Take Me Out to the Ballpark with the Cats... What???

It's Sunday again and time to get ready for another week! We are entering our 4th week as a class family and things are going great! Slooowwwlllyyy but surely we are getting into the groove of things and I am getting assessments done-- I seriously need an aide just to help get them done. Why oh why are almost all of the assessments in first grade one-on-one?? Sheesh... but we get them done!!! Thankfully I have wonderful parent volunteers who help me out and they are definitely a valuable asset in the classroom!

I was able to relax a little yesterday, which explains why I have worked my butt off this morning, but that's okay!! It was worth it! We took our boys to their first baseball game! It was for a minor league team we have called The Daytona Cubs and we could not have picked a more perfect night to go! There was a breeze and no bugs!!! 

This is why I love Florida!!!

My kids NEVER look at the camera! I don't know why and it's annoying!!! LOL!!!

It was a great night! We ate so much trash food but that's the fun part!!!!

So, onto academics because this is a teaching blog, right??? LOL!!!Yeah... so this week we will be studying short /i/ word families of -in, -it, and -iss and my favourite way to study it is through one of my favourite characters:

I love Skippyjon Jones! Hees leetle accento is the best! And I love his adventures! The kids love him! I have downloaded the stories for my iPad and I put his website (click on picture to take you there) on my student computers and we have a blast learning short /i/ sounds and  Skippyjon Jones all week!!! 

In fact, I made a fun literacy unit to go along with it!! 

We will be using these centers this week. I hope to *remember* to take pictures of them using these centers. We get so engrossed in our learning that it can be very difficult to remember! Some days it's hard enough getting to lunch on time!!! 

I will be uploading it shortly.. but in the meantime... I have a FUN FREEBIE for you!!! I actually made it last year and updated it this year with just a different font. Click on the picture to download it!! 

I hope you all have a great week!!! Love you all!!!

Feeling Corny?? LOL!!!

Happy Monday everyone! Hope you all are enjoying this day off! It is very HOT here in FL and I pretty much stayed indoors all day. Although I was not labor free! LOL! I was working on a new fall unit for you! More on that later! 

SO this was our 2nd week of school and I must say it was MUCH better! I was actually getting into the groove of our new schedule and just getting to know their little personalities. I always use the beginning of the year to form bonds and friendships for my students. I tell them we are a family and we really are as we work together throughout the year and have to rely on each other for encouragement and support. So this past week we worked on two team building challenges. The first one was a House of Cards challenge. 

Can we say, DISASTER??? I talked that challenge up! We talked about what roles each group member would play and how they could discuss with each other how to build a tower. Each child had their own little deck of cards trying to build their own house. Two of my groups managed to put their heads together and try to talk about it. No one managed anything. 

So, the next day, we talked about the things we did right and what worked for us. We also talked about how we could improve our teamwork:

1. Talk to each other.

2. Give each other a chance to participate

3. Be fair to everyone. 

4. Everyone does their fair share

With that said, we did Science Gal's Cup Challenge and it was a success!! Look at their faces (well, most of their faces!)

The noise factor was insane but they really worked together and celebrated working together! Loved it!!! 

My creativity this weekend was in high spirits as I have been seeing so many Fall/Autumn decor in the stores! Fall is my absolute favorite season. It is just unfortunate that in FL Fall feels like summer and spring sometimes. One of my favourite cross curricular themes to teach is corn so I decided to create a packet about corn! Plus my husband is from Iowa and it was a tribute to him, too!!! 

It is a 65 page unit of corn-goodness!!! I'd love to give it away to one of you (it's not even uploaded on TPT yet!) to help you prepare for your Fall lessons! Here's the best part.... there's a great freebie for you on my FB page. You have to "like" my First Grade and Flip Flops page to download your freebie. 

Click on the picture above to grab your freebie then leave a comment on my FB page on your favourite Fall lesson to teach. I will select 2 comments using the random number selector Wednesday, September 4th. 

Hope you have a restful day and see you soon!!

Pssssstttt!!! Come Visit Me....

Today on the Primary Chalkboard!!! I am posting over there with my true life friend and colleague, Leigh, The Applicious Teacher!! 

Learn more about us and grab some *EXCLUSIVE* Primary Chalkboard freebies while you are there!

Click on the chalkboard to take you there!! 

First Week in Pictures

Happy Sunday everyone!!! Got my first week done with my firsties and I love them! They are a cute bunch of kiddos (don't we say that every year?) and I was tired! Hence the reason I have been MIA in my posts here and on FB. I usually post regularly but I cannot seem to catch my breath. It is my 2nd week and I already need these

At least this year my district has decided NOT to give us so many mandates and I can actually concentrate on teaching a bit more! This will be our 2nd year fully implemented in Common Core and I feel pretty comfortable with the material and ready for the year. Ready meaning I understand the Core verbiage but not ready as in ready lesson plan wise or set up right now! Still have LOTS of ideas swirling in my head!!! So let's get started on some pictures! 

As every teacher, we got all our procedures out of the way! The good thing is that they knew where the places were but just had to review the new procedures. One of the new things I really wanted to do this year was math journals. I bought Anna Brantley's Math Journals and I am in LOVE!! They are great and I got the set during the Back to School sale. I loved the first question of "What is your favourite number?" and even myself, I had no idea what my favourite number is and neither did the kids. It was so powerful to hear their answers. Some littles said their favourite number was "6 or 7" because that is how old they were. Some said 100 because they wanted $100! 

We also started a little bit of centers so they would get used to the rotations, the flow of the room, and center expectations. I do not do Daily 5 in my classroom (although have heard GREAT things) but we decided after much debate and tears, we will go with the 100 minute walk-to grouping and Daily 5 just doesn't work with that structure. My kids did a great job with their centers using the book:

If you want the writing center activity and label a cricket center...click on the slide where you see the activity to take you to the downloads. 

Our first week in science is all about scientists and what do scientists do. Our county has encouraged us to do an experiment a week (I usually did anyway!!) and my kids had a BLAST exploring the different science tools!

Next week, we will be doing Science for Kids Gummy Bear Lab. Click on her button to take you to her store. 

She has got amazing science experiments for kids! I bought her Gnome Engineers packet and I cannot wait to use that with my class!!! She is just fabulous!!!  So that was just Monday through Friday!!! Then Saturday, I had my annual health assessment at my old high school!!

And it was mildly funny-- not that funny but more in an oxymoron way! My blood pressure was high, I had high stress (Do they know what my job is??) and overweight. BUT my good cholesterol was good and overall health score was good!!! The sad reality is I think my sugars are out of control (I had gestational diabetes and my dad is diabetic) and I think I may have to go on medicine...:-( So I have an appointment made and know that this will be another adjustment for me!!! All I know is that we gotta do it for ourselves and our family!!! Will keep you posted!

Then I sat for almost an hour with these!!

Sharpening pencils is such a TEDIOUS TASK!!!! I thought my arm would fall off but I am telling you!!! This sharpener is the best!!!!

If you would like to win this sharpener, my sweet friend, Daina from Sticky Notes and Glitter is giving one away in PINK!!!!! Yes!! PINK!! Click on her button to enter!!! I wish I had a pink one but I already have 3 of these..... 

And now.... I had to choose another winner for my Glam Back to School Winner.... So....Amy B. 

You are the WINNER!!! Please check your e-mail!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As you finish reading this already long post-- I know you held on because you love me!!! Please go on over to our Primary Chalkboard and meet the fabulous author's behind our blog! So far you have met: Tamara and Alyssha, Faith and Lisa, and now Stacy and Katie!!! When you visit, please leave some love for us! We adore comments and READ them!!! Click on the chalkboard to take you there!

Stacy and Lisa (the other girls did, too, in case you missed it!!) have some fab freebies and a giveaway for you!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by and hope you all have a fantastic week!!! My friend, Leigh, the Applicious Teacher and I will be on "The Board" Wednesday! Come and see us!!!

Back to School and I am T.I.R.E.D!!!! Oh, and 2 freebies for you!!!

Whoa! Happy Friday Eve!!! Forgive me that it's been a while since I've posted!! School happened this week and I have been Oh-So-Busy! But you as my fellow teachers knew that!!! I have to say that I have been on the computer (haha! On it again now!) every night this week planning and trying to get ready for the next day. Hopefully I'll be better prepared for next week. I have my plans *in my head* but need to get them on paper! 

So, I am going to keep this post really short tonight as I still have some planning to do. I am still in need of a winner! Sara S.. I have e-mailed you-- Please e-mail me to claim your prizes. If not, I will be choosing a new winner Saturday! Thanks!!! 

Tomorrow I will be reading 

as a introductory story to get my kids used to literacy centers. They have kinda been doing "center" like activities this week but tomorrow I will be rotating them throughout the room and working on various skills. I will be posting some pics of my classroom and some activities that we do this weekend but I wanted to leave you with some goodies to go along with this book in case you wanted to teach it, too!!!! This is a great book to introduce first graders to similes.  The pictures are vivid and are just appealing to students. I love teaching this book at the beginning of the year. 

I also wanted to make sure you check out 

and meet two of my sweet Chalkie friends, Tamara and Alyssha! Every week, we will be posting and introducing ourselves and offering up exclusive Primary Chalkboard Freebies just for you! Click on our chalkboard to take you there and meet them! There are 20 of us who are just so excited to meet you! And I have to say that they are just the sweetest ladies ever and I really adore collaborating with them!

So, now before I say goodnight, two freebies for you! Just really simple files for you to use! 

Click on the pictures to download. 

**Graphics by Scrappin'Doodles and Fonts by KG Fonts**

Thanks so much for stopping by!!! Have a great night!!!

Classroom Reveal, a Sale, a freebie, and the Winner Is....

This has been a VERY busy week! My first week back with pre-planning and I am totally exhausted! In fact, I was so tired yesterday I just hurt all over. I pretty much slept all day today and left my house to encounter the bedlam that is back to school shopping at Target at 6:00 p.m. this evening. I attempted Publix but decided to leave that bit of fun for tomorrow! Yay for me!! Haha! 

So all summer, I have been going on and on about my Wizard of Oz room and here are some pictures of my room. So excited!!

Each of my tables are labeled with a hot air balloon and are named after each of the characters. Sorry... there is no Flying Monkey table! LOL!

My reading corner and cute (albeit ghetto sign because I ran out of time) sign for my door. 

Classroom Jobs-- Still needs a sign but posted up at least! 

Wow! Sorry it's blurry!!! My classroom view from the doorway. 

Advice to a Future First Grader! I had my kids from last year write some words of wisdom and I displayed them in my hallway just for meet the teacher! I wasn't sure if this was a good idea because they wrote things like "First Grade Math is tricky!" or "You work hard in first grade" and all of that is true. I didn't want to scare them but it'd the truth. You know kinda like in college-- you asked around about classes and 

professors! 

This cute guy pointed the way to my classroom for Meet the Teacher! I actually did a bit of trash picking but it was in good condition! I never trash pick but I was desperate and low on funds! Plus I was driving by and saw it and knew it was meant to be!!! 

The Yellow Brick Road that lead up to my classroom!!! 

Love this picture angle! My hallway portion and the field of poppies! I hung up some cock board with sticker chalkboard frames with their names on them. I cannot wait to display their "Wonderous Work!" 

I am also excited this year to be working with some new team members! I can honestly say that I love my team! I cannot imagine working with a better team and we work so well together. One of my longtime teammates left to work as a teacher-on-assignment for our county and I will miss her greatly but I know it time for her to move on. I am not sure I could do that. I wish her the best! Here is a picture of my new team: 

These lovely ladies are just fabulous and I am excited to be in such good company!

Speaking of good companies... I am excited for the Teachers pay Teachers back to school sale! 

Take a look at your wishlists or if you haven't yet.. start placing items in your wishlist cart now! The savings and prizes (your new teaching packs) will be amazing!!!! My wishlist is out of control! I think I am at like 97 items! Not sure I can afford all 97 items but I know I will spending some money tonight. And if you have provided feedback on all your items on TPT you can use your credits to purchase some of your items at the discounted price! Even better!!!! I am all about saving money but the grocery store savings thing still baffles me! 

Another store that I love is 

If you noticed in my previous post I bought this dress

and I wore it Friday and everyone LOVED it!!! SO thanks!!!

And now for the WINNER of the Glam Back to School Giveaway!:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Sara!! I will e-mail you and get with you so you can pick out your 3 items from my store!!!

And now, since you have been so patient with me in reading my post, a little freebie for you to go along with the big TPT sale going on:

Click on the picture to take you to my store to download! 

Remember the sale is going on August 18-19! Stock up now for Back to School!