Monday, January 30, 2012

TaGgEd answers and questions

Hello everyone! I mentioned yesterday that Kathy from Teachin FIrst tagged me! So much fun, and I don't even have to run around! Here are the rules to this game:


1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!


Here are my  boring fun facts:


1. I was 1 pound 15 ounces when I was born.


2. I will be 46 years old in July. (gasp)


3. Our "baby" at home is a 17 pound West Highland White Terrier.


4. I watch "Family Affair" "Dick Van Dyke" and "Mary Tyler Moore" on the DVR in the evenings.


5. I love "Dancing With the Stars" and Derek Hough is my favorite.


6. I have a secret not so secret crush on Michael Buble.


7. My favorite type of vacation is going on a cruise.


8. I get spring cleaning fever in January! (just ask my co-workers)


9. I only buy "Clarks" shoes to teach in because they are so comfortable and hold up so well.


10. My favorite restaurant is Texas Roadhouse.


11. I start to panic if I can't find my ChapStick. (just ask my family or my co-workers)


12. I drip dry all of my work clothes and iron every day. I know, weird, right?


Here are my answers to Kathy's Questions:

1. If you couldn't be a teacher anymore (for whatever reason), what job would you have?
Something creative that I would do from home.

2. If you could go back to any decade/era in history, when would it be? The 50's
  Why? Life seems like it moved at a simpler pace then.

3. What is your favorite book?
Any of the Mysteries known as "Cozies"

4. What is your favorite type of candy?
M&M's

5. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Why?
I would go back to Europe. We went a couple of years ago for a few weeks with my son's school music group but everything was paced super fast for teenagers, and I'd like to go back at a more leisurely pace!

6. If you had the chance, would you go to space?
No, because it is kinda scary to me!

7. Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Night Owl

8. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas


9. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Baby Alive

10. Black Friday - get up at the crack of dawn, shop from home, or avoid it all together?
Get up at the crack of dawn and shop with my husband

11. Do you collect anything?
quilts, snow globes, interesting signs

12. Do you clip coupons?
Sometimes

Here are my 12 Questions for Others:

1. What is your favorite magazine?
2. What is your favorite dinner that you cook?
3. What is your favorite dinner when you go out?
4. What is your least favorite household cleaning chore?
5. What household cleaning chore do you find the most rewarding?
6. What is one beauty item that you could not live without?
7. What is your favorite song?
8. What is your favorite dessert?
9. Do you like to exercise?
10. Do you like to shop in store or online?
11. Do you have any pets?
12. Are you a neat freak or free spirit?

And here are the 12 ladies that I am "tagging". I hope this isn't against the rules but I going to include my 3 first grade blog cohorts in this so we can learn more about them too! I tried to find a few blogs new to me for this!


Chari from funforfirst.blogspot.com
Becca from funforfirst.blogspot.com
Camille from funforfirst.blogspot.com
Deb from mrsreynoldsfirstgradeadventures.blogspot.com
Heather from heathersfirstgradeheart.blogspot.com




Sunday, January 29, 2012

ARRGHHHHH! Don't Act LIKE a PIrate!!!

Lately my home life has been very crazy, partly because we are living with my in-laws while we build our house.  My two little boys have been to say the least, a little naughty.  My oldest little one (which is three) is really into pirates, so I made this little reward system to help them make some better choices.  Each morning they can earn a reward if they do everything on the list.  They get to put a clothes pin on each one they do, if they do it the first time they are asked.  Then later in the day they can earn points toward buying something from the giant treasure chest.  For this I just went and bought items they totally love from the Dollar Store or Walmart.  Each item is priced with a small label.  This has been awesome so far.  My kiddos have be striving to listen better and I can not tell you how much better my mornings have been.  I am ACTUALLY on TIME for work!!!!





Rainbow Editing

Sorry Had A Mistake On My First One.  I fixed the download, so it should be right....

So I am sure you have seen those cute posters for editing called the writer's eyes.  I came across them on pinterest and wanted them right away.  I only had one problem, they had a colored border on them and I thought this might confuse my students.  I use a method called rainbow editing in my classroom.  Becca was the one that turned me on to the idea (thanks Becca)!  Students use a crayon to look for each part in their story.  So as the students are editing their story they use a different colored crayon as they edit for spaces, capitals, periods, word wall words, title, ect.  




Which brings me to why I ended up making these editing anchor charts for my work on writing board.  Mine are not quite so cute, but they match the colors of our rainbow editing.  





Tagged :)

Hooray! I've been tagged by Kristy at TeachinFirst! Thanks Kristy! Gosh, I've got to start thinking of my answers and my questions . . . I will have to continue this post tomorrow!

Friday Find on Sunday! {again} Craft

Hey everyone! How are you? Thanks for the great response to our Melonheadz giveaway! If you haven't entered yet, you still have a couple of days! Also, I am doing it again! I'm posting my Friday Find on Sunday! I really do know the days of the week, sometimes it just works out this way. :) Anyway, I recently discovered this awesome new blog called eighteen25.blogspot.com  It is full of wonderful projects and ideas. Here is one that was recently re-posted for Valentine's Day. It is so awesome because they also include detailed instructions and downloads.
Click here to visit the blog and access their instructions and downloads

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Clip Art Giveaway and 100 Follower Challenge :)

GIVEAWAY!! 

Hey Everyone! Happy Thursday and Exciting news. . .We are having a FABULOUS Giveaway with Nikki from Melonheadz Illustrating . . . A $15.00 Gift Certificate to spend on any of her designs. Hooray! IF you love clip art that is fun, cheerful and full of whimsy, you will want to enter. You will be able to use the gift certificate for any of her packages OR for requests. :) I have included screenshots of a few of the things featured in her ETSY shop to give you a sampling of what you might choose from, but there are others as well. She has recently done a few requests for me that have turned out just darling!


Okay, so how to enter? It's sooo easy!

1. Leave us a comment.
2. If you aren't already, sign up to follow us.
3. Spread the word. :) Help us get to 100 followers!

The giveaway will end on Wednesday, February 1st at 1:00 p.m.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Phonics Sort

  Happy Monday Evening eVerYoNe! It is snowing here in Southern Utah. Today was our first full day with a Smart Board in our classroom. We had a few glitches, but ALL WORKED out okay. The funniest part is that I am learning as we go! The children have alternated between feeling sorry for me and my lack of Smart Board knowledge and congratulating me for figuring something out! Oh well, it is a process, right?Thank goodness for patient co workers who have helped me and  answered my questions. :) Anyway, here is a little something we are currently working on . . .sorry the formatting isn't perfect on the word list, but once the kids cut them out, they will put their own spin on it anyway. :)

Click HERE to download

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Friday Find on SuNdAy!

As you can see, I am posting my Friday Find on Sunday! I had a whopper of a headache on Friday and didn't get it done. Anyway, this is darling! You can find this craft idea and a bunch of others on dollarstorecrafts.com


Another Cute Graphic From Nikki!

Hey everyone! Hope you are having a great weekend! I wanted to show you this super cute graphic that Nikki at Melonheadz made for me of my son! Love it! Thanks Nikki! xo

Thursday, January 19, 2012

National Symbols Activity

Melonheadz and KPM Doodles both have some fun, new patriotic clip art sets availabe. I really wanted to do something with them so I made this National Symbols Matching Activity with pictures and descriptions. In a couple of days I am also going to post it in the black/white format to give to the students. Here is a preview. . .


Click here to download

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Valentine's Day! 5 Things Freebie


melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com
Happy Tuesday!  I hope you all had a great day. Today was a Monday for me even though it was really Tuesday! I had a hard time getting into the swing of things after 3 days off. I bought the newest issue of Martha Stewart Living over the weekend because I could not resist the pretty pink cover. Once Valentine's Day starts it's approach my mind turns frilly, pink and red. :) I can't wait to hang up the hearts we have made for the classroom! I posted a picture of them last week! Anyway, in the meantime, here is a little Valentine's freebie for fun . . .

Click here to download

LUCKY

My smartboard was installed over the weekend. We thought that Lory and Camille would be getting theirs as well, but an essential part wasn't ordered. But here is a few pictures of my class. I feel so lucky and blessed, it has been a great year in first grade at Fiddler's!








Saturday, January 14, 2012

MUST see Melonheadz!

Hey Everyone! I want to say a GrEaT BiG Thank You  and send hugs to Nikki at Melonheadz Illustrating for creating this SUPER cute drawing of me! I just love her work, and she is such a friendly and sweet person. I mean really, How Darling Is This??


If you would like one for yourself, you can contact Nikki through her blog at www.melonheadzillustrating.blogspot.com

Friday, January 13, 2012

Friday Find!

SInce it is Friday and everyone has a chance to stop and take a breath, I wanted to share a neat blog that I just found. It has a lot of cute gift ideas.
This looks great . .

Blessings to Joplin's Teachers

Linking up with


to help with


Click here for information on how you can help too!!


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