Five for Friday

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for my first ever Five for Friday.

This week we ended our ongoing life cycles unit by finally releasing our butterflies. I say "finally" because our first set of larva (caterpillars) that were sent to my class were all dead and it took us a couple weeks to realize they weren't going to grow into our butterflies. My fellow teacher had the same thing happen, and she contacted the company and more were sent. Anyways, long story short, we got our new ones and within two weeks, bada-bing-bada-boom, we have butterflies. My students thoroughly enjoyed getting to release these beauties into nature. 

On Tuesday of this week, our student council put on a field day for our school. We had a great time participating in stations such as parachute, relay races, face painting, obstacle course, and a movie. Field Day is always a great day because it means the end of the school year is near! 

This year our school held our second annual Walk-A-Thon to raise money for our school. Students who raised certain amounts of money increments earned different levels of prizes. I had two students raise enough money to earn the "Torment Mr. Heath" party. Mr. Heath is our school principal, so I am sure you can imagine the excitement and fun these students had. Here are two pictured someone captured of my two students getting to help with duct taping Mr. Heath to the flag pole and then silly string him with the other kiddos who earned the party. 

So, probably my favorite part of the week is THIS...

What does this mean for me? This means that every kindergarten student that I have next year will have an iPad mini. What else does this mean for me? This means that I will be able to do things in my classroom that I never have been able to. These technological devices are going to provide some learning experiences that you just can't get with textbooks, and I am so proud that our district is moving forward in integrating technology into our classrooms. I. AM. EXCITED!

Our school had an inflatables party for students who had raised over $200. At the end of the day, after students had left the building, us teachers had to have our turn. (Teachers can have fun, too!) I literally don't know what I would do without these girls. They make my job just THAT much better. 

(Notice any familiar faces? That's right! Far right is Jena Hudson from Sew Much Music, then Brittany Banister from Mrs. Banister's Kindergarten Kids, and Liz Wimp from Mrs. Wimp's Firsties. I am far left next to a fellow Kinder teacher in our building, Amy.) 

Wordless Wednesday

I am linking up with Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday. 

I'm working on my end of the year DVD as a gift for all of my students and their families. Here is my questions I wish to ask all of you:

What are you planning to do (or did you do) for your students at the end of the year?

It's a $1 Sale!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend in remembrance of the sacrifices our service men and women make and have made in the past. This weekend is a big weekend here in Indiana because it is also the Indianapolis 500, one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, race of the year for our state. I am joining tons of other other Indiana bloggers to throw a sale until tomorrow evening, and I have picked my favorite classroom items to discount to only $1!

Do you love chevron and chalkboard items as much as I do? I created this adorable number line that features the best of both worlds. It features the numeral, word, tally marks, base ten blocks, and tens frame with counters. Not doing chevron or chalkboard? That is fine, this will fit with almost any color scheme thanks to its many colored number cards. 

This A-Z D'Nealian styled letter banner features the ever so popular chevron and chalkboard and pictures that are aligned with Saxon Phonics. This will supplement any classroom decor and theme, and will help your students as they learn all about letters and sounds. 

Chevron themed numbers. This number line will be showing up in my classroom this year as part of my bird themed classroom, and I am so excited that I am trying to keep myself from putting them up these last nine days of school just because they are so bright and fun! Like the chevron and chalkboard numbers, it features the numeral, word, tally marks, base ten blocks, and tens frames with counters. 

This chevron A-Z D'Nealian number line is also aligned with Saxon Phonics and will also be going into my classroom next year. This year I had five, yes FIVE, days to get my room put together before students came through my door because the position was opened up at the last minute, obviously. That didn't allow time for me to browse options for decor and themes for my classroom, so I went with something I thought I would be able to throw together quickly enough that it would work and be cute. I went with a camping theme. It was great, and I really loved all the cute phrases I could come up with that went with camping and the way to decorate parts of my room, but halfway through the year, I realized, it was a very dull, dark room. Although I have two bright yellow walls, the other two navy blue walls sucked all of the brightness out of the room. Not to mention, my letter and number line, as well as my calendar set, is/was all brown. Perfectly themed and coordinated with everything else, but absolutely not bright and fun like I feel like kindergarten is. It just isn't my personality, and it has to change next year. So back to the letter banner... I created this to help add color and fun to my classroom, and I can't wait to get it hung up. 

If you are at all like me, there may be nine days left of school, but I am already in full on get-everything-ready-for-next-year mode with getting things printed out, laminated, and ready to be hung up. If you are preparing for your next school year and are looking for bright, fun letters and numbers, you should definitely grab yours here while you can for only $1!

Be sure to check out some of the other items that other Indiana bloggers have on sale today and tomorrow only. You can check out the other products by heading over to The Primary Gal's blog. :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Summer Expectations

I am linking up with Deanna Jump to discuss what I am planning for my summer. I have some pretty big expectations, but nonetheless, I am hoping that I can accomplish all that I want to in the short amount of time I have before I receive my new group of kinders.

1. Get some wedding stuff completed. 

So, if you haven't noticed, I have been off my blogging game these past recent weeks and that is all because... I got ENGAGED! Considering I had no indication that an engagement was even coming, you can imagine the craziness that has incurred since. I didn't have any ideas in my mind for a wedding, and I am now in full swing of planning for our wedding July 11, 2015. I realize I have quite some time to plan and get everything together, but considering I stay pretty busy during the school year, I want to get as much of my DIY projects for the wedding completed THIS summer so that I don't have to worry about it when school is in session. I. AM. EXCITED!

2. Creating more for my TPT store. 

I have been thoroughly enjoying creating resources for my TPT store to share with other educators from all over. Most recently, I have been creating digital papers. I am SO excited about all of my packs that I have created, and I have so many ideas written down to work on this summer. I have received so much love for my digital papers, and I love that it allows others to create their own TPT store items with a little bit of flare added to it using my papers. I love helping others out, and I LOVE the idea of others using something I have spent time creating. When I saw the first item on TPT with MY digital papers I literally squealed. It's the little things, people!

3. More time at home with my Max and Alex.

I do not have human children, but my seven month Golden Retriever, Max, is about as close as it can get right now. I brought him home back in December, and pretty much all he has known is that mom and dad are only home at night, and they're too tired to play much. I intend to take many walks outside around our neighborhood as well as trips out to my parents' house in the country for some unleashed fun. As far as Alex goes, during this past school year we basically get the weekends together, even though we live together, quite simply because his work schedule is as crazy as mine. With only one of us working during the summer, I will be able to be home when he comes home for lunch and will be able to be home with him in the mornings that he doesn't go in until later. I am really looking forward to more time with my two favorite boys!

4. FRIENDS, FRIENDS, and more FRIENDS!

Most of my friends that I still keep in contact are all from my college years. This means that they are at least an hour away from me. Finding time during the school year to get together with them is really difficult, and most certainly can be improved. This past school year was the worst for time with my friends, and this summer, I really want to get together with as many of them as possible, especially my girls that will be my bridesmaids!

5. Preparing for my debut as a presenter. 

Our school district puts on a conference as part of the Indiana Department of Education's Summer of eLearning tour called Digipalooza. This year I will presenting for my first time over blogging. I am extremely excited for this opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and to share with others something that I thoroughly enjoy doing, when I have time. 

6. Getting in shape. 

I was doing so well before, and right after, spring break with getting my rear in the gym and eating healthier meals. As the school year wore on, and the extended days began to become taxing on my energy levels, the first thing to go was the gym. With the gym, so did my motivation for eating healthier. To make matters worse, I decided not to train for a fitness competition in October because of our wedding, so my motivation has been null and void. With that being said, this summer will be the summer of sweating for me. 

7. Reading for pleasure.

Every summer I dive deep into a book and read purely just for the enjoyment of it. I tried doing this while out of school for 5,837 snow days this past winter, but was also trying to potty train a puppy among many other things and didn't make it past chapter two. I plan to finish AT LEAST one book. Here are two that I am really wanting to read and finish.

8. R&R.

This school year has certainly been one for the books. The snow days and extended hour days really was just the icing on top of the cake to an already insanely busy (but seriously wonderful) year. This summer, I hope to rest and relax as much as possible so that I am refreshed before beginning my second year of teaching. I love what I do more than words can say, but everyone needs some time away from it, and by away from it I mainly mean away from the classroom. Lord knows that I will probably work tirelessly from home all summer on new ideas and creations because well, I just really like teaching!

9. Learn something new. 

I begin every summer with the intentions of learning something new over the summer. This year is no different. I REALLY want to learn how to quilt with the intentions of making a t-shirt quilt with all of my t-shirts I have accumulated over the years that I just can't seem to part with. 

10. Cook!

I love to cook, but I don't feel like I have much to time to leisurely cook during the week because of work. This summer I am looking forward to being able to wake up and cook a breakfast, a lunch, and a dinner! (This will help with #6.)

Now, head on over to Deanna Jump's blog (Mrs. Jump's Class) to read what she plans to do this summer and check out what other bloggers have planned. 

Teacher Appreciation Week & a Sale!

Have you heard? Teachers Pay Teachers and so many of it's wonderful sellers are throwing a sale on May 6th and May 7th for Teacher Appreciation Week. I will also be throwing a sale in my store! Check out these new items that will be on sale, among all of my other items, in my store the next two days...

To see what these items are all about, click on the following picture to check out full description and their previews on my TPT store. 

Fill up your carts and take advantage of this Teacher Appreciation Week sale. 

Be sure to use the code: TPTXO.