{MORE FREEBIES!!} First Week Behavior Chart & Student Information Page

Goodness- I am on a roll or something tonight. I am meeting with a co teacher to go over all the book keeping, management stuff so that when we meet as a team we are ready to go. So I've spent a lot of the night working on things I send home the first day of school and/or behavior charts. I want to work on my first week unit... but I am just on a roll with all this management stuff currently! Anyway- I hope these are useful. The first item is my "August Behavior Calendar" (if you want to call it that)-- we start school on August 27th, so it's a whole week. I figured why spend time making an entire Calendar when I can just make a week! We spend so much time going over rules, procedures, etc. that I usually don't have any behavior problems what-so-ever, but I usually don't introduce my clip chart until the end of the week... so this works perfect.

My Clip Chart (minus the clips!)

You had a good day (usually EVERYONE) or a bad day- simple as that. I also feel parents have loads of questions that first week of school, so I included plenty of room for notes.

The second freebie is a Student Information sheet. We have a very culturally diverse community so there are probably some sections on here you wouldn't typically see (i.e. food allowances, religious holidays, languages) We send this home & keep it for the remainder of the year. It's great, I totally prefer pulling this out over going through TEAMS trying to get information! =)

I hope you can use these! =) ENJOY!

Lastly, and then i promise I am done for the night and relaxing, check out these great blogs for some giveaways!! Could be your lucky day, you never know! 

First is a $25 iTunes gift card from Math is Elementary

And the Second is a $25 gift card to TpT from The Elementary Adventure! 

Ok! I am OFF for the night! 

September Behavior Calendar

Hello All!
I made this quick freebie that you are welcome to download! At my school we have daily folders... well were contemplating switching to binders. Either way we have a month behavior calendar that in previous years I spent a TON of time writing behavior notes in the tiny square in a hurry before dismissal. Well thanks to an idea that I slightly modified a little to better fit my rules from Jessica Williamson over at Welcome to Room 36.

I loved this idea because theres a behavior "key" so all you need to do is write whatever number goes along with the behavior. I also have a separate sheet that will go in my kiddos binder for notes between parent/teachers.

Hope this comes in handy for you!! =) 

Monday (and Tuesday) Made it!

So, I ran across 4th Grade Frolics: Monday Made It Linky & love this!! I am hoping to get tons of great ideas =)

So I started this project yesterday, got tired and decided I would finish it today. So I made some shelfs for a book shelf (yes, you heard that right). I turned a book shelf to its side so the kiddos could reach their book boxes! So this is how we started...

a WONDERFUL Lowes employee took time out of his day to cut door into the measurements I needed. =)

Got to school and using nailed put together the shelves.

All put together! 

Took them outside (thank you butcher paper) and spray painted them an AWESOME shade of green. Luckily the paint matched the grass =)

ALL DONE!

Finished result. (minus the one of the far left.... I ran out of paint...)

SO the plan is 2 book boxes on the bottom and 2 on the top. Hopefully I will eventually end up with 20, however we usually run about 22 in our classes so I will put the extra 2 on the book shelf next to them. I am super excited about these and they turned out great!

Anyway, I am exhausted! I spent most of he day up at school finishing these, cleaning and organizing! I am hoping everything will be all done tomorrow and I can share pictures!! I large amount of my time was spent bagging literacy center games & investigations games. I let it get WAY too unorganized. Anyway, I think I am going to attempt an afternoon nap! =)

giveaway

WOW! Thanks to Learning & Teaching with Preschools for a GREAT give away! =) Hop on over to check it out! 

Happy Sunday All!! =)

First Day Jitters {A few weeks early}

Well, I stumbled upon this linky this morning, and thought it was a super neat idea! Fierce in Fourth is hosting this linky party and it is all about the things that you are nervous about for the first day of school!

Just reading the few blogs that linked up alone make me smile at the fact that even us experienced teachers STILL get nervous about the first day of school. I know I have a hard time falling asleep that night before because i have crazy thoughts going through my head... for example-- the ever common one---am i going to hear my alarm!?! HOW AWFUL would that be, I mean...really??

Anyway, this year is going to be a definite new adventure for me, and it is causing some major jitters. Not for the reasons you would necessarily think of either....
1. I guess my BIGGEST uneasy feeling comes from seeing my ex. I dated our PE coach for 3 years (yes, lesson learned...do not date someone you work with!!) Long story short, things have ended..it was hard. I mean I thought I was going to marry the guy. So listen, I love my school...I was there first... I didn't want to leave, although probably the best decision. I did however, apply places to try to get out of the situation...alas no luck! So anyway, I have had the summer away and am SO nervous about seeing him every day! EEKKKKK.

2. Now for normal people reasons I am jittery! Every year I have been at my school with the exception of 1, we have had to hire a 6th kinder teacher because of numbers. Our class sizes are usually insane that first week before school starts. I believe last year I had over 30 kids on my roster. Our district will not consider hiring another teacher (even though 30 is WAY over state allowance of student-teacher ratio) until the bodies are in the desks on the first day of school. Ridiculous??? YEP! So, first day/week of kindergarten is exhausting to begin with but you throw this situation in on top... its just insane!

3. This year our principal retired. We had a HUGE turn over in teachers at our school. We have 1 new teacher in Kindergarten (plus the one well hire 2 weeks into school). I will be responsible in keeping them up to date with stuff, helping them plan, etc. It's overwhelming!!! I am NOT the most organized person in the world and I feel like this year this has to change. Our school departmentalizes... so in kinder we have 5 teachers. So 2 LA, 2 math and 1 self contained (which is ME!! and I wouldn't have it any other way). Anyway, I feel a huge responsibility on the LA side with these teachers because they both will be LA teachers!!

Regardless of all this, I am so looking forward to this year! I think it's going to be a great one. =) Anyway, if you haven't already-- go link up!! Ease some ones nerves or just vent your anxieties!

cute "new" bookshelf!

So, you know when you move into a new room and the teacher before you so "kindly" leaves you all kinds of goodies throughout the room, cabinets, etc??? (yes, i moved into this room 5 years ago and still haven't gone through all the junk, because I'm sure I'll use it one day.. HA!) Anyway- she left this run down, ugly as poo book shelf... that I have managed to hide in my library or behind things for a few years now. Well the other day I put it out in the hall with hopes that it would a)disappear or b) be thrown away. Every day I came back to school... there it was. SO i decided to myself... why not paint it and turn it into something new! =) 

This is the moment I wish I would have thought to take a before picture..... However, it is all done today and ready for my word work games! 

I also finished my tree!! I am doing owl/bright colors theme this year... and am so proud of my little tree! =) 

I won't share any more just yet-- my room is a M-E-S-S! I need to go up there Monday and clean a little... I am pretty excited though, I think it's going look great & be a great year! 

Total side note--- does anyone else watch Pretty Little Liars?? My sister got me HOOKED, I just finished season 1-2 on netflix and am totally bummed that abc.family does not leave all the episodes of the new season on their website, just the latest! grrrrrr...... If you haven't watched it, do!!! Its a great summer guilty pleasure. Now I need a new show on netflix to consume my extra time. sigh!

Listening To Reading {{Freebie}}

Check out my TpT store to get my new freebie! 

It's listening center response sheets. 

Enjoy! =)

WOW!!!

Well I get home after working at school all day and I realize I was nominated for 2 awards!! =) Great surprise!

The first one came from Miss Pasqua's Kindergarten :: Thanks girlie! 

For receiving this award I have to...

1. Follow the person who gave me the award- DONE! :) 

2. Link to the person who gave me the award- Done!

3. Pass this award on to 5 other bloggers... and let them know they have received this award. 

So I am passing this along to these fabulous bloggers...

1. Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten

2. The Kinder Garden

3. Miss Kindergarten

4. The Kinder Cupboard

5. Inspired by Kindergarten

The second one I received was from Katherine over at Blessings of Teaching :: Thank you Thank you!

For receiving this award I must...

1. Thank the blogger who gave it to you-- done

2. include a link to their site- done

3. include the award image in your post

4. Share 7 random facts about yourself

5. nominate 5 new bloggers

Alright- my 7 random facts

-I am slowly winging myself off Diet Dr Pepper (I used to get one on my way to school daily and now I'm down to 2/3 a week!)

- I have a class pet guinea pig named peanut, he's a cutie! 

- I love all Dallas sports but am a COWBOYS & MAVS fanatic!!! =) 

- I am on a fitness kick this summer and have lots over 10 pounds so far!

-I love all things fall: holidays, clothes, BOOTS, love it all! 

- I worked at a christian camp in east texas called Sky Ranch between college and finding my current job.  SO blessed to have that experience!! 

My nominees are listed below! 

1. Tales of a Teacherista

2. Kindergarten is a hoot

3. Kindergarten Kidlets

4. Welcome to Room 36

5. Not just child's play

Congrats to all the nominees! =) I was super excited so I hope you are too!! 

Rainbow Library Labels

I made these cutie patootie rainbow bright library labels for my book baskets in my library last night. I am doing a bright colors/foresty/owl theme... that I will not share until it is all put together and GORGEOUS of course! However, I wanted to share this little pack you can get off my TpT store.

Click the photo to go to my TpT Store

Hopefully you can get some use out of them! =) I am also working on a few listening to reading response sheets to go with daily 5, so be on the look out for some **FREEBIES!!**

Newbie Blogger Linky

Janis, over at grade three is the place for me is hosting this linky party. I am loving all these linky parties, so fun!!This one especially, because I am LOVING all the tips! =) Thanks ladies!

The QUestions are.... (drum roll please)....

    1.  what state you are in

    2.  your current teaching position

    3.  your teaching experience

    4.  when you started blogging

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource

Alrighty, here I go!

1. I am in Texas :) YEEEEHAW

2. I currently am teaching kindergarten, and love it!

3. This coming school year will be my 6th year teaching. 

4. I started blogging about 3 years ago, a personal blog. Once I discovered all these fabulous teacher blogs I wanted to join in the fun ... sooo here I am today! :)

5. I think the biggest "tip" I have learned lately is to blog often, and keep up with it. I have had my blog for several months but was busy and never really posted which... would explain my 16 followers (LOVE MY FOLLOWERS!!!) I think the more you participate in things like linky parties, or just put yourself out there, the more your blog will take off! (or at least that is what I am hoping for!!

Now, if you haven't already done so... link up! :) 

Tell me more!!

Amy Lemons at Step into Secondgrade is hosting a get-to-know-you linky!

I was so excited when I stumbled upon this linky party! I've never done a get-to-know-you linky...so this is a first!  I've been hoping to get some more followers too, so you never know... maybe this will help! ;) Alright--- here we go!

1.) This is my 6th year teaching kindergarten! I will say... it is definitely not the grade I was hoping for, however I have fallen in love with it! I love the growth you see from beginning to end of the year, I love the LOVE you get from the little ones, and I absolutely love the things we teach throughout the year.

2.) My school is 3 miles from the town I grew up in. Not s use if this is a good or bad thing... haha. I am definitely ready for a new adventure in my life.. guess we will see what's next.

3.) I went to Oklahoma Baptist University, it's a small christian college outside Oklahoma City. I was blessed to make some wonderful friends & get a great education.

4.) I am a momma of an almost 4 year old lab/border collie mix named Dakota. He is one of the best things in my life. :) 

5.) I also started my own side photography business as you can see the logo above! I have done all type of portraits but my real passion is for animals! We will see if it ever turns into anything more, but for now it is just something that I enjoy to do. Dakota is my best model! :) 

6.) I love all things apple! I am sort of obsessed... iPhone, iPod, iPad, Macbook pro, apple.tv.... it's a problem. :)

7.) I, like all of us, LOVE pinterest. It's ridiculous... but i get so many great ideas for everything here. Best.Idea.Ever. You can follow my boards by clicking the link below! :)

8.) I have the best friends a girl could ask for. I recently have gone through a break up, and it's been one of the hardest things ever for me. God has definitely blessed me in many ways, but one is putting my best friend Steph in my life. We get into all sorts of random adventures together--- for example, yesterday we decided to go check out the new Michaels that opened up by my school. Little did we know this was the grand opening! It was BANANAS I tell you... we got to see a live craft wars which comes on TLC... got to make all sorts of random things, and the best part was that we got to take our photo with GLOSSY. :) 

yes, we are complete nerds....

9.)  I got to attend an awesome conference in VEGAS a few weeks ago, and see some of my favorite bloggers (Deanna Jump) present. It was so great, and actually got me excited for school!! I got tons of great ideas for my room and have been a busy bee working up there to get things ready. I like to get up there and done before August. Beat the crowds, i like to say, otherwise I am chatty cathy and get nothing done! 

10.) I would looooooove to eventually move to one of the following places... Boston (yes, I know my texas booty would be FROZEN but I love, love, love it there!)... California (I would have been able to tell you southern cali before visiting San Fran this past may, now I think I would be happy either place.... or Colorado (just love me some mountains!)

Alright, well that's all I've got! 

Link up! I have loved reading all the blogs so far... and love makin new friends! :) 

APP Happy Linky!

Oh.My.Goodness!! I stumbled upon this linky party and got oh-so-very excited!

Hope King over at Second Grade Shenanigins is hosting this one and you can find her by clicking the image above.

I LOVE technology, especially in the classroom. I was fortunate to purchase an iPad last summer and use it this past year with my kiddos. Let me tell you---- it is amazing! Kiddos are so technologically stimulated these days that an iPad/iPod touch is a great way to reach those kiddos that are struggling! I primarily used my iPad as an reward/motivation and mostly for tutoring/review for some of my low babies. They loved it! I just wish I could get a set of 4/5.... that would be GLORIOUS!

Ill give you my top 5 in the classroom for kiddos...

5.  See.Touch.Learn= 

this app is great (and free!) you can create your own flash cards and so much more! 

4. PBS Kids= I discovered the show Super Why  this past year. My class LOVED it, and it's super educational!! We used this on those rainy recess days, or days that we finished a little faster than normal. Very easy to tie into word work, or reading!! Anyway, PBS kids has lots of different shows kiddos can watch on there too. This just came in handy for me to plug the iPad in and run through my projector. (so wanting an apple.tv to leave up at school but don't want to haul mine back and forth!)

3. Bugs and Buttons= this is a greeeeat app when it comes to beginning math skills. Sorting, patterns, counting. (and even tick-tac-toe!) This was a great review for some of my lower kiddos after we finished tutoring. They loved it. Prepare yourself though... some of the bugs are a little realistic!!! =p

2. Alphabet!= OMG, this has been such a hit, and definitely has worked wonders with those babies that come in knowing not even the first letter of their name! Its a lot more "fun" than boring flash cards. Students remember the picture/actions that go with the letter so they're beginning to make beginning sound associations too! We often times play it as a "memory" type game. I ask them to find the letter... B... and they go of it! This has helped many of low babies soar in my classroom! :) And it is definably an application the kids can run on their own while you work with another reading group. 

1. Bob Books= MY Absolute FAV!! Not the most glamourous application, however, just teaches and reinforces the basics for students. I think this is great, it meets the needs of your kiddos at different stages from matching letters to spelling out simple cvc words without help. The kids enjoy it, and there are several different sets of the books. (just like the scholastic ones!) So whenever they've gone through all the books, their loving teacher can purchase the next set in the series!! :) 

Finally, I wanted to throw in an app I love for my personal use in the classroom. It helped me become a little more organized (always a work in progress) this past year. 

I used it primarily for parent communication. I attempt to stay pretty green in my class and save all the paper I can, so this past year I sent a lot of group emails to my parents with my newsletters, reminders, etc. This application allowed me to create those groups easily and the best part is you do that by having a photo of every child in your class, and all their information is available by tapping their face. The application also allows you to maintain grade book...which I only used to track homework. You can also track attendance. This is definitely a wonderful application and I definitely recommend to all  my teacher friends! :) 

Alrighty, I have gabbed long enough!! Hopefully you got some great app ideas and ya go start downloading! You can practice for your kiddos, since school is really just around the corner! Can ya believe it!? =( Soak it up!!!  OH, and if you haven't go link up!! =)