Classroom Quick Tips Linky!

HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY! It's Thursday and it is the VERY first linky for Classroom Quick Tips. This is really the brainchild of my BBB Angela over at Hippo Hooray for 2nd Grade. (If you are not following her yet, stop reading, go over to the side of my blog list where I have some of my favorites, click on her name, and FOLLOW her! That girl is seriously AH-Mazing!)

Angela and I both started our blogs with the intention of sharing our classroom with other teachers. Lately though we have been feeling the immense pressure to buy and sell on TPT. NOW! Don't get me wrong. I LUH-HUV TPT. I love making stuff and I love buying stuff. What I'm not so much into is when that is all someone posts about or uses their Pinterest for. So Angela and I thought we would get back to our bloggy roots and share the things we DO in our classroom. And that is exactly what our new linky is all about.

Font: Jessica Stanford
Background: I Teach? What's Your Super Power?
Frame: Tonya's Treats for Teachers

So this is what you do. It's super simple. Just take a slow walk around your classroom. Take a close look around at EVERYTHING. What's something you have/do in your classroom that makes your life as a teacher easier? The key words are "Quick Tips." Snap a photo and tell us a little ditty about how your tip helps you. The only rule is that you may not link up with a paid product. Freebies are A-OK! This linky is set to launch TODAY! and will continue weekly on Thursdays. We hope you'll join in on the fun with us!

And now, here is my quick tip. I do Literacy Work Stations in my room and one of our stations is the Listening Station. My tip has to do with how I organized my books and c/ds.  Here is what I did to help keep my books and c/d's organized. Put a sticker with a number on the book. Put another sticker with that same number on the c/d. That way the kiddo's know to look for the same number and they aren't wasting a bunch of time searching for the matching book and c/d.

Now, if you are like me you have a TON of books and c/d's. I used to let the kiddo's choose any book and c/d but as my collection grew that just stopped being feasible. So I use the numbers to also have my kiddo's practice their ordering skills.  I put out about 10 books and c/ds at a time. I place them in order from smallest to largest. Sometimes I put a chunk out in order ( like below) and sometimes they are random numbers. They are responsible for making sure that they stay in number order when their time at listening station is done.

Since I am the one putting them out it is very easy to put them away ( in number order) and I don't have to worry about searching through the stack for a match. The numbers are right there.

So, that is my quick tip. I hope you will link up and share a quick tip from your classroom!



A New Linky Party!

Happy Wednesday Friends! I am SUPER happy tonight. Let me tell you why!

First, we got an automated message from our Superintendent that we do NOT have to make up the extra snow days we had this year. Our governor signed legislation where we only have to go by hours and not days. Woot-woot! So that cuts off a full 3 days! June 7th is our last day!

Second, and MOST IMPORTANTLY! My BBB ( best bloggy buddy) Angela over at Hippo Hooray for 2nd Grade contacted me about a week or so ago with an idea for a new linky party. And I was IMMEDIATELY on board!

I don't know about all of you but sometimes this bloggy world that I LUH-HUV to be a part of can drag me down. I want to see visuals of what neat things people are doing in their classroom and maybe some cool freebies. I started blogging because of all of the amazing things I saw going on in people's classrooms on Pinterest. But lately, it feels like I am being bombarded by people using their blog and Pinterest as a means to get people to buy their stuff. Don't get me wrong. I have a TPT store and I promote the items I make on my blog. But I have been feeling an immense pressure to do more, sell more and that was not the point of this blog.

So getting back to basics and the reason I started this blog in the first place, this is the linky that Angela and I will be hosting.

It's super simple. Tomorrow, just take a slow walk around your classroom. Take a close look around at EVERYTHING. What's something you have/do in your classroom that makes your life as a teacher easier? The key words are "Quick Tips." Snap a photo and tell us a little ditty about how your tip helps you. The only rule is that you may not link up with a paid product. Freebies are A-OK! This linky is set to launch this Thursday and will continue weekly on Thursdays. We hope you'll join in on the fun with us!

Get Aquainted Linky

Hello and Happy Tuesday! It really is a happy Tuesday for me because for the first time in 3 weeks my mind hasn't been racing, wondering how my peanuts were going to do on our MAP tests. ( We have tested every Tuesday for the past 3 weeks.)

So today I am linking up with Latoya over at FLYING INTO FIRST GRADE. She has been having a Sunday linky for awhile now. I really liked the questions this week. So I wanted to make sure I linked up. 

 

 These are the questions for this week. 

Linky Questions

1.  What made you decide to become a teacher?

2. What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?

3. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

 

1. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO BECOME A TEACHER?

 

I became a teacher because I was too practical to be a starving artist. I really love acting and musicals and being on stage. However, I knew I wasn't good enough/ didn't have what it takes to pursue that as a career. When I was a senior in high school a family friend asked me if I had ever thought of being a teacher. She was in charge of the Sunday School program at my church and I had been teaching a group of second grade age kids. She said I was really good at it. I didn't know what else to do with my life so I thought " why not?!"  

 

My first year and a half in college I HATED it. All I had were beginning education classes with NO classroom experience. But I stuck with it because I was determined not to be the person who switched their major 14 times in college. Besides I didn't know what else I would do! My mom is a teacher, as I have mentioned before. At the time she taught 7th grade self contained at a small Catholic school. She needed a sub one day and I got to do it. It COMPLETELY changed my mind about teaching, from being something I was going to do to something I WANTED to do. And I have loved it ever since. 

2. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER? 

Honestly, every year during this time when I see how far my peanuts have come that makes me feel incredible. When I think back to the beginning of this year and how I thought I would never make it to May without being extremely burnt out and I look at my kiddos now...I don't think I have ever seen such a dramatic transformation with regards to behavior and academics as these peanuts have made.They are truly one of a kind and I cannot believe our year together is almost over.

 

 ( Also, if I am being honest with myself I should say that I think this every year. I wrote myself a sticky note to remind me that no matter what period of adjustment September brings, by October life will be good again. LOL!)

3. IF YOU WERE NOT A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

I really love home design. My favorite TV channel is HGTV. My Pinterest boards are almost as full of design ideas as education...notice I said almost. :) I think I would like to be a house flipper or someone who stages houses before they sell. Sometimes I think I could be a stay at home mom to my Peanut....and then we have a long break and reality sets in and I realize I DO NOT have what it takes to do that. Our summer break is plenty. LOL! 

Check back tomorrow for an exciting announcement from Hippo Hooray for 2nd Grade and I.

TGIF! X5

Happiest of Fridays friends! I haven't done a Friday post in 3 weeks!!! These past 3 weeks have been entirely consumed by 3 major things. First, was my husband covering 3rd shift and his ( and therefor ALL of ours) schedule was completely thrown off. Second, was my poor peanut and this horrible thing called allergy season. She got a cough that progressively got worse. In fact, it got so bad that we took her to the ER a little over a week ago because she was coughing so much she threw up! Her allergist prescribed a rescue inhaler...it was not the instant miracle I thought it would be but it definitely helped. I was finally able to sleep through the night again ( since she was too)...and I was doing it all alone which caused extra stress and tiredness ( see thing #1...awesome time for the hubs to work 3rd shift I know)

Poor peanut...looks so pathetic. :(

 

But the biggest thing that has been consuming my brain has been MAP testing! My peanuts finished this past Tuesday and I have never felt such relief before. We got to see our test results for the past 3 years and my math and language usage are good. ( This year they were GREAT! 100% of my kiddos met, with most exceeding, their math goal!) However, my reading has been consistently at about 60% of my kiddos meeting their goal. Any suggestions from those of you that take the MAP on what I could do to get that up for next year?

So! On to my 5 for Friday. I am linking up with Doodlebugs Teaching  for the Five for Friday link up. This is what went down in my neck of the woods this week.

#1
First off, Happy Teacher Appreciation Week.

I had to start this Five for Friday with a picture of my Morfor ( grandpa in Swedish). He celebrated his 90th birthday this year. He was a college professor ( at Ferris, my alma mater) and started a Chemistry program while he was there. The program was celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. So Ferris had a nice dinner and program to celebrate both.  There were several speakers ( including my Morfor). It was very neat to see how many of his former students came to see him and celebrate with him. ( Some from far away too!) It really warmed this teachers heart to see her Morfor being treated like a total rock star. People were lining up to take their picture with him.

 

 

#2

 

My best friend Leah's daughter, Katie, went to prom on Saturday and she used my house as her home base. Then we took about a bazillion pictures of her, including this one of us ( including our other musketeer, Heather) and our daughters. I love these girls!

 

 

#3

 

To celebrate MAP testing being done, and my kiddos were due for a class reward, I planned a pizza and movie afternoon for Wednesday. Then my daycare lady needed that day off to go to a funeral for an uncle. So I emailed my principal and asked him if Peanut could come to school with me in the afternoon and celebrate with us. He thought it sounded like fun, so that is what we did.  

She had such a good time eating pizza and then playing at recess with the kids. They were all so kind to her and all of the girls wanted to hold her hand and play with her. ( At one point I looked over and saw at least 4 of my girls holding on to her in some sort of way...even holding the end of her braid and shirt sleeve! LOL!)  When she went out for recess and ran right away from me to go play with the kids it was sort of comforting. I got a small glimpse into her actually being at school...and I loved the confidence she had. ( It's coming...WAY too soon. One more year and she will be starting Kindergarten! Crazy how time flies!)

#4.

 

It was very exciting in Room 29 today as this...

 

...Has become this!

 
#5.

Today we took those dollar store find clay pots I posted about a couple of weeks ago and painted them for mothers day.  These are all of the materials that you will need to paint the pots. I used craft paint. It costs about 80 cents at the store.

Some shots of them painting their pots.

After they dried we planted a flower inside of them....

And this is what they took home to their momma's today. They turned out really cute.

 

 

Peanut is going to be doing the same thing for her grandma and aunts this weekend too.

 

Well, that is all for me...  Feels so good to be back with my usual Friday night ritual. Have a good weekend friends!

Currently and Goals

WHEW! Map testing is sucking every ounce of time and energy out of me. I CAN NOT WAIT until Tuesday when the Peanuts take their last test on Language Usage and we can celebrate them being done and relax a little bit.

I am super late to both these linkies, but I wanted to join in on SOME of the fun being had lately. I am linking up with two fun May activities: Currently and May Goals. 

 The first up is Farley at Oh Boy 4th Grade and her infamous Currently.

Listening: I have a 3 year old... Peppa and a washing machine are necessities. :)
 
Loving: Our curriculum director ordered classroom IPads...one for each teacher...a couple of months ago. They FINALLY came in on Friday!

Thinking: I always get a new purse for my birthday as my present from my Hubby. I am trying to decide which Coach one to go with.

Wanting/ Needing: No explanation necessary I am sure. :)

Summer Bucket List: My home office has been in various degrees of "done-ness" and messiness this year. I want to get it officially finished this summer.....Summer is always a good time to catch up on my time with my Peanut....and of course, my giant list of TPT items that I have floating around inside my head, I hope to have a good chunk of that list done by the end of summer.

The second one is from I HEART RECESS. She is having a May goals linky and I thought I would join.

Personal: I need 3 more classes to renew my certificate next June. Signed up for a class on Friday. It starts Monday... yeah... thank good ness it is online!

Health: I have been pretty consistently working out 3-4 times a week since about March. I haven't really lost any weight yet, but I feel much better when I do it. And I REALLY need to get more sleep a night. My average is 6 1/2 and I really do best with 8.

Blogging: MAP testing has really taken me away from my usual groove in all areas. This is just one of the areas that has suffered.

School: I can't believe how little time we have left. I think back to September and how much these peanuts have grown and changed and I am SO sad to send them on. :(

Fun: My birthday is the 24th of this month and I am having a super huge bash. I can't wait. :)

I am also linking up with LEARNING WITH MRS. LEEBY to let you all know that I am joining in on the Teacher Appreciation Sale on TPT. Everything ( all 6 items I actually sell...haha) is on sale 10% off on May 7th and 8th. I don't know about all of you but my cart is ready to G.O.!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday night friends. I'll be back Friday,  if not before!

Sweet Giveaway!

Just popping by to tell you about the awesome giveaway going on over at Learning with Mrs. Leeby. I once had the chance to edit a packet for her and she makes top notch stuff.

If you happen to share this giveaway tonight before 10 you get a free product ( how awesome is that?!) So that is what this super quick post is for. Stop by and check it out. :)

Learning With Mrs. Leeby

My Classroom: Favorite Area's Linky

Just popping by to link up with Latoya at Flying Into First. She is having her weekly get to know you linky. This weeks theme is our 3 favorite areas in our classroom.

#1
My reading corner is one of my favorite things in my room. I love the colors. I love the organization. I love my trendy little READ letters in glitter sticky foam. :) I also love that this is the view into my room from the hallway, the first thing you see when you walk in the door. I really love the set up of my room this year.

#2
This is our carpet area. I love the colors of this area too. I love how "teacher-y" my easel area looks. :) We work over in this area a lot.

 

#3

My last favorite area is this messy little wall o' love. These are drawings and letters and crafts that my peanuts have made for me. I have seen those cute little projects on Pinterest where people put all of these things into a big binder. I love that idea and I might go with it for next year. But, even though this area is cluttered and goes against everything I love for my room ( see the above pictures- yes, my room looks that neat all the time), it also represents my students love for me. And I like seeing that on a regular basis, particularly on days like today that are a little more tough than usual.

 



 

 So there you have it. My 3 favorite areas. Link up with Latoya before Sunday and share yours.