Super Sentence Giveaway!

It's time for a giveaway and I am so excited!

During a faculty meeting a couple weeks ago, we (my kindergarten team) got together with the first grade team to discuss their expectations of our kindergartners moving on next year.  One of their main concerns was writing.  More specifically, understanding sentence structure and being able to write at least one sentence using all of those components (capitals, punctuation, spaces between our words, and using their best handwriting). Thus, my Super Sentences pack was born.

This past week my students and I began really working on writing sentences using proper sentence structure.  We kicked off our unit of study by reviewing what a sentence is and what makes up a sentence. We also practiced identifying capital letters and adding punctuation to our sentences.

My iPhone has horrible picture quality…sorry

We practiced identifying nouns and verbs, finding capital letters, adding proper punctuation, and using our space man.  

(of course I left my camera at school, so this pic will have to do…for now)

We also started using our My Book of Super Sentences and are practicing writing one sentence a day, editing our sentence, and then assessing ourselves on how we did.  I must say, I've seen some of the best writing this week! Makes for one happy teacher!

We also practice putting sentences in order and then reading them!

Next week, we will record our sentences now that we've had time to practice.

I also love use Michelle's Learning to Write Sentences packs and so do my kiddos.  Remember I left my good camera at school, so I will add pictures later. Ugh! 

These no prep printables are perfect for Kinders and give them an opportunity to practice reading, tracing, writing, drawing, and manipulating a sentence. When I say they are amazing I mean it.

I started using her Winter Sentences pack and will be using her Spring Sentences pack starting this week. I use them in my writing station, along with DeeDee's Monthly Writing Center packs. I love them because my students know exactly what to do and are READING. Michelle uses simple sentences, along with picture clues (for the sentence topic) which allows even my 'lower' kiddos to confidently read and write each sentence with accuracy.  

I'm so excited about the growth of my students writing. So much so, Michelle and I would like to offer you a chance to win our packets! Enter below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't want to wait? No problem! Both of our products are currently on sale.

Check them out below:

Super Sentences

Spring Learning to Write Sentences

A HUGE thank you to the amazing Michelle Griffo from Apples and ABC's for joining me in this great giveaway.  Find more amazing ideas and products on her blog.

Loving Mrs. Wishy Washy {Giveaway}!

Do you know how much I love Mrs. Wishy-Washy?  I mean, what's not to love about this slightly OCD, animal lover?! :)

Her books are fun to read, contain familiar text, add repetition, provide clear illustrations, are always slightly silly, and lets face it… the kids love them!

If you love Mrs. Wishy-Washy as much as my kids and I do, then you will be delighted to hear that Hameray Publishing is giving away some huge {and I mean HUGE} prizes that you don't want to miss out on!  

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Click HERE to enter!

Look at this grand prize!

But that's not all!

I get to have a mini-giveaway for all of my amazing readers.

One lucky reader of my blog will win a Joy Cowley Big Book!!

You can find more information about the giveaway, Hameray Publishing, Mrs. Wishy-Washy, and Joy Cowley books here:

https://www.facebook.com/Hameray

https://www.facebook.com/Mrs.Wishy.Washy
https://twitter.com/Hameray
http://www.pinterest.com/hameray/
http://blog.hameraypublishing.com/blog/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're looking for some fun math and literacy activities, you can check out my packet, A Day at the Farm with Mrs. Wishy-Washy! You can read about it HERE.

You can grab a free emergent reader HERE!

Good luck!!

A birthday celebration!

I love learning about fellow bloggers and celebrating their many life 'milestones' via bloggy world.  Today is one of those days!  

Kathy from First Grade a la Carte is having a HUGE and I mean HUGE birthday celebration.  It started yesterday and continues through the week.  She is celebrating by throwing, not only a sale at her TPT store and sharing her own freebies, but she's also hosting a FLASH giveaway EACH DAY!!  Whoop whoop!

You MUST head over to her blog, follow her {she has a MOUNTAIN of amazing ideas}, and join in on her big birthday celebration.

Enter today to earn a chance to win my Flat Stanley unit {among several other amazing products}!! :)

My Flat Stanley unit was just completely revamped and a TON of activities were added.  It's the perfect reader's response packet for a super fun story!

Check it all out:

and don't forget to head to my TPT store today! Last day of my spring sale!! :)

'Snow Much' Fun Giveaway!

I am so excited about this giveaway!

My kiddos and I are still learning all about the wintery season.  We just wrapped up our unit on Penguins and are on our way to playing with Snowmen!!  Since we will be learning all about snow {which we do not have and only ONE kiddo in my class has ever seen...the downside to living in sunny FL} we are going to make our own snowy-themed games and do some investigating.

In my search for the perfect lesson plan ideas I found the next three items! These three ladies are fantastic and have some awesome items that they are so generously going to giveaway to ONE lucky WINNER!

Here's what you could win:

Becca's Blog

Becca's TPT Store

Jeannie's Blog

Jeannie's TPT Store

Rachel's Blog

Rachel's TPT Store

Click on the links below each image to take a peek at these awesome packets!!

You will not be disappointed!

Now for your chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will also receive this NON-related packet :)   

Just have to finish it first! Ha!! 

So glad I have tomorrow off!

Good luck and happy Sunday friends! :)

Did you hear?

Mailboxes are TOTALLY "in" right now?! :)

But they really are.  I purchased one this summer to put in my kinder classroom after reading THIS post by Cara Carroll.  It inspired me to use this little white mailbox as a teaching tool.

I use my classroom mailbox for the Postcard Exchange I hosted back in August.  {props to those of you who were able to ACTUALLY get your postcards out before the holidays, if you are a procrastinator like me there's still plenty of time.  Mine will be going out in the next two weeks!}

I have also debated teaching my kinder babies how to write letters.  Since there are so many standards that need to be taught and mastered before this one {since it's NOT a kinder standard}... but they so enjoy getting and giving letters {even if you can't read them!} :)

The past two years when I taught first grade before heading back to 'k' I used THIS amazing resource from Erica Boher:

It's the perfect tool to introduce students to letter writing.  

Now look at this:

click image to head to giveaway

Reagan Tunstall {of course you know who she is...LOVE her} and Kelley {my new obsession} have teamed up for the perfect little giveaway!

Here's what you could win:

 Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

 Teacher Idea Factory

What a great addition BOTH of these little babies will be!  I mean, the work is already done for you! :)  I love when that happens!!

Writing has been such a "tough" subject for me to teach but this year is a whole new ballgame and my kinder babies are doing AMAZING and I know it's thanks to all the fabulous bloggers out there who have taught me how to teach writing better and have provided me with so many outstanding resources!

Love, Love, LOVE!

My Memories GIVEAWAY {plus SALE}

I am so excited to share with you a wonderful giveaway.

A week ago I was asked to preview the new version of My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbook Software!  Since creating units is a LOT like scrapbooking, I thought why not!!!  I am so glad I did. 

The scrapbook software is super easy to navigate through and comes with over 1,500 background pages, 1,000 embellishments, and 30+ album templates already installed in your software!  What I liked most about it was that even though I was not uploading pictures, I was able to easily upload clipart without the images becoming distorted.  This program was a lot like using PowerPoint but a LOT easier and a LOT more "creative friendly!" 

Here's the SUPER neat feature... with My Memories Suite you can upload videos, music, and narration to your scrapbooks.  Imagine the possibilities! 

My Memories also has an AMAZING online store FULL of digital scrapbook bundles with A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E clipart and paper backgrounds.  I've already added quite a few bundles and am anxious to get to creating!

Here's where the exciting part comes:

Note that this image was created on My Memories Suite Software with the embellishments and paper background provided with the software! 

Enter below to get in on the fun!

If you just can't wait, use the following code to get your $20 deal

STMMMS77773

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here's another peek at more goodies created with My Memories Suite!

Click the above image to head to my TPT Store! 

Good Luck!! :)

Daily 5 Chapter 2 - link up!

I love the daily five and I love how my firsties the past two years really embraced it and LOVED it.

So, now we're onto chapter two.

Here are my reflections:

1.Do you trust your students? How do you build this trust? Are you able to trust them and allow them to be independent throughout all aspects of the day? Are you going to be able to stay out of their way?

Okay.  I do trust the majority of my students (well...have...the year IS over!!).  Trust is built from day one in the classroom based on their ability to make good choices! :)  Plain and simple.  With all the role modeling, practicing, and repetition, it's usually easy for them to build a trusting bond.

When I first started implementing the Daily Five I was TERRIFIED to let them make all their own learning choices and really relinquish control to them, however, after having done it successfully for two years there's no other way I would do it.  By creating an environment where there is trust and responsibility the kiddos really rise to the occasion.  It's also not just thrown all at them at once but practiced in increments until they have built up stamina (part of showing you that you can trust them to make good independent learning choices).

2. How much choice do you give your students throughout the day?  Do you go over your daily schedule with the students or is it just posted on the wall?

 First, I do allow students to make their own learning choice, within reason.  As you will learn through reading the book and implementing the Daily Five, giving students only a FEW choices in each daily five component (especially in word study and work on writing) helps to keep them focused and working the entire time.  If you have TOO many choices, for instance in word study, it's easy for the kids to find themselves off-task.  I give my students options.  In word study they have at least one "have to" (an activity that they MUST complete first...this is where I put all those fun literacy activities that I snag from blogs).  When they're finished with their "have-to" they can then chose one of the three "want-to's."  These are other literacy games/activities that are more for continued review of certain concepts, etc...

Secondly, my daily schedule {OBJECTIVES} are posted on my front board.  I do go over my objectives in the morning with the kiddos to give them a heads up of what kind of fun activities we're going to be doing.  Then, during each part of our day I redirect them to the objective and we discuss why it's important to be learning about that certain topic/objective.  This sets up an importance to why they are learning that concept.  Gives the lesson more purpose!

3. How are you going to establish a sense of community where students will hold each other accountable?

While implementing Daily Five in first grade,  establishing a sense of community was done at the very beginning of the year.  We talked about accountability when we were learning about each component of the daily five, as well as when we were learning about being "peacekeepers." (Cara from First Grade Parade made a cute mini-unit on this topic...perfect for creating community)  By telling the kids that they were responsible for their own learning at this time, they seemed to take it "seriously." Meaning, they were always on-task and those times when others became off-task, there was always someone near them to redirect them back to doing what they were suppose to be doing.  It's really amazing to watch the kids take ownership, responsibility, and independence in their own learning.  I had several students this year who were constantly trying to distract others, and very RARELY did I have to intervene.  The kids handled it on their own and I continued with my conferencing.  That's why I love the Daily Five SOOOO much!:)

4. Student ownership in learning.  How do you instill this?

Read above and implement the daily five as suggested in the book.  Remind them often who is responsible for their learning. 

5. Stamina!  How are you going to build this?

Simply follow the books outline.  Seriously.  They wrote it out for you for a reason.  If your students aren't able to sustain stamina for as long as you would like that day, immediately ring the chimes and bring them back in.  They're not ready.  Try the next day.

Some of these questions are too premature.  After reading the book you will have a full understanding of most of these questions, however, some ladies have already posted some great advice so be sure to check it out and link up at Caitlyn's blog! :)

     While you're here, make sure to enter my big GIVEAWAY:

scroll down to my previous post to enter!!!

Kelly :)

Things I love...

I'm so excited about Mrs. Snowden's Giveaway!  I'm wanting to start my own little blog for my classroom and am in LOVE with how cute her blog is!!  You should definitely do yourself a favor and stop by!

I'm also in love and OBSESSED with Pinterest!!!  Have you become addicted as well?  My word!  I could spend all night on there! 

I'm also loving my new classroom theme..pirates and can not wait to get back into my room and start setting things up.  Okay, I can wait but it is exciting!!  If you have any adorable ideas/pictures/links/etc... that have to do with pirate/nautical themes I would LOVE to hear/see them!  I've already snagged so many ideas but would love some more!

I'm currently working on repainting a stool and I must say... I'm going to be giving myself some major props in the next few days!  It's turning out so good. I will be sure to share as soon as I finish! Woohoo!  Guess this is my second "what I'm loving Wednesdays" post :)

OH MY 100!!!!

Never thought it would happen.  Never expected it to. But I logged on today and suddenly noticed I had 100 followers!  I am amazed that 100 people would want to hear what I have to say or would be interested in my daily {teaching} life!  I feel somewhat humbled, and somewhat like a slacker.  I am not like many of the other bloggers.  I have yet to figure out how to get my documents to convert to a PDF properly, or how to add all these cute buttons and such.  I often feel as though I neglect the blog world do to my overfilling my "plate" with so many other tasks, events, and such.  I even lost my camera last week :(  

Life has been a mess, but I'm so glad to be a part of the blogging world, where I can vent, create, beg, borrow, and steal with fellow teachers!  Thank you for showing an interest in ME! :)

To show my appreciate I am going to be giving away a set of these awesome picture blocks:

I first saw them on Kindergarten Crayons, ordered them immediately, and typed up some cute first grade sight words.  I am also using them for vocabulary words that we learn with each theme/unit.  They, of course, will have an adorable corresponding picture... and as soon as I get it converted to PDF, I'll have it posted for everyone to snag.

Here's what you do to get in on this fun little giveaway {it will be the easiest entry around}:

1. Become a follower of my blog: Beg, Borrow, Steal for one entry

2. Post about this fun little giveaway for another entry

I will pick a winner on Tuesday, April 5!

Good Luck and THANK YOU!!! 

  

Doing the Happy Dance!

OMG!  I'm doing the happy dance. Right now.  In my computer chair! :)  

My F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E. fellow teachers are having an AWESOME give-a-way!  I don't think I could be more excited about it!  Not only are these three ladies amazing (Abby from The Inspired Apple, Michelle from Fabulous in First, and the infamous Deanna Jump) but they're giving a way some GREAT literacy tools for you to implement within your own classroom.  These ladies are some of the best to learn from.  I have been a follower of Michelle's for two years now (stalked her over at her regular old website Fantastic First Grade) and she really is the BOMB-DIGGITY (yes, I just used that term)!  She even takes the words right out of my mouth in her post: "there's no sense in reinventing the wheel"... HELLO!  Beg, borrow, steal!!!!

Head over there right this second.  I am bound and determined to win this goody!!! :)

Click Below:

woop, woop!!!

Hold the Phone!!!

Have you seen the blog Thirst for First?!  OH. MY. WORD. If it is not adorable!!!!

Not only is it adorable and filled with cute-cute stuff but she's also teamed up with Abby from The Inspired Apple to host ANOTHER amazing GIVE-A-WAY!

Click HERE to check out the goodies!

{This HAS to be the time I become a WINNER!}  :)

Just Can't Get Enough!!!!

Blog Give-a-ways have become a bit of an obsession (and a mission) of mine.  I am bound and determined to become a winner!!!  

I love that so many amazing teachers are willing to GIVE-A-WAY their goodies!  Teacher collaboration is so wonderful.  

One of my ABSOLUTE favorite teachers to 'stalk' (Cara over at The First Grade Parade) is teaming up with another awesome teacher (Jodi at Fun in First) that I just recently began 'stalking' to give-a-way TWO awesome packets!  Click HERE to find out all about these marvelous goodies!

Good Luck!

One of these days I'm going to WIN!!!

Another AMAZING give-a-way is under way!  I swear, one of these days I'm going to be a winner!  I'm so determined.  Not that I won't purchased the adorable Dr. Seuss unit that Donna  and Erica are giving away if I don't win.  This is a MUST check out!!  It's 100 pages of all good things Dr. Seuss!

While you're at it go over to Primary Perspective and check out Mrs. Perry's collection of Dr. Seuss activities! I've already snagged her "Week of Seuss" idea and the kids are PUMPED about getting to have a "mixed-up Monday," "wacky Wednesday," and "funny Friday"!!!  So fun!

Maybe one of these days I'll figure out just how to get my fun activities to convert to a PDF file without getting rid of all the cute graphics and font!  One day....one day!  For now, I'm enjoying "stealing" all these wonderful ideas from other amazing teachers!  I love the blogging world!! :)

One of my FAVORITES!!!

A fellow blogger whom I LOVE to stalk is having an AMAZING give-a-way!

If you love books, you'll love this!  

Click the link above to see JUST how fabulous it is in first!!! ;)

Great Give-a-way!

I have been following Michelle Oakes over at Fabulous in First for FOREVER.  She was actually the first website I found when I first moved to first grade and needed inspiration.  I have snagged so many amazing ideas from her.  Her other website is Fantastic First Grade!  She has so many amazing ideas!  She's also hosting this FANTASTIC give-a-way.  Scoot over to her website now for all the details!!!

Happy Blogging!