We Can Make It...Flash Sale

So if you're like me, you are purely in survival mode right now.  There's lots of baking, shopping, wrapping, cleaning, and cooking left to do.  Oh yeah, and I have to keep my sweet third graders engaged in learning.  So since I'm sure you're having the same issues, I thought I'd throw a flash sale!  All products in my store are 20% off through Wednesday.  Maybe you can grab something to help your next few school days go more smoothly.

Included in the sale are my newest packs, my Skating Scoot and Slapjack Multiplication Pack and my Multiplication and Division Activity Pack.  You can click on the pics to go right to my TPT store.

Have an amazing next few days with your kiddos! =O)

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It's Almost Sale Time!!! and a Shout Out

I love a good sale and I know most of you are probably the same!  So I hope you've loaded up your shopping cart over at TPT in eager anticipation of the Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) sale!  All of my products are on sale so with TPT's extra discounts that is a total of 28% savings.  You can just click on this super adorable button by Mrs. Hughes over at  The School Supply Addict to get to my store.   Happy Shopping!

 

Also, I wanted to give a shout out to my BFF who recently started a teaching blog.  She has super great and creative ideas.  Be sure to check her out at I Heart Recess!

 



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Giving Thanks...and Looking to the Holidays (FREEBIE)

I try to give thanks daily through prayer but after this week's events and it being Thanksgiving early morning (can't believe I'm up so late)...I feel even more thankful than normal.  My youngest son had major breathing issues on Monday...so bad in fact that we ended up being sent from the doctor's office by ambulance to the hospital.  Praise the Lord, he has improved greatly!

So instead of getting a good night's rest for the first time in a few days, I'm here pecking away at the computer, trying to get ahead on some school stuff so I can try to enjoy the rest of the break.

If you've followed me for awhile, you know that this is my state's first year using Common Core.  I can't believe that we're getting ready to begin our third ELA unit!  We are going to be focusing on Famous Inventors, Musicians, and Artists and we will be researching and writing biographies.  There are many graphic organizers out there to help with this process but none of them had exactly what I wanted my students to focus on.  So I whipped up this little packet of note taking pages that I wanted to share with you all as a thanks for being such awesome followers!

I also added my newest packet of Literacy Based Holiday Activities/Crafts!  These were activities that I came up with last year and we had so much fun completing them. I didn't think to take pictures last year but this year I plan to snap away.  If you're interested in this packet, please check it out at my TPT store.  (Or wait until Monday when it...and everything in my store...will be on sale!!!)

 

By the way, if you've read this far, just as another sign of thanks I will give my holiday packet to the first two people who comment.  Be sure to leave your email address!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

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Taking Time to Reflect and a FREEBIE

As teachers, we constantly evaluate ourselves and reflect on our practices.  That's how we grow and improve.  Well, this year my state is implementing Common Core Standards and boy am I reflecting like crazy on what I'm doing and how I need to change!

One thing I really struggle with is being more of a facilitator in math and allowing my students to discover how to solve problems.  I love being the star of the show (no surprise as our class is called the Celebrities, lol) and having my traditional teacher input time where I teach my kiddos what I know.  I many times revert to teaching algorithms or little tips and tricks to help students solve problems.  Common Core really wants students to focus on the why and being able to explain what they are doing.  In our professional development at school this week, we talked all about how students need to really truly understand the concepts and not just procedures.  With all that being said, I'm trying to improve how I teach math and am really trying to move to a model that my county suggests where students start the math lesson by grappling with a math problem first, then complete a math talk, and later in the lesson, I provide clarification or hit on important teaching points.  So as I was planning tonight, I created a few problems working with arrays (3.OA.1) and wanted to share them in case anyone else could benefit from them.  Just click on the pic to go to them:

 

I also wanted to mention that I've loaded a new Questioning Resource Pack to TPT that focuses on using Question Answer Relationships (QAR), the strategy monitor/clarify, and Bloom's Taxonomy question stems.  Please check it out if you're interested:



Oh, and leave a comment below (with your email) telling me a teaching practice that you've been reflecting upon lately.  I'll use a random number generator in a few days to pick two people to give my Questioning Resource Pack!!!

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Sink or Swim??? Language Center Freebie

Hi y'all, I can't believe it's been almost two months since I last posted.  I guess that's because I feel like I'm drowning in all this Common Core!!!  (It's my state's first year.)  In addition feeling like I'm sinking, we're getting ready to start our second unit, called "Under the Sea."  We're going to focus on the Titanic first so I created this little Sink or Swim?  Sentences Center.  It's a freebie for y'all because I know I've been snagging freebies like crazy to use in my classroom and I wanted to return the favor!

Hope y'all are keeping your heads above water!

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Back to School Sale...WOO-HOO!

Hey y'all, so based on everything I just read on my blogger feed, I'm a little late to this party!  It's ok, though, I can't wait to get my shoppin' on!!!

Yep, TPT is having an awesome Back to School Sale and you can get 28% off all of the products in my store, plus many of your favorites are having sales too!  My store is set for all products to be 20% off but make sure to put in the code below for the extra 8% off that TPT is offering!

(Thanks Ashley, for the cute graphic!)

Here are some of my latest creations that I hope you'll pick up!  There's my Back to School Blacklines packet...with a super cute clipboard craftivity:

There's also a terrific teambuilding craftivity/writing activity:

Then I just loaded a pack of 30 Common Core Math Pre-Assessment Task Cards:

And also you can buy a copy of my How to Be a Star: Classroom Rules Posters (lovin' the Chevron lately, y'all!)

Ok, now I've gotta head on over to TPT to fill up my cart!  Happy Shopping, Friends!!!

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Monday Made It...Sort of...And FREEBIES

Hey y'all, I'm linking up with Tara for Monday Made It.  If you noticed my title, well, I sort of made it...

Last Monday I said that instead of just making some cutesy things for my classroom that I was going to make some purposeful items.  So I tried to kind of mesh the two. Last year I never posted a cursive letter alphabet in my classroom and when it was time to teach cursive, I found myself really wishing I had put one up.  So I decided to create a chevron alphabet banner to put in my room.  Here's where the sort of part comes in...I created it and have printed and cut it out but that's as far as I've gotten:

The reason I haven't gotten had time to put it together is because I thought my bloggy friends might like these too!  So I created several different color combinations-pink/green, teal/green, rainbow, red (the red looks dark but that's the one I made and I promise it's a nice red), yellow, and teal/red and they are all FREE!!!  Here's what the pink and green combo looks like.  You can click on the pic below and it will take you to my TPT store.  There you can snag whichever banner set you'd like.

Please comment and let me know if you download one of the sets.  I'd especially love to hear if you have a creative way to use this other than just a banner!

Happy Monday, y'all!

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Giveaway Winners and Currently

Woo-hoo!  I have the winners of the 300 Follower Giveaway.  Thanks so much for all who entered and thanks again for following me.  Winners, look for your prizes soon! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, I'm sure you all follow Farley over at

Well every month she does a fun Currently linky and I'm finally with it enough to participate, lol!  So here goes:

So, what are y'all up to???

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300 Follower Giveaway

Woot-woot! It's time for a giveaway!

I am so super excited to have reached 300 followers and want to say thanks! I'm trying my hand at Rafflecopter...so let's see how it goes! There are 5 different prizes that you can win, thanks to some kind bloggy friends!

First up, the super creative and generous ladies over at Primary Possibilities have each contributed a prize!  You can win Kathi's Jungle Theme Classroom Pack, Stephany's Space Theme Packet, or Stephanie's What's for Lunch? pack.  These are all must haves for the start of a new school year!

Then, my sweet, fellow NC blogger, Amber, over at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher has contributed one of her Math Common Core Word Wall packs (grade level of your choice).  This is awesome because I know lots of us are transitioning to Common Core!

 

Finally, I'll be giving one winner my Back to School Blacklines AND Crayon Box Craftivity!  These fun activities are a great way to help your kids get to know one another!

I'll also have all of the products in my TPT store 20% off until Thursday at midnight just as an added thanks!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Monday Made It...FINALLY

Hey y'all!  So it's only taken me until week 9 of Tara's Monday Made It to get my rear in gear but I finally did it!  And of course I've only focused on aesthetics of my space and not any of the really useful stuff that I'll need in my classroom.  Maybe I'll have some of that ready for next week.

First up, I was totally inspired when I saw Nicole's super cute burlap signs.  Check out the totally adorable pencil, apple, and cupcake signs that she created and I'm sure you'll love them too! 

My classroom name is still going to be Smith's Celebrities (Hollywood style) so I thought that a popcorn bucket burlap sign would be perfect on my door!  I think it will be a great way to welcome my little superstars!
Then, I've seen tons of people creating adorable banner pennants.  I've made a few for my kids' birthday parties as decorations and have used felt to make them.  I was planning to use fabric but then when I realized that I'd probably need to back it to make it sturdier, I decided that I wasn't too sure about that idea.  (I'm not lazy really...I just believe in the work smarter, not harder theory...I've got two young boys, I know y'all understand what that can be like!)  So anyways, I found this felt at JoAnn's and thought it would work great.  Here'sa section of one of the banners but I actually made three of them.   I don't even know exactly where I'll put them in my room but I'm sure I'll find a place.

The last thing I did was a project for home.  I originally spotted Amy's crazy cute polka dotted tiered planter on 

and I just knew I had to make one.  I love how it turned out!!!

So, what have you made this Monday?  I can't wait to blog stalk y'all!

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Back to School Packets and a FREEBIE

Hey y'all, so I have really been LOVING my summertime!  (I think that's how I started my last post so it. must. be. true!!!)  It's just too easy to relax or jump in the pool with the boys and not think about school.  Besides, I don't know about y'all but I seem to have a hard time being inspired when I'm away from my students.  There's just something about being around my kiddos that gets my wheels turning.  Anyways, regardless of the lack of inspiration, I have managed to slowly start thinking about going back to school and have come up with a few activities that are making me excited for the new year.  I know my new kiddos will love them too!  And if you're interested, please click on the pics to go to my TPT store.

The first packet is called Back to School Blacklines. I love to print my stuff all pretty in color but my budget certainly doesn't allow for that!  So that's why I created this packet with blacklines.  I'll just brighten it up by copying onto neon colored paper. 

A super fun craftivity in this packet is a clipboard that really works (courtesy of a small binder clip).  I think this would make a darling display!  (And of course my kiddos would color their pages but I'm lazy...it's the summer, I tell ya!)

Okay, so that freebie is coming, I promise...just one more craftivity that I want to share.  I've always read The Crayon Box that Talked by Shane Derolf and used it to lead a discussion about differences and also teamwork.  So, I came up with a Crayon Box Craftivity that students complete as a team.  Each student creates a different colored crayon and then writes on the back one way that he/she can be a team player. 

Finally, the FREEBIE!  I always like to give my students a little something when they come to Open House.  I thought it would be super cute to give each kiddo a fun colored highlighter (other than the typical yellow...which of course was all I had to make a sample, lol).  You can get a copy for free (there are five colors of writing/borders..some also say the highlight of my day)  if you want to give highlighters to your students as a welcome little gift.

Well, thanks for reading and stay tuned!  I'm getting close to 300 followers and I'm planning a giveaway! 

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Yay for Summertime! And a FREEBIE!

Woo-hoo!  Are y'all enjoying summer vacation as much as I am???  Don't get me wrong, I love school, my students, and teaching but boy was I ready for a break.  I haven't been up to much lately but I sure have been lovin' on my sweet, sweet boys and enjoying some extra time with the hubs.  Oh yeah, and I attended a workshop on Common Core for English Language Arts.  A bit overwhelmed but I'm sure I'll get it all sorted out soon.

Anyways, since reading has been on the brain for my last two days, I thought I'd share a freebie with you!  Here are some reading strategy posters that I use with my kiddos.  I keep them posted by our guided reading area and refer to them often.   If you download them, please comment and let me know how you plan to use them!

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Your Students as Teachers

You all have them...kiddos who try to "teach" the class for you! Well, the truth is I think all students have a budding teacher somewhere inside of them. Ever since my first year of teaching, I've used this knowledge as what I think is a pretty clever way to engage the students (and not stress myself out trying to plan so many end of year activities). I've always given my students the opportunity to "Be the Teacher!" They love, love, love this and I've been amazed at some of the truly exciting and entertaining lessons that my students have taught. In the past, it's been a pretty informal thing. I'd just assign the kiddos a date to teach and they would just show up and teach! Well, I thought it would be a little more interesting and meaningful if they had to actually do some preplanning, including writing a lesson plan. So that's how my newest mini pack was born. You can check out the "Be the Teacher" pack at my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Oh yeah, and the first person to comment on this post and leave his/her email, will be emailed (probably tomorrow...it's late for this gal, lol) a free copy of "Be the Teacher."

Thanks a bunch!

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Out of This World Informational Writing-FREEBIE

We've spent the last several weeks studying the earth, the moon, and our solar system.  I created this mini-unit to use with my kiddos to help teach informational writing in the context of our study of the planets.  It didn't quite turn out as cutesy as I was hoping for (my clip art budget is currently nada, lol) but the organizers and process that we went through definitely yielded fantastic results.  My students gained a great deal of content knowledge about the planets, enhanced their understanding of main idea and details through research and writing, and ended up with writing pieces of which they were really proud!
Go to my TPT store to download a free copy of the unit:

Please leave me a comment here if you download this mini-unit!  Have a terrific week! =O)

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Upper Elementary Linky Party

Hey all, Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies is having a linky party for upper elementary teaching blogs!  I can't wait to blog stalk and find awesome new resources!  Click below to join the party! =)

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Math Madness

Wow!  My following has made a little leap since I've last blogged!  Thank you all of you who are following and I'm sorry that I haven't posted sooner.  I haven't been totally MIA.  I've been doing a lot of blog stalking in between taking care of my sick babies.  We've been through two long bouts of pneumonia, bronchitis, stomach bugs, ear infections, pink eye...you name it!

Okay, okay, so enough with the woe is me, lol!  I just finished a packet called Math Madness!  I know there are lots of big basketball fans out there and some of my students are super huge fans.  We have a big Duke/Carolina rivalry going on!  So I decided to make some fun math activities that are aligned to the 3rd Grade Common Core Standards.  Click on the picture below to go to Teachers Pay Teachers if you're interested:

I hope to have some freebies for you by the weekend!  Hope you're all doing well! =)

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