Meet ME #TBT

I'm excited about this Throwback!  It goes waaaayy back! All the way back to February 2, 2011 to be exact! :)   It was one of the first blog posts I made. Well like around 20th.  But you get the idea.  It was actually a linky started by Cara!  Doesn't she throw the best linky parties?! 

So what I did for this post is paste the original post but then gave you some updated info/answers in purple. 

I love getting to know fellow blogger buddies! Here's a tad about me:

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Meet the Teacher

Cara over at The First Grade Parade is doing a cute little teacher "link up" and encouraging all of us fabulous teacher bloggers to do a little 'meet and greet'.  So cute!  So here goes my soapbox! 

This is me and my amazing husband of four SIX years.  We've actually been together for 9 (11) years (how we met should be made into a Lifetime movie). We met when we were just 18, and yes, I know we still look 18! My name is Kelly.  I've had MANY nicknames through the years (many of which rhymed with Kelly), however, the one that always seems to stick is Shocker (my last name used to be Shockley).  And everyone had to do the hand gesture to go along with it.  Ridiculous.

I love being with my family and friends.  I long for girls nights and martinis!  I'm seriously addicted to Starbucks and spend all my money on things for my classroom and jewelry change that to just Starbucks and clothes :).

I graduated with my bachelor's degree from Flagler College in Florida and am currently getting my master's from Walden University online and I graduate THIS MAY!!!!  I'm SO excited to be D.O.N.E.!!! Yes, I did graduate.  Magna Cum Laude to be exact! Toot! Toot!

My hubby and I have two sweet little boxers, Nelly and Milo.  

My husband just started is own clothing line, BUILT Clothing, so kids aren't really in to near of the future for us but they are!!!.  We're enjoying being in our 20's!

I have been teaching for three years (going into my sixth) now and love every second of it!  I taught kindergarten for the first two years and am now in FANTASTIC first grade (back in K)!  I love first grade and hope that I am able to stay here for a V-E-R-Y long time (What was I thinking...I belong in K...ALWAYS)!

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                           
A:  I would probably be a detective or forensic scientist.  Not sure why, but I am OBSESSED with murder mysteries.  Plus I'm extremely nosy and always want to know what happened and how and why! :) Still true but I also have the desire to own my own boutique (soon to be a reality).

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                  

A:  Reading and going to the gym.  Seriously, can't get enough of either!  I also am liking this blogging world! Gym?  Ha!  Hobbies: blogging and pinterest!                                                          

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                   
A:  I wanted to be in tv productions and a meteorologist for the longest time!  My mom always tells me that when I was really young I would say I wanted to be an ice-cream scooper!  Ha!  I think I just liked the idea of EATING all the ice cream!
 
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                
 A: Cookies!!!!!!  Starbucks, Real Housewives (all of them), The Bachelor, Teen Mom (1 & 2), Jersey Shore, and wine! :)  Pretty much the same!

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                     
 A: SNAKES and free falling.  Just the word snakes freaks me out!

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                                 
 A: To the beach or to the mountains!  Me and the hubby love to go hiking!  Really anything outdoors works for us!
                                                          
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                

     A:  It's not what you know, it's who you know!

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                 

    A:  Respect. Loyalty when it comes to friends

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                      
A: My sense of humor (which is really the ability to make light of a situation).  I enjoy making people laugh!

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                             
A:  Jennifer Aniston... man, to look like her when I'm her age!!!  also, Heather Whitestone (she was a former Miss America) and probably (totally stealing this from Cara) fellow bloggers whom I've been "stalking"; Cara Carroll, Deanna Jump (met her but didn't get to have lunch with her....dangit.  Same for Kim Adsit), Sarah Cooley, and Babbling Abby (this was written before she had The Inspired Apple), Kelley Dolling, Amy Lemons, Hadar, Michelle, and a BILLION others.  I would really like to pick their brains! :) 

Now tell us one random thing about yourself: 
I was a complete tomboy growing up.  The movie Doc Hollywood was filmed in my SMALL hometown of Micanopy and McIntosh, Florida.  I'm friends with Ricky Carmichael (the former Supercross champion) and I long to live in Australia (men with Australian accents melt my heart!) :)

So...what about you?!

Throwback Thursday {July 11}

I just love this little linky party!  I love going back into the archives of my blog and I love getting to read everyone else's as well!

Today's #tbt is all about Parent-Teacher communication and a classroom management tool.  It is something I use every.single.year and have even gotten every primary teacher in my school to use!  They are awesome! The original post was posted on June 24, 2012.

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Next up a communication tool that I use every year and LOVE!

I use a parent-teacher communication binder as a way to keep in touch with parents on a daily basis.  The idea is to keep the parents actively involved with their child's daily education/school "life" and give the students something to be responsible for.  

Each year at the end of the year I give parents a survey and ask them to "grade" me on my communication skills and give me any praise/advice.  Each year I receive numerous comments on my binders.  They LOVE them! They like being able to hold their children accountable (with behavior and homework) and like that they can easily see what their child is learning and how they are doing.  So with that said, I created a new version of my FISH Book and while I was at it created three other binders (some were requested by fellow colleagues).

 

You can check them out at my TPT Store

or 

Teacher's Notebook

 

Woohoo! So proud of myself for getting those done! :)

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I've updated all of the above and added a few more.  Here are some the binders I have in my store! MOST can be personalized when opening document in Adobe Reader (instructions included in packet).  Still to come: FARM book, updated SAILOR book, OWL book, ROCKSTAR book, CAMP book, HORSE book, and some more. :) Click the pictures to check them out!

If you live in Florida or a state close to Florida, click HERE.

Have a great Thursday, friends!

TBT, Take-Home Bag + FREEBIE!

I am L.O.V.I.N.G. summer!!

I spent the last week here with family:

Lets just say it was GLORIOUS! Ha!

Now that I'm back and all relaxed and rejuvenated it was time to get busy and that I did.    

I spent the past several days working and finally finished this little number:

I am beyond excited about this packet.  I have been using take-home-bags in my classroom ever since I started teaching {five years ago}.  I was first introduced to these little babies by my interning teacher and her colleagues.  A few of the ones they used, I included {with their permission} just a little more updated!  This packet is the BIGGEST packet I've ever created, reaching 176 pages!!!  It is loaded with 19 wonderful take home bags {crazy part is, I'm still working on adding a few more to the packet}!

Here's what's inside:

Head on over to my store to check it out.  I will have it set at $10 today only!  Then, it will creep back up to $12 where it will stay {even when I add more to it}!!

Because I love you all so much I'm giving my Mystery Bag away as a freebie!

{click the image}

Now for why you really came. :)

I'm taking you back to February 2011 and a couple reading organization tips I 'borrowed' from fellow bloggers {while adding my own flare, of course}.  You'll even notice I referenced Michelle Oakes by using her original class website {it was before she had a blog}! love it! Enjoy

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Reading Organization

I have spent many hours browsing the web for ideas on how to revamp my classroom once I was reassigned to first grade.  I didn't want to spend a TON of money but knew that I was a little 'OCD' when it came to organization and coordination! :)  This is what I've come up with:

 Since my kiddos are in first grade now we no longer need those little cubbies, so I turned them into our class library!  I got all the baskets at the Dollar Tree (one of my all time favorite places to shop now).  They have really adorable stamps right now that are perfect for teachers! 

 I am a member of Thistlegirl Designs, DJ Inkers, and recently Scrappin' Doodles.  That is where I purchased all my graphics from!  I'm truly OBSESSED now!!  I got the idea to place corresponding stickers inside each book from Michelle over atFantastic First Grade! It's such a great visual and a great way for the kids to help keep the book nook nice and organized! 

 Above is a picture of my student's "book luggage."  This is used with our Daily Five.  I purchased the baskets from none other than the Dollar Tree and made the cute little luggage tag with a die-cut! Simple, easy, and cute!

Inside their book luggage are 'just right books,' some of their decodable books, a reading strategy bookmark, 'magic reading glasses (purchased from the Dollar Tree, lenses taken out), and an eyelighter. I've since placed a coaching sheet for when they are buddy reading.  After doing some blogging earlier I will be adding some more goodies to their book luggage!  I found some really great ideas from Brooke over at Primary Perspective.  Be sure to check it out if you are also using the Daily Five in your classroom!  Cute, cute stuff!