Book Giveaway Winner and all sorts of other stuff!!

Congratulations to Stacy B.  She won The Transparent Teacher Giveaway!  If you aren't Stacy, but you still want the book, just click below and go to Amazon and put your order in!

Also, I wanted to let you know that I got my Easy-to-Fix-and-Get-Ready Summer Sanity packet finished.  So, if you are still in school or you have kids at home that you need to entertain, this is a great packet for you.  Just print it off and give it to your kids to fix if you are at home <only if you like living on the edge!>.  My group here at home are patiently <for now> waiting on me to get some more color ink to print off the flip flop antonym matching game.  You'd think that they haven't seen flip flops before!!!

Here is what the cover looks like:

You can check it out on Teachers Pay Teachers and have your kids review antonyms, dictionary drills, sentence work, and ABC order.  Or.....you can go and enter this summer giveaway and get this same pack <because everyone wins!!>.   I vote for the cheap route so you just have to enter the giveaway and follow all of the blogs that are listed.

Another remind:  This Wednesday I will have a blog up for Chapter 1 of Reading Without Limits

and will be including some freebies, so you won't want to miss that.  I'm pretty excited about it because the author of the book has already been by to offer support, so if we have any questions, we will defer to her!  It isn't often that we get an offer like that!!!  So....grab a book and study along with us.  It is pretty easy...all you have to do is answer a question or two <or chit chat--that's why we are converting over to the website www.chartsnchitchat.com....I'm all about the chit chat these days!!> in the comment section of the blog.  If you haven't left a comment yet, PLEASE LEAVE ONE!!!

Have a great weekend!  I'll be looking for you to come by!

Join TpT As A Seller!!

Click this button to go sale, sale, sale!!!

I've been selling on Teachers Pay Teachers for over a year now and am loving it!  I have a way to share the things I use in my classroom on a daily basis.  Most curriculum developers on TpT use Power Point, so if you have Power Point from Microsoft, you are ready to be in business!  

The money I make from Teachers Pay Teachers is used to by more materials for my classroom <shock, gasp--I know!!> and it has helped me be able to help my family when they are in need of monetary support.  

Also, besides all of this, once you get into the swing of things you will find that there is a community of teachers out here that are willing to help you share your materials as well!  We are all in this together!

So...what are you waiting for?  Get started selling your materials!  Might as well make some extra off of all of the 'free' time you donate to your classroom or school getting things prepared!  

July 5th...Where did summer go?

Hey all! I am *GUEST STARRING* over at Kindergarten Lifestyle for Jeannie tomorrow so that she can have an extra holiday!  Be sure to go and see what I wrote for her!  There is a freebie, also!


I wanted to let you know that I just finished working on some contraction games that you can use as task cards, scoot games, or whatever else you can dream up!  They are $3 each, but if you buy all 4 sets at the same time they are $10 instead of $12!!  A pretty good deal.  Just by being thrifty, you save 2 bucks!!

Ordinarily I don't just put a 'commercial' out, but I am still celebrating the founding of our country!!  Tomorrow I'll be back!




Set 1:  This game will reinforce the understanding that contractions are formed from 2 words. Students will read the contraction and record the 2 words that made it.

Set 2:  This game will reinforce the understanding that contractions are formed from 2 words. Students will read the two words and record the contraction that is made.

Set 3:  This game will reinforce the understanding that contractions are formed from 2 words. Students will read the sentence with 2 words that can be put together to make a contraction. The student will read the sentence, put the 2 words together, and record the contraction that can be made.



 

Set 4:  This game will reinforce the understanding that contractions are formed from 2 words. Students will read the given sentences, identify the contraction, and then record the two words that make the contraction.

Be sure to follow me if you go buy the store.  That way you can find out about new files as I get them done.  Take care!

Circus Fun, Wild Animals, and Yes, We Are Fishing For Ideas!!

I have to share this with you...Since all of you are teachers you can't wait for those moments when you actually see your students' brains at work and you can actually watch them learn and think.  Well, as a parent, it is even more special when you can see the thinking and analysis moving into synthesis.  Big words and actions for a summer day, I know.  But, today my kids and one of their friends worked all day on a circus for my husband and me!  We are often the audience for their 'shows'.  I was sort of on the edge today as I heard them laugh a lot, argue some, and yell 'wooo hooo' when they solved a problem in their 'circus'!  I can tell you that I was a bit apprehensive, too, when I started hearing the keyboard crank up and the Christmas Lights were brought to me to be untangled.  But, I tried to be quiet, not ask questions, and leave them alone to play.  Kids these days don't get to play near enough.  So, I let my kids play <and got my work done!!>.

I want to share the 'acts' that were performed, but I have to set the seen for you first!  Lights lined the hallway and a blinking glow-in-the-dark something-or-other flashed ENTER HERE and another one flashed EXIT HERE.  Good thing Santa brought 2 of those what-ya-ma-call-its huh??  Christmas trees hid the 'prep area' where costumes were changed and new props were grabbed.  The keyboard played everything from tangos to salsa and suspenseful music.

We were greeted at the door of my son's room with him mournfully telling us that the peanuts and popcorn had already been sold out but that he would still be glad to escort us to our seats.  My husband handed him our ticket and then the show started with the call of  'Ladies and Gentlemen....'  I sat on the edge of my seat, literally, because I noticed a tight rope going across the bed and a mat <trundle bed with mattress> protecting the hard wood floors.  Insert <cringing mom> here and <stern warning not to do that ever again>.

We were treated to tight rope walkers <they walked across the bed using their balance skills> and one almost fell!!  At another point a man was hidden in a box and was sawed in half with a foam sword!!  My daughter was the lovely beautiful female assistant for our neighbor who sawed my son in half and then poked the sword down a hole in the box.  My son let out a huge groan!  There were stunts, acrobatics, and a clown even showed up to tell jokes!  We were even treated to a musical interlude by my son on his play guitar.  I hooted and hollered and waved my flashlight to the beat of the music.  By the way, Bendaroos were used as glow sticks for us to wave.  They cost $5 but ours were free!!!

Folks, this is what childhood and summer is all about.  It made me remember that I am now officially getting old and had me thinking back to all of the forts we made in the woods and the tree house we made with boards that were balanced on limbs that had my own mom cringing.  Salads were made from the leaves of different bushes and trees and 'served' for lunch.  I can't wait to see what else they come up that will have me remembering my own summers as a child.

Now...to get down to business....I have my own show to run!!

Come check out my NATURE friendly resources.  EVERYBODY loves camping!! (Except me!!  I love to view nature, but not interact with it!!!) Anyhoo....The A+ Collaborating Teachers <we host a website, Pinterest Boards, and a 'pinning' room on Facebook> is hosting all of the summer fun.  All that is missing is homemade ice cream, snow cones, and fireworks!

Be on the lookout for lots of giveaways and even some patriotic activities!  

Come and check out our blog!!

Visit us on Pinterest!

Forgive me for the re-run, I couldn't figure out what else to say!!

Each day I will have a new activity that will be marked down to ZERO!!  Yes, you read correctly.  Zero.  Nada.  Nuttin', honey!  Today <until I change it tomorrow>, the scoot game below will be free!  It is so cute! Tonight's game was put up quickly.  Thanks to my ten year old for typing up the Answer Key!  If I can only get her to clean her room we are making some progress!!  We're still working on it!  So, click on the scoot game to download it FOR FREE!!  When you go pick it up, please follow my store so that you can find out when new products go up!

Have you ever played a scoot game????  This game was rated #1 in my class this year and it is absolutely hilarious from teacher's point of view because their is a certain pattern of movement around the classroom and there is ALWAYS a few kids that go the wrong way!!  You have to play it once just to watch it, but practice first!!  If you have any specific suggestions for scoot games, leave me a comment below and I'll try to get to them!  Chances are if you think they are useful, then others will, to.  The wonderful thing about scoot games is that they can be made for any grade level or topic.

I have plans for an ocean animals scoot game, a revised fairy tale game, and lots of others that will soon make it to a screen near you. hehe

Go on to read up on some other games that are available to you.  I promise that the part below will be changed tomorrow so there won't be anymore reruns!!!

Camp Sort-a-Vowel is a fun game chocked full of vowel sorting mats and cards.  LOTS of cards!!  I can't remember exactly, but this one download provides you with 50 or 60 games because you can keep putting different vowel pairs together!  This past year I had to remake this game because we played it so many different ways that our cards were worn out!!

 Camp Sort-a-Vowel is usually $3.85, but until June 20th, you can take another 20% off which makes it marked down to....well....uh....I don't know.  I can't find my abacus!  But you are welcome to go check and see what it is marked down to!  In fact, I marked my whole store down 20% so grab 'em what you can.  All of these camping games are going to be DA BOMB during the first nine weeks of school in the 2012-2013 school year during the 2nd grade unit on the Seasons.  Several of the texts recommended for that unit are about camping!

Need to brush up on capitalization?  Here is another fun game!  This is usually $3.35 but you can still take that 20% off!

Remember to come back tomorrow to see what the new freebie is!!!  Best of luck.  Now...go grab that freebie!!

When you get done, feel free to click on one the icons below and visit a different blog that is ready to entice you!

Jenn

P.S.  Any Tennessee Vols fans here??  My blood runs orange, so I wanted to share what I made for my teammate! My daughter wanted me to make sure that I told you that these aren't the only letters I made.  The logic of a ten year...you can't argue with it!  GO VOLS!! <singing Rocky Top here!!>

Fishing For Ideas

Come check out my NATURE friendly resources.  EVERYBODY loves camping!! (Except me!!  I love to view nature, but not interact with it!!!) Anyhoo....The A+ Collaborating Teachers <we host a website, Pinterest Boards, and a 'pinning' room on Facebook> is hosting all of the summer fun.  All that is missing is homemade ice cream, snow cones, and fireworks!

Be on the lookout for lots of giveaways and even some patriotic activities!  

Come and check out our blog!!

Visit us on Pinterest!

Each day I will have a new activity that will be marked down to ZERO!!  Yes, you read correctly.  Zero.  Nada.  Nuttin', honey!  Today <until I change it tomorrow>, the scoot game above will be free!  It is so cute! My 7 year old told me I had to put the All Star Verb or Noun game up because it is his favorite and there are stars on the flag.  Somewhere in there, folks, is a correlation.  I'm still working on it!  So, click on the scoot game to download it FOR FREE!!  When you go pick it up, please follow my store so that you can find out when new products go up!

Camp Sort-a-Vowel is a fun game chocked full of vowel sorting mats and cards.  LOTS of cards!!  I can't remember exactly, but this one download provides you with 50 or 60 games because you can keep putting different vowel pairs together!  This past year I had to remake this game because we played it so many different ways that our cards were worn out!!

 Camp Sort-a-Vowel is usually $3.85, but until June 20th, you can take another 20% off which makes it marked down to....well....uh....I don't know.  I can't find my abacus!  But you are welcome to go check and see what it is marked down to!  In fact, I marked my whole store down 20% so grab 'em what you can.  All of these camping games are going to be DA BOMB during the first nine weeks of school in the 2012-2013 school year during the 2nd grade unit on the Seasons.  Several of the texts recommended for that unit are about camping!

Need to brush up on capitalization?  Here is another fun game!  This is usually $3.35 but you can still take that 20% off!

Remember to come back tomorrow to see what the new freebie is!!!  Best of luck.  Now...go grab that freebie!!

When you get done, feel free to click on one the icons below and visit a different blog that is ready to entice you!

Jenn

Ever played Scoot?

Scoot was the favorite game of my class this past year.  I did not have a big enough 'supply' (i.e. enough variety)  to keep playing it.  So, I began making scoot games for just about anything.  Kudos to Denise at Sunny Days for her Scoot Games!  Her stash got me going until I ran out!!!

If you have never played Scoot, you are missing out!  Here is how it is played:

1.  Put a Scoot card on each table.  I usually don't put numbers on Scoot cards when I make them, because lots of times they want to play the game again and I have had kids that memorized the order of the first 4 or so. After your cards are laminated, you can write a number on the corner of each card.  The number can be erased so that it can have a different number the next time it is played.  (Some people like them numbered...I'm one of them!)

I have had requests for some Scoot games to be numbered, so you might find that your pack is already numbered!

2.  Students start with the card that is front of them.  Let's say that Joe is sitting with the #4 card.  He will move to the #5 card next, and then on to the 6th and so on.

3.  Every time we play, I try to use a different signal to tell them to move to their next card.  Sometimes I blow a whistle, sometimes I ring a bell, one time I even used a kazoo-type noise maker.  It just makes it more exciting!

4.  It is important that you practice the direction that the students move in.  I did not do that the first time I played it and it was utter chaos and we had to start over.  I just figured they could look to see what number was next and go there, but it didn't happen!

5. Play the game.  Students will write their answers on an answer sheet or another sheet of paper.  After the students have rotated and are back in their usual seat, have a student take up the cards.  Another student will need to pick up the answers from the other students.

6.  Now...this is the beautiful part.  You not that really bright child that gets finished early all the time?  That student will take all of the cards and write the answers down to make an answer key.  Have two that are early finishers?  Have that child help 'make the key'.  They love it!!!

7.  Later in the day, you can use the answer key that was made by your star students to grade and go over the answers with your students.  I don't always grade the Scoot answers, I use it to check off master and non-mastery of a specific skill.

8.  After you are done with the cards for that game, have a student rub off the vis a vis marks.  Wallah!  You can mix the cards up and play a totally 'new' version of the game!!

So, if you are interested in playing scoot, give it a try.  There are several Scoot games in my store at Teachers Pay Teachers.  Here are a few that you can click on to see what they look like.

   

Last Day of Teacher Appreciation Sale

It has been a long day!  I got to school at 7:20 and got home at 7:20.  LOOOOOONG day.  So, I just wanted to pop on and update you about my top sellers in case they would be good for your classroom.  I hope that you are having a great Teacher Appreciation Week and that you are being showered with gifts.

So, here are my top sellers in the order of popularity!  Go grab'em before 11:59!!!  Just click on the pic to go to the store.  While you are there browsing, be sure to follow me!  That way, you can get updates when I put up a new activity!

 For the second/third grade version click on the pic above!

For the first grade version, click here!

Enjoy!!

Continuing the Teacher Appreciation Sale!!!

I don't know about you, but I had a blast downloading all of the goodies that were available yesterday!  There were lots of a great things to download and I have to say that I was and still am so impressed at the level of creativity that all of the bloggers have!  We are so lucky!!

If you missed the chance to download, you can still pick up the item I had on my blog at a discount of $3.20.  There were 3,355 downloads of this one item and many that they could not wait to use it today!  What a great feeling!  If you would like to go check it out at my store, click on the picture below.

Focus:  Elapsed Time

I thought I would share my top 10 items that were purchased in case you would like to check them out, so here goes:

Focus:  Ordinal Numbers

Focus:  Review of even and odd numbers

                           Review of single, double, and triple addition

***Buy 3 sets, get 4th free

Focus:  Word Work and Vocabulary

Focus:  Short and Long Vowel Sorts

Focus:  Elapsed Time

Focus:  dictionary skills, prefixes, and suffixes

Focus:  Singular and Plural Nouns

Follow Rules and Procedures

                     Focus:  Elapsed Time to the hour, half hour, and 5 minutes

Focus:  Identifying Nouns and Verbs

Following Rules and Procedures

When you go to visit my store, be sure to follow me and pin to your hearts content!!!  I'm excited to share all of this with you!!

Enjoy and God Bless!!