An amazing new find...

Attention all Florida teachers {well ALL teachers really ;) }, I have stumbled upon an amazing first grade blog, Sailing Through First!  Debbie has been an educator for 24 + years and brings so much knowledge, creativity, and wonderful activities to the 'blog world!' 

If you are a first grade teacher in Florida, you are going to be ELATED when you browse through her blog.  She has created focus question posters {and MUCH, MUCH more} for each Imagine It unit!  I mean, talk about helping us all 'race to the top!'  :)  

Click, don't wait, on over to visit Debbie and take a tour!  You won't be sorry you did!  Thanks Debbie for sharing so many wonderful ideas and freebies with the rest of us teachers.  It's people like you who help make us better educators! 

Oh wait!  There's more!!!! :)  Have you visited Amy over at Krazy About Kiddos yet?  If not you most CERTAINLY should!  Great ideas, fun activities, lots of freebies and goodies, and a GIVEAWAY!!!  I am bond and determined to win at least ONE giveaway! :)  

Click the link below and head on over!  You won't be disappointed!

 

Scarecrows

I can not believe that in 4 short days I will be eating Thanksgiving dinner!  It's insane how fast time if flying by!  Many of you have already completed all your fall craftivities but here's one more:

A simple reader's response to this story:

After reading about the little scarecrow boy, we discussed main character attributes.  Then we created our own little scarecrow boys and wrote a new version of the story.  We have been working on story starters so this was a perfect opportunity to apply what we've been learning.  Plus, I just LOVE reading all the creative twists to the story! Here's what they looked like:

And of course you have to tilt your head to the side because blogger just won't cooperate!  :(

 

Happy Sunday!

 

I am thankful for....

Giveaways!!!!

There's a *Fantabulous* giveaway going on right now over at First Grade is Fantabulous!  :) 

She's hosting a giveaway and giving a TON of awesome Christmas themed goodies away! Seriously...5 literacy stations, 3 NWF practice games, and 2 other sight word games!  How awesome is that?!  

Don't wait, click immediately to get to here website and enter to win!

 

thankful quote

Inspiration is an unlimited power.

Thank you to each and every one of you for empowering me to become a better educator by inspiring me each and every day.  This Thanksgiving Holiday I am thankful for this blog and the many, many blogs I follow and the teachers who operate them!

 

Save a Turkey!

One of my favorite Holidays to celebrate is Thanksgiving.  I think my favorite part is getting to all kinds of fun crafts with turkeys.  I love studying the Mayflower voyage and learning about the meaning of Thanksgiving and all that with the kiddos, however, making turkey crafts is so much fun! :)

I start off my turkey fun with by talking about what most people eat on Thanksgiving...turkey!  We talk about the turkey being a symbol for this holiday and what others foods we like to eat!  Then we read the story Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving.  

This story is so cute and funny.  The kids always get a giggle out of this story!

 

After reading the story we make these cute little turkeys:

I originally saw this cute little turkey design on Sarah Cooley's blog First Grader at Last.  Then I came across an idea for a picket sign and BAM here we have  our picketing turkey!!! I just think they are the cutest little guys!

HOT, HOT, HOT

WOW!  What can I say?! I am overjoyed for such a wonderful blog award. Thanks to Anita over at Mrs. Bremer's Kindergarten for the special honor!

You should check out her blog.  Super cute ideas and a lot of great twists on classic lessons!  The joys of blogging.

With the award comes a couple rules:  list 7 things about myself and nominate 7 other blogs for the "On Fire Award!"  So .... here it goes:

1. After being moved to first grade last year a WHOPPING three days before school started, I can now say that first grade is my niche!  I love everything about first grade!!!

2. I live in Tallahassee FL and although it gets ridiculously hot and humid 80+% of the year, my windows are all open, the sun in shining bright, the leaves have changed their colors just enough, and I'm enjoying a cup of tea! :)

3.  After 5 years of marriage my husband and I are finally discussing the thought of having a little one!

4.  My mother is my biggest supporter in ALL that I do!

5.  I am the definition of a "daddy's girl"  :)  Love you dad!

6.  I am so OCD and a control freak that I would rather go to school sick than even toy with thought of making sub plans and allowing someone else to take over my room.

7.  If I wasn't an educator I would be a forensic scientist, or blood splatter analysis.  I know gross!  It's all the Snapped, 48 Hour Mystery, Dexter, and other shows/docudramas of sorts that I watch!  I'm so nosy that I HAVE to know what happened, how, and why.  I can get a little out of control. :)

Now for the 7 blogs.  I am giving this award to the 7 blogs that I began following when I first started 'blogging' a year and a half ago!  These are the ladies that inspire me on a daily basis and make me a better educator.  My room, curriculum, and way of work all mimic a combination of what these ladies do in their classroom.  There are SEVERAL new blogs that I love and am working on creating my own little award to present to these ladies.  Here we go:

The First Grade Parade

Primary Perspective

Bishop's Blackboard: A First Grade Blog

Thanks for all the love! :)

Word Family Love.

You may have seen this photo already {or crafted this jewel yourself} but a couple months ago I saw this picture on Pinterest and had one of those "why didn't I think of that" moments.  I'm talking about this genius idea:

 This is by far the most brilliant, most simple, easy to make word family set I've seen!  I also love them for blends!  So amazing.  I've been slowly collecting stacks of these every time I visit WalMart, Home Depot, Lowes, or any other store that carries paint.  I am ridiculously anal and want to color-code everything.  The only thing I am concerned about is their durability.  I'm thinking about laminating them but am unsure if that will work/help!

Don't you just love these simple ideas?!