2 awesome giveaways!

Hey there blogging buddies!

So, two of my new blogging friends, Heather @ Heather's Heart and Stephanie @ Falling Into First  are having amazing giveaways going on right now. Head on over to their blogs to check them out!

Pete the Cat giveaway

100 Follower Giveaway

Both of these ladies are amazing so I think you should high-tail it over there ASAP!!! Have a great night!

Panic Mode!!!

So my co-teacher and  I just found out that since we are a charter school, they want to advertise our school to prospective families. They want to do it by filming a commercial in our classroom tomorrow....after we just spent the day packing up! Looks like we better start taking things back out to make it look camera ready then I need to figure out the most important stuff....what to wear!!!

Wish us luck, I'll keep ya posted!

Kids Draw the Darndest Things...

4 more days! I really can't wait for summer vacation. I need a rest mental and physically.

But first, let's pause for a moment and celebrate my Yankees who are on a roll lately!

On the way to the game...



Gorgeous day at Yankee Stadium


Here's a little something to make you smile if you are ready for vacation like me.
The students were asked to respond to the question "Why would birds visit a bird feeder?" This is the response we got:

I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved this response. Even though it doesn't answer the question, I couldn't stop smiling! I think the best part was that he even drew angry eyebrows!

Simply amazing...kids really do draw the darndest things!

Enjoy your day!!

Product review and easy activity

I was packing & cleaning around the classroom today and I spotted one of my favorite things I just had to share with all my blogging friends. I'd like to start by saying, I am not endorsing this product, it's just something I really like and think you will like too if you organize like me!

I purchased it last fall from Really Good Stuff. It's called the Store More® Wire Works Desktop Secretary and retails for $29.99. For years, I've used plastic organizers and stacking shelves, but nothing has been as good as this. I found that this is very sturdy and is much easier for me to use. Plus I find that it works really well on the side of my u-shaped table.

The file folders were purchased separately (and of course color coordinated with our room). However, regular pocket folders and binders also fit in each section. Underneath, I have my reading and math observation logs to write anecdotal notes as the students are working. I store them here because it's on my u-shaped table. You can also fit a binder or other materials there.

On the side are 3 cups for pencils, pens, and markers. I also keep some scissors in case I need some in small groups. These cups can be placed on either side of the unit.

I absolutely love this as it really helps me stay organized. I recommend it to anyone who is obsessed with organizing their classroom as me.

The second thing I want to share with you is a product I found while wondering the aisles of Target one day. I was trying to get items off a friend's baby registry and stumbled upon these cute little bath toys.I had a little "Ahh!" moment in the middle of Target and I'm pretty sure I might have said something out loud which caused people to stare.

These blocks cost under $5 per set. I divided them up and placed them in plastic containers. The students use them during Literacy Centers sometimes to create sentences. This activity is fun for students who are struggling or soaring in the classroom. They just love picking up the little foam blocks.

         

I hope you are able to try both of these ideas. As I said, I don't get paid to endorse either one of these products. I just like them a lot!

A Busy Weekend of Celebrations!

Wow, what a Saturday!
I spent the day running form one party to another and had a fabulous time doing it!

I started at my friend Jeslyne's Bridal Shower. She's one of my oldest friends and I can't wait to see her marry the love of her life in 2 months. Here are some pics from the shower thrown by her awesome sister:

 We played the game where you make dresses out of toilet paper. I can't believe I've never played this game before. The one I did was on the left...I thought it was pretty dang good!

 The  cake was absolutely gorgeous. I thought it was fake when they first brought it out. It was so perfect...and delicious!

The pièce de résistance was a Cosmo Fountain! This was at the end of the party when it was running low, because I was too excited to have some that I forgot to snap a pic!

After the shower, I ran home to pick up Mr. A so we could go to party #2. I found him fast asleep. Apparently, when I was at the shower, he was busy chopping down more trees in the yard.

The yard is starting to come along. It already looks much bigger! 

Finally, I pulled him off the couch and we headed to our friend's 30th birthday party my BFF Laura was throwing. He was so surprised! She did an amazing job on the center pieces and even hand painted the little baseballs.

And even though I am NOT, I repeat, am NOT a Mets fan, this cake her cousin Maria made was absolutely the most amazing cake I've ever seen. She really is super talented!

Overall, it was an great day filled with lots of fun, family, food, & drinks. 

Hope everyone has a great time celebrating Father's Day today!

New Look & Linky Party!

First, I am super excited to show everyone my newly redesigned blog. I love everything out my blog now...especially my little teaching alter-ego at the top. Isn't she so cute and sassy??!! LOVE IT!

Feel free to grab my button and add it to your blog, let me know and I'll add yours to mine!

Second, I found an amazing blog called Falling Into First. It has some awesome ideas and I just love her organization. You can check her page out here:

Falling Into First

Then, when I was on this super site I saw she was having a linky party, so I joined in!

The question is What is my educational must do for this summer?

Now comes the hard part, what is the ONE this I really want to do this summer? Seeing as I have like a thousand pins and about 800 of them are for teaching, this is going to be tough. But I think I'm going to go with this Focus Wall for Envisions Math:

http://k6math.rusd.k12.ca.us/focus_wall_pics.htm

I pinned it vis Cheryl Saoud @ Primary Graffiti. Unfortunately, I can't figure out where the printables and things are. I'm thinking I might just make a whole set myself. Hmmmm....future TPT project???!!

Anyway, I'm super excited to try this out. It's one of 37 projects I have planned for the summer. 

sitting at my desk

7 more days and boy am I ready for vacation! I already made some cute little gifts for my co-teacher and the girls I was mentoring this year. I'll post them next week after I give them their gifts in case they are snooping around my blog (cough cough Dalyn!).

It's just about time to start packing up my classroom. Probably my least favorite thing to do since I have so much STUFF. I was sitting at my desk and noticed my organizer. I made it from a tool box I bought at Lowe's.

Don't you love it? The colors go perfectly with the classroom. I definitely want to add more colors like this to our room next year. It's very peaceful. Plus, I added some bees and flowers which help incorporate out bee theme without being too cartoonish.

If you want to make one like this here is what you need:

• Lowe's organizer (for nails and hardware)
• cardstock/scrap paper (mine was adhesive so I didn't need glue)
• hot glue gun*
• clear labels
• 3D stickers

Once you have your supplies, it's super easy.

1. Cut strip of cardstock to size of each drawer.
2. Stick cardstock to drawers.
3. Print labels.
4. Add stickers.
5. Fill with all your fun stuff!

Told ya it was easy! Good luck making one for your classroom. If you do, send me a pic!

Oh, one more thing. The other day I posted some pictures of our backyard before we started to cut down trees and stuff. Well, I came home yesterday to this:

The bf took out all the hedges with a chainsaw! I have to say, the yard looks SOOO much bigger now. Plus it will a lot easier to paint the house. We are debating whether to add river rocks or mulch to the area once we dig up the roots. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Hope you all have a great day!