A Camping We Will GO!

Let me just start off by saying this...I have NO, None, Zippo desire to go camping. I hate bugs, humidity, not having electricity--pretty much everything that describes camping. I'm more of a "glamping" kind of person! So I was definitely excited to be camping inside the classroom last week!

 

To start things out, I bought myself this little packet {here}. If you haven't check it out, you should. Definitely a GREAT resource to have for the end of the year!

 

Since I have never been camping, I let the kiddos brainstorm what they thought they would need to go camping and some things they might do on a camping trip.

 

 

We made our camp nametags so that we would have a place to put the badges we earned along the way.

 

 

We talked about First Aid and different ways they may get hurt this summer.

 

Just in case they did get hurt with a little boo-boo here or there, we put together their very own First Aid Kit! {They LOVED this project}

 

 

Once Friday got here, we had our full fledged indoor campout! We built a fire (with our campfire rules we learned) and we set out to read with our pillows, blankets, and flashlights.

 

Our favorite part (mine included!) was definitely making s'mores! It was SO hilarious watching the kids eat these in their messy glory! I secretly think they were having a contest to see who could get the messiest face! After cleaning up, we wrote our last how-to paper for the year!

 I may just use the leftovers for my desserts after dinner this week...wait, I already did that last night! Oh well!

Currently in June

Can you believe it? A summer month is finally here and it even feels like summer already here in Texas! Can I get a *Hallelujah* {Even though we still have 4 more days}. As always, I'm linking up with Farley for her currently linky party...and you should too!

 

 

Listening: I always leave everything to do until the weekends (chores wise that is). So hence why I am listening to the washer and dryer!

 

Loving: Don't get me wrong...we have some amazing teachers at my school but the past 2 years I really haven't "connected" with anyone on a deep personal level. You know those teacher relationships you just couldn't do without? Yeah, I've been longing for one and I think my prayers have been answered. There are 2 new hires who are around my age and in the same stage of life where I am and I couldn't be more excited to get to know them!

 

Thinking: Last weekend, I was sick. I thought it had completely disappeared until this morning I woke up with a swollen feeling throat. Made my husband look at it and it wasn't good news. Our awards are tomorrow, so I have my fingers crossed that I will be better tomorrow and still have a voice!

 

Wanting: We went on a camping adventure this week in class and Friday we made s'mores. Of course, I've had them before, but I had no idea (or at least I didn't remember) they were that good! I brought the leftovers home and have been craving another ever since!

 

Needing: Refer back to listening....

 

3 Vacay Essentials: 1. Beach--I love to visit tropical places and just relax in the sun on a lounge chair listening to the waves crash...ahhh!  2. Alcohol--what is a vacation without a few adult beverages while you are on the beach!?  3. Good company--I think it is always much more fun to go on vacation with other people as it brings lots of memories to talk about for years!

 

This post made me realize just how excited I am about being on summer vacation in 4 days!!!!! Hope you are enjoying your countdown for those of you still in school and for those of you who are already off...lucky you!

 

 

 

 

Are You a Winner??

THANK YOU, Thank You, thank you to everyone who entered our giveaway! Ashley and myself had SO much fun putting this together and we hope you had just as much fun participating!

 

Here are the 12 *lucky* winners: drumroll please.....

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

CONGRATS Winners!

 

Ashley or myself will be emailing you shortly with your beloved prize!

 

A B-I-G shoutout for those who donated a product. Without you, this definitely wouldn't have been as successful as it was!

 

*Planner HEAVEN*

I confess...I love to be organized. There is nothing greater than walking into any space and seeing it's nice and tidy greatness! Having everything just where it is supposed to be brings me great joy. That is probably why I love planners. The last few years, I would take myself to Office Depot to search for the "just right" planner. This is NO longer the case.

I've been hearing so much "chatter" about the amazing Erin Condren planners and OH-MY-WORD! She is one genius lady y'all! Mine arrived yesterday in this pretty little package {I knew it would be good if the packaging was such a beauty}.

There is everything you could ever think of in this thing!!! Who doesn't love to have everything safe and secure in ONE place?

Here's the layout of each month (you get to fill in the dates, they are blank).

There is a place to write down your lesson plans by the day/subject/week. Score!

There are extra places to keep a list of classroom volunteers/parents contact information and a substitute page {which I could never part with mine so there will be no sub using it, ha}.

There is a absentee log to record when students are absent.

And this is only the beginning of the greatness of my new little friend. I am elated and sharing the news with my teammates {as of walking in the door this morning}and had to share with my great bloggy friends also.

If you visit Erin Condren's website before the month of May is over, you can get 25% off your purchase using the code: weloveteachers.

Trust me. It's worth it!

A Double Dose of 150 Followers {GIVEAWAY}!!!

 It is finally here! The 150 follower giveaway has arrived! I hope you are as stinkin' excited as I am! As a token of our appreciation to our amazing followers, Ashley from Flying High in First Grade and I are hosting a double dose of 150 followers giveaway.

Check out all of these amazing contributors! Click on all of the following links to follow all of us and then enter the rafflecopter at the bottom. The giveaway will end next Friday, May 31. And if you share about this giveaway in a post or on pinterest, you can earn another entry!

All of the items donated have a "Back to School" theme or are lessons that you can teach at the beginning of the year. There's are even some great classroom management bundles and classroom decor! Since most of us are thinking about next year any ways, why don't we hook y'all up for next year?

Flying High in First Grade

 Blog

TpT Store

For the Love of First Grade

Blog

TpT Store

The First Grade Parade

Blog

TpT Store

Teacher Idea Factory

Blog

TpT Store

Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

Blog

TpT Store

Step into Second Grade

Blog

TpT Store

Queen of the First Grade Jungle

Blog

TpT Store

 Smitten with First

Blog

TpT Store

Mrs. Richardson's Class

Blog

TpT Store

First Grade Fairytales

Blog

TpT Store

Just Reed!

Blog

TpT Store

Keeping Up with the Kindergarteners

Blog

TpT Store

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There will be 12, yes 12 winners! So you better enter because you have a good chance of winning. Good luck!



Printable Anchor Charts are HERE!

I am uber-obsessed with anchor charts y'all! I love to have things hanging around my room that I use to teach with and that the kids are able to refer back to. You may remember seeing these babies a few weeks back after I finished making my own collection...yes, slaving with the pencils, crayons, and markers making them just perfect.  

 

 

I swore to you I would turn them into easy to use, printable anchor charts for your classroom and.....WALAH!

 

 

Your wish is my command!

This packet includes anchor charts for the following 6 grammar concepts:

*Nouns

*Verbs

*Adjectives

*Adverbs

*Prepositions

*Pronouns

 

I've made it pretty simple folks. If your printer is plugged in and your computer is on, all you have to do is click, print, and laminate!

 It's up in my TpT store and I'm putting them on sale for 20% off tonight and tomorrow.

 

 

Cheers to the End of the Year {Gifts and Such}

As I was planning today, I realized how little time I have left with my firsties. What teacher wouldn't be excited...AND...sad at the same time!? This is so me right now. I have an amazing group of kiddos (I'm fixing to brag) with little to zero discipline problems, yes I have been blessed this year! Thinking about putting their end of year gifts makes me sad to see such a great group of kids leave.

 

Last week, we began the "end of year venture" by beginning our process of making our gifts to each other. I have all the kids bring a new, clean, white pillow case. A mom comes up to help, and each kid gets to put their hand print on all his/her classmate's pillowcases and adds their signature underneath. I also print out a cutesy poem and iron it on.

 

They turn out oh so precious and the kids absolutely go ga-ga over them! I roll them up when dried, tie on a name tag with ribbon, and hand it to them with their award. It turns out to look like a diploma when all wrapped up. Definitely darling as can be!

 

I also purchase swirly straws (Walmart: 97 cents for pack of 6) and small kool-aid packets. I slip the packet and tag with the saying "Have a totally kool summer!" into the straw for a quick and simple addition to the pillowcase and their award.

 

I always have some special parents who help out with almost everything throughout the year. I also like to get them a little something to show them my appreciation.

 

  I purchase a bottle of hand soap from Bath and Body Works (they normally have some type of deal like 5 for $15). I wrap them up in shrink wrap, print out a tag with the saying "Thank you for your helping hands!" and tie it on with a cute ribbon.

 

Here is my end of the year gift pile, all complete. Feels so good! Now...onto that summer countdown!