Vacation Drama, Freebie, Fun Find

Hey everyone! Well, I have been on vacation for 2 days and so far I have lost (as in never getting it back) my IPad and had a migraine. Off to a banner start if I do say so myself. Thank goodness the apple store has 6 month, 0 interest financing for this unexpected expense.

I did find this really cute wallet at a store this evening . . .

 and this little notepad . . .

I also have a freebie that I made  by request of another teacher in our district, maybe it can help someone else out also . . .

Click here to download and print

Have a good evening everyone . . .

Shape Gestures

Here I am, again, facilitating another session of core academy in Monticello, Utah. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten to share what I have learned. I wanted to finish this session before I did, because I didn't want to possibly miss out on something wonderful here.

Here is something that a core facilitator picked up at the session in Logan and she wanted me to post it on the blog. If this is your creation please let me know so I can give you credit.

Some of the gestures I don't quite know what they mean, but I have enough of an idea that I can make this work for me.

Click here for a copy.

Enjoy!

Classroom Finds, Brochure, Shout Out to Jennifer

Hi everyone! I think I mentioned earlier in the week that I have been madly working in my classroom because we will be on family vacation and won't get back until a few days before we report back to work. A little stressed . . .

bblllaaahhhhh

I have been making good progress on being ready though. I think being ready for the school year is kindof like housework . . .never really finished! There is always something else that could be done . . .

I have been gathering new things for the classroom. Here are some pics . . .

Book Boxes from Oriental Trading

5 Up Organizer from Really Good Stuff 

Making Words Cards and Envelopes from Really Good Stuff

Calendar from Really Good Stuff


I also finished my binder and plan book, but I have to post a picture tomorrow when my camera is charged (hence the screen shots above instead of pics from me.)

I also want to thank Jennifer from First Grade Blue Skies for the idea of making a class brochure. When I saw hers, I thought it was such a great and cute thing to do.  Here is what I decided to do with mine . . .

I hope you have a wonderful evening! BTW, Is anyone else having trouble getting on Pinterest tonight?

I Want to Be a Football Coach!

I have discovered what I want to be when I grow up. I want to be a football coach!

My youngest son is a budding football player. and since he doesn't drive yet I have the privilege of driving him to weight training and to practice each day. We live just far enough away that dropping him off and going back to pick him up isn't economically effective (gas is almost 4 bucks a gallon!). That means I "get" to sit and watch him.

I noticed that the coaches have a great job. They get to be outside. They get to do something they love. They get to work with small groups of kids, usually on a specific skill. The kids adore them. They get to yell at the kids and get them to work harder.

The more I watched practice, the more I realized I am doing what I want to when I grow up. I get to be outside (for recess). I get to do something I love. I get to work with small groups of kids, usually on a specific skill. The kids adore me ("Teacher, you are the best teacher I've ever had." A big compliment for a first grade teacher. ;) ). I get to yell ... oh wait, I don't do that, but I can get my kids to work harder when I give them the feedback they need.

With my travels this summer facilitating core academy, I have learned many things about my profession. I am more convinced than ever that I am exactly where I need to be. I am blessed with a state wide community, national community, and international community to support me and help me continue to grow and learn to be the best at what I do. How many people can say that?

Fun, Free, TpT and Family

 Hey EvErYoNe! Wow, I can't believe it is Saturday evening already. This week has gone by really fast. I spent  lot of time working in my classroom this week because this time next week we will be leaving on a 10 day vacation and when we return I only have a few days before we officially report back to work. I am trying to gets lots done before then because I don't want to come home and feel disorganized.

 I mentioned the other day that I was waiting for a special parcel to arrive. Here it is:

This is box of super awesome school supplies provided to me free of charge from CraftProjectIdeas.com to enjoy and try out. Well, to start with I want to say the size of the box floored me as I was expecting a little bubble mailer or something . . .Here are some photos of the great things in the box . . .

desk tags, note pad, postcards, trim

incentive charts, stickers, name tags

baskets, posters, file folders

bulletin board trim

ink pads, flash cards, erasers, bookmarks, stamp, pens,


WoW! Lots of really cute stuff. Guess what? These items are available at Walmart for 88 cents each. Yes! Less than a dollar per item. Pretty amazing to get a pack of bulletin board trim for example for 88 cents!

I have been making some signs/labels for my classroom this week and I wanted to share them with you. Now, I want to warn you that the font I used may not be everyone's cup of tea. I just found it, think it is cute and it doesn't bother me at all. If you like it also, then feel free to download and print the following signs:

Click here to print signs if you like the font!

In addition, I have listed some binder organization sets in a few new patterns in my TpT store.  . .

Here is the TpT link!

and just for fun . . .

Our "fur-baby" watching dad paint a cupboard in the yard . . .

Our "boy-baby" who is turning 20 in one week. . .

Have a great rest of the weekend to all . . .

Big Giveaway Reminder and Recess Rules Posters

Hey everyone! I hope you are doing something fun today! I had insomnia last night so I am working on the computer in my pj's watching episodes of Hawaii Five-O on Netflix, which is actually pretty fun to me! 

Has anyone ever figured out how summer goes by so fast? Let me know if you have a theory on this!

 Anyway, I have a couple of things to mention this morning. . .

 One is the Blogiversary Giveaway Reminder! Click on the image below to enter . . .Lots of fun stuff from awesome bloggy friends!

Also, I have something new  listed in my TpT Store. Here is a peek . . .The set includes posters and a matching cloze booklet for some main recess safety rules. :)

Here is the TpT link

I have something exciting coming in the mail today that I will show you tomorrow! (assuming it arrives, you know how that goes)

Magic Numbers

Here is a gem I picked up from a friend I made while facilitating core academy this summer. I have seen it before, but obviously I didn't remember long enough to actually use it this summer.

Click here.

I call it "Magic Numbers," because it makes me look really smart. Almost "magically" smart. My friend does this with her first graders, telling them that if they come on the last day of school she will share the "secret" of how it works.

Luckily for you, you won't have to wait until the last day of school to find out how it works.

Wait - maybe I could string you along for awhile and not share the secret for a bit.

Have your students choose any number between 1 and 31. DON'T LET THEM TELL YOU THE NUMBER, but they need to either write it down or share it with a buddy.

Show your students a card and ask, "Is your number on this card?" If the answer is yes, look at the number in the top left hand corner. If the answer is no, don't do anything.

Show the next card. This time if the student answers yes, add it to the number from before. Keep a running total. By the time you work through all of the cards and have added all of the numbers up you will have the students number.

It really is magic. What a great way to fill in a small bit of weird time when you are waiting for something.

Enjoy!

Lory's Blogiversary Giveaway Celebration!!!

WoW! I can't believe it . . .it has been a year since my first post on this blog. (Chari, Becca and Camille each have their own "first post day" . . .)

 It has been a busy, journey filled year. I remember toward the end of the school year a whole year ago (2011), my first grade team members talking about all of the fun and great ideas they were finding on various teaching blogs.

 I wasn't really paying much attention to what all the excitement was about at the time. . .it was shortly thereafter that my world was turned upside down with the loss of my mother, followed by my husband having a stroke 5 months later,we are so blessed that he has made a complete recovery!

 I think these life events really threw me into a personal turmoil where my mind needed a new focus, challenge and learning opportunity. . .so I decided to try out the blogging world.

  Having this blog has been such a rewarding experience. I have learned so many new things (and I am not a digital native)! I have been so amazed at the talent, generosity and friendliness that exists in the teacher blogging world! 

A special day calls for a special celebration don't you think?

To commemorate this event I am teaming up with some special ladies for an awesome giveaway who happen to be the first few that I began to communicate with through the blog and who were so friendly and fun from the start.  . .they really understand about the concept of giving of themselves . . .what a wonderful tribute to our profession . . .I had a friend say to me the other day "Lory, you get along with everybody", which I to be a great compliment and that is what is awesome about this bunch, "they get along with everybody" (which by the way, is a choice we can all decide to do, it isn't an accident)

without further ado

Here is what one lucky winner will win. . .over $80 worth of merchandise!!!

$15.00  worth of merchandise of choice at Rachelle's TpT store from "What the Teacher Wants."

$15.00 worth of merchandise of choice at Natalie's TpT store from "What the Teacher Wants."

$5.00 worth of merchandise of choice at Jennifer 's TpT store from "First Grade Blue Skies."

$10.00 worth of merchandise of choice at Barbara's TpT store from "Grade ONEderful/Ruby Slipper Designs."

$5.00 worth of merchandise of choice at Beth Ann's TpT store from "Taming My Flock of Firsties."

PLuS

from me!


AND


My 36 Page Purple/Black Binder & Calendar Set

How fun is all of  this?

The winner will be chosen through Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway