*Best* and *Most* Linky -- And time to SHOP!!!! :)

It's that time of year, my friends!  Time to gather all the stuff you've been hoarding in your office/living room/guest bed and head back to school!  If you're like me then you've been back at it for 2 weeks -- which I hope explains my absence here on my blog.  If you're just headed back, good timing!! TPT is throwing a massive back to school sale!  You can stock up on everything you couldn't justify buying before, because NOW, you can get it at a 28% discount.  HOLLA!

 

 

My ENTIRE store will be 20% off for the duration of the sale.  Don't forget to enter the promo code BTS13, so TPT will chip in as well for a total discount of 28%

 

I'm linking up with Christina Bainbridge over at Buntings, Books, and Bainbridge to show you some of my products in a unique way -- yearbook style! :) SUCH a cute linky. 

 

 

 

I chose this unit as my Teacher's Pet because it SAVED my teaching LIFE when that Synthesis unit rolled around.  I was at a loss on how to teach that difficult concept to my second graders, but this little baby dawned on me and I never looked back.  The kids loved it. I loved it. And they GOT IT! :) Here's a little preview.  

 

 

I included this product because it is so versatile.  I plan on using it next semester with my kinders and I used it during RTI with some of my struggling second graders.  It really does have a far reach.  This is a bundled packet of 40 word work activities for helping students to master those Short Vowel CVC words. 

 

 

 

I created my first Word Work Choice pack what feels like forever ago (on the right).  It did SO well and I really enjoyed using it in my classroom for Word Work and Spelling centers.  I decided I wanted to mix up some of the activities I was doing in those stations, and so was born Word Work Choice 2!  These sets go GREAT together! They each have 10 activities that can be completed with ANY word list, word wall, what have you.

 

A close runner up for *BEST COUPLE*  Would be these two Math Monster packs! My kids absolutely LOVED the little monsters last year and they were so engaged during these units! If you're looking for a way to get your kiddos excited about math, check these out! :)

 

 

Well, that's it for me today! Yesterday was my birthday but I was SO exhausted after the end of that work week (second week in Kinder... yikes!) that I pretty much came home from school and fell right asleep!  Hoping to get out and have a little fun today! :)

 

Enjoy your weekend and HAPPY SHOPPING! :)

 

10 things I learned in my first week of Kindergarten!

Last week was exhausting. PEOPLE... Kindergarten is NO JOKE!  Therefore I bring to you 10 things I learned in my first week as a Kindergarten teacher.

 

1. 15 minutes is a REALLY long time.

2. Tiny toilets = more pee on the floor/walls/anywhere but in the toilet bowl.

3. 29 itty bitty people take up a lot of space -- no matter how little they are!

4. Goldfish crackers make great snacks and BIG messes!

5. These babies have got MOVES!  If you want to see your Kinders get up and moving, play this song for them! Even your shy kids will get a little head bob going.



6. Lunch is not a necessary meal for adults.  Good thing, too... since there's no time for eating!

7. Criss Cross Applesauce is a skill that takes great practice and patience.

8.  Five year olds are still working on Volume Control.  At this point in their lives, they have two settings -- barely audible and crazy loud.

9. Vitamin C is your friend.

10. Kindergarten classrooms are the most magical, inspiring, and wonderful places on Earth!

My new K classroom... the big reveal! ;)

Hey friends, long time no... see? talk? blog?  Well, anyway... I've been MIA for a good reason.  As you know, I recently accepted a position teaching K.  This move was not only to a new school, but also a new district!  I have been SOOOOOOO busy working in my classroom.  I came into a bit of a mess -- the teacher who left, didn't take much with her.  There was ten years of STUFF crammed into every nook and cranny of this classroom, so I'm VERY proud to show you what I've been up to!  These pictures were taken last week -- before kids.  I got kids yesterday -- 29 sweet kinder faces.  29.  Yep. So the room no longer looks quite this good, but I'm going to live through the pictures ;)

 

First is our failed attempt at a panorama.  Yes, my class is huge, but it's not quite as huge as this picture makes it seem. 

 

 This is my math area.  I'm not happy with the calendar.  I will be printing and laminating some bigger number and shape posters to hang sometime next week!

 Here's one of my student work bulletin boards.  I will put clothespin on those ribbons to easily swap out student work.  Notice the curtains at the bottom?  They are covering open shelving and I can't stand the clutter, so I covered that stuff up!  *P.s. the ugly number posters at the top are a school requirement :(*

 Front of the room/large group area.  Nice view of my little pompoms! They were a little time consuming but I love how they turned out!

 View from the middle of the room toward the math area/storage.  You can also see my teacher area here! All three of those large desks were in the room and I wasn't allowed to move any of them out.  And so was born the biggest teacher area ever! You can see my center storage carts that I blogged about a few week weeks ago!

 Guided Reading table and organization.  That shelf behind it houses all of my letter manipulatives, guided reading books, and planning materials!

 Back of the room.  I love the dark cabinetry at this school.  Those Dollar Tree baskets really pop! 

 Last but not least, our classroom library!  The reading loft was already in the room and I L-O-V-E it.  I had one student ask me probably 4,000 times when he was going to get to "climb up in there"

 

I know there has been some debate lately - Cute vs. Not Cute.  I tend to lean toward CUTE!  My main focus is on organization.  Everything must have a place and nothing can look cluttered.  I go for an open feel and functional.  Minimal *stuff* on the walls and in open shelves.  But then, I also love me some bright colors and cute accents.  Thanks for coming by and checking it out! This is going to be my home for quite some time now, and I'm ready to enjoy it! :)