Five for Friday (Including a Useful Assessment Freebie)

Happy Friday!
I cannot believe we just wrapped up our fifth week of the new school year.  It has been a total blur.  But, things are really starting to come together for my little class.  I can tell because I am not absolutely dead tired at the end of this week.
I actually have enough energy to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to share 5 things from my classroom during this week's Five for Friday Linky.
Here goes...

Number 1

I brought in a couple of super exciting additions to our classroom.  Click and Clack are our new class pets.  They are adorable parakeets.  The kids are totally in love with them.  They come home with me on the weekends to visit with our kitty, bunnies, and dog.
Things are working out great with these colorful guys.

Number 2

Back to school means lots of assessing.  It's so important to have a strong understanding of where your young learners are.  Some assessments are informal, some are done whole group, some are formal, some are on the computer, and others are individual.
It can be a real challenge to fit in individual assessments with primary students, especially at the beginning of the year.  They are so not independent on most tasks.
A couple of assessments I like to use are running records (Reading A to Z) and my data binder basic skill assessments.  If you would like a free copy of my data binder assessments, click on the picture below.

Number 3

While doing my assessments I used a new little goody from etsy (The Preppy Ladybug), my monogramed clipboard.  I've had it on my wish list for a while.  I finally got around to picking out the details to order one of my own.  It is so cute, that I had to order a second one, this time in my school colors.

Number 4

In my free time (hehehe-really just staying up too late), I made a new set of pieces for our class agenda.  Students really like to know what we are doing each day.  Having an agenda helps them feel more at ease and they don't ask nearly as many "when are we going to..." questions.  It also helps me stay on track to better fit everything in.

Number 5

Each year my students' first homework assignment is to learn to tie their shoes.  During that week, they can tell me when they are ready to demonstrate their shoe tying ability.  At the end of the week students that can successful tie their shoes, join the Shoe Tying Club.  They are awarded a certificate and visit the principal's treasure box.  It's a pretty big deal to my firsties.

For a FREE copy of my shoe tying certificate, click on the picture.

I guess that's about it.  I hope the beginning of your school year is going smoothly.  Thanks to Doodle Bugs Teaching for hosting Five for Friday.

Enjoy your long weekend.

One Word Resolution

New Year's resolutions, as a teacher I make them twice a year.  I make them in January and I make them again in July, right before a new school year starts.  I love having a positive goal(s) to work towards.

I'm linking with the super teachers at Primary Powers to share my One Word Resolution.  Mine is Gratitude.

Living with a sense of gratitude is a great path to contentment.  Gratitude for small things, like my favorite kind of pizza and gratitude for big things, like a healthy family, there are so many reasons to have gratitude.  Avoiding comparisons and consciously focusing on what is right in your life leads to gratitude and happiness.

There you have it, Gratitude is my One Word Resolution for 2015.

 

Would you like to share your resolution for 2015?  Stop by Primary Powers and linkup.

Best.

Why I'm Super Thankful

Can you believe it's almost Thanksgiving?!  I can't think of a better time to stop and reflect on some of the big and little things I am super thankful for.  That is why I'm joining Primary Powers for Super Thankful Thread Linky.  

Here are some of the reasons I am thankful . . .

To read more from the Super Thankful Thread or to join in, be sure to visit Primary Powers.
Thanks for visiting and have a great week.

Five for Friday: November 7, 2014

If you're happy that it's Friday, clap your hands. (clap, clap)

I don't know what it is about this school year, but things seems to be extra, super busy.  I know it's not just me.  My teacher friends at my school and at other schools are in total agreement.  There are definitely not enough hours in the day.  

One result of this pace is that I have missed every Five for Friday so far this school year.  But, hooray, hooray! this week is an exception.  I am so happy to link up with Doodlebugs Teachings Five for Friday and share five things from my week.

So here it goes...

Number 1

One of my to-dos this afternoon, before leaving school, was to prep my Veterans Day math word problem mini book.  We'll use these on Tuesday, along with a few other activities, to learn more about the heroes that protect our country.  

With this mini book students will work with number bonds, ten frames, calendars, addition, and more.  If you would like to use this activity with your students, you can have a FREE copy of myVeterans Day Salute by clicking on the picture below.

Number 2

We made a favorite fall craftivity, my Scarecrow Glyph.  I love glyphs.  You can really learn a lot about your students through them.  They are also a great way to cover a wide variety of math skills (depending on your line of questioning) and can provide inspiration for student writing.  

I especially like this scarecrow because it works in September, October, and November.  So, if you have them on display in your classroom, you do not have to be in a rush to change them out with another project.

For more details about this project, click on the picture below.

Number 3

This week we launched our November math centers, Thanks and Giving {10 Math Centers for November}.

With these centers, students are working on addition, subtraction, skip counting, fact families, twenty frames, time to the half hour, place value and more.  They are a wonderful way to review and to lay the groundwork for upcoming instruction.
We use them during our Math Daily 3 time for the Math with Someone rotation.

If you would like a FREE center from this packet, click on the picture below.  Touchdown Turkeys is a basic addition center.  It has full color center cards and a recording sheet.  

Number 4

We also started work with our November literacy centers, Thanks and Giving {10 Literacy Centers for November}.

With these centers, students practice skills such as short/long vowel discrimination, parts of speech, ABC order, sight words, sentence order, syllables, blends, and more.

If you would like a FREE center from this packet, click on the picture below.  Autumn ABC Order is just what it sounds like.  Students will practice putting fall themed words in ABC order.  This activity has color center pieces and a recording sheet. 

Number 5

Finally, I've just have to say how proud I am my own sweet first grader.  She ran with her daddy and me in a race last Saturday.  It was unseasonably cold, but that didn't slow her down one bit.  She ran the entire race.  She continues to amaze us.  It was a fun morning for our family.

That's all I have for now.  Thanks to Doodlebugs Teaching for hosting Five for Friday.
Enjoy your weekend.
Best.
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Tried It Tuesday: A Cabinet Makeover

It's almost the end of Terrific Tuesday (my class agenda header) and I wanted to share an easy little project that I have been working on in my classroom.  A project that creates some badly needed display space in my room.  My Tried It Tuesday project is a simple cabinet revamp.

I teach in an older building.  The wing I am in was an addition when open classrooms were the rage.  So I have this lovely curtain wall that divides my neighbor and me.  We both line up shelves against the curtain to spare each other from our classroom buzz.  On the other walls I have a white board, my calendar board, and some giant cabinets on wheels.

The cabinets were vintage 1960's orange when I moved in years ago.  I promptly painted them so that they blended into the walls.  Since I keep a fairly uncluttered classroom, I rarely posted anything on them.  Two words . . . wasted space.  

I found these self adhesive cork boards at Hobby Lobby right after school started.  They were the perfect size, so I snagged six of them.

After I brought them back to school and hung a couple (which was super easy using heavy duty foam tape).  I went back to Hobby Lobby for some fabric to cover them with.  I bought a black and white ticking fabric and a navy and white chevron.  After a week or so of having both selections tacked up, I decided to go with the chevron.

I'm really happy with how this project turned out.  If you decide to try it, I have a few tips for you:

*Use a laser level to line everything up.

*Put the fabric on before you hang the cork panels.

*Buy cork boards that are perfectly flat.  Warped ones will pull off the surface.

Revamping my cabinet doors was very simple and will give me a great place to highlight my kiddos' hard work.  

To get a look at more Tried It Tuesday ideas and projects, be sure to stop by Fourth Grade Flipper.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great rest of your week.

Motivate Me Monday: September 9, 2013

Hi friends.  The ladies at First Grade Buddies have started an encouraging link up about motivation.  One of my favorite motivators is to have a inspiring role model.  My motivation today really has nothing directly to do with teaching, but I'll share anyway.

I am a runner.  I started running as an adult and it took me a long time to build up endurance.  Over the years I have seen one man at my park out running that is very senior.  He is a very dedicated runner and turns out, very accomplished.  (I had a chance to meet him after my daughter was born.  He's a pediatrician in her group.)

Whenever I see him (or think about him), I am very inspired.  For all of my challenges when I am out there, I know his are much greater.  I tell myself, if he can do it . . . so can I.  

Some days, I need a lot of motivation to make myself get out there.  Having a role model is certainly one way to overcome that part of your brain that wants to stop.  

Best.

Motivate Me Monday: August 19, 2013

Happy Monday everyone.
Happy now, right?  I've made it through a long day.  I woke up about 3:30 a.m. this morning and could not go back to sleep.  It's the beginning of the year, I'm sure you totally understand why.
Anyway, at about 3:50 a.m. I got out of bed and started my day.  I'm really surprised I'm not sacked out already, but I just had to join my gals at First Grade Buddies for their first ever link up Motivate Me Monday.
I get to share a little something motivating to get the week off on the right foot.  My mind went straight to The Help's Aibileen Clark.

As we move through the year, I want my dear students to feel this sentiment.  "You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."       

L o v e   i t !

Be sure to pop over to First Grade Buddies for more Monday motivation (maybe even join in).  

Thanks for reading and have a great week.

Five for Friday: August 16, 2013

Two weeks in and so far so good.  The first three weeks of school are always crazy, no matter how much prep I do over the summer.  So I have one more week to go until smooth sailing (he he he).
Needless to say, I'm so glad it's Friday!  Here are a five random things from an awesomely busy week.  (Thanks Doodle Bugs Teaching :).

Number 1

My daughter turned 6 last Saturday.  We had a fun birthday party at our house.  It was a monster theme.  Let me tell you, there is nothing like getting ready to host a party the first weekend back to school.

Number 2

For A's birthday gift we added two little bunny sisters to our family (Sweetie and Gracie).  We have never had bunnies before.  A was thrilled.  I'm hoping to figure out a way for the buns to visit my classroom.  I'm sure my kids at school will love them just as much as A.

Number 3

A started kindergarten on Monday.  She knows a couple little girls in her class from preschool and from gymnastics.  Her teacher seem to be a fab fit for her.  We are looking forward to a great and interesting year.

Number 4

My little artists at school helped me decorate my walls this week with their versions of the bunny from Melanie Watt's You're Finally Here! (a great back to school read aloud).  They turned out super cute.  The eyebrows on the bunnies are hilarious.

I must give a shout out to my new circle punches from Hobby Lobby.  Awe-some.

I'm working on posting this pattern soon.

Number 5

I finished up my September Smarties {10 Math Centers} packet.  It is Common Core aligned and focuses on addition concepts, number order, telling time, and more.  Click on the picture below for more information.   You can also click here if you would like a FREE copy of one of the centers featured in this packet. 

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to go by Doodle Bugs Teaching to check out some more Five for Friday fun.

Five for Freebie Friday: June 28, 2013

It's Friday and time for Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five for Friday.  

Number 1

We've been having Summer Book Camp at my house.  I started out calling it Boot Camp, but  A  misunderstood me and began calling it Book Camp.   A  will be starting kindergarten in a few weeks and her preschool follows the school calendar.  So she is on summer break too.  I certainly do not want her to backslide on gains she has made.  I'm keeping the structured time very short and sweet.  There is always lots of time for learning during playtime too.

early morning puppet show

Number 2

A's  6th birthday is on the horizon.  Her birthday usually falls during the first week or so that I have kids in August.  Awesome time to throw a party.  She wants a monster themed party.  I'm starting to look for some cute monster ideas.  Pinterest here I come. 

Number 3

I finally pulled the trigger on Tory Burch sandals.  I have been eyeing these for a while.  I hope they are half as comfortable as they are cute.  The reviews recommended ordering a full size up.  I did.  Hopefully I will not have to send them back and prolong my wait.

Number 4
Today is Freebie Friday at Teaching Blog Addict and Teacher Dollar Days at A Teacher Without a Class.  I have something to share.

 

I completed my Bright Beginnings Back to School themed math centers packet this week.  I plan on using it during the first month of school in my first grade class.  I also think it will work great in a kindergarten class, but maybe more spread out through the year.
Below you will find some pics of the free center I am offering from this packet, Ten Frame Turtles.  If you are interested, you can click on either picture for your own copy.

Number 5

Just a reminder, Google Reader is in its final days.  I, along with many other bloggers, are offering give aways as a reminder to get signed up and follow your favorite blogs through bloglovin'.  I would love for you to follow School Is a Happy Place.  After you sign up and follow, come back and register for my give away.  If you are already following, please be sure to sign up for the give away as well.

Two winners will receive a choice of two units from my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  The contest ends on July 1st at 12:00 a.m. EST.  Good Luck!

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