Just a quick Sneak Peek...a bit of a Classroom Reveal

It has been almost a month...I know...no excuse other than I felt I had to cut back on my computer time...so my blog was the one to go.  But I just HAD to share how my classroom is shaping up!  I'm not done...at all. I have a million things I still want to finish...but here's a look at some of the beginning work.  These pictures show it in varying stages of completion!

One of my first jobs--covering my bulletin boards with paper...covered that bookshelf with contact and duck tape...put up vinyl owl clings around the room...and made my deco-mesh wreath.

Next I put up my alphabet line--this is from my TPT store.  I hole punched them and connected them with mini colored brads.

I also covered my cardboard divider with black butcher paper and chevron duck tape.  I use this divider to make the computers NOT visible--otherwise they are too distracting.

I hung up my behavior clip chart, and made tiny clothespins for each student...

I made the magnets for my lunch/milk count boards.

I added the multi-colored background paper to my LONG bulletin board...though I still have not put words on it!

I started (but never finished) my calendar board...

Even though I spent WEEKS making my owl schedule cards...I ended up using my same ones from last year out of pure laziness...My schedule hasn't been made yet, so these are just stuck on here...also notice my owls by my clock!

I started my bulletin boards--I've done my birthday board, job board, and library/prayer board...close ups to come another day!

Notice I put my name tags on the FRONT of my desks--saves on the life of them!

You can't totally see it, but I jazzed up my mailboxes with some neon colored duck tape--my daughter's are in love with it!

And finally...

My door--these little owls took me two whole days--not going to lie.  I used my Tiny Hoots clip art to make an outline template...that printed, cut, and glued all the pars together!  My background paper is a special wrapping paper I found at TJ Maxx...and I am HOOKED!   This will be my door paper until eternity if I can continue to find it!  It was the perfect size--no trimming the edges, and it was paperless paper...made of stone.  It feels, cuts, and lays AMAZINGLY!

When I finish, I will take more detailed shots, these are just my hubby-pics.  Whenever I am at school working, I snap pics of what I worked on so I can show him when I get home!  :)

A Horse of a Different Color...

It took me nearly ALL day...but I did it.  I created my very first CRAFTIVITY!!!  (Confetti...trumpet blasts)  Well, let me modify that...over 14 years of teaching I have made TONS of my own craftivities.  But you know how it works...folding, cutting, checking, re-cutting, tweaking...until finally you had a usable template for your students to use.  And then, three days later--you throw the pattern in the recycle bin thinking, "I'll just remake that the next time I want to do this activity."  The End.  (True Story.)

So this is the first time I intentionally got it formally and permanently right.  To easily be retrieved at any point and time...and even better than that...to put in my TPT store!

I call it...."A Horse of a Different Color"...

Aren't they SUPER cute!  Payton made the first one, Claire made the middle one, and I made the last one.  I LOVE having my kids test them out for me.  And Claire is five--and she was able to cut and glue the horse together--that is always reassuring to see!

Here's a closer look:

I had intended to just use bright colored paper--however the only thing I could find lying around the house was scrapbook paper--and I discovered that it really kicks the fun value up a notch!

Do you often feel that your students are truly a "horse of a different color"...well, then this is the activity for you! Let's celebrate their uniqueness! 

Simply print out the template pieces--let them pick their combinations--cut and assemble following the step-by-step directions!

Then, using the sheets given, students can add their own "Horse of a Different Color" poem. My age guidelines are as follows (but can certainly be modified by you):

Preschool/Kindergarten: Poem simply needs them to add in their own name in two places.

Claire wanted to write her name on her poem right away...

Kindergarten/First Grade: Poem first has a sheet for them to practice/review writing their color words, then the poem is filled in by linking color words to describe emotions they feel.

Second/Third Grade: Poem has a sheet of prewriting to fill in describing themselves. Then the student uses their answers to fill in their poem sheet.

I really had a ton of fun created this product, and I can't WAIT to start my next one.  You can click on any of the pictures to swing over to my TPT store and check it out for yourself!

Two more things before I go...

FIRST--I have actually started printed and making tangible things for my OWN classroom!  It just occurred to me the other day that I was spending so my time working on my blog and my store, that not much has been making it to my own "done" pile.  So I finally dove in:

I printed and laminated my new months of the year, name tags for their desks, and their reward punch cards (remember, the punch cards are still a freebie in my store)!  And if you are SUPER observant and smart--you may notice that the name on these items above me is none other than Payton Roth...my daughter!  That's right, folks, I get to teach my own daughter next year--how COOL is that?  I am SOOOOO....excited...so is SHE!

Second thing to mention:  Tomorrow my bestie and I have a BIG shopping trip planned to Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Good Will, and the Dollar Tree...I can't WAIT...more about that tomorrow--I hope!

Hay, Heat, and a Whole-Lot of NOTHING...

I know, I know...naughty me has been negligent for DAYS on blogging...I'm aware...I'm sorry.  I do have an excuse...it's a little something called...FARMING.  Now, as some of you know, I live on a farm.  Does this make me a farmer?  Not really.  My husband is.  I am a teacher!  HOWEVER...during haying season life gets a little...hectic?  Everything shifts into a faster gear--schedules are thrown off...my days are a blur of throwing together quick bites of food for my family between baling and unloading...gallons of lemonade are prepared and served to those involved.  I unload--that's about it.  But life just "feels" different for us...and I LOVE it when it is happening...and LOVE it when it's over!  Either way, I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to raise my children on a farm--because trust me, there is NO better place for them to be.  I am constantly in awe of how lucky I am.  Here's a few pics of my week:

Claire up on the round bales...

Did I also mentioned we were in the pool...A LOT!

Carter heading off to help his daddy unload...

In between all that, I have been working on school stuff.  Yesterday I did upload a few different designs of a Back to School poem.  Just like my End-of -the-Year poems, these will be cut out, laminated, and placed on the fronts of a bag--this time my Open House bags which will be sitting on their desks.  Here's an example of  one...it's purposefully a bit blurry--obviously the purchased ones will be clear!  :)

There are different styles, and I will continue to add more as Back to School time approaches!  And that about sums things up...OOOoo...also...I've been working on a new clip art set...Cute Critters:

More to come there!  Enjoy your day...mine looks a little hazy, so we'll see what we can get done!

Happy Birthday, America!

Well, as a birthday tribute to our great nation...I have assembled a Birthday Balloon Decor Pack--free for you to download through the 4th only--so don't wait!  Last year I went with the Birthday Balloons from http://onceuponafirstgradeadventure.blogspot.com/.  You can see them in one of my earlier posts HERE.  And I loved them.  I made them up before school started, and never had to think about it again!  Who doesn't like simple?!

Well, I wanted to make new ones this year to match my decor...so I started designing a bunch of different ones...hence this pack!  My plan for this year...is to find a place in my classroom to do the gift bags I've been seeing on Pinterest...like these:

or smaller bags like this: 

Then I will put the smaller labels that I made for this pack on each bag.  I will use the large label on a cup/can/container that I will place all the Birthday Balloons in.  THEN...at our Open House, I will have each student choose the Birthday Balloon they want, and they will place it in the proper gift bag--so it is all ready for them when their birthday rolls around!  Birthdays made simple! 

Here are some pics of the Birthday Balloon sets included in this pack:

This pack will only be free through the end of July 4th--so don't wait to download it!  Click any of the preview pics above to download!  Please share the love and drop me a comment at TPT when you download--we teachers need to support each other!  :)  Happy Fourth Everyone!

iRead...therefore I'm CRAZY...

Okay, have you seen this on Pinterest? (btw...I couldn't find the original creator...)

Well...me being me saw this and thought..."Hmmm...there MUST be an easier way then cutting out that pattern by hand"...sooo...I sat down at my computer and made up a full-page iPod template...in 13 different colors, that had a 4x6 inch screen to place a picture.  I also made one in white, so I could always print them off on colored cardstock, if I wanted to conserve ink!  Keep in mind the wheel will also be colored then, but I printed out a sample, and it still looked great!

Then I thought...let's make a skinny template, too, that would work better for maybe...a door dec?  So I made another set with a 4x4 inch window.  

AND...as long as I was doing that...why not turn them all into clip art?  And once I made them all with a white screen I figured...why not gray and transparent?  Soo...78 clip art files later...I decided I had to be done!  I actually abandoned this project this morning...to start a Birthday freebie in honor of the Fourth of July...BUT I forced myself to finish this before I went to bed...so here it is!  My preview sheet simply showcases the colors using the clip art--but the PDF files that are also included are full page images:

You can click on the preview picture above to check out this pack in my TPT store...

ALSO...don't forget to keep checking back the next few days for my birthday Fourth Freebie--it won't be a freebie forever, so you don't want to miss it!  

Introducing..."Feathered Friends"...

So, a quick post before I head to bed...I've been working on a couple of different projects right now, and one of them is my new "Feather Friends" Classroom Decor pack.  This pack has super-sweet clip art of owls, birds, and tulips, and its color scheme is turquoise, coral, yellow, and pink.  I started out with deskplates and then moved on to Bible verse posters.  I realize these won't be for everyone, but as a Catholic school teacher, I am always looking for cute decor that shares the faith.  After they were done and I printed them out, I actually decided I'm going to frame a few and hang them in Payton's new room when big-sister Rachel leaves for college!  Here's a quick glimpse at what I have so far--keep checking my store for other additions--there will be more for both public school teachers, as well as us private school teachers!

Click on any of the pictures to see them in my TPT store!  My 20% off sale is still going on if you hurry!

TPT Sale!

Just want to let everyone know that I'm running a 20% off sale in my TPT store for the next few days!  Please check it out right HERE!

Also--Don't forget to click my Bloglovin' button on the right hand side of this page to follow me, as things are a'changing around Blogger...thank you Google for confusing me, when I finally thought I got this blogging thing down pat!  (And, yes, my friends, that was sarcasm...)

Parties, Pinterest, Promises of Wine, & Paragraphs

Whew!  That's a lot to tackle, but here goes:

Today Claire had not one, but TWO birthday parties...her morning started off rough...she was a wee bit sluggish and quiet...she even considered staying home--but like a true trooper she hit them both and reconnected with all her school chums...it's sad, but my five year old has a more active social life than I do...

HOWEVER, today, Sabrina was coming for a visit (which may have brought on Claire's moodiness about going away from home...big sister, Brina is not often around...We had big plans, BIG plans, HUGE...we were going to craft and create...we spent the morning sharing Pinterest ideas back and forth before she even headed over...

We were also going to drink wine...two bottles to be exact.  I was ready--wine glasses were brought down from the top shelf--dust chiseled off of them..."What are those?" Payton asked...haha...yes, wine drinking, or ANY drinking seems to have faded away in my grown-up world.  But not tonight...

Needless to say...nearly midnight...and I have to confess...none of it happened.  No crafting, no creating.  And certainly no wine drinking.  What did we do?  Well...we LOOKED at Pinterest...does that count?  We snacked and ate...we watched...let's see...Herculeus, Up, Despicable Me, Matilda, an old school Mickey Mouse show...and some random hockey (that I tried my hardest to ignore)...we sat on the deck, and most of all...we talked.  Good times regardless...

Oh, and what else did I do?  I worked on a paragraph writing printable booklet....was not planning to--it just popped into my head and I ran with it:

There are four different topics: object, animal, food, and place.  Each one has the following pages to complete:

This one is to fill in about a specific object.  This is the prewriting...

Then the ideas on the sensory sheet need to get turned into sentences in a paragraph.  Because students usually have trouble beginning and ending, I gave them a little guidance...

And finally, there is an illustrating page:

Because I ended up making four topics, I was thinking about having my students do one a quarter--then I would keep them to compare student growth.  I will probably start out with the animal sheet, because students are usually not blocked when writing about an animal.  I think that I will save "place" for last, as it could get more in depth than some of the others.

So during the over-does of tv-viewing...I was really, being productive...Now the rest of my family...not so much...  :)

Friday Frenzy Freebie

Well, my friends, it has been one LONG frustrating day at my computer.  Long story short, I finally got a new printer, because mine...died...and when I went to print all my Black & White & Bright collection...I was NOT pleased...it printed way too dark to see any contrast between colors...I really don't think it was just my new printer, as I often misjudge the intensity of printer ink from that reflected on the screen...SOO...I started the long journey of recoloring it ALL...big, big, big SCREAM SIGH...

But, on a happy note, I took a much needed break from that to whip together my Friday Freebie--an owl themed All About Me poster.  I remember when I first started teaching and I paid big bucks to order these types of posters from Scholastic for my first day...it never occurred to me that I could MAKE my own!  TPT has given us all the mindset that we can self-create...or buy what another teacher self-creates when we are too lazy busy!  Either way, enjoy!  Click on the picture to download from my TPT store!  Don't forget to share the love with a little feedback!  :)

(Click this link for more FREEBIES!)