Teacher Week: Now Teach! Organizing for Instruction

I wanted to share a quick organizing tip with you.  Here is how I organize my files.

I started these files my first year and they've evolved over the past 8 years.  When I first made the files I only had the HMR 7.1 labels.  That stands for Houghton Mifflin Reading Theme 7 Week 1, which is how the reading series we use is organized.  Since then I've added more to the tabs to find things easier.  Now they look like the picture above.  I've added that weeks spelling patterns, focus vowel, word families, grammar, or anything else introduced/taught during that week.  When I run across something and think, 'Hey, this is a great idea! I need to save a copy!' I head over to my files and can find where I want to save it easily.  I add to the files through out the year.  I try to keep everything in chronological order from the beginning of the year to the end.  I keep the current file at the front and when that week is over I put it in the back of the file cabinet and the 'new' current file is in the front.  I don't use everything in the files every year, but I like having an arsenal of strategies, ideas, and resources ready if I need it.  This system has worked great for me and these files are by far my most valued teaching item.  I hope this post has sparked an organizational idea for you.  If you'd like to read more organization tips, head over to Blog Hoppin' for their classroom organization linky party!

Teacher Week '13 - Meet the Teacher

Hi everyone! I'm excited to link up with Blog Hoppin's Teacher Week.  This post was supposed to be posted on Monday, but on Monday I locked myself and my daughter out of the house early in the morning :(. My wonderful sister Cristi drove 30 minutes to my house to come get us and took us to my parents house until my husband got off work.  Then this morning (Tuesday) I went to an appointment that turns out is really scheduled for tomorrow.  So now it's nearly 10:30pm and I'm just finishing this post up.  I feel like I'm losing my marbles people!  Anyways, thanks for reading along and I look forward to reading other blogs this week and getting to know everyone.

1.  I've been working with children for over 14 years.  During college I worked as a nanny, after school program teacher, and *my favorite* as a special ed aid for a preschool early education language program.  After college I subbed for about six months until I got my first teaching job as a 1st grade teacher.  In the past 8 years I've taught kindergarten and 1st grade.  The primary grades are for me!
2. I'm been married to my husband for over 9 years. WHOA - I just had to recount and double check that number! 

3.  In February I became a mom to the sweetest baby ever.  I love my baby so much!!!  

4. Random Food Issues: One of my favorite treats is eating brownies with orange juice.  I hate tomatoes on hamburgers, sandwiches or salads but I like eating them sliced.  I think you can never have too much ketchup with your fries.  I can't eat fish if I see scales - yuck!
5. I have one brother and 5 sisters.  Here is my sister Susan and I on a trip to San Fran.

6.  This weekend my lifelong friend Suzy is getting married and my husband and I are in the wedding party.  Suzy is marrying my husband's cousin, so now we will officially be family :)!  Here is a pic of me and Suzy dressing up as brides when we were little.  I think this may have been Halloween.  Thanks for those bangs mom!

7. Lately I've been obsessed with making headbands for my baby.  I'm eagerly awaiting an order from Etsy to make her some more. Shabby flowers = LOVE
8. DVR is one of the best inventions ever.  Here are some shows you will see on that play list: Swamp People, Cake Boss, Survivor, and Once Upon a Time. 
9. I love crafting and garage sales.  I really miss Martha Stewart's show.....One day I want to have a fabulous craft room instead of a junky craft table in the garage.
10. Best trip ever? ITALY.  It was the trip of a lifetime! I have to get back there someday!

 Tuscany

It was nice to meet you! If you'd like to read about some more teacher bloggers head over to Blog Hoppin'!

My 1st Facebook Fan FREEBIE

I FINALLY have my facebook fan freebie button up and running! I'm so exited!!! It took me hours to do...I know, it should not have taken me that long.  Thankfully I found a wonderful how to video AND blog over at Ms. Fultz's Corner.  She's amazing!  If it weren't for her I would still be working on it.  So I hope you like my first fb fan freebie.  It's a little something for those teachers using AR/Accelerated Reader.  I have used AR in my classroom for years and love how it motivates students.  Click on the picture below to head over to my fb page.  Hope you like!

July Currently

I'm linking up for the first time with Oh'Boy 4th Grade's Currently Linky - Geez, where have I been???

Listening: I swear that sometimes the BEST sound in the whole world is peace & quiet!

Loving: Ok, I know I'm totally dorking out on these Vintage Seed Packet stamps but they are SO pretty!  Every time I get handed ANOTHER book of the liberty stamps I sigh. So last time I was at the grocery store and got handed these pretty little things I actually cooed.  I can't wait to use them for my daughter's birth announcements!

Thinking:  Have you ever loaded up the dishwasher and then forgot to turn it on? That's what happened to me and it's been happening way too often lately!  So now I have a stack of dishes ready to go in the washer and clean ones ready to be put away...but writing this post sounds so much more fun!!!

Wanting:  I love breakfast.  BIG breakfasts.  I could really go for a breakfast burrito right now, but then I'd have to make it...

Needing:  Just when I thought we had a schedule going, my sweet baby decides to change it all up.  It's near impossible to get things done lately, but she's so cute and so much fun I don't mind. Yikes! I hear her waking up! Type!!! Type!!!

45 minutes later....

Tips, Tricks, Hints:  You know that old saying - 'Rome wasn't built in a day'?  I agree. I spend A LOT of time on the units I make for Tpt/TN.  I'm not going to put a product out there unless I'm completely happy with it.  If I don't like it, why would anyone else?  So I take my time.  Occasionally I get really excited about an idea, get totally tapped into creativity mode and it gets done fast. But most of the time my ideas are tiny seeds that need plenty of sun and water.  I write my ideas down in a notebook so I don't forget about them.  When I get writer's block I take a break and revisit the idea in a day, or two, or 90... So my advice is that if you want to create a quality product, don't rush it :).

Have a great 4th of July!!!

   

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I should have done this weeks ago, but now you can follow me with Bloglovin!  Just click on the sidebar button.  Hope everyone is having a great summer!!!

Teachers Care for Oklahoma

As you've probably read in the newsletter this morning, a group of Tpt Teacher Authors (myself included) have donated an item from their stores to the "Teachers Care for Oklahoma" Fundraiser.  There are four bundles of learning resources available for purchase - two K-2 bundles and two 3-5 bundles.  For only a $25 donation you will receive some amazing resources!  100% of the proceeds for this fundraising event is being collected by TPT, and will be distributed by check to the appropriate Moore Oklahoma School District Representative earmarked to specifically aid the teachers as they begin the process of rebuilding.  How awesome is that?!  These bundles are only available for a limited time - until Monday June 3, 2013. Click on the links below to check out these great items!

K-2 Bundle #2**My Long A ~ Activity Pack is in this bundle

K-2 Bundle #1

3-5 Bundle #1

3-5 Bundle #2

This is the unit I donated to this fundraiser.  Click on the picture to take a closer look!

A special thanks to Crayon Box Learning for putting it all together!!!

End of Year Autograph FREEBIE

Here is a fun and EASY activity and keepsake I wanted to share with you.  A dear teacher friend introduced me to this activity years ago.  The kids love it!  Here's how it goes:
1. Have a 3x5 class photo you've taken during the year printed for each student.  I go to Walmart and it's only a few dollars.
2. Print a class set of this freebie and give each student a copy to put on their desk.
3. Students walk around from desk to desk with their favorite colored crayon or marker and autograph each paper.  Tell the students not to write in the middle rectangle because a picture will go there and their name will be covered if they do (There is ALWAYS someone who does this despite the warning! Grrrr).
4. Collect the papers, glue picture in the middle(or have students glue it), laminate and give back to students as a special keepsake.
That's it!

I have added pages for K-5. Click on the picture to download!

I've had students come back years later and show me they still have these! Enjoy and have a great rest of the school year :)