Summer Finds Giveaway

Well summer is ending...Boo :( I did have a fantastic summer with lots of new firsts for me. I finished my last course for my Master of Arts in Leadership and Administration!!!!! It still doesn't feel like I am finished but I know it will come the first weekend back to school when I am not in classes.
This summer we took my husbands 90 year old grandma to the United States for a couple of days and we found this amazingly beautiful place we will be visiting again. Long Beach, Washington!!!!! I fell in love.

Okay I know you probably want me to stop talking about my summer and get on with the giveaway so here it is :) Oh yeah this is going to be a long post so I am just warning you...get your reading eyes on.

There are 3 different giveaways here for you to enter with the handy dandy Rafflecopter entry form. Easy Peasy, lemon squeezy...

The first prize includes three things that I discovered this summer and fell in love with (not as much as I fell in love with Long Beach though...hmmm maybe this post is all about me falling in love....don't tell my husband ...shhhh). Oh yeah right the things I fell in love with...FRIXION PENS !!!!! Need I say more. Okay I will. If you have not discovered these pens yet you must. All their great colors and erasable ink....awwww this is what every teacher needs. I looked all over town (and online) and found the best deals at Amazon and Walmart.

While I was on Amazon I discovered my second find... the book Teach Like a PIRATE . I bought it and started reading it as soon as it came to my house. AARGH it is fabulous and the author is soooo energetic. I can just imaging him bouncing around his classroom. Since I found it motivating I thought you needed to have it also.

The third thing I found this summer was Melonheadz super cute Duck Dynasty clip art. My students were obsessed with Duck Dynasty last year so I knew I HAD to have this clip art. I bought it late at night (big mistake) and then laid awake all night coming up with things I could make with it. I actually had to get up and get a notebook to jot my ideas on so I cold go to sleep. Anyways I am giving the lucky winner my first 3 items I created with the clip art. They are all about place value to the thousands. Doesn't this make you "Happy, Happy, Happy!" ?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wow that was a long write up just for the first giveaway. I will try and make the next 2 a bit shorter. This prize is from my lovely teacher friend, Shauna, that works in the same school district as I do. She is the brave one who takes on Kindergarten. I don't know how she does it but she is wonderful at it and also finds time to make engaging products to sell on TpT.  Her TpT store and Facebook page is Loving Primary.

Shauna is giving the winner of this prize one of her summer finds and a couple other great things. Her summer find is the teaching resource The Next Step in Guided Reading: Focused Assessments and Targeted Lessons for Helping Every Student Become a Better Reader Phew that is a long name :) Shauna loves to make her anchor charts and classroom signs look fun and colorful and she is going to make it a little easier for you to do the same thing with these Super, funky 80's Glam Sharpies! Oh wait she isn't done... the winner will also get to pick one thing from her TpT store !  
a Rafflecopter giveaway

For the final prize I thought I would give away the one thing I use the most in the summer (besides computer ink) to get ready for school....yup a laminator. I have this laminator and LOVE it. Along with the laminator the winner will get some laminating pouches. You didn't think I would give a laminator with no pouches did you? How cruel that would be to have the thing sitting there and you not being able to use it. Nope I am not that cruel :)

This prize also includes a $10 gift certificate to TeacherShirts.com.
 I saw a link on their Facebook page A+ Images that had this shirt on it and I loved it (I know...you are wondering how I can fall in love with things so easily). I bought the shirt and cannot wait until I get it. The company has graciously donated a $10 gift certificate to my giveaway so you can get your very own shirt. It doesn't even have to be this exact design. They have lots to pick from.

Just when you thought this prize couldn't get any better it does !!! The winner of this third prize will also get to pick $25 worth of products from my Teachers Pay Teachers store. This is perfect for those last minute back to school needs or to get ahead on planning for the upcoming seasons.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck and I look forward to reading about your summer finds :)

Cheers,

We've got a winner!!!

Who's that Blogger Reveal & Winners!!!

I have labeled the childhood photos with the matching blogs for you all to peek at!! Because of the volume of entries, winners will be notified throughout the weekend. I appreciate your patience as we send out emails and prizes.

Click on each image to see the photo

Winner of the $125 Amazon Gift Card!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to

MEAGAN RAVEY

You will receive an email notification and once your email has been confirmed, I will send you the Amazong gift card!!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so very much for playing!!

I have added a fun FREEBIE for everyone to grab!! 

Please feel free to share the freebie through pins & I always appreciate your feedback!!

Have a WONDERFUL SATURDAY!!

Click the image to download the FREEBIE!!

Cheers,

Who's That Blogger????

Welcome Everyone!!

         Are you ready to have some fun??
        
                                              ....Play a game?
           
                                                              .....Win  prizes and cash?

I have teamed up with 65 AMAZING blogger buddies to put together the ultimate Back to School Linky/Giveaway!!!

Each one of my blogger buddies submitted a cute childhood photo & generously donated something special from their online TpT shops for this occasion!! We have included a fun game for you to play for a chance to win over $300.00 in prizes and a BONUS  CASH-PRIZE raffle you can enter at the end of this post!! 

CHA-CHING!!

The game is easy to play....

 Your job will be to try and match each blogger with their childhood photo!!! With over 60 childhood photos and bloggers to match up, this might get tricky!! As I mentioned above, each blogger has generously donated one awesome prize from their TpT store. Successfully match a blogger and childhood photo, and you win the prize offered from that blogger!!! The more you matches you make, the more prizes you win!!! 

Check out some of the prizes you could win!!!

but Wait....

That's not all....

ONE lucky follower will win a $125 Amazon Gift Card!! Scroll to the bottom & follow the directions in the Rafflecopter for a chance to win $$$

The link below will open a form that will allow you to submit your answers for the match up. 

Use the blogger links and numbered images to help you along the way!! Each childhood photo has been assigned a specific number. 

Once you open the form, use the drop-down menu beneath each blog button and select a number that corresponds to a childhood photo. 

The form results will be collected throughout the week. At the end of the week, each submission will be "graded" and you will receive a prize for each blogger and photo you successfully matched up!!

The game closes on Friday, August 23rd at midnight (Arizona Mountain Time). Answers will be announced on Saturday, August 24th. Winners will be notified through email throughout the week. 

Use the blog links below the photos to search for clues!!

Click HERE to Play the Matching Game!!

AWE!!! PuFfy HeArT SWEETNESS!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Click HERE to Play the Matching Game!!

Follow the directions in the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $125 Amazon gift card!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for participating!!! Good Luck!!!

If you would like to post about this linky/giveaway, grab the special image below to display in your post and link up below!!! Make sure to use the link to the actual post,,,

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Cheers,

 

 

Life as a Canadian Teacher

Teaching in Canada comes with its own unique experiences, some better (Tim cards) than others (cougars). Head on over to Mrs. Mathis' Homeroom to read a great blog post where you can find 29 interesting things about teaching in Canada!

Cheers,

 

Its a Best and Most Linky !!!

It is Back to School with another TpT Sale!!!! Christina from  Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge is hosting a Back to School Best & Most Linky Party !!! What a fabulous idea. It makes me feel like I am in high school again :) Well not really, we voted on best and most for our yearbook but I didn't make any of them. Not a bad thing I guess ... who wants to be voted most likely to be living in your parent's home at age 30 or most likely to end up in jail? lol ! Most likely to be rich and famous might be nice though :P

Okay I digress. Let me get back on track. We had to go through our TpT stores and select items for Teacher's Pet, Most Likely to Help Students Succeed, and Best Couple (I like this one).

And the Winners were ....

Teacher's Pet:
My Back to School Unit because not only does it have fun activities for the students, but it also has a bulletin board idea/template as well as lesson/unit plan outlines and parent communication items for the teacher. 
 
Most Likely to Help Your Students Succeed:
I chose my graphic organizers that can be used with any book. These pages help differentiate the learning for students and are created at a variety of academic levels (Gr 1-5).
 
Best Couple:
Awe, what a cute awards !!! For this one I chose my newest item and perhaps the one I have been working on the longest. It is over 270 Classroom Labels and Signs in a turquoise, lime green, black, and pink (just a hint) color scheme. Most of the labels are in multiple colors so you can choose which ones you want to use.
 
The other half of this couple is probably one of my favorite items :) It is a READ banner that you print and create. You have the choice of turquoise, lime green, black, or pink lettering and it looks super cute if you attach the circles with polka dot ribbon.
 
 
I would love to hear if you were voted best or most likely at your high school :)
 
Cheers,

 

It is Sale Time!!!!

Yay, I think I may get more excited for the TpT Back to School sale then I do about Christmas. Well maybe not but it is pretty exciting :)Of course I am putting my store on sale!

 I will be offering up to 20% off all items and if you add the TpT code (BTS13) during checkout you can get an additional 10% off!!! That means you save yourself up to 28% if you shop on August 18th and 19th. I will be leaving my store on sale for one extra day (you never know what can happen) but you will not get the TpT discount on this day.

I have been adding great things to my wish list all week. Most of it is clip art and fonts (my latest addiction) and I am super excited. I thought I would share with you a few of my newest products just in case you are looking for something else to add to your cart.

This is my newest item but I have been working on it for a long time. It is over 270 (you read that right, 270) classroom labels and signs in my favorite classroom color theme - turquoise, lime green, black, and a hint of pink.

Here is an editable behavior management clip chart. I use one in my classroom and it works amazingly. I made this one to brighten up the one I already have.



One of the items in my classroom that causes the most conversations is my teacher toolbox. I love it. It keeps my supplies very organized. Mine is turquoise and lime green of course, but I have had quite a few requests for different colors. This one is my latest version. For more versions and how I made the toolbox see post here.

Of course I have many more items in my store that would be great for getting ready for back to school like Magic Tree House novel Studies, a poetry unit, graphic organizers for any book, lots of math items, and much, much more and they will all be on sale! Click here to be taken to my store.

Check out all these other stores that will also be on sale:


Cheers,

Getting Ready

My husband and son are away for the week and it is giving me PLENTY of time to catch up on blogging !!! Is it bad that I love them being gone for a bit? No extra dishes, dirty towels, and I can watch what I want to on TV.

For this post I thought I would share with you 2 things that I always do with my class at the beginning of the year.

The first thing I do when I finally get my class (usually not until day 3 or 4 of school) is to create name tags for their desks. These are super helpful when we have a TTOC (substitute teacher) or guest speaker in the classroom.

I take a 8.5 x 11 piece of cardstock and cut it length wise.




I write students' names in the middle and draw the bubble around it. In the past I have let students do all the work but I find that sometimes it is hard to read their names. The only thing that is allowed in the bubble is one solid, light color. Too much design here will make it difficult to read the name.

Students are free to design outside the bubble anyway they like. I then laminate them and they get taped on the front part of students desks. This keeps it off the top of their desk where it may get in the way of their work.

I am always amazed at how much work my students put into their nametag. Two of my students that I taught for the last 2 years said they took theirs home and hung it on their bedroom door :)

The second thing I always do with students is I play Back to School Bingo (click here to get it) with them. Like I mentioned above, we don't get our actually students until the end of the first week. This is a way of not having to shuffle kids from class to class as we figure out who has shown up at the school.

Since this is how things go we have to find activities to fill time with the kids we have. Usually they are a mix of students from Grades 1-7.

Everyone loves winning things and my Back to School Bingo is perfect for this since there are 30 different cards that can be used ! I am not a big promoter of handing out candy (don't get me wrong I will give it out but not all the time) so instead I give out fancy pencils, erasers, rulers, notebooks, staplers, and any other fun school supplies I find for CHEAP.

 

Sometimes I think the students are more excited to get these novelty items than they are to get a piece of candy.

 

If you teach French, I also have the Bingo game in French here.

 

I am super excited about going back to school and meeting my new students but in the meantime I am going to go watch what I want on TV !!!

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

 

 

Back to School With Jenga

I don't have to go back to school until September but I thought that while I was catching up on Days of Our Lives (Don't judge me !) I would be somewhat productive. I have had a Jenga game sitting around since last year and decided to put it to use today. Originally I was going to make a multiplication game with the Jenga pieces but then I cam across Rachel Lynette's Get To Know You Jenga and decided this is what I wanted to make :) The best part is it is FREE !!!
 

All my supplies are ready to go. Labels are printed, tape and scissors handy, Jenga pieces piled !!! 

2 done.....many more to go....

YAY I am done and the pieces are back in the box waiting for my students. It actually didn't take as long as I thought it was going to.

I will be using these during the first week of school. I also thought they would make GREAT attendance questions for the year.

Click here to Jenga!

Cheers,