Five for Friday--First Timer

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and her Five for Friday Linky Party

This is my first time linking up and unfortunately it is going away for the month of July, but I still want to jump in on the fun this week!

I redid my blog; it's still a work in progress, but I am loving the robots. I think they are my new obsession!

My follower numbers are growing, yay! I am going to have a giveaway when I reach 100 followers so please help spread the word about my blog and if you aren't following me yet, please do! I love this wild blogging world. I am learning so much from it and now am learning even more from having my TPT and creating products for it.

I created some new products as part of my robot themed collection of classroom decorations. They are my robot themed borders and my robot themed bunting banners. I love them! Can't wait to use them! Go check them out.

Robot Borders

Robot Bunting Banners

I am so excited, the hubby and I are meeting up with a friend for lunch. She lives far away from us and we haven't seen her in a year. It will be nice to catch up with her again!

And finally I jumped on the bandwagon and went to amazon to buy the 12 pack of dry-erase markers for $6.99. How awesome is that? I go through these markers like crazy so I had to go buy them. You can too. Just go to this link 12 pack expo markers.

Now remember to spread the word about my blog and to follow me if you don't already. I really want to have that 100 follower giveaway!

Oh summer, how I love thee! And a little bit of bummer :(

Okay so I know my title is so fun and then so depressing, but blogging is something that makes me feel better so hopefully this will help how I am feeling.

Let me start out with the first part, the happy part! I LOVE summer!! I mean I have all of this time to work on my classroom and to come up with ideas. I have been one busy girl working on things for my classroom. I am slowly putting together robot themed items for my room and will be adding them to my TPT store (speaking of my store, go follow me @ Emily's Teaching Goodies, go do it, now, now, now...okay so maybe that was a little wild, but I'm so excited to have my store; can you tell?). When its all finished I will also be putting together a bundle of it all! Plus I am working on making some other items I have made throughout the past couple of years ready to be posted (they still need cover pages and claiming pages) so they will be up soon.

I went to one of my favorite stores again today...Dollar Tree...I always spend much more than I plan on spending when I go there. And of course now I have more projects on my to-do list. I did finish my READ letters finally and they are A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

I also order some new Pilot Frixion pens today...have you heard of them? They are totally awesome. They are erasable gel pens and are perfect to write in my new Teacher Organizer which is finally complete...yippee! Of course that meant I had to order some new ones in fun colors since all I have are red, blue, and black. I can't wait to get them in the mail!

The other item I am considering buying is the infamous Classroom Friendly Supplies pencil sharpener. My hubby even said it was okay to buy it (he doesn't say that often). I'm waiting for my sister (also a teacher) to check it out because we may go in together and get the three pack. We're trying to get her boyfriend in on the deal too since he's a teacher. It is so much better to buy the pack of three, so I guess I will wait a few more days before ordering mine. I can't wait to try it out. If you have one please tell me what you think about it. I keep hearing its awesome, but I'm still a little on the fence.


Okay now on to the bummer :( . Last night they took my great aunt off the ventilator and she passed away. I knew it was coming and her health hasn't been the greatest for a while now, but it doesn't make it any easier. I am grateful that I got to see her on Father's Day when she was actually doing pretty well (we actually thought that maybe she was through it, but God had other plans). I keep focusing on school stuff and my amazing projects and blog-stalking to keep my mind off of it and that tends to help a little. And of course my hubby is super supportive, like he should be.

Okay I think I'm going to go work on some more robot classroom decoration items to distract me now. I'm currently working on a bunting banner and it is C-U-T-E!

Big Theme Reveal,TPT Store Launch, Monday Made It, and a Giveaway! What a fun Monday!

Okay blogland, it is time for my big reveal of my classroom theme for the 2013-2014 school year!

Drumroll please!!!! Bum, bum, bum, bum....

ROBOTS! (And gears and lightbulbs as well)

My school is a PBIS school and our theme is You Have the Power and we have lightbulbs to represent that. I really wanted to incorporate the lightbulbs into my theme and I absolutely adore robots so it seemed like the perfect solution. The above picture is of all of the loot I scored at the teacher store when I finally made it there this past weekend.

As I previously posted I am now selling my items on Teachers Pay Teachers. I have posted many of my robot themed items already and will be posting more along with some non-robot theme items. Head on over to my new store to check it out!

Emily's Teaching Goodies

I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics on this fabulous Monday for my Monday Made It items. Head on over to her blog to check out the other amazing Monday Made Its.

4th Grade Frolics

Now for my Monday Made Its:

1- Rockin' Words

I've seen this idea many times throughout Blogland and Pinterest. I just took some simple glass stones and stick on letters and then attached the letters. I decorated the container with its name (Rockin' Words) and rhinestone letters spelling out ABC.

2- Story Stones

Another idea seen all over Blogland and Pinterest--story stones. I bought various stickers and stuck them on to rocks. Add a simple coat of Mod Podge and they are good to go!

3- Digital Papers for READ letters

I didn't get around to making my READ letters like planned, but I did make the papers that I will be using on them. Aren't they cute? I love them and can't wait to attach them to my letters!

4- Labels For My Standard Folders

This is one of my many products for sale at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Common Core ELA labels

Common Core Math Labels

Next Gen Science Labels

Labels Combo Pack

5- Ultimate Teacher Organizer

I created my robot themed Ultimate Teacher Organizer and printed it out. I laminated the front and back covers. Now all it needs is the tabs and then I am taking it to the local office supply store to get it bound.

This is my big product on TPT. It can be bought as a whole or purchased in individual sections.

Ultimate Teacher Organizer

This was a lot of work to create, but I love the some-what final product (it will be perfect once it has tabs and is bound)

And now if you have made it through this whole entire post without me absolutely boring you with my robots, I finally am announcing your opportunity to win my very first giveaway.

It's really simple to enter; all you have to do is follow my blog and then leave me a comment (containing your email). Wednesday I will announce the winner. And what is it you are winning, you may ask?

Well, it is my very own favorite product currently in my TPT store. You will be winning the Ultimate Teacher Organizer in the robot theme. I will even include personalization for you if you would like. Add details in your comment if you would like your name included in the product cover.

Thank you all for your support. I would really appreciate you following my blog and following me on TPT.

I Jumped In...

I have been contemplating for quite some time about joining the world of Teachers Pay Teachers Sellers. I finally gave in and signed up to be a seller. I am working on finalizing some of my items and will be posting them soon. The majority of them are items I will be using as decoration in my classroom with my new theme! That means that tomorrow when I post my Monday Made It I will be making my big reveal for the classroom theme, plus I will be having my first giveaway of one of my items with this theme! I am so excited to be sharing my work!
Stay tuned!

I Shopped Til I Dropped Yesterday....Plus New Theme In the Making!

I would say yesterday's adventure was a success. Only one disappointment came with the day spent with my sister and mother. Do you know what that was? We didn't make it in time to the teacher store so they were already closed? :( Bummer! On top of that I had just come up with my new theme which will be revealed in due time!

Now on to my fab finds! I LOVE Target Dollar Spot.
First up, I found these fab books (ALL for $1)

Then I found the big filed folder thingies and the little ones. Plus I found these adorable baggies!

Cardboard File Holders, chalkboard labels, stick on tabs, and scales (score in the Dollar Spot again)

Light-up assortments (side note: these really aren't for my classroom, they are for some fun adventures with my family in a month when we go on vacay in the mountains; our cabin has a campfire; we are going to wear these while hanging out by the fire; so much fun!)

My last buy did not come from the Dollar Spot (can you tell what my next Monday Made It is going to be?)...sorry bout the toes in the pic, didn't realize it at the time!

Enjoy your lovely day!

Another fun giveaway!

Teaching With a Touch of Twang is celebrating 300 followers! Head on over for your chance to win!

Teaching With a Touch of Twang

Head Over Heals For Teaching Giveaway!

Head on over to Head Over Heels For Teaching to join in on the fun of the awesome giveaway going on over there. Two different categories and lots of prizes. Now go, go, go!

Summer Shopping, Daily 5, CAFE, Whole Brain, Oh My!!!

So I went shopping the other day for my many summer projects that I am going to be working on. I found so much more than what I went for...don't you love when that happens?

So here it is; I am sharing SOME of my great finds!

These are some props for the photo booth I plan on having at the beginning of the year!

I can't wait! Need to keep getting props still!

All from Dollar Tree...score!

Colored packs of card stock 5/$10; that's a deal!

More Dollar Tree finds...they had all sorts of bordered paper. 

I am going to print lines on these and then put them in my Work on Writing section!

Small colored sheets of paper that I think I will use on my Super Improvers board!

Many different shapes to use for either some activities I make or bulletin boards!

Decorations...love the borders and letters! Plus I have an obsession lately with robots thanks to my family!

Overall I was very pleased with my shopping outcome! There was one store missing from my shopping extravaganza! That would be Target (the closest one is an hour and a half away)...guess where I am going after while? Yeah you guessed it! I will be enjoying the Dollar Section of Target! Ahhhhh!

One last picture to share:

My summer reading! Well it is only part of it! I did Daily 5 last year and decided I also wanted to incorporate CAFE this year so I am reading through the book. My sister has become a huge WBT advocate so I decided to see what it was all about; completed reading that book a week ago and will definitely be incorporating that into my classroom as well. I still have one more summer read book to get (I ordered it, now I just have to wait for it to arrive) and that is The Book Whisperer. I am so excited to see how different my class is this year based on these new additions!

Now I am off to get ready, each lunch, get my car serviced, and then shop til I drop! Have a great day everyone!

And Another Amazing Giveaway!

Tori's Teacher Tips is having an Amazing Giveaway for 800 followers!

Head on over to her blog for your chance to win some great prizes!

Just follow this link:

Tori's Teacher Tips

My First Monday Made It Linky

So I am a huge fan of Monday Made It hosted by 4th Grade Frolics. I watched it for many ideas last year and am hoping to find many more ideas this summer. I finally have decided to jump on the bandwagon and will be linking up with them this week! Heres to hoping my projects inspire others as they have inspired me! *Fingers crossed*

If you are not familiar with Monday Made It, head on over to 4th Grade Frolics and see all of the great ideas linked up each Monday in the summer and one Monday a month during the school year!

Now on to my Monday Made It. 

Monday Made It #1:

Okay so this was more of an organized with my new finds, but still linking it up. My kiddos love using the puff balls to spell out words for Work With Words in Daily 5. I had them in boring old baggies this past year and they seemed to always put them up full of air. I was at Dollar Tree and found these great pouches that are breathable (meaning no more bags of air) plus they seem a lot sturdier. So I decided this is how I am going to store my puff balls now. Next trip to Dollar Tree will result in me buying MANY more of these because I have so many ideas! I love that store!

Monday Made It #2/#3:
On the previous mentioned trip to Dollar Tree I also found these wonderful Alphabet tracing cards in both capital and lower case letters. I bought two sets of each and put them all in one pouch. I am also adding this to my Work With Words Section. The kiddos can use the cards to spell the words they are practicing.

 I also found foam sheets of letters both in capital and lower case letters. These were perforated and meant to be torn apart, but I decided to take heavy duty scissors and cut them apart instead (much quicker I might add).

The foam letters got me inspired to get plain foam sheets and make my own so I am sure that will be popping up on a Monday Made It soon!

Monday Made It #4/#5:

Another confession I have to make is that I am addicted to Pinterest. I spend hours on end pinning items and finding ideas for my classroom/house/life. One pin I came across awhile ago was to have a file folder for each standard and to collect the resources you use in it. I decided to get three prong folders and page protectors for my version. I have purchased the Third Grade Common Core Workbook from Core Common Standards. I printed off all of the standard sheets to be the front page of each folder. I also printed off the resources for each standard and put them in the second sheet protector. There are three other sheet protector to hold any other resources or notes I use to teach the standard. I will soon be making cute labels for the front of the folder and will share when those are created.

As I am sure you can tell from above I am a Daily 5 believer. I started Daily 5 in the middle of the year last year and fell in love with it. I am incorporating it from Day 1 this year. One thing I decided to create for my Daily 5 is the Word Journals for my students. It is a three prong folder containing two pages for each letter of the alphabet. They will record words that they have trouble spelling that way they can refer to it when they are stuck. After the alphabet pages I have added a copy of each week's spelling and vocabulary words. They tend to take those lists home after they get them on Monday morning and forget them so now they have a copy with them at school. Plus on Fridays they can look ahead and start working on the next week's words. Once again I will be making cute labels for these and will post when they are done.

Monday Made It #6:

Wow I didn't realize how busy I was this week. Okay I did realize it, but looking back I can't believe I actually accomplished all of this while still having a life...haha!

Moving on...this is my Bathroom Tickets jar. I had major issues with students going to the bathroom constantly this past year. I decided I had to put a stop to it. On one of my many Pinterest adventures I came across a pin that linked back to this Soaring Through Second. I modified the idea to meet my needs of my class. For the remainder of the year I gave each student a ticket each morning. They were responsible for putting their name on it and keeping track of it. If they had to go to the bathroom during the day they had to give me the ticket back. If they had already used their ticket once they had to owe me recess time. The best part was at the end of the day they got to put their ticket in a bucket. Every Friday I would draw out a name or two and those students got to choose from an assortment of Dollar Tree goodies. So I created this little goody for next year. I bought three packs of tickets from Dollar Tree and tore them all apart. I then put them in the cookie jar that I found at Walmart. Then I had these adorable letters that I found at JoAnn Fabrics. I added the name to the side and the front says TAKE ONE. This is the container to store all the tickets waiting to be dispensed out to the students.

Side Note: Yes I realize my letters are crooked, but I just could not get those darn boogers to go on straight; they were much too flimsy!

And there you have it...my first Link up! Now I am off to do some more blog stalking! My favorite summer past time!

Long Time No Blog

Wow the past year flew by! I was so crazy busy working with my wonderful kiddos that I forgot to blog. Well now it is summer and I am ready to get to work on all of my summer plans. I have many projects up my sleeve that I will be blogging about as I  complete so stay tuned to learn more!