Fabulous Feedback Linky Party

I'm so glad it's finally Friday. The hubster is off all weekend and we get to celebrate his first Father's Day. Which I have to admit, I haven't gotten him anything yet. :/

I'm linking up with Christina Bainbridge from Buntings, Books, and Bainbridge for her Fabulous Feedback Linky Party. I love it when buyers leave feedback for my products. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, and it makes me happy that others are using some of the things I have created. I can say I always leave comments for my purchases because I expect the same in return. Plus, who doesn't want free credits towards future purchases. Just from leaving comments on purchases I have made I have received almost $50 worth of free products!

Anyways, here is one of the comments that made me feel warm and fuzzy.

My Grammar and Punctuation Rule Book will be 20% off TODAY ONLY! Check it out!

I also like Christina's writing of How-To Leave TpT Feedback. Click on the picture below to see her write up on this topic.

 

Happy Friday to Everyone,

A Spontaneous Trip to IKEA

Just yesterday I woke up, blog stalked, and BAM it hit me. I need to take a trip to IKEA. Well, the nearest IKEA is almost 3 hours away (wah).

The day before the hubster and I were thinking of something we could do together, just the two of us. We couldn't think of a thing. Since I was stalking A Cupcake for the Teacher and she managed to make a trip to IKEA, I thought why couldn't I.

I woke the hubster up very quietly and shouted "I know what we should do!" He immediately agreed (which is a big surprise, no husband wants to drive 3 hours to IKEA). I ran downstairs to call my mom so she could watch the little man, and in less than an hour later we were out the door and on our way!

Ok, so here is the best part....I had only planned on getting a couple of things for our house and some things for my classroom. Whelp, we came home with a new 7-piece home office! First of all, the hubster and I never take spontaneous trips nor do we just spontaneously make large purchases that we don't take the time to think about.

Here is the before picture (Yikes!). I don't know how we managed to live like this for almost three years.

Here is the after picture. I have been bouncing around all day. I love me some organization!

The hubster has already been informed to keep his area clean or else! :)

I did manage to find a couple of things for my classroom but not as much as I had hoped for. I purchased this mini pocket chart. I'm thinking an organizer for my writing center?

I also purchased this hanging thing with numbers. I think this will be a great place to store "early finisher" work.

Now off to Target to buy two MATCHING rugs for our new home office!

Anchor Charts for Monday Made It

Hooray! Finally my first Monday Made It of the summer is completed. I have been working very hard while my little man takes his 4 hour nap each day. He is definitely a sleeper and I'm loving every minute of it.

 

So while the little man was sleeping one afternoon I knocked out these fabulous anchor charts. When I go back in August to set up my room I plan on laminating and hanging all my anchor charts in my cabinet. I want to laminate them so that they can be reused throughout the year and in the future.

 

I have also thought that some of the charts that can be filled in might be good to hang in the writing center so my littles can work together to fill them out on their own time. Has anyone else tried this before?

 

The opinion writing chart will go get with the formula writing format that my school already uses.

 

The same thing goes for the informative anchor chart. I also can't wait to use this with one of my recent purchases on Tpt. :)

 



 

I'm not to sure if I really like this one or will even use it. The topic of the how-to goes in the black dotted box. Then you add your sequencing words to the other colored boxes. For example, green might say first, red says then, blue says next, and orange says last or finally.

 

I don't know how many bubble maps I have made in the past but this one will definitely get used. This will be great for writing workshop and guided reading groups.

 

Last year my littles had horrible pictures. They never took there time, never added details, and used very little color. It's mostly my fault because I didn't enforce or really monitor their drawings. However, next year I am going to be a stickler about this. I plan on actually taking some time to teach my littles how to draw appropriate pictures.

 

This one I plan on using to introduce my narrative writing unit. But I really haven't put much thought into that yet.

 

Let me know what you think of my reusable anchor charts. Definitely leave me a comment if you have created some fabulous ones. I have a weak spot for anchor charts and I get excited like a kid in a candy store when I see some great ones that I could make. :)

 

Yours in Teaching,



A Writing Keepsake/Progress Monitor and Writing Workshop Resources

I am already getting so excited for next school year. I am changing so many things. After spending my first year in first grade I now know what's going to work and what's not going to work.

I am completely changing how I do writing in my class. The old writing curriculum was so outdated and I need to be able to hold my littles more accountable for their writing.

I am implementing a writer's workshop next year. I have already created some resources to help me get started.  So far I have, my first month of mini lessons planned out, a writing process student check-in chart, conference sheets, rubrics, and mini anchor charts! I can't wait to put this packet to use. Check out my Writer's Workshop Resource Pack here if you are thinking about do the same or you just need to revamp your writing workshop!

 

Also, I have finished by Writer's Keepsake/Progress Monitor Journal. Check it out here. I'll be posting a little more about it later.

 

 

Now off to enjoy the day with my little man!

Summer Bucket List

 

 

My bucket list is a bit extensive this summer. I have already knocked some things off of it. Since I have already finished my math centers which was priority number one, here is the rest of my to-do's...

1. Make as many anchor charts ahead of time as possible. Here are some that I have found on Pinterest that I will make ahead, laminate, and reuse year-after-year.

 



  

 

  

 

2. I would also like to develop a plan for my writing block. I feel like I really need to work on how I teach writing. I know our school is working on everyone adopting a writing workshop format, but we really haven't had much direction and knowing me I always work best with a goal and plan in mind. I know that I am going to work on creating a writing process check-in chart to hang in my classroom.

 

3. Spend as much time with my baby as possible. I am dreading the thought of him going to a babysitter. He has changed so much in the last 7 weeks. I don't want to miss a thing.

 

 

 

4. Either find on TpT common core related learning objectives and I Can statements or create my own. Next year, we have to most objectives in our classroom. Of course I want mine to look super cute.

 

 

5. Create a space in my room where early finishers can have a place to find work to do. Last year I always said read a book. I got tired of saying it and they got tired of doing the same thing. (I was horrible. :( )

 

 

There's a short version of my list. :)

Optimum Organization: How to Organize Math Centers

 

So I haven't been in my classroom teaching for 7 weeks now. And boy do I miss it! I love taking care of my baby boy, but I am excited to get back to work next school year.

 

 

Since I have been home, I have been all about organizing for next school year. My first project has been setting up my math centers for next school year. Supposedly we are getting a new math series next year so I organized my curriculum guide based on the math book that we will be using.

 

 

I then printed, laminated, cut, labeled, and organized my math centers. (My favorite part of being an organized teacher!!!!)

 

 

 Each center was placed in a manila envelope with the student directions glued to the front. Inside each folder are the pieces and worksheets that may go with the center.

 

 I labeled each center with the month, math chapter, and common core standard. (Sorry it's lopsided.)

 

Here are all the centers that I have completed so far. They just need placed in their monthly hanging file folder tub.

 

 

Then the folders are stored in my file folder hanging tubs labeled by month.

 

 

This is all I have for organization since I haven't been in my room. Hope this inspires you to get your math centers organized!

I'm Back and my precious reason for being gone is...

I have been absent from the blogging world for 10 months now. I have still been looking at everyone else's blogs and have been inspired by your posts and resources, but I couldn't find the time or energy to work on my own TpT products or blog.

My very special reason for having no time or energy is....
  


I had a precious baby boy at the beginning of April. Last August I found out I was pregnant and physically it took a toll on my body. Between trying to prepare for my first year in 1st grade and "baking" a baby, I was exhausted! Not to mention I had a very difficult class this year. I had a mix of personalities and it was very exhausting trying to keep up with them.

But guess what!!! I am feeling back to my normal self and I am feeling more inspired than ever to do even a better job next school year. Yeah, I know you all have a couple of more weeks to finish off the 2012-2013 school year, but I have been on maternity leave for 5 weeks now and I am ready to start preparing for next school year! (I know, I'm crazy.) But I finally have my love and drive for teaching back!

Before I left for the year, I had to create my professional goals for next school year. My goal for next year is to focus on my math instruction and I would like to incorporate guided math lessons and math centers.

I am also going to be creating more resources of my own and I will be adding them to TpT. So be on the look out. Hopefully I can accomplish all of this while taking care of my newborn one month old baby (wow time is already going so fast). Wish me luck!