Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop

Why does today feel like Saturday?  It has suddenly hit me that I really only have 1 more week of vacation until summer inservice starts.  Yikes!  Where did the summer go?!

Guess what??  I hit 100 followers last night!  I'm so excited!  I know numbers shouldn't matter, but we all watch them!  I'm thinking about what I want my first giveaway to be so stay tuned.  

I came across this blog hop while I was looking for people to nominate for an award.  I just had to join in!

Grade Three is the Place for Me is hosting a:

Click pic to visit her!

During this hop you need to share:

 1.  what state you are in

    2.  your current teaching position

    3.  your teaching experience

    4.  when you started blogging

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource

My answers:

1. I live in East Tennessee.

2. I am happy to be teaching 1st grade again!

3.  This will be my 11th year in 1st.  I looped to 2nd with my firsties once.

4.  I started my blog in February but didn't start seriously until April.
5. I have learned so much from Kristen at  Ladybug's Teacher Files.  If you haven't watched her video tutorials, you definitely need to do so!  Also, Barbara from Grade ONEderful started a blog design business called: 

She redesigned my blog and was just amazing to work with!  Check her out if you want a redesign!  


Go join the hop!

Monday Made It!

I know I'm breaking the rules with two posts today but....It's time for Monday Made It!

I have to tell y'all that my mother thinks it's hilarious that I'm becoming crafty.  I used to moan and groan growing up when she'd drag me into the craft stores.  I'm still a craft newbie, though, so keep that in mind as you view my projects for this week.

First, I wanted to add a lamp to the counter behind where my reading group table is going to be.  I found a simple red lamp at Family Dollar for 6 dollars.  It was okay as it was, but I wanted to kick it up a notch.  I had the ribbon and polka-dot paper already.

I'm surprised no one heard me cussing from where you are as I ironed the ribbon and tried to hot glue the ribbon on straight.  I DO NOT IRON...I fluff in the dryer lol.  I think that was the worst part!  The before picture is of better quality so you might think it looked cuter before I messed with it.  

I have low crafter self esteem.  :-)

Second, I found these cute star patterned buckets in the Target Dollar Spot.  My classroom theme is stars so I wanted to re-do my pencil buckets.  Nothing special about these--just proof that I made something! 

The third bucket will be my Top of the Chart bucket.  Kids that get to top or off of the chart on my new clip chart system will get to put their names in for a daily/weekly prize drawing.

Speaking of behavior clip chart!  I worked on this all day yesterday and asked for opinions on it last night..  I changed a few things based on suggestions and printed it out.  I started to put it together and noticed something else that bugged me.  Here it is..

Pardon the pic!  It's on the dining room floor and I'm standing on a ladder.

  

There's too many dark colors on top!  I need to swap some colors out, don't you think?  I may take one Good Day or Great Job out too.  It's so tall!  Any opinions are appreciated!

Go link up with Tara and see what everyone else made this weekend!

Picture Book Linky Party

Lindsey at The Teacher Wife is having a fun linky party!

.  Omigosh..I'm addicted to children's books so I'm LOVING this linky!  I have several new ones on my list just from everyone's posts.  

Here are mine:

1. You Will Be My Friend!  I found this book last year and it is so AWESOME!  It's about a bear named Lucy who wakes up one day and decides she's going to go find a new friend.  She has some trouble with this and goes through just about every emotion in speech bubble form.  It cracks me up to read it!

2.  This is a sweet story about a zookeeper who takes care of and plays with his animal friends everyday.  One day he gets sick and they come take care of him.  It's just a precious story about what true friendship is.

3. Okay, I'll admit it.  I love funny books.  This one is hilarious!  It's about a chick who knows the story so well that she keeps interrupting her dad.  It teaches about manners, but I love it because it's so fun to read.

4. This is a story about a possum named Epossumondas.  He's his mama and auntie's sweet little patootie but he's not very smart.  This is a Southern story and you have to read it with your best "hick" accent.  I'm from Tennessee so I have no trouble with this.  I do his voice very sloowly and southern, and the kids L-O-V-E it.  I bet I read this book 20 times this past year.  

They begged for it.  

I could go on forever, but those were my faves from last school year.  I can't wait to see everyone else's favorites.  Go link up with Lindsey!

Help! Behavior Clip Chart Review

Hi friends!  I need your help!  I created something tonight and I need honest reviews.  Too bright, blurry, sloppy?  Whatever comments you have please let me have it!  I'm trying to grow here.  ;-)  Thanks so much!

Click the pic!

Being Held Hostage..

Happy Saturday!  I think we finally might be able to pool it today after a week of rain.  I'm sort of glad it's been raining though because I've been held hostage all week by this sweet face...

Sweet Bella in her new bandana

She had surgery on Wednesday to remove some tumors.  She has had cancer before so we keep on top of any tumors that come up.  The last time she had tumors removed we ended up back at the vet four times because she kept chewing her staples and stitches out.  I did NOT want to go through that again so I have to watch her like a hawk.  We tried this last time..

Kinda looks like her, doesn't it?

But Bella also has seizures, bless her sweet heart.  The last time I tried to put the Cone of Shame on her it triggered a seizure.  And I felt like a terrible mama!  So I'm not even going to try it!

The upside to all of this is that I've gotten lots of work done!  I finished my supply list and parent letters.  Although I found an error in my parent letter AFTER I had already printed 20 of them on my cute new paper!  Grr!  I guess I should just be glad that I found it before I sent them out. We are going to take a ride in a bit and get them in the mail.  

I also finished my Math Journal and Scribble Pad labels.  I'm going to try math journals this year.  After reading everyone's blogs, I'm almost ashamed to admit I've never done them before.  I'm going to start out just using spiral notebooks, but I may chuck these and try something else if I don't like them.  I may end up with Cara's calendar companion. 

Scribble pads are spiral notebooks that my kiddos keep in their desks to use during free time.  They LOVE them!  These journals are great for when you need them to be busy for just a few minutes.  Like when a parent shows up at your door unannounced or the principal needs something RIGHT NOW.  I am a simple sort of girl so I just stick a label on a spiral notebook for these.  

Here's a pic:

I just print on Avery labels (4 to a page), cut, trim, and stick!  Super easy!  I always cut in curvy lines because I couldn't cut a straight line to save my life!  I didn't upload the labels to Google docs because no one may want them.  But if you do, just email me and I'll send them to you!

Here is the math journal label.  Super simple..not a lot of frills!  Also printed on Avery labels.  If you want these, just email me.

Okay, must go get presentable for the post office. Single girls must be ready at all times, lol!