August Currently

I know, ANOTHER post from me in the same day! I just had to post the August Currently, hosted by Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade.

Most of it is self-explanatory. 

LOVING my new classroom setup because I put 2 comfy reading areas instead of my usual 1. I have the students read everywhere in the room anyway, but it's nice to have 2 cozy spots. 

NEEDING to cut and organize all of those task card sets I printed and laminated (I tend to spend all of my TPT seller earnings on TPT products!). I plan to try something new with  task cards this year, and I wanted a variety of subject areas and topics. What better time to get them all ready than summer vacation?! Well, it would have been great if I had decided to work on them sooner. I decided to spend more time relaxing and enjoying my break instead. My plan for the cards is based on this post I saw on the blog at Sunny Days in Second Grade. I can't wait to try it this year!

Yes, I go back on August 5. Our Orientation is August 8. The students return on August 12. That's the day my son, Jeffery, starts 4th Grade. I can't believe he's going to be a 4th grader!

If you have any other great ideas for using task cards, please share them with us!

December Currently, a New Item, and Cyber Monday

It's December, and here is my Currently, hosted by Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade!

 

Most of these are self-explanatory, except my favorite tradition. Each year, everyone in my family (there are only 5 of us so it's not too excessive) buys everyone else a stocking stuffer costing no more than $10. For some reason, we had stopped doing it for a few years. This year we decided to bring back the tradition. I like this because we have to be more creative with our gifts. It's always fun to try to think of things to buy others, and it's fun to see what everyone else gets.

I have created a new item for my store, just in time for Cyber Monday (and Tuesday)! My class has a very difficult time with multisyllabic word reading. So, I thought I'd make this simple game that can be used in various ways. You can put it in a center, use it in small groups, or make it a whole-class game. 

Each child takes a turn choosing a card. If he/she reads the word correctly, he/she can keep the card. If a "mischievous elf" card is drawn, the player must put back all of his/her cards. The player with the most cards at the end is the winner. 

I have divided the words into syllables by using the colors red and green. This will help students to sound out the words. I plan to review all of the words with my class tomorrow before putting the game out for them to play.

One thing I love about this game is that the elf cards were made with elf clip art that I drew myself! Those elves can be found here.

Starting tomorrow, everything in my store is 20% off! When you make a purchase at TPT tomorrow and Tuesday, be sure to type in the code CYBER to get a total of 28% off everything in my store! Also, if you aren't already a follower of my TPT store, be sure to become one. That way you can get information about new products and sales. 

I already have several items on my wishlist that I plan to buy during the sale. What do you plan to get? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!

November Currently and Some October Fun

It's November, and here is my Currently, hosted by Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade!

 

Listening - It's laundry day, so of course I can hear the washing machine. Otherwise, things are pretty quiet right now.

Loving - I'm loving that it's the weekend! I can sleep longer, relax, work on my TPT products, and continue reading Allegiant, which I have been wanting to do all week. 

Thinking - I brought my car in to get the oil changed (and to get rid of that annoying light that says, "maintenance needed" or something like that), and they told me I needed 4 new tires. I already knew that, but didn't really want to spend the money. Well, there goes the money! :(

Wanting - I'm looking forward to using some of the new Christmas clip art that I bought to make holiday items for TPT!

Needing - Now that the holiday season is fast-approaching, I need to start Christmas shopping. Oh, wait! I can't do that now. I had to buy 4 tires for my car - UGH!

A Yummy Pin - Anyone who knows me knows I don't like to prepare food. Here is a pin of a dessert that sounded good though. 

It's a recipe for Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cheese Bars. I found it on Pinterest, but the original link is http://www.food.com/recipe/chocolate-chip-cranberry-cheese-bars-198502 .

The day before Halloween, we were visited by the Candy Corn Bandit. 

He stole the Starburst candy corn I had for my class. Before we tried to look for him, we had to predict what he looked like and where the candy was hidden.

After that, we followed the clues to find where the candy was hidden. That bandit brought us to the cafeteria, PE, the playground, the library, and back to our classroom. It was hidden in the classroom the entire time! 

After that, we wrote about the Candy Corn Bandit and our adventures. Then, we completed the craftivity. My class really enjoyed that part because we hardly ever have time to do fun stuff like that anymore.

Obviously, some followed directions, and some decided to add their own creative touches. There were others that took creativity too far, so I didn't post those. 

The most difficult part was gluing the candy corn and the pipe cleaners. I have yet to find an easy way to get pipe cleaners to stick. I'd love to hear suggestions!

Did you do anything fun with your class last week? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

October Currently, a New Discovery, and a Treat

It's October, and I'm a little late, but here is my Currently, hosted by Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade!

 

Listening - Yes, I live with my parents. I have lived on my own in my own house as well. This situation works out for us right now. Anyway, our computers are set up in what used to be the dining room. All is quiet, except for the faint sound of music from my mom's Scrabble game.

Loving - After MUCH nagging, I was finally able to get my 8-year-old son to clean his room! He had to be told what to do a little at a time, but he did it!

Thinking - I posted a few new TPT products today, and now I'm thinking of new ideas.

Wanting - It's Saturday night, and we still have Sunday. However, it's always nice to have a 3-day weekend. I tend to get more done when we have one. Too bad we don't this weekend!

Needing - During the summer I had lost 25 pounds. Once school started, it was too easy to fall back into my old eating habits. I need to get back on track!

Treat -  You'll have to do a few tricks to get it! Visit my store and find your favorite product that is $5.00 or less. Comment below with the name of the product and your e-mail address. On Monday, I will randomly select 3 winners to get their favorite product. Good luck!

Now for my new discovery! I found the blog, Lessons With Coffee, and found this:

 If you sign up by the 3rd of the month (I was too late for this month), you are paired up with another teacher. You get to know one another, then you send a box with gifts (worth no more than $10.00 total) based on the monthly theme, and a hand-written note to that person. By getting to know the person beforehand, you get ideas for what to send. It sounds like such a fun idea! I signed up for next month already! Click on the picture above to find out more about these SLANT boxes!

Also, I have added a few new items to my TPT store. They help students develop fluency in addition and subtraction facts, and have a fall theme. They are all 50% off for a limited time! Click on the pictures to learn more!

Remember to comment below with the name of your favorite product in my TPT store that is $5.00 or less and your e-mail address! You could be one of 3 lucky winners chosen on Monday!

August Currently

I know - you're amazed that I'm posting twice in one day! I am too! :) It's time for Currently from Oh' Boy 4th Grade!

The Listening is self explanatory. The Loving is that I've lost 22 pounds this summer! I still have a long way to go, especially since the loss doesn't seem to show that much, but I'm very excited to have lost as much as I did. I hope I can continue to lose even after school starts!

As for the Thinking and Wanting - don't we all? I already have a to-do list of things I want to get done before we start school next week. This summer has been a fun and restful time for me, and I hate to see it end. 

Needing, well I'm kind of embarrassed about this. Since summer started, my sleep schedule has gotten WAY off track. I can't seem to fall asleep until around 3 am, and then I sleep until 11 or 12. It's going to be hard to get out of that bad habit. Yes, my son gets up earlier than that. He wakes me up when he gets up. I get him settled, and he keeps himself busy (he's very good at that). Then, I go back to sleep. Also, we live with my parents, so they are there to help out with him if he needs something. I consider myself very lucky!

Now for the back to school must-haves! I LOVE Sharpies of all different colors! I just love writing with the fine tip and using multiple colors on posters for my classroom.

Computer labels are definitely a must-have! It's so nice to just print out an entire class of names on labels to put on nametags, journals, folders, cubbies, pocket charts, and whatever else I need to put them on. It's so much easier than hand writing the names on everything like I had to do when I first started teaching.

As for the 2nd Grade Data Folder and Checklist, it's an item I found on TPT by 1st Grade is WeinerFUL. Our grading system and report cards are drastically changing this year. We will be starting to implement Common Core, and I am terrible at keeping data. So, when I found this product I was thrilled. There are pages and pages of charts for students to keep track of data, as well as Common Core checklists for them to use. Also, it's CUTE! Everyone who knows me knows I need to have teaching materials that are cute. If it isn't cute, I make it cute. If you want to check this out, click on the picture below.

Be sure to download the preview because it gives you a good overview of the product, and you get a few freebie pages in it. I don't plan to use all of the pages, but many of them will work for me. Also, I may print 2 pages each on the back and front sides of the paper to save on copy paper.

UPDATE: I found out she has them for Kindergarten and 1st Grade as well, and they are just as cute!

What are your back to school must-haves? Let me know by leaving a comment below. Thanks!

May Currently and Some Giveaways!

It's a new month, and time for Currently, Sponsored by Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade! I know, I didn't do it last month. I was getting lazy, but I'm getting back on track now. 

Here it is!

 

Yes, I'm listening to my son singing in the other room. He is playing Minecraft, his latest obsession. He gets these songs from the game or about the game (Thanks, You Tube! - Sarcasm) in his head, and keeps humming or singing them out loud. It's quite annoying since now those stupid songs pop into my head at various times during the day. I just wish he'd sing Bon Jovi or something instead! :)

I recently learned how to make editable products to post on TPT! I saw it on the Seller's Forum, and was thrilled to find it! It inspired me to update my Bright Schedule Cards. I updated the originals that are ready-made with subject areas on them, then made some editable ones with and without clip art so people can change the font or even choose to have text-only cards. I also made smaller cards to include the time of day. I thought they came out pretty good, even if I say so myself. :)

My class, the one that has been wonderful all year, is starting to go crazy! They are much more talkative, opinionated, and a few even like to argue with me. I'm finding myself having to be much harder on them, which I really don't like. Only 23 more days!

I find myself wanting to do so many things, but I have to choose just one. I want to read, play computer games, write in my blog, make new products, etc., but I am only able to focus on one thing at a time. Oh, what a joy it would be to be able to enjoy everything at once!

Like I mentioned earlier, I had gotten lazy, and wasn't writing as frequently. I'm working on that now. :)

My summer bucket list: 

1. I need to get serious about losing weight, which I'm hoping to do over the summer.

2. I have tons of books on my Kindle Fire that I haven't read yet. I hope to get to many of them over the summer.

3. I'd like to go away somewhere fun, even if it's just for a few nights. I'm not sure where, but I'll let you know when I go! :)

By the way, if you are still looking for a Mother's Day activity for your class, check out my Happy Mother's Day Pack. I'm working on the booklet with my class now. They sometimes surprise me with what they write in the blanks. My 2nd Graders even put speech bubbles (they didn't really do that in Kindergarten) to make the booklets even more entertaining. It's definitely a great keepsake for Moms!

Curriculum Core is having a 100 Follower Giveaway! Be sure to check it out!

The Learning Lab is having a May Giveaway starting on May 5. Remember to stop by!

Both giveaways have great prizes!

Feel free to comment below! I love hearing from my readers! 

Currently, Lincoln, and Gumballs

It's a new month! That means it's time for Currently, sponsored by Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Listening - To the Bon Jovi live feed from their concert in Tampa. They have been my favorite since 1986 (I know I just dated myself there). The have a new album coming out this month, and I can't wait!

Loving - That Jeffery's new meds are working. You might have read my previous post about his ADHD, and how he was going to be fully mainstreamed. The mainstreaming has gone very well so far. I was still having issues with him in the mornings - refusing to take his meds, refusing to get ready for school, and other ODD traits. The psychiatrist has put him on a patch to start the day. I have to wake up at 4 am (UGH!) to put it on him, and hope he doesn't wake up, but so far it has been working wonderfully! Mornings still aren't perfect, but at least he isn't so oppositional.

Thinking - I do need to get inspired to make items for my TPT store. I want my store to be successful like many of the other sellers on TPT. I just can't work on things constantly. My creativity tends to get blocked when I try to force myself to make something. When I can, it takes me a long time. I refuse to make something that isn't of good quality. It won't be helpful for other teachers.

Wanting - My tax refund to come soon. I can always use extra money! :)

Needing - Motivation to lose weight. I know I should, and I need to for my health. However, it's so hard for me to start eating healthy foods and exercising. I hate to cook, so that doesn't help either. 

Like/Love/Hate - These items were supposed to be things that start with the same letter as my first name. L was kind of a hard one for me to work with, but I came up with 3 things. I like laughing and having fun. I love to learn. I hate doing laundry. Well, I don't mind putting it in the washer. It's the folding, hanging up, and putting away that I don't like. I need to buy stock in Downy Wrinkle Releaser since I refuse to iron. :)

Well, February seemed to just slip by me, but we did do a few things of note in my classroom. We have been learning all about Lincoln and Washington. So, I used that as an opportunity to teach the children how to take notes and write a report. I had them use books from my classroom library, and they took notes while watching videos on BrainPop Jr. My school has a subscription to this, and I'm so glad we have it! It's an excellent resource. They have a few free videos to watch if you don't have a subscription. You should definitely check it out.

After taking notes, they narrowed their information down to 6 important facts, and wrote them on a graphic organizer found in this activity pack by A Cupcake for the Teacher.

Yes, I had the children do the craft activities too, of course. The Kindergarten teacher in me still loves it when my class does craft activities. They are so much fun! :) 

 This one says, "I will put food, drinks, and water because if I got lost I will not have food, drinks, or water."

We did George Washington too, but I didn't take pictures yet.

Back to the reports - After they narrowed their facts down, I had them put them into sentences with one of my favorite graphic organizers. 

Students start with a topic sentence, write several supporting details, and write a conclusion. It seems to work very well for my class. You can find this in Clutter Free Classroom's February and March Writing Pack.

Once they fill out the graphic organizer, I had them write a rough draft of their sentences in report format. I check these, conference with them over what they could/should fix, and then they write the final draft. Note: I plan to add pictures, so please check back if you are interested. 

As for the gumballs, my class LOVES bubblegum! It is their favorite prize, and I even let them chew it in class. Anyway, for Valentine's Day, we made these adorable gumball machines (which I thought would be very appropriate for my class).

They came from this:

Feel free to leave comments below.  Have a great weekend!

February Currently and a Sale Reminder

It's a new month, and a new month always means a new Currently, sponsored by Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade!

 

Remember, tomorrow is the Super Sale at TPT! You'll get up to 28% off of items from me and your other favorite TPT sellers! You'll get 20% off of everything in my store, and if you enter promo code: SUPER at the checkout, you'll get another 8% off of your purchase.

Enjoy your weekend!

Giveaway Reminder, Currently, and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who has entered my giveaway! I appreciate the support! I'm also grateful to the wonderful people who donated items! If you haven't entered yet, click the image below. There are some great prizes available. Entries will be accepted until January 6.

Thanks to Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade for once again sponsoring this month's Currently!

OLW - I chose the word, creativity, because I always want to be more creative, and that's what I will try to be in the coming year. It will help me in my teaching, my blog, and in my personal life.

It looks like this will be my last post of 2012. I'm looking forward to blogging in 2013! I hope all of you and your families have a very happy New Year!

December Currently

It's a new month, which means it's time for a new Currently sponsored by Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade! Here it is:

Be sure to keep checking back this week! Our classroom elf, Snowball, will make his first appearance in our classroom tomorrow, and he'll be leaving clues to the Mystery of the Missing Candy Canes!

November Currently

It's November, and time for another Currently sponsored by Oh' Boy 4th Grade!

As you can see, I'll be on a Disney Cruise (HOORAY for Florida resident rates!!) so I won't be posting much this week.


And Now for a Flat Stanley update!

 

Stanley returned home safely from a trip to Odessa, FL (near Tampa). He brought some shells, and even had a new pair of swimming trunks!

This Stanley flew back to us on an airplane since the person he visited in New Mexico was flying here to visit relatives! He brought some postcards for us!

Above you see our Stanley in Kentucky trying to get some Halloween candy, and just below that he is playing Skylanders with my friend, Niki's boys!


I almost forgot! Last week I received a package at school! It was a FREE Elf on a Shelf with the book and several notes to leave for the class! All I had to do was sign up at http://northpoleplayground.com/ . I don't know if they have any left, but it's worth trying!

With that, I'm off to continue packing! Feel free to leave comments below. I love to hear from my readers!