Christmas Blog Hop (freebie)

I'm doing a brief jump in with the Christmas Blog Hop hosted by Time 4 Kindergarten.  If you've haven't followed this, you have to go back and see the great freebies you've missed!

I wanted to share a simple Build a Snowman game that I made.  The snowman graphics came from Lanier's Lions.  If you haven't checked out her graphics, you must that are too cute!!  Anyway click the picture below to go grab the game from my TpT store.

In Honor and Loving Memory

Who's Child?

I have no words for this but found this poem from Erica Bohrer.  My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.

Winter Holidays Freebie Pack!

Have you seen this yet?  It is an amazing pack full of freebies from different bloggers.  There are some great things in there!  Click the picture to go get it.

*There are also packs geared toward other elementary grade ranges.*

Enjoy!!

Gingerbread Man Writing (previously posted)

I just wanted to do a quick reminder of the How to Eat a Gingerbread Man writing freebie I posted last year.  Click the picture to see that post.

On a happy note for me, I get to go enjoy my hubby's work Christmas party tonight.  This year's theme is a masquerade ball.  Should be fun!

Counting Jar (freebie)

This is going to be a short post because I am bogged down with F&P testing.  But I have a freebie I wanted to share.  We use Math Investigations.  One of the components is a counting jar that reappears randomly throughout the year.  I created this simple recording sheet to go along with the activity.  I print them front/back and cut in fourths.  The kids record their guess on the thought bubble side.  Then they count what's in the jar and write the number on the lid of the jar picture and draw that many things inside the jar.  Easy peasy right?  My kids like it!  Click the pictures below to grab them!

 

*Oops!  If you had trouble downloading, it should be fixed now!*

Pinterest Yummies!

So this post is completely not school related, but come on everyone loves food!

*Click the pictures to go to the recipes!*

First up are these yummy pancake bites!  I made up some bacon and blueberry ones last night so hubby can take them in for breakfast when he exercises at work (yes, they are lucky and have a gym at his work!).  I didn't actually eat any but hubby and one of his friend assured me they were yummy!  I did make a few changes.  We used normal pancake mix and I used sugar free pancake syrup instead of the carmel syrup and it worked perfectly.  Hubby warmed them up and enjoyed them without any additional syrup needed!

Next is this awesome soup!  I have made this numerous times now.  We absolutely LOVE it!  Hubby and I do add a little hot sauce to our bowls.  Seriously addictive!

Hopefully you won't all abandon me for this non-teaching post.  I can't promise there won't be more! : )

Pre-New Year's Resolution

I have been a REALLY bad blogger.  Thanks for sticking with me.  I have not felt very creative lately due to some district adoptions for this year that are just very boring to me.  It is my goal to find a way to make these better and more engaging for me and my students!  With that I also want to share what I am doing with all of you!!

I wanted to share this with you.  I have had a lot of students with allergies the last couple of years.  My nurse sent this out and I am so happy to find it!  This site updates a list of peanut and egg free products. I know it is hard for my parents to find things so this should be a great help!

I hope you find this useful.  I promise to post a freebie soon!

Psst...don't forget to head over to TpT to grab some goodies before the sale is over tonight! (I've added a few new things!)

Product Swap Part 2 (with giveaway!)

Remember I said I got to do not one but TWO products so here is part deux.

My next product comes Cheryl over at Crayons & Curls.

She sent me her wonderful I Can Read the Alphabet set.  The set has some beautiful graphics to reinforce letters and beginning sounds.  You can check it out in her TpT store here.

The first part of this set is an adorable alphabet reader.  The best part....it is in black and white so easy to print class sets!  Unfortunately no real pictures of my kiddos doing this one but no worries cute pics to follow.

My daughter adored the beginning sound match sheets.  She was mad that I wouldn't take a picture of her doing each one! : )

What's better than teamwork?  This activity that both of my kiddos enjoyed!  These too cute for words flashcards were colored and cut with care.  Then we enjoyed some uppercase/lowercase matching and flashcard naming.

We had a lot of fun with this set.  It is easy to print being full of black and white pages!  It is only $4.00 and so worth it.  

Hop over to Cheryl's TpT store here (hurry and you might find a surprise)!

Be sure to stop by her blog to check out all of her fun happenings!

Now for some fun, enter the Rafflecopter below to win a copy of Cheryl's unit and my Down on the Farm pack (which is on sale right now!) that she reviewed for the product swap!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy shopping!

Product Swap Part 1 (and a giveaway!)

That's right!  We're at it again.  I got to review not one but two products this time!


My first product comes from Tiffani over at Time 4 Kindergarten.

I got to check out her Alphabet Up a Tree unit.  You can find it in her TpT store here.

This cute unit has some great letter recognition and beginning sound games.  The graphics are adorable!

These amazingly cute cards were loved by my kiddos.  My daughter enjoyed matching them all up with upper, lower, and beginning sounds.  My son worked with hubby on a rousing game of which letter says /m/.

Both kiddos enjoyed the alphabet tree upper/lower matching.

This unit includes:  the matching cards (upper/lower/beginning sounds), D'Nealian handwriting pages, letter matching trees, cut and paste activities, graphing questions, and class book covers.

All of this is only $4.00!  Crazy, I know.  This is one you have to check out!

Head over now to Tiffani's TpT store to grab this unit.  (Psst...you might just find a flash sale there so hurry!)

Don't forget to check out her amazing blog as well!

Now for the great giveaway!  When a copy of Tiffani's Alphabet Up a Tree unit and my Crayon Box That Talked unit  (which is on sale right now!) that she reviewed!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writer's Workshop Writing Paper (freebie)

So we are doing things a little differently so that is why I haven't been on as much.  We are doing reader's and writer's workshops this year.  We are busy making plans that look like this.

Exciting to share, right?  I did make some new writing paper to use during writer's workshop since my little darlings are nowhere near ready for the double check writing paper.  It is pretty basic but if you want it come grab it.  The box at the top is for the date stamp!

I am totally using this idea from Giggle and Squeals to post the papers on the wall and they get to sign it when they have "mastered" writing on that many lines.  I think they will love it!

If you like the freebies, please consider giving to my Donor's Choose project (I even have a double your impact time going on from Kaplan) or check out my TpT or TN stores to check out my other items.  

Thanks for stopping in!

Kindergarten Common Core

I don't know about you but we are having to come up with all kinds of things as we transition to the the Common Core State Standards this year.  

Then I found this  Have you seen this book yet?  It looks AMAZING!  This book has over 600 pages dedicated to the Kindergarten Common Core.  It has worksheets, activity centers and posters for all of the ELA and Math Standards.  Check out the sample pages at the link above (seriously they are adorable with fabulous graphics).  This looks like such a great resource to have!  The best part...it's only $39.99.  Not too shabby for so many activities!

And don't worry if you are not Kindergarten, they have them for other grades too!  Just follow the link above and you can easily find other grade options!

So hurry over and check it out now!!

Awesome Smartboard Pointer!

So I showed you my new Smartboard that I am way to excited about having.  Well I now have an awesome pointer to make it even more fun that I found over at SmartMoves!

Check out this cuteness!

 And the back is covered in foam so it is gentle and easy to slide on the Smartboard.

My kids think it is great!  They love that it is cute and slides easily.   It is a nice length so it helps them reach toward the top without needing a stool!  It is well made and seems sturdy which is always a plus in Kindergarten!!

Head over to SmartMoves to check these out!  They are well worth the $15!  I may have to buy another one soon just to have a variety of cuteness!

*I was send this pointer free of charge in return for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own!

Back to School Blog Hop (freebie)

Have your been following the Back to School Blog Hop?  If not be sure to jump in!  I don't have a lot of time to chime in here so I thought I would make up for it with a freebie!  It's amazing what free stuff can solve.  : )  So here is a How We Go To School graph pack.

Just click the picture to go grab it from my TpT store!

We are done with day 3 of kiddos and I have a good group so far.  They will have their challenges but overall sweet kids.

Be sure to hop into this great linky party to get some amazing back to school freebies and ideas!

That Time of Year (freebie)

Sorry I haven't blogged in a bit.  I've been crazy trying to get everything ready and it seems like everything takes much longer than it should.  Well, you know how it goes.  So I thought I'd share some of my progress so far.

Here is the area outside my door.  We each have one of these little benches that don't have real purpose.  I have my kids put their lunch boxes on it.  So I decided to spruce it up a bit.

I finished up my classroom wish list.

I am so excited to get a Smartboard this year!  When it was installed it was way too high so they lowered the board.  As you can see apparently there are two different colors of white used in my room.

So I devised a plan. A little better, right?  But that spot in the middle will be covered with my schedule once it gets printed and laminated.  I'll post it once I get it all together.

I got their lunch tags made.  I found some fairly cheap badges and clips at WalMart.  I made up the little  cards to go in them.  If you would like to use them, click on the picture below.  The background was from MyCuteGraphics.

Speaking of WalMart, have you seen all the things in the back to school section?  Do you know what I'm talking about?  All the goodies for 88₵?  I was fortunate to receive some awesome products free of charge from Craft Project Ideas.  Check out all the goodies in the picture.  Who doesn't love post its and cute pens?  I'm excited about the birthday certificates.  Now I just have to get them all filled out.  Be sure to go check out all the other goodies they have too!

Teacher Supply Caddy (freebie)

So I've been busy trying to get my room done, especially with all the painting.  One thing I did was get rid of my teacher desk area.  That meant I needed a new way to organize all my 'stuff'.  I've seen those little tool caddies all over the place.  I asked told hubby that I was taking the one from the garage.  I whipped up some little labels and got it all put together.  I think it turned out pretty cute especially since it was free!  And yes I had to put them in alphabetical order.  I sent this picture to my hubby and he commented on how many sharpies I had to have.  Please tell me I'm not the only one!

You can grab the labels in my TpT store or TN shop (I'll add it here when TN lets me upload again)!

Literally as soon as I finished this one of the other teachers got rid of this!

I am working on some different labels for this box.  I am going to use this at my teacher group table.  I already have scissors, crayons, erasers, markers, felt tip pens, pointers, and pencils.

What are your must have items for your teacher group area?  Be sure to include your email address as I might just be moved to thank you for your suggestions!