Winners, Awards, a new Blog and a Freebie :)

But not in that order....

It just sounded better in that order.

First, let me tell you about the newest, coolest blog on the block for 3rd-6th Grade Free Resources:




Misty from Think, Wonder & Teach thought up this little gem and it's perfect for those of us in the upper grades.  She's got a link for each of the grade levels.  It's super organized and super cute, too.  She's allowed me to become a contributor!  Thanks, Misty!  I hope to live up to her expectations :)

Here's Misty's blog link because you really need to check her out if you haven't already:





Next up, Tammy over at Confessions of a Fourth Grade Teacher nominated me for this award:

I {like a total dork} haven't placed it on my blog yet....so I am now.  Thanks, Tammy for the award!


Finally, I'd just like to say how totally humbled I am that I've reached (and exceeded) 200.  I can't believe it.  I really never imagined that I'd end up with over 100, but here I am at 200.  My family keeps teasing me that any more and I'll appear narcissistic.  Pleh....{Yes, Dad, that was aimed at you.}

He won't read it.

Anyway- I'd also like to share that the sales of my poetry and figurative language lapbook has inspired me to try to do this more often!  I've sold 7 copies already and I've not even had my giveaway yet.  That tells me that people are seeing it on Pinterest, perhaps, and heading straight to TpT to buy it.  How unbelievably cool is that?

To celebrate that...here's a paper freebie for you.  We have a field trip tomorrow and I wanted a cute paper for my students to draw a picture and write a summary about what they learned.  {Graphic from 3AM Teacher, of course.}

Go grab it from either my TpT store or my TN store. 
So- now for that giveaway.

Here are the 5 winners:

Congrats to:

Amber

Mrs. Richling

 hcarp

Kaitlyn
(send me your email, Kaitlyn)

and

Michelle

I'll be back later this week for a 200th Follower Giveaway...the real giveaway :)

Poetry and Figurative Language Lapbook

I did it :)

I finally created something of "substance" for you and for my stores.

I'm so excited.

Here are some pictures of the final product:

I'm going to have my students create these next week (only three real days because we have two field trips planned). Then, we will finish them up the week after Spring Break {hallelujah}.

I'm really excited to share these with my kiddos.  I'm thinking they are really going to love them.

I especially love my Poet-Tree...thanks to the fabulous clip art from Michelle at The 3AM Teacher.  You totally need to check her out {if you don't already LOVE her}.

You can get this gem for only $4 at TpT and TN.

However, to celebrate almost 200, I will be giving away a copy to 5 lucky winners on Sunday night at 8:00. 

Here's all you need to do: 
1. Follow my blog OR tell me that you are already a follower-one entry
 

2. Follow my TpT Store -one entry

3. Follow my TN Store -one entry

4. Pin a picture from this post onto Pinterest-2 chances so leave 2 comments 

Good luck...

PS- this is not my 200 follower giveaway, it's just a pre-giveaway for my giveaway.  I just made that up.  I'm cool like that.

Have a great weekend :)

I've got family in town for this little bitty horse race that brings in over 30,000 people to a town of only 25,000.  It's a great little party and I can't wait.  Please start praying for no rain!



 

Giveaway Help

Amber's asked me to help out with her giveaway.

I'm offering the first "paid" item from my TpT store.  I made it a while back to help me organize my classroom.

She's teaming up with several bloggers to celebrate her 200th follower.  Part of the giveaway includes great products from other bloggy friends like Elisabeth from Twins, Teaching and Tacos, Jen from The Teacher's Cauldron, Misty from Think, Wonder & Teach, Tanja from Journey of a Substitute Teacher and Krista from Stellar Students.   As if that's not enough, there's also a $15 gift certificate to Target AND $10 worth of products from Amber's TpT store {which is AWESOME}.  I'm going to follow suit and pay it forward as soon as I reach 200, so send peeps my way :)


At first, I was nervous about saying I'd help out...I don't have much to offer in my TpT or TN stores, but that's my goal...I've been feverishly working away at a new item for my TpT and TN stores.  I can't wait to show you soon.

Maybe it will be a part of my giveaway if I get to 200 by this weekend.

Oh~ and I had to leave you with this...

While taking tests today, I kept hearing,
"Lolly, Lolly, Lolly get your adverbs here."

Man-I wish I had found that video earlier this year.  This summer, that puppy is going home with me so I know where it is at the BEGINNING of the year.

Schoolhouse Rock Rocks...and more :)

Who doesn't love Schoolhouse Rock?  As a child {eh-hem} of the 70s {eh-hem}...I grew up on these little gems.

I LOVE using SHR.

Here's a funny story.  {Surprise!}

I thought someone had walked off with my DVD all year.  Seriously.  I was ready to call the cops and everything.  I've needed it.  Badly.

My kids don't know about subjects and predicates and I blame that solely on the fact that I couldn't show them Mr. Morton.

They don't know about the Preamble or the Constitution or the 3-ring circus of a government we have going on either.

I blame that little stinker that thought it was "cute" to take home.

Well.

Last year, thinking I'd be "oh so smart", I put my DVD in a safe place when I packed my room up.

{Oh-that's an entirely different story...my previous boss-lady used to make us pack up our ENTIRE room...strip everything and shove all furniture, boxes, etc. into the center of the room for cleaning in the summer...does anyone else have to go through this?  I'm hoping with a new boss-lady, we won't have to do that this year.}

Anyway...in my infinite wisdom, I said to myself,

"Self, why don't you put that DVD in this box here.  Yes, right here, under the curtain with all the other tech-like equipment you don't EVEN USE ANYMORE."

And I listened.

Well, guess what?

It's March, right? RIGHT???

Yep, I just found it.

That poor little bugger is owed an apology.

Poor guy.

So, guess what we did ALL day yesterday :)  Teeheehee...{OK, maybe not ALL day.}

Now, onto some giveaways:

First off, if you haven't already entered Holly's giveaway...she had to extend one night 'cause she's busy.

 


 And Michelle's having a giveaway linky party.  How stinkin' smart is that?  Click below for her giveaway.






Now click here for the link up.

 I'm hoping to link up soon...only 22 more folks to go before 200 :)  Sad, shameless plug.  Will that ever end?  Will I be satisfied with 200?

RR Board and Check out Blog Friends

OK~How to sum up that dorky title?

RR does not stand for Railroad.  Or even Reading Recovery.

It's Reading Rotation.  I wanted to show how I've updated the board.

If you are new to my blog {cause I got TONS of new followers thanks to Lorraine's Linky Party...thanks, Lorraine}, then let me fill you in...

First off,  I have been tip-toeing into the water of "Balanced Literacy" or "Daily 5" or "Reading Workshop" all year.  I have a new principal who wants us to explore teaching this way.  I'm not new to this, I've just been teaching a bit differently for a while....

a long while...........

like 10 years.

Anyway~ I was struggling with how to make stations work.  I tried EVERYTHING.

OK, maybe not EVERYTHING...but you know.

I had an "ah-ha" moment in about January when I saw a Math Rotation Board from The Clutter Free Classroom.  If I could get math to work, then I'd tackle Reading.

So, I did.

{I said that in Forrest Gump's voice, by the way, because as I'm writing this, I feel like my story may sound a lot like his ramblings....so sorry for that.  I love FG!  I even have a signed picture of him on my wall in my office!}

OK~Don't leave.  I'm not a total dork.  Only sometimes.

Here's a picture of my Math Rotations Board:

Looks good...but not as good as CFC-I'm SOOO going to use black fabric next year on my bulletin boards!

Once I felt like I had "mastered" Math Rotations, I started Reading Rotations.

Here's a picture of my Reading Rotations board:

I use the acromyn R.E.A.D:
R-Read with the teacher
E-Enrichment (AKA-Stations...kinda like Daily 5ish)
A-At Your Seat (usually an authentic assessment based on the skill...how pish-posh and teachery did that sound?)
D-DOL and Read-to-Self (DOL is Daily Oral Language and then once finished they complete Read-to-Self-Daily 5ish.

So, I thought I could do it.

So, I did, again. {Forrest Gump}

You can purchase this board for a mere $2 from TN or TpT. 

Now-on to some of my favorite bloggers:

Amber's got a new look- Go check her out!




I adore her.  Really, I think I have a teacher-crush.  She's my go-to gal here in blogland.  I can ALWAYS count on her.  She's just surpassed 200 followers and there's rumor of a giveaway soon.  You should become a follower if you haven't already.

Secondly Misty is was wanting 200 followers and is was itching for a giveaway:




Uh oh...looks like she's gonna be posting soon about a FAB giveaway.  Remember...she's the one I won THE pencil sharpener from...So you KNOW it's gonna be good.  Like Real Good.  It's a secret.  Go Check Her Out!

Which leads me to my final thought.

I'm itching for 200, too.  I can feel it.  I'm hoping before my spring break {which begins on the 30th} to be able to PAY IT FORWARD....

Will you help me get there?  Will you encourage your followers to check me out?  

Don't lead them to this post...Lord Help...they won't come back.  Lead them to something more thrilling and full of snarky remarks.

Cause that's the real me.

 Right?

OK- I told myself I'd finish this post.

So, I did.

Everything's Intermediate Expo

I'm sure you've seen the Primary Expo out there in blogland.

Well, it's the Intermediate's turn.  Aren't you excited???  I am!

Mor over at A Teacher's Treasure is a featured speaker and she is currently having a giveaway for free tickets.  This is a virtual expo for all things intermediate including:

Integrating Technology presented by Cara Whitehead from:




Modifying Math Instruction to Increase Student Understanding presented by Janaye from:



Successful Strategies for English Language Learners presented by Heide Raki from Raki's Rad Resources (for some reason her button won't show):

and of course: Interactive Student Notebooks presented by Mor Zrihen from:

So head on over to A Teacher's Treasure and check out her info about entering for a chance to win a free ticket.  If I don't win a ticket, I'm purchasing one...I can't wait!  The best part is you can watch this at your leisure...AKA-in PJs!

Madness of a Post

OK, bare with me.  This is a rambly-kinda-post but I have so much to talk about and only one post a day???

First:

I WON!!

Misty over at Think, Wonder & Teach had a give away for this:

Yes!  It is THE pencil sharpener.  You know, the one created by Troy.  It's The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener.  The one that is so popular that it is on back order. The pencil sharpener that is going to officially make me one of the cool kids.
Like Farley:

and Holly:

I'm sure there are other cool kids with these, too.  But they were the one's that I can remember.  If you are a fan, comment below and I'll add you to the cool kids list :)

 

I am so excited!  Thank you, Misty, for hosting this giveaway.  She's one of the cool kids, too.  You should check her out.  This giveaway was for her 100th follower and now she's at 177!  Wow!!!  

Next: 

Here's what we did for St. Patrick's Day:

I think they turned out a-dor-a-ble....  Thanks to A Cupcake for the Teacher :)  Her templates are so precious!  And, my fourth graders loved making them.  I will do craftivities more often!

Thanks to The 3AM Teacher for the graphics for this writing paper.  Her graphic are so great...I'm sure you already know.

We also did this:

 

 

Yes, the good old Lucky Charm graphing.  The kids appreciated it.  Probably because I told them that after Valentine's Day, I was almost ready to NOT have any more holiday fun.  They did a great job this time.  Good Lucky for them :)

We are two weeks away from Spring Break and I can't wait.  I know some of you are heading back tomorrow after your break.  Good luck! 

I'm off to go shopping with my little girl.  OK, she's not little.  She's 14 and taller than me.  Blah!  She's still my little girl, right?

Have a great week!

The Forbidden

Double post.

Sorry about that.

But, I wanted to link up to this very worthy cause.

Link up with Crystal from Kreative in Kinder to help teachers devastated by the tornadoes on March 2nd.  There are many ways to help.  I couldn't even imagine losing everything in a tornado. 

What a Day!

So this is how my morning started.

No alarm.

Do I really need to say more?  Not really.
But
I
will....'cause it's that CrAzY!

So, my husband wakes me up at 7:00.  I normally LEAVE THE HOUSE at 7:00!

What?

Jump up in a tizzy.  I had not set my alarm.  I got a full 10 hours of sleep, though.

I run to my phone to call the school to get someone to cover my room for at least 10 minutes. Not sure of what I'll wear.  My go-to clothes are dirty.  Which means ironing.  What?????

Run back to my bathroom to start throwing on makeup.

Wait?  What day is it?

The 15th?

Oh yeah, I have a sub for the morning 'cause I've got an appoint-ment.  That was sarcasm.

So, I call the school back.  It goes something like this:

Me-Hi there, it's me again.  Guess what?  I have a sub today for the morning.

Other line-silence.....then LAUGHTER.

Me-Welcome to my world.  See you at 11:00.

Other line- OK.

So, I go and leisurely get ready.

Go to appoint-ment.  Then head home for about an hour of blogging/school work/laundry.

So here I am.

Now, if you've stuck around this long.  Let me show you what we got to do the other day:

 

Employees of the local Kimberly Clark plant came and taught my class a lesson on polymers.  It was great.  Had I been resourceful, I would have read the Dr. Seuss book before-hand.  Oh well.

I also wanted to tell all you upper elementary teachers about a great link up on Lorraine's blog: Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies.  It's a linky party to connect all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers.  Check it out.  I know I'll be "following" a lot of great blogs later tonight when I get home.  

OK, off to school now that it is close to 11:00.  

I think I will skip going into the office today.

What Caused this Effect? *FREEBIE*

Can you guess what skill we are working on this week?  I'm so witty.  Not really...maybe a little punch-drunk. 

Anyway.

Here's a freebie for you. 

It's a word document so that you can change the book example to work for you.  I've read several Laura Numeroff's books to teach cause and effect.  I've got quite the collection.  I love those books. And even 4thsies love them.  Yes, that is now a new word.  Go ask Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics.  She'll vouch for me.

Anyway, I love these books, don't you?

 

If you click on this book it will link you to Laura Numeroff's own website.  She's got a great little website full of cute ideas.  I'm going to use the idea of the story starter "If you give a snake a...".  It should be interesting.  Really.

So here's the freebie.  Hope you can use it!

Go to my TpT or my TN stores to download this for free!

So Lovely...Update...Something Went Hay-Wire

Sorry to Update, but something went all "Funky" when I posted...so I had to repost...

Last week, I received this award from several great blogs:

from Ms. O'Brien:

She just recently changed her blog name and I love the new name!!

from Emmy:








Y'all need to head on over there...she's got a spot on her blog dedicated to Ryan Gosling's Hey Girl Posters.  {LOVE}

 from Molly:








Don't you just love her blog title? I LOVE it :)

I also wanted to send a shout out to Beth Ann at Taming My Flock of Firsties.  She awarded me the Top 10 Award.


Now for the rules for this award:

1. Link back to the blog that gave you this cute award- check.

2. Pass this award to 15 other lovely bloggers-Yikes...might need to cheat...tired. Only got to 13.

3. Follow the person who sent it to you!-check

Here are the blogs that I want to nominate for the One Lovely Blog Award:

I tried to go with people who I didn't just recently award them with the other award...to spread the love, right?  Although all blogs out there deserve this award, really.

But here goes:

My first award goes to Kerri because she helped me with my clip art question.  Thanks, Kerri!





The rest go to the following
in no particular order...

Have a great week, everyone...Spring break for me in 3 weeks.  {Not that I'm counting down or anything.}