The Apple Basket Teacher

2012-01-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

Oops! I had finally finished my quotes from The Book Whisperer & had placed them for sale on Teacher's Notebook. I was just contacted by the publisher of Donalyn's book. I need to get permission. If I am not allowed to sell them but am allowed to give them away for free I will do so, but for now they will be removed. I don't want to be doing something wrong! Thanks for understanding.

Mother-in-Law with Jesus Now

2012-01-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon my mother-in-law passed away. God is good and merciful. Her 3 children, Hope, Tony, & my husband Jim, and I were planning to meet yesterday afternoon at 4 to talk with the doctor, case worker, & social worker. There were tough decisions that were going to have to be made. Patty had pretty much stopped eating so would a feeding tube be put in, would we move her to a convalescent facility, try to get a full time care taker at her home, would she ever recover and be herself again? We were just not sure what would happen next, my husband had prayed that he would not have to make any tough decision. Right before 2 her heart slowed down and then stopped at 2. She is home with Jesus, her parents, and her husband.

The last six month have been a challenge, but a privilege too. Patty had been a teacher and then a principal. I met her before I met my husband; we were both a part of Delta Kappa Gamma an International Society of Women Educators. As I spent lot of time with her these past several months at the different hospitals and rehab, I had the chance to see a playful, bantering side of her I hadn't seen that much before. She was constantly joking around with all of the doctors & staff.

She will be missed and I appreciate any and all prayers for my family as we head down this road.

Patricia Ann Wilson

September 1, 1930-January 12, 2012

Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Friend, Educator, Principal

11++ in 11 (11 Positives Added in 11) A Very Late Linky!

2012-01-11T23:51:00.000-08:00

(Okay, I know probably most of you whip out your posts in 5 minutes or less, but I started this post 2 WEEKS AGO and I have reformatted it about ~~12 gazillion~~ 5 times! (the centering and spacing kept getting WEIRD!) I am determined that TODAY, January 11, 2012 I WILL hit the 'Publish Post' button!!! My life has been challenging with my mother-in-law in the hospital those 2 weeks & much of it in ICU. {she started in the town where I teach...20 miles from home, & then was moved to another...30 miles from town...which makes it about 50 miles from home!} That & getting back to school...someday I will be organized, someday I will be organized, someday I WILL be organized ! {Clicking heels!}

I know this is REALLY late to do as a linky, but it is the 11th so maybe that will help! I did want to share these positives (I really need to keep focusing on the positives right now) & I'd really love to hear about the 'POSITIVES ADDED' in your lives too!! {maybe they'll be on my 12 ++ in 12 list! :)}

Hello Bloggy Friends! I had to tease Kristin & Hadar because I had been planning for days to start a linky party called '11 in 11' and they beat me to it!! I can't wait to get a chance to do a post to link up with them, but my idea was a bit different. I had so many new things that have impacted my life & teaching that I wanted to list 11 positives that were added in 2011 and share them with you. If you link up you could list a person, a book, a blog, a strategy, a concept, an idea, a cause, a phrase or quote, or ???? but whatever it is it should have made a difference in you. I hope you will join me & link up! Here's my 11 + + in 11:

Teacher Blogs-- I really don't know which blog I discovered first or when it was exactly. I had been getting lots of ideas from proteacher.net and a teacher blog may have been listed there. I think I just started with one and kept clicking on the sidebars of each blog I discovered. It was like going on a treasure hunt, each blog leading to more amazing blogs. The teacher blogs I have found have transformed my teaching! I can't keep up with all of the wonderful posts, but Google Reader sure helps me try!

Creating This Blog--Although I have tons of ideas for posts that I never seem to get published, this blog has been a great opportunity to create & share! I love having it and just wish I could keep up with it better!

Teaching Blog Addict--I had responded by email to Tamara's post of 'Help! I Think I'm a Blog-a-holic!' on her blog Teaching with TLC at the beginning of April because I fit EVERY one of the symptoms of being a blog-a-holic! A few days later she began TBA and a bit after that I was blessed to be asked to be a part of Teaching Blog Addict! It is AMAZING and if you have never checked it out, you are missing out BIG TIME!

Sqworl--I love Sqworl!! As I began following more & more bloggers I knew my sidebar would go on FOREVER if I didn't do something different, so I created a Sqworl folder for each grade level or category. I apologize that I haven't updated them in MONTHS, it is on my mile long 'To Do' list! I am now using Sqworl on my classroom blog. I use it in the sidebar and I can put in sites that I want to have my students go to in the computer lab or at home. I can group various sites and change what's there as I choose to (or can get around to!)

Pinterest-- I have a feeling this is an added positive for a lot of you! I know so much has been said about it I don't think I've got anything more to add, but here's the link to my boards.

Orphan CareI This is one that I have posted about several times this year, HERE & HERE but I had to mention it here as one of the positives that have been added to my life this year. I feel so blessed to have the family that I do and my heart has become extra softened & tender for those who don't, yet. My prayer is that all those in need will meet up with their forever families in the near future & to pray for those who work with them.

Donor's Choose--I am so very grateful for the iPod my class received through DC!!! I've got to get my thank you packet done & sent soon!!! Thanks to all who chose to donate to my project!

The Book Whisperer--I read The Book Whisperer this summer and it has changed my teaching this year! I was so inspired that I kept underlining and writing out quotes from the book. This is now my first Teacher's Notebook item and it is only $1. It is 25 quotes from her book and I'm giving my favorite quote from the book to you here for free. (Here's a picture of it!)

Here's info for my new TN shop:

Ancestry.com--I was just editing this post and all of my info for # 9 just disappeared! :( Let's just say I've learned more about my family history & I'm glad I joined!

The End of the Molasses Classes--I am still reading this book, but I have already shared many stories with my class & I am challenging them to do their best. I am learning so much from Ron!

Couponing I was inspired after seeing so many posts by Fern Smith about her shopping trips and what she was spending and then a friend shared with me about the Crazy Coupon Lady. Well, let's just say I now have another thing in my life that is keeping me very busy, but I am excited that I can donate items to those in need without spending very much money.

There it is my 11 POSITIVES ADDED in 11 (11 ++ in 11) {I'm not sure how I managed to leave off Vistaprint!!} I wrote the green at the top before school & now it is 11:35 PM so I'm going to hit that "Publish Post" button just as soon as I get the Linky Party thing on here!!

{Ahhhhh! I did some editing of this post & my linky info 'poof' disappeared!!! I'll see if I can get it back up & still get to school on time!} {Phew! Looks like I got it back! :)}

Our Annual Family Letter

2011-12-28T00:42:00.001-08:00

Here's a more personal look at my life. I decided to post my annual family letter. I never seem to get it done in time for it to be a Christmas letter (although I did add Christmas graphics to it!). You my bloggy friends have become my friends as well this year so here it is:

Excited BEYOND Words!!!!!

2011-12-26T13:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, I have NOT fixed my last post yet, but I've been trying to get my Google Reader down to ZERO unread posts before the new year (we'll see if it is possible) & I read Hadar's post from December 3rd about a Southern Cal. get together for bloggers!!!! Whooooo Hooo!!! Yes, I am changing doctor's appointments to go join these amazing ladies & get to meet them in person!!! So far I know it will be Hadar from Miss Kindergarten, Annie from the Moffatt Girls, Kristin from A Teeny Tiny Teacher, Fran from Kindergarten Crayons, & Kerri & Lindsay from Teacher Bits & Bobs!!! I love all of their blogs!! It feels like I'm getting to meet celebrities!!! Well, I guess they are in my world!! I'm waiting ~~super anxiously~~ patientlyfor Hadar to write back to see who else I get to meet!!!! So much to do!!...last post to correct and finish, after Christmas family letter to write, manicure to give my 8 year old... be back when I know who else will be there!!!

A Pinterest Kind of Christmas!

2011-12-25T22:38:00.000-08:00

First of all, a VERY Merry Christmas to all of you wonderful bloggers! I pray you have had a blessed time with your families!!

This year I've had a 'Pinterest Kind of Christmas' which I will prove to you in this post!!

I think it all started with our classroom Christmas Party. I wanted something more than just food passed out and then eaten, but nothing too complicated. We used to have room parents who coordinated parties, but that hasn't happened in years. I found this WONDERFUL idea on Pinterest:

Click HERE to go to original site.

I loved this because it would involve the students and yet we only needed one color of frosting! The kids LOVED it and many of the teachers at my school who saw the finished products said they wanted to try to do them next year too. Here are just a few pictures of my students' creations:

I just realized how VERY tired I am so I'm going to upload my pictures and go to bed...tomorrow I'll share the Pinterest links, and details, and organize it!! So if you look at this tonight or early please check back soon!

Edublog Awards & Clouds!!!

2011-12-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Right now the Edublog Awards are going on.

There are several blogs/bloggers that I am voting for and I wanted to share with you who I am voting for and encourage you to vote as well.
First, TBA (Teaching Blog Addict) is up for the best group blog...then, Erin Klein of Kleinspirtation is up for best new blog...also Richard Bryne of Free Technology for Teachers is up for both best ed tech/resources blog & lifetime achievement...the amazing Kristen of Ladybug's Teacher Files is up for best individual blog...and finally Heidi Songs for best media.

I would LOVE to hear if there are blogs/sites that you love and are voting for!!!

I have always loved clouds and now there is another kind of cloud I love besides cumulus, cirrus etc.....Web Clouds!!!

I have so many different flash drives and work on several different computers so I have been placing my files on the various clouds to be able to access my files from ANYWHERE! I do have a premium membership with Evernote, but I may not renew it because if I modify a document it doesn't change it automatically. The three I've been recently using do have this awesome feature!

The first one is 'Box'

I also am using Dropbox

here's the link.... http://db.tt/GmJgRMiz

I use Sugar Sync as well

here's the link... https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=eh2hfnqpnkykj&utm_source=txemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral

All 3 of these are free and I have been organizing all of my files trying to get them in a logical order...all of my Storytown/Excursions files, personal, grading, downloaded resources, subway art...

Let me know what clouds you are using and how you like them.

Today and tomorrow I'm at district training on Common Core Standards. Yes, California chose to include that extra 15% that states were allowed to add so ours aren't quite like all of the other states.

Happy Blogging!

Great Giveaway for the 12 Days!!!

2011-12-03T14:02:00.000-08:00

Okay, each day I hope to see my "All Items(1000+)" in my Google Reader change to something LESS than 1000+!!!!! I've been scrolling through blogs several times a day trying to get it down. I figure I must have been around 3000+!!!

Well, I've got it far enough down to be up to date on a great giveaway:

ALL of these blogs/bloggers are some of my FAVORITES!! Now, I must admit that I have mixed feelings about blogging about this because the more of you that know about this great 12 day give away and enter it, the smaller my chances are of winning!! ;-)

Head on over to the 1st Day at Farley's Oh' Boy 4th Grade. Just let me know if you win any of the days; I'll try not to be too upset with you! ;-)

Thankful!

2011-11-28T12:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Blogging World! No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the earth...although it's felt like it a few times!!! I was determined to link up with this linky party after my report cards were finished....well, it's Monday morning before school (so I'll still count it as part of Thanksgiving weekend!) and they are STILL not complete, so I am posting ANYWAY!!! (I may never post again if I just don't jump in a DO IT!!!)

1. What I am thankful for in my classroom...
My students! :) They are the reason we are here, aren't they!?! I'm also very thankful for my doc cam & my school laptop...it's hard to imagine teaching without them now! There are hundreds of other things I could list, but I'll leave it with that! ;-)

2. What person am I most thankful for...
Because my husband will be listed on # 5 I will be more specific..The person in the Blogging World that I am most thankful for is Tamara from Teaching with TLC & The Teaching Blog Addict! She truly amazes me. She homeschools, has written books, has a beautiful family, keeps TBA growing and interesting...she seems to have it all! What I admire most though is her encouraging spirit, vulnerability, and her focus always on God first. Although everything seems perfect in her life she has shared about the recent trials she and her family had gone through and she is quick to give the glory to God for seeing them through! She also allowed me to be one of the authors for TBA...I hope in the future to be able to find the time to post all of the things my heart desires to post, but can never find the time to get squeezed in! Thanks Tamara!!!

3. What 3 blogs am I most thankful for...
Ok..Only one will be a teaching blog, I hope you will all forgive me, I value all the wonderful teaching blogs out there but...

Blog #1 The Krazy Coupon Lady has helped my family financially these last several months, (ok I'm going to cheat I follow 2 other coupon & saving blogs that I check multiple times a day; Money Saving Mom, & Hip2Save & all 3 have save me a lot of $) I have already got much of my Christmas shopping done for DIRT CHEAP thanks to these sites...I must admit that they are also part of my reason for not posting...too busy cutting coupons & finding online bargains!Oh, & trying to keep up with their posts...about 25-30 posts A DAY!!!

Blog #2 Building the Blocks ... As I was just discovering teaching blogs last spring someone posted about a contest/giveaway at Building Blocks. (They probably had a link, but I didn't realize it...too green then) I Googled "building blocks" and stumbled upon(in human terms...but was directed in spiritual terms!) The Building Blocks. Amy Block and her family were living in Texas. They had 4 biological children and had adopted 5 beautiful children. The doors had closed to American adoptions from Guatemala and they felt led to move to Guatemala and love, serve, minister to the orphans in the orphanage Eagle's Nest. They moved this August and I have been so blessed, convicted and touched by what Amy has shared in her blog! Her view from her home is breathtaking and the images she has posted of the beautiful children there have touched my heart forever. God has most definitely given her the gift of photography! I had already had it on my heart to raise more awareness about the issue of orphans around the world and finding Amy's blog was what motivated me to approach my pastor to recognize Orphan Sunday this November, which we did a week late! :) Amy you are an amazing blessing, please keep sharing what God is doing in and through you.

Blog # 3 Ladybug's Teacher Files I HAD to list Kristen's Blog. How she does it, I just don't know! She helped me get my blog up & running last spring and I have gained SO many valuable tips, resources, and information & inspiration from her!! My library wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Kristin & her blog!

4. What guilty pleasure am I most thankful for...
DARK CHOCOLATE!!! Okay, I'll settle for just about any candy treat, but dark chocolate is my fav... :)

5. What I am most thankful for...is most definitely my family!! My wonderful husband Jim has put up with all of my obsessing over computer stuff, report cards, my classroom & everything else! He is a wonderful man and I am honored to be his wife of almost 10 years now. My children bring me so much joy and happiness! Tyler continues to teach me more of what it means to love someone and I am constantly in awe of his many gifts. Andrew is my tender heart and has always been MY heart. Sieanna who's name means 'Gift From God' has been that...I love not only having a little girl, but having HER as my little girl..she is my joy! I am thankful for parents who have always believed in me and encouraged me. I am thankful for a mother in law who has been such a wonderful grandmother to the kids. I am thankful that she is now recovering well from two major surgeries in the last few months. (another reason for my absence here.)

Last of all I am thankful for all of you out there in Blogland!!! Whether you are a blogger, a stalker, or both you are making the world a better place by sharing!! :)

Now if I can just FINISH those report cards!!!!! I'm posting now...I'll come back and check later for typos!

Report cards....DONE!!! Now parent conferences tomorrow 8:30-12, 1:00-3:00, 5:00-7:00...then a 1/2 day with the kids Wednesday and conferences from 1:30-3:00.

I did find a few mistakes...and I forgot to provide the link to the linky party!!! I had to do this linky party since my user name for many sites is 'thankfulndw'...I really do try to keep an 'attitude of gratitude'! I'm headed to the wonderful 'What the Teacher Wants' Blog to add what I'm thankful for!

AHHHHH!!!! I waited too late to post!!! It's closed! :( Well, I don't regret posting this even if I'm not linked up!

Charts, Charts, Charts!

2011-10-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

I've been looking at other teachers' blogs for about 9-10 months now and I have been inspired in countless ways. One way I can count is the inspiration I've received by looking at all of the amazing charts!

This summer I bought these markers:

I must say that I have been happier with the Elmer's Popperz pens than I have been with the Art Skills pens.

I started a board on Pinterest for 'Anchor Charts'. Some of the charts I pinned for the content, others the visual, artistic, or aesthetic qualities, and for some both. I am not naturally artistic so I need to get as much help as possible to make my charts appealing. You can view my Anchor Charts board HERE.

I have begun making charts for my classroom. Here is what I have so far:

I'll be adding what the students put onto the post-its onto the charts. Each child could take 3-5 post-its to add to any of the four charts.

I thought I had a picture of my 'Estimate the Difference poster...it's a lot like this one!

As I was searching on Pinterest for Anchor Charts I found Nancy's Anchor Chart Notebook,

which in turn lead me to her amazing blog, Teaching my Friends!
I loved this idea because I'm already running out of room in my class and it's only early October! Here is my version of the Anchor Chart Notebook:

I hope something here has inspired you too!!! Happy teaching!

A Wonderful Find!!!

2011-09-29T07:12:00.000-07:00

I decided this was a good time to 'use' my honorary title that was bestowed on me by Tamara (the REAL Queen of TBA!) to shed a light on a wonderful blog I discovered this morning! I think teachers of all levels would love what she has posted on her blog. She has had it since August of 2010 and she only has 41 followers!!

I follow about 540 blogs and this is the first time I have put out a call for bloggers/stalkers to go check out a blog. Let's fill her bucket and have her followers jump into the hundreds!!!!
Go check out:

Teaching my Friends!

I think you'll realize you also found a real jewel!!

Whole Brain Teaching Webinar!

2011-09-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

I copied this from my email. I don't know if I'll be able to watch it tonight, but I thought I'd share it with all of you. I love Whole Brain Teaching!!!

Thanks, Nancy

Nervous About Student Scores

On State Tests?

Watch WBT TV!

Please don’t miss our next program, “Prove It!” Discover WBT’s powerful, new game that raises student scores on state tests!

Whole Brain Teaching Live

“Prove It!”

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

5 PM Paific and Mountain

7 PM Central

8 PM Eastern

To view the program, click on the link atWholeBrainTeaching.com

Free! Free! Free!

Yes, you read that right. Like almost everything at Whole Brain Teaching, this program won't cost you zip.

Got questions? Email me directly at ChrisBiffle@WholeBrainTeaching.com

Power to the Teachers!

Chris Biffle

Director, Whole Brain Teachers of America

Wow, Thank You!

2011-09-26T21:19:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very humbled and honored to have been chosen by three different bloggers for the 'Versatile Blogger Award'! Thank you so very much to Nan at Third Grade's a Charm, Kristin at First Grade O.W.L.S, and Rebecca from The Teacher's Chatterbox! Two of these blogs were new to me and I am excited to be following them now!!!

Now, according to the award I need to share 7 things about myself with you.

1. I love that I enjoy listening to a lot of the same music as my kids! We turn up some songs really loud and sing along in the car. We love 'kid' music~~Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Lemonade Mouth, Phineas & Ferb; American Idol Contestants~~Lauren Alaina, Scotty McCreedy, Brooke White, Mandisa, Danny Gokey...; and Contemporary Christian music~~a couple of our favorites are Shackles by Mandisa or Mary Mary, 10 Simple Rules by Mercy Me, & Crazy by Steven Curtis Chapman. I never remember singing along in the car with my parents :(

2. I love watching American Idol, America's Got Talent and The Next Food Network Star. I get kind of sad when the seasons end.

3. As a child some of my best childhood memories were going down into Baja to a little town called La Salina and having family vacations there. My kindergarten teacher had a two bedroom, tile floored home with no electricity. We would use kerosene lanterns and spend our days on the beach. Mr. and Mrs. Reagle were so gracious as to let us join them many summers and then later let us use their place when they were traveling.

4. One of my favorite life experiences was having the chance to play Shelbly in the play Steel Magnolias at our community college here about 18 years ago.

5. I hate to spin! I DON'T like the teacups at Disneyland, I couldn't even handle the spinning ladybugs in the little kid area of California Adventure!

6. Speaking of Disneyland, it is one of my favorite places!! We haven't been able to afford to go these last few years, but I hope we will be able to sometime this year! For me it lives up to it's name 'The Happiest Place on Earth'

7. Two of my favorite foods are crab and artichokes. My husband thinks they're more trouble than they're worth, but I think they ARE WORTH all the trouble!!

I decided to pass this award on to some fellow 3rd grade teachers! The first two may not be new to me (they're probably two of the first 3rd grade blogs I found) but they definitely are Versatile! Fern got Julie started at couponing and now...well let's just say I'm hooked on one MORE thing!! (how can you argue with 48 razors for free + $4 extra to count towards other purchases!!! (that was Walmart Thursday!!))

Find Fern at

and Julie at

"/> All of these teachers have and are making me a better teacher!! Thank you for all you share!

Hi My Name is Nancy and I'm a Vistaprint-a-holic!

2011-09-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

It's true, I just can't stop ordering from Vistaprint! I know that I've had several other posts about Vistaprint including THIS linky party. I'll end up linking this post to the linky party since I have so many new things I've ordered! Our school is the Montara Roadrunners, so when Vistaprint had a sale on their Polo shirts & free shipping I uploaded a roadrunner bought two shirts and got everything I could free!

Then I asked at school if anyone wanted me to order one for them too. Several did so each order of $40 (2 shirts) I got free shipping so, I've received a lot of GREAT stuff!!
I've fallen in love with the car magnets!! I love their size and that I can use them on the white board, but move them out of the way if I need the board space. They also work on my classroom door and on the side of my 'file box' desk. Here are my new ones:

I got this from The Teacher Wife

I got this song from Fern Smith's Classroom

This is for our classroom door, I got the idea from another teacher.

I use Whole Brain Teaching in my room and this is for my 'Mighty Oh Yeahs' and 'Mighty Groans' It works great with the dry erase markers and I can easily move it as needed.

I uploaded this image and cut the sign in half when the magnet arrived. It heads up my Must Do/May Do lists.

I have this with my weekly restroom sign out sheet attached to my 'file box' desk. Right now they bring the sign out to me and tell me the time and I write it down. Later I will have them write the time down. The policy in my room is that they may use the restroom no more than once a day, no more than twice a week, or I need to contact their parents and have them move their clip down each time they use it over the allowed amount. (they know there are exceptions for medical situations) This way I have a record of restroom use that I can show the parents.

This is a window cling and I'm getting them one at a time with the orders. I got them so that they go on the inside of the window. I look forward to giving these out to my 'Student of the Month' each month.

Right now I'm loving the labels. I'm using these for MY books. I love using literature in teaching any skill I can find good literature for. These are the labels I have ordered so far. Maybe later I'll do a post of the books I have in each of these categories.

I still have several other labels I want to make.

I ordered this for our school; it arrived at the district warehouse the day of Back to School Night! Just in time.

I order this for all of our Book Fairs at school.

I trimmed this down and it's in my classroom library.

Cindy at Mrs. Gilchrist's Class created this great resource as 4 separate pages. I condensed down the three and put them on the back of the brochure. She said that I could share about it here. These are in my Roadrunner Notebooks.

The business cards and flyers are both for Mastery Club. It's an idea I found on Proteacher.net and are in my Roadrunner Notebooks.

Business cards that are another tool to use in creating a room full of bucket fillers!

A key chain to add to my stuff for 'sale' at the end of the year.

I found the idea for this cap somewhere in cyberspace, if it was from you, let me know & I'll give you credit!

This is a magnet. I plan to give these to the parents at Parent/Teacher Conferences. (for their fridges!)

These notecards will be saved for next year since I already missed a few birthdays. I'll have the whole class sign them.

This is for our librarian!

I modified the 'I Pick' to fit the 'Apple Basket' I didn't notice the read lines from Word until they came in :(

Well maybe something here inspired you! All of you bloggers inspire me so very much!!!

Here's to One Week Ago..Donor Choose Project Funded & Open House!!!!

2011-09-22T22:55:00.001-07:00

I can't believe how the days just keep FLYING by!!! It amazes me that tomorrow is the END of the 5TH week of school! Sorry, I've been absent from posting!

Last Thursday I received an email letting me know that my Donor's Choose project for an iPod for the classroom had been funded!! I was nervous it was some kind of mistake, because prior to that I had only had 4 donors (one of which was me!!!) THANK YOU to Amanda Nickerson of One Extra Degree and Mrs. Saoud of Primary Graffiti who both donated!!! The fourth was a wonderful friend from my church who saw my plea on Facebook (thanks Beth!!) After the 4 of us there was still about $500 to go!

I made a plea to my district & parents for votes through Sonic's Limeades for Learning, hoping that maybe it would get funded that way. The last time I had looked I had less than 30 votes and other projects had THOUSANDS. I had pretty much figured with less than a month to go, it wasn't going to happen; then last Thursday I received that wonderful email stating it was funded. I had one AMAZING donor from LA who had funded the rest of my project!!!!

Today when our wonderful secretary called over the intercom to let me know the package I had been waiting for was in the office, my class let out a GIANT cheer and yell!! My class's iPod is hooked to my computer right now downloading ebooks & apps!!!
Once again...

I can't wait to start using the iPod with my students!! I'm going to be scouring all the blogs out there for great educational apps and ways to use the iPod in class!!

Last Thursday night was our Back to School Night...I let the kids know that even if they weren't able to come with their families, they would all be there...here's my 'Flat Stanley' class!!!

...and Mrs. Wilson, their 'Flat Stanley' teacher! (this was last year's self-portrait, my hair's a bit longer, but I figured that the kids knew it was me so I didn't make a new one this year)

Top Ten!

2011-09-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, was I blown away when 2 other bloggers, great bloggers I might add, listed my blog as one of their Top10!!!!!!! Thank you so very much to Mechele at Barrow's Hodgepodge, and Ana at Ingles 360!!!!!!!

Before I give my Top Ten, if you're reading this and have a blog, I probably follow your blog! I am currently following 532 blogs. I have finally come to terms with the fact that I may never see it saying anything smaller than...'1000+ unread posts' the reality is almost every spare moment I'm checking up on what others have posted. That being said, it was incredibly difficult to name just 10, I've gained so very much from so many of your blogs...THANK YOU!

Free Technology for Teachers
(oops it's Mr. Bryne, sorry)

Technology Rocks. Seriously

I had to have TBA on the list (realize that there are approximately 60 some authors who all have their own wonderful blogs!)...is that cheating?? :) Thanks Tamara (Teaching with TLC) who founded TBA, she amazes and inspires me!!!

I will try to post again soon (I have tons of ideas floating through my head!!)
Thanks!

I'm Still Here!!! Before and After Pictures!

2011-08-30T21:20:00.000-07:00

Please forgive my long absence! School began last Monday (Aug. 22) and I have been working on my room since the beginning of August! Here are some of my before shots:

After many, many hours here's some of the 'After' pictures going the opposite direction at my door (right to left)

Now to my classroom library:

more to come after school!

My Favorite Artist, Steven Curtis Chapman

2011-08-03T20:24:00.000-07:00

My next post will be about school, but I wanted to post this first! Steven Curtis Chapman is my favorite musician. I love all of his music as well as his message and personality. He writes his own music and plays so many instruments. He has won 5 Grammys, an American Music Award, and over 50 Dove Awards (for Contemporary Christian Music). Three years ago his family suffered the tragedy of losing a child. I have followed their family these last few years and prayed a lot of prayers for their family. I'm excited about his new CD (yes, I've already preordered it) 'Re*creation'. Here's his take on this new CD:

I'm so excited because I just purchased tickets to see him in November. I actually got FRONT ROW TICKETS!!!!! I can't wait!

Honored to Be Crowned Honorary Queen of TBA!!!

2011-07-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yes, yours truly was crowned the honorary Queen of TBA. Click HERE for the link. At the time I had 458 teaching blogs...now it's up to 472!! (by the end of the day it may be higher!) So, you may be wondering how in the world do I manage it...I DON'T!!! Well, here's how I try to manage it...Google Reader is my best friend! You can make folders; so here's what my folders look like right now:

I start at the top opening the folder that has unread posts. I scroll to find the blog that has the most unread posts in that folder (it helps to bring down the # of unread posts quicker...making me feel a little more accomplished!)

I scroll through that one, in this case "Fun in First Grade" If something catches my eye I may do a couple of different things; star the post to come back later, click on the post which opens another tab of that actual post (this drives my husband CRAZY...I currently have 16 tabs open!) and then either come back to it and enter a contest save a doc or click on a link, or I may pin what I see in pinterest (a HUGE help in trying to manage this obsession!!!!) After I have worked my way to the last folder with unread posts I make myself get up and do something else, like try to attack Mt. Washmore!! If I didn't I would never get up!!!

I've made few choices so that this doesn't spin anymore out of control than it already is. I'm not going to 'like' anyone on facebook (sorry, I may LOVE you, but it just fills up my facebook with repeats of what I already have in Google Reader! I want to be able to see what my childhood, college, and local friends have to say!) The same is true of email...even if it means less entries or no entries into someone's great giveaway! :(

Now, on a personal note it has been extra difficult these last few weeks. On the 15th of July my mother-in-law went into the hospital. She initially went in with a hernia issue...she had an obstructed bowel...while she was there we learned that she had major build up at her aortic valve, then they did an angiogram (sp) and we thought that she needed a double bypass. Everyday at the hospital it seemed to be a different plan... transfer to another hospital, go home get stronger and see the cardiologist, etc. Well, she did get transferred on Monday (both hospitals are about 50 miles away from our home). Tuesday she went into surgery for aortic valve replacement and double(or so we thought) bypass. A few hours later the surgeon came out and told us that they had aborted the surgery. She had no usable veins in her legs. They hadn't opened her chest yet. We also learned that he had planned to do 5 bypasses! Everyday it seems like the story changes. I sent out a text to 29 people Friday saying they were moving her to USC medical and performing surgery that day. It's 130 miles from our home. I was at the local hospital and the story kept changing throughout the day! :(

Well, now we are going to get her as soon as everyone in the house is ready to go and bring her home. They want her to get stronger. USC is supposed to call and schedule an appointment to run more tests and supposedly surgery in the next 2-3 weeks. We'll see. I really appreciate the prayers. Yesterday I stayed home for the first time in I don't know how many days. I slept until 11:30! It's been a really draining few weeks! Thanks!

We Have a Winner!!!!!

2011-07-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

Wheww! I'm tired! It's about 9:45pm. I just got home so I'm going to get this Giveaway done!

First an update, my Mother-in-law was moved from one hospital to another today and tomorrow at noon Pacific time she will have open heart surgery; an aortic valve replacement and double bypass. I appreciate all of the prayers that have been and will be said on her behalf, THANK YOU!

Now there are 74 comments and my only Donor's Choose donation was from Amanda at One Extra Degree so she has numbers 75-84! I'm off to open another window for the Random # Generator!

Congratulations Mrs. Shepherd!!!!

Thank you to all who entered and to all who blogged about my giveaway, I'm sorry I was not able to respond and thank all of you who have blogged about the giveaway...I've been home very little in the last week and a half and I'm cringing as I look at my Google Reader with 442 unread posts!!! I think that # is just going to grow in the next few days!!! Thanks to all of my followers too...I hope I am able to do some more posting soon!!!!

Giveaway Reminder & So Much More!!!!

2011-07-23T23:02:00.000-07:00

This post is going to cover several subjects!
First, GIVEAWAY REMINDER!!

You could win this awesome stamp set & $20 Gift Card to DOLLAR TREE!! Look at my previous post!!!!
Second, Glad for Early Back to School Sales

My classroom is set up with 5 table groups which are labeled by color and every year I buy a new sets of markers (classic, assorted, & thin) and colored pencils. Last year I finally decided to try to label all of the markers and pencils, but I ran out of time and never completely finished.
Thanks to early sales I've got one table completely ready and am cruzin' on through the rest! The labels are apples of the color of the table group: Red, Blue, Purple, Green, & Red
Tape strips really make the job a quick one!
Third, Asking for Prayers
This last week has been busy and tiring. Last Thursday (a week ago) night my mother-in-law went into the hospital. She has been in a hospital about 50+ miles away from my house and I've been going to see her every day. There are a couple of ways things could go Monday. One doctor wants her to go home, get stronger, and in 2-3 weeks have open heart surgery...replace aortic valve and a double bypass. Then 4-6 weeks later have surgery to repair a hernia. The other doctor wants her transferred Monday to another hospital for the heart surgery, moving things up the two to three weeks. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and for her health. Thank you!
Fourth, Thanks to Bloggy Friends
Thanks to the Bloggy Friends (sorry I can't remember which ones specifically) who have shared what a versatile program Powerpoint really is!! My daughter and I made this card for Grandma using Powerpoint!!

I never would have thought to use this program for worksheets, posters, and cards on my own!
Fifth, Lots of Other Giveaways!
Let's see how many of the current giveaways I can enter and blog about in the next half hour!!
~First Grade Frame of Mind is giving away a THERMAL LAMINATOR!!!
~Yearn to Learn is giving away her great task cards!
~The Sweet Life of Third Grade is giving away $20 for any TpT store!
~Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten is giving away cards for Coldstone! YUM!

2011-07-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about this giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a $20 Gift Card to Dollar Tree...without them my classroom library makeover wouldn't have been the same! The winner will also get the Close to My Heart stamp set 'Good Work' & a 2" Acrylic block. My good friend and Close to My Heart consultant, Jen Rubio is partnering with me for this giveaway. Click HERE check out her blog! Close to My Heart stamps are GREAT...my collection is pretty large! This is what the set looks like! :)

So, how can you enter??? Several ways!

Follow me and leave a comment that you do.

Have my blog on your blogroll and leave a comment that it's there.

Add my button to your collection and leave a comment that it's there.

Blog about the giveaway and leave 2 comments that you did. (just copy & paste)

Make a donation to my Donor's Choose project and leave a comment that you did, then when the giveaway closes..July 26 at 8pm Pacific Time, I will multiply by 2 the the amount of money you donated. I'll add those entries to my comment count at that time. Right now wonderful Amanda Nickerson, of One Extra Degree already has 20 entries, because she has donated $10 to my project! Thank You AMANDA!!!

Good luck to all!

Vistaprint Linky Party!

2011-07-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've seen many teachers posting about what they've got from Vistaprint and thought it was good timing for a linky party! If you have never used Vistaprint (it is one word & singular) click on each of the links and check out what is available for you and your classroom, if you have things from Vistaprint post what you've made and link up!!!

Here are some new things that I've added to my collection:

this shirt I actually got FREE

My Love & Logic Poster on my door got messed up at the end of the year so this banner is replacing it!

I've handed a few of these out to try to get my Donor's Choose project funded

these are small magnets I'll give them at Christmas...got the quote from The Book Whisperer

This is for my daughter's dance studio, which had been wonderful to
our family in $ hard times! Notepad

I was able to add all of our school district's dates on this!

Click HERE & HERE to see my previous posts about Vistaprint & click HERE to see my guest post on Barrow's Hodgepodge.
Also, if you are new to blogging and want to know more about Linky Parties please click HERE to see Jenn Bate's wonderful post about Linky Etiquette.

If Vistaprint is new to you and you would like to order I'd greatly appreciate it if you would click on the link at the lower left of my blog right above my counter to order. THANKS!!!!

HELP! This Obsession is Out Of Control!!!!

2011-07-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

Some of you out there have well over 400 followers, well I have over 400, actually at this moment exactly 454, blogs I'm following!! I can't stop adding blogs!!! Is anyone else out there just as addicted??? I've been at this computer for HOURS... I'm shutting down now even though there's about 10 giveaways I'd love to enter and blog about!!! HELP!!!!!!!

Pinspiration Linky!

2011-07-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

This is what I pinned!

This is what I created:

For My 8 yr. old Sieanna

For my 12 yr old Andrew

For my 15 yr.old Tyler

Mine!
This was inspired by The Book Whisper, I wanted to have book journals for all of us!
Link up with Life Isn't Always Frogs and Cupcakes!

Why Haven't I Been Posting & What HAVE I Been Doing?

2011-07-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, I hope you haven't given up on me!

1. TBA Blogroll Administrator Stuff
I'm in charge of getting requests to be on the TBA Blogroll (in the Sqworl folders) taken care of. With the end of school and surgery, requests had been going into a special folder in my email. I had put several blogs on the Blogroll, but I hadn't replied to the bloggers, and I had many more requests to deal with. I've spent 3 1/2 hours this week trying to catch up, not quite there yet, but getting close!
2. I am a True TBA!!!
I now have over 400 blogs in Google Reader (I can't stop adding new ones when I find them!) Just trying to keep up with the posts and trying to leave some comments has kept me very busy! I have my own little management system I'm dealing with to organize this obsession so,

here's a little peek! ;-)

3. Cutting, Counting, Packaging Box Tops & Labels for Education!
Phew!! I'm finally done! I'm the coordinator at my school, and I just couldn't deal with that responsibility during the school year so for the last several weeks I've been working on these! There were 9,299 Box Tops which means $929.90 for our school!!!! Whooo Hooo! We also have 1,245 points ready for Labels for Education! Let's hear it for FREE money for schools!!! I'm hoping I'll get them mailed off today, if not tomorrow. Here's a peek~

4. Shopping for School Goodies!

5. FILING!

For the last several years things have seemed pretty crazy at the end of school, when I think I'm going to get everything sorted and organized, instead it's been tossed in a drawer, box, file box and saved for the fall. Then when I get back I don't get to those 'sorting boxes' and they get shoved aside (AGAIN). This last year I used up ALL of my sick leave :( several issues with my health and that of my family, and every time I had a sub, my 'not so neat' teacher work area got scooped up and tucked away somewhere. SO, I brought tons of boxes & file boxes home to sort, organize and clean out!

That's just a portion of what I've been working on!

6. Reading The Book Whisperer & working on a Freebie to go with it!

I am LOVING the book and I have pulled out quotes from the book and have printed them out...

There's more to add to this list, but now it's time to run into town(20 miles away), pick the kids up from VBS, take the rental into Victorville (another 30 miles away) and get my Toyota Sieanna back (BIG bill :( ) I had to share these pictures of my kids Andrew and Sieanna--today was 'tourist day' at VBS--they came up with everything on their own!! :)

Hopefully I'll get to finish this post in a few hours!!!

I Can't Resist All of the Giveaways Out in Blogland!

2011-07-07T23:37:00.000-07:00

Once again, nothing super fancy here on this post, just a whole bunch of giveaways that I don't want to (and I don't want you to) miss out on! :)

1. Teaching With Mrs. Lazenby is giving away a $15 gift card to Target

Target gift card from Teaching with Mrs. Lazenby

2. Mrs. Bainbridge's Class (yes she now has a BLOG) is giving away a Classroom Theme package! Really cute stuff!

Classroom Theme Pack from Mrs. Bainbridge's Class

3. Spotlight on Kindergarten is giving away a $20 gift card to Target

Target gift card from Spotlight on Kindergarten

More in the morning...I've got to get to bed!!!!!

Great Minds Think Alike! Pinterest Linky Party

2011-07-07T21:22:00.000-07:00

All day I've been thinking of hosting my first linky party, one on Pinterest.

I've seen so many teachers blogging about it and I've been busy filling up my boards I figured it was an idea who's time had come. I was trying to find the site to set up a linky party, typed in 'linky' in my Google Reader and found there's already one started! (Yeah, by a new blogger to me, there goes my Google Reader up to 389 blogs!!!) Go by The Teacher's Lane and link up if you're on Pinterest, and if you're not go check it out and you probably will be when you're done looking! :)
Here's my boards! Classroom Ideas, Crafts for Me,
Fonts Graphics Alphabets Digi Art, Recipes (note I made both of the patriotic desserts for the 4th! they may not have been picture perfect, but they sure were good!) Great Teaching Classroom Ideas, Book Report Ideas (this may only have one pin right now, but I'm sure it's going to fill up!) Printables for Home and Gifts, Freebies and Printables for School, Classroom Ideas, Class Art Ideas, Books for the Classroom, (a few of my boards didn't have a 'permalink' :( hopefully once you get to me you can see ALL of my boards! I have a 'Technology Stuff', 'Books Worth Reading', 'For the Home' & 'Favorite Places & Spaces' I couldn't link you to)
Go to The Teacher's Lane and Check them out!!!

Ten Things About Me! :)

2011-07-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

I've enjoyed learning more about my 'bloggy friends' by reading 10 things about them. Thank you Rachel for hosting this great linky party! Here's mine:

To link go toGo Fourth! With Mrs. Owens

Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways!

2011-07-06T22:37:00.000-07:00

All right, nothing super fancy here on this post, just a whole bunch of giveaways that I don't want to (and I don't want you to) miss out on! :)

1. Adventures in Teaching is giving away a cute Sentsy teacher themed warmer (it's got an apple on it so I really hope I win!)
Sentsy Giveaway at Adventures in Teaching

2. The Moffatt Girls have a giveaway for a 1 year membership to the Graphics Factory...The site looks great!
Graphics Factory Membership Giveaway at The Moffatt Girls

3. Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens is giving away a cute personalized bag!
Personalized Bag Giveaway at Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens

4. Education Journey is givingaway 3 separate prizes; a $25 Lakeshore gift card, a $10 TpT gift certificate, and 3 items from her TpT Store!
Lakeshore Gift Card & TpT Giveaway at Education Journey

5. Teaching and Learning Make the World Go 'Round is giving away a $10 gift card to Dollar Tree AND a $5 gift card to Starbucks!
Dollar Tree and Starbucks Gift Cards at Teaching and Learning Make the World Go 'Round

Font Linky, Plus a Freebie!!!

2011-07-06T12:25:00.000-07:00

I LOVE fonts!!! If you're reading this in Google Reader, then you can't see that my header says:

Yes, I admit it, I am a 'font-a-holic'! I have 463 fonts in my Lettering Delights folder, over 1,000 on my NEW computer, and there's still a bunch I really love on my old computer that I haven't moved over yet! Here are a few of my favorites...pretty hard to narrow it down!

Lettering Delights is one of my FAVORITES!! Please click on the link if you're interested, they have a TON of stuff on sale for $.50 each!!!!

I only have known about Kevin & Amanda Fonts & Sugar Frog fonts for a short time now and I have all of them!

Another place I have both bought and had freebies from is Scrapnfonts.

For the last week or so I've been busy creating tables with a sample sentences of all of my new fonts (Kevin & Amanda, Sugar Frog Fonts) and I just finished them last night!

I put them on my brand new TpT Store as freebies! You can print them out or simply keep the documents in your computer and look at them when you what a better look at their size (even though their all 16 they vary in size)
Please click on the button below to check it out!!!!

Thanks!!!!Oh, and thank you so very much Jenn at Finally in First for hosting this wonderful Linky Party!!!!!

Even MORE Giveaways!

2011-07-02T22:31:00.000-07:00

My Google Reader is at O! I closed that tab, I don't want to see new ones added yet! ;)

There are quiet a few more Giveaways in Blogworld. Right now I have several tabs open in my browser so I'll blog about each one, enter and close those tabs!

*First up is a new blogger, Karen Stamp at Mrs. Stamp's Kindergarten. She is giving away a Starbucks card for $10

http://mrsstamp.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-1st-giveaway-for-lucky-lucky-13.html?showComment=1309669920502#c2724170232235685643

*Second we have Emily at Playground Duty giving away labels from UPrinting. (this company is new to me, I'm going to learn more about them!) Click on the button below to go to the giveaway!

*Third, Kathy at First Grade...a la Carte is giving away her set of Nursery Rhyme Themed Games to 5 winners!

*Fourth, Mary at Guided Math is giving away the game 'A Head Full of Numbers'

Contests in Blogworld! :)

2011-06-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Yippie! I'm feeling so much better today! I'm trying to catch on all of my Google Reader unread posts--ONLY 975!!!! As I come across contests I'll be adding them to this post.
The first one is for a blog I just discovered through someone else's post, Erica's Elementary Excitement.
She's giving away a $50 Gift Card to Lakeshore AND a $25 Gift Card to Target!!!!!! Her giveaway ends soon, so head there quickly!
http://erica-elementaryexcitement.blogspot.com/2011/06/beginning-blog-giveaway.html?showComment=1309478684411#c4444629541036462854
The next contest is at First Grade Frenzy. She's giving away wonderful jewelry from her friend's Esty Shop and her 'Sound it Out' activity AND her 'Later Gator'! Check it out!
http://first-grade-frenzy.blogspot.com/2011/06/todays-giveaway.html?showComment=1309499421777#c8811609336101119231

Here's another great giveaway, Dana at 3rd Grade Gridiron is giving away a $25 Gift Card to Target!!!

"/>Here's another great giveaway, Kelli at Castles & Crayons set out to celebrate 25 followers and she now has 163! Congratulations!!! She is giving away a $15 Gift Card to Target!

Wow! There are a lot of great giveaways out there in blogland! I still have 784 posts to scroll through so I may be finding more soon! The other great thing is that I have discovered many new blogs as others have posted about their giveaways!Mrs. Adcock at Grade 2.0 with Mrs. Adcock is giving away a $15 Gift Card for Target!

Tara at 4th Grade Frolics is giving away a $15 Gift Card to Target & a $10 Gift Card to Starbucks!

Donalyn Miller 7 Question Linky Party!

2011-06-28T21:24:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Beth at Thinking of Teaching for having this linky party. I enjoyed reading Donalyn's answers and I look forward to reading everyone else's too! Join us!

1) What is your favourite book (or series) from childhood?

I have always loved the Chronicles of Narnia Series!

2) What is your favourite book (or series) now?

Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family Series...Still have the 'Take One' series to read.

3) What is your opinion of e-readers?

Can't afford one right now...we'll see in time!

4) Finish this sentence: "On Sundays I like to..."

Go to church with my family, go out to lunch, and rest in the afternoon.

5) Describe yourself in 5 words!

Wow! What do I say...A Christian Mom, Wife, & Teacher (I'm not counting the & since it is a symbol!!!)

6) Hardcover or paperback? Why?

Usually paperback...cost

7) Coffee or Tea?

TEA, TEA, TEA!!!!!! I do NOT like coffee, not coffee ice cream or candy or the smell. Tea I have multiple times a day; hot, iced, black, green, white, herbal, flavored...just about any kind!

Important Post to Read!

2011-06-28T10:08:00.000-07:00

I'm home recovering from surgery...I hope to have a few posts later related to The Book Whisperer, but while trying to catch up on my Google Reader (693 unread posts!) I came across this post....please go check it out...YOU can make a difference in a family's future!
Hope to be back soon!!!
http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/06/we-could-use-your-help.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Eighteen25+%28eighteen25%29

Extreme Makeover: Library Edition

2011-06-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I finish my 23rd year teaching, all 3rd grade too! I started building my classroom library my first year. At that time there were several book order companies, and I would purchase from all of them. I kept my library in alphabetical order by author. I will admit, overwhelming to maintain! Our site also purchased subscriptions to Reading A-Z and I printed many leveled books. Several years ago our Reading Specialist (now 1st grade teacher) let me borrow the following book:

A challenge for me was it leveled by Fountas & Pinnell's system and Reading A-Z was another system.

So, I combined the two, Fountas & Pinnell in the parenthesis, A-Z to the left. I just labeled the inside of the back cover:

I was able to find the levels of about 1/5 of my books. I put them in a variety of different kinds and colors of baskets. Then two years ago I began pulling out all of my nonfiction and keeping them separate. I used sticky dots to classify...

Then I saw wonderful labels on one of my favorite blogs Ladybug's Teacher Files (http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2011/03/leveled-bin-and-book-labels-letters-to.html) and was inspired...but what pushed me over the edge was one of my favorite places...

where I spotted these a couple of weeks ago...

It was ON! I decided to go with Fountas & Pinnell only so....

The relabeling began. I decided to use green baskets for the books I had previously leveled or could level, now checking all of my titles in Book Wizard by Scholastic! I choose red for my nonfiction, blue for those that I didn't have levels for, and yellow for magazines. (I've bought out all of there green for now, so leveled is currently green and yellow).

After hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, and packing tape, and packing tape, and packing tape...here's the transformation...(just image what the before might have looked like)

bottom row on left are non leveled books

Thanks to Avery, I'm making these dividers within levels to highlight chapter books and soon favorite authors!
(that just cardboard cut down..I always save them from paper packs!)

red nonfiction, blue teacher books, yellow magazines

top shelf general non fiction

1st red shelf marine life, animals bottom shelf weather & natural disasters, biographies, space
I also wanted my magazines organized (we had several subscriptions donated this year)

2 81/2 x 11 cardboard sheets taped together

A GREAT BIG THANKS to all of the wonderful teachers who have shared their book bin/basket labels!!!

Ladybug's Teacher Files

(http://ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com/2011/03/leveled-bin-and-book-labels-letters-to.html)

Mrs. Jump's Class

(http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.com/2011/05/oceans-of-fun.html)

Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons

(http://stepintosecondgrade.blogspot.com/2011/05/book-bin-labels-finished.html)

Beth Newingham

(http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/)

Oh, and I'm even trying to 'declutter' (I'm unfortunately :( the 'queen of clutter!) These were in my library and tomorrow (LAST DAY!!!) students can 'buy' them with my reward currency!

Today, 1/2 day, 1/2 day...Summer!! 5 Pocket Biographies

2011-06-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Hi, I've missed bloggin' this week, but it was one BUSY, BUSY week! Report cards are done, the dance recital was wonderful, my son made the Advanced Band for the Jr. High (plus got one of the Student of the Year Awards & Principal's Awards for 6th grade!), and I learned more about the Common Core Standards!

My students' last homework assignment was a 5 Pocket Biography. I got the idea from Proteacher.net. Here is the link: http://www.proteacher.net/discussions/showthread.php?t=253821&highlight=biography+pocket
That was my post from last year (thankful is one of my other identities! :) ) Someone linked it to the sheet I used and the rubric. Here are pictures of the ones they have turned in!

Ben Franklin

Sitting Bull

Mae Jemison

Dr. King

Abe Lincoln

Thomas Jefferson

Shirley Temple Black

Fredrick Douglas

I am very proud of how they did!
Off to my last Tuesday and full day of the school year!
Look for another post tonight about the MAJOR project I took on in the last few weeks!

Busy, Busy Week Ahead!

2011-06-05T22:40:00.000-07:00

It's going to be a BUSY, BUSY week!
Monday: 3:00 Son re-auditions for Jr. High Band
Tuesday: Daughter's Last Ballet/Tap lesson 5:30-7:00; Bingo for Books at school 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Short day for school, having end of the year staff luncheon. Dance Recital Dress Rehearsal 6:00-?
Thursday: Training on Common Core Standards during school day. 3:00-4:00 Last Bizworld (after school GATE class); 6:00 Bizworld celebration with parents, give out certificates, and reveal which 'company' made the most profit from their Friendship Bracelet company. (I'm NOT prepared for this yet!)
Friday: Dance Recital 6:00- ?
Saturday: Dance Recital 6:00-? Parents coming up from out of town.
Sunday: Church, BBQ after church, Dance swim party

Now squeezed somewhere in the midst of that schedule...
Do report cards online the 'window' closes on Friday
Get a GATE presentation board ready to have at the District Office for Thursday evening. The district GATE celebration is the same time as our school's Bizworld wrap up.
Complete a GATE report for what we did at our school.
Input blogs into TBA's Sqworl folders.
Write up something for my Students of the Year (Awards are when I'll be gone at training on Thursday)
Get sub plans ready for Thursday.
Get information together to email my pastor flier for Sunday's bulletin about starting an Orphan Care Ministry at our church.
I think I'm going to need lots of energy and prayer to get everything done that needs to get done this week!

Great Giveaways!

2011-06-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

Two great third grade teachers are hosting giveaways!
Amanda at Third Grade Meanderings is giving away a cute book The Little Red Pen and a $25 Gift Card for Barnes & Nobles!
http://thirdgradeexperience.blogspot.com/

Kelly at Mrs. Randall's Learning Library is celebrating 300 followers and she is giving away a $25 Gift Card for Bed, Bath, and Beyond.

Good Luck!

Guest Blogging at Barrow's Hodgepodge...Come Find Out More About FREE Stuff for Your Classroom!

2011-06-02T02:00:00.000-07:00

I feel honored to have been asked to guest blog at Barrow's Hodgepodge! Come by, check out her great blog and learn more about one of my favorite things, Vistaprint.

Power of Prayer--Prayers Needed

2011-06-01T16:53:00.000-07:00

I have to run to pick my daughter up from dance, but I've got to get this posted first. I believe in the power of prayer. There is a teacher, family, school, and community that need our prayers. Katie, 'The Queen of the First Grade Jungle" has a student on life support, his triplet sister passed away and the third triplet is in critical condition, baby sister & mother are in fair condition. They were in a serious car accident yesterday. Please lift them up in prayer!
http://queenofthefirstgradejungle.blogspot.com/2011/05/prayers.html#comments

More later when I'm home...

Giveaways in Blogworld! :)

2011-06-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

There are some great contests right now. One that I'm really excited about both the contest and the new site is Clutter Free Classroom. The sad truth is no matter how much I try to organize, I still tend to be the Clutter Queen! During the TpT giant sale I did buy The Clutter Free Classroom from her and I am trying to implement what I'm reading. One of my favorite sayings is...'It's not perfect, but it's better than it was before!' I AM working on it!
Based on the number of entries it looks like many of us are in this boat!

Another great giveaway is being hosted by 4 blogs, Welcome to Kinderglynn,

Little Priorities,

One Extra Degree,

& Primary Graffiti

I'll add more later!

My Summer To Do List!

2011-05-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

1. Have & Recover from Surgery
    I'm having a hysterectomy (just uterus) a week after school gets out. I'm hoping that my recovery time will allow me to accomplish some of the things on that list.
2. Work on Language Arts Series
     This last year our district adopted Excursions, which is Storytown everywhere else in the country. So there's a bunch I want to do with it. We are a PI District (Program Improvement) so VERY little freedom with the curriculum. We must use our adopted materials, so no Daily 5 or CAFE for me.
      a. Label all 6 manuals the same with post-it tabs (red for 'Week at a Glance', blue for 'Suggested Lesson Planner', etc.)
      b. Get a index card file box together with all Lessons (weeks) and the skill taught/reviewed in each, and a section for materials with those skills; Powerpoints, I Have..., Task Cards, Pocket/Envelope Activities, Word Sorts, Power Pix (from Whole Brain Teaching) that teach individual standards.
      c. Get all weekly objectives typed out so I can print and post them.
      d. Get table complete of what I have in my laptop for each lesson; vocabulary, spelling tic tac toe, trifolds, vocabulary crosswords, daily powerpoints, vocabulary powerpoints.
      e. Download the missing items for each week
3. Read The Book Whisperer. Amazon says it's on its way!
4. Read Karen Kingsbury's Take One series & Unlocked
5. Work on my teacher blog
6. Redo my classroom blog
7. Begin with TpT
8. This should be #1--oops--Spend time with my wonderful kids and time in prayer and God's Word!

Addition #1 (there may be more as I think things through!)

9. Go through all of my 'starred' items in Google Reader...yep there's over 100! Read them carefully, print the resources they provide, check out the websites they recommend etc.

10. Print out all of my weekly reading logs for the year and daily behavior sheets. I use a clip chart & I have 1/2 sheet that they color in the apple the color they ended on. The sheets are dated so they don't get confused.

Glad to be linkin' up with others! Thanks Littlest Learners! If you'd like to join here's the link:
http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-are-you-planning.html

Contest Winners! :)

2011-05-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to my two winners! I apologize for having my drawing late :(

I used random.org...

Winner #1

Comment #6 Hadar who said "I follow your wonderful Blog! Those pins are adorable!"...so glad you feel that way because they're yours!!! Email me your snail mail address so I can send them to you! :)

Winner #2

Comment #3 Mireya Aguirre who said "Awesome!! I follow your blog!" I'll email you to find out how you want your Stinky Pete book to be autographed and to find out your snail mail to send it to you!

Thanks to those who entered...hopefully it won't be too long to reach 200 followers and have another contest!

Giveaway Modification! Blogger Issues!

2011-05-28T12:19:00.000-07:00

Are you frustrated by Blogger?

Are you having a hard time leaving comments?

Are you worried you can't enter the giveaway?

If you can't comment, email me at Nancydwilson@hotmail.com listing which ways you are entering. I'll post those that are emailed to me. I hope you can see the followers list and follow if you aren't already one. I hope this solves the problem for those, who like me, are able to leave comments some of the time and getting stuck in a loop other times! Thanks!

Giveaway Reminder!

2011-05-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Two Prizes!

Handmade Teacher Pins Set!

Autographed Stinky Pete Book! Author is a Good Friend & This
book Has Just Been Published!
9 Possible Entries Per Person!
Entries So Far: 16!
Picking Winners Tomorrow Night--Saturday 8PM Pacific Time!
Don't Miss Out!

Dollar Deals - One Week Left!

2011-05-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

Dollar Deals - One Week Left!
Hi, sorry I thought it would show the flyer. Click on the link and you'll see the flyer for Scholastic Teacher Express Ebooks. These are the same books you see in the book orders in the teacher section, but instead of a book that will take up space in your classroom and cost around $7-15, you store it on your computer, or flash drive and spend $1! We love things that are $1, don't we!!!

Giveaway Time!!

2011-05-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

As I write this I have 101 followers! THANK YOU!!! I am so excited to post/host my first giveaway! One individual will receive the following collection of teacher pins & earrings made by yours truly!

A good friend and fellow teacher, Kaye Webster, has just published her third book, The Crossroad Chronicles: Stinky Pete; A Pirate's Tale. One lucky winner will get an autographed copy of her book! Kaye is an amazing kindergarten teacher and good friend! Her first book, I Want to be a Ballerina is still one of my daughter's favorites! She's had the book since she started dance as a 3 year old! (she's now almost 8 and getting ready for her 6th recital!)

This morning I bought and had autographed one book for each of my children and a hardcover for my classroom!

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment that you do.

2. Blog about the giveaway on your blog and leave a comment that you did.

3. Place my blog on your sidebar (or sidebar Sqworl) and leave a comment that I'm there! :)

4. Grab my button and place it where you have your button collection, sidebar, bottom, separate page, and leave a comment that it's there.

5. Since I know there are plenty of teachers who check out blogs but don't have one yet 2-4 were impossible for you so....5 & 6 are for you, but all may do them. Tweet about the contest and leave a comment that you did.

6. Post about the contest on Facebook and leave a comment that you did.

7,8, & 9. Make a donation to my Donor's Choose Project, even $1 is fine, more is awesome! Leave 3 separate comments that you donated. So even $1 gets you 3 entries!

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!!! Thank you so much for visiting my blog! I will choose my winners next Saturday night or Sunday...I'll update you after I've checked my calender!

Journey with Pete on a Piratey adventure where he discovers life’s greatest treasure!

Available for purchase through Tate Publishing online. Additionally available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other fine book retailers.

Fun Cheers and Claps

2011-05-20T22:46:00.000-07:00

These are some great cheers and claps that you can use in your classroom! The kids really enjoy them! I've used them for individuals and groups when they have done something great. I frequently let them choose which one they would like. The models are my daughter, Sieanna (2nd grade), and her two friends, Sedona (3rd grade on the left) & Marysa (2nd grade on the right). Both of her friends are also teachers' kids. Thanks to all three of them for allowing all of you to see & hear these cheer and claps!

I hope you will enjoy these as much as my students have!

Updates!

2011-05-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Some quick updates here.
     I'm at 86 followers & if you've been around Blogworld for awhile you know what that means....a contest in the (hopefully) VERY near future! Here's a teaser...2 winners, at least 9 ways to enter, homemade teacher goodies and a second special prize!
   My countdown is a little longer than most of you out there, June 16! We do have 2 field trips before school gets out, one to the bowling alley the other to Edwards Air Force Base. They should be good. It's getting a little rough though, the students and the teachers are feeling DONE already. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!
   I went to the doctor Wednesday. With a laptop and Blogworld out there a two hour + wait isn't nearly so bad!!! Anyway, surgery scheduled for week after school gets out. (partical hysterectomy) I think I may need to see another doctor though....I'm just not sure it's normal to be thinking 'good! recovery time? BLOG TIME!' :)
   Working on a new post, maybe up today?!? It's great ways to encourage/reward your students. I think you'll LOVE the ideas! I did get some from training, some from other teachers, and some are my own!!! Check back soon!

My First Donor's Choose Project!

2011-05-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited about my first Donor's Choose Project. I am requesting an iPod Touch for classroom use. (I really wanted an iPad, but I couldn't start with that!) Since I am asking others to donate I felt I needed to start by donating as well. So I have made the first donation of $5. I would appreciate any donation you are able to give! Next job for me...read up on making a Donor's Choose button!! Here's the link for my project!
www.donorschoose.org/applebasket

A Great Big GIANT 'THANK YOU' to Mrs. Saoud from Primary Graffiti for giving me her Donor's Choose Button, and sticking with me getting it posted and working!!! (she modified it to go to MY project) THANK YOU!!!

More Great Contests!

2011-05-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

I just love all of the contests out there! I missed a few of them being so busy, but I'm going to try to catch some now!

Kimberly at Funky First Grade Fun is over 200 followers so she's giving a Target gift card to one lucky winner & one item from her TpT store to another! Go check out her cute blog!

Hadar at Miss Kindergarten (formerly Outfitted & Inspired) is having a contest too. She is giving away one of her amazing signs, and a crocheted flower hair clip to another follower.

Ana at Ingles 360 is giving away a complete set of her letter of the week file folder games! Her site is great and has become an important resource for me since I got a new student from Cuba. She is so generous and has LOTS of freebies! Good luck!

There's a new blog on the block and she's hosting a give away for a $10 Starbucks card! Go check out her new blog!

Jenn at Finally in First is going to be giving 5 lucky winners a bag from Mixed Bag Designs. She also shares how this company does fundraiser in which they give 50% to the school! To find out more visit:
http://finallyinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/05/giveaway.html?showComment=1305473042690#c7497049910228980199

Roadrunner Notebooks

2011-05-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

I have been a big fan of Proteacher.net for several years now. I had seen many teacher post about their FROG, STAR, MOOSE, or other notebooks. These notebooks varied in their purpose and contents. Some teachers used them for home school connections and others use them for classroom work. I decided since our mascot is the Roadrunner,(I live in the High Desert of Southern California) we would have Roadrunner Notebooks. We brainstormed what Roadrunner would stand for. I posted my title page as a Google Doc.

In case Google Docs isn't showing right now for you, Roadrunner stands for R.eally O.utstanding A.cademically D.etermined R.oadrunners U.sing N.otebooks N.ow as an E.xcellent R.esource. My notebooks are a resources for the classroom. There are resources that I have collected from posts made from Proteacher.net and many other sites. I will only post ones that have been created by me. I will give credit whenever I have a resource that is listed on the sheet. I have been adding to the notebooks over the past few years and I have laminated most sheets for durability. I just reorganized them. This is the set up:
   Title Page, '10 Ways To Be a Good Student,' Rights
       & Responsibilities'
   First Divider--Genres
      'Genres at a Glance'
      11 pages that explain & give examples of the
         different genres
   Second Divider--Good Readers
       Three pages of Comprehension Skills with
           pictures to match the skills. These come from
           the Santa-Maria Bonita School District (GREAT
           RESOURCES!!)
           http://www.smbsd.org/page.cfm?p=2442
      Comprehension Strategies page (Strategies
           Unlimited, Inc.)
       Four 'Reading is Thinking' pages that include
            making connections (followed by a Using
            Connections page from Readinglady.com),
            Making Predictions, Asking Questions, &
            Visualizing
   Third Divider--Grammar
       Four sheets on Commas (also from Santa Maria
            Bonita SMB)
       A sheet on Subjects & Predicates (SMB)
       Sheet of 4 Types of Sentences (Proteacher.net)
       Kinds of Sentences
       Declarative (SMB)
       Exclamatory (SMB)
       Imperative (SMB)
       Interrogative (SMB)
   Fourth Divider--Mastery Club/Top 10
       Mastery Club Challenge (Heather Renz
           http://www.mrs.renz.net/)
       Top 10 (the students find top ten of something
            like fruit, then alphabetize, use adjectives to
            describe each, etc.
   Fifth Divider--Parts of Speech
        Adjectives, has a list of about 80+ adjectives
        Adjective Song lyric (by Ron Brown Intelli-
               tunes..see my 1st post)
        Helping Verbs (SMB)
        The Irregular Verb be (SMB)
        Prepositions, has a definition and list of about 50
            prepositions
   Sixth Divider--Reading Response
        Reading Response Starters (sorry because I
             scanned it you have to click on the link to see
              it!)
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8AQ_IzX1ifJYjUxYWUyY2QtN2Y0NC00MDVmLTkyMWUtYzdlNmI2OGFkNTgw&sort=name&layout=list&num=50
            Front
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B8AQ_IzX1ifJNzE4Njg2ZDAtMWE1YS00ZGFmLWIwYjgtYTAyYzMwMjc5NzUx&hl=en
                        Back
        Reading Response Sheets, the students fill them
            out for their silent reading time, approximately
            3 times a week. They only have to use 1
            starter each day.
   Seventh Divider--Resources
        Four sheets on Author's Purpose
        Homophones, list of approximately 100 sets
        How Do You Feel Today? sheet of 70 different
           faces with the emotion printed below the face
        Onomatopoeia Words, list of approximately 100
            words
        US States & Their Abbreviations
            (abcteach.com)
   Eighth Divider--Spelling
        Some Spelling Mnemonics
        Money Words

          Phone Number

                        Both of the above are used periodically for
                spelling practice.
   Ninth Divider--Vocabulary
       My New Word sheets, a word web I got at an ELL
           training, they do one each week for one of the
           words from our LA series
       Word Frame sheets, another way for them to
           show one of our weekly vocabulary words
       Two sets of Mini Thesauruses
   Tenth Divider--Math
       Measurement Abbreviations (abcteach.com)
       Math Strategies
       Problem Solving Strategies (sanchezclass.com)
       Fractions, Decimals, Percents, & Money
       8 Workmats from Math Series (HM) they use dry
           erase markers on them

I know I will continue to add to the notebooks for my students. There are so many amazing resources out there and I want my students to learn how to use many different kinds of resources. I hope this is beneficial to you in some way. Thanks!
(Oh yes and whoooo hoooo for Blogger being back up!!)

More Contests!

2011-05-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

Yippieee!! More contests! I just love them! As I'm inching toward 100 followers I'm pondering what kind of contest I'll have too.

The first contest is at Chalk Talk: A Kindergarten Blog. She is teaming up with Donna Glynn from Kinderglynn to give away Donna's Summer Packet.
http://larremoreteachertips.blogspot.com/

The second is at Kindergarten Works. If you get friends to follow you get entries into a contest for $15 to spend on their materials! You can also get a graphics freebie of your choice, monsters or cupcakes, for following!

Teacher Freebie From Me! Fluency Focus: 6 Mini Posters That Fit with Excursions/Storytown

2011-05-09T21:20:00.000-07:00

This evening I was finally able to load my PDFs as Google Docs! Our district adopted Excursions, which to the rest of the country is Storytown. We have Language Arts Focus Walls up in all of our rooms. Although I was able to find resources for most of the items needed for the Focus Wall online, I didn't find anything for the weekly Fluency Focus. The six areas that are focused in on are; Rate, Accuracy, Phrasing, Expression, Intonation, and Pace. I created the approximately 4" x 11" posters for my Focus Wall. I hope you can use them in some way whether you use Excursions/ Storytown or not! (Please let me know if you do!)

WOW! I Won A Contest!

2011-05-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

:) I won a

A Magnetic Whiteboard SMILE Eraser!

Thank you so very much Leslie at Fab In First!!!! Go check out her blog!

Contests Out There in Blogworld! :)

2011-05-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

The first contest is at Kinderglynn where Donna is giving away $20 at her Teachers Pay Teachers store. She has 310 items listed there! Go check it out!

The next contest is at Fab in First. Leslie has 200 followers and is giving away a smiley face white board eraser!

Cindy of kindergarten Tales and In the Teacher's Lounge has 100 followers at In the Teacher's Lounge and is giving away a gift card for Amazon, TpT, or Target your choice!

There's a fourth grade blog Life Isn't Always Frogs & Cupcakes that is having a contest for a $15 gift card for Amazon! Go by and check it out!
http://www.frogsandcupcakes.blogspot.com/

Katie at Little Warriors is having a contest for a cool shirt that will say whatever your grade is Rocks!

Lorena at Little Treasures is having a contest too. She's giving away a personalized teaching sign made by Hadar of Miss Kindergarten (formerly Outfitted & Inspired) to one person, and a gift card for Scrappin' Doodles to another person!

Teachers Pay Teachers Sale Extended Through Today, May 4th

2011-05-04T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'm glad that the sale was extended so that I could share about it with others! Teachers Pay Teachers is a site where teachers can sell things that they have made powerpoints, units, worksheets, learning games, posters etc. They had a 20% off sale yesterday, but had so much traffic they extended the sale. In addition, many of the individual sellers had their stuff on sale anywhere from 10-20%. I took advantage of the sale and bought several powerpoints from Teachers Unleashed (I had one of theirs that they posted for free, it is REALLY good!), and I also purchased items from Lesson Plan SOS, Brainy Bugs, Fern Smith, Amanda Nickerson--One Extra Degree, Babbling Abby--The Inspired Apple, and at least one more but I can't find the name! Click on the button below for 'Teachng Blog Addict' (even if you just see a little red x) and scroll down to the Entry 'Teachers Pay Teachers Appreciation Sale & Add Your Link" for a list of teachers who had, and probably do have their stuff on sale. Happy shopping!!

More Vistaprints! This is it for a while!

2011-05-03T23:27:00.000-07:00

Vistaprint order #3

Pen FREE

Small Banner for our School FREE

10 sheets Letterhead FREE

100 Postcards for I Have..Who Has.. Game FREE

Self-inking Stamp FREE

25 More Small Magnets FREE

10 Large Magnets FREE

Car Door Magnet for Birthdays FREE

Oversized postcards for Book Recommendations 50 FREE

Pen for Daughter's Teacher FREE

Sticky Notes FREE

10 Note Cards for my Daughter FREE (I couldn't resist the ballet slippers!)

T-shirt for my Daughter (she said she wanted one my mine!) FREE

250 More Business Cards! FREE

100 Postcards FREE

10 Large Magnets for Posting Recess Times etc. $4.99 for Image Upload

50 Rack Card Office Passes

Shipping and tax total under $25!

No More for Now!!!

I LOVE Contests!

2011-05-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

I love contests! Maybe one of these days I'll win one! :) Erica Bohrer is having a contest that ends tonight. She is giving away a $20 Gift Card for Whimsy Doodle Graphics. Go by and check it out!

Also, RoSchell at Building Blocks is giving away a 52 page Bubble Unit AND a class set of bubbles! Go check out her blog!
http://www.russ-buildingblocks.blogspot.com/

Lauren at The Teaching Nest is giving away a custom rubber stamp! Check out her third grade blog (YEAH for third grade teachers!)
http://www.theteachingnest.blogspot.com/

I Love Dollar Tree & 99c Store Too...But I REALLY LOVE FREE (thank you Vistaprints!)

2011-04-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

I love how someone said that her family refers to the Dollar Store as the $20 Dollar Store because they seem to spend that every time they go in! Well, I've now spent a bit of money on my 'FREE' stuff, but I feel it is beyond worth it! I recently discovered Vistaprints and have already placed two orders and am working on a third. Where the money comes into play is in shipping. I searched 'Vistaprints' in Google Reader & out of over 200 Teacher Blogs only a handful of posts with the word Vistaprints came up.

You all need to know what Vistaprints has available!
Vistaprints is a company that makes marketing items for businesses such as business cards, postcards, t-shirts, magnets, car magnets and more. You may be thinking I really don't need business cards, but how about 'free homework' cards, or 'clean desk' cards, or 'you did great today' cards? Teachers are great at modifying things for the classroom! How teachers have used Vistaprints is no exception! Vistaprints offers many free items, you are just charged for the shipping. The great thing is you can tweak these things to reflect your style, theme, grade level, personality, and needs! Here are the items from my first order:

I am getting 100 of these FREE! They are regular sized postcards.

This is a small poster for my room.

All 3 of the items above FREE

1 pen FREE, the other $2.99

Magnet for Classroom Door $4.99

Total for the order above: just under $25

Here is my second order:

250 of these-- $2.49 because I uploaded the picture of the apple basket--for behavior chart

The 3 items above FREE!

140 Labels FREE

$2.49 Because of uploaded image

100 postcards for Thanks Yous..FREE & pen FREE

25 magnets, may write names on them and use them for groups or graphing
Whole order total $30!

Here is my Sqworl folder of Vistaprint ideas from the web:
www.sqworl.com/843xvw

Take a look at what Kristen at First Grade Teaching created, see Jan. 13th post!

Also, check out what Mrs. Ibarra has made at Always First Grade ( http://www.alwaysfirstgrade.blogspot.com/ ) see Dec. 31.
Okay...I'm publishing this post! (I've been working on it all day off and on!) Have fun checking Vistaprints out!!! I'd love to see what YOU create!!

Yeaaaaaah!!! My Teacher & Education Blogs Sqworl Sidebar Is Complete! (at least for now!)

2011-04-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

It feels so good to be posting again! I have been busy organizing my Google Reader into folders and then copying each Blog url into the right Sqworl folder. I do feel it has been worth the time I invested into doing all of that 'Spring cleaning'! Post coming soon on great FREE stuff you can get!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

Yipppieeeee! More contests!!

2011-04-24T00:25:00.000-07:00

Michelle at First Grade is Best is giving away a great Very Hungry Caterpillar tote bag. Go check it out!

Brenda at Primary Inspired is celebrating 100 followers. She's giving away a wonderful vocabulary packet in conjuction with Amanda at One Extra Degree & Melissa at F is for First. She is also giving her vocabulary cards to those who follow her and post about it!

Visit Teaching Blog Addict! My Bio is Now Posted!

2011-04-23T18:08:00.001-07:00

I have just posted my first entry as a TBA (Teaching Blog Addict)! Please go take a look and see what the other teachers have posted as well!