Oops, I Didn't Do My Homework! (Freebie)

I must admit that I am not ready for summer to end.  I keep reading other blogs about setting up the classroom and I have to keep reminding myself that I have almost another month left of summer break.  It is the perk of going through the middle of June.  I am slowly beginning to think about next year and what I want to try with my new Littles.  I think that is one of the biggest blessings about our job...the chance to be innovative on a regular basis.  I  love the feeling of possibilities.  I love that we can reinvent what didn't work last year and keep what did work. 

So, I wanted to share with ya'll a little freebie that just added to TPT tonight. It's something that works for me and I wanted to share it.  It's a way that I communicate with students and parents that missing assignments have consequences.  My Oops sheet helps me relay that to my students and their families. 

It is a quick (yes QUICK) sheet that students complete before going to recess if they didn't bring their homework. I know some of you might be of the notion that students need recess and I do to.  I just also believe that actions have consequences.  I also understand that most of my students don't have active parents at home helping them with their homework each night.  My school has over 75 % free and reduced lunch.  My school has over 30 languages too.  But, my Littles all speak "recess" and "get this signed by your mom or dad."  And again, it is QUICK!  You simply tell the student what number to add to the math facts on the sheet and have a copy of the spelling words handy.  If you think that you would like a copy, visit my TPT store (click HERE) and snag yourself a free copy :)



Happy Teaching,

Email Hoarding

My name is Christy Holder and I am an email hoarder.  Admitting you have a problem is a step towards fixing it...right?

 I just spent over an hour in my school email account.  I went through over 2500 emails stretching back to 2011.  Yep...over 2500 emails.  Since 2011.  I seem to always tell myself that I might need that email or I'll delete them later.  Well, 2500 emails and 4 years later, I finally did it.  I had kind of gotten used to the 4 Friday morning emails telling me that my mailbox was becoming to large.  I mean 4 emails.  To tell me that my mailbox was too large.  4 emails that added to the already overflowing mailbox.  Emails like these: 

 

Do you get these too?  Sure, I deleted some throughout those 4 years, but clearly not enough.  Or regularly.  But, it's done now.  My inbox is only showing 11 emails that seem (right now) pertinent to next year.

                                                                 (11 feels so good!!!!)

 I admit that it felt soooo good to push delete on some emails about certain students.  You know the ones that made you question your calling.  The ones that your spouse prayed for you to have patience to deal with on a daily basis.  Those.  It was like a cleansing :)  Now, I need to go through my personal email account because unfortunately, I didn't leave my email hoarding at school each day :)

Classroom Rug Giveaway

Friends, Lori from Teaching with Love and Laughter is having a wonderful giveaway.  Visit her site to enter to win a new classroom rug :)  I have my fingers crossed cause Lord knows my classroom rug has seen better days. 


Happy Teaching,

Mother's Day Candles

I am in LOVE with the Mother's Day gift that my class did this year!  A friend of mine teaches K and she shared a photo on FB the other night of the candles that her Littles were making.  Instantly I knew that this was our craft for our moms too! I purchased small white pillar candles at Dollar Tree.  You could possibly get them cheaper.  I didn't have time to shop around for the best deal.   Today the Littles decorated a small strip of tissue paper.  It was very little prep work. :)  I had already cut the paper to the size needed to fit around the candles. You will want to cut the paper smaller than the height of the candle.  It's easier to maneuver that way.  You will also want to make sure that they have paper underneath the tissue paper.  The marker WILL bleed through the thin tissue paper!    We used regular old Crayola markers to decorate our paper.  Tonight, I wrapped the tissue paper around the candles and used my blow dryer to slightly melt the candle.  This allowed the tissue paper to adhere to the candle.  It was easy.  I used the low setting and it worked like a charm. It did take a little bit of time, but it was worth it.  

Happy Teaching,

It's been FOREVER... (winter freebie)

Well, I just haven't been a consistent blogger this year!  I have good intentions, but goodness gracious, I just have been lacking in the motivation department. 

One of my Littles is quite the handful and after a day with him, I almost always feel like kicking my feet up and having a glass of wine. 

I hope that I can be a more regular with my posts.  I have a lot of ideas that I want to share. Some school related and some not.   I will start with the not :) 

I bought a frame at Goodwill for $3.00 a couple months back.  I finally got around to making a bulletin board out it.  After a little spray paint and attaching some free cork that I was given, my board is finished.  I also have been into all things burlap lately.  Here are a couple of my projects:

As for school, I created a Winter Word Bank for my Littles to access during Writing Workshop.  Head  *HERE* if you want to pick up your copy.

Have a BLESSED day!