEP Binder, Persuasive Writing, Narrative Writing, Informative Writing, Projects, Book Reports, Teacher Binder, Curriculum, Lesson Plans, Classroom Management, Graphic Organizers

 

These are all of the labels included in both sets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classroom labels freebie and DIY crate seats

Classroom Labels- Chalkboard and Pink Design

This classroom label set contains 54 labels that will help to organize your classroom. Print, cut, laminate and stick on your containers or shelves to have everything super organized!


 

 

Labels included

Baggies, Calculators, Chalk, Chalkboards, Clipboards, Colored Pencils, Construction Paper, Cut Out Letters, Crayons, Dull Pencils, Dry Erase Boards, Dry Erase Markers, Erasers, First Aid, Glue, Hand Sanitizer, Highlighters, Index Cards, Kleenex, Magnets, Markers, Notepads, Paper, Paper Clips, Pencils, Pens, Post-its, Prizes, Rewards, Rulers, Scissors, Sharpies, Sharpeners, Sharp Pencils, Stamps, Staples, Stickers, Supplies, Tape

 

Subjects

Arrival, Assembly, Dear Time, Dismissal,  Grammar,  Health, Language, Lunch,  Math,  Reading,  Recess,  Science,  Social Studies, Writing

I am linking up with Maniac Mondays and KinderAlphabet to share this freebie.  Click here to download my classroom labels freebie.

 

 

   

Monday Made It- Crate Seats

After seeing these all over Pinterest, I finally decided to make crate seats.  They weren't very hard to make and turned out amazing!  I am linking up with Monday Made It to share this fun craft.

 

 

What you need:

• plastic crates
• fabric
• 1" thick foam
• plywood
• spray adhesive
• staple gun

 

Steps:

1. Measure the length and width of your crates so you know how your plywood needs to be cut. I just took my crate into Home Depot with me and had them measure it.
2. Lay your plywood on top of the mattress pad and trace as many as you need.
3. Cut out your fabric making sure to leave enough around the edges to fold over the seat.
4. Use spray adhesive to glue your foam pieces down on the plywood.
5. Pull the fabric around and staple it to the plywood.  I did it like we were wrapping a present.
6. Set the board onto the crate and plan what you're going to put inside.

 

 

Favorite Pins Friday!

Cara from The First Grade Parade is hosting Favorite Pins Friday.  You can show off all of the fun pins you have found this week and share them with us all.

 

Classroom Pins

Make Your Own Bulletin Board-  I don't have a lot of bulletin board space in my classroom, so I thought this was a great idea.

 

 

Wall Hooks- Meet the Pinhook. Think of it as a push pin with a hook on it. In the past, if you didn’t want a large hook in your wall then you were stuck using a finished nail or some sort of double sided tape. Pinhooks is a brand new wall hook for small jobs. No tools, no nails, no tape, no mess. You just push it into whatever surface you wish, and you’re done. We see them as useful for hanging all kinds of things —keys, jewelry, leashes, party decorations, plant vines, Christmas lights, and on and on. We hope you enjoy them.

 





DIY Pins



Chalkboard Paint Labels- I love all of the chalkboard labels out there.  I love everything colorful, so it took me awhile to warm up to the black and white.  Now I'm obsessed!  Check out how to make your own chalkboard paint.

 

 

DIY Chalkboard Labels-  Here's an easier take on make your own chalkboard labels.

 

 

How to Get One Dollar Color Classroom Posters- I love using our school poster making to enlarge worksheets.  But this is even better!  I can't wait to try this.

 

 

 

Food Pins

 

Watermelon Sangria-  Doesn't this look delicious? 

 

 

Ingredients

• 1 bottle white wine,
• watermelon 'juice',
• juice from 1 lime,
• 2 ounces simple syrup or honey,
• 4 ounces triple sec,
• optional: 6 ounces vodka,
• watermelon
• strawberries
• limes
• ice

Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies- These cookies are so easy!  All you have to do is replace some of the all-purpose flour in your typical chocolate chip cookie recipe with some yellow or white boxed cake mix.  Add in a generous amount of sprinkles, and you’ll have yourself some funfetti chocolate chip cookies that are FULL of cake batter flavor.

 



 

Liebster award

I am so excited to be nominated for the Liebster Award.  I was nominated by Emily from Confessions of a 3rd Grade Teacher.  The award is given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers.

 

   

 

Here are the rules for accepting this award:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees
6. Contact your nominees by commenting on their blog or sending them an email to communicate the nomination 

Now for my questions from Confessions of a 3rd Grade Teacher:

1. If you could have any superpower what would it be? Why?  To see into the future- I am such a planner and would love to be able to see what's coming up.
2. What is your favorite teaching item? Why?  Promethean Board- I love integrating technology into my lessons and making them interactive and fun.
3. If you could relive a day in your past, what day would it be? Why?  I would love to spend another day with my grandmother.  She was the reason I became a teacher and my best friend.  She passed away two years ago at 98 years old.  I would love to spend one more day with her.
4. What are you looking forward to most about the upcoming school year?  I am starting a new grade (I am going to blog about this later) and a new county.  I am excited and anxious about the transition.
5. Why did you decide to start blogging?  I started my blog this year as my New Year's resolution.  I love finding new, creative ideas on other blogs and wanted to do the same for other teachers. 
6. If someone were to write a book about you, what would it be called?  Eat. Sleep. Teach-  This is my life.  Everywhere I go and every thing I do involves teaching.  :)
7. What is your favorite book to read to students?  Sideways Stories From Wayside School-  It is a great real aloud and my students love it every year. The characters are funny and the chapters are short enough to read a couple of chapters every day.
8. What is a classroom item you don't have that you wish you did? Why?  I would love to have a class set of laptops!  I can think of so many fun projects and ideas that we could do with this technology. 
9. What advice would you give a first year teacher? To have fun with it and immerse yourself in teaching.  Your students can tell when you want to be there and love what you do.
10. Why did you decide to become a teacher?   My grandmother and older sister were both teachers.  Ever since I was little, that is the only job I have ever wanted.  I used to play school with my little sister and children that my mom babysat for. 
11. Who is your hero? Why?  My hero is my grandmother.  She lived every single day to the fullest and was so positive and optimistic.  I never once heard her say a negative thing.  I try every day to be like her.

 

Now...11 random facts about me

1. I am one of six children
2. I have ten nieces and nephews
3. My two sisters are both in education as well
4. I love reality TV
5. I could blog hop all night long
6. I don't eat vegetables
7. I live by myself
8. I'm a technology nerd
9. I'm a crossword pro
10. I am obsessed with laminating
11. I can't leave Target without spending atleast $100

My Nominees

• Mandy @ The {4th Grade} Journey
• Jen @ Where Learning is Fun
• Andrea @ Cheers to School
• Amanda @ Mrs. McDonald's 4th Grade
• Maria @ Charmed in the Third Grade

Now for those the five bloggers that I nominated, here are your 11 questions:

1. When did you decide you wanted to be a teacher?
2. How long have you been teaching?
3. What is your favorite lesson to teach every year?
4. If you didn't teach your current grade, what grade would you teach?
5. What is your favorite read aloud?
6. What is one of your favorite projects that your students do?
7. What is one item you couldn't live without?
8. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
9. What are your other hobbies other than teaching?
10. Have you read anything lately? If so, what? 
11. What are your plans for the rest of summer?

 

Please link back when you post! I would love to read everyone's answers :) 

 

Back to School Freebie

 

Back to School Activities

It's been a couple of weeks since I've linked up with Manic Monday.  Summer is flying by and I can't believe its already July! This packet has three beginning of the year activities.  I teach third grade, but it could be used for any grade.

1. "Find Someone Who..." Students will talk with classmates to find out if they fit into any of the categories listed below. 
2. Students will brainstorm a list words related to school that begin with each letter of the alphabet.
3. Students will write about their summer vacation.

 

 

Click here to download this back to school freebie.