Sweet Tribute from Nikki for the Powell Boys

From Nikki at Melonheadz:

"Many of you have been following the story of Susan Cox Powell.

She went missing 2 years ago, from a town not far from where I live.

This last Sunday their father ( who has been a person

of interest in their mother's disappearance )

took their lives, and his own.

                                  My heart breaks for their family and friends.

You are in my prayers."

Thanks for doing this Nikki, what a sweet remembrance of these two darling boys. Just so heartbreaking . . . hugs to their family!

Currently for February and Link for Gift Jar PrInTabLe

I'm linking up with Farley for February!

Link for printable that I used for the Valentine's Gift Jar for Hubby

TaGgeD

Happy Thursday! I've been tagged by Tarra at chalkboardchitchat.blogspot.com.

I've got to start working on my answers!

Brand New Blog

Hey Everyone! How are you tonight? I have something fun to tell you about! I want to invite all of you over to my BRAND new blog! It is where I am going to share crafts, fun finds, and other interesting tidbits. Of course my "school stuff" will still be here on Fun for First, but I hope all of my new bloggy friends  will also come follow me at "The Robin's Nest."

Come say hi!

Valentine's List

Click HERE to download in black/white

Happy Wednesday! I am sending this home with all of the students names written in. Not sure if it will help anyone, it probably depends on how many students you have. Either way, here it is in color and black and white!

Click HERE to download in color



Winner!

Hey Everyone! Great News! We have a winner for our Melonheadz Clip Art Giveaway!!

It is BETH ANN from Taming My Flock of Firsties. I will be sending you an email with instructions.

 Congratulations Beth Ann and thanks a bunch to everyone who entered!

Giveaway Reminder!

TaGgEd answers and questions

Hello everyone! I mentioned yesterday that Kathy from Teachin FIrst tagged me! So much fun, and I don't even have to run around! Here are the rules to this game:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Here are my  boring fun facts:

1. I was 1 pound 15 ounces when I was born.


2. I will be 46 years old in July. (gasp)


3. Our "baby" at home is a 17 pound West Highland White Terrier.


4. I watch "Family Affair" "Dick Van Dyke" and "Mary Tyler Moore" on the DVR in the evenings.


5. I love "Dancing With the Stars" and Derek Hough is my favorite.


6. I have a secret not so secret crush on Michael Buble.


7. My favorite type of vacation is going on a cruise.


8. I get spring cleaning fever in January! (just ask my co-workers)


9. I only buy "Clarks" shoes to teach in because they are so comfortable and hold up so well.


10. My favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse.


11. I start to panic if I can't find my ChapStick. (just ask my family or my co-workers)


12. I drip dry all of my work clothes and iron every day. I know, weird, right?

Here are my answers to Kathy's Questions:

1. If you couldn't be a teacher anymore (for whatever reason), what job would you have?
Something creative that I would do from home.

2. If you could go back to any decade/era in history, when would it be? The 50's
  Why? Life seems like it moved at a simpler pace then.

3. What is your favorite book?
Any of the Mysteries known as "Cozies"

4. What is your favorite type of candy?
M&M's

5. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Why?
I would go back to Europe. We went a couple of years ago for a few weeks with my son's school music group but everything was paced super fast for teenagers, and I'd like to go back at a more leisurely pace!

6. If you had the chance, would you go to space?
No, because it is kinda scary to me!

7. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl

8. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas


9. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Baby Alive

10. Black Friday - get up at the crack of dawn, shop from home, or avoid it all together?
Get up at the crack of dawn and shop with my husband

11. Do you collect anything?
quilts, snow globes, interesting signs

12. Do you clip coupons?
Sometimes

Here are my 12 Questions for Others:

1. What is your favorite magazine?

2. What is your favorite dinner that you cook?

3. What is your favorite dinner when you go out?

4. What is your least favorite household cleaning chore?

5. What household cleaning chore do you find the most rewarding?

6. What is one beauty item that you could not live without?

7. What is your favorite song?

8. What is your favorite dessert?

9. Do you like to exercise?

10. Do you like to shop in store or online?

11. Do you have any pets?

12. Are you a neat freak or free spirit?

And here are the 12 ladies that I am "tagging". I hope this isn't against the rules but I going to include my 3 first grade blog cohorts in this so we can learn more about them too! I tried to find a few blogs new to me for this!


Chari from funforfirst.blogspot.com
Becca from funforfirst.blogspot.com
Camille from funforfirst.blogspot.com
Deb from mrsreynoldsfirstgradeadventures.blogspot.com
Heather from heathersfirstgradeheart.blogspot.com

Pam from candokinders.blogspot.com

Mrs. Lockridge from firstgradefactory.blogspot.com

Heidi from swampfrogfirstgraders.blogspot.com
Jena from 1stgradewithmisssnowden.blogspot.com

Mrs. Cooley from firstgraderatlast.blogspot.com

Randi from hoppykindergarten.blogspot.com

Nikki from melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com

ARRGHHHHH! Don't Act LIKE a PIrate!!!

Lately my home life has been very crazy, partly because we are living with my in-laws while we build our house.  My two little boys have been to say the least, a little naughty.  My oldest little one (which is three) is really into pirates, so I made this little reward system to help them make some better choices.  Each morning they can earn a reward if they do everything on the list.  They get to put a clothes pin on each one they do, if they do it the first time they are asked.  Then later in the day they can earn points toward buying something from the giant treasure chest.  For this I just went and bought items they totally love from the Dollar Store or Walmart.  Each item is priced with a small label.  This has been awesome so far.  My kiddos have be striving to listen better and I can not tell you how much better my mornings have been.  I am ACTUALLY on TIME for work!!!!

Rainbow Editing

Sorry Had A Mistake On My First One.  I fixed the download, so it should be right....

So I am sure you have seen those cute posters for editing called the writer's eyes.  I came across them on pinterest and wanted them right away.  I only had one problem, they had a colored border on them and I thought this might confuse my students.  I use a method called rainbow editing in my classroom.  Becca was the one that turned me on to the idea (thanks Becca)!  Students use a crayon to look for each part in their story.  So as the students are editing their story they use a different colored crayon as they edit for spaces, capitals, periods, word wall words, title, ect.  

Click Here to DOWNLOAD

Which brings me to why I ended up making these editing anchor charts for my work on writing board.  Mine are not quite so cute, but they match the colors of our rainbow editing.