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!!!

   

3 Books for the Halloween Book Linky Party!

I always love a good book, so I was very excited to join this great linky party!  I have a few Halloween book favorites I'd love to share with everyone.

This story is soooo cute!  It's about a witch who runs into a few problems because everything she owns, including her cat - is black.  She tries some witch style problem solving that doesn't go the way she expects, but it does have a happy ending.  I've been reading this book for years to my students and I always look forward to reading it again!

This isn't  really a Halloween book but I read it every October. Good ole lovable Grover doesn't disappoint.  The students think the book is hilarious, especially when you ham it up!  Throughout the book Grover doesn't want you to turn the pages because he's afraid of the monster at the end.  The students get really into it and BEG me to turn the pages - hehehe.  Highly recommended!!!

Another book about monsters :)  This is a book I found about two years ago.  The "perfect" little monster does everything a good monster does - terrible messes, scowling faces, etc.  At the end he does something so horrible he scares his entire monster family - all to the delight of the students.  The ending is what makes this book a must read.  

So if you happen across these books be sure to check them out.  They would be a great addition to your Halloween book collection.  If you'd like to join this linky, or see other books suggested click on the link below to head over to First Grade Found Me and visit the other blogs who have joined this linky.

School Books and FUN Books ~ Summer Reading Linky!

I LOVE to read!  So I was happy to join in on the Clutter Free Classroom's linky party.  I'm always looking for good books to read and can't wait to check out what others are suggesting.  I plan on reading books for school, and books just for fun.

Books to read for school: 

I had never heard of these books until I started reading the blogs - I feel so behind the times!  But better late than never I guess. 

Mrs. Jump is hosting a blog book study about this book.  Amazon says it's out of stock, where do I find it??? Discussion starts June 22nd.

On to the fun books!

I was up at 6:30 this morning finishing book 1 - I HAVE to run to Walmart today and get the others!!!!!

I've read all the other books in the Game of Thrones series.  I love a long book - short ones I read too fast!

ROCKIN RESOURCES - Linky!!!

Kelley over at the fabulous Teacher Idea Factory, is hosting her first linky party! It's all about sharing resources that we couldn't live without!
In random order, here are 5 things I couldn't live without!

1. Class Dojo

I love this!  If you would like to read more about Class Dojo check out my previous post! (you can find it under Find It Fast)
2. Number System
Ahhhh my beloved number system.  I know it's not really a resource, but it's a huge part of the happenings in my classroom.  I got the idea from a Rick Morris training.  I assign each student a number for the year. Instead of writing their name on everything I write their number.  I put it on glue, scissors, pencils, crayons, etc. I also use it on non-consumable things so I can use them year after year.
3. Highlighters

Simple yet AWESOME.  It's amazing what a little ole highlighter can do.  My favorite way to use them is with our weekly phonics readers.  I have students highlight the spelling phonics pattern we are learning for the week in the phonics readers. It helps students really focus their attention on the sound/spelling pattern.  Recently, I used them when introducing double digit addition and subtraction.  If students were having a hard time, I had them use a highlighter to draw a line dividing the tens and ones - worked like a charm.
4. Elmo

Long gone are the dinosaur days of overhead projectors.  Two years ago our district joined the 21st century and invested in some much needed technology - hooray!
5. Promethean Board (photo from Google Images - not my student or classroom)

I'm not sure how many districts out there are using interactive whiteboards, but along with the Elmos we got a few years ago our district got Promethean Boards.  I can't imagine teaching without it!  Our 1st grade team got together and made flipcharts for all of our language arts curriculum. The best thing is now that they are made I just have to open up a virtual folder.  No more trying to find where I put the pictures that go with a lesson, they are already there in the folder.

Don't forget to join the linky! Can't wait to see what you can't live without :)

Kinder - 2nd Linky Party : Woot Woot!

I just found this great linky party over at Kindergarten Lifestyle.  Click on the button below to join the party!