4th of July Sale at my TPT Store

This is the start of the birthday week.  Our country and my very own on the 3rd.  I would like you to come visit my store for a 20% off sale.  This sales starts is from July3-July4th.  

Visit 24/7 Teacher
to find her Star Spangled 100 Follower Give Away.  Who knows, you might be a winner of some amazing prizes.

Blog Lovin' Hop Winners and Let's Get Acquainted

Let me begin by congratulating my winners from the Bloglovin' Hop.  Since my birthday is tomorrow and the 4th of July is Thursday, I decided to not only pick 2 winners, but 4 winners.  Congratulations to:
1.  Barbara
2.  Stephanie M.
3.  Mrs. Reinartz
4.  Rachael

Thank you for following me and good luck next time.

I'm linking with Latoya Reed.

Topic- Tic Tac Toe

How it Works:  Look at the graphic below.  It is a Tic Tac Toe board filled with different categories.  You will post about three of these categories but they have to make Tic Tac Toe.  For example, you can choose to write about 3 topics that go vertical, or 3 topics that go horizontal, or three topics that go diagonal. 

I am doing the first vertical column.

I went to college at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI.  I was a commuter, so I didn't really experience the college life.  One of my favorite memories was when school closed early for a huge snowstorm.  My friend and I battled the storm back to my house.  We took the toboggan and headed for the favorite hill at a nearby park.  Bundled up we headed down the hill.  The toboggan was just a bit long for only 2 people and we continued to topple over again and again.  Back at my house we warmed up with hot cocoa.  We had a blast!

My first year teaching was the start of a wonderful new adventure. I moved to Florida (by myself) and started at a little migrant school way out in Wimauma.  My first graders would bring me cauliflower and tomatoes as gifts.  It was pretty cool, since this was so new to me. On my first day teaching I took the kids outside for PE and when we returned I told them to line up at the bubbler.  Much to my dismay, they wandered around the hall (apparently looking for this "bubbler").  Again I told them to line up at the bubbler to no avail.  Finally I pointed to the bubbler and they told me that this was no bubbler, this was the water fountain.  Where I come from a water fountain shot water out of some thing's mouth and was a decorative piece.  LOL I learned something new that day.  Apparently only a small piece of the country calls it a bubbler.

My favorite grade to teach is 1st.  It was and will always be.  I love the curiosity of a six year old.  I can amaze them with the simplest thing as long as I appear amazed myself.  I love the way that they can instantly pretend along with me that I am hearing something or seeing something to engage them in a lesson. "Why look over there, I see ____."  "Oh yes, we see it too."  The best part is when they get that "Ah ha" look on their face.  That makes it all worth it.  They are such precious little children that I am entrusted to teach them all that I can. I wouldn't trade them for any other grade. 

Now it is your turn to Link Up and share.... 

Fun With r-controlled Words

Mighty Monster Matching Fun With "er" Words is one of  five my new packages that help students recognize and use r-controlled vowels.

Click Here To See More

This package has 60 cards and 5 different center activities to use for a whole week.  The Mighty Monster Fun Card game is a blast and the course of the game can change from minute to minute.  Click above to see more.  This package is selling for $4.00, but you can save money and buy the Combo package which includes all 5 packages for only $12.00!  

Tens & Ones Noodle Fun

I just had a blast!  Where did I go you ask?  The Dollar Tree- a store with wonderful treasures all for under $1.00.  Here is my latest find-

**  Pool Noodles-  You may have seen this somewhere on Pinterest but I was new for me.  As I was helping my friend Deb, soon to be my newest BFFF (BFF in First), pack her new closet & and new room, I discovered these pool noodles.  "What do you do with these?" I asked.  She explained that you use one full noodle as a ten.  You then cut up one noodle into 10 equal parts to be the ones.  You can even bundle ten noodles together to make 100. 

Wow!  A legitimate reason to go to Dollar Tree (which in my opinion is the best Dollar Store ever)!  I find the noodles in all different colors, but lime green goes best with my Froggy Theme.  So I bought 11 of them. On the way home, I'm thinking that these will be great for math centers and for Everyday Counts and..., then my husband says "Where are you going to store all these noodles?"

Hmm, since my room is already almost filled to the max with wonderful teaching tools, he did have a valid point.

So we tried cutting (with a large kitchen knife) the noodle in 1/2 for a ten and then cut the 1/2 into 10 equal pieces (6 cm) for the ones.  Voila-- Same concept in a more compact size.  Here is a ten and a "bundle" of ones. The 10 ones fit nicely in a large Ziplock bag.

Now I have enough to count to the 100 day count and 180 days of school. So there you have it- and best of all, it is Banditt  and Snoopy approved!

Bloglovin' Fun & Giveaway! Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Click here to see more wonderful blogs

Welcome to Bloglovin'!  As Google Reader ends on July 1st this is the best way to keep up on your favorite Blogs. 

I will be giving away 2 of my new Tricky Turtle Matching Fun with "ur" Words! 

Step 1. Click on Bloglovin.com and and click on "Join Bloglovin".

Step 2. At the top left of my blog page there is a button to Follow this blog with bloglovin', click the + sign and you are now my follower. Yay!! 

Step 3.  Leave me a comment below with the name you are using to follow me with your email address.

I will choose 2 lucky people on Monday, July 1st in the evening to receive the Giveaway.  Good Luck!!

If you want more information about Bloglovin' go to Tori's Teacher Tips.  She gives you step by step instructions on using Bloglovin'.  There is also a list of blogs you will want to check out.

Have fun hopping around the great blogs!

R-Controlled Vowels Super Duper Fun

Hello there friends-
I have been busy creating 5 new Fun And Easy Matching Games for the ar, er, ir, or, ur sounds.  Each set has a different theme and several activities to reinforce the sounds.  These sets are Common Core aligned and easy to use.  My first set is Matching Fun With "ar" Words.

Click Here to See This Set

There are 56 full color cards for the students to match the picture to the correct word.  There is a recording sheet included along with follow-up work.  The answer keys are also included to make this activity self-checking or as a quick way for you to check mastery of the standard.

If you have any suggestions on how to help students master the "ar" sound, please leave me a comment.  I'd love to hear from you. Keep following for information on my next Fun & Easy package.

TPT Sale!

To thank all of my teacher friends for the hard work you do, I am having a 20% off sale this week in both my TPT store and TN store.  From May7-8th, TPT will give you an additional 8% off if you use the PROMO CODE TAD13.

So stop by and check out my latest products!

From one teacher to all of you wonderful teachers, I hope your Teacher Appreciation Week is wonderful!  Thank you for all you do to make a difference in the lives of children.