Friday, July 26, 2013

All Aboard! {freebie}

Hey yall!
 
Now I know Friday is almost over, but I wanted to bring you a little Friday freebie to finish out your week.
 
I've been hard at work adding/updating/creating lots of classroom decor items, since I know some of us are going back to school very soon and may be getting into that frenzy mode of making sure everything is in place.
 
I posted my newest classroom pack this week and its all about the sea!
 
 
I have made some schedule cards that coordinate with this theme...
 
 
...as well as a clip chart! The clip chart is a freebie in my TPT shop. If you grab a copy, I would love some feedback!
 
Click on the picture below to grab your freebie.
But I have also been adding some new products for my other classroom sets as well!
 
Some bunting banners...
 

 
Some number posters...
 

 
 
 
Some shapes and colors posters...
 


This one is available in Spanish as well!
Some separate calendar sets...
 

 
 
A weather set...
 
 
And a blank label set for my bestselling classroom set!
 
 
Whew! I still have a whole list of items I'm going to try to get up in the next week or so {God willing!}, but if there is something specific you are looking for, just shoot me an email and I'll move it to the top of the list!
 
I've got a little something happening in the morning, so I would love some prayers, friends!!!
 
 
 

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Nautical Classroom and a Winner!

Hey yall!
 
First things first, its time to announce the winner of the Quietest Pencil Sharpener giveaway.
 
 
Congrats Markisha!!! Check your email :)

I also wanted to share with you guys my newest classroom theme set. I swear, if I haven't already bought a ton of colorful baskets and printed out a bunch of stuff to go with my new chalkboard theme, I would TOTALLY be rocking this new set!

The Nautical Classroom Themed Set
This pack is 140 pages and it is EDITABLE!!!

It includes:
transportation cards
alphabet posters
table numbers
desk tags
classroom jobs
calendar buddies
calendar cards
clock labels

Click on any of the pictures below to snag your copy!






 
Want to win a copy? All you have to do is follow me on TPT and fill out the Rafflecopter below. I'll pick 2 winners on Friday.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Sunday, July 21, 2013

10 Things I've Learned from Teaching

Hey yall!
 
I'm having myself a super lazy Sunday...still in the PJs at 5:00 pm!
Linky parties are perfect for these kinds of days, so I'm linking up with sweet Hadar!
 
 
I am going into my 4th year of teaching, and boy have I learned a lot since that first year!
 
1. Enthusiasm is key in education. Be excited in whatever you are doing and your kiddos will be excited, too! Don't ever let them know that you may not particularly love a certain subject or topic. Act like everything they are learning is SUPER COOL!
 
2. Kids need to be listened to. Even though they sometimes say things that make no sense or are completely off topic, they still need to be heard. Take a few minutes each day to just listen to what your kiddos are saying....I promise, you will learn so much!
 
3. It's okay to not be the perfect teacher. Sometimes when I read all the amazing blogs and wonderful things everyone seems to be doing, I feel like I am letting down my own students. But then I remember that I am only human and cannot do it all. And you know what? That's okay. As long as my kiddos are learning, I'm doing the right thing.
 
4. Take time for yourself. Seriously. Don't always bring home papers that need to be graded, or journals that need to be read, or lesson plans that need to be written. You will get burnt out if you don't allow yourself time to de-stress and unwind. Carve out even just 1-2 hours a week where you don't do anything school related, and relax :)
 
5. You are not going to like every student. Yes, I know this sounds harsh, but I wouldn't be keeping it real if I said otherwise. Sometimes you may come across a child who you just don't like. But, with that being said, you still love and care for the well-being of that child, because you would be failing them if you didn't.
 
6. Co-workers and co-teachers can be your saving grace. Talk to them, listen to their advice, and seek them out when you have a problem. They have been in your shoes and know exactly what you are feeling. Find some teaching buddies...stat!
 
7. Being a teacher involves the whole family. My poor hubs (and parents, friends, in-laws, etc) knows this firsthand. He is constantly helping me out, whether with grading papers, cutting out laminate, or even dressing as a leprechaun for our St. Patrick's dance.
 
 
8. Society thinks of teachers in one of two ways: they either have the utmost respect and adoration for them OR they think they are a complete joke. Thankfully, I find most people subscribe to the first philosophy, but there are definitely those out there that think teachers are idiots who have the world's easiest job and should be thankful to have the summer off.
 I cringe every time I see something like this...
 
because anyone who knows a teacher knows that this is complete BS.
 
9. Teaching involves saying the same thing over...and over...and over again. Then saying it again in a different way. Then again in another way. Whatever it takes :)
 
10. Teaching is FUN! I love getting 30 hugs a day, reading to a group of eager listeners, receiving homemade notes and pictures full of love, and seeing the look on a kiddos face when they just get it. That look makes it all worth it :)
 
I could seriously go on and on....but instead, I'm going to go read what everyone else has learned. Head on over to Miss Kindergarten and read along with me!



Saturday, July 20, 2013

And it begins...

Hey yall!
 
Well, I am almost in back to school mode. I'm not quite ready to head back yet, but I am in the beginning stages of thinking about going back.
 
I only have 2 and a half weeks left...
{moment of silence, please}
 
I had been avoiding the back to school aisles at Wal-Mart and Target like a plague, but finally took the plunge this week. And, of course, now I can't open my trunk for fear my hubby will see how much money I've spent on school stuff.

I asked him to finish this statement yesterday, "You know you're married to a teacher when..."
and he said, "more money is spent on school supplies than me."

Whoops! Definitely must keep that trunk on lockdown.

But while he was snoozing today, I did sneak a couple of bags in to take some pics :)
And I'm linking up with Smart Kids to share my goodies with you!

 
Since I'm moving to 5th grade this year, I've decided to retire the owls and bring in the chalkboard! As with anything I do in life, I am going at this full force! I'm just hoping my budget can keep up :)
 
I loved using whole brain teaching with my firsties and I'm hoping to keep up that momentum with those big 5th graders, so I made some posters in my new theme.
 
Want a copy? Be sure to like me on Facebook for this freebie!
 
Yesterday, I hit up Wal-Mart to snag some of those back to school goodies.
 
 
My big sis {holla Kristie!} gently reminded me that I may not need all of this for 5th grade, and she may be right. BUT we are moving to an arts-infused curriculum next year and I am determined to still bring some fun and crafts into the classroom. 5th graders still like making crafts, right??? I mean, I still like it, and I'm 28!
 
I also picked up these goodies from Wal-Mart.
 
 
I'm loving that Quartet chalk board! It will probably hang by the door with a greeting for my kiddos.
You can't really tell by this picture, but those shape stickers are actually dry erase and have the days of the week on them. I'm thinking I will post these by my desk somewhere with to-do lists.
 
 And...you can't really start the new year off without some new flair pens, right? I haven't ordered my Erin Condren planner yet, but I plan on using these pens when I do get around to ordering it.
 
After Wal-Mart, I headed over to the Dollar Tree in search of these buckets.
 
 
These make great trashcans for small groups. They only had the pink and green, so I need to still find a blue and purple one. I had all four colors last year, but those destructive sweet firsties broke them all.
 
I finished my shopping day by heading over to Target. I just knew I would spend some money there!
 
 
I grabbed these two buckets for my pencils. I am also planning on adding some black vinyl to all my colored buckets from last year, but these were too cute to pass up!
 
 
I cannot tell you how giddy I was to find these babies! Not only are they chalkboard and in my colors, but they also have a sticky back! I have tons of ideas running around my brain on what to do with these....like using them on the first day to take pictures of my kiddos with their names or birthdays, or sticking them around the room at different stations, or using them to write essential questions...
 
 
I always stock up on Dr. Seuss goodies at the beginning of the year, that way I'm set when March rolls around :)
 
 
Rachel over at the tattooed teacher posted a pic of those adorable erasers the other day, and I just had to pick some up! Never mind that I have about 20 of the black ones already....these are in my colors! Too bad they didn't have any purple and pink ones.
 
The little sticky flags are going to help keep my organized and that pink hanging thing will, too. It has 3 pockets and will hang behind my desk.
 
BTW, all of these pictures came from my Instagram. Don't miss out....follow me here!
 
Okay, I better go get all this back in the trunk before the hubs sees :)



Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener Giveaway!

Hey yall! Happy hump day!
 
I have exactly 3 weeks of summer left before school starts......waaahhh! I know these next few weeks are going to go by super fast, so I'm starting to get geared up about my classroom. I see some money being spent in my future!
 
One thing I've got already is the best pencil sharpener ever! I was super stoked to review this little baby for Troy over at Classroom Friendly Supplies, because that meant I got to use it in my own classroom, as well as support this amazing product. But I am even more stoked now, because yall have the chance to win one!!!

 
This giveaway is super short and sweet. Just enter the Rafflecopter below and then leave me a comment telling me what color you would choose {Cool Blue, Groovy Green, Midnight Black, or Firehouse Red}!
 
Easy, peasy lemon squeazy :)
 
 
Good luck, friends!



Monday, July 15, 2013

Chalk It Up to Good Behavior! {freebie}

Hey yall! Happy Monday!
 
Who has two thumbs and just finished her gifted endorsement???
 
This girl!
 
I took 4 classes this summer to get the endorsement and it was a lot of work! I spent hours and hours {and hours and hours!} getting my final portfolio ready, and I finally turned it in on Friday. Goodbye schoolwork, hello summer! Well, what's left of it anyway...
 
This baby has over 300 pages of hard work in it!
 
 
And I'm not ashamed to admit that I was giddy my portfolio was the cutest out of all the ones I saw :)
 
Now that I'm done with that, I can focus a little more on my classroom! I'm moving to 5th grade next year, and I was having a hard time deciding what theme to choose. I love, love, love my owls, but I just thought they may be a little too juvenile for 5th graders.
 
But I spent a lot of time and money collecting things that had my owl theme colors, so I wanted to still incorporate those somehow. I decided to combine those beautiful colors with my newest obsession....chalkboard!!!
 
Click on the picture to grab your copy!



I also made some matching schedule cards to go along with this new theme!
 
Click on the picture to get your copy!



 
Now, even though I'm not going to be using a clip chart {I don't think....what's your thoughts? Anyone use a clip chart with 5th graders???}, I decided to go ahead and make one for yall!
 
 
Click HERE to get your freebie!
 
I also wanted to let yall know that I updated my best selling classroom pack! If you have purchased the pack {and haven't printed it all out yet!}, go download the new and improved version.
 
 
I'm linking this post up with my two favorite Monday linkys :)