Student Teacher Freebie and Sale!

I have a student teacher right now (who is amazing!) and I have asked her to fill out this form weekly to help us talk about things, keep organized, and give her a collection of her thoughts afterwards.  Click the pic to download for FREE!

Also... it's the BIG TpT sale!  Use the code TPT3 to get an EXTRA 10% off... my shop is already 20% off so don't forget the code for more savings!

I'm on a snow day today (our 9th one!) and, after working out and cleaning house all day, I'm ready to SHOP!

Happy Monday! {Sale, Freebie Rewind!, And Other Stuff}

Yay!  Happy Monday, teacher friends!  My week has had a great start and I hope yours has too!

I have a student teacher who just started last week and, I've got to tell ya, I hit the jackpot!  She taught her first lesson today and it was so good... I don't know what more she can learn from me during her time in my room... she's already pretty darn great!

I also loved the sunshine today... it was still ridiculously cold here in Michigan, but I did managed a walk outside after I did my elliptical and it was so nice to get out in the sun!!!!!!!  I wasn't even that bundled up!  Yay!

Have you heard that TpT is having a big SALE on Thursday and Friday?  Check out this banner made by Beth at Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs...

My store will be 20% off and you can get an EXTRA 8% off if you use the code TPT3 when you check out.  I know my wishlist is long, so I can't wait to shop!

Be sure to check out my "Snapshots" for quick assessments, homework, morning work, etc... they'll be on sale!

FREEBIE REWIND!  Just click the pic and be sure to leave some love!

And other stuff...

I don't have much.  Just so happy to see some sun, get outside, and start off the last week of February (can you believe that?!) on such a happy note!

What's Going On in Room 108

It's been a while, bloggy friends!  I promise I'm trying hard to get back into things... but I have all my "life stuff" going on and they haven't settled down.  BUT I did manage to snag a few quick pics last week so I can show you what we've been doing...

We have an intervention time called "Success Time".  This past week, the groups were composed of kids who missed certain things on a math assessment.  Anyone who needed that specific intervention went to another classroom and I kept my kiddos who didn't need to be re-taught.  We worked on telling time and multiplication, which are things all of our 3rd graders need.

I started with a quick assessment from my 3rd grade "Math Snapshots" pack to see where everyone was at on their telling time to the minute.  We didn't do so hot, so I backed up to time to the 5-minute mark.  We did this classroom hunt, which the kiddos loved!  After we did the hunt, I gave a 2nd grade "Math Snapshot" for telling time to the 5 minute mark.  With the extra practice from the hunt, I only had three who I'll still be working with on their time!

We also played this multiplication game called "Catch 'Em".  The kiddos roll two dice, multiply the numbers and then "catch" the bug on their mat by crossing off that number.  I just printed the pages and put them in a sheet protector.  Then the kiddos use a dry erase marker.  You can get it for FREE by clicking the picture!

We have Monday off and Tuesday we report but not kids.  I have a student teacher starting on Tuesday and I'm so excited!

I hope you all have a great week... I'll try to get back soon!

Valentine's Day is Coming! {Blog Post & Freebie Rewind!}

Valentine's Day has snuck up on me... I have to get busy making these little babies...

Hershey Bars with personalized wrappers!

You can learn all about them and other Valentine's Day ideas (and freebies too!) by clicking the tape below to do a Valentine's Day blog post REWIND!

Come Find Me at Minds in Bloom!

Yoooo hoooo!

I'm over here... at Minds in Bloom today talking about departmentalizing in elementary school!

Please pop over and check the post out... and thanks, Rachel, for having me!  The post should be live in T-minus 3 minutes!

Just Add Kids and Questions- Quick Review Game! {Bright Ideas Blog Hop!}

I'm so excited to be part of the Bright Ideas Blog Hop!  Thanks for hopping over to my blog to check out my Bright Idea!

Today I want to re-share a quick post and video about my FAVORITE quick and easy way to review or do a quick check for understanding.

We play a game called "Back-to-Back".  Here's how it works:

Kids get with a partner and stand back-to-back.

I ask a question- usually using task cards with multiple choice answers.  I have a HUGE collection of them.  I add new ones for upcoming skills and store the "used ones" under my easel.  Here's how I store cards for upcoming skills on my easel.  Then I quickly pop off the set I need for the activity and then hang them back up when we're done:

After I ask the question, the kids use a hand signal (sign language letters) to make their choice and then turn around to show their choice to their partner.

If they have the same answer, they give one high-five.

Then I tell the answer and, if they were right, they do a double high-five and then get back-to-back again.  Then I ask another question and we continue.

I love this.  It lets me see immediately who "gets it" and who doesn't and the kids love playing a game!

Here's a video I made and posted a few years ago... I miss these boys!!!!!  Don't mind my annoying gum chewing... it's gross!

I hope that gives you a quick, fun idea you can implement in your classroom RIGHT NOW!

Time to hop on over to the next blog post by Becca at First Grade in Foxwell Forest!

Or you can click on through to other bright idea blog posts from the link-up below:

Tear Jerker Read Alouds {And My Other Favs Too!}

Reading to my class is my FAVORITE part of the day.  I love when they settle in for their snack and I can just read.  I love picking things they'd never give a second glance to and I love choosing things we can dig deeply into.

Every year I have three books I read that make me cry.

They love it!  :)

They are...

Stone Fox

Find Stone Fox on Amazon

I have read this every year to my class... even when I taught 1st/2nd grade.  I love sharing this book, talking about the history, and asking students to take a stand to decide if Little Willie should win or if Stone Fox should win.

I love getting to the final race... reading fast... watching the kids literally sit on the edge of their seats.

And then, turning the page to the sad sad sad finale... but then the amazing kindness... and then just letting it all sink in.

I cry every single time.  Even though I've read it for 8 years now... every time!

Tear jerker #2...

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Find The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane on Amazon

So beautiful!  So perfect for talking about how characters can grow and change.  Every time it makes me think of my Meggie Kay- my Cabbage Patch Doll who was my bestest friend when I was little.

Tear jerker #3...

Hachiko Waits

Find Hachiko Waits on Amazon

Last year is actually the first year I read this.  And I made the mistake of doing it RIGHT after Stone Fox so we could draw comparisons... it's a fabulous story about friendship and loyalty, but also tugs at those heart strings!

I also have some books that make me LOL!  This year I was laughing more than the kids were when we read Pippi Longstocking.

Find Pippi on Amazon

We just finished it and will be watching the movie later this year... you know the totally 80s Pippi movie... YES!

I also L-O-V-E Little House in the Big Woods.  The chapter where the papa sees the "bear" in the woods only to realize that it's really a... oh, I won't ruin the hilarity for you.  But it's pretty hilarious!

Find Little House in the Big Woods on Amazon

Every year after we read Little House we make butter... it's so fun and such a good connection to the book!

You just need small jars with lids, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt.  The kids shake, shake, shake for about 20 minutes.  We pair up and share a jar.  Every two minutes or so, we switch and the other partner shakes.  About halfway through, I always start dumping out the buttermilk that forms in the jars.  It helps make the finished product more solid.

This is sooooo tasty!  We slather it on bread and enjoy a delicious taste of life from the past!

What are your favorite read alouds?  I'm always looking for new chapter books to add to my collection... do share in the comments!

Snapshots Try It! Packs

I'm going to lunch with Patty from 2nd in Line in about 27 minutes.  If you don't know Patty, you must check out her blog.  She's amazing!

But I wanted to pop on quickly to say that I've just posted two "Try It!" packs for my Snapshots.

You can try out two of each assessments for each grade level for free... I hope you'll like them!  They are half sheet assessments/morning work/homework/extra practice... whatever you need... kids think it's less work because it is only half a sheet... you save on copies... they take a few minutes to do and a few seconds to grade.  I give two a week in my class- one grammar with one comprehension on the back- and I grade two assessments every Friday for 50 kids and it takes me 15 minutesish and lets me see how my kiddos did on the two standards I check.  I love it!

Here is the link to the 1st grade freebie sample pack...

And here's the link to the 2nd/3rd freebie sample pack...

I will have school tomorrow... I will have school tomorrow... maybe if I keep "Little Engine that Could"ing it, it will happen!

Snow Day Agenda and Win a SNAPSHOTS Bundle!

Happy SIXTH snow day of 2014.  That's right, friends... today is my sixth snow day since the start of the month.  It's crazy!  We're under a wind chill warning until tomorrow morning, so I'm thinking tomorrow might be my 7th.

Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good snow day or two.  But this is getting silly.  I want to go teach my kiddos!

I am having some accomplishing snow days, however.

This is my agenda:

I've also finished the 1st grade GRAMMAR Snapshots!!!!  This pack has 46 quick to give and easy to grade assessments connected to 1st grade Language standards!

Find it on TpT

You can win the 1st grade bundle!  Or, if you don't teach 1st grade, you can win the 2nd or 3rd grade bundle!  All you have to do is head to my FACEBOOK page and leave a comment on the post about this giveaway... I'll pick a winner later on tonight and send you the bundle of your choice!

Each bundle has grammar, math, and comprehension assessments connected to 1st or 2nd/3rd grade standards!  Whoo hoo!

If you're off today, enjoy... drop me a comment and let me know how you're spending your snow day... and if you're in school I hate to say it but I'm jealous!

You can find the link to my blog's FB page up at the top of my page- below my banner!

HUGE File Update!

Getting ready to head out to celebrate my sister's b-day but wanted to pop on to let you know about a HUGE file update!

My CCSS bookmark pack just tripled in size with the addition of "Thought"marks... which you print on the backs of the bookmarks to allow students to practice each strategy!

Two "Thought"marks are included for each bookmark to allow for differentiation... one thoughtshot is more "guided" type practice while the 2nd one for each standard allows students to practice with their own text.

If you have bought this, re-download!  For tonight only, it's $1 off if you want to grab it!  Just click the pic to see more!