My First Giveaway

Alright.....here goes nothing!!!

I am having my first official giveaway.

Why?? Just because!! I've seen lots of great giveaways, so I want to give it a try!!

This giveaway is for my 3 novel units I've created on TpT!!

Horrible Harry and the Triple Revenge
By Suzy Kline

Fish Face

By Patricia Reilly Giff

Stanley, Flat Again

By Jeff Brown

Each unit includes comprehension questions for each chapter, vocabulary for each chapter, activities that include many reading comprehension skills, such as:

-compare/contrast

-sequencing

-predicting

-text-to-self connections

 

Together, this is a value of $10.50....but enter below for your chance of getting it for free!!

Giveaway begins today, December 30th and runs until January 7th!!

You can earn up to 6 entries. See below for how!!



 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fellow Blogger Giveaway

Bright Concepts 4 Teachers is having a New Years Resolution giveaway to celebrate her followers!! Head on over to her blog to see how to enter!!

Bright Concepts 4 Teachers Giveaway

New Years Resolution

It's been a while since I've posted. I've been enjoying my break....A LOT!!! :)

This post is a more personal post, rather than a teaching post.  As we all know, the year 2013 is coming. It's that time of year for the wonderful New Years resolutions!! I read somewhere (I apologize for not remembering where) that New Years resolutions should be a life resolution, and not just for that year!! I have a few things that I plan on doing for my "life" resolution...and I wanted to share them with you!!

1. Stay away from complaining.

Is my job perfect? No. Does everything always work out how I want it? No. But I need to remember that I have a job, and need to be thankful. Also, sometimes our prayers are answered in ways that we don't necessarily like at the moment. Somewhere, though, God will show why he answered a prayer in a certain way. I need not complain because everyday is a great day to be alive, and I need to enjoy each day to the fullest!! Positive Polly's are a lot more fun to be around than Negative Nancy's or Debby Downers!! :)

2. Tithe

One Sunday at church, the pastor was talking about tithing. He mentioned how if we all had to live solely on what we tithe, some of us would be in trouble. Guilty!!! That would be me!! My husband and I looked at our bank account stats one day (yes...my husband keeps stats about where our finances go....it's pretty awesome if you ask me) and next to tithes....it sadly said 0.0%. In other words, if we had to live solely on our tithes, we would have nothing and would be out on the street!! We have our weekly envelopes dated and ready to go. The next step is to pray about an amount and make sure to give back what God has given us!!

3. Make more phone calls

I am TERRIBLE about calling people to just say hello. I don't even try to pretend like I am good at it. I have never been a fan of just sitting and chatting, if I don't have a true purpose for making that call. It has gotten me in trouble in the past with friends, and I know I need to do better. Even if the purpose is to, literally, just say hello, I need to do it! 

4. Be a better teacher

With frustrations with my job, it sometimes gets taken out on the kids. It is definitely not their fault. They have just come to school to learn, not get the rathe becaus I had to fill out ANOTHER PEP for a student, or because I had to sit through ANOTHER meeting instead of getting plans done! Students don't deserve to get less, just because I have more "busy work" to do. Along the same lines, I need to.....

5. Manage my time better

Instead of sitting and venting to team members (please refer to resolution number 1), I need to get plans finished and items prepared for future plans so that those meetings don't get in the way of planning time. Doing this will help me feel prepared and be a better teacher!! 

Those are my 5 main resolutions. Of course I want to exercise more and eat better, but those are common and repetitive. These 5 things, I think, will help to make me a better person and make my life even better than it is right now!!!

What are your resolutions (personal or teaching)?

One....More....Day....

I think I can...I think I can!!! My 17 lovelies are a naturally chatty bunch, therefore this past week they have been even MORE chatty!!! I ALMOST yelled "SHUT UP" today....but caught myself and just simply said "SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!" The funny part....my normally "fun" student has been great this week!! Now the others have just gone mad! One of my college professors referred to the weeks before Christmas break as survival mode!! This is living proof!!

We have been doing activities this week on How the Grinch Stole Christmas (which I put on TpT as a small literacy unit...and it has been flying off  the "shelf")! I bet you will never guess what we will be doing tomorrow........anyone?? Okay, I'll tell you!! We are watching the movie to relate to our book and literacy unit!!! Just so you know...this movie is about 2 hours long!! I can't WAIT!!!

So anywho....after we get back from break we will be reviewing geometry for a couple of days!! Tis is definitely good because we taught it before, but the unit we were given was very complicated to understand, therefore complicated to teach!!

There were too many words.....just tell me what you want me to teach, and let me be!!

So....i presented my team with a geometry activity!! We are going to make quadrilateral pictures, where everything in the picture has to be a quadrilateral!! It can be an animal, person, house, tree, etc. then they are going to have to label each shape and give its attributes. For example: my persons arm has 2 sets of parallel lines and 4 congruent sides. It will be a great way for students to apply what they learn!!

I'm actually somewhat excited about it! The last unit was just terrible, so I'm ready to start over and reteach what I did a not so good job of teaching in the first place!!!

I hope everyone has a fabulous winter break!! I know I will!! Enjoy your family, food, presents....but don't forget the Reason for the Season!!!! Merry Christmas!!

My heart hurts...

A child lies, a child cheats, a child yells, a child gets out of line......but NEVER......NEVER.....would the thought of taking the life of that child come to mind!!! It hurts my heart to know that someone had the nerve to end the life of 20 children!! Not only that, but scar the minds and hearts of the other children who had to witness it!!! It is sick!! My 17 children in my class make me smile, laugh, sometimes pull my hair out!! They make my job eventful! Those 20 children no longer have the opportunity to bless the lives of the people around them....their teachers, their classmates, and most important..their parents! All because one person....one sick person....decided to make a horrible and selfish decision!

My prayer is for the families of those involved, from the ones who were killed to the ones who witnessed it!! I pray that God can comfort them in this time of grief. I pray that God can shine his light for everyone to see it and to let everyone know that he is here, even if it is hard to believe! I pray that guns would stop being used to kill! I pray that people who need help, would search for ways to get help instead of taking it out on innocent people....children!! I pray for this world. For the people of this world, for the actions of the people, and for us all to realize where things have gone!

May God open his arms and hug and embrace those 20 children and 6 adults who came to him in heaven today! May he tell them that they are safe and sound with him! May he tell those children to run and play, free of fear and free of harm!! I pray they swing on the swings of heaven, climb across the monkey bars, and slide down the slide of the heavenly playground!! They can smile, scream, and play together and know that they are sitting in THE greatest place ever!!

God bless the families, and God bless this world!!!!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas...

Next week....I think I can, I think I can.....is our last week before Christmas break! Some of my teammates and I have decided to do our literacy plans around none other than....The Grinch!!!

I am actually REALLY excited about these plans because it is going to be a fun story, that the kids will enjoy, and the literacy skills we are working on are going to be used in a more creative way than usual!!  I decided to create a small literacy skills unit using the story!  Click on the link below to see my unit and purchase it, if you would like!!

 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas Literacy Skills

 

 

If you purchase it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I think I am going to enjoy it! Don't forget to leave feedback with any comments or suggestions!!

 

Happy Friday Eve!!!

12-12-12 pictures Linky

So apparently there is a rule to not post more than once in a day in Blogland.....but I want to do the 12 random pictures......enjoy my field trip, family life, and misc. pictures from 12-12-12!! Happy first Linky party!!!

Simpsons Superstars

 

Some of my students in "jail" at the Schiele Museum. 

 

 

We made the phases of the moon out of Oreos to relate to our field trip!!

 

Two of my students looking at a rattlesnake......YIKES!!!

 

 

My Christmas tree and sons!! 4 legged sons, that is!! :)

 

 

Random....being silly with the Ipad.....

 

 

A delicious fruit candy cane I took off of our tree! My husband surprised me by buying two boxes and hanging them on our tree as "ornaments." Loved it!!!

 

Beautiful sky.....God's work!!! Enough said...

 

Bird house....

 

About how I felt while walking around the museum with about 100 3rd graders.......

 

My students looking at fish.

 

More jail pictures.....

 

My whole bunch (yes...count them....15.....FANTASTIC!!!) at The Schiele Museum.  Quick....see if you can point out my "fun" student!!! :) I'll give you one guess.......

 

That was my 12-12-12 day!! :)

12 in '12 Linky Party

I am linking up with Teeny  Tiny Teacher and Miss Kindergarten in their 12 in '12 Linky Party!!

 

12.  Favorite movie you watched

If I am completely honest with everyone, the honest answer is nothing. My husband and I don't watch movies!! We just never get that urge to sit and watch some movie. Not to mention, the movie theatre is out of question because it now cost your first born to go sit and watch a movie. If we do get the urge, we go to RedBox and just look for something interested.  The last movie we watched was Contraband, but I cant say it was my favorite....

11.  Favorite TV Series

Now this IS an area where my husband and I are guilty!! We have quite a few....

Bones

There is nothing like a good murder mystery show, with a little humor, and quite the love story!!

The Big Bang Theory

So I am ashamed to say that we started watching this show while we were in Gatlinburg for our 1 year anniversary. We were just hanging out one night, and flipped through and found the show. I knew about  it, but had never gotten into it. We watched it once....and were hooked!!

Boy Meets World

Thats right.....we go old school!! It comes on Fox Family, so we DVR the series and watch it for a little reminiscing. Rumor  has it that a new series is coming out called Girl Meets World....with the same characters and actors!!!! 

10. Favorite Restaurant

  My all time favorite restaurant, hands down, is Olive Garden. Breadstick, salad, pasta, house wine.....enough said!!! 9.  Favorite new thing you tried TpT has been my most favorite thing Ive tried this year! I started in August, just to give it a try.  My first quarter, I made just a little, but was so excited to make that first sale. Now, I make a sale ALMOST  every day!! I don't have a whole lot on it right now, but my goal is to tackle some bigger projects this upcoming summer to put on my store!! Thank you to anyone who has purchased one of my items!! 
8. Favorite Gift you Received   Hmm......I would say that my most favorite gift I received this year would have to be an Ipad.  TECHNICALLY I received it last year....but I didn't really start using it until this year! I received it from a group I am in at UNCCharlotte called First Three.  It is a support group for teachers during their first three years of teaching.  They bought each member an Ipad as our Christmas gifts!! I almost didn't get it because I didn't go to the meeting.  However, my aunt works at UNCC and she called me and said, "YOU NEED TO GET HERE!!" I said, "NO I DON'T!!!!" (It had been a long day).  After arguing for about 5 minutes, and her finally telling me why, I drove up to UNCC and received my gift!! Pretty sure I would have been kicking myself had I not listened and stayed home!! 7.  Favorite thing you pinned   Well, besides my own products....:)....this picture below of a storage shelf that has been built in to the staircase!!   I showed my husband.....I want it one day!!! Maybe not today.....but someday...I will have my built in shelf underneath my staircase!!!!   6.  Favorite blog post I have only been blogging since August, but I would have to say that my favorite blog post is probably when I was bragging about some things that happened at school that day!! It is titled Bragging Rights. I just remember this day was great, and I wanted the world to know!! :) 5.  Favorite accomplishment This year....my favorite accomplishment would have to be when one of my lower students from last year, scored a 3 on her math EOG...which was ultimately her accomplishment, but I did play a small role in that.  This child was one of those that you love to hate, and hate to love!! She drove me up the WALL, but I wanted nothing more than for her to do well! She was and still is reading at about a 2nd grade level in third grade (now in fourth grade).  She has had a hard family life, and has not had a huge success in her education.  When I got my scores for the end of grades, I teared up when I saw that this child had scored a 3 on her math.  I was expecting a 1 or a 2, simply because of her performance throughout the school year on tests.  It was one of the best feelings ever, and it made up for the students I saw that did not quite pass.  I didn't even care that she made a 1 on her reading....she passed her math and I get to share a little of that reward because I helped her get there!!!   Not to mention.....after it was all said and done, I only had about 4 students out of 23 not pass either reading or math, which was a HUGE accomplishment for my first year in teaching 3rd grade!!  
  4. Favorite picture Hmm.......  this one!!!  

  These are my children!!! Chipper (on the right) and Graham (on the left).  This was for Chippers 1st birthday! We adopted him from a rescue center in Lenoir, NC, so we took his picture to send to them to show them how big he has gotten! Graham is my 13 (almost 14) year old golden retriever, lab mix.  He is THE best dog ever, hands down! So loyal! I just love how they are both looking at the camera, and kind of posing, too! Who needs kids when you can enjoy these two bundles of joy every day!!!??
  3.  Favorite memory Hands down, the last day of school this past year.  I looped with my students from 2nd to 3rd grade.  We created such a strong bond! They called me Momma B, and felt like they were my own children!! On the last day of school, they dismissed car riders.  When I said goodbye to those students, my whole class ran to the door and started hugging each other, saying goodbye, too!! I bawled like a baby.  My students started laughing at me, but then some of them started crying, too!! My heart broke because they weren't going to be my babies anymore, even though I would see them everyday this year.  We all shared a class hug, and I cried the whole way down the bus lot to drop them off at their busses! Then I cried the whole way home....and a little when I got home....and a little the whole night!!! It was awesome to know I created such a close relationship with 23 students. They still come by this year and give me hugs and say hello! I miss them......
2.  Goal for 2013 Hmm.....I don't know!! Probably to go to church more often! We have been in between churches with getting married and moving, so we have been slacking in the church area tremendously!! We have started going to the church my husband grew up at now, so hopefully we will be more loyal and committed to going each week.
  1.  One little word      Calm! That is the only word I could think of that encompasses a lot....no stress, no worries, trust in God, confidence, and more!! I am a worry wart......and I aim to just be calm and worry free!! I am doing okay so far, but I want to do even better. That is my ultimate goal!! So calm.....calmness in my heart, mind, and actions!! :)

Short...and to the point...

Enough said...............

Spring Fever.....Maybe??

So I might be getting a little ahead of myself, or maybe I am just that anxious for a break of some kind.....

Last night I uploaded a series of SMARTBoard lessons on The Life Cycle of a Butterfly!!! Yep....spring fever...and it's not even winter!!! I created these lessons back when I was student teaching....back in the day.....back 4 years ago.....back in the easier days....back before PEPs, PDPs, IEPs, and many other acronyms......oh, how I wish I could go back!! 

Anyways...enough of my pity party....I created 5 different SMARTBoard lessons for the life cycle: one as an introduction, and one for each stage of the life cycle. This was probably one of my most favorite units of student teaching!! We made a lapbook to go along with the unit, which I will upload at some point when I get a chance, and we watched real caterpillars turn into butterflies!! It was awesome!!

So here are the opening pages for each SMARTBoard lesson:

Introduction Lesson TpT

Egg Stage Lesson TpT

Caterpillar Lesson TpT

Chrysalis Lesson TpT

Adult Butterfly Lesson TpT

So there you have it....spring fever!! :) I guess I should get to winter break...AKA Christmas break in my book.....first before wishing for spring!!!

PS....I have 21 followers!! That's exciting!! Gotta start somewhere!!! My SMARTBoard lessons for the life cycle are 20% off, in honor of reaching 20 followers!!! Get them discounted until Friday evening!!!

Currently...in December...

Can I just say I LOVE these currently Linky parties??!! I am linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade's December Linky Party!!!

Here are my answers:

Listening: to the Georgia Bama game. I really could care less about the game....but the husband wants to watch it! Therefore, I am listening to it!! :)

Loving: The Girls on the Run 5k this morning. It was my first 5k ever, and what a great one to have as my first!! Visit my post titled Live for Little Moments to read about my experience!!

Thinking: not a whole lot!! I was actually having to think about what I was thinking!! Got a clear mind today, I suppose!!

Wanting: my hair to grow faster!!! It is getting longer, but it needs to keep going!! I am ready to wear a ponytail again. I'm sure after a couple months, though, I will cut it short again!! Who knows...

Needing: my house to clean itself!!! Seriously.....can I get a little Mary Poppins action here? Or The Cat in the Hat to come with his cleaning machine he used at the kids house?? I love a clean house....but it's so annoying to vacuum and scrub and sweep and all that jazz!! I guess you have to work hard to get things to look the way you want!!

RAK: I figured I would make my store 20% off until Monday!! I don't have a whole bunch of products, but at least the ones I do have can be cheaper for those that may want them!!!

Teachers Pay Teachers

Here is the link to my store if you are interested!!!

Click the link above to add your own currently, or to visit some really great blogs!!

Happy December!!!

Live for little moments....

So this morning....I crawled out of bed.....complained about being tired....brushed my teeth with no motivation...stuck out my tongue at my husband as he turned over and went back to sleep.....and hated that is was Saturday morning and I was awake at 6:15 am.

It was Girls on the Run 5K day!! Our girls probably won't even run....they probably will walk the whole thing....do we really even need to be there??!!!

8:00---girls were supposed to be there at 7:30 and we had one girl....this is gonna be fabulous!! (Sarcasm)

8:15---they start trickling in. Oh wow....we even have some parents who are running, too!! Okay...may not be too bad!!

9:00--race is about to start!! Holy cow....what a crowd!! We had to make sure each girl had a running buddy!! PURE CHAOS!!!!!

That was my personality and emotions from 6:15-9:00 when the race started. Of course, I was smiling and encouraging the girls, but deep inside I was just not ready!!!

Let me tell you..........the 5K was one of the best experiences EVER!! I ran with 3 girls. We started off running and probably ran about 3/4 of the first mile. The girls I ran with were truly pushing themselves...even the one I thought was going to walk the entire thing. We stopped running and walked a good ways before starting back up again, but it was so awesome to have these three girls running/walking beside me, relying on me for encouragement, and pushing themselves even when it was hard!! They were even pushing each other along with their words. Yea...we did have some complaining, but THEY DID IT!! I finished the race with 2 girls, one connected to each hand....and had to go back to make sure the third girl did not finish alone!! They got their medals, and went on to get a smoothie and relax!! I was SO PROUD of our girls. Were they tired....yes!! Did their feet and legs hurt....yes!! But they finished!!!

Can we say teachable moment for myself???? It doesn't matter how you "run the race".....as long as you finish and can say you pushed yourself to meet the challenge!!! May need to relate this to the classroom.....just sayin....

Picture will come soon!