Teacher Appreciation Freebies Roundup

Teacher Appreciation Week may be coming to an end, but the celebration isn't over yet!  Teaching Blog Roundup is teaming up with 20 of the best blogs to host this Teacher Appreciation FREEBIES Roundup blog hop.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I would like to show my appreciation with this great freebie for you.

I had several requests to update my End of Year Awards to a 2013 version. You can find them on TpT!

Just click here to download.

almost 2000 downloads!

the downloads will say 2013 not 2012, I just didn't make new preview images. 

I'm glad you hopped by!  If you are new to my blog and liked what you see, don't forget to follow me!  Now head over to JD's Rockin' Readers to roundup the next FREEBIE!

We Appreciate You!

Freebie Friday

I <3 freebies. I created this little game this week when I noticed several of my firsties were having a difficult time with one more and one less. This is an individual math game and can be used during instruction or math centers. Each student needs one die. They'll roll the die and record the number in the middle column. In the left column they'll write the number that is one less and in the right column they'll write the number that is one more. I also put a number line on the page to help those visual counters. Enjoy, I'm off to download some loot, haha.

Check it out!

Want more freebies?? Check out the blog hop

Technology Tuesday

I must admit I sometimes consider myself a technology glutton. The other night I went to turn off my lamp beside my bed and I saw my smartphone..no biggie. Many people have cell phones and many of those people are smartphone users. Next to my smartphone was my slightly older smart phone...I had it out just streaming Pandora...and I had my iPad and on top of my iPad was my Nook. I just looked at the collection and kinda shook my head. Now, don't get me wrong...this won't disuade me from upgrading my phone come October. (iPhone here I come!)

Shortcuts people, shortcuts.  Teachers type a lot of letters/flyers/emails/newsletters/etc. Here are a few keyboard shortcuts I use regularly (for a PC) And when you're doing these shortcuts don't actually hit the 'plus' sign it just means the two keys at the same time.

There are more but these are the ones I use quite often. When I found the screen capture it blew my socks off. It was really an ah-ha moment for me.

Here are some other tech things I've blogged about.

Wanna join?

Who has two thumbs and is blog hoppin' this week? This girl!

Ummm... a blog hop. Of course I'm in. It doesn't hurt that it gives me some blogging topics. I swear I'm soooo tired. I'm glad I worked on some units this summer.

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' this week. Hop on over & check it out.

Some of my must-haves:
1. My morning caffeine. A few years ago I quit caffeine and then pop...I did really well for a long time. Last year, for some reason, I fell off the caffeine wagon.Oh how I missed the tingly carbonation bubbling over my tongue. Well, now I can't seem to kick the habit.

2. My ceiling projector & writing pad. No...I do not have a document camera or a SmartBoard...sniffle sniffle. I do however have a projector (like an at-home-theater). It's hooked up to my computer and I display whatever is on my computer. It also comes with a writing pad and a OneNote program where I can write and it shows on the screen. It's nice to walk around the room with my writing pad and not have to worry about cords.

3. Pinterest I swear I use this as a teacher search engine

4. Whiteboards Each kid keeps one in their desk. This a great way for me to make sure everyone is actively involved and I can gauge understanding quickly.

5. A good planner This can be any planner. As long as it keeps you organized and on task. I make my own plan pages and found some cute *free* binder downloads to make it look spiffy and add some organizational tabs.

6. Online Gradebook (I swear I was going to stop at 5 things!) Since I've graduated college I haven't used a paper-pencil grade book. Now, I do understand the pros to one. However, I prefer a digital grade book (it's what my district uses but otherwise I'd invest in one). I love so many things about it...especially that it calculates my grades.

What'd you get?

I did some shopping this weekend. The variety was awesome, there were no lines, and service was great. And I even shopping in my jammies. Don't worry, I wasn't in public, I was on TpT.

This is a great linky to share some great finds. I think that by reading all the other posts I may have filled up my wishlist again.

Here are my finds! (click on any of the pictures to see their blog entry explaining what they are)

I cannot wait to do newspaper pots and grow plants in the spring!!

I'm not a huge fan of winter...but I am of cocoa. How cute will this look when there are flurries outside?!

Any number bond practice pages that I don't have to create are good in my book.

Another goodie I won't be able to use until next semester...but stoked for math centers I can tier.

This is probably the gem of my shopping cart.(it saves me a construction paper mess!)
 So excited to start using this.

Did you do some shopping this weekend? Head on over to Blog Hoppin' and link up!

Jitters: Blog Hop

This is a fantastic Blog Hop. It's fantastic because a few weeks ago I had my first scary back to school dream. Each summer I have a dream about my future class. In this class there is always that one kid that won't listen...no matter what. There's no consequence or reward great enough to get this child to listen to me. In the dream I stay calm and I try and try...but nothing works. Luckily, though I've had some definite challenges, this kid is still fictional to me.

Well, Ashley over at Fierce in Fourth has a blog hop over Jitters! This also goes perfectly with the book

3 Things that I'm jittery about:
1. I want to implement Daily 5 into my classroom. Due to when I started teaching I saw parts of Four Block and Six-Traits...but never fully implemented them into what I did. I also learn by observing...so I have the Daily 5 book but I really wish I could see it in practice. I'm going to read the book and we'll see what happens. #Jittery

2. My kiddos. I'm always nervous about the first day of school...I guess kinda like one of the kids. I also plan a lot but am worried about keeping them engaged on the first day. #ALittleJittery

3. Open House! Like I mentioned in another post...I think...my school is doing an Open House/Meet the Teacher night the night before school!!! I'm excited about this but not only will I be meeting 20 firsties (many for the first time) but I'll be meeting their parents, too. Normally we do an Open House a few weeks after school starts and I've had a little time to get to know the kiddos and I can greet them when they walk in THEN I talk to their parents. #QuiteJittery

What are your Jitters??

Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop

I saw this amazing blog hop about newbie bloggers and I knew this was meant for me to join.

 

1.What state are you in? I live in (central) Indiana. I have found a few other (fabulous) bloggers from my state. :) 

2. your current teaching position I have taught 2nd and 1st grade. I am currently about to start my 5th year (wow) in first. I never ever say myself teaching this young of a group. When I signed up for student teaching I wanted 5th..or 4th..or 3rd. I got assigned to 3rd and I was a bit discouraged but I had the best mentor teacher ever. When it was time to job hunt I was eventually given the opportunity to teach first and I jumped on the opportunity. I am so glad I did. I love it. 

3. your teaching experience Oh...seems like I kinda answered this one in the last question....

1/2year 2nd grade

1yr first grade

1yr second grade

3yrs first grade 

4. when you started blogging  March 2012

5. share a blogging tip/resource

Get the blogger app. (available in iTunes or the Droid app store)

I hardly ever use my digital camera any more so I find myself using the camera on my phone. It's a pretty good camera and the best thing is it's pretty much always with me. I don't really like syncing my phone via usb to my computer nor do I like emailing photos to myself all the time. I use the blogger app to upload photos that I want to include in my blog but I don't always publish from the app. I'll click save that way when I'm on my laptop I can write my blog post and include the photos.  

I'd like to thank Grade Three is the Place for Me! for hosting this blog hop. Awesome!!!