New Blog Alert!

It's so difficult to keep up with all the new blogs and even the others that have been around for a while.  So let's do some shout outs and spread the word!

Have you heard of Deb over at The Art of Teaching?!  I found her blog through another blogger's post.  Click on the picture below to see the post that got me hooked!  This post was the first thing I saw on her page and now I'm so pumped to hear more of her fabulous ideas!

Plug-n-Plan's TpT Sale!

Congratulations!!! Mel over at Plug-n-Plan has 100+ followers!!! In celebration, she's having a 2-day sale at her TpT store. Everything is 10% off, including her awesome time unit I blogged about earlier. Click Mel's logo to get your shop on and pick up some really great teaching resources! Happy shopping!

New Blog - FAB Giveaway!

Erica at Erica's Elementary Excitement! is a new blogger who is giving away a $50 Lakeshore gift card AND a $25 Target gift card!    : )    Click the Lakeshore pic to go to her blog and check out how to enter!

Teaching Time FREEBIE!!!

Do you teach time?  Looking for more activities to add to your collection?  Melissa at Plug-n-Plan is having an amazing giveaway.  She has put together an oh-so-FAB time unit called "It's Owl Time" and would like to give a snip-it of it to all of her loyal followers!  It's an 8-page file folder game/center!  Click on the pic below to head over to find out how to snag your own copy!  You can get the ENTIRE unit (41 pages!!!) at her TpT store!

Bored?

I posted this idea about summer activities at my new class blog I started. I know, I know...it's June! But I'm too excited to wait. I had to make it now while the ideas were fresh!

Instead of sitting around watching TV or playing video games until your eyes hurt, check out these fun-filled games! You can play them alone, with friends, or with your family! And just a little secret...they're helping you LEARN!!! :) You can buy these at the store or get them as apps on your mom or dad's phone! Enjoy!

You can play War!

Make words, rack up points, and build your vocab!

Play Solitaire! Remember the AB pattern of red and black.

Practice sequencing numbers!

Practice your colors and numbers, but beware! Those Draw Fours might get ya!

SO much fun! And really helps with addition and multiplication.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Totally unrelated to teaching, but have to give a shout out to my hubby! It's our 2nd anniversary! What a special day?! Dave gave me another one of his amazingly personalized, "homemade" cards. So sweet! He even got me two Venus Fly Trap plants! Sounds weird unless you know the back story. One of the blogs I follow talked about Venus Fly Trap plants a little while back and I was so excited to get one. So when Dave got me two of my own, I was in heaven! We're going to our favorite sushi spot tonight. It's called Sydney's. It's the same place he proposed. :) So it's kind of our tradition to go back each anniversary. It's special when the sushi chef says hello to us and asks us how we've been doing.

I hope everyone has a special day today just like we are!

Oh yeah, and a big THANKS to everyone who has entered the giveaway! You guys rock!

100 Followers!!! Giveaway Time!!!

You guys are AMAZING! I am more than thrilled to have such an amazing support group. :) You have no idea how much this means!

So as a small token of my huge appreciation, I would like to give one lucky follower a $25 Target gift card! (Thanks for the input!)

Here's how you can enter to win:

1. Follow my blog.

2. Follow my TpT store.

3. Follow my Facebook page.

4. Follow me on Twitter.

5. Add my button to your blog/add my blog to your blog roll.

6. Post about the giveaway on your blog (and comment with the link back to your blog).

Please leave a comment for each of the above items. You have up to six chances to enter and win! Good luck!!!

I'll give everyone a week to enter. So post your comments before next Friday, July 1st at midnight. I'll do the random number generator and announce the winner Saturday, July 2nd.

Again, good luck and thank you for your continued support! You guys are FAB-U-LOUS!!!

Almost to 100!!!

I am super stoked to be 8 followers away from 100!  When I started this blog, I had no idea how awesome and supportive all of the other teacher bloggers would be.  You guys are truly uplifting!  I was planning on having a giveaway whenever I reach the 100 mark.  I know there are a lot of giveaways out there, but I have to do something to show my appreciation!  :)  So we'll see...Target, Amazon, Lakeshore...what are some other places y'all would want a gift card to? 

"Hoo's Turn Is It?" @Plug-n-Plan

Do you teach time to your students?  Want a great activity for your kiddos?!  Click the picture below to check it out!

My Book Nook (my secret obsession!)

Hi. My name is Dana and I'm addicted to children's books. There. I said it. I'm the nut job who spent a ridiculous amount at the last Scholastic warehouse sale, but for a great cause! The kids!

Courtney and Katie over at Dishing It Out shared their book area pics this morning. They use super cute labels for their K and 1st kiddos to remember where to return their books. The ladies also shared their labels. So make sure you click their link and snag them!

Here are some pics from my book nook:

I ordered clear bins from Target (some big, some small) and labeled them to make it easier for myself and the kids.

My kids knew that the wooden bookshelf (in the above pic, to the right) was full of teacher resource books, listening center collections (I pull about 5 per week and use in my listening center), and other miscellaneous things. They knew they had free reign of everything else!

In the pic above, the white baskets are a little different. The first basket is full of AR books from the library. I always tried to push AR with my kids and made sure they had several different genres and levels at their fingertips. The other three baskets are leveled DRA books from our school bookrooms (we had one for K-2 and another for 3-5). As we tested the students DRA levels throughout the year, they knew which levels were best suited for them. And like the AR books, I wanted to make sure I offered them several genres and levels to keep them reading!

I moved all of my classroom belongings to my new classroom a few weeks ago. I'm itching to get into my room and start setting up! But you gotta clean those carpets over the summer. :)

Do you have pics of your book area? How do you organize everything?

State Shoutout!

Beth at Primary Connections came up with such a cute idea! It's simple! Just leave a comment with your state, grade, and link to your blog! See?! That's why I love it! Click the pic to head on over to her blog to join in the State Shoutout. I'm excited to see where everyone is from!

Target GC Giveaway!!!

Congrats to Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher!!!  She reached 200+ followers and is having a giving to celebrate!  The prize is a Target gift card!  Woohoo!  So click the pic below to head over and join in for a chance to win.  Good luck!

I Like Me! - Self Esteem FREEBIE!

I just finished taking an "Inner Critic" questionnaire for one of my grad school classes and it got me thinking. We all deal with certain internal conflicts and issues. Our kids face the same things. They face several obstacles with classmates, students on the bus, and siblings. It's sad to hear of the teasing and bullying going on. Once I started teaching 3rd graders, this was extremely evident to me. My kids are not only dealing with learning and mastering all the new concepts, but also dealing with social issues.

Our guidance counselor is an amazing woman who teaches the kids (and myself) excellent tools for dealing with these issues. For example, "little problems" vs. "big problems." The students can handle little problems such as "He's reading the book I wanted to read," but must see an adult for big problems such as "She pushed me out of the swing." She also introduced them to "the shield." It looks like a shield that a knight would use when jousting, but it really hit home with the kids. She had them write about positive and uplifting things about themselves. When facing hurtful comments, she reminded them to "put up their shield" and remember how awesome they were. Even I use it from time to time.

So here's where all that thinking landed me....this activity. I created this activity to help build friendships and teamwork in my classroom. I'm going to use it next year and have my students keep it somewhere special to remind them of what great kids they are.

Click the picture to download the activity.

Reading A-Z

Learning A-Z tweeted this article about Reading A-Z this morning. This is such an amazing resource and my school is lucky enough to have it! If your school doesn't, talk with your admin and get on board!

Wiggins World is having a giveaway!

Head over to Wiggins World to check out her giveaway! There are several great things up for grabs! Good luck to all!

http://awigginsworld.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-very-first-extra-special-giveaway.html?spref=bl

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my dad and all the other awesome dads out there!

Sentence Sort - Which One Is It?

These fancy names of sentences can be so tricky for the kids. It's easy to spot interrogative and exclamatory sentences because of the question mark and exclamation point. But the others gave some of my students fits this past year. :(

This is a center where students will reinforce their reading skills as well as categorize types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, exclamatory, and imperative). This 7-page center includes a cover page, directions, 2 sheets of sentence cards (total of 24 cards), 2 sheets of sorting mats (total of 4 mats), and one student recording sheet.

Click the picture to download the center!

Really Good Stuff - Blog Contest

Really Good Stuff is having an amazing contest! How cool to be able to nominate each other and show just how much we appreciate each other?! I've always loved that about teacher blogs...the support in "bloggy world" is mind-blowing!

Here is the article/link to the contest details.

The 2011 Really Good Classroom Blog Contest Starts Now!

Posted by Brandi Jordan on June 13th, 2011

It’s time! Time to submit your favorite classroom/teacher blog for the 2011 Really Good Classroom Blog Contest! We are looking for the best blogs around. They could be ones that amuse you, help you, provide ideas, or highlight the happenings of their class. With three categories to highlight (K-4, 5-8, Specialty) there is a great chance for your favorite blog to be spotlighted. Simply click here to nominate the blog you feel has the stuff to be a 2011 Really Good Classroom Blog!

Entries must be received before 9pm EST on June 30, 2011. All blogs who are nominated and whose authors agree to participate in the contest will be required to place a badge on their blog with a link back to The Teachers’ Lounge. All submissions will be reviewed and blog authors contacted within 48 hours. Voting will take place July 1-7, 2011 and one winner from each of the three categories will be chosen.

How it works:

• There will be three separate categories. Entries will be accepted for K-4, 5-8, and Specialty (counseling, reading, etc) blogs. The blog should focus on events in your classroom and other teaching related topics.

• Entries will be accepted June 13, 2011 through 9pm EST on June 30, 2011

• Once the blog has been reviewed (to be sure that it qualifies as a class/teaching blog), a contest badge and link back to the contest voting page will be sent.

• Voting will be from July 1st – 7th, 2011.

• One winner will be announced for each category on July 8th.

• Winners receive top blog roll placement, badges that indicate the award, a Teachers’ Lounge blog feature, invitation to guest post on The Teachers’ Lounge, and a $75 Really Good Stuff gift certificate.

• Runners-up get Teachers’ Lounge mention, link backs, and a contest badge

Mrs. Owens' Giveaway!

Mrs. Owens has reached 50+ followers and she's having a giveaway! She's giving away a Target gift card! L-O-V-E Target!!! So hop on over to her blog, become a follower, check out her awesome ideas, and join in the giveaway. :)

Click here to go to Mrs. Owens' blog!

Multiplication Website - Music, Strategies, and Activites!

I was searching for new ways to help my next year's class with their multiplication facts and stumbled upon this awesome website!

Musical Multiplication

They break down each set of facts, giving the kids songs, strategies, and practice activities. I can't wait to try it with my kids!

Do you guys know of any other sites or strategies to help the kids with their facts?

Sight Words Dice Game

I don't remember where I first saw this game (maybe a Reading workshop...???), but here's a quick and easy center I use during Reading. All you have to do is print/laminate the game board, print/cut/laminate the sight words, and roll the die! The kids love it and are extremely engaged!

Disclaimer: The words included with this are geared for K-2, but you could always type of your own! You can even use this for a vocab activity with Science or Social Studies concepts. :)

Click the picture to download the center!

IHeart Organizing - Giveaway and Great Ideas!!!

Jen at IHeartOrganizing not only has an amazing blog, but is having a fabulous giveaway! I'm a little OCD, so I'm super pumped about her ideas. Check out her blog, grab some awesome organizing ideas for both home and work, and get in on the giveaway!

Monthly Newsletters

How do you communicate with parents? Here are copies of how I keep my parents up-to-date with what's going on in our classroom.

Click the picture to download all 12 newsletters!


I'm also including it as a freebie in my TpT store. :)

Multiple Meanings

This is a six page center on words with multiple meanings. There are teacher and student directions, eight original words, 16 definitions, and one student recording sheet. All you need to do is print, laminate, and enjoy! Click the picture to download.

Make Your Own Comic Strips!

A colleague introduced me to this website a few months ago. Sorry I haven't shared it sooner. :( But it's a free website where the kids can create their own comic strips! They also have a place for teachers to print off comic strips with pictures and the students add their own text! I used this in my Writing center and they LOVED it! And did I mention it's FREE?!

Click on the link/pic to start exploring the site! Hope it's helpful and fun to you and your kids!

Make Your Own Comic Strips!

Dictionary Skills - Guide Words

Here's a 15-page center I created to help my students review dictionary skills and guide words. Click the picture to download.

Enjoy!