Math Station Organization

That's an exciting title for New Year's Eve, right??

Well, ok...not exactly, but that is pretty much where my life is right now with two toddlers.

Anyway, the last time I was at school, I thought I would take a picture of how I organize my

math stations:

The cart was actually re-purposed from holding an overhead projector (yes, I not only had one...but I still do in storage)...the boxes are cheapos from Dollar Store that are made to sit on top of each other- (but they wouldn't have to)... the numbers are those peel and stick bulletin board letter/numbers- 

easy, enough =)

I like it because I can change the tubs out easily...it rolls around in case I need to move it for convenience and they are easy to put up and take off for the kids.  I have things like geo boards, dominoes, and unifix cubes in them...dice games and recording sheets...pattern blocks, shapes and pattern pages.  Fact family activities were the last item I added.  Each pair of kids gets a new number bin each week...I haven't been able to do math stations every day, regular like I should...so the kids only have that bin maybe 2-3 times that week...and then they go to the next number the following week. (if that makes sense =)

I also thought I would mention some great giveaways my bloggy buddies are having:

Teeny Tiny Teacher has 1000 followers and is celebrating by giving away three $10 Amazon cards here

Mrs Wheeler is celebrating a New Year by giving away a $10 Starbucks card and a cozy pair of socks here

and Yearn To Learn is celebrating 2012 by giving away a $15 Starbucks card

here

Those are some AWESOME Giveaways!!

How I Spent my Vacation Linky Party and some CUTE Clip Art!

I am linking up with Clutter-Free Classroom on How I Spent My Vacation"

To be honest, I haven't "done" much...just stayed in my pj's most of the time... chased my kids around, the usual.  Well, I was sick, broke a tooth, but I don't go back until Wednesday....  SO my vacation isn't really "over" (please say it's not, please say it's not!) and as of right now, I have a date planned with the hubby for maybe Monday??  Hope so, anyway!

ANYWAYS, link up and let us know how you spent your holiday. =)

OH.....And I know I have been reading a lot about clip art terms of use changing, etc...but I wanted to share with you a new creative force, somewhat new to blogging...but she has started a clip art etsy shop that you have to check out.  I am sure she will be adding more as she goes...so follow her blog or add her shop to your favs!!

Her Blog:

Her Etsy Shop:

An example of her newest clip art, which you can use for your teaching goodies:

Cute, right??  And only $2.50!

Told You So! (Freebie!!)

I told you I would be back with a freebie today!

These are two variations of a Chinese New Year class graphing activity...hope you love them!

Click here or on the pic above to download your copy.

And in case you missed it, I have a Chinese New Year pack on TPT and Teachers Notebook, too!

The meds have kicked in and I can just about breathe...my tooth, however, remains partially in my wallet change purse...nice, right? 

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

Chinese New Year! Let's Make a Dragon!

Well, to sum up my day...visited the Dr. and got a shot, steroids and a prescription to get rid of this illness that has taken over my ability to breathe...oh, and then there was my back tooth that simply broke in half.  That was just the icing on my sickly cake!  But on a brighter note, I finally finished my Chinese New Year Pack  that has been sitting and sitting, unfinished on my to do list!!  

Yeah Sick Me!! lol

Well, I have no more energy to do a freebie tonight to go along with this, but I promise I will do one tomorrow for you guys!!

In the meantime, go take a gander at my new listing (insert sneeze)!

 TPT

Teachers Notebook

Oh, and if you get a chance, check out the giveaway over at

Busy in K???

It is awesome...you should check it out!

11 in 11 Linky Party!

 Ok, so I know I already posted once today...but you can blame it all on Hadar and Kristen!!  I am linking up for their 11 in 11 Linky party!  You should link up, too!

11. Favorite movie you watched

I am a die-hard mystery reader/watcher...the more British the better...even though these particular Holmes movies aren't exactly true to the Doyle books...they are still fun to watch.  (and let's be honest, Robert Downey jr 'ain't hard on the eyes')

10. Favorite TV series
This is tough for me, too...This year I got hooked on a couple of shows...Empire Boardwalk and Walking Dead...but my husband got me on Game of Thrones, too.  I like Castle, too...Oops, there I go...adding more than one!!

9. Favorite restaurant
Umm...another tough one...I like Tex Mex and in B'ham there is Superior and La Paz that both make me happy.  But if we are talking fast food...then "everybody goes to Milos" (you gotta be from Alabama to get that one..)

8. Favorite new thing you tried
blogging...I never thought I would do it...much less love it...but I do (obviously)

7. Favorite gift you received
My new Fossil purse...and my Brighton "go to" bracelet. (you know the bracelet you can wear everyday and it not bother or ever get in the way...not too valuable, but valuable enough to look good)

6. Favorite thing you pinned
hmmm ...I couldn't choose just one thing in my teacher related things- they are all awesome...so..maybe everything in my Polka Polka Dots Board

5. Favorite blog post
Probably my 'Classroom Pics' Post...I loved the response I got....and decorating is sort of a fav thing of mine
 

4. Favorite accomplishment

This year, it has been starting a blog and opening a TPT and Teachers Notebook store. I am proud of myself for stepping out there and giving it a shot =)

3. Favorite picture

I have a million fav pics...of my husband and me..my kids, my family...but when it comes to teaching, I have always had a place in my classroom for this picture.  It is me in first grade.  It reminds me of what it was like to be them.  It reminds me of a lot of things, my first grade teacher and how she made me feel special.... it helps me be a better teacher to remember.

2. Favorite memory

from 2011?  Well, maybe going to the beach with the hubs and kids...or maybe the last time my mom came to my house on Maggie's bday last February...the latter one makes me sad a bit, so I will go with the first:

1. Goal for 2012
In life:  Eat better/be healthier....be a better role model for my kids =)


In school:I want to do a better job with Science and Social Studies.

So there ya go...My 11 in 11.  Link up and share yours!!

Label It Winter! and a freebie!

I woke up this morning with a cold...seriously?  On break, and I have a cold???  Not cool at all!

But setting my personal sniffling, coughing, stuffy head, fever so I can't rest issues aside....

Here is my newest labeling pack, Label It Winter!

This doesn't show all of the mats, but a lot of them! Find the new pack on:

TPT 

Teachers Notebook

Here is a freebie for all my besties out there in blogland! Click the picture or here

I am working on a couple of other things, like a Label It Nursery Rhymes Pack...=)

In other news, if you downloaded my freebie Snowman Writing Pack from TPT, I had a suggestion to change the font from a sweet follower so that there are capital letters...so it is changed now if you want the new font version =)  Find it here

Hugs to all of you!!

Let's Make a Penguin...Or Three! Glyph, Art, Lit, and Math Pack (and Freebie!)

Ok...I know I have exceeded my daily amount of times I should post...BUT I just listed something new that I am super excited about AND there is a freebie if you go to the TPT link and click on download preview...you'll get a free copy of the penguin labeling page!  So forgive me, k...pretty please??? 

TPT

Teachers Notebook

Here is a preview of what is included:   

and here is a close up of the glyph:

and more of the art projects:

 I also finished my Label It Winter! Pack...soon to be listed tomorrow night!

Oh, and if you are in the mood for penguins..and I know you are, check out this 

INCREDIBLE and GIANT 

Playful Penguins Centers pack (here) from my friend Alisha over at the Bubbly Blonde Teacher!

 

Please check out her blog and FOLLOW HER!!!!  She is awesome!

Yes, I am posting another linky party!

Please forgive me, but I am trying to get caught up with all the linky parties I want to join in on!

This one is brought to us by Tammy from

It's all about the Resolutions for the coming year!

Here are my resolutions:
PERSONAL-
1. Start my diet....again (I'm thinking this is just a standing resolution!)

2.  Model the behavior I want my kids to have....

get away from the mentality of "do what I say, not what I do"

3.  Spend time with my hubby...quality time,not just errands and chores.

4.  To be less critical and more appreciative.

TEACHING-
1. Concentrate and work towards being better prepared and not waiting until the last minute.

2.  Do a better job with Science and Social Studies.

BLOGGING-
1. Share freebies as much as I can

2.  Continue to make friends in the blogging community and try to always comment 

(and say thank you!) when I get a freebie from someone!

So there you have it, my New Year's Resolutions

Holly Bloggy Christmas Gift Exchange

I needed to take a moment and say thank you to Heather, my gift giver!  

And also to Caitlin and Sarah for coming up with such a cute idea!

Here is what I got from Heather:

And here is what I sent to Nicole at Teach-Love:

Linky Party Top Three Posts

I am joining in with Fern Smith's Top Three Most Viewed Posts Linky Party!

 I don't have really, super high numbers...but for me, it seems big =)

#1

Let's  Make a Pilgrim or an Elf!

with 12, 332 views

#2

Reindeer Sighting, Thinking Maps, and a Freebie! Oh My...

with 6, 589 views

#3

Label It Pack and a  Freebie!

with 4,796 views

I am currently working on a ton of things for the New (school) Year!...so watch out!! 

Maybe I can get those numbers even higher!! lol

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!  I did...basically stayed in my pj's ....except for our annual trip to the Chinese restaurant on Christmas Day =)

Sale and a Freebie!

I am officially out for the holidays!  Help me celebrate with a sale in my 

TPT and Teachers Notebook Shops!

 TPT

Teachers Notebook

AND....In case you missed it back when I posted about it in the fall, I thought I would re-post now that it is a bit more appropriate!

I hope you will love the freebie and if you do, leave a comment below!

Just click on the picture to get your pack!

And for those of you that still have some school left, hang in there!  ((Hugs))

And the Countdown Begins!

It's the final countdown!!!

(enter Europe musical interlude- and if you don't get the reference, you are not 

part of my "generation"! lol)  

Tomorrow is OUR LAST DAY!!!  Do you hear what I am saying?????

Oh, and here is an awesome video shared by Tina at Quench Your First...if you haven't watched it, then you should...especially if tomorrow is your last day!

Anyway, we had our "Bring your elf to school day" today and the kids loved reading to their elves and even grew elf ears!! (idea from Pinterest)

Here are a couple of pictures!

They brought small animals if they didn't have elves.  They were thrilled!  We did all sorts of fun elf themed things.  By the way, did I mention tomorrow is my last day? (ha)

Currently... Linky Party

I am linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the Currently Linky Party...here are mine:

Hope I followed the rules! (except the one about not posting more than once a day!) lol

By the way, the shuffle just went from Beatles, "Here, There, Everywhere" to Tone Loc "Funky Cold Medina"....Let's just say my taste in music is....eclectic.

Link up and have some fun:

Holiday Greetings and a freebie add on!

First, Happy Holidays from my family to your sweet families!

And for those of you who purchased my Let's Make a Snowman Pack...here is a freebie add on 

(per request of a sweet follower) that will tie in a writing activity to your art.  It glues right to the snow person's belly...so theoretically, even if you haven't bought the pack or even plan to do so, you could create your own snowman and add this writing element to it.  There are four different prompts to choose from.  Hope somebody can use it!   

Click here to get the freebie

and if you'd like to purchase the pack itself,

click the picture below to purchase the 'Let's Make a Snowman' Pack on TPT for only $2.50...

or the link below it for Teachers Notebook!

TPT

Teachers Notebook

And don't forget while you are there to check out the Snowman Survival Pack for January!!

I still have THREE MORE DAYS next week...poor, poor, me!!! To those of you already out on break...I would be telling a story if I said I wasn't a wee bit jealous!

Easy Craft Idea and a Question

Hi guys!

Is it Friday yet??  We still have four more days and I am TRYING to make it...tomorrow is Grinch Day...I told my kids to expect to see me as the Grinch tomorrow and perhaps on into next week! lol

Anyway, I have a couple of things to share.  One is an EAZY PEAZY ornament snowman craft.  It is made from burlap (I know, I know, it seems like I am obsessed with burlap...but I like it!!)  

Let me first point out that the reason the look so stiff is because I might have spray painted them first ...trying to take the easy way out, but in the end found it doesn't work.  However, it does make the burlap stiff and then the kids can paint the white apple barrel acrylic paint over it for a great effect.  Next, using my handy dandy circular sponge brushes that I have spoken about so many times before (here)...the kids added the dots and used a brush to make the carrot nose.

 Use a hole punch, some raffia and you are done.

(Don't judge the messy room... =)

ALSO, my husband pointed out that last night when I posted,  that the picture I used of the collage of items included in my new Snowman Survival Pack makes it too hard to see the details of the pages...he said instead I should just post examples of some of the pages- that 'less is more'.  I always am afraid of doing that because I don't want to make a post gynormous by including too many pictures, but still want to show what all is in it.  SO let me know what you think...here is last night's post that shows the collage (here) and then here are some pages that I would have shown if not using the collage.  Give me your insight and advice if you have the time!

 Teacher version of original story based on an oldie but goodie 

(there is a student version they can make, too)

 Ideas for "Snow Day"

 Flow Map

 Compound Poster, there is also an activity page to extend learning.

 circle map

 Science integration poster...there is also an activity page abotu what to wear when it is cold.

Cards for Math station that has two options...these are just a start of the pictures I could show...but I am displaying restraint! lol

Hugs, everyone...remember: we can do this...holiday break is ALMOST here!!!