Random Ramblings...

We are finally able to get into our classrooms this week.  I have been looking forward to this all summer!  Oh boy!   I must have forgotten that I left it looking like this...

Before having a mini panic attack I quickly hung up my new fabulous fabric banner (very simple to make) and displayed my new fancy framed print on my desk . 

I am obsessed with this print so I decided to add my own personal touch (polka dots of course) and make it my teaching mantra!  Love it!  I think this is going to be a great year. 

Ps- My Bestie and I are doing our first giveaway (100 followers Yay!) so head over to First Grade Glitter and Giggles for the details. 

Toodles!

Whoooo's your favorite author?

Obviously I have a small obsession with owls and it seems like many others do too.  A lovely fellow blogger asked me to create her a special sign and I think it turned out so cute so I wanted to share it with all my other owl lovers. 

I plan on highlighting an "Author of the Month" in my classroom and this will work perfectly. Just print a photo of the author and display it in the "frame".  Post a bio and display books by the featured author or even print out covers from their books to place around the bulletin board.   I included "author of the week" in case that works better for you.  I am so excited for this to find it's way into your classrooms!  Let me know what you think. 

Whoooo's your favorite author?

Gotta Love Etsy

In between Pinterest, blogging, creating for TpT, Facebook, and  Twitter ( boy I spend a lot of time on the internet) I can't forget about Etsy.  Look what I found ...

Perfect for me!  I love this Etsy store !  She also has fabric covered baskets in different prints that are reversible and would be perfect for the classroom! 

Reversible Seuss basket

Check out Baffin Bags to see all of her fabulous creations. 

Pirate Theme Signs... AARGH!

I had a request for some pirate signs so I created these today.   This set includes signs for  the 5, EEKK, I Pick, and 3 Ways to Read a Book.  So much fun to make! Here is a sneak peek! Next up...Pirate Cafe Signs. 

Click here to go to TpT page:

Pirate Themed Daily 5 Signs

Bucket Fillers Freebie

I am so excited to start the Bucket Filler program with my third graders this year.  I created some signs that will go perfectly with my motif (polka dots galore) and thought I would share.  Grab them here!  Also, hop on over to First Grade Brain and join in the Bucket Filler linky party.  I am still undecided on how I will display the buckets.  Maybe stick on hooks, or the shoe organizer method.  I would love to see some pics if there are any other ideas. 

I just got these buckets in the mail today from Oriental Trading Company.  I will post pics of my Bucket Bulletin Board as soon as I can get in my classroom. 

If you are using library pockets you can download these paper buckets to use with your freebie set!

Paper Buckets



Blog Days of Summer

Summer in Texas means triple digit temperatures everyday.  This makes spending hours posted up on the computer (with ice cold lemonade tea in hand) completely acceptable.  Right?  Absolutely! I love my summer schedule.  Wake up late, go to lunch (sushi today), work on computer, nap, go to the movies, blog and create (until my eyes can't stand it anymore), and eventually go to sleep. 
I did get a request for some Owl Daily 5 Signs so here is a preview.  I am working on some Leveled Book Bin labels (owl theme and superhero) as well as a Bucket Filler set so stay tuned...
Toodles!





Blog Mixer Linky Party

Yearn to Learn is havin a blog mixer linky party.   Let's do some serious blog stalking and highlight awesome teachers!  Here's what you do:
1.  Find a "New Kid on the Block" (someone who has only been blogging maybe 2months or less).
2.  Find a blogger in your same grade level.
3.  Find a blogger in a different grade level.
4.  Find and grab a super cute button. 


Here is my list:
1.  New Kid- The Sweet Life of 3rd Grade - looking forward to sharing ideas
2.  Same Grade Level-  Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher
3.  Different grade level-  First Grade Parade- Fellow Texan and one of my fave blogs to visit
4.  Cute Button-  There are so many but I really love this one...

Daily 5 Signs

I have been feverishly working on this little set since the wee hours.  I can't wait to get in my classroom (which is in shambles since I had to move to a new room) and set everything up.  I can just see these on my bulletin board now! 

Daily 5 Signs

Preview...

I am so excited (and a little nervous) to begin The Daily 5 and Cafe in my class this year!  I am in the middle of reading both books this summer and taking breaks to create some stuff I know I will need to use on my bulletin boards.  I decided to do a set of Cafe Menu posters using superheroes, but I also have some super cute owl graphics (of course) and so I made a set using those as well.  Each set includes the 4 Cafe headers (Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expand Vocabulary).  I posted both in my TPT store.  Here is a preview for you.  Let me know what you think!
                                                                 Cafe Menu Posters

                                         

Score!!!!

I made a mad dash to Super Target tonight (I'm talking 9:50 and it closes at 10) just to see what I could find in the dollar bins!  Whew! I knew they had Seuss stuff not too long ago but I didn't expect any to be left.  So, I was psyched to find these cute little buckets!  I also scooped up a ton of alphabet stickers, some alphabet stamps, and my favorite are the sectioned round trays.  Those come in super handy for teaching money.  I just put a tray filled with coins on each table for students to share.  Easy for them to sort and put away.  The hunt is still on for 24 small buckets I can use for our Bucket Fillers!  Tomorrow I'm hitting up Ikea for magazine files we will use for Daily 5 book boxes.  It's a good thing I'm relaxing this summer and not thinking about school at all (detect the sarcasm)! Nah, I love it!  Toodles!

Extreme Blog Makeover...

Thanks to my BFF Marisa from First Grade Glitter and Giggles for referring me to Dreamlike Magic Designs.  Alicia did a fabulous job creating what I had pictured in my mind for my blog.  I absolutely love it.  Snag my button (super cute with the owl). 
I am also posting these Subject Headers on Teachers Pay Teachers.  My store is listed under 3rd Grade's a Hoot.  I plan on printing these on card stock, laminating, and attaching magnetic tape to the back so I can stick them up on my dry erase board and write the daily objectives for my students.

Oh my!   I have so many ideas in my head right now and it's impossible to shut my brain off.  I'm sure it's a simple case of OCT (obsessive, compulsive teacher) not to mention my severe addiction to blog stalking. I'll save that one for a later ramble.  Toodles!

First Freebie!

Ok I found a really cute classroom job set on my fave blogspot (shoutout to Amanda Nickerson of One Extra Degree) that I needed to adapt to our school theme next year, "Superheroes".  I am super excited to use this in my classroom next year!  I typically only use our school theme in my hallway decorations but this one is so cute that I am bringing it into the classroom, too. 
I named it Superhero Helpers and just created a list that would fit my needs.  There is a "job application" that Amanda uses that I plan on adapting as well.  Let me know what you think.

Superhero Helpers

A Jump Start...

Our school wide theme this year is Superheroes.  Each teacher has to decorate a "shield" with things that describe them.  We will use this to introduce ourselves at our annual retreat right before school starts in August.  After a trip to Hobby Lobby, I got a jump start on my shield and worked on it all day today.  It is a collage of all the things (well as many as I could fit) I love.  I can't wait to share it at retreat and see all of the other fabulously decorated shields.  I am definitely going to do this in my classroom in August as a "getting to know you" activity for my kiddoes!  Yay! Can't wait!