My Favorite Things Blog Hop & Giveaway

Today we are throwing  a big, humongous bash to celebrate YOU!

Last year we blogged about our favorite non-school related things, this year we have decided that we will share with you our favorite school things! So here we go:

My new favorite find is there great website www.readingbear.org. It is a phonics and vocabulary plethora! There are so many phonic rules which are introduced to students in a very effective way. The word that the child reads, is then presented to the child with a real image for them to see and process. It is a great tool for allowing children a real world connection. An amazing resource for children learning English. There are no games, or badges, or stickers to earn. Just a wonderful approach to learning.

This organizational tip goes hand in hand with guided reading or word work. I love to store my magnetic letters on a cookie sheet. I used a sharpie (a paint pen works better) to mark where each letter goes. Super quick and easy and they stack right up. My kiddos LOVE these! Do you see the way that I have the alphabet in each row? The f, l, s, z are the double letters, or bonus letters and that is why we should divide up the alphabet this way! I just found this out  awhile ago and had an aha moment!

Look what I am making as a parent gift with my kiddos this year! I love this little guy! So easy and fun! You can check out the 5 simple steps to assemble him along with the materials you will need by reading my blog post found here http://bit.ly/1IDTGlK.

Once again we want to treat you all to our favorite things!!! Check out these great prizes!
















Enter the Rafflecopter to win this prizes!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Come and visit my other teacher friends' blogs for their favorite websites, organization tips and much more!

An InLinkz Link-up

Link to link up http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=585883

Pinterest Pick 3 December

How cute are these melting snowman cookies? The recipe from somewhatsimple.com calls for cookie icing for the melting snow that is spread onto of the cookie. I had to look up how to make cookie icing - I had no idea even it you buy it or make it! You make it and it seems simple enough. The recipe calls for 1 cup powdered sugar, 2-3 teaspoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla. I can do that. I would also just use the place and back sugar cookies to make things easier of me!

I want to make these so bad! I think they are so cool! I found this pin from hello homebody.com and the directions seem easy enough. Just have to use metal cookie cutters for the shape and watch them in a 350 degree oven for 3-6 minutes. Reminds me of shrinky dinks! Love!

I found these sweet ornaments on somewhatsimple.com. I feel like I have TONS of pretty ribbon hanging around and now I have a use for it!

Click on the pictures open to head to the website for more information on these great December Pinterest finds! 

Check out other great blogs for more great links!

An InLinkz Link-up

I Teach First Linky Party

Welcome! I have teamed up with a great group of first grade teachers to bring you the first I TEACH FIRST link party! Each month, we will bring you super ideas, tips, and resources for your classroom! 

I made a sock snowman with my sweet little girl in first grade. I took a half day and rushed to her school to be a part of this great craft that teacher had the class do together with a special person. That was 2 years ago and I always told myself that I would make it with my class “ one day”. We still have the sock snowman we made and he is part of our holiday decorations each year. I FINALLY found the time and the resources to do! I have seen them before online but haven’t seen directions or a “how to”. I hope the 5 steps below are easy enough to inspire you to make this sock snowman with your class. It is a great parent/child activity for the holiday season :) 

Do you see the spider web bag of white stuff? I grabbed a ton of them after Halloween for just 19 cents. They work just as well as the poly-fil so if you have bags hanging around...

Here is breakdown of the cost for the project:

Socks - Walmart - Pack of 10 = $7.97

Rice - 5 lb bag - Walmart - $1.97 x 2 = $3.94

Poly-Fil 1lb Bag - Walmart = $8.97

COST PER STUDENT = $1

I did not add in the price of the felt because you may already have some. You can use an old shirt or other material for the scarf. I’m also sure you have goggly eyes, buttons, pompoms and other cute stuff in a plastic bin in your classroom. Use what you have. I’m sure you have it!
Oh, and Elmer’s glue in the bottle works just fine to get everything to stick!

Be sure to check out other great ideas and tips from the great first grade I Teach bloggers below!

An InLinkz Link-up

Pinterest Pick 3 - November

I love this little guy! The directions from http://afaithfulattempt.blogspot.com/search/label/Thanksgiving are amazing. There is even a video on how to fold the legs in that super accordion style. It is not just back and forth back and forth. I also like how the coffee filter is scalloped with scissors before the kiddos use markers to color it (spray with water from a spray bottle afterwards and let dry). Check out the directions by clicking on the link above.

OMG! I am so glad that I found this on pinterest! It is from Mrs. Lowe’s Kindergarten. I am going to laminate it and use it from year to year. A perfect way to highlight Veteran’s Day!

I love this treat! I made these last year and brought them to Thanksgiving at my sisters. The kiddos LOVED them! Super easy to make too! Buy the candy corn on sale after Halloween!

Check out other great pinterest link ups below!

See you next month for another fabulous link up!

An InLinkz Link-up

Introducing the New Purple Power Sharpener!

Hello friends! I have exciting news for you! The absolute best sharpener in the world is now available in a new and awesome color - PURPLE!!!! Yes! Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpeners asked for you to vote on which color you wanted to see made into a sharpener and PURPLE won! This new color - POPULAR PURPLE - is available today, October 26th!

I love this company! Why? Because this pencil sharpener was designed by a teacher. They donate $ from each sale to help build a school in a developing country. All orders receive free shipping. Need I say more? This sharpener will make your mouth water!

I know I said this is the best pencil sharpener and I will stand by that! Here are the top 3 reasons why I love this sharpener!

And when I say novelty, I really mean cheap pencils. The birthday pencils, the ones from dollar tree, the ones with the plastic shrink wrap of dinosaurs or hearts. The ones that NEVER sharpen, ever! Well dig them out, because they will achieve greatest and you will be amazed!

And, when I say the colors....check out the deliciousness below!

Below are the four steps you need to implement in order to get the hang of using this sharpener. You just don’t stick the pencil in and turn the handle. There is an art to it! Check out the steps below! Once you do it one time - you will get it down and won’t forget!

Click on the image below to head of to 

www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com 

to check out the newest color, purple!

Happy Fall Y’All Blog Hop

Happy Fall Y’All! I am so excited to have linked up with Mrs. D’s Corner to bring you this great Fall inspired blog hop! And of course, I’ve included a “Fall” themed freebie for you! But first, take a look at some of my Fall favorites below!

Up first, here is what I am reading both in my classroom and at home this Fall. I love the book Awesome Autumn by Bruce Colestone. The pictures are actual photographs which captures the crisp feeling of the season. 

At home, I WILL be reading (looking at certain chapters, taking notes on) this fabulous book, The Reading Strategies Book, which offers ways to strengthen guided reading by providing ideas organized by each guided reading level. LOVE IT!

Here is what I’ll be wearing this Fall. Have you seen these NEW jean leggings from the Gap? They have an elastic waist and pockets in the back. They are very slimming and COMFORTABLE!! Perfect with a pair of boots or my Tieks! And on the weekend, I will be pulling out my fav Fall jacket - my good ole’ North Face. Comfy, cozy, and warm. I feel young in this jacket. Like a college kid again. Haha!

And, here is what I am making. Pulling out the “classroom” crock pot from the closet and making a sweet smelling batch of applesauce for my firsties. We write a how to and list the steps for making this delicious fall treat. I do the cutting of the apples but my friends get to stir it during the day. So very exciting! And the smell it emits brings classes far and wide to our door. I try to get all my kiddos to at least try it! Some ask for seconds and thirds. The pot is always scraped clean!
And at home, my favorite Fall meal because it is so easy and is ready when I get home from work AND because I can smell the goodness as soon as I open my front door - crock pot beef stew. I don’t really have a recipe for it. I just put in beef cubes, celery, carrots, potatoes and a seasoning pack from McCormick. Yum Yum!

And now, what you have been waiting for....your Fall Freebie! Here is a Fall emergent reader, “What Do you See in the Fall?”  This cute little reader is perfect for guided reading or whole group. It reinforces the sight words I and see, and in and uses color words to describe each item which of course is supported by a picture. I hope you and your class enjoy it!

Continue on your way by checking out how Crystal at The Balanced Teacher celebrates Fall!