Versatile Blogger Award

Yeah!! I love blogging awards!! This is my second award!!  I am very flattered and excited to have been given this award!!   I have seen so many fantastic blogs and having your support feels wonderful.   Thank you!  It is still hard for me to believe that I have a blog and that people are reading it!  I am enjoying this fantastic community of teachers!!  You are all so supportive!!

Here are the rules...
1. Thank the person who nominated you with a link back to them. A HUGE thank you to:

Rebecca

You are a fantastic blogger and I am so grateful to have you as a blogging friend!  You are very supportive of new bloggers and I want to thank you for all you have done to support me as a new blogger.

2. Tell seven things about you

It has been a long day and I still have planning to do for school….so I am going to have to add this part tomorrow.

3. Pass this award on to 15 new blogs

I am off to search for 15 who have not already received this award……It is going to be hard!

Five Senses Unit by Little Miss Hypothesis

Are you going to be doing a science unit on the 5 senses?  Want to add some fun science activities to your curriculum?  Check out Little Miss Hypothesis’ 5 senses unit.  It has lots of great activities to use in your classroom to teach about the 5 senses.  It also includes posters for the scientific process.    Hop on over to her blog to find out more!!  Check out this post to see some super cute posters you can make/create while teaching this unit!!  I can’t wait to use this unit with my firsties!!

The Clutter-Free Classroom Project Week 1

This year I am making it my goal to be more organized. I am joining The Clutter-Free Classroom for the Clutter-Free Classroom Project. I am somewhat reluctant to share my pictures with you, so please be kind about my mess of a mess! I would love to have someone – anyone to blame as the one who has created this mess. But, I must confess that I am the one responsible. Unless, you would believe the kids did it! HA!

Before I show you the pictures, let me explain how I got into this mess of a mess. The first year I started teaching, the teacher who had previously been in my classroom had switched grade levels. There were several things in the room that still had her name and “personal” written on them. There weren’t a whole lot of resources in my classroom (she had taught for six years in first). The resources that were left were much older. I was a new teacher and I was afraid to throw anything away. I wasn’t sure what I would use and what I could toss. I kept everything and decided that I would go through it next summer.

Then the next summer….well, I never got around to it. I was busy planning and mapping our new reading curriculum and making a reading canopy for my reading corner. I know I shouldn’t have put it off, but I waited until the next summer (which was this last summer).

Each year we have to pack up EVERYTHING in our classrooms. Well, except for the materials stored in the built in storage and filing cabinets. So, I have to pack up my black storage cabinet, centers, my teacher’s desk, indoor recess activities, math manipulatives, classroom library, science materials, etc.

Last summer, my room was on the list to be painted. So, this meant I also had to remove everything from the walls, too! As I was getting my room ready last summer, I didn’t do the best job unpacking. Then this fall, we had to move things in order to prepare for our Smart Boards {YAY!!!} that we will be getting. They were supposed to be installed over break, but now it looks like it will be next summer.

Check back tomorrow - I will udpate this post with pictures!!

A little bit of snow . . . .

HIP, HIP, HOORAY!! Today I had a snow day!!  It wasn't much snow, but where I live it only takes a little bit of snow to get a snow day.  We only had about 1 inch of snow, but it is a rural area with lots of roads that do not get treated or cleared off.  So, a small dusting snowfall can cause us to cancel.  {Last year, we actually had too many days off.  At least, that's what I thought in May}

I got "the call" last night.  I love knowing the night before . . . . . that way I can sleep in.  I had good intentions of getting lots of work done today, but instead I watched some movies, checked out some fantastic blogs, and made a to-do list {that I will work on this weekend}.  It felt so good to be back in my winter break routine. Oh, how I missed it!! :)

Here are a few giveaways I found today . . . .

Julie from Second Grade Style is having a giveaway! She is giving away 3 different holiday books about Gilbert by Diane DeGroat! Hurry and enter the giveaway ends Friday, Jan. 13th!

Jody from Camp Kindergarten is having a giveaway for 200+ followers!  She is giving away 2 items from her Teachers Pay Teachers store.  There will be 2 winners!

Beth and Lisa from Made In the Shade in 2nd Grade are having a fabulous giveaway! You could win a giftcard to either Target or Amazon!

Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B is having a great giveaway! The winner will get to pick which item the want to win! The giveaway ends Friday, Jan. 13th!

Happy New Year....in my classroom

I wanted to share some New Year's activities that we did in my classroom last week.

First, we read the book Squirrel's New Year's Resolutions by Pat Miller.  This book has a good expaination for resolutions especially for younger students.  I know it can be hard for first graders to understand making a resolution, but this book does a fantastic job of relating it to goals to better ourselves or help others.

 

After reading Squirrel's New Year's Resolutions, we discussed different goals that they could set for themselves.  Next, each student decided upon a goal for this year.  Each student wrote their goal on lined paper.   Over winter break, I found Cara's New Year's door post.  So cute!!  I knew I HAD to do this with my firsties.  I even bought the party horns before New Year's {just in case I couldn't find them afterwards}. 

Then the students drew their face and cut out hair to create a self portrait.  I glued on their party hats {with their New Year's goal}.  I added party horns and pom-poms!!  Here are some pictures of my students' work.

During Math, we played New Year's Roll and Cover from Mrs. Littrels Learning Detectives.  {Actually, we have played it on two different days.... they loved it and keep asking to play more games like this}

I also used Cara's Happy New Year! {Math & Literacy Freebies}. 



I had so much fun celebrating New Year's in my classroom this year.  My students loved each of these activities and they were LEARNING, too.  Shhhhh, don't tell them!!  They were having too much fun to notice that they were actually doing work!  HA, HA :)

A No Internet Monday!!

Oh.my!!  That is all I have to say about yesterday.  I was sooo tired after school, even though it was only Monday.   I was wondering how I was going to make to the end of the week.  I mean, I have to work FIVE days this week.  Last week, I only worked three days and I was exhausted on Saturday.  My only hope was that the kids were just as tired as me!

I was looking forward to sitting down to my computer after school and doing some blog hopping.  When I got home, I went straight to the computer.  {Doesn't everyone}  I am a little addicted!!  HA, HA:)  I clicked on the internet and waited to check my google reader.  Only, no google reader!!  I got an error message .  So after multiple cries tries, and a  call to my internet service provider I found out that I was going to be without internet for 2 1 whole day evening!!   However, it felt much, much, much longer.  I didn't know what to do.   I was having internet withdraw.  Ok, I must confess I wasn't totally without internet.  I used my mom's ipad and made a quick trip to McDonald's to use their free WiFi.  I bought a sweet tea for the use of the internet. :)

I had planned to post last night about my New Year's Bulletin Board, but no internet = no post!  It takes me too long on the ipad to type and my pictures were on my computer. :(  I thought about posting it tonight, but I had to catch up all my blog reading from yesterday.  Also, I am having trouble getting my pictures into my post tonight.

So, tomorrow I hope to post my pictures! 

My First Award

I want to say thank you to Christine at Hopping into First Grade for giving me the Liebster Award!  I have just started my blog and I am already being recongized!  It really made my day week to know that someone thinks my blog is already awardworthy.  I am so thankful to everyone that is following me as well.  I am still learning about blogging and I know that I will continue to learn more everyday.  Now on to the award!!

The goal of the award is to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers. The rules are:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. Thank the giver and link back to them.
3. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
4. Hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers!

I am going to pass the award on to:

Check out these blogs, as well as, Christine's blog!  You are sure to get some great ideas for your classroom.  Thanks again, Christine!!

Check out these giveaways

It seems like now is the time for giveaways. Every time I check my google reader I find out about another fantastic giveaway. I thought I would do a quick post on some new giveaways.

Mrs. Albanese is having a Winter Wonderland giveaway!    She has teamed up with 5 *amazing* blogger friends to bring you this spectacular Winter Wonderland giveaway!  Hurry over to see what you could win!

Kelly at Buggy for Second Grade is having a giveaway for reaching 100 followers!  The winner will receive a  super cute wreath. I really want to win this one.

Mel is having a giveaway over at Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations! She just turned 40 and 40+ bloggers have joined together to offer products in a GIGANTIC giveaway!!  Hurry over and get yourself entered.

This is your last chance to enter a HUGE Giveaway!!  Twelve blogs have joined together for a MEGA New Year Giveaway! The winners of the giveaway will be able to choose any item (winter themed or not) from any of the Teacher Pay Teachers stores listed below. Nearly 100 items will be given away in this HUGE event! Each blog will have 6 winners!!  Here are the participating blogs/ stores: Classroom Confections, Down Under Teacher, Primary Inspiration, I Love First Grade, A Teacher's Treasure, Herding Kats in Kindergarten, Third Grade Bookworm, A Special Kind of Class, Mandy's Tips for Teachers, HoJo's TpT Store & More, Teacher Tam, The ESOL Odyssey

Kacey at Doodle Bugs Paper is having a fantastic giveaway.  The winner will receive a $20 store credit to use on any items on the Doodle Bugs Paper website.

First Day Back....at last!

Today was my first day back to school from winter break. Tuesday was supposed to be our first day back, but.......on Monday afternoon it started to S.N.O.W. So, we got a Snow Day {in capitals because it is an important day}. So, today we {tried} to stay on schedule. I did have to do several Dr. Jean movement songs this morning to get us {teacher included} ready to learn. I am so T.I.R.E.D. All of the blog stalking I did over break has gotten me totally off schedule. I was wore out by the end of the day. I feel like it was the first day of school. My kids did remember all the rules and had good behavior today. But, oh my was it a loooooong day!! I don't know if I could make it if we had to go five days this week. Thank goodness we only have to go three{thanks to our SNOW DAY}.


Oh, and who do you think stayed after school this afternoon to put up her bulletin board? Even though she was so T.I.R.E.D. Why do we do this to ourselves? I am now wishing I had came home and took a nap instead. Oh who am I kidding, I would have been reading teacher blogs instead of napping. I hope everyone had a good first day back or enjoyed the remaining days of their break.


I will post pictures of my board after I get them downloaded to my computer. If you haven't already checked it out Amy at Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemmons has a great template to use for the New Year's hats with resolutions.

One more day please

Today was supposed to be our first day back, but.......on Monday afternoon it started to S.N.O.W. Well, as you can guess I started wishing, hoping, and then thinking it might actually happen!!! I needed to change the bulletin board outside my room. I had intended to go to school one day over the break and take down the old board and put up new paper. However, I never made it to school. SHOCKING, I know!! So, I decided that this was my last chance. I headed to school to change my paper {I was preparing to make a Cara inspired board} for my New Year's bulletin board. Well, while I was changing my board out I got the call. NO SCHOOL!! YEAH!! I think teachers are as bad as the kids sometimes. I love what I do and I missed my firsties, but I wanted one more day!

More Giveaways

Here are some more SUPER giveaways that you will want to enter.

Made for 1st Grade is having a giveaway for a $50 voucher for Erin Condren.  Hurry and enter it ends January 2.

The Crafty Community is having a giveaway for reaching 100 followers.  The winner will receive a $20 Hobby Lobby Gift Card. 

Pitner's Potpourri is having a giveaway for an Amazon gift card.  Hurry and enter it will end when she reaches 300 followers.

Hopelessly Devoted to Teahing is having a giveaway for reaching 50 followers.  The winner will receive a $25 Amazon.com gift card.

A Cupcake for the Teacher is having a giveaway for reaching 200 followers.  The winner will get a $25 gift card to either TPT or Target {their choice}.