Fun in the Sun with some Freebies!

Hey y'all!!

Yesterday, I didn't get MUCH school stuff accomplished...lol

We were having too much fun in the sun!!

Boot camp in the morning...

and then I went paddle boarding again!! woo!!

(that's me in the middle -with the white and blue bathing suit)

LOVE this picture!! Everyone was making fun of me because I wanted to do a posed picture like this, but I think it turned out soooo cute!!

(me in the back on my stomach)

Did I forget to mention that my brother owns his own SUP company...that's why I get to go paddle boarding so much...lol.
I just get a group of people who want to go, and then I get to have fun too!!

Last year, for the Fourth of July, we went paddle boarding on the river to watch the fireworks...

(you can't tell, but A is sitting on the board with me)





I would LOVE to do this again this year, but we're not going to be in town for it this year....

Anyway...

THEN, came home and went swimming in the poolio...

See my future surfer girl??? hehe 

I'm sorry to keep showing you family pics of our lives, but I kinda feel that it's part of my blog now...it's evolved into my life as me and as a teacher...so...hope y'all don't mind. But I like showing you....

BUT anywhosit,

I DID manage to finish and upload my Where Are We sign....

I don't have this printed up to show you a final product, but it's pretty simple...just put this on your door, then  put velcro on the labels and the blank square and have the line leader, assistant, or caboose be in charge of putting where you are going.

It's free - if you wanna go grab it.

I also updated my IPICK sign...in addition to the beach sign, I also added the sports and pirates - to match the A.R. packs I have. I had a request to do the sports one, so I figured I might as well do the pirate one since that's a popular item.

So, if you didn't go grab the sign before, you can go back to grab it - all 3 are in the same file.

Today is the first day of July. I'm actually SUPER excited about it!!

There is SO much packed into this month...family reunion trip (TWO of them! but one is coming to me...lol), more paddle boarding, beach days, pool days, SKY DIVING, and birthdays!!!

I turn 30 this month...and while that might scare some people, I'm actually excited about it!!

I have accomplished SOOOO much in my first 30 years. I've traveled the world, got married ("eloped" to Jamaica!) and had two BEAUTIFUL daughters, bought TWO houses, graduated college - TWICE (one is my masters), got National Board Certified....have climbed mountains and jumped out of planes....the list is endless. I am so thankful for what God has abled me to do...I can't wait to see what the next 30 years is like!!!

14

Aaargh! I'm Finished!!

I'm FINALLY finished!!!

Y'all have NO idea what this pack has done to me....I have been questioning myself over and over throughout this pack, not being able to make ANY decisions...lol

Just ask Reagan, or Squirrels, or Mor....and my friend Amanda...and Leslie...lol

But, all of a sudden, it just clicked...took forever and a day to do this pack.

I wasn't even going to sell it...but I've been told to do so - ha!

So here it is!!

I'm actually quite in love with it!

This Zip file contains 7 files, 101 pages.

1) Alphabet, 2 cards on one page. There are pictures for the letters that have double sounds (hard/soft letters ans long/short vowels). There is also a one page alphabet chart, which would be great for centers!

2) World Wall Letters - the vowels are different color letters and background

3) Numbers 1-180. Count up the days of school! There is one complete set with the same background. There is a 2nd set that starts at 5 and counts by tens, and a 3rd set that starts at 10 and counts by tens. You can use these for 100s charts, or a sequencing math center as well!

4) Job chart - a ready made version, or a blank one for you to write in your own jobs.

5) Centers number labels - there are 2 sets; one for reading and math. There are small labels and big ones.

6) Calendar - Month and Days of the week header cards, which can also be used as a sequencing activity in a center! The weekends are different colors than the weekdays. There THREE different sets of calendar numbers, so you can choose which kind of pattern you would like for that month. Today is/Yesterday was/ Tomorrow is charts, and a place value chart for the day of the year.

7) Name tags and pockets - There are 2 different versions of the name tags, and 6 different versions of the pockets.

And most importantly, in each file there is a "Teacher Tips" page where I explain how to use each file and organization tips!!

You can get it in my 

TN Store

or

TpT Store

I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two to add, so I'm sure I'll add more later...or if you can think of something else to add....


I do want to add a pirate glyph for the beginning of the year. But I can't think right now...

Also, don't forget my other pirate themed packs!!

A.R. pack:

Counting Pirate Booty Math Game:

Ahoy Matey words with oi/oy:

9

Communication is "treasured"

More on planning for next year....

Last year, my friend and I came up with a brilliant plan to make business cards for our "parents," or whoever our kids live with...

Not only did we make the business cards, but we put them on MAGNETS! 

Like these - 

Now, a lot of people might have those stainless steel refrigerators, but they have sides, right?? Or maybe there's a filing cabinet in the house?? Or maybe they have a dry erase calendar in their house??

These are the ones I came up with....

Remember, my theme is pirate next year, and the tiger is because we're the Turner Tigers...

I think I'm leaning towards B, what do you think?

I don't know how I could share this with you...I can't save it as PDF with editable fields (I don't have that super cool Adobe Pro) and I can't share the template with the clip art on it...AND I did it in Publisher and some people don't have publisher, so I don't know how...I guess if you have Publisher, give me your email and I can send you a template with out clipart.

BUT, you at least have the idea, right?

14

So Indecisive!!

Ok, so like everyone else, I've been planning for next year....I'm currently working on my pirate themed classroom...

these are the desk pockets I make/use...

My problem is....I can NOT decide on the backgrounds on a lot of it - harrumph!!

So far, I have:

Desk pockets (can't decide color/clip art)

Name tags (I have LOTS of different versions, and I've narrowed it down to like 2!)

Word Wall Letters (can't decide on backgrounds)

Center labels (big and small for the board and buckets I use - different versions for Reading and Math)

Calendar

Job chart

What else am I missing??

I'm not so sure I'll be selling this one though - it's too hard to make it so generic that it would fit everyone, right?? 

What do you think?

Should I sell it?

I think I need some help in making decisions, is what I think - ha!!

Anyway, I also made these labels:

They're monthly labels for my buckets...

I believe it's 6 quarts..that's how I store all my monthly stuff. And they stack pretty, too!!

If you don't use big ones like that, I also did some small ones that could go on smaller bins, filing cabinets, or binders, maybe..

It's goes with my pirate decor - but more importantly, it'll go with anything...lol..

You can grab them for free...just leave me some lovin' :)

TpT

TN

Also - ONE WEEK until our blogger meet up!!!

I'm calling tomorrow to make the reservations to The Grill...it's a brunch ordeal, and we have a BOGOFree coupon they said we could copy off for everyone!! woop woop! (well, I gotta FIND it first - lol)

And then we can hang out at the Tikki Bar afterwards - I just gotta see if kids are allowed, because I'm bringing THIS cutie!!

hehe..I'd bring A too, but then I'd NEVER get to sit and enjoy myself!!

Also, there is a parking fee, but I'm pretty sure he said that if we make reservations, then that fee is waived - I'll let y'all know for sure!!

15

Pirate's Booty and a Giveaway!

Oh My.

Today was Field Day.  While it was still morning-ish and the wind was blowing, I still have a headache from being in the heat for the day...I know. Ironic since I LIVE at the beach. But in my defense, the beach has water for me to cool off in! :)

However. I have a few girls that need to remember me when they make it into the Olympics.

Seriously.

They have some M.A.D running skills!!! They FLEW passed everyone in the 400 Meter run!! I mean - I've NEVER seen girls run like this!!

As long as they remember who discovered them. :)

Tomorrow is the last day before Spring Break.

Which means I have to clear out all my cabinets and drawers....they are de-cockroaching our school over break.

Yes.

It's THAT bad.

But even worse?? The Monday when we come back.

I'm going to have a chaotic room and pod to put back together before the kiddos come in - IN ADDITION to getting ready for my day/week....pooo...

So, while doing my Pudgie Place Value centers...I noticed that my kiddos are having a hard time counting by  certain numbers - well, especially the 3s - yeesh!!

I have this game that I did with my 3rd graders for multiplication. I was trying to figure out how I could do it for my 2nd graders - but counting by numbers...instead of doing multiples.

Um....

DUH!!!

Counting by numbers IS multiples...ha!! It took my friend and her husband pointing that out to me before I realized it....haha!! Wow.

Yes, I just admitted that.

What?? I like to make things complicated. lol

Anyway, so I took that game and jazzed it up with some fabulous clip art :)

This is a fast-paced game....it really helps them with their facts....

There are no turns. As each player sees that they have a card that would go on top of the card that was last put on the pile, they put their card down. They must be fast! If another player beats them to it, they can not put down that card anymore; they have to do the next number card. Every time they put down a card, they pick one up from the upside down pile. Each time the group gets to 50, start over with 5. 

Get all 4 sets for $1

TpT

or 

TN

Just so you can try them out - you can download the set of 2s for 24 hours for free! :)

Click {HERE} to get them! Please don't forget to tell me what you think of them!

Also, I'm in another giveaway!!

(I really need to stop participating in these giveaways...I always want to win them!! lol)

This one has some good stuff too!!

 

Amber has reached 200 followers!! Go check out what you could win!!

(This MIGHT just put me at 500 followers - wowwy!!!)

 Ok, I must go try to find an incubator!! I bought this CUTE little unit...

 

From Christie...I am SO excited to use it!! But it got me wanting to incubate eggs! lol And while I HAVE found an icubator...I'm trying to be cheap and find a CHEAPER incubator. lol.

What? I'm a poor teacher married to a poor firefighter. haha!

Hope y'all had a TREMENDOUS Thursday!!

(p.s...I have WAY more to share with you - and more freebies too! But I didn't want to OVER load y'all).

11

reading mini lesson with word work, author's purpose, fractions, and OY!

Today's lesson during silent reading was Word Work; the were finding pronouns...

They used their tabs to find a pronoun - I mean, really, there are TONS one EVERY page...lol.
Then, they had to tell me who or what that pronoun was replacing...

Then, they wrote the person or thing that the pronoun replaced under their pronoun on the tree map...

 

Go see more grammar ideas at Lori's Linky!

We also practiced more with Author's Purpose.

They used a Scholastic Book order form and found at least five books that would work for Inform and five that work for Entertain.

They turned out so cute!!! 

wonky picture thanks to blogger....

Ok, I have not posted about my fractions activity that we did - I don't know why, just haven't. lol

So, here are some pictures from it.

But first, pardon my cruddy pictures for a while - A BROKE my camera!!! Yes, it really was her!! grrrrr...

What you need is two paper plates, and a copy of an 8th circle fit to the size of the inside circle of the paper plate. I tried scanning the one that I drew, but my scanner is enlarging it and it's not coming out right...pooey.

 

These are my girls :) I taught them both - and one is in 6th grade and the other's in 4th now...they're my daily helpers :) 

Anywho - on one paper plate, they color the inside circle gray or silver (like the pan) and they will glue the fraction circle to the other one.

But first, you have to give them fractions of food they have to color their pizza....

example - kind of...again, blogger was being wonky and uploading the pic weird.

2/8 green pepper, 1/8 mushroom, 3/8 pepperoni, and 2/8 pineapple (yum! my fave), etc

Then cut a slit to the middle of each plate, and link them together and then you can twist them like someone is eating pieces of the pie!

Also, in other news...I FINALLY finished my /OI/ packet - seriously...you don't even know.

I was ALMOST finished with it last night, and my computer froze. I HAD been saving it throughout - but when I had to force the shut down of my computer, it was NO WHERE to be found!!! UGH!!!

So I had to start alllll over.

Anyway - I know you can do pirate theme with AR, but how about OY! I mean, AHOY works, right?! hehe...I do love a good pirate theme :)

In this packet there are

36 word cards
3 games to play with those cards: Polly wants your cards, read the room, or a game board
another set of 20 word cards with missing letters to either play scoot or do a word sort center with
and a word search

16 pages for.....

$1 

I like to keep it simple like that....

if your students liked my Ouch! pack, then they'll like this :)

TpT

or

TN

Now, I am almost finished with my Hibernation pack...then I need to move onto my math centers for next week - and then Easter! woohoo!!

Hope y'all had a Wonderful Wednesday!

p.s. I JUST got my google reader down to 65 posts left to read....but now y'all are going to post tonight, and I'll wake up and it'll be at almost 200 again...lol...

14

Sewing skills, A.R. pack, and Goof Off

It has been great fun looking at all your Seuss celebrating pictures! And how cool is it that Tara shares his birthday?! (make sure you go say Happy Birthday to her!)

I actually have like 2 weeks worth of Seuss lessons, so be prepared...lol...don't worry, I will post non- Seuss stuff too :)

I had my kids make bookmarks, but I wanted to add in some fun skills...like sewing...yeah, I know. But you'd be surprised at how HARD this was...especially for some of my most artsy kids! I bought the plastic yarn needles and they used those to sew the yarn through the holes in their bookmarks. OH, p.s...these are the bookmarks from Melissa that she made..I glued them to black paper and laminated them.

See the SERIOUS concentration?? I love it! ha!

Also, remember when I was looking for a pen pal in a different state?? Well, I got a response from a different COUNTRY!!  LOOK at where we're sending our letters too!!

Thank you so much to everyone who offered to be our pen pals!!! I wish I could have picked all of you!!

Thanks Suzy Q! :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And in other news....here's my Pirate A.R. pack....I took what I've been doing in my room with A.R. and made it into a little pack, all organized.

Only $2

TpT

or

TN

There are pirate bookmarks with A.R. levels, genre and book series graphs, reading logs and A.R. quiz logs, bulletin board pieces so they can "sail" to each island as they grow in A.R. points, monthly goal sheets and a certificate if/when they reach that month's goal, a poster for skill focus during reading (with ideas on what to do for the skill focus), and a letter to the parents.

If you would like a different theme (like Seuss or under the sea or what have you), I am open to suggestions!!

Also, I know some of you do reading counts, and I was trying to make this fit for that as well, but I don't know enough of that program. If you are someone who wants this set made for Reading Counts, please let me know and we can work it out! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On another note, get your "goof off" ready, because here comes the SAP! lol

 I just want to say how WONDERFUL this blogging community is...when someone you only virtually know is in need, you all are so quick to help out!! (I'm talking to YOU Kristen and Mor!)

Or, you are so willing to share and help out however you can - THANK YOU Tammy!! 

And there are SO many more of you who share your joy every time you comment, and bring a smile to so many faces.

What a great "family" this blogging world is!!

19

Argh!

A few weeks late, but still in September! Talk Like a Pirate Day! We did a few things to celebrate, although I held out on everything in my pirate unit; for two reasons. A) There was just not enough time - that week we had a short week (for like the 3rd week in a row! Argh! hehe), and testing that still had to be finished, and who knows what else....it's all a blur really. And B) because we are going to be teaching the /ar/ phonics skills soon, so I want to revisit the pirate theme.  I will have to wear my pirate swag again that day for a picture. I didn't take one this time, because apparently when you are 6 months pregnant, you look like "Where's Waldo" instead of a pirate when you wear a white and red striped shirt! Lol




Anyway, I bought Babbling Abby's Pirate Unit from her TpT store. Can I just say....How Cute?!?! It's mostly fabulous for First grade, but I can use a lot of it in different ways. I altered some of her stuff, and we wrote these CUTE pirate stories "My Day as a Pirate."

First we read How I Became a Pirate. The boy in story spends his day as a pirate, but realizes he wants to go back home. Such a cute story.

Then we made a flow map (we're a Thinking Maps school) of the story onto "map paper" (aka - grocery bag that had been crumbled up).

Then, to tie in some social studies, we discussed compasses and directions, and landmarks (the book has a map which lent itself perfectly to the lesson). The students had to make a rough draft of where they were going to bury their treasure and had to have at least 3 landmarks, a trail, and X marks the spot, and a compass. Once we okay-ed their map, they were given the map paper (more grocery bags) to sketch out their maps.  

Then, FINALLY, onto our CUTE pirate stories. We did a 4-square, mapping out our beginning, middle, and end, we wrote one together (so they could see how I use my plan to go back to my writing), then they were allowed to add in their art part of it.  Loved them!! Thanks Babbling Abby! 

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