Long Overdue...

I know, this is long overdue!

 

I can't seem to keep up with this blog lifestyle!

I'm still dealing with a back I pulled on the last day of school last year...plantar fasciitis, and now thyroid problems! Yikes---getting old is definitely NOT fun. (*turning 47 this year).

 

Plus, I was out sick the ENTIRE last week in December...

which means I missed--

our school Christmas Program,

finishing our awesome Christmas Traditions Unit,

our classroom performance of the 23rd Psalm for Chapel,

and our Christmas Party!!!!!

I was beside myself...and just had to *let it all go!

 

Now, we've missed 2 1/2 days for snow that was supposed to be only flurries! Penguin Presentations and Party postponed until Monday!

 

What a year!

 

Well, onto some uplifting news.

We are starting our biggest unit next week, my very favorite --our USA unit. It is a 4MATted unit (look up Bernice McCarthy and 4MAT) I created on the study of Symbols-of Self, School, Church, City, State...and mostly, Country. It lasts 6 weeks and concludes with a marvelous program for parents, friends, and neighbors.

 

These are 1/2 the characters--both first grades participate in this program.

 

I've also been trying to get some more products listed on my TpT store. Head over and check out my penguin products!

 

Whew...feeling overwhelmed!

Well, I figured I'd better get a post on here!

I've been *treading water with my class this year! They are a real handful and not at all as embracing of WBT as last year's class! (*miss them)

 

I've got nobody but myself to blame, though!

I have to get myself energized...but my energy level is pretty much on empty.

 

On the last day of school last May, I pulled my back taking pictures for our Memory Books. What's worse...when I went to upload the pictures, I hadn't put my memory card back in after uploading our End of the Year Beach Party photos...UGH!!! So that is still bothering me...

 

Then, to beat all things...I started having some major foot pain towards the middle of July. By the time school had started, I realized it was Plantar Fasciitis. Yeah for me! I've since ordered one expensive pair of Orthoheel shoes. (But at least they're cute!)

 

I'm making it a goal to put on a smile, jazz up my energy output...and tackle this tough class!

Challenging...oh yeah!

Can I do it???

You bet!

 

Stay tuned...

School is Just Around the Corner...

I will be going back to school NEXT WEEK!! Yikes...where did the summer go? I'm a little excited, I must admit. I've been so busy getting my Camping Sets ready--I get to update and beautify my own room as well! Please look for updated pictures on my Camping Classroom page soon!

 

My HUGE Classroom Theme kit is up on TpT (see post below). I've also had a request to break apart some of the items into smaller sets, so I'm working on that right now.

 

Today I hope to break my losing streak of not getting in our pool ONCE this entire summer...it's been a soggy one!

 

Enjoy your day!

Sneak Peek! New Camping Products!

I am camping (I know, ironic!) so I can't post my new products until next week...but I've been working on finishing up these two products- 

Camping Calendar Time (ACTIVboard Flipchart)

And my amazingly HUGE Camping Classroom Theme Kit!

I will update with links when they get posted!

Hope everyone is enjoying the remaining days of summer!

Tuesday Tinkering!

I can't believe my summer is almost gone!

We've been getting *drenched* here in our little corner of the world! I haven't even gotten in the pool yet!

 

Next week we are camping--then I have one week to get anything done in my classroom before I officially have to report on August 1. How sad is that!

 

We have Open House (look for a post coming soon on that...)

the night before school starts...OH MY!

 

Well, here are my tinkerings for today!

I created this set of Read the Room labels for my camping classroom and thought some of my fellow Campers might like them as well! They are in my TpT store.

 

 

While I was rummaging through some of my files, I came across a cute little 100th Day Snack Pack Topper I created last year. I made a couple additional options added them to my TpT store as well. They are editable in PowerPoint!

 

 

I've also been dreaming about reorganizing my classroom--which was actually a summer-long project that I haven't begun...yikes!

I DID update my "Camping Classroom" page (at the top of this page--check it out!) and will try to add more pictures when I've finished for this year!

 

Have a great week!

 



Table Organization

 

As many teachers begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, I thought I'd share some tips on organizing tables.

 

I absolutely *love* tables! When I switched classrooms, I had desks for one year and hated it. If you are a table person, here are some ideas for you!

 

 

I color code my table groups. Look carefully and you can see the colored TENT signs hanging above each "campsite," as we refer to our groups in our room.

 

The bins you see on the tables in the picture above (and the trays in the title picture) are from Oriental Trading. I also have a class set of scissors in the same colors. I found plastic cups in 4 of the colors (plus 2 clear) at WalMart. We keep pencils in the cup, glue sticks, scissors, erasers, name tags, etc. in the bin. I added the tray after the start of last year. It has worked wonders for keeping up with "work in progress!" Students put their work in the tray and can pull it out to finish when they have time, or when we work on it again.

 

I also can't imagine not having my chair bags! They are amazing and very reasonably priced. This will be my 6th year with them and they are holding up great. I think I had ONE that has gotten torn!

The kids keep their CAMP notebook, journal, and math book in the deep pocket, and their color crayons and markers in the little pockets.

Look them up at www.chairpads.com

 

To help keep clutter and mess to a minimum, every Friday for morning work the kids empty out and clean their chair bags and trays.



VistaPrint!!! Awwww...gotta LOVE it!

I'm too excited to wait...

Gotta post again about my VistaPrint order.

 

Email subscribers should have received an email for free shipping and $50 off orders of $100 or more.

 

LOOK at all the fun things I got:

 

 

I paid $65.13 and got all this:

1 small banner

3 notebooks

1 wraparound mug

2 mouse pads

2 notepads

1 pen

1 keychain

1 set 25 business cards

1 set 25 business card magnets

 

 

Woo Hoo!! I'm so excited!