Turkey Writing FREEBIE!

I love to create silly writing opportunities for my kids because their writing is rich in creativity when I do so! So please enjoy this Thanksgiving writing freebie by clicking below or grab it at my store :) #savetheturkeys 

Thanksgiving break is a week away! Wahoo!

Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving freebies!

So...it's been a long LONG time since I have blogged but I am coming out of retirement! :) I'm so happy to be getting back to blogging. I have had such a crazy, busy year so far and unfortunately blogging fell by the wayside. But I am determined to get back to what I love doing most--sharing what's happening in my room! I feel lucky to be learning from so many incredible educators on their Twitter's, Instagram's, Facebook's and their blogs--so I hope I can do a little bit of the same! 

The second week in November was a very patriotic week! With Election Day and Veteran's Day, we decided to show some American Pride on our lockers. We made these cute American flags and gave our audience a reason why they should vote for us to be president. Check em out below--I have some pretty thoughtful kiddos! You can grab the "Vote for ____" and "If I were president I would..." masters, here!

   

And here are some of my favorite Election Day and Veteran's books to read aloud!

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I want to share TWO freebies with you! First is a November No-Prep Printable on my TPT store and second freebie is just for YOU! 

Happy Teaching and Happy Thanksgiving countdown! 

Makerspace Freebie!

We LOVE having maker time in my classroom. It is always a Fun Friday activity for my students or a STEM activity! As a new teacher, I have not always had a lot of resources or known the best way to organize those resources...

SO today, a couple weeks before starting year 3 of teaching (woohoo!), I decided to organize my disaster of a craft closet--it was over flowing after two years of collecting. However, the biggest issue I had with my craft closet was that my students had no access to it--not because I did not allow it--but because I was the only one who knew what was in there! 

Drum roll please.....!!!

The labels with pictures will allow my students to be independent makers throughout the day. I've had these Sterilite containers for two years now and they have held up nicely! You can find them, here.

I encourage YOU to start a Makerspace in your room--but keep in mind, every classrooms Makerspace is different. For all I know, this might not end up being the best fit for my students. That's really up to them! Some Makerspaces have no labels and no rhyme or reason. Did you know genius' have the messiest work spaces?! ;) Keep that in mind! I, however, am Type A--so we are going to start with this and see how it goes with my first graders! 

In an effort to really encourage you, enjoy this FREEBIE: Makerspace Labels. Even if you don't need the labels, reading through the materials will help you realize the materials to start a Makerspace are already all over your classroom :)

Happy Teaching!!

It's August and that means...BACK TO SCHOOL!

Hello everybody! I am back! After an amazing month in Ireland, I am home to enjoy some family time (now with a Masters Degree! Pretty exciting!!). August is one of my favorite months because the weather is beautiful, family parties are happening, and lots of back to school prep is going down! You might think I am crazy for saying that but I love getting organized and excited for the new school year. It's a great time to reflect on past years and how I am going to do things differently (and better). 

What better way to start our Back to School month than with a Freebie?! 

Grab my Editable 2016-2017 Calendar for free (holidays included). I like to keep the calendars that I send home plain and organized so parents do not get overwhelmed. As always, please do not hesitate to let me know how I can customize or improve this product for you :) 

Here are some projects I'm working on right now to prepare for the school year:

1.) Updating/cleaning/organizing our classroom website

2.) Updating/cleaning/organizing the files on my computer--this is by far the most refreshing. It is so easy during the busy school year to send files to a miscellaneous folder. This is my time to go through and completely organize those files (and promise myself that I will keep things organized throughout the year!).

 

Pretty beautiful so far, right?!

3.) Some form of Professional Development for myself. If my goal as a teacher is to encourage students to be life long learners, then why wouldn't I practice what I preach?! Each summer I like to step outside of my comfort zone and attend a Professional Development or take a class. Last summer, I became a Google Certified Educator (I suggest all teachers try it!! Awesome class/program). This summer, I am participating in a HyperDocs bootcamp. It is a 4 week course where we actively engage in activities/conversations and create our own HyperDocs for our classroom. HyperDocs are essentially a 21st century, innovative, digital worksheet. As a first grade teacher, I certainly won't jump ship and get rid of all worksheets (motor skills people!!!). I think HyperDocs could be a great way to enhance my small group instruction by creating a HyperDoc center where students complete differentiated activities that can be shared with peers, parents and myself. If you'd like to read more about what HyperDocs are, visit this site. 

4.) Something crafty--hmm I haven't decided what I am going to do for this yet. I need to get on Pinterest...I always love to work on some sort of arts and crafts project for my classroom (whether it be a decoration, a piece of furniture, alternative seating, etc.). It is a good way to clear my head and take a break from screen time :) I will keep you guys posted. Any good ideas?!

Well that's it for now! What do you do during the month of August to prepare for the school year?

I look forward to sharing all of my planning, products and programs with you this August! It is going to be an awesome 2016-2016 school year! 

It's August and that means...BACK TO SCHOOL!

Hello everybody! I am back! After an amazing month in Ireland, I am home to enjoy some family time (now with a Masters Degree! Pretty exciting!!). August is one of my favorite months because the weather is beautiful, family parties are happening, and lots of back to school prep is going down! You might think I am crazy for saying that but I love getting organized and excited for the new school year. It's a great time to reflect on past years and how I am going to do things differently (and better). 

What better way to start our Back to School month than with a Freebie?! 

Grab my Editable 2016-2017 Calendar for free (holidays included). I like to keep the calendars that I send home plain and organized so parents do not get overwhelmed. As always, please do not hesitate to let me know how I can customize or improve this product for you :) 

Here are some projects I'm working on right now to prepare for the school year:

1.) Updating/cleaning/organizing our classroom website

2.) Updating/cleaning/organizing the files on my computer--this is by far the most refreshing. It is so easy during the busy school year to send files to a miscellaneous folder. This is my time to go through and completely organize those files (and promise myself that I will keep things organized throughout the year!).

 

Pretty beautiful so far, right?!

3.) Some form of Professional Development for myself. If my goal as a teacher is to encourage students to be life long learners, then why wouldn't I practice what I preach?! Each summer I like to step outside of my comfort zone and attend a Professional Development or take a class. Last summer, I became a Google Certified Educator (I suggest all teachers try it!! Awesome class/program). This summer, I am participating in a HyperDocs bootcamp. It is a 4 week course where we actively engage in activities/conversations and create our own HyperDocs for our classroom. HyperDocs are essentially a 21st century, innovative, digital worksheet. As a first grade teacher, I certainly won't jump ship and get rid of all worksheets (motor skills people!!!). I think HyperDocs could be a great way to enhance my small group instruction by creating a HyperDoc center where students complete differentiated activities that can be shared with peers, parents and myself. If you'd like to read more about what HyperDocs are, visit this site. 

4.) Something crafty--hmm I haven't decided what I am going to do for this yet. I need to get on Pinterest...I always love to work on some sort of arts and crafts project for my classroom (whether it be a decoration, a piece of furniture, alternative seating, etc.). It is a good way to clear my head and take a break from screen time :) I will keep you guys posted. Any good ideas?!

Well that's it for now! What do you do during the month of August to prepare for the school year?

I look forward to sharing all of my planning, products and programs with you this August! It is going to be an awesome 2016-2016 school year! 

Kickstart Your Summer With These Freebies!

Happy official summer to just about everybody (I think, right?!)...My goal this summer to was to vamp up my Teachers Pay Teachers store and it...is...addicting! I wanted to celebrate summer and my updated page by giving away some exclusive freebies that you can only get here on my blog. Feel free to go and check out my store for more goodies, too!

First Freebie

Second Freebie

If you enjoy the Short a Reader, you can buy the bundle at a discounted price at my store!

Thank you for follow and have a WONDERFUL rest of your week!

Happy Teaching!

It's April WHAT?!

Are we really half way through April already?! Ay yi yi!!!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing spring break! I was able to go to Vegas for a few days with some of my college girlfriends and then spend the rest of the time with family. It was...perfect :) I spent ten days away from my classroom and did zero work...we need these breaks and so do our kids. I believe I am a better teacher when I fully commit to a break from school--I come back feeling so refreshed and ready to have some fun with my class. It's all about the relationships and those relationships cannot thrive with a clouded mind. Take a few extra hours to prep before the break and enjoy yourself :)

Tech Tip of the Week

To add to my list of favorite apps and activities for word work--I introduce to you, Popplet! Popplet is  a graphic organizer accessible via the web and the app store (free and paid versions). My students are pros using this app on the iPad. I set aside roughly 20 minutes at the beginning of the year to walk them through how to use it and my expectations. We use the free version (the free version does not allow you to save anything) so I have trained them to add their name to the Popplet and then screen shot it when they are done (accountability and check for understanding!). 

This app can be used in SO many ways--but I want to share how I use it during my literacy block and RTI time because it's an easy, practically paperless way to get kids moving while they learn! 

I lay out (or hang on the walls/their lockers) words/sentences/pictures depending on the activity. The students move around, read the words/sentences/pictures, and then sort them on the screen. They can type, write or take a picture of what they are sorting (so cool!). We sort real vs. nonsense words, word families, spelling patterns, questions vs. statements, adjectives vs. nouns vs. verbs. The possibilities are endless! You could find a use for this app in any subject area (I projected it on the screen the other day as we sorted needs and wants during social studies!). Check out the f.u.n. below!

Popplet in ACTION!

     


Weeks like these make me thankful for the seating options available to my students. I do not believe in asking a first grader to sit still all day long. Yes, I do have moments in my day where students are required to sit relatively still, but any other time in our day I allow them to choose how they work. We are back at school this week after a 10 day spring break, and my kids are...well...7 year olds! They are wiggly, fidgety and full of energy--as they should be :) In addition to some extra play time this week, students also have the option to work in the way that helps them be successful.

A few months ago, my Donors Choose request was fully funded (to my surprise!!). My students and I received 7 Hokki Stools and 2 exercise balls for alternative seating. It was SO exciting for my students and I. The new stools and medicine balls allow my students to wiggle while they learn and keep their brains on. All of my kids sit on the stools differently but they all have a similar focused look on their faces :) I am looking into buying a Hokki Stool for myself soon!

Students also have the option to stand at a heightened table! I tell my kids I do not care how they sit or stand, as long as they are trying their best and getting their best work done. My students generally prefer the stools over other seating arrangements, so we rotate through them in alphabetical order (this means kids are sitting on them every third day). 

      
      

And of COURSE cannot forget the life saving Go Noodle brain breaks :) Our new favorite is Oh, a milkshake by the Koo Koo Kangaroo gang. So hilarious!



Here are two freebies before I go!

1.) Spring Break Homework (my kids loved this...I don't send home homework in general--but I couldn't resist this!).



2.) Instagram Writing Prompt (this was so fun...it looks so awesome on our lockers!)




Have a wonderful weekend everybody! I am headed to the wonderful city of Chicago this weekend for my cousins wedding. It will be so nice to see family from all over!

Happy Teaching!