It's About Time

I know, I know. I've been absent from the blog for a REALLY long time.

I spent most of last school year feeling like this:

I promised myself that it wouldn't happen again. So I spent most of my summer planning, pouring over our new math program and preparing.

Guess what? It hasn't helped! 7 days into school and I am feeling like this:

Maybe if high school football and a non driving player didn't coincide with the beginning of the school year things would be better. Oh, and 27 students (one of which is still in Saudi Arabia, so I'm scanning everything that we are doing to email to him until he gets back), and there is that new math program.

Enough of my grumblings.

This summer as I was facilitating core academy I learned about a new math manipulative.

It's called a Rekenrek. It is a visual tool for students to be able to conserve numbers.

Here is a video of it in action:

I bought my teacher Rekenrek from eNasco.  They also have student versions, but at $5 a student I couldn't afford it this year. BUT, using my favorite website Pinterest I found a way to make some from foam and pony beads thanks to Math Coach's Corner. I think I made an entire class set for about $7 (don't you love a good sale?).  Here is what her's turned out like. Mine are all the same color.

A google search will give you a lot more ideas on how to implement it in your classroom. I can't wait until I can use it in my class this year!

What A Week!

Well the first week is over.  It was such a long week training first graders on procedures, rules etc.  Lory and I wanted to do something fun so we had the kids make these smiley faces to display in the hallway.  Lory's husband Kevin made the awesome schoolhouse.  The kids just decorated a 9 inch manilla circle with construction paper hair and bows.  When one of my students brought me his finished masterpiece, it had a strip of brown paper glued straight across the top of its head.  He said, "I found it on the floor and just glued it on.  I guess that's just like re-cycling!"  Oh the things they say...

New Year

Like most of you I've been busy getting my classroom ready for the new year.  Lory and I can't believe we have taught for so long and it doesn't get any easier to get ready.  Our first day was Thursday.  To add to the excitement, the toilet in my classroom literally broke with a huge crack down the middle, spraying water all over the floor!  Kids were sliding and falling, it was crazy!  Well here's some pic's of my classroom.   I'm hoping for an uneventful third day!

Word Work Baskets

View from the back

Reading Nook

Rules, Daily Five, and Classroom Library
They put their backpacks in the cubbies.

Mailboxes

Small Group Table and Buckets

Whole Group Area

Word Wall and Birthdays

Word Work

Writing

Back to School Photo Poster Freebie

Hey friends! Hope you are having a great beginning to August. We are busily getting ready for the school year to begin. We go back on the 8th with the kids following one week later. WOW! I have spent many hot hours in the classroom this week and I have just posted a few pictures with freebies included over on Teaching Blog Roundup! Come on over and check it out!

I also have a selection of back to school posters that you can use for a cute photo opp! YAY!

Freebie link below . . .

Click here to download and print. 
Also, please Pin!

Graphics from the following were used for these projects.:

Graphics from the Pond/TpT

Great Graphics/Etsy

DigiBonBons/Etsy

Pokey Panda/Etsy
The 3am Teacher
KB Fonts
Kevin and Amanda Fonts

Dog Days of Summer Giveaway and Freebie Extravaganza!

Hey everyone! Can you believe it is the middle of July! For us time is dwindling down to the end of of break. We report back on August 8th. It is always surprising how quickly it goes. . .however, we still have some summer left so let's celebrate! 

We are having a great giveaway over at Teaching Blog Roundup and you do not want to miss it! WooHoo!! 

We have 14 people participating in the giveaway. YAY! 

Hop On Over!

In honor of this big event I have a special freebie today for my fellow first grade teachers! A fun packet to do with your firsties the first few days of school!

Click here to download and print

Table Signs.

Hi again! I have an addition for today that I didn't have ready when I posted this afternoon. It is a new listing in my TpT Store. Sorry for the double post!

Glossybox and Classroom Behavior Lotto Freebie 2 Colors

Hi everyone. I have a case of the "tireds" the last couple of days. The "I don't think I can get off the couch" syndrome. Do you ever have that? Gosh, I hope it improves soon. LOL

We have done a lot of traveling lately so I think that is part of the problem. . .

My highlight this weekend was receiving my first Glossybox! 

I used to be a member of "Birchbox" but wanted to try something different just for fun. 

I have only received one "Glossybox" so far, but am really impressed with the quality and size of the products.

Now, I can't wait to see what the July box will feature. :)

I did manage to work on a small thing for school today even in my lazy state . . .which is pretty much a miracle!

I use one of these each year as a whole class incentive. I send mine to Costco.com Photo and have it enlarged to 11 X 14ish. When the kids do something as a class that I want to reward, I cover a box with a little sticky note. Once it is full, we have a special activity of some kind. They really love to watch the progress as it gradually gets filled up.

Click here to download and print.

or in white . . .

Click here to download and print.

Graphics by Melonheadz Illustrating

Background by The 3am Teacher

Have a good evening!

Table Signs, ABC Wall and Stadium of Fire Fun for 4th of July!

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a good day and have fun things planned for the 4th of July. We are heading out of town with family to see a big show for the holiday. Our son is in this band (trumpet player):

and they won a talent competition to perform before Carly Rae Jepsen and Kelly Clarkson at The Stadium of Fire, which is a huge 4th of July event here in Utah. If you are from Utah and are going to be there, give them a big cheer when they take the stage, they are called "The Strike".

I have also been listing some new items in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store! I am also having a 20% off sale. . .Here is a peek . . .Table Signs and Matching Welcome Back Banners.

Available colors include Purple with Multi Dots (Shown)

Pink with Multi Dots

Primary Stripe

Teal with Pink Dots

and more on the way!

I have also listed a few colors of an ABC letter line . . .

Avaolable colors include Purple Chevron (Shown)

Red Chevron

Black Chevron

Have a great day!

Another Whole Brain Freebie!

Hi guys! I have a post on Teaching Blog Roundup today that includes a freebie for Whole Brain Teaching! Come on over and check it out! Here is a peek . . .

While you are there be sure to "Follow Us". It is a great resource for lots of great ideas and resources from a lot of bloggers! :)

Editable Book Box/Basket Labels and Character Ed Freebie Reminder!

Greeting everyone. I hope you are enjoying June so far. I have been helping my husband organize and paint the garage the last few days. Big job! I wanted to take a minute and share some labels that I made for my book boxes. I used mine to label the boxes I got this year from Really Good Stuff: Here is a picture of the type I am using. 

Here are the labels I made.

Here is what they look like with the text

Click here to grab the editable pdf. You can use Adobe Reader to type whatever you need onto the labels.

Also remember you can grab a set of 6 Character Ed Posters (Freebie!) by clicking here.

Here is one of them . . .