Would You Like to Win $400...and Getting Close to my 1st Giveaway!!!

Do you want to know how to win $400??? 

Head to the Blogaholic Social Network and add your blog to the list!! As a teacher, I can imagine all of the things I could buy! It might be quite dangerous!!! It was pretty easy to figure out, so if you wouldn't mind the chance of having an extra $400 in your pocket, head on over! 

In other news...I just broke down & bought this T-Shirt. Tell me this isn't absolutely perfect!:

I Teach, What is Your Super Power?

LOL  I couldn't resist. How many of you are feeling this way, especially during this final stretch of the school year? Plus, you can't beat it for the price-- $6.99!

I'm in the middle of working on my first freebie for you. Here's a preview:

I am having a lot of fun making this freebie for you. I keep finding myself wanting to add more to this! I will let you know when I post it.

I am getting SOOO excited!! I am almost to 50 followers and that means it will be time for my first official giveaway!!! I can't wait! It will be a good one. How many of you love TPT?? :)

Until the next time bloggy friends!,

A How-To on Blog Button Scrolls and Another Linky Party!

Phew! Bear with me...this may be a long one! I'm trying to have proper blog etiquette and only post once a day, but I feel like I have so much that I want to blog about! Tips, ideas, linky parties...it's hard to choose, so I'm going to combine a few together! 

First off... are you overwhelmed with those bloggy buttons? I don't know about you, but I follow a ga-zillion blogs! I love each and every one of them dearly & want to display my bloggy pride by showing them all off! However, I don't want my blog to be a million miles long of buttons. That's why I fell in love with this...

HOW TO CREATE A BLOG BUTTON SCROLL!!!

I originally found the blog button scroll on Jen's blog, The Teacher's Cauldron and knew that I HAD to figure out how to do it!! I am so excited about it, that I want to share how to do this. I apologize if this is an old tip that you may have heard already...as a new blogger, this was the best thing invented since ice cream cake!

So, this is how you do it:

1. Go into your layout page and click on Add a New Gadget

2. Then select HTML/Javascript

3. Add the following code in the text box:

<center><div class="textwidget"><marquee direction="up" width="200" onmouseover="this.stop()" scrollamount="5" onmouseout="this.start()" height="400" align="center"> THIS IS WHERE YOU ADD THE HTML CODES FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUTTONS! (You can add as many as you like!) </marquee></div>

The numbers in pink can be manipulated so it will fit in your sidebar. The number in blue makes the scroll go faster or slower. Note: I follow so many blogs that my scroll is still a work in progress!

Okay so now I'm linking up at Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera to participate in her All-Time Favorite Read Alouds linky party. Here are a few of my favorites:

I have a pirate themed classroom & these are my absolute favorites. They are a riot!!

The following are some of my favorite back to school read alouds:

I love the Froggy series by Jonathan London! He always seems to get himself in a pickle!! Chrysanthemum is such a sweet story. I love to read that to teach my students that there is nothing wrong with being unique.

Wow, that was a lot! If you are still with me, thanks for sticking with this post. I am currently in the process of creating things to be able to post as freebies for you within the next few days. Have a great evening! Friday is right around the corner!!

All About Hoo? Linky Party

It's time to link up! I'm linking up with Mommy and Me Creations for the All About Hoo? You. That's Who Linky Party.

I figured this is a good way for you to get to know me, so here it goes!

1) What is your favorite color?

My favorite color is red!

2) What is your favorite food?

This is a toss up. I love all kinds of Italian dishes; however, I don't think anything compares to sushi. I could eat it every night of the week.

3)What is your favorite T.V. show?

I have a few favorite shows, but I would have to say Dexter, hands down! I think Michael C. Hall is so dreamy! My next close favorite is True Blood. I love me some Bill!

4) Do you have a lucky number? And if so, what is it?

I can't really say that I have a lucky number. If I did, I would definitely play the lottery more often! LOL

Don't hesitate!! Go and link up at Mommy and Me Creations so we can learn more about each other!!

Time to share and get some new followers!!

Wow! It has most definitely been a long time. I have still been around blog stalking and pinning, but have been going back and forth on what direction to take this blog in. I started off last summer making this blog into a classroom blog; however, I have decided that I want to pay it forward. There are so many teaching blogs out there that have given me inspiration, and I want to contribute to that, as well. I have decided to make this blog into a collaborative blog to share ideas with all of my bloggy friends out there!! So spread the word...there's a new blogger on the block!! Please send your fellow bloggers my way. I have an awesome giveaway up my sleeve if I can get the followers to do it. I'll give you a hint... it will help you stock up on some great TPT goodies for the beginning of next year! It's the least I can do for all that you have shared with me! I am very excited to have you along as I begin this new path into the blogging world.

Until the next time,

Gearing up for Christmas!!!

Hello!!!

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families! I know I did. There is just so much to be thankful for. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come & gone and now we are preparing for Christmas!!! How many of you hit up the Black Friday sales?!? Believe it or not, that is how I get in the Christmas spirit. I was out at Target at 6:00 pm waiting for a midnight opening. Can you say "cr-a-z-y!" I loved every minute of it though!
Enough of my rambling... here is what is in store this week:
Theme: Kids Around the World
Story of the Week: Kids Can Help
Spelling Pattern: S blends
Math: Addition and Subtraction to 18; fact families
Science: Earth's Surface & Water
Social Studies: Holidays Around the World unit

Don't forget to turn in your monthly Book-it-Forms. The goal for each month is for your child to read 10 books. Once they fill out the titles on their forms, they get a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut for FREE!! You can't beat free & it is a great way to motivate them.

Not much to report this week: A heads up that parents will be invited in on Tuesday December 14th at 9:00 am to watch a class play and to make a gingerbread house with your child. I will be sending home further information this week. We hope you can join us!

That's about all for now! I will keep you posted of events that are forthcoming in the near future.
Happy Holidays!!

So much to be thankful for...

Hello all,

I apologize for missing a week of blogging last week. It is such a busy time of year and the days just slip on by. We are back to our reading series after a week of review last week. This is what we are learning this week:

Theme: Being Friends
Story of the Week: Kate's Game
Spelling Pattern: Long a (words with silent e at the end).
Math: Subtraction to 20
Writing: Continuing stories, venturing into Thanksgiving writing
Science: Gravity/Force & Motion
Social Studies: Completing Veterans' Day activities & moving into Thanksgiving (Pilgrims & Indians)

Please don't forget that next week will only be a 2 day week. School will be in session on Monday & Tuesday. There will not be school Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.
*Please note that progress reports will be coming home on Wednesday!! If you have any questions, please let me know.

As you have noticed, the 1st grade curriculum is definitely picking up some speed...more weekly sight words to learn, harder spelling patterns. It is more important than ever to continue practicing skills nightly.

Thank you for all that you do & have a great week!

50 days already?!?

Okay, I don't know about you, but I am sitting here wondering where in the world these past 50 days have gone!?! 50 days ago, your little ones entered my classroom for the first time to begin a 1st grade adventure. I hope they are enjoying every minute of the adventure, as I surely am! :) The progress I am seeing is phenomenal. I think ahead in anticipation to what they will be like in another 50 days! Here is what we are focusing on this week:
Theme: Let's Laugh
Story of the Week: On My Way to School
Spelling Pattern: l blends- bl, cl, fl
Math: Addition to 18
Science: The sun
Social Studies: Life then and now

We are almost done with Unit 2!! Next week will be a review week. I will be sending home a list of sight words for your child to practice. Please continue to do the great job with the sight words, as the intensity continues to build.

The 50th day of school celebration is tomorrow (Wednesday). Please dress your child up like he/she is from the 1950s (boys- hair slicked back, white button down shirts, jeans; girls- poodle skirts, capris, sheer scarves around neck). We will have a sock hop in the morning & our coke floats will be on Friday. If you are volunteering for the sock hop, please be at school by 8:30. If you are volunteering for the coke floats on Friday, please come in at 12:50. Thanks for all of your help!

Chick Fil-A spirit night is Friday!! The 3rd grade teachers will be in charge so come out & see them!

Picture proofs went home last week. All picture money is due by Monday November 7th!!

As always, thanks for everything!! I hope you know how much I appreciate your support!!