Liebster Award~ Wahoo!

Wow!  I feel so honored to be nominated for my first ever blog award :)

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn't that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it's a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

To accept this award I must:

1. Link back to the blog that nominated me

2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers

3. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator

4. Share 11 random facts about myself

5. Create 11 questions for my nominees

6. Contact my nominees and let them know I nominated them

 Thanks Mr. First Grade and Sweet Tea and Second Grade!  I feel so blessed to be a part of the blogging community and I can't imagine teaching without it!  So, in fulfillment of the award I must answer some questions from the illustrious nominators.  Here they are:

Questions from Sweet Tea and Second Grade and my answers ~
1. What is your favorite first day of school activity? I love the clean slate that each new year brings.  As crazy as it sounds, I love rehearsing classroom procedures....over and over (and over and over) again.  I know the benefits of this practice and can appreciate my diligence in October!  Plus, the Littles are usually on their very best behavior that day!

2. Have you always wanted to be a teacher? If not, what did you want to be? I wanted to be a private investigator as a child.  I think I can trace the roots to Magnum P.I.

3. What is your craving: salt or sugar?  SUGAR~ doughnuts!  Yummy!

4. How do you see your life looking in 10 years?  I hope to still be teaching! 

5. What is your favorite blog (teaching or otherwise)?  I love so many that it is hard to choose.  I love First Grade Parade, Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits and Step Into Second Grade with Mrs. Lemons. 

6. Coke or Dr. Pepper? Coke, but in reality Coke Zero!

7. If you could pick any city/state to live in, where would you life and why? I love WA, but I miss NC so stinking much!  It's just a sweet pace of life that I enjoy there.

8. Describe your perfect afternoon. My perfect afternoon would be spent exploring Charleston, SC with my hubby.  I love that city!

9. What is the one beauty product you can't live without?  I don't know if this really counts but, I am gonna say my round brush.  My hair needs taming every morning.  It is straight, but left on its own it is a mess! Blow drying with a round brush is non-negotiable for me :)

10. Who do you admire most?  My mom

11. When is your favorite time of day?  Dusk...pure bliss!

Questions from Mr. First Grade and my answers ~
1.  What's the last book you finished?  Summer Breeze
2.  When did you decide to become a teacher?  Senior in high school
3.  Do you have any advice for new teachers?  Yes, be extra nice to the janitor and office managers because they run the school :)  Also, become familiar with Teachers Pay Teachers.  It is an unmatched resource!
4.  How do you unwind after a day at school?  I crush candy.  Yep, I'm a candy crush addict.
5.  What's your dream vacation?  Hawaii~  I want to tour all the places where LOST was filmed :)
6.  How do you stay on top of that pile of paperwork?  I learned early on in my career that not everything needs to be graded.  Prioritize!  I also make sure that my desk is clean before I leave on Friday.  When Monday comes, I am always glad that I stayed on Friday to do it!
7.  Favorite sweet treat?  doughnuts! (or ice cream)
8.  Favorite movie?  The Goonies!  The Princess Bride is a close 2nd.
9.  Favorite food?  shrimp
10.  Why did you start blogging?  I loved reading other teacher's blog and wanted to join in on the fun!
11.  What was the best advice you ever received?  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

11 Random facts about me ~
1.   I hate my middle name.
2.   I love reality television. (Big Brother, SYTYCD, Survivor, Amazing Race, etc)
3.   I adore Hello Kitty and my students often bring me presents that are HK themed.
4.   I had my nose pierced about 6 years ago but it didn't heal properly so I let it close...boo!
5.   I love my personal laminator and use it too much.
6.   I am a backseat driver...I can't help myself!  Good thing my hubby loves me anyway.
7.   I don't like talking on the telephone.
8.   Angel Eyes by The Jeff Healey Band is my favorite song.
9.   I love college basketball (Go NC Tarheels!)
10.  I love crafting!  Pinterest has only fueled this love!
11.  I'm a people pleaser...it's a problem!

So, my nominees are:
1.  My First Love
2.  My Silly Firsties
3.  The Teacher Diaries
4.  Mackey's Classroom
5.  The Bender Bunch

My questions for the nominees:
1.  Do you have a theme for your classroom?
2.  What's your favorite picture book?
3.  What's your favorite back to school activity?
4.  What grades have your taught and which is your favorite?
5.  What are your favorite blogs (teaching related or other)
6.  What's your favorite subject to teach and why?
7.  What's your guilty pleasure?
8.  What's our favorite movie?
9.  Are you a salty or sweet kind of person?
10.  What's your favorite classroom management trick/technique?
11.  What's the best advice you have ever received?



Have a BLESSED day,

Favorite Pin Friday

 

Wow!  It's been awhile Blogland!  Summer vacation has taken over and I can say that I'm loving every second :) Summer vacation is not overrated....at all! I haven't been completely lazy. I am finally getting my house organized.  We moved into our new home almost a year ago.  It was right before a trip south to see our family, major church stuff that we were a part of, and right before school started.  Oh, and I had thrown my back out....not fun!  We have 2 extra bedrooms and a garage that have been the "holding" room for many things and this summer has been the perfect opportunity to declutter and organize.  I'll post some pics when it's all finished.

Onto today's post...I love Cara's new Linky party "Favorite Pins Friday."  I am slightly addicted to Pinterest so this is right up my alley.  Here they are: 

School Related

How adorable is this little behavior management tool from First Grader At Last!?!  Basically, you start by writing a Little's name in the Quiet Mouse bubble.  During transitions that Little looks for the next quiet mouse and so on for the rest of the day.  I think I might change it up just a little bit for my room.  We are the Pandas so mine might say Quiet Panda of the day.

 

 

I think I might do something similar outside my classroom to write down funny things that the Littles say.  It comes from Chez Larsson. 

 

DIY Projects

I love upcycling!  This piece is awesome and happy.  I just purchased a sorta similar cabinet to make over and this is totally my inspiration.  The source for this inspiration is from ReFab Diaries.


I love this print so much and plan to do something similar for my entry.  The source is from the HUNTED INTERIOR.  Lots of great ideas here. 

Yummy  Food

This is one of my favorite recipes from Pinterest!  It is super yummy.  I do end of adding rotisserie chicken for the sake of the hubs.  He needs meat in order to feel as though it's a meal...boys :)   The recipe is from A Small Snippet. 


This feta dip is super delish!  I have made it a couple of times and it always gets rave reviews.  Plus, it is super simple.  This recipe is from Clover Lane.

I can't wait to wade through all the other Favorite Pin Links!   Head over to The First Grade Parade to look or link up :)

Have a BLESSED day,

Bloglovin :)

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End of the Year Sanity Savers

11 (school) days left!  I don't count the weekends :)

I have been in full DRA mode at school.  Our report cards are due to our principal 9 days before we get out and in order for those to be complete, I have to find the instructional and frustration level of all my 27 Littles.  Thankfully tomorrow I will get some "guest teacher time" in my room so that I can try to finish! 

If your Littles are like mine, they mean well.  They really are trying to be independent and quiet.  Mine have been troopers, but finding activities to keep them occupied is sometimes a struggle.  Here are a couple of ideas that are easy, don't require copies and completely independently doable for ALL First Grade Littles.  The best part, they enjoy them and don't get that they are practicing. They aren't revolutionary, but they saved my sanity today!

Stair Step Spelling
Students write their spelling words/sight words on grid paper.
 Like this:  s
                  sh
                  sho
                  shoo
                  shook

Then, after the word is completely spelled, they draw stairs around the word.  Coloring it in is optional :)  Here is an example from one of my Littles:

 

 Spelling Trains
 Students write the word and then draw a box around it.  The wheels contain the first letter/blend and the final letter.  Connect them with a line and voila, you have a train.  The appeal for this one is that it wraps around the paper.  They get so excited about it. 

So, if you need 15 minutes, one of these activities might be something to consider :)


Have a Blessed day,

Kids Say Funny Stuff!

14 days until summer vacation....I think I can.  I think I can...

Luckily for me, I work with AWESOME Little people everyday that make me happy.  It's just a few of the grown-ups that I could do without.  And, the paperwork.  And, meetings!

I have two cute stories to share with you today.

 Story #1:  It was small group reading time and we were going to start a new book about Mount Rushmore.  So, like I usually do, I asked the Littles if they had any prior knowledge about our new topic.  They knew that the faces were past presidents and that was about it.  Then one Little leaned in real close and whispered, "underneath is where the USA hides all the gold..............and root beer."  Little buddy!  Root beer :)


Story #2:  I am working on an end of the year project and needed to know what each Little wanted to be when they grew up.   I got to one little fella and he was having trouble pinpointing exactly what he should say.  Finally, he said, "a fireman."  One of the little sweeties close by noticed that he wasn't really sure about his decision.  She sweetly tried to help and said, "what about a policeman?..............Do you like doughnuts?"  I cracked up.

I love working with Little people.  You NEVER know what they are gonna say!


Have a blessed day,

Baby Ducklings and Kindergarten Displays

We have baby ducklings!!! 

For several years, we have had a momma duck that has used our enclosed courtyard at school to lay her eggs.  This year she was back to repeat the tradition! 

 

 The ducklings have hatched and they are soooooooooo cute it's crazy!  13 babies in all...that's the most we have ever had. 

 

The best and worst part about our new friends is that the courtyard is right outside our classroom windows.  You can imagine keeping 6 and 7 year olds focused while furry, wittle, bitty, cutenesses are right outside.  I mean, I have a hard time not going over to check on them too! 

 

Our sweet and sometimes curmudgeonly janitor even went and bought duck food for them.  The ducklings are slated to eventually end up at 2 different farms near by. 

 

I don't want to think about them leaving.  I mean, what will I use to distract myself for the last 16 days of school :)

 

Here they are:

And, I just want to show off two kindergarten displays that currently adorning our hallways.  They are so stinking cute!

 

 

  Have a BLESSED day!  



Next year Linky Party

I am linking up with Finding Joy in 6th Grade for a linky party dedicated to thinking about next year!  I must admit, it's one of my FAVORITE things about being a teacher.  You know... that fresh slate every year.  Even though I STILL have 17 days left of this year, I am already thinking about what will stay the same and what needs to change for next year.  Here are a few of my thoughts:

I do that some, but I need to do this even more next year!  My school day keeps getting shorter and shorter it seems with RTI (reading and math) and pull-outs.  I just don't have time to do these separately anymore.  Heck, even writing instruction took a beating with the district requiring 30 minutes of math intervention this year on top of the allotted time for math.  I have to be more strategic and merge where I can.

Currently, I have a filing cabinet that houses lots of reproducibles and masters of worksheets/activities/resources.  I want to organize them into binders.  I KNOW that I have many duplicates and things that I don't even need or want anymore!

My district is slowly putting common core into practice.  This year, k-2 implemented common core in math and next year, we will be implementing it into literacy.  My district is also adopting a new way of measuring teacher effectiveness and it is tied to student achievement.  I work at a highly transient, low income, high ELL school.  I want to make sure that I have all my bases covered.

I love the clip chart.  My Littles love the clip chart.  I want to tweak it a little bit next year though.  Currently, if a student makes it to OUTSTANDING (the highest level), they receive a jewel to put on their clip.  After 3 jewels, they take their clip home and get a prize from the treasure box.  Next year, I want to incorporate class coupons into this system instead of the treasure box.  I also want to have a Hall of Fame spot for my clips to be retired.  These are my inspirations:

and...

Have a Blessed week!  At least for those of us still in school it's a 4 day work week :)