New Year's Resolution Linky Party

Clutter-free Classroom is hosting a linky party about what we want to resolve to do for the new school year. Since I am switching grade levels this year, I have a couple of things I want to resolve to do.

1. Organize--Now let me start by saying that I am a fairly organized person when it comes to my classroom. I like it neat and tidy with things in their places, but what I am talking about is getting rid of things that I have not used in the last year or so and that I don't think I'm going to use. I hate that I have been storing things that I really don't need. I would rather give them to someone who might actually use them or just get rid of them if no one wants them. So, as soon as I get back in my room...out with the old and make room for the new that I plan to actually use! :)

2. Understand my curriculum to the fullest--once again because I am switching grade levels, I really want to make sure I am covering everything I need to. It is my hope that ALL of my students will be reading at grade-level by the end of the year of course and I just want to make sure that I am doing everything I possibly can to ensure their success. Not that this is a whole lot different from what I do any other year, I just know I will have to work a little harder since I have never taught 1st grade before. :)

Okay, well link up because I want to see everyone elses resolutions!

Summer Creativity~

After looking at multiple blogs and pinterest accounts, I think it has my creative juices flowing. lol. This is off topic of school by the way. My daughter is on the swim team for our local pool. (She loves it!) Anyway, this weekend is their swim conference. They have had an undefeated season and they are really pumped up. My daughter and 3 friends are in the 11-12 yr. old Freestyle Relay and the order that they are in makes their initials K.A.K.E. So, the sillies thought up the saying that they are K.A.K.E. and my daughter says, "Yeah, I like it because I can say...'Do you wanna piece of me?"  So....long story short, I thought how cute it would be to make t-shirts for them to wear tomorrow to conference. I am attaching them so you can see how darling they turned out. Obviously, they are nowhere near high quality, but the girls really think they are Awesome! We decided to do 2 shirt colors, the black for the K's and the blue for the vowels. And by the way....the little picture between the words is a piece of cake. LOL...Enjoy!

My beautiful daughter...Kennady~  (12 yrs. old)

Kennady's shirt

Annie's shirt

Kendall's shirt

Emma's shirt

Well, there you have it enjoy your little piece of K.A.K.E!  :)

"What Are You In Love With?" Linky Party

Jennifer at First Grade Blue Skies is hosting a linky party about what we are in love with for our classroom this year.  I decided to join in and I'm kind of excited because this is the first time I have ever participated in a linky party!

First of all, I am definitely getting one of these this year! I have been eyeing these on teacher's websites for years now and I know it is time to finally purchase one of my own!

The Regal Reading Writing Center

Another item I keep eyeing, but I just can't afford to purchase yet is the Elmo document camera. I really want one of these for my room. I think it is so awesome to not have to use transparencies on the overhead and also that you can put manipulatives or a book under there so your whole class can see at once. Great invention! :)

I would really like to find a reasonably priced set of wicker furniture for my classroom. I would love to have a couch and a couple of chairs to set around the room. I think it would really make it feel more homey. :)

I have seen these little lanterns and I am trying to decide if I can find anywhere I can hang them in my classroom. I think they are so cute!

There are tons of things I would love to have for my classroom! My husband wonders how I can spend so much money on my job, but when school starts I know my classroom will be my home away from home and I want my kiddos to feel like they are at home too. :) 

Join the linky party! I would love to see what the rest of you are in love with too!

Classroom Organization & Book Bins

Well, I have to redo my book bins since I will be moving from 4th grade to 1st. Some of them would have worked the same but I figure if I am going to change one, I am going to change them all. lol. So, after stalking Jessica Meacham's site (one of my favorite places to get ideas), I have decided to use the plastic business card holders and make my labels on business cards.

 I will attach these little babies to my baskets and then just slide the business card into the slot. That way if I want to change what books are in the basket, I can easily change the label to go with them. I also plan to use these little pockets on my mini-drawers that I am going to use for my student's supplies (Thanks Jessica Meacham!)

Each student will have their own drawer and they will keep their crayons, pencils, & nametag in the drawer. When they need them, they will just go pull their drawer and take it to a table with them. :)

So, I thought I would share my book bin labels with you if anyone is interested in trying these easy idea like me! Hope you like them~ (sorry I can't figure out how to make them all show up with one link)

Classroom Library book labels 1
Classroom library book labels 2
Classroom Library book labels 3
Classroom Library book labels 4

Pinterest...

Well, I finally got an invite to Pinterest so I could see what all the hoop-la was about. I have to admit it is pretty AWESOME! I love how you can keep track of all the cool things you find on the internet all in one space. I also love that you can see all the cool ideas and items that other people have found as well! I haven't added a lot to my board yet, but give me time! :)  If you want to check it out comment and leave your email address and I will send you an invite! If you already have your own Pinterest page and want to follow me you can find me here:

My Pinterest Page!

In Love With Lakeshore Learning Store~

So, while I am visiting my parents I found out that they have a Lakeshore Learning Store in Dallas close to where they live. Also, they had a back to school sale that began today with 20% off a lot of items in the store. Here are some of my favorite items that I bought today. :)

These are addition matchup puzzles that I thought would make a good item for one of my math tubs.

I love, love, love these jumbo Dice in Dice that I found. There are many cool games the students can play with these. I bought the jumbo ones and there were only 12 in my bucket instead of the 72 it shows in this pic. :)

A set of 10 dry-erase pockets to use with math tubs or word work stations. :)

Tangram picture cards to use with tangrams in a math tub. They have one side that shows the exact tangrams needed and the other side makes the kids figure out which ones will work. :)

Roll and Read game for word families to put in a word work station.  

Fact & Opinion interactive game for my ENO board.

Tic-Tac-Toe Phonics interactive game for my ENO board.

Sort the Rhyming Sounds interactive game for ENO board.

Tic-Tac-Toe Working with Words interactive game for my ENO board.

I also found lots of fun froggy decorations for my room! It was so much fun shopping for school stuff with my Step-mom and Sister-in-law today. I love teacher stores!!  Now, I have to figure out how I'm going to pack all this stuff in my suitcase to get it back home. :)



Vistaprint...Can you say Addiction?!?

I'm happy to be sitting writing to you while I'm officially on my vacation! Summer school ended yesterday and my family and I are visiting my parents in Texas! Last week I came across an email for some free vistaprint offers and after looking at the creations of other teachers on Proteacher Message board, I decided I needed to make some of my own. I actually had some pretty good offers through my email so everything I made was completely FREE!!  I just had to pay for the shipping of course but that is nothing compared to what it would have cost if the items weren't FREE!!  So, I decided to share with you. :)

 I created this small horizontal banner to hang above the bulletin board I plan to use for writing examples.

This small vertical banner will hang right outside my classroom door.

This is a business card to hand out to parents or anyone else I want to share my info with. :)

Label.

Small Car door magnet to hang on the metal part of the window of my door when my class has perfect attendance.

This is the design I had put on a pen. :)

Post card to use to send home notes.

Stamper

T-shirt with my name and school name. :)

I want to get some business magnets too but I didn't have an offer for any FREE ones yet. Maybe next time! I would love to see any other suggestions you have....feel free to link up!