2015 Calendars

 I can't BELIEVE another year has gone by. Truly.
And when I think back to all that has happened this past year,
my family and I are truly blessed.
Even through difficult times, there's always a reason to sing
and worship the Lord.

Today I wanted to tell you that my new 2015 calendars are available
in my Etsy shop. I updated the colorful one from last year and also
made a black and white one this year, too.
Get them HERE.

I've got several other printables available in my Etsy shop
that you could add to one of the calendars to get organized
this year!

 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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The winner from my last post who wins a free copy of my teacher planner

is Lori Raines!
Look in your email Lori for your new planner!

New Year, New Plan!

I'm a color snob and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Sure it costs more, but I love drooling over colorful calendars, planners, stationary,

and pretty much any sort of paper product. ;)

So, obviously I get super excited to print out all new 

calendars, planners, and such when the new year rolls around. Hashtag nerd.

If you get excited for starting fresh with a new calendar or planner, I get you!

I'm almost updating my 12 Month Calendar and it will be available in my

etsy shop in the next few days. I'm also working on a cute black and

white version in case you do want to save on color ink.

If you are a teacher or homeschooler and are wanting a 

fresh new look when you're writing lesson plans,

{using a stylish planner really does make it more fun!}

you can get my teacher planner for 50% off now through the rest of this school year!

Only $5.00 to give your plans an updated and fresh look....that's a steal in my opinion.

The planner includes a PDF file with all the dates prefilled in the weekly planning pages

and the monthly calendars. You also get a PowerPoint file that has a template of most

of the pages that you can add text boxes and fill subject headings or type in your plans. The graphics

you see on all of the pages are NOT editable or movable. In the past, I've used the blank weekly

planning page in the PowerPoint file to create visual plans for Deedee's visual plans link up, so

you could do that too.

You can purchase the planner here.

Leave a comment if you'd like to win a copy of the teacher planner. I'll pick a winner

randomly tomorrow night. :)
-----GIVEAWAY CLOSED-----

Free Posters and What I Bought

We studied the five senses a few months ago and I made these posters to use during our unit.

 You can grab them for free in my TpT shop here. :)

Go here to see a FREE five senses activity with popcorn.

 

 

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So, did you go Cyber Monday shopping!?!

I'm on a total budget this month with Christmas coming and all, but I did pick

up a few monthly staples that I use in my classroom that I just love. 

 

 

 

Reagan's Math Journals have been a great addition to my math workshop

time this year. Even though we are being hounded about how many

copies we make, hashtag paper police, I've prioritized so we can do 2-3

of these per week. I love that in her December set, which I bought during the

cyber sale, many of the activities are half sheets....saving more paper!

 

The other thing I bought was Christina's December Just Print Fluency Pack.

I mostly use these with my below level small groups, but even

those high achievers like a little nonsense word practice every now and

then. The short partner plays are perfect for my groups, too!

See? I said I was on a budget. I really had to use the reins this time, but

I love looking through Blog Hoppin's linky where bloggers share what

products they bought. I love discovering new stuff and loading up 

my wishlist for the next sale. ;) You can check out the linky here.

Calling all TpT Shopaholics! {CYBER MONDAY SALE}

 

 

If you're an educator {public, private, or home}

then TpT has probably been a game changer.

It has for me anyway. Not just because I'm a TpT seller but

because I can find quality resources that are meaningful

and engaging and that don't break my wallet.

And I can find them, purchase, and print quickly.

{and I would call myself a TpT shopaholic, ha!}

I am going to go finalize my wishlist today so I am ready

tomorrow morning when I wake up to buy because

there are some products I know I am going to use right away Monday at school!

I'm also super excited to use my holiday unit, A Sticky Note Holiday!

I made this last year and it was the perfect way to practice our reading

strategies while reading our favorite holiday books.

 

 

 

You can check out the rest of my products by clicking on the pic below. Happy shopping! 

 

All About Me and My Friends {favorite things, friends, jobs, feelings, and FUN!}

I started this post back in September and then.....life got a little crazy!
You probably do a unit like this earlier in the school year, but maybe
there is something you still might like to use or save for next year.   :)

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 Oh boy did we have fun during our All About Me and Our Friends week!
I started this unit over a year ago...and then got distracted.
What really happened was I found out I was pregnant and became
super sick and never got around to finishing it. Whoops.

Fast forward to over a year later, and I finally had the motivation to finish
this unit...just in time to use it this school year!

I wanted to create a unit that was not just an "All About Me" unit, but
included activities for new classmates to learn about each other
and become fast friends.
This is a perfect unit for the first few weeks of school, but
can really be used ANYTIME!
Even if you have already taught an All About Me unit this year,
you might find several of these activities fit into other
concepts you will cover later.

Ok, enough chit chat...here's a peek at our All About Me week!

We started out the week making an All About Me flip book created by Reagan Tunstall.
You can find it in her TpT shop here.
Let me be very clear, the flip book is not in MY UNIT!
But I loved it so much {the kids did, too!} and will definitely do this activity again next year.

Then we interviewed a friend to learn more about them and introduce them to the class.

Each student got a friendship bracelet with their new friend's name!
I told them it was to remind them to share about their new friend
when they got home that evening.
I got a little crazy with my arm candy that day, ha!

 

We wrote two class books that week. I don't do class books a lot but they

got so excited about it that we'll have to do more. And they are wonderful to

set out at conference time for waiting parents to look through.

"Our Class Friends"

Students wrote a page about themselves and something they like to do! They each

took turns reading their page to the class. Great practice for speaking clearly to an audience!

"When We Grow Up"

We read several books about jobs and what they could be when they grow up. I highly recommend

the ones in the picture below...my favorites!

We also talked about our feelings and what makes us feel certain ways.

They loved discussing what makes them sad, happy, angry, embarrassed!

Then they wrote about it in their "My Feelings Book".

You can find these activities and MORE in my All About Me and My Friends unit

in my TpT shop here!

Five for Friday

Since it's been a while...here's a little update. ;)

1. Can it really be November already? This girl is officially 8 months old! Time is flying by.

2. Like many girls between the ages of 4-10, Lainey was Elsa for Halloween.

Naturally, Brynn had to be Olaf.

3. This school year is kind of kickin' my behind. That's all I can really say about that.
Thank goodness for weekends!

4. I'm currently getting treatment for an eye disease and have to get monthly injections

in my right eye. It isn't THAT bad and I get to take the rest of the day off work.

Ummmmmm...sure, I'll suffer for a few minutes and let you stick a needle in my eye 

so I can sit on the couch for the rest of the day. By myself. 
It's a rough life but somebody has to do it.

5. I got to stay home with Brynn one day this week because she had a fever. I don't
wish my kids to get sick...but I do love to spend extra time with them!

Later that day, she was feeling much better and the weather was warm,
so we decided to walk to the park after Lainey was out of school.

 Lainey and I had a little after school date this week because she just
needed a little break to unwind after the school day {I did too}.
She loves book orders just as much as I do!
#teacherskid

Thanks for reading! I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs. :)