Inspiration Monday

Oh yeah! This is how my day started! One of my little kiddos brought me a bag of chocolate. So sweet! :)

There are only four days until Spring Break. I'm really going to make it. We had a pretty good Monday. I think I'm mostly excited because I had an idea. I'm sure most of you already thought about this, but it's just coming to me. I think my brain processes all of the difficult ways before coming up with the easiest way to work things smoothly in our classroom. 

Click the picture to check it out.

Spring Syllables, a new activity I made, inspired me to figure out a better way to set up the activities I have for my kiddos to do during Word Work. After taking the time to create, laminate, and cut out an activity, I really want my kids to enjoy it and take care of it. 

I have been storing activities in the large envelopes. I don't know why, but I just don't like them. I don't like file folders either.

This is what I came up with. It's a two pocket folder. I glued the directions to the front cover. 

The left pocket holds all of the cut-out pieces in a Ziploc bag. 

The right pocket holds the half page recording sheets. 

Now, I don't know about y'all, but I don't like having to look for the master copy when all of the recording sheets run out if it's an activity my kids really like and use a lot. My solution for that is to leave a master copy in the folder with the activity. I drew a yellow line on it with a highlighter since yellow highlighter doesn't show up when it's copied. 

If you want the activity to be a self-checking one, you can glue the answer key on the back. I just put it there as an example since I correct their papers. 

This is what the activity looks like in action. There are 8 words for each syllable. 

Yes, that makes me excited. I really think I'm going to like the way it works. I hope so anyway. 

Each Monday, you can link up your inspirations with Fun in 1st Grade.

Spring is in the air, and the pollen proves it!

Spring is in the air around here, and the pollen proves it. That stuff is EVERYWHERE! My red car looks more like a yellowish-greenish color. The warm weather has put me in a spring mood. I love everything about spring (except the pollen). The kids and I went outside today and played a little basketball. I won a game and lost a game, so I guess I can live with that. Then, we went for a walk just because it was so pretty outside. I didn't care that nobody had on matching clothes. I do think it's about time to get the girls' bigger bikes though. My babies have grown so much since last year.  

 While we were out yesterday, we saw a celebrity in our local Wal-Mart. Too bad it was the card board version. We love Duck Dynasty! 

Last week, we were working on tons of stuff as always. I snagged a few pictures in math of my kiddos measuring all sorts of things in the room with nonstandard units. On this particular day, they were using blocks. Other days, we used paperclips and color tiles. They absolutely loved it! When they love it, I love it!

  

Because I've felt so springy this weekend (I know it's not a real word), I made an activity for my kiddos to use next week to practice syllables. I've printed and laminated it. Now, I just need to cut it out.

  

 Click on the picture to check it out on TpT. 

Don't forget to enter my little giveaway! Click on the picture to take you to the post to enter. 

One more week until Spring Break. Yippee!

100 Fabulous Followers Giveaway

I've made it to 100 followers. I'm having a giveaway with the help of some super fabulous bloggers. These bloggers are donating great items. For many of them, you get to pick out what you like or what you can use from their Teachers pay Teachers stores. They all have SO many great products. Am I allowed to win my own giveaway??!! I know I can't, but it sounded good! :)

Wow! I am completely amazed at these ladies. They are too kind!


I used graphics from Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, and My Cute Graphics. The font is from Kevin and Amanda.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

St. Patrick's Day Sale

I'm linking up with a sweet blogger, Amy, from Albuquerque Amy's First Graders for her first Linky party. We are offering 20% off at our TpT stores on Sunday, March 17. 

Click on the picture if you'd like to link up, too!

Thank you to the ladies who are participating in my giveaway. All of those who commented on my post should have gotten an email. If you didn't, please let me know. I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of gals, and I will be all set. 

Ta-Ta for now!

I really made it to 100 followers!

Hi folks! I've made it to 100 followers!! Wow! I would like to do a little giveaway. I need a few of you great bloggers to help me out. If you would like to be part of my giveaway, I would be happy to have your contributions. Please email me, and I will get it together this weekend. Thank you all in advance!
Update:
I have enough people to donate now. Thank you!

:)

Yayy!

Inspiration Monday

It's time to link up with Dana at Fun in 1st Grade for her Inspiration Monday Linky. 

There are so many new things coming down the pipes, especially with Common Core. Some of the skills are quite tough for my first grade babies (and for myself to make sure I'm teaching the standard to the best of my ability). It's all overwhelming at times. I  want to teach my kiddos, and I want them to enjoy learning at the same time. Common Core is new, so it will take a lot of time, practice, and commitment to learn it to it's full extent. 

I'm not a baseball fan, but they saying is great! 

I will keep calm and teach on!! :)

Go by Dana's blog and link up your inspiration!

Inspiration Monday Linky

I'm linking up with Dana over at Fun in 1st Grade again for her Inspiration Monday. Click on the button if you'd like to link up and find some inspiration. 

This is what I posted last week because I truly love my students. 

This is my inspiration for this week. :)

Dear Mrs. Key

You are sweet. You are nice. 

You have a heart that shines. 

(She drew a picture of us.)

That is a note from a first grader. Does it get any sweeter than that? I get notes and pictures on a daily basis from my kiddos. They just make me smile. However, there is something extra special about a sincere note. It inspires me to continue doing what I'm doing. I may not have every lesson perfectly planned. I may mess up from time to time but in their eyes, I'm doing it just right. 

March Currently

Okay, so I finally got to watch Breaking Dawn Part 2 last night. Oh man! It was so good. I'm kinda sad that it's over though. I didn't jump on that bandwagon until all four books were out. It was bad. I read all four books in a week. I skipped sleep and meals, and that's something I just don't do. haha

A new month means a new currently from Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade. 

Listening

My girls are in the bathtub playing with their barbies. They were arguing earlier, so it's nice to hear the giggles. 

Loving

There is so much progress to be made in every grade, but my little first grade babies are working so hard. Sometimes their progress doesn't come when I want it to. This has been a 'Ruby in Her Own Time' (A Scott Foresman reading story) kind of year. They are all learning in their own time, and that's A-OK!

Thinking

We were told that there will be walk-throughs starting in our schools next week. It's not just our principal. I can handle that with only getting small butterflies. It's the big guys coming. That makes me get those extra big butterflies. 

Wanting

There are some things that have been weighing on my mind. I have issues with making small decisions now (like where to eat). I used to make on-the-spot decisions about big things (like buying a car). Some of my decisions didn't turn out to be the smartest thing I did. When I bought my last car, it took me months to make the final decision.  

Needing

I am a worry-wart. I worry about everything. I know I ultimately don't have control, but I can't help it.

Like, Love, Hate

My first name is Dawn.

I like Donuts.

I love Dew (Mountain). It is my drink of choice. Do the Dew!

I hate driving. I drive 48 miles to school and 48 miles home. Our home is for sale. That's one of those decisions I'm struggling to make. 

Go link up with Farley, and remember the rule of three. 

Read Across America Week and a St. Patrick's Day Freebie

Where is this year going? I thought it just started, and here it is already March. 

We had a blast last week as we celebrated the love of reading and Dr. Seuss' birthday during Read Across America Week. Most of my students participated all week. Pure greatness. I love participation. 

Thanks to a parent, I had the cutest door. She did most of the work. She's so awesome! I taught her daughter last year, and she still helps me this year. We adopted each other. 

*Monday was crazy hat day. I'm so sad that I forgot to take pictures. One of my students wore a huge hockey puck hat. She was too stinkin' cute!

*On Tuesday, we wore red and white. I went to an AMSTI Training, so I wasn't at school. Boo for missing the fun, but it was a great meeting. I learned more about Common Core Math. 

*Wednesday was foxiest sock day. We walked around in the classroom with no shoes. My kiddos thought that was the greatest thing ever. 

*On Thursday, we wore our grinchiest green. The little fella standing beside me even sprayed his hair green. I should have thought of that. 

*Friday was dress as your favorite Dr. Seuss character. Two of my Cat in the Hat kids painted their whole face white. They were all very adorable. 

+My girls and I...look how cute they are as Cindy Lou Who. I didn't know the secret of getting their hair to stand up higher until I got to school. I used construction paper and put cardboard inside of it. It was standing up a little bit before we left home. By the time we made it to school, it was barely standing up anymore. 

Here's the freebie St. Patrick's Day Vocabulary Cards I made. 

You can grab them on 

Teachers pay Teachers

or

Teachers Notebook

I'm off to enjoy a movie with my family in the comfort of my jammies. 

Enjoy your weekend! :)

Inspiration Monday Linky

We all need inspiration. Having an Inspiration Monday Linky is perfect. I'm linking up with Dana from Fun in 1st Grade for her first linky party. 

This saying is close to my heart. I love it because it's true. I love my students, and they know it. 

Also, I'm part of an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G Giveaway. Ciera Harris of Adventures of Room 129 has reached 600 followers, and her number is steadily growing. Y'all, she has the cutest twins!! Go check it out. 

Reptiles-A Science Unit for Little Learners

Last week, we started studying reptiles. I went to our school library and checked out 19 books on reptiles to go along with the few books I have in my personal library. Most of the books were nonfiction. I introduced reptiles to my kiddos, and it was on from there! Once they saw all the real pictures in the nonfiction books, they were hooked. I couldn't have been happier with their reactions.

We started with a reptile chart that I traced using the cover of the unit I created. Somehow, my "turtle" looks more like an "alien". Thankfully, my kiddos didn't mind. :) We filled out the chart throughout the week as we learned more. We actually aren't done with it. We will finish it next week along with Read Across America activities. 

After the introduction of reptiles, I let my kiddos go with the books I borrowed from the library. They got to choose a reptile to create a report. After choosing their reptile and finding a book, off they went to get comfortable and read. I think this was my favorite part. Total engagement in reading. They read these books all throughout the week every chance they got. It makes my heart so happy. 

After reading their book on their chosen reptile, I had my kids go back and fill out their reptile fact page. I told them to think about what they thought was interesting. Things they would want a friend to know about their chosen reptile. 

Then it was time to transfer the facts onto a writing page, draw a picture of their reptile, and glue it to a piece of construction paper. I'm sad that I was out of the large green construction paper, so we had to improvise. That was a quick life lesson (use what you have and make it work).

A little funny piece added to a nonfiction unit...I made 3 funny journal prompts for this reptile unit. For one, we wrote about a reptile coming to dinner. I laughed and laughed and laughed when I read what they came up with. Let me tell you, first graders have great imaginations. They were all funny!

This is what this child wrote: 

A reptile came to dinner. It was a salamander. We ate chicken noodle soup. We played dominoes. The salamander slept with me. We ate waffles in the morning. Then we went to school. 

You can check this unit out on 

Teachers pay Teachers

or 

Teachers Notebook

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!