Winners and Birthday Board

WHOOP WHOOP Cherie, Mrs. Brown and Michelle!

Check your emails ladies, you're the winners of my handwriting practice pack!

Switching gears, I have been meaning to share my completed birthday board with you all.

Here is what it looked like at the beginning of the year before student pictures were added.

Here is how it looks now (excuse the flash).

 

Yes, you counted right!

 

I only have 17 firsties this year!

 

I am so loving this smaller class size.

 

I can hardly contain myself everyday just thinking about all the learning that will be going on this year!

 

Oh snap!

 

 That's not what I'm suppose to be posting about.

 

For putting up with that little ramble I thought I should probably tell you that the birthday headers and the numbers the kids are holding are a FREEBIES in my store.

You can pick them up by clicking {here} and {here}.

Have a great weekend!

WHOOP WHOOP and a FREEBIE!

Today the announcement came...

 

First grade won the coffee cards for the highest percentage of attendees at open house!!!

 

WHOOP WHOOP!!!

 

I also managed to finish a handwriting pack that I've been working on since this summer.

 

This pack includes:

 

2 pages for each letter (letters, words and sentences)

 

 

and 2 pages of number practice (0-9)

 

 

Head on over to my TPT store for your FREEBIE!

 

Just download the preview and the cover page, letters Aa and Bb and numbers 0-9 are all yours!

 

I am also giving away 3 complete packs so that you can WHOOP WHOOP along with me!

 

Leave a comment with your email below and I'll pick 3 people of Friday.

 

WHOOP WHOOP!!!

Open House

Week 2 is officially in the books!

 

I am so in AWWW with this class.

 

They are the most polite and kind group I have had in many years.

 

We have been practicing making literacy work station choices and there has been absolutely no fighting because there were already too many people at that station.

 

I'm in HEAVEN!!!

 

This week was open house and our principal left it up to us to decide what we wanted it to look like.

 

In years past, our attendance has been less than minimal.  Who knew that was even possible?

 

My principal offered up coffee cards to the grade level with the highest percentage of attendees.

 

My competitiveness immediately kicked in.

 

We enlisted the help of the best sub ever (who just happened to be in the building) to help us come up with a theme. Gum it is!

 

My team decided to invite the students (normally they are asked to stay at home).

 

We created stations based upon what we wanted to highlight for first grade. This way we wouldn't have to stand in front with our fancy PowerPoint's and lecture at to them. 

 

Planning was underway and stations were being planned.

 

Leave it to me that I would have to one up the plan and come up with a scavenger hunt the night before. Who has time to recreate everything?

 

My team is so AWESOME! They ran with it!

 

This is my scavenger hunt paper that my parents got when they came to my room.

 

At each station there was a sign explaining what they needed to do.

 

Kinda embarrassed to say that we were getting ready for the BIG event all the way up to start time.

 

But, we pulled it off!

 

It was the biggest turn out that, we, as a first grade team have had in a looooong time!

 

I had 14/17 attend, 2 of my partners had 12/13 and 14/18 attend!

 

Let me do the math for you...that's 83%!!! WHAT!?!?

 

{Our other partner had a family emergency and couldn't stay, so we're not sure if our principal is going to include her in our total?}

 

We haven't found out which team won yet, but I'll be sure to let you know when we win find out.

 

The wheels are already turning for next year.

 

What do you do for open house?

 

Budding Blogger!

I am linking up with I {heart} Recess for her linky party: Budding Blog.

This linky showcases bloggers with less than 200 followers.

 

Ummm, that's me!

 

 

Let's get this party started!

 

Here are my answers to Jess' questions...

 

1. Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging this summer after being a blog stalker for a year. I had learned so much and grown as a teacher from stalking, I figured the next best thing to do to keep growing would be to start a blog. I'm so glad I have. I have met some really great people through blogging!

 

2. What is your favorite subject to teach and why?

Hands down...reading!

I just love to see the sparkle in my firsties eyes when they start 'reading'. The amount of growth that takes place during the year is remarkable and always brings tears to my eyes.

 

3. Describe your teaching style.

I love to have fun and joke around...sometimes too much! I always try and bring a little humor and a lot of fun into everything that we do. My blog tagline sums it up: Where Fun and Learning go Hand in Hand! I'm also VERY organized...everything has it's place.

 

4. Give three interesting facts about you.

1. When I was younger I moved every 2 years and attended 3 different high schools.

2. I have never lived in the same state as any of my extended family members.

3. I lived and attended grades 7-10 in Germany.

(All of the above are because my dad was in the military)

 

5. Do you have a TpT store? If yes, post the link :)

Yes, I started my TPT store soon after launching my blog this summer. All of my products are classroom décor items due to the fact that I changed my color scheme this year and wanted to create my own décor. Stop by and check me out...I have a lot of free items!

 



Saturday Snapshots {9/14}

 

It's time to get our Saturday Snapshots on with Miss Nelson!

 

 

Last weekend I had the honor of volunteering at the Cobra Polo Classic with my parents. This event benefits the Ronald McDonald House charities of Spokane.  It's their largest fundraiser of the year.

 

Each seat goes for $250, there is a silent auction and a loud auction.  

 

This was such an amazing event!

 

I tried to sneak out of volunteer village (where I was volunteering) to capture a few shots with my phone. We were asked not to mingle with the guests, so my shots are from a distance.

 

Skydivers kicking off the event.

Each skydiver was holding a banner with a child's name on it.

 

Parade of hats (from far, far away).

There were some pretty fancy ones!

 

Random Polo guy

I don't know how they keep their pants white!

I can not wear white without getting something on it within the first 5 minutes.

 

Some of the guests...

If you squint reeeal hard you can see the feathers on a few of their hats.

Not sure why this picture is so small?

 

More of the guests

 

The beginning of the match...on the other end of the field, of course!

 

I really enjoyed myself and will be volunteering again next year.

But maybe in the cigar and whiskey tent serving hors d'oeuvres so I can 'mingle' with the guests! 

 



Five for Friday {9/13}

Day 7 of school!

 

I am so overjoyed with this year's class!

They are such a nice group of kids...it's freakishly scary!

In the years past I have left school exhausted after each day. I'm sure you all can relate.

Not this year! I actually have energy to spare!

Anyhoo...

 

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for my first Five for Friday.

 

1. Hot and Cold Choice

After having my firsties choose hot or cold lunch this way on the first day...

(Although the ribbon was super cute, it didn't work for me!)

I changed to having them choose this way on the VERY next day.

 

I numbered their lunch cards and double sided taped numbers on a small pocket chart.

They simply choose their card and place it in the hot or cold bucket.

 

Wow! What a difference this made.

 

Choosing hot or cold lunch each day is now a SNAP!

2. Rules!

 

After going over the class rules and reading David Goes to School, we created our own David and wrote some rules for him.

 

I hung the David's up before looking at the names on the back. Hence, no writing.

 

Taking them down would be too much work so I had the bright idea of asking who's each was.

 

I thought for sure they would be able to tell me. I mean, they colored them!

 

Wrong-O!

 

Only a couple of them remembered which one was theirs.

SNAP! Guess what I'll be doing?

3. Environmental Print

We began learning that we truly can read!

They had fun doing all of the environmental print activities I collected from Carolyn at Kindergarten: Holding Hands and Sticking Together.

Go check out her post. All of the resources were FREEBIES!

4. Stamina

 

We began practicing building our stamina.

 

They totally rocked the second attempt!

 

 

So proud of these guys!

 

 

 

5. Math Songs

 

We are having so much fun singing songs throughout the day, but we especially like to sing Addition Boogie!

 

Ummm, this picture really doesn't show how much fun we do have!

 

There's usually some fist pumpin' and heads bobbin'!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

 

 

Saturday Snapshots

Today I was hoping to link up with Miss Nelson to share some random photos from my crazy busy past weekend.

Unfortunately her link isn't live...but I'm gonna share anyway! 

 

First, I had the honor of making the cutest lil cupcakes for one of my teacher BF's.

 

 

 

Later that evening my honey and I attended the wedding of one of my dear friends.

My honey is wearing his suit from our Seattle day trip that I posted about {here}.

 

My Sunday was spent like this...

I had a little too much fun at the wedding and this 'ol girl doesn't bounce back as quickly as she use to!

 

Hope everyone has a wonderful relaxing weekend!

August SLANT box

Before I begin this post I need to apologize for not posting this as soon as I received my SLANT box. This week has been crazy busy!

With that being said, this past weekend I received my SLANT box from Brittany from Closing the Gap in a Cute Outfit. Isn't that the cutest blog name?

Included was a super cute note explaining each of the items.

Days until...who doesn't love a countdown?!

Brittany loves photos so she included the other 2 frames. These are already in my room holding my honey and boys' pics.

Spork?!...for the times you forget your utensils.
Bubble yum...blast from the past (my boys snatched this up right away!)
Coffee mug...coffee is my morning fav!

 

Pink and Purple nail polish...these are my fav colors and I LOVE a good pedi!

Jewel magnets...BLING, BLING BABY!!!

(Sorry about the picture quality)

 

Thanks Brittany! Love it all!

 

On a side note, this is how my lesson plans went down this week. 

Thank goodness I only had students yesterday and today!

Room Reveal {2013} and FREEBIES

I have been done {for the most part} with my room for almost a week and wanted to share it with you earlier, but things got a little busy.

 I had a lot of fun this year recreating all of my décor in bright dots.

My color scheme is black with bright red, blue, yellow, green and orange dots.

I have quite a few pictures to share and some FREEBIES along the way!

I feel I need to let you all know this is my first classroom tour, so I hope it all makes sense.

If you want to take a closer look, just click on the picture.

Hope you enjoy the tour!

View from door looking at the front of the class.

View from the back of the room.

On the left side of the white board is my teacher area, job chart and Daily Schedule. On the right side are my objective charts and my reading focus wall.

Here is a close up of my Job Chart. On the end of the bookcase is my Hot/Cold/Absent headers. You can get those for FREE {here}.

I assign each student a number at the beginning of the year. I use these numbers in a variety of ways. You will notice them on my Job Chart and Hot/Cold/Absent headers. You can get the numbers for FREE {here}.

Behind my teacher area is a cabinet that I have my Behavior Clip Chart on.  I use clips with their numbers for this chart also.

My Behavior Clip Chart can be found in my TPT store {here}.

The corner next to my Reading Focus Wall is my Math area.

In this area I have my calendar, Months of the year display, Birthday display, Numbers 1-20, Shapes and Colors {all which can be found in my TPT store, some are even FREEBIES}.

Behind my math area is my little reading corner. I still need to find some comfy pillows.

Along the wall I have screwed in hooks under the ledge to hang book bags on. I have labeled each hook with numbers so that my little firsties will be able to easily find their hook.

Behind the reading corner is the computer station.

And right behind that is the small group area.

At the kidney table are crate seats that I spray painted last year and lined with colorful scrap book paper.

In the corner is my filing cabinet. I covered the exposed side with butcher paper. I am still on the hunt for black contact paper to cover the drawers with.

View from door looking towards the back small group area with a close up of my chair bags.

Above the windows is my Fabulous Firsties board. I will be displaying the kids pictures from the first day of school here.

Behind the small group area is the Writing station and Books on Tape station.

View from my teacher area looking at the back of my room. {The writing station is in the left corner}.

Closer view of back  counter.

I am thinking these shelves need something. Should I add curtains?

Another view of the back of the room and student cubbies.

My Word Wall is on the cubbies and ready for the first words to be added.

Here is a close up of my table caddies and my table poms.

You can get the table numbers for FREE {here}.

Next to the student cubbies is a little nook where I have created student mailboxes.

I purchased 2 hanging shoe storage units from Wal-Mart.

I hung these from the ceiling and attached them to each other with binder clips.

I labeled each slot with binder clips puffy painted with numbers that coordinate with the chair bag and book bag numbers.

I have 2 bulletin boards outside of my classroom.

The one on the left is the one that will change all year long.

The one on the right will house student work throughout the year.

The Welcome sign on the door is another FREEBIE that you can grab {here}.

Thanks for taking the time to tour my room.

If you found something useful, please leave a comment letting me know.

School doesn't officially start for kids till the 5th, but teachers report back tomorrow.

Good Bye Summer!

I've linked up my classroom reveal with 2 fabulous teachers!

 Tales of a First Grade Teacher

Swimming into Second Grade

Make sure you stop by their blogs to see some other great classroom reveals!