Spring Cleaning Sale!!

Well, spring is officially here(even though the temps don't feel like it)!!

It is time for a Spring Cleaning  Sale!!

That's right everything in my TpT store is 20% off March 30-31.

If you have something on your wishlist, or have been eyeing an item for some time, now is the time to purchase while it is on sale!!

Just click on the picture and go right to my store.

Look below to see all the other stores that are having sales and see what great items you can find to
finish out the school year or to get ready for school next year.

Take It and Make It Thursday!!

 Today is Take It and Make It Thursday!!

I am joining my good friend Cynthia over at 2nd Grade Pad for her Take It and Make It Thursday Linky!

You can join too! It can be an idea or activity for home or school!

 I have a craftivity that goes with a new product that I have in my TpT store.

It is an Umbrella Synonym mobile, but you could use it for other things as well.

First, you print out the pattern and then cut it out. You could print the pattern onto construction paper, pretty scrapbook paper, white paper and then students can decorate, or onto cardstock to make a pattern for students to use and trace onto the paper they choose. I usually have the pattern for students to trace because it helps with eye-hand coordination and fine-motor skills.

 Next, You cut out the umbrella and the rain drops.

 Last, cut out different lengths of any color yarn you would like(black was all I had, I can't believe this is the only color I could find at home, when I happen to crochet all the time! Go figure!). Have students write a word on the umbrella and then on each of the raindrops they will write a synonym for the word on the umbrella. Then glue the yarn and raindrops to the umbrella. These can be hung from the ceiling of the classroom, used on a bulletin board, hung in the hallway, or on the classroom wall.

Not only can you use this pattern for the synonyms, but it could be used for antonyms, homophones, weather words, etc.

This umbrella craftivity can be found in my new product in my TpT store:

 If you would like to check it out, just click on the cover page.

Don't forget to link up with your Take It and Make It item!!

 Have a Thrilling Thursday!!

 

Where Is Spring and a Hoggy Easter!!

 We have had snow flurries all day today here in North Georgia!!

Where is spring?!!

It shows up for a few days, and then it leaves again!!

Oh well, you know how Mother Nature is!!

Easter is just around the corner, hope everyone is getting ready to dye eggs, and greet the Easter Bunny!

I have been sharing some pictures of  my classroom. I found a few more to share with you today.

This is a picture of my Focus Wall. 

The Focus Wall has the  standards that I am teaching for the day or week. Not only does it keep me focused on what we are learning, but it also helps students remember what we are working on.

 This is a picture of my fiction listening station, on the other side of the filing cabinet there is a non-fiction reading station. I always try to choose non-fiction books that have to do with what Science or Social Studies we are learning at the time.

This was my computer station in first grade. I loved it because it was kinda hidden away and not  taking up so much space in my classroom.

Well I will have more pics next time!!

 

Take It, Make It Thursday!!

 Hello!

It is Take It, Make It Thursday!!

I am linking up with my good friend Cynthia for her Take It, Make It Thursday!

 
 Here is my idea for this week! It may be a little late or early in the year to share this, but it is never too late or early for a good recycling idea!

As a teacher, I hate to throw any kind of container away, this sometimes drives my family CRAZY!!
They call me a pack rat, but Hey!, you never know when you might be able to use something again!

 In case you don't recognize this, it is a container that tomatoes come in at the store. I could not bring myself to throw it away and believe it or not it came in handy at Christmas.

This is what it looks like opened up. Can you guess what I used it for?

Do you have any round glass ornaments? I have some that have been in my family for years and I really want to keep them safe to hand down to my children and grandchildren. So I decided to pack them in the tomato container that I recycled!! I was so excited because I had saved several of them and had enough for all my ornaments!

I bet you can think of even more uses for this container!! It will set your head spinning coming up with ideas!

Classroom Stations and Easter Item

 Hello!

 It has been another beautiful day in Georgia, but I hear more cold weather is on the way.

I am so ready for spring!!

I thought I would share some more pictures of some of the Literacy Stations that I have used in my classroom. I LOVE seeing pictures of other classrooms. They always give me great ideas of how to set up my room. I love getting new ideas from others!

 This is one of the Writing Stations that I have had in my classroom! I usually have a writing prompt or a topic for them to write about in the pocket chart and I have sight words for them to use for spelling help and to practice with their partner when they finish writing.

I have so many books!! This is just part of the books that I have in a Reading Station! I always like to have some stuffed friends that students can read to while they are at this station. They usually always have a partner, but sometimes I am working with different students in a needs based group and they might be alone at the station.


Now I want to share an Easter Math and Literacy Pack that I have in my store at TpT.

 Sorry the picture did not show up very good!! It is called "Here A Chick, There A Chick". If you would like to take a look at it, just click on the picture!!

Hope you have a GREAT afternoon!

 

Lucky Winner and Easter Freebie!!

 We have a WINNER!!

To find out who won the gold at the end of the rainbow hop

click on Ms. Futlz's Corner button below!!

She has the winner!

Hope you grabbed all those St. Patrick's Day Freebies for next year!!

I know school is not over yet, and some of us still have a long way to go before summer, but

it is never too early to be thinking about your classroom setup for next year.

Here is a pic of my classroom when I was in 1st grade. I loved my Reading Station!

You can't see it in this picture, but on the side of the filing cabinet I had genre posters. When the students finished reading a book they wrote the title of the book and their name on a sticky note and placed it on the correct genre for the book they read. They loved it! They love to use sticky notes for anything!!

On another sticky note, can you believe Easter is just around the corner?!! I thought I would share an Easter freebie with you! It is an Easter Word Scramble!! My students always loved doing this, they thought it was fun!! Just clic on the picture below !

    
I made it in black and white so students could color it when they finish!
                                Hope you enjoy it!! 

Thursday Take It and Make It Linky!!

 I am so excited!!

Today is the beginning of a weekly linky:  Thursday Take It and Make It

I am linking up with my good friend Cynthia over at 2nd Grade Pad for a Take It and Make It party!!

If you would like to join in, just click on the pic!!

Here is my Take It and Make It!

This is an armadillo craftivity for students to make and then write about what they have learned about the animal.

Now I know you are wondering why in the world does a teacher from the North Georgia mountains have a craft about this strange animal.

Well, armadillo are abundant in South Georgia and I thought it would be fun to focus on an animal we very seldom associate with Georgia when learning about the regions.

First, we trace the pattern pieces on brown construction paper.

Next, we cut out the pieces.

Then, we glue it together and add the paper for our writing on the inside of the head.

Last, we do our writing about the armadillo and display it in the hall or classroom.

 If you would like the pattern to make this cute armadillo, just click on the pic above!!

Don't forget to link up with the Take It and Make It Linky and share some of your ideas!!

Hope you have a great Thursday!!

 

My Advice To You!

 I am linking up with Ms. Fultz's Corner to give some advice.

I have been teaching for 28 years and have lots of advice to give, but I won't give it all to you today!
Here are just a few tidbits that I have learned over the years to make my life easier.

1. Assign your students a number. Every year at the beginning of school I assign my students a number. They always put their name and number on their paper. Sometimes when we do things throughout the day, we do it by student numbers. This is very handy when checking papers and someone has not given me their work, I can run through the numbers and figure out exactly what paper is missing!

2. Give instant feedback often. When we play a game in class, such as heads-up with addition problems, if the student gives a right answer, we may all take a roller coaster ride with our hands in the air saying WEEEEE!! all the way down the coaster ride. My kids absolutely love doing this. Not only is it good for the person that answered correctly, but it also builds a sense of community and team work in the class. 

3. Remember, they are only kids!  Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in what we have to get done, that we forget we have a classroom full of kids, and kids want to have fun! Try to find the humor in every situation. Which brings me to my last bit of advice.

4. Laugh, laugh, laugh!!  As I said, try to find the humor in every situation, sometimes it might take a day to stew on some things, but eventually you will be able to laugh about it. I try to have a healthy dose of laughter everyday. They say it increases your life span!! Leave your kids with a smile each day!

I hope you find this advice helpful and can use it in some way.  If you are just beginning your journey in teaching, or if you have been teaching for many years, I wish you all blessings and love.

Beautiful Butterflies and Spring Cleaning!!

 I am so ready for Spring!!

How about you?

I am sitting here listening to the birds singing outside, but it is still COLD here in Georgia!

Spring reminds me of butterflies!

I decided to create a butterfly item for my TpT store.

Check it out by clicking on the picture!

Don't you love the butterflies!!

These are from my good friend Mel, over at Graphics From The Pond!!

 

It covers Science Standards and some Common Core Standards in reading and math.

There is even an emergent reader for students to read and color. I always like for them to color their books, it creates a feeling of ownership

Spring also makes me think of Spring Cleaning, at home and in my classroom.

One thing that always needs to be done in the classroom is cleaning up the classroom library!

My students never seem to know where to put the books after they read them.

One system that I use is labeled baskets so they know where they go(although that doesn't mean they will be put back in the right one, if you know what I mean).

They love the I Spy books with the magnifying glasses!

It is almost Friday and Hey, don't forget to SPRING forward your clock this weekend!!

 

TpT Gold!! Surprise!!

 Top O' The Mornin' To Ya'

 Would you like to find a pot of gold at the end of a  Bloggy Rainbow?

                       A chance to win $100 in TPT GOLD!

            Yes, you read that correctly.........$100!!!  SHAZAM!!

I have joined with 15 of my dearest bloggy friends to offer you a bloggy ride like no other.

 

 Hop on the rainbow of fun to visit all fifteen
blogs (but 16 friends) to grab a FABULOUS Saint
Patty’s Day freebie. Who wouldn't love some awesome 

FREEBIES !!! 

In each of the freebies, find the hidden coin. Gather
all of the clues and unscramble the mystery
phrase. I’m the

Click on the picture to grab my freebie for you and find the 3rd coin in this mystery!

 Now that you’ve grabbed your freebie from me, hop on over to the

 Luck O' the Irish To Ya"