What's in my Lunchbox?!

Yesterday I ate all of my lunch before I remembered to take pictures. Today I ate half of my sandwich before remembering. I guess it's an improvement.

Here is my lunch box. It was my first 31 product that my mentor teacher gave me last year. I love it, and her! If 31 keeps coming out with all of these cute designs, something is going to have to happen to my lunchbox so I can get a new one!

Almost every day for lunch I have a sandwich (turkey or pastrami) on a deli thin bread. Today it was a bagel thing & quite yummy! And 2 servings of fruit. Today was fruit and a pickle. I love pickles. The cheese slices were an extra. I also always have a caffeine free diet dr. pepper.

This is the part where I make an embarrassing confession. My dad still makes my lunch. Stop laughing. I don't ask him to do it. He just does. And who is going to turn that down?

On occasion he throws some fruit snacks or cookies in my lunchbox. They hang out in there until I have that sweet craving after school one day!

Now my lunch deal. I have a half day program, so my morning kids dismiss at 11:00. By the time I get back to my classroom it's usually 11:15. I have my lunch and my planning combined together. My afternoon kids come in at 12:15. It's nice to have that break. On occasion I opt to have IEP meetings during this time instead of staying after school. During that time I check email, eat, prep everything for the afternoon kids (a.k.a round 2), work on lesson plans, cut stuff, laminate, make copies, etc. At least 1x a week I eat across the hall with other pre-school teachers. But that's usually only if I don't have a million things to get done.

This is such a fun linky idea! Head on over to 4th grade Frolics to link up. AND, if you haven't already, be sure to enter my giveaway for free Digital Scrapbooking software!

My Memories Suite GIVEAWAY

About two weeks ago I was contacted by a company called My Memories, and they have this AWARD WINNING software called My Memories Suite. When I read that I was being offered the opportunity to test this software for free and review it, I thought for sure I must have received spam mail. To my excitement, this was in fact, a real e-mail! Not only was I going to be given software to review, I was also going to get to GIVE AWAY free software to one lucky winner. (This is where YOU get excited!) Keep reading to find out how you could be the winner!


My Memories Suite is software geared towards digital scrapbooking, but I quickly realized you can do so much more! I used the software to create my Hippity Hoppity Unit & once I became familiar with the software, it was a breeze. All of the tools you need are right there on the right for you when you need them- backgrounds, shapes, embellishments, text, even a word art function!

Honestly, I didn't know if I was going to like this. I had a few moments at the start where I said to myself, "I just want to use powerpoint!" I took that thought back once I learned some fun tricks. Do you insert shapes & then have to edit them to give them a boarder? The right style, color, and size? With one click, yes, ONE CLICK, on the "mat" button, your shape has a boarder right away! And it's super easy to change the color!

Making counting cards? This might be my favorite part. I pick an embellishment (clipart I want to enter) and then say HOW MANY TIMES I NEED IT. So quick, so easy. You can also save your files as images and then insert to create your unit previews, and save as a .pdf file.

I also love how the pages show up at the bottom. I can be on my contents page, adding my page numbers and scroll side to side at the bottom for page numbers without ever leaving my contents page. Love.

Want to turn an image? As you turn it, numbers come up so you know exactly when it is turned 90 degrees & perfectly straight!

It does take the software a little bit longer to save the file as a .pdf compared to powerpoint, but it's totally worth it! I noticed there is also an option to reduce the file size. VERY important when uploading to TpT & TN. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed the feature works well. (As I'm sure it will!)

If I've sold you on the fact that you HAVE.TO.HAVE. this software, you can either purchase it, OR, enter to win my giveaway for a free software download!

TO PURCHASE:

- Save $10 on your purchase by clicking this link.

- And using this purchase code: STMMMS63689

TO ENTER GIVEAWAY:

- Follow my blog & leave 1 comment saying that you do.

- Visit My Memories and leave 1 comment telling me your favorite paper pack/digital item.

- Follow My Memories on Twitter.

- Re-blog/facebook post/tweet about this giveaway & leave 1 comment with the link.

GOOD LUCK! The give away will end Saturday March 31, 2012 at 11pm Eastern Time. Winner will be announced by random number generator on April 1, 2012!

**Please leave your e-mail address on your comment(s)**

Hippity Hoppity Fun!

Ready for some Easter Hippity Hoppity Fun?! (you know in case you are "technically" not allowed to say Easter?) I've put together a unit full of fun bunny and chick themed activities.

Here are the activities included:

Alphabet Bunnies: Using the alphabet bunnies hide a carrot cut out (not included) behind a letter. Students identify a letter and then check to see if the carrot is hiding behind it. (Pgs. 3-9)

Roll & Color Easter: Print the template for making dice or, insert the pictures into a photo cube. Students roll and color the graph for the picture they land on. Recording sheet included with data questions included at the bottom. (Pgs. 10-11)

Jelly Bean Sort: Give your students a hand full of jelly beans and have them sort them on the sorting mat. Use the data sentences to practice data, number writing, and reading. (Pgs. 12-16)

Counting Cards: Use these cards to have students count out that number of manipulatives, identify numbers, or practice sequential order. Numbers 1-20 included. (Pgs. 17-26)

Actions on Eggs: Have students turn over an egg. Read the action on the egg and have all of your students complete it. For example, jumping jacks, or clap 10 times. (Pgs. 27-29 )

Memory Game: Print two sets of these cards for your students to play a memory game. Print more sets to create a patterning activity. (Pgs. 30-33)

I have, Who has: This I have, who has game uses pictures, so it's perfect for your younger guys. For example, "I have a bunny, who has a chick?" (Pgs. 34-37)

Find the Letter 'Bb': Print and photo copy. Give students a dot paint or bingo dauber. They mark each circle they find the letter 'B' or 'b'. (Pg. 38)

If you would like to purchase this unit, click one of the buttons below to head to the store of your choice! If you have any questions about the unit, feel free to ask!

ATTENTION!

I'm not the brightest crayon in the box and I made a mistake on my April Calendar cards. If you downloaded them, you need to do it again!

If you don't you'll have an AABBAAAABBAAAABBAA pattern. See my mistake? :) If you re-download you'll truly have an AABB pattern!

Thanks & I'm sorry!

April Calendar Cards

I know I say this every month, but is it REALLY almost April already?! I feel like I JUST did my March Currently with Farley and it will be time for April's before I know it! This entire school year is just flying by!

I have some April Calendar Cards for you just in time for you to cut, laminate, and re-cut before the 1st of the month gets here! The pattern for this set is AABB. I started making calendar cards for a Kindergarten teacher I work with too, so there will be another set shortly with a different pattern! So you might want to keep an eye out.

I made this set using clip art from Goodness & Fun. If you haven't checked her out, go to her Etsy site NOW! I just love her work and she is "teacher friendly". Meaning, you won't get in trouble for using her stuff! Just, be courteous and give her credit! :) I've been buying so much from her for my blog designs, she's great!

To download these cards for free head over to either my TpT store or TN store!

You may be wondering..

I know you all may be wondering if I am in fact still alive. Well, here's proof that I am. I've been busy and neglecting of my blog. Please don't report me to child blogger services.

I just wanted to pop in and share with you that I am in the works of something really great! In the meantime, while you impatiently wait, you need to check out My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software & Kits.

 

I wonder if you can guess why I'm sending you here?! (As if I didn't just make it obvious)

Do you have an Erin Condren?

Have an Erin Condren? I don't even have to ask you if you love it because I know that you do! I recently bought the monthly planner in February and I love it! Soon after, a co-worker of mine ordered the life planner and I loved getting to see it up close! I definitely think that the next planner I order will be the life planner.

My favorite part about the life planner is probably the tabs for each month. Which, with a daily spread out for each day, tabs could be expected. WELL, want tabs on your monthly planner?!

TA-DA!

My monthly planner now has tabs! As a teacher I'm frequently jumping to months ahead. This helps me get to the pages quicker. I bought the post it tabs at Walmart for $2 and some change. 

During my online hunt for this, it turns out they DO come in prettier colors! Bummer!

You could use a Sharpie and write your months on, or print on labels. I had clear labels on hand that worked, so I picked a favorite font and put the stickers on each tab! Really, the only thing that I think could improve this idea was if I found tabs in colors that matched the planner!

The tabs are easily moved and re-moved! AND the page attachment part is clear so it won't cover up to my goals & to do lists! Now run to Walmart so you can give your monthly planner a make-over!

March Currently

It's time to link up with Farley over Oh' Boy 4th Grade for the monthly link up! Head on over so you can join in the on fun too!

Okay. Please tell me I am not the only one struggling with 3 words! First of all, 'B' is a tricky letter! 

I honestly hope my students wouldn't call me Bossy, but right now I feel like that's all I am. Having a student teacher approaching solo weeks, I feel like I only step in to lay down the law. :(

Can't wait to go read everyone else's link up so I can continue to avoid being productive!

St. Patty's Day Mini Unit

Just in time for planning your St. Patrick's Day Activities, is a mini unit for your kiddos! 

Included in this mini unit are 5 simple activities:

Pot of Gold Counting: Identify the number on each black cauldron. Put that number of golf coins in the pot (1-12). Use the recording sheet to practice writing the numbers. Use the included gold coins or use plastic ones! (pg. 3- 10) 

 

Vocabulary Words: 6 vocabulary words to use to introduce your St. Patty’s Day Mini Unit. I use mine during morning message. (pg. 11-13)

Number Puzzles: Students put the numbers in sequential order to discover the picture on the puzzle. Also includes puzzles without numbers. (pg. 14-19)

Memory Game: Print and laminate two sets of these cards to engage your students in a memory game. (pg. 20)

 

Letter Hunt: Use a dot paint marker to find all of the letter ‘S’ on the sheet. Mark each one that you find. (pg. 21)

If you would like to purchase this mini unit you can find it for $2.00 on TpT or TN by clicking one of the buttons below!

The first 3 people to comment will receive this item for free! Please be sure to leave your email address with your comment or I will skip to the next commenter! :)

One more Dr. Seuss Activity

You know, because your pinterest board isn't already over flowing with Dr. Seuss!

I combined several ideas I had on my pinterest boards for a Thing 1 & Thing 2 activity. I love how they turned out! Here is the sample I made.

I combined several elements from these ideas on my pinterest board. (Click the links to go to each of the original ideas too!)

For the hair

 

For the face & number

 

I forgot to take a picture of all of the students pictures hanging up together, but here are a few of us in the process!

I gave them a large red piece of construction paper with the shirt already photocopied on. First they glued the (already cut) head on. Next we had to color the hair in. They got to choose what number they wanted, Thing 1 or Thing 2. This I made them cut out themselves. We glued them on & then added the paper Easter grass to the hair. This was perfect for my kids. They HATE to get glue on their hands and this gave them no choice. It was great in my book! :)

I even got to use my nifty little bins to organize the materials!

Hopefully you'll store this idea away for next year. OR make if this week if you are continuing the Seussy fun! :)