Linkies and a Freebie

I wish I could add a couple of hours to the day just for blogging. You would think that with it being summer I would have more time to blog...why is this not the case? Friday is the last day of the five-week reading clinic that I have been teaching; that leaves me exactly one month before I go back to school. Hopefully I will have more time to blog then. I have been busy with some back-to-school projects though. 

First, I am linking up with Tara's Monday Made It over at 4th Grade Frolics. I love seeing everyone's new, creative projects each week and I'm excited to be able to share a couple of my own this week. 

My last blog post was about using standards and/or essential questions in the classroom. For now, I decided to go the standards route, but I might add in some essential questions when I get going in 4th grade. I am not selling these, but if you are interested in them, let me know and I'll send you the file. 

I have been seeing so many great posts and TPT items for brag tags that I decided to make up some of my own. I initially began this little project because I will have AR again this year and decided this might be a fun way for the kiddos to keep track of their points. Then I created some perfect attendance brag tags. Yesterday I decided to make name tags for the kiddos. Here is a photo of what these will look like in use. 

If you are interested, my AR brag tags are free on TPT. Here is where you can grab them or click on the picture below. I would love it if you would leave feedback if you download!

Neeeeeeeext, is the School Week Linky hosted by Tracey at The Teacher's Chair. 

This linky has a new topic each day this week, so be sure to click on the photo above to get in on the fun! 

For the first time this year, I ordered an Erin Condren teacher planner. Thanks to all of my Instafriends for sharing theirs and convincing me to pick one up. It was a bit pricey, but I'm in love. I cannot wait to really start using it. 

Have you signed up for the SLANT box exchange?! I did!! This is going to be so much fun, I can't wait. The ladies at Lessons with Coffee, Mrs. Price's Kindergators, and First Grade Fairytales are organizing. Head over to any of their blogs for more info on how to get some really great mail and meet two new bloggers/teachers a month. 

I promise, I am ALMOST done! One of the family's that I tutor for gave me the cutest little surprise today. These earrings are a "Congratulations on your new job" gift and I absolutely love them! In case you can't read it they say "Keep Calm and Teach On." 

Thanks for reading!

Monday Made It - Getting Ready For Next Year

Today was my last Monday of school! We have a full day tomorrow with an awards assembly in the afternoon and a half day for kiddos/full day for us on Wednesday. It was so ridiculously H-O-T today and I am trying to get everything packed up before I leave on Wednesday so I have been a busy-bee...the heat and humidity is definitely NOT helping.

I am linking up with Tara - 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made-It!!

I am so excited about my new classroom/class/job/school that I am already preparing for next year. When I went on my second interview a couple of weeks ago, the principal mentioned that during their last few days of school, they have move-up day for the whole school. The kiddos get to go to their new classrooms, meet their new teachers, and find out who they will be in class with. I thought this was a great idea because for the last 6 years I was begging for my class list in mid-August to send postcards to my kiddos. Unfortunately, my last day is the same day of school as move-up day at my new school. We decided that I would make a short presentation to share with my kiddos because I wouldn't be able to be there. After panicking over potentially having to video tape myself (YUCK!) I decided to do a short video with a Powerpoint presentation. I cannot believe I am doing this, but if you are interested, here is my presentation that my new team will be sharing with my new kiddos.

I also "made" this fun subway art. I already ordered some of the BW Collection from Creative Teaching Press (my new theme is going to be black and white with bright accent colors) and I decided to do lots of subway art for decorations. These frames are from the dollar store, the fun ribbon is from TJMaxx, and the subway art is from Crystal Dean's Teachers Notebook shop. All I had to do was print the posters and add the ribbon bows with glue dots. But I am so excited to make some more and add them to my new classroom! :o)

Thanks for reading!

News - Part 1

Drum roll please...

Look at my lovely new blog design! I am soooooo excited about it! Thanks to Lisa for the amazing design. I found this pre made design in her Etsy shop iCelebration Custom Designs and Lisa fixed it up a little just for me. I am absolutely in love with this and I keep coming back and looking at it. Lisa has other blog and Facebook templates along with some really great download and print items. Check out her shop, you'll love it! 

I also won an amazing giveaway! Ash had a 500 follower giveaway (500 followers...I cannot even imagine!) for her blog The Polished Teacher. I won the 3-6 Winner's Choice pack, so I get to choose goodies from Collaboration Cuties, Looking From 3rd to 4th, I'm Loving Lit, and Fab and Fun in 4th. When I complete this post, you can bet-your-bottom-dollar, that I am heading over to do my "shopping." Thanks Ash and all of the lovely ladies who contributed! :o)

We are finally down to six and a half days of school. On Wednesday, we will go on our whole-school field trip to Look Park. On this field trip our kiddos get to use the playground, spray park, play mini golf, visit a small zoo, and have a cook-out. It sounds so much better here than when we are actually there. There are A LOT of kids and not a lot of room, but the weather looks beautiful for the first time in years, so it won't be bad! On Thursday, we take a short walk to our local Dairy Queen where the kiddos get a free ice cream cone. And on Friday, we have Fun Day in the morning and a movie in the afternoon. It is going to be one very hectic week. 

Finally, I am linking up with Tara 4th Grade Frolics for Made It Monday! 

I have so much to share today, too. 

First, I found these Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies on Pinterest (of course) and they are to-die-for. The first time I made them, I used the M&M's, they were good. I have since made they several times without the M&M's and gotten rave reviews! 

I also fancied up my iPhone with the CocoPPa app after seeing all the Instagram hype. I love it! 

I used paint pens to personalize these water bottles that I picked up at the Dollar Tree for my kiddos' end-of-school gifts. 

Last but not least, as our last days of school are FINALLY here, it is time to celebrate my dear friend/para/student teacher. I will follow-up with another post about all of the goodies that the kiddos and I will be giving her at her "party" but I just finished making this clipboard and I am so excited about how it turned out. I made several for my classroom last summer, but this one has her name on it and everything!

                                                            

If you are still reading, THANK YOU! Also, this post is titled "News - Part 1." There will be a part 2, hopefully in the next couple of days, because I have some seriously exciting news, it just isn't quite official enough to share yet. I have been dying to share this news for a couple of weeks now, hopefully this week will be it! 

Thanks for reading! :o)

BOSTON....and Made It Monday with a freebie

I don't know where to even begin tonight. I can link up with Tara's Made It Monday for the first time and share my first freebie, but I completed all of this while watching the coverage of the explosions at the Boston Marathon. I live in Massachusetts, a couple of hours from Boston, and have always thought about going to the marathon. I have friends and family that live and work in Boston, friends and family that were in Boston for the marathon, and friends that were in Boston at the Red Sox game. One of my cousins lives very close to the marathon route (thankfully she is close to the beginning), a cousin that works in the Prudential Center in Copley Square, a cousin that usually runs the marathon, and cousins who were in the city with their darling kiddos! Luckily all of those people are okay, but how scary?! What should have been a fun and exciting Patriots Day and Marathon Monday in Boston turned out so terribly tragic. My thoughts are, have been, and will be in Boston. <3

As I said, while watching the marathon coverage I was working on my Brain Bug creation. I cannot even name all of the pinners and bloggers that inspired me to come up with this idea. I have seen so many great motivational ideas for standardized testing and some very cute "love bug" ideas; I decided to combine all of these ideas to make my own little creation. Thank you all for the inspiration!

I used foam hearts to make the feet, fairly large pompoms for the bodies, googly eyes, pipe cleaners cut in half for the antennas, and mini pompoms on the antennas. I purchased all of my supplies at ACMoore and used my handy dandy hot glue gun to put them together! I can't wait to give these little guys to my kiddos!

Here are my Brain Bugs motivational cards

For more Made It Monday fun check out Tara's blog 4th Grade Frolics. It's worth your while!