Sunday, April 29, 2012

May Calendar Cards

Pretty sure I have made calendar cards error free this month! I don't know what was wrong with me the last time. Before laminating my para made sure to double check my pattern. If I had messed up calendar cards with a simple pattern AGAIN, I'm pretty sure she would have thought she was working with an incompetent teacher.

Here are FREE May Calendar Cards in 2 different patterns. First, an ABB.


Second, an ABCC.

 You can download either one (or both) for FREE on TpT or TN. Just click the links below!


It was purely coincidental that this post happened the same day Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching posted her calendar cards! She has the most adorable cards! I love using hers for center activities in the classroom. Be sure to click the link to check hers out too!
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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

New Bloggers on the Block

My decision to start selling blog designs has been off to an excellent start! I have stayed busy and I love creating something specific for each person. It has also given me the opportunity to come across some really great new bloggers out there!

A majority of the bloggers I make designs for are either just starting their blog, or just started it not long ago & are looking for more followers. Tonight as I was finishing up installing a design for Sarah, who just finished her student teaching, I thought, I need to share all of these awesome bloggers with you guys!

Sarah blogs over at Yeehaw! Teaching in Texas! And only has 4 followers! She is off to a great blogging start and even has a TpT store already! 



If you have a few extra minutes to spare and are looking to support new bloggers out there, please take a minute to browse through some of the blogs below! You may already know some of these blogs or you may not. I'd like to try and share new bloggers with you every now and then, so be sure to look for more posts like these in the future!


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Sunday, April 22, 2012

D.I.Y Bug Math & Science Center

We all know what great and amazing units are out there on TpT and TN for whatever theme we could possibly think of, but what about center ideas that can't be bought & downloaded?

Before TpT and TN, that is what all of my centers were! Now I would say it's about 50/50. For this week we have a bug theme. I was making the materials for the math and science center over the weekend and I thought I'd share them with you! You can never have too many ideas on your pinterest board! :)

Bug Math Center:


Using a small piece of poster board, some flower cut outs I found on clearance, and yellow paper, I put together this little game. A student roles a dice and counts the number of dots. Next they move their bumble bee that many places. They keep going until they reach the hive. If they roll a 6, they go straight to the hive! I found this idea in my most recent Pre-School Mailbox magazine. I added the numbers to the flowers for additional practice. This was so quick and easy! You could use any flowers, or just draw them with a marker. I was going to draw my own bumblebee, but remembered I had that adorable clip art bee I could just print out!

Bug Science Center:


I purchased three clear containers from the dollar tree, some bugs and rice, also at dollar tree. I filled each container about 1/3rd of the way with rice & added bugs. I had rice left over so I just added what was left amongst the containers. Before putting the bugs in I took a photo of each one. A child will pick a photo and then have to find what container it is by matching it to the picture. Each container has 3 flies & then 2 different bugs.

I plan on laminating the items at school in the morning and the centers will be ready to go! Are you still doing D.I.Y. centers in your room at all? I have a bug lab in the works too- this is my first time setting up a bug lab so I hope all goes well!
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Friday, April 20, 2012

A great $1 find!

Have you been to your local Staples yet? Well you should go check it out and see if you can find these!


These little eraser bags are only $1 a piece! I am an eraser hoarder basically. I am in love with small themed erasers. I use them for manipulatives for themed games, ALL. THE. TIME. Naturally I was all over this deal. I bought 4 of the same bag, and here is what I ended up with.

Butterflies, monkeys, frog, flowers, ladybugs, and bees!

They also had some sport themed ones too. I'm going to be sure to check every time I go (which is a lot for colored ink!) to see if they have any new mixes! Have you made any great $1 or cheap finds lately?!
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Sunday, April 15, 2012

Joining the Tax Day Sale!

I'm pretty sure everyone on my blog roll is participating in this tax day sale idea! I'm a little late to the party, but I'm ready to have fun! Everything in my TpT store is 15% off today only! Click here to head to my store and grab some goodies on sale!


Grab the image if you want to join in on the fun and throw a sale of your own! This would be a great time to buy my newest unit, Ocean Fun!



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Friday, April 13, 2012

12 on the 12th!

Yes yes yes I promise I took all of these pictures on the 12th. 2am was just a little too late to make the post about them! Yesterday was the last day of my vacation/travel day. I don't know quite how interesting my photos are, but I tried not to capture the boring stuff. (and didn't take a photo of the mother I wanted to say mean things to on an airplane)


I'm so glad I didn't miss this one! I even wrote it in on my planner on the 12th of March so I wouldn't forget! If you missed out on the fun, go to Kacey's blog to see everyone else's & then mark your calendar for May 12th so you can join the fun next time!


1. Breakfast. (I ate some of the fruit while waiting for the coffee)
2. Packing my bag to head home
3. Boyfriend brought me some passion tea. Love this stuff.
4. Feeding the turtle that lives next to my boyfriend's house. She needs a name, any ideas?
5. Airport snacks. (There were several hours in between each starbucks)
6. See ya later Florida! (Bummed I missed out on 2 free round trips by giving up my seat!!)
7. The new CD my boyfriend made me before I left. Love his CDs. Makes the additional 2 1/2 hr commute from the airport to home a little better!
8. Vitamin Water Fiji Apple & Watermelon flavor. YUM.MY.
9. The weather when I got home. I'm not in Florida anymore.
10. Missed this face while I was gone! 
11. M & Ms when I got home. Not what I needed to greet me after a week of vacation eating!
12. Getting caught up on my DrawSomething games! So much easier on an ipad than an iphone.

Now I have a weekend left of my Spring Break to get caught up on some planning, complete my grad class midterm, and work on 7, yes, SEVEN blog designs!
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Thanks for playing along..

...with my little impromptu giveaway of my new ocean unit. I decided to pick 2 winners instead of 1! Random number generator always confuses me. I feel like it always picks low numbers for me. (Lucky for you first 10 commenters!)

Here are the 2 lucky numbers! #9 & #1



Congrats to Mary & Kelly B!



Be sure to check your emails for the unit! If you didn't leave me your email address, I'll need you to comment here with it!

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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Ocean Fun Unit! - Win a FREE Copy!

A little more than halfway through a recent flight some serious boredom set in. I wasn't interested in paying for inflight wi-fi more than half way through so I thought, what can I make a unit on, that I already have clip art for?

A while back someone inquired about me making an ocean themed unit. I don't remember who that someone was, BUT I have finally made one!


I'm pretty excited about this unit. I think there are a lot of fun games! Here is what is included in the unit:

Alphabet Match: Match the capital crabs to the lowercase starfish.(Pgs. 3-16)

I Have, Who Has: An I have, Who has game using pictures. The child "reads" the picture instead of a word. (Pgs. 17- 19)

Roll and Color: Print out the cards and insert them into a photo cube. Supply students with recording sheet to record what they roll. (Pgs. 20-22)

Vocabulary Cards: Vocabulary cards to use to introduce the unit to your students. (Pgs.23- 27)

Find the Letter 'Oo': Use dot paint or a bingo marker and have students find only the circles with the letter 'O' or 'o' in them. When they find one, they mark the circle.(Pg.28)

Number Cards: Students count the objects on the card and then they find the number that matches. Put a clothespin on the number that is correct. Recording sheet included. (Pgs. 29- 35)

Drop, Count & Move Game: Use a small manipulative as a game marker for each player. (up to 2) Drop the game pieces from a cup. Count how many pictures land face up. Move your manipulative that many places on the game board. (Pgs. 36-37)

Read, Trace, & Write: Laminate these cards. Students use them with dry erase markers to practice writing the words/letters. (Pgs. 38-45)

Action Cards: Students pick a card and everyone does the action that is on the card. (Pgs. 46- 48)

If you are interested in purchasing this unit, you can purchase it from either TpT or TN.



Leave me a comment with your favorite activity in this unit, or favorite activity to find in a unit, and I will pick a random winner to get a free copy! You must leave your comment by 11pm TONIGHT (Tuesday, April 10)
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Friday, April 06, 2012

This is embarassing...

I don't know if I should take this as a sign to stop making calendar cards are what. When I first uploaded my April calendar cards there was a goof. I thought I fixed the goof. I printed out a set for myself and laminated them, got them ready for the calendar. All is good. UNTIL TODAY. I went to put up the calendar days for spring break and the cards are ALL WRONG!

I am so embarrassed that they are still not right! How hard can an AABB pattern really be?! Clearly I need to find a proof reader! I have hopefully finally really fixed the calendar cards!

Guess I know that I will be making time to reprint and relaminate calendar cards on my spring break. I'm more irked about the velcro I wasted...

You should be able to finally download a CORRECT version of them with an AABB pattern. If they still aren't right...well, then, I quit.
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Thursday, April 05, 2012

Tag I'm It! (is this dejavu?!)

I really couldn't help myself with asking if this is dejavu. Didn't we all just play tag not that long ago?! I'm officially stating that I have been tagged and I am OUT of the game! :)

Jessica at Rambling about Reading tagged & since I love her blog I figured I would play along again! I can't help but wonder if this game stopped and started again or if it has just officially come full circle in teacher blogland.

Here are the questions from Jessica that I need to answer:

1. If you could live in any other country, where would it be?
- I spent 2 weeks in Germany after my senior year of high school & must say, I'm pretty content with the United States. I would love to visit Australia & could probably live there! :)

2. If you could have any animal what would it be?
- I would have an elephant. I love elephants. Of course, If I could have any animal that I wanted, this would imply that it would be possible to keep such a large animal!

3. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekend?
- Not stress. I think there is MAYBE a 3 hr window early on a Saturday where I don't think about ANYTHING that I have to do. 

4. What is your favorite day of the week and why?
- As a teacher, I have come to have a huge appreciation and love for a Friday. I think the reasons why are a little more than obvious.

5. What is your favorite activity you've done with your students this year?
- This is so hard! I really loved doing Pete the Cat. The kids enjoyed him so much! Can't wait to do even more with him next year!

6. How many days do you have until Summer?
- Can you believe I haven't even started counting yet?! I just needed to get to spring break! 

7. What are you doing Easter weekend?
- I will be someplace SUNNY & WARM. Woo Hoo!

8. What is your favorite song right now?
- Feel so Close by Calvin Harris

9. What is your favorite nail polish color?
- I'm a nail polish ADDICT. I always have a new color. Right now I'm in love with Essie's "Turquoise and Caicos" 

10. What is your favorite font to use?
- This is always changing too. My current favorite is Plain Print from dafont.com

 TAG, YOU'RE IT!



Here are the questions for you to answer if you have been tagged. I put a twist on them. You can answer with one word, but we would all love for you to elaborate!

1. Meals or snacks?
2. Soda or water?
3. Mountains or beaches?
4. Cats or dogs?
5. Chocolate or Vanilla?
6. Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?
7. Movie theater or renting?
8. Pool or ocean?
9. Car or SUV?
10. Early bird or Night Owl?

** Just in case you don't know the rules, here is what you do. Answer my 10 questions, then tag 10 friends. List 10 questions for those friends to answer. Be sure to leave a comment on their blogs letting them know they have been tagged!
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Wednesday, April 04, 2012

April Currently

Before I know it we will be doing the July Currently and I will either be 1. in the midst of enjoying summer or 2. whining because it's almost August & time to go back to school! If you don't already know what this is all about then head over to Oh Boy 4th Grade & see Farley to find out what all the fun is about!


Now, of course I can't just write that for my super power and then not explain. Before I was able to do my currently I saw a few others & knew I would be thinking of a super power. Right away I knew I wanted to fly. BUT then Kristin and to go and complicate things. Zero Calories?!!? That's genius! I want that! But I want to fly too. SO I invented "all power" and I have all the super powers! :)

So head over and link up for all of the fun!
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Monday, April 02, 2012

House Keeping

I've been wanting to do this for some time now without completely changing the look of my blog. It was  time for some house keeping to be done around here.

I started selling blog designs and I've been so busy that I feel that I have become a little neglectful of my own blog.

When I first started blogging (a year ago this month- wow!) I wasn't sure which direction this blog was going to take; teaching, crafting, or baking?! I enjoy doing all 3 so I thought I would put them all here. As this blog has evolved I am realizing that I am posting fewer and fewer craft and baking related posts. I still might share those with you from time to time, but I have decided to edit my tagline & edit my pages. I hope you all will still stay here with me!

And since my classroom theme is fish/ocean, I thought it would be fun to add some fish to my design! And plus, aren't they just so adorable! They were a free download but I don't remember from where! If they are yours, please let me know so I can leave credit! :)




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Sunday, April 01, 2012

My Memories Winner & Kindergarten Korner!

It's time to announce the winner of the My Memories Suite software! I will notify the company that I have picked my winner and then you will receive your free download code to grab your goodies!


Congratulations on winning! **Sarah, you did not leave your e-mail address on your comments! If I don't hear back from you by Wednesday April 4th, I will pick a new winner!

And don't forget that My Memories offers great scrap kits that you can use for your digital scrapbooking OR to create super adorable teaching resources!

NOW. On to Kindergarten Korner...who has reached 300 followers and is having an AWESOME giveaway! I'm so excited to be apart of this. You can head over to her blog for the chance to win 5, yes 5 different units!


Kindergarten Korner


Cara, from The First Grade Parade is giving away her Ice Cream Unit.

Jennifer, from First Grade Blue Skies is giving away her Let's Make a Spring Chick Craftivity.

I am giving away my Hippity Hoppity Unit!

Vickie, from Mrs. Plant's Press is giving away her Easter "Egg"stravaganza Unit.

And Sarah of Kindergarten Korner is giving away her best selling Dr. Seuss Unit.

Head over to Sarah's blog to find out how to enter to win! :)
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