Class Pics and a Giveaway!

Hello Everyone!

WOOT! WOOT!
I have finally reached 100 followers on Bloglovin.  

I really want you to know how much I appreciate all of you that follow my little blog. 

Ever since my husband took his new position he has been away a lot so that means I have double duty on my hands.  

So I have been a little MIA but you have stuck with me.

Thank you!

So I started thinking what do you all need right now.  

What you need is things to get your classroom up and running and who knows what you need better than you do.  

So to help you out I am giving away MOOLAH!  

Ha!

I am giving away a $25 gift certificate to  TPT.  

This way you can buy those things that you have been putting off in your wishlist.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Ok now that you have entered the giveaway.

Check out some of my classroom pics.  

Now remember I have been flying solo since my hubby has been out of town on work so I have been doing things here and there but you know how it is with two kids running around.

This was my library before.  I had a hodge podge of baskets.  

These baskets were donated from teachers retiring and I got some from dollar tree and well it was looking CRAAZY!

It was driving me BANANAS!

So this year I decided enough was enough.  

I went to Dollar Tree and found baskets in Red and Blue to go with my Hollywood Theme.  

Check it out!

I love how uniform they look.

I know there are 4 baskets that are different.

Those are leveled by reading level.  

My kiddos are only allowed to these 4 baskets at first while they learn how to keep the library organized.  

After my cleaning crew ensures that they know how to put books back where they belong I open the whole library.  We have a big celebration for the grand opening.  The kiddos love it!

I will blog more on this at a later time.

Here is my behavior clip chart and my class rules.  

I put them on my wardrobe because who wants to look at that wood laminate.  

I love how they came out.

This is my student work board.  

I will be adding clips to the papers and spacing out the red papers once I find out how many kiddos I have this year.  As of right now I only have 16 but last year I had 24 so I had to make sure the papers fit.  

Here is a close up of my board.  I love how that teal pops!  

This is my board behind my reading table.  

I use these constantly throughout the year.  They are my Reading chunks. 

I also got the 3 sounds of ed as a freebie last year from What The Teacher Wants (I think?? If its someone else please let me know so I can link it.)

So that is all I got for you today.  I am going to try to sneak in this week and get my nametags up and my calendar board. 

More pics to come.  

  XOXO

Cindy

Say What?

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I am super duper sorry that I have been so MIA.  I was doing so good too.  I blogged on Sunday and then I blogged on Monday and I thought hey I can do this.  Then on Tuesday I got a call from my hubby.  I normally love these mid-day calls from my hubby because it makes me feel like when we were dating.  LOVE IT!  

This call was not so NICE!

He told me that he has to go out of town for a couple of weeks for work.

All I could say is WHAAAAT??????

What I was thinking was?

Dont you know I have a classroom to get ready!  Doesn't your boss know how hard it is to try to do it with a 5 year old and a 1 year old running around.  It doesn't happen in a day?  AHHHHHHH!

Well after I took a deep breaths I realized that he has no control over his job scheduling.  

So instead I spent the whole week enjoying my family and my hubby.  

Should get back to blogging regularly tomorrow since my hubby will be gone and the well I have no life after the boys are in bed.  Hahahaha!

Oh by the way if you are a psycho of some sort I was just kidding my hubby will be home and so will my big dog!  

Talk to you tomorrow!

P.S.  I am almost at 100 followers on bloglovin.  Thank you so much for following my little ol blog.  Planning a giveaway when I hit 100.  

XOXO

Cindy

Lets Get Acquainted!

Hello Everyone!

I am linking up with Latoya from Flying Into First for her linky party.

This weeks topic is New Advice for Teachers.   I really wish this was around when I started because I really could have used the advice.  I tried to do everything on my own and was afraid to ask questions and my word I practically lived at school!!!! 

So here is my advice: 

Buy: Sparingly

Make sure you only buy the essentials to start the year.  There are so many cute stuff out there that you will literally be broke before you even start the year.  Make sure you get school supplies and book baskets and all things to get your class going but please do not try to make your classroom look like those on Pinterest.  You will get there eventually but for your first year just buy enough for your classroom to run efficiently and be a comfortable place for the kids to learn.  As the year gets going you can add more.  This way you will know what works with your class and what doesn't.  Trust me I spent way too much money my first year making my room super cute and I had to get rid of a lot of stuff because it didn't work once my kiddos were in the room.

Always: Plan Ahead

It is super important to plan ahead.  I always plan at least one week ahead and sometimes I might have to make minor changes according to the pace of the class but at least I know what I am trying to accomplish.  You never know when you are going to need an emergency sub so if you are planned ahead you can just let the school to check your plans and all copies will be there.  Nothing worst than having to come in sick to make sub plans.  

Never: Gossip About Your Students

We all have bad days and sometimes we just want the world to know what this kid has been doing but just remember that this kid is someones baby.  What if it was your kid they were talking about.  You never know when the students or parents are listening.  So instead just keep your negativity to yourself.  I know we all need to vent but wait until a more appropriate time and maybe don't use names.  

Find:  A Friend You Can Co-Plan With

It is super important to know that it is OK to ask for help.  You need help your first year and that is OK.  Make sure you find a teacher that you click with and ask to co-plan with them.  Make sure that you are both contributing because you don't want someone to just come along for a free ride.  You need someone that you can share ideas with.  Sometimes you need that outside opinion to let you know if you are on the right track.  Also, remember that just because you are new it does not mean you don't know anything.  Don't let people convince you that there way is right because that is how things have been done forever but on the same note make sure you listen to peoples advice and make them work for you.  

Make: Time For Yourself

Make sure that you set a schedule for when you are going to be at work and as hard as it may be try to stick to it.  My first year I nearly lived at school.  I was literally the first one there and the last one to go. It was craaaaazy!  My biggest piece of advice is that you are not going to change the world in one day. Tomorrow will be another day and the work will still be there.  Just organize your time during your work day.  Make sure you leave things ready before you leave so that in the morning you aren't stressed.  Make sure you enjoy your lunch time with your co-workers because it is important to have adult conversation.  

Be: Yourself

Teaching is not something you can mimic from someone else.  You have to make it your own.  You need to find what works in your classroom and what you are comfortable with and go with it.  You have to find your teaching style and that might change a million times until you find the right way and let me tell you it is OK.  The first year you are on survival mode and its OK to make mistakes you just have to be true to yourself.

Cindy

Sunday Smorgasbord and a little Freebie

Hello Everyone!

This is my first time linking up with Michelle for her Sunday Smorgasbord linky party!

I love reading everyones posts and I decided to finally join in the fun.  

Be prepared for some randomness and a little freebie.  

I finally made it to school!   I have been putting it off all summer.  

My husband is going out of town soon so he came to school to help me out.  He usually does all the things that I can't do because of my height issue.  Yes people, I am short!  I am only 5'1"

He does all of my high bulletin boards and hanging from the ceiling. 

Definitely a keeper!

We went for an hour on Friday to drop off all the stuff that I have purchased for school.  

It was driving me crazy being stashed in my office since I might have been hiding some purchases from my hubby. Ha!
This is what I walked into.



Of course panic set in!  What have I been thinking I have so much to do! AHHH!
Then my son started running around and I realinzed I have been enjoying my summer and my boys.  I will get to my classroom soon.  I brought tons to do at home.



My boys running around making a mess!


This is my wonderful hubby hanging my new student work board.  I use to put the student work under my board but this year I am going to put their writing portfolios there and their work will go here.  Stay tuned for the finish product.  Here is another sneak peak.


After my family did such an awesome job helping me at school we decided to take the kids to Chuck E. Cheese.  Do you guys ever go there?  I avoid it like the plague.  Ha!  My kiddos are pretty well behaved there but my gosh there are some major meltdowns going on in there.  It does provide for some pretty awesome people watching though.  Look at my little guy on this little ride.  He clapped the whole time it was running.  So Cuuuuute!

I finished new superhero clipart.  Just click on the pic to head on over and check it out.

I also went for a run this morning.  Check out my running buddies.  (ignore the trash can in the pic Ha!)

when I run with them my run isn't very fast but its always an adventure.  Today we got to see this go right above our heads.  It was a big hit with the boys.  

Here are some labels that I am using on my folders.  Remeber I told you I brought a lot home.  Well I am on folder duty this week.  I have to get them done.  Hope you enjoy.  Just click on the pic to grab them.

XOXO

Cindy

Back to School Goodies

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to share with you some of the goodies I have found but before I get to the good stuff I wanted to share a new clipart set.

It includes 24 png beautifully colored images.  It includes the apple cycle, apple pie, Johhny appleseed, and more!  Definitely go check it out!

Since you are all so amazing I decided to offer a little freebie to go along with the apple theme.  Just click on the pic to head on over to get this freebie.  Please leave me some feedback!

Ok so now I have to tell you that the dollar section at Target is slowly making me broke.  Its sad when we walk in and my family drops me off in that area so that I can shop.  My son already knows mommy needs some time in her favorite area. Ha!

I love those dry erase pockets.  I can't wait to use them during reading groups.  I keep stalking the dollar section for more because they keep selling out. UGH!!!! 

I also got some super cute nametags for the first day because I don't know about you but I end up calling the kiddos sweety a lot because I can't remember their name for the life of me.  

I also stalked up on some tin cans because this year I am going to have communal supplies at each table.  Last year each student had a pencil case and they were suppose to keep their scissors, crayons, and pencils in there.  Well most of the year the kids couldn't find their pencils or scissors or they argued because so and so took their pencil and it was just a pain.  So this year they will just keep them in the the bucket at the table and done. 

I also got this really pretty fabric.  The chevron fabric I bought at Hobby Lobby and the other at Joanns. I can't wait to see them up in my room.  I will be going in on Friday so stay tuned!  

Right now my library is pretty organized but I have all kind of different baskets and it was driving me BANANAS!  So I found these baskets at dollar tree and I can't wait to put them in my library.  

I also bought folders! This is just one pile.  

Do you guys buy your own folders or do you have the students bring them in???

I had students bring them in one year and they were all different and I just couldn't handle it.  So I decided to just buy my own.  Why does Target need to put these labels on every folder!!!!!

So I sat and took these labels off while enjoying New Girl on my DVR.  I love that show!  I can't wait to show you the finish product of what I am going to do with these folders.  

Well I am off now to finish revamping up this unit.

If you already purchased it I will be adding a lot more activities and many more countries to learn about.  If you haven't go and check it out by clicking on the pic.  

XOXO

Cindy

Superhero Envy,Clipart, Units, and Freebies!

Hello Everyone!
Before I tell you about my classroom envy let me tell you about my superhero clipart.



I have gotten great feedback from it.  I am currently in the process of adding more superheroes and some backgrounds.  Since I will be adding plenty I will have to raise the price.  It is currently $2 and alot of you have purchased it but there are many of you who have it on their wishlist.  Make sure you take advantage of the price now so that when I update it you get all the new heroes for half the price.  Hurry and do it now by clicking on the pic!  I will wait!

Ok now that your back you may finish reading.

I have a Hollywood themed classroom at the moment but I really really wanted a Superhero themed classroom.  Our school mascot is a Superhero so I thought it would be perfect.  The only problem is that one of my fellow teachers has a superhero theme so I felt kind of weird doing the same.  The more requests that I get to make superhero items the more that I am tempted to take the plunge.

Here is the picture of my coworkers classroom from her door.
(These pics might look familiar since I blogged about them on my old blog.)

I looooove her table signs.  She had one of her room moms do it and they came out great.  I am not always blessed with amazing room moms so I make things.  Here are some superhero classroom decor that may help.  

This is her library! 

 Can you believe how cute this is. 

 This is the reason I am so reluctant to do superhero theme because I have to make it look this cute and that seems like a lot of work.  Ha!

Here is another one of her walls.  She has her math strategies on there.

Maybe next year I will be brave and do it.  

If you are doing a superhero theme here are some things I have done or have gotten requests for:

These are my two different types of ABC lines.  One has a corresponding picture and the other has a speech bubble with a corresponding word. They also come in cursive now thanks to my 3rd grade friends.  

These are Reading/Decoding Strategies.


Here is a daily schedule which is editable for you to add your own schedule to fit your classroom.

Here is a superhero clip chart someone asked me to make.  I added two versions.  One with superhero lingo and the other with a more traditional wording.

Superhero job chart.  It is all editable so that you can add jobs that work for your classroom.

Check our some other Superhero inspirations I have found on Google that are really making it hard for me to stay with my Hollywood theme. (If any of these are your classrooms please let me know so that I can link them back)

If you have requests for a product to fit your superhero theme please let me know.

Here go your freebies just click on the pics:

XOXO

Cindy

Liebster Award!

Hello Everyone!

I have a confession to make.
I am going CRAAAZY!

Well not really but it has been a little crazy around here since last Friday.

My mom's car is not working so I have been driving her around to work and shopping and everything else she needs. Then I have to do all the other regular errands for our house.  My husband also worked the weekend so I haven't had a break.  

Geesh!  

This is the first time I have had a chance to even look at my poor little blog.  

I thought you all forgot about me but to my surprise I received not one but 3 LIEBSTER awards from some fabulous ladies.  This really made me feel so honored!  

Thank you so much Jenna from The Fashionista Teacher, Meghan from First Grade Hugs and High Fives, and Sandy from Kinder-Gardening.   I promise I will sit down soon and finish answering all the questions.  I am done with 2 of them but still need 1 more plus 11 random facts.  I was working on them today but I am exhausted.  I just wanted you to know that I am truly honored to receive this award.  I love blogging and reading all of your blogs.  

Thank you again and stay tuned for my response.  

You guys came up with some really good questions.

XOXO

Cindy