Winners and Reinforcements

Wow! Sunday came around a little too fast!

First things first... I had a couple of giveaways this past week. 

Congrats to Christine! The Ultimate Weekly Planner is heading to your mailbox!

AND

Congrats to Andrea. The Oceans of Fun Word Work pack is heading to your email.

THANKS to everyone who commented! You can grab these at both of my stores.

So Open House is approaching fast. I had planned to post quite a few things about it this weekend, but shopping with my mom sounded a bit more fun. My apologies. {Last week was loooonnnnnggg peeps. I needed a little shopping therapy!}

Like I said before, I posted about nearly everything I do for Open House {HERE} - so go check it out!

I left work around 6 or 7 each night last week. It was stupid. Just crazy ridiculous. I have just a few too many things on my plate right now, so there has been little time to do what I actually need to do for my class. 

When things get that crazy I need to call for reinforcements.

Here is mine... hard at work making a tide pool.

and cutting construction.

He is truly THE BEST husband. All I did was call home and say, "Sorry but I'm going to be late again tonight." and down he came - to the rescue! Yay!

Here is that tide pool and construction put to use...

The pearl/crab writing and craft activity is part of the Writing Through the Sea pack available in my stores.

My plan for next week is more of the same.... oceans units and individual and whole group assessments. The mad race to the end is on.

Have a fabulous week peeps!

Appreciation and Sales!

Although it's National Teacher Appreciation week/day - in our District, teacher appreciation isn't until next week. I think they postpone it each year because it gets in the way of state testing.

But that doesn't make any difference because our teacher stores are having sales and it is time to stock up on all kinds of wonderful stuff!

No time like the present to prepare to be super organized in the upcoming school year. And there is NO better way to be organized than a colorful pretty, cute, stylish way! My best selling planners are a mandatory part of my teacher life.

You can also purchase "Customize My Planner" as an add on to The Ultimate Yearly Planner if you'd like me to create a custom planner just for you.

Plan and pace your entire school year's curriculum with the Curriculum Year Planner. It's my starting, middle and ending place each and every school year. 

Grab a few fabulous and effective writing lessons with accompanying adorable crafts! Here are some of my favorites.

This is a great time to pick up my newest word work and grammar pack.

Use the sale to stock up on what you will need as we move into fall. 

Science fun is always timely.

Grab some summer activities to end (or even begin) your school year.

You can find all of these items plus lots more in both of my stores.

 

Happy shopping peeps! I'm off to do a whole lot of it myself. Please know how much I appreciate you and have a fabulous week!!!

Killer Whales and Oceans of Fun

Open house is around the corner peeps! I have so much to do. I have a few things to share with you about that - but I'm a little behind. However, if you'd like to see some of what I've done in the past, go check out {THIS} post.

Although I truly enjoy reinventing the wheel and changing things up, I'm pretty happy with what goes on in my classroom for Open House, so I won't be changing much this year.

Last week we made this.

I was so busy "overseeing" I forgot to take pictures of each step of the process. But if you want your own way too large killer whale hanging in your classroom, here's what you do:

1. Sandwich 1 long piece of white butcher paper between 2 equally long pieces of black butcher paper.
2. Using a white crayon, draw an ENORMOUS outline of a whale, minus the flippers.
3. Staple the sheets together in a few places (within the outline of the whale) so the papers don't move away from each other while cutting.
4. Have a group of students work together to cut out the whale. (Because of 30 students I have 2 groups take turns on this.)
5. Another group (a couple groups for me) start tearing apart the butcher paper that was cut off as well as a little extra and ball that paper up loosely. Then they place these balls of paper under the black piece, but on top of the white piece.
6. The last group (or 2) staple all around the whale being sure to line up the pieces and keep the "stuffing" inside.
7. Turn the whale over and cut off the black paper where appropriate to reveal the white underneath.
8. Cut, stuff and staple a flipper-shaped piece and then use packing tape to adhere it to the whale.
9. I have a drop ceiling with those metal braces/frames/support thingys between each panel. I loop a piece of fishing line around a couple of those frames, tie it in a knot and hang a paperclip (opened) from it.
10. Put several layers of packing tape on the whale in the area from where it will hang, then put a whole punch through that tape and the butcher paper and hang it.

I raffle this huge thing off at Open House. I am always shocked by how many parents allow their children to enter the raffle. I would NEVER want an 8-9ft. paper whale in my house! haha

The kiddos wrote their Whale of a Tale stories this past week. So cute.

See their names on the whales? I only do this for Open House. It makes it much easier for parents to find their child's projects when their names are VERY large. I type them up in a cute, large font in Word, print them out and make several copies. Then, each time we do an activity, they glue on a copy of their name.

We are doing A LOT of writing! Crabs and sharks from Writing Through the Sea are on the plan.

You can find all of these writing lessons/activities and crafts in:

AND my kiddos will be using some adorably cute ocean themed word work and grammar activities during independent practice.

This is my newest unit in my stores. I {puffy} heart it. There's all kinds of goodies in it. 

This class absolutely LOVES board games. It has been the most popular way to practice sight words in my class.

...a fun and cute inference reader...

...a card game that allows students an opportunity to create detailed and interesting sentences while practicing verbal skills. And a worksheet for written practice...

...ocean themed vocabulary cards...

And Fix-A-Sentence sheets.

So... this will cover our reading, writing, grammar and our science as well as some crafting fun!

We are doing 3d shapes in math. Simple and pretty uneventful. All of that and a few district assessments should make for a fast, but hopefully smooth sailing week!

I'm linking up this week with Dee Wills in sharing what my week ahead looks like. Head on over to peek at everyone else's week.

Don't forget to enter Teachers Notebook's giveaway... AND all of my items, plus a whole lot of other fabulous teacher items, are on sale over there!

If you'd like a copy of my newest pack, it is available in both of my stores. AND, because I love you, if you follow me and would like a chance to win a copy of Ocean of Fun, just leave a comment below. I'll give one away to a follower in a few days.

Currently and A Change of Plans

I enjoy Currently! Thanks Farley!

It's hockey 100% of the evening VERY often in this house. 

Things have been a little too windy for a few days this week, but very warm. I've enjoyed it. The husband...not so much. Something about working outside all day... blah, blah, blah. Too hot...blah, blah, blah. Whatever. It's been pretty.

I am quickly running out of time before Open House. That's the bad news. The good news... that means summer break is almost here!

I have a lot I want to do but not enough time to do it. A 3-day weekend would do very nicely. 

The weather was SO fabulous, I really wanted to go swimming. The pool was just way too cold.

We have had to redo our yard countless times for all kinds of reasons... the latest is our boxer who thinks the best way to hunt for the gophers who make small holes is to make larger ones... EVERYWHERE! I have had my fill of dirt and no grass. That project is first on my summer list. 

We have decided we are definitely going somewhere this summer - but haven't decided where yet. {My husband says Canada to see the Hockey Hall of Fame or Chicago to see a game at Wrigley Field - I'm voting otherwise.}

Each summer my friend and I start out with a weekly beach day - then life gets in the way. I am determined that will not happen this time!

Over the past year I have had the amazing pleasure to work with a whole lot of teachers and their weekly planners. I have learned some incredible things. Some of the repeating standouts include:

* I am missing out on this whole "specials" thing.

* I am VERY fortunate to have NO DUTY lunch.

* I am lucky to have 2 recesses in addition to lunch 4 days a week. I cannot believe how many of you don't even have any recesses other than lunch time! CRAZY!

* A lot of schools do not allow their teachers any time to teach science and social studies.

* Some of your schedules are just HORRIBLY wacky from day to day... you totally have my sympathy!

Planning is a HUGE passion of mine. I can't stress organization enough. You can check out this post on my year planner and this one about my weekly planner to get a little more info about how I organize my curriculum life.

I have updated my year planner. It now contains over 502 pages of wonderfulness. 502 peeps! I am so excited about the changes and am thrilled to share it with all of you. If you have already purchased the planner - be sure you download the updated file.

The planner now contains 81 different planner template options, including horizontal planners for those who prefer their days to go across the page rather than down.

Additionally, ALL K-12 Common Core math and language arts standards are included in the file. Now you can simply add your particular grade level standards to your plan book so they are always at your fingertips!

There are 8 editable covers for those who like to print their planners and keep them in a binder.

I added my recording sheets, too. The file is so fantastic to use. You only need to type in your student's names one time and it will automatically fill those names on all of the other recording sheets. I have a gradebook program I use, but I like to use recording sheets for things other than grades; like tracking reading levels, noting receipt of things like field trip forms and payments, and speed math tracking.

I seriously could not begin to imagine not using this planner. It is the best of digital planning and there is no yearly fee. It's totally customizable - you can use your favorite colors and favorite fonts. All you need to run it is Excel.

Additionally, "Customize My Planner" is available for anyone who would rather not spend the time customizing their planner. I will do it for you! 

The Ultimate Weekly Planner is available in both of my stores. 

Currently Teachers Notebook is having their Teacher Appreciation Week sale. 

Right now you can get all of my items in Teachers Notebook for 20% off! 

Head over to Teachers Notebook to enter their daily giveaway, too!

Would you like to win your own copy of The Ultimate Weekly Planner? I will give one away to one of my followers who leaves a comment below! Feel free to "talk" about anything you wish... like where do you think we should go on a tiny, not too expensive, little vacay this summer? I'm really not thrilled on the whole Hockey Hall of Fame and Wrigley Field idea.

Remember to be sure you are following me and leave your email address if it isn't "visible" through your gmail ID.

I'm INSTA'ing? GRAM'ing?

I vividly remember laughing and shaking my head many years ago when my dad said, "WHY in the world would anyone need an answering machine? Dumbest invention ever!"

I giggled when my mom said, "I just don't have any need for one of those mobile phones."

I was sitting in front of my television watching intently when this new cable channel called MTV aired for the very first time. Music videos were going to change the world.

I.am.old.

I truly believed I would always take part of best the modern world had to offer. I would always marvel at whatever new thing came about and be the first to jump in and join the fun. I would never take forever to come around like Mom and Dad.

But then, somewhere along the way, I.became.old.

Twitter? I have an account. That's about all I can say about that.
Facebook? I have an account, but find it can quickly suck up HOURS of my time so I truly don't visit it too often.
Pinterest? OK ... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pinterest.

And then Rachelle and Michelle said... make a Instagram account people... #teachertalktuesday is starting this week.

#what?

I.am.old.


So, I did what any mom does. I asked my kid. My daughter said it was the easiest thing in the world and I should just quit whining.

I am pretty sure I said those EXACT words to my parents at some point.

So - I did it. I now blog, tweet, facebook, pin, and Instagram (insta? gram? what's the shortened version of that?) - oh and apparently I no longer sleep because there is no freakin' time because real life and my actual career has to fit in there somewhere, too.

Anywho, it's quick and I love looking at pictures so I believe I can handle it. Click on the little black circle with the camera on it - up there in the top right corner - if you'd like to follow me. 

OR click here: http://instagram.com/dragonfliesinfirst

Head over to the linky to see all the other teacher blogger Instagram links.

One of the pics I posted there today was all about this:

I am LOVING this little writing lesson/activity/craft. This kids are OBSESSED with it. Even though we are starting our oceans unit, I had to put them up on the wall because the kids were all bummed and "complainy" when I said they were going to take them home. "Aren't you going to put them up?" "AHHHH... but they are cute! What a waste!" (yep that was actually said) So I had to put them up.

#inlovewithmylittlewriters

I'll be back soon with what we've got going on in preparation for Open House.

Have a great rest of the week peeps!

Raining Cats and Dogs!

I'm here! I'm here!

Thanks for all the well wishes, comments and emails. That little bout of illness was on the far side of ridiculous peeps! But tonight I feel MUCH better. YAY!

Oxygen is a wonderful thing. Turns out - your body needs it for everything or it just shuts down. Who knew? ;-P

I wanted to show you what my kiddos are going to do next week. I'm SO excited to do this with them. I know they are going to LOVE it!!

We are finishing up our unit on weather and discussing matter this week. I don't like teaching matter. I should - but I just have never found a real passion for it. It's the unit I definitely look forward to the least.

SO in thinking about all things solid, liquid and gas AND all things weather AND my ELL's and crazy sayings and idioms that we have in the English language, I decided we needed some fun. (PLUS my kids had a sub for a FULL week - so they deserve to do something adorable and fun!) We are going to spend some time talking about expressions and what they mean. We will infer meaning by looking at the exaggerations. I LOVE doing that kind of thing. It is amazing what the kiddos can figure out just by chatting about it.

I give you... The Day it Rained Cats and Dogs... a writing lesson and activity and craft!

The pack includes the writing lesson, writing plan graphic organizers, writing stationery and the black lines for the cover and a full color cover option, plus the kitty and puppy black lines. Click below to check it out. It's available in both of my stores.

SO many of you are on your countdown to the final days of the school year. It's amazing. We go until mid June but I still feel that whoosh that comes with the final weeks of school. Can't believe it's almost over!

Have a fabulous week peeps!