Library Shopping Cards

Howdy ya'll!!
Get those summer brains ready to turn to the off position because ready or not...new year is almost here!!

I am linking up in honor of the the #TexasSizeLinkUp hosted by The Little LadyBug Shop and Planet Happy Smiles!!

This week is about a BTS product! There are SO many things to do and think about with the first day, first week, first month....whole year!!

If you teach reading at all and have a classroom library I am sure you have struggled at some point with setting up your library, kids checking out books, how will that work? etc...
I can tell you my first year I was all over the place trying different strategies.
Well 8 years later, lo and behold, I have found something that has worked consistently for me and my kiddos! I don't always go based off the first year I try something new because it could go disastrous the very next year. I usually give it a bit to sink in, work out any kinks found early on, and let a few classes rotate through my doors to make sure I want to stick with that particular plan.

Once I finally got my library organized and labeled and found that system to have worked well I then moved on to the "how" my kids would check out books. Being the OCD  crazy person diva I am I wanted something that would not only help me keep up, but give some responsibility to my kids in an organized, manageable way. I did not want the class library to take control over our every waking minutes since there are many other important things to accomplish during the year.

Enter the Library Shopping Cards!

An easy way to manage their checkout time. They are simple simple to use, even a caveman can do it!
1. Print on cardstock and laminate for durability.
2. Use a wet erase or even a sharpie to fill out once you know your kids reading levels and what their "just right books" would be.
3. Kids can keep them at their desks, in a book bag, or even stored in a jewelry hanger.


You fill in the information based off of what you want them to get when they visit the library.
As you teach them how to do it, they really take ownership of searching for the correct books without feeling smothered but also gaining some ownership in their choices, even with some teacher parameters. They also get the opportunity to choose "free choice" books as well.

The wonderful thing is you can simply erase their info as they move up reading levels and the amount of books they can check out. It also divides them up during the week for their specific shopping days so they aren't all going at the same time.
Typically I have 3-4 kids on the same shopping day.

The levels I have on the cards are aligned to Fountas and Pinnell, however, I am more than happy to try to align it specifically for you in another way if you contact me.

On a side note- I have two carts of books in my library. Blue is the leveled books and Green is the free choice. I have written the level on the book in the top right corner of the books on the blue cart since these are the "just right books" they choose from. For the green cart in free choice I have written a number in the corner so they know what tub to put that specific book back in so there are no tubs overflowing.

 Unfortunately I do not have a picture yet of the green tubs. You can see them slightly in the picture. The labels on each bucket are like these below, but just with a number correlating to the number on the book. They are also divided up even further OCD  into categories:

-hard picture books

-soft picture books

-science (animals)

-science (earth) 

-SS (people)

-SS (land)
etc and so forth..

This has made it a ton easier to inventory when needed or when looking for a specific book. 

I really hope you find these helpful. Like I said, it has worked consistently for first graders!!
Oh I also have a "Library Expert" who goes once or twice a week to check the bins and turn the books to spines out as needed. Takes the pressure off of me having to do this as well!

You can find the cards HERE!

"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. " 

John 6:37

I love knowing this holds true! What comfort! No matter how my day is, the slips and falls I have in this flesh HE loves me! I accept HIM and he never will cast me out! Now that is some unconditional love that is insurmountable!!

Have a BLESSED weekend! 

Make your Masterpiece #tptsellerchallenge Week 3

It is already Week 3 of the TPT Challenge!!! Which basically means aka summer is flying by!
Here is this weeks challenge!

So I was happy to see this challenge because I have been working like a mad person to get some products loaded before school starts again. Creating slows down during that time but the ideas do not so it can build up in my journal!

One thing I have been itching to make was my reading response cards.

 During reading workshop, I like my kids to be able to respond not only verbally to what they are reading, but also in written form. Now, for first graders this is not always the easiest thing to do. So I wanted to create something that could be a resource and guidance to them during reading workshop.

Basically, these can be used very easily within the workshop time frame of read to self, read with a buddy and even small groups. The teacher will want to model A LOT! But it is intended for slow release until independence!!  

Below are some different ways you can utilize these cards!

These are not really meant as fill in the blank with dry erase,however, I am sure you could do that as well! I just want to be able to track throughout the year in my kids journals to see how they have progressed with responding to their reading. 

Along with option 1, I made these cards the same sizes so that you can insert them in easily to the bundle you make for your kids. I have also thought about blowing them up and making mini anchor charts as well!

Option 2 is basically the exact same but just in strips. I figured not everyone may want half sheet cards to laminate, so the strip option may make it more user friendly using less paper etc. 

One major thing about these too is I have COLOR CODED them!!! Imagine that right? Each pencil color stands for a different type of question stem.When you get to the "mini anchor" chart cards that have picture clues (see above) the banners at the top are also color coded to match the color of the pencil it would go with. Hopefully that might make it easier for the kids and the teacher to know which section they are working in. 

I really hope ya'll like this product! I spent a lot of time on it and always want to make sure it will be useful! I can't wait to order them in color and get them together to start with my kids next  year!  I will take pictures and update progress using them throughout the year as well! 

Click HERE to check them out on TPT!

So with that said....I am starting Non-Fiction, Fairy tale/Fable, and Chapter book bundles as well!! So keep on the lookout for those!!! 

I think that is all for now! Off to begin the other bundles!! Summer is dwindling!!

Oh and if you don't already follow my Facebook, go over and check that out!! I post things sometimes more frequently over yonder!

Have a BLESSED night!!

"Restore in me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:12

Five for Friday Randomness!

Well Happy FRIDAY!!!! Happy 3 DAY weekend!!!! So in true end of year teacher style I am going to say I have been superbly busy! I mean duh right?! I am going to try to squeeze a complete five in tonight but may only make it to 3-4 haha....

First off a FREEBIE!! I made these little tags this week for our admin team. It was educational bosses week! Once again, SO easy!! 

1.Go buy you some Burt's Bees products. 

2.Download and print these tags.

3.Attach

4. Smile and feel good you just made someone have a future smile too! 

Click here to download

So a few weeks ago I posted about starting a BIP. You can read about that here if you missed it. Ok, talk about glorious! This has worked like a charm! My BIP's I have had LOVE LOVE being a mini me. And let's just say I LOVE LOVE LOVE having a mini me also that can handle it! I can't wait until I can start this from like week 1 of the next year. 

The BIP today helped check off work due, filed papers, handed out reward coupons and walked  around answering questions  for me! 

The key is hand picking "randomly drawing their name from a hat" ;) oh ya'll know what I am talking about...BIP is not supposed to be more work for the teacher haha...

Our baby chickadees hatched again this year!!! We had like 17!! *hanging head in shame* I didn't do a good job this year of taking pictures and documenting their journey as I normally do (I am superbly busy remember?!) I did snap this one though as I had the kids come pet them. 

So I bought these wonderful word strip cards the other day on TPT from Tara West. 

 I was wondering how to organize them for easy access next year in guided reading and came across an empty plastic container. It happens to be the kind I normally use for magnetic letters but took out some of the dividers and it fit the strips perfectly! I then added some labels and WAH-LAH!

So I went through this banner phase...not sure why, but felt very crafty and these were so simple to make I gave in to the urge. I am one of those people who will pin things all day long but then never get the motivation to really go back and DIY. 

I made this one for Easter and hung it on the mantel in the living room.

We also had this empty frame that just sat around taking up space aka drives me nuts!!

So I decided to make the banner and put it inside for our guest room. You may not be able to tell with the horrible lighting but the guest room is gray/yellow themed. I painted the letters yellow.  

Well lookie there! I made it to 5! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and THANK YOU to all those who serve and have served our country! I know we focus a lot on how it is an extra day off school, but tend to forget or overlook the real reason we actually have off. 

Have a BLESSED weekend!!

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Teacher Appreciation Freebie

Just a quick post today to share the teacher appreciation gift I made for the upcoming week. Really simple and not to pricey!

1. Go buy some nail polish

2. Download these free tags

3. Snip some ribbon

4. DONE!

I mean can it get any easier?

The answer is no! lol

 

Click HERE for tags!

Have a BLESSED and appreciated week ahead!

"And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." Hebrews 13:16

Are you a BIP?

Happy Friday friends!

So it's May 1st and the last day of school, so some think...I'm just the messenger but sorry little friends we still have 5 weeks of learning left! We are too legit to quit! At least as of May 1st! Got to motivate to keep straight!

 So hubs and I got to be VIPS to a concert for our favorite band The Classic Crime. We got to meet them, hang out a bit, talk, take pictures- all the fun stuff you know special treatment bahaha. Soo it got me thinking (as usual when I was supposed to be sleeping or focused on my workout) what if I had a VIP? or actually a BIP? Someone that got recognized each week for possessing certain character traits we have discussed in school. So BIP was born!

Basically each week on Friday if the student has not received any marks and has done their best all week they will write their name on a piece of paper to go into the BIP drawing. Once chosen, they will come in the following Monday and be lavished with all kinds of "all access" perks.

Some of those perks include:
-BIP badge- so everyone, everywhere knows to roll out the red carpet ;)
-fancy-fied desk
-box full of my special writing utensils at their disposal
-automatic teacher helper
-pick a free day to have lunch in classroom
-visit office to be celebrated
-free pass to not complete morning work- they might have something else fun on their desk
-new pencil, bookmark, and sheet of stickers
-they get to use the tambourine to signal class
The list goes on and on....basically a "mini-me"
Instead of a boring, normal nameplate they will get their name written directly on the desk with dry erase....D-I-R-E-C-T-L-Y....I know,crazy right?! haha

(don't judge the lack of creativity on the desk decorating- I was in a hurry and do plan to make it really fancy once I have time to slow down a bit- I got some good ideas!)

They will get to be BIP all week long! Then the process starts all over again.
These last few weeks will let me try it out and see if it really works so I can start next year off putting it into place or let it simmer and then "BAM" (Emeril Lagasse reference) throw it out there like it's the best thing since sliced bread!

I suppose we will find out on Monday!
I also have a nifty teacher appreciation idea I will share (hopefully by Sunday) once I get it all finished! It will include a FREE download!!!
Until then...
Have a BLESSED night!!

"We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." Proverbs 16:9

2-D, 3-D, Fractions OH MY!

Ok ya'll finally I am finished!!! If you follow me on Facebook then you have seen my posts about a new packet I have been working on tirelessly for the past few weeks. I thought there is no light at the end of the tunnel, I kept getting ideas (usually when I needed to be falling asleep or at the gym) and felt like it just wouldn't be complete until I added them. I literally started with one page and that was all I intended to do was one page, for an assessment for my kids. Then everything just got out of hand! haha...it is now 108 pages! I don't normally take a project like this on during the school year but once I got it in my head and started jotting ideas down I didn't want to wait. I also wanted to offer it in three packs incase someone didn't want a certain section (2-d, 3-D or fractions) however, in my haste tonight as I was adding a few last pages and details I went to save it separately and accidentally forgot to hit save to the new version....needless to say I saved the old one. I have not been able to figure out how to recover that particular file.... soooo I ended up with the pdf of the entire packet bundled. For now, that is what will be uploaded and if/when I figure out how to recover what I lost I will upload in three separate packets. Until then, I do hope ya'll find the bundle worthwhile! 

This is not even the half of it! (no fraction pun intended lol)

Click HERE to check it out!

But here is an overview of what is included:

2-D shapes:

-anchor charts for each shape (square,circle, rectangle, triangle, rhombus,trapezoid, pentagon, hexagon,octagon)

-Memory match

-Book of shapes (this also integrates some fractions)

-Matching shapes

-Identifying sides/vertices

-Assessment/independent practice

-Find,Tally,Graph

-Roll and Cover

-Connect 4 spin and cover

3-D shapes:

-anchor charts for each shape (sphere, cube, triangular prism, rectangular prism, pyramid,cone,cylinder)

-Memory Match

-Find, Tally, Graph

-Name match

-Assessment/independent practice

-Sorting 3-D

-Attributes charts

-Roll, Slide, Stack chart

-Connect 4 spin and cover

Fractions:

-anchor charts (whole,half, thirds, fourths)

-Memory Match

- Bingo

-Equal/Unequal activities

-Spin and Cover

-Roll and Cover

-Assessment/independent practice

-Color fractions

-Spin and Color

-Find, Tally, Graph

We only have to teach circle, rectangle, square, rhombus, triangle, and hexagon for 2-D shapes. But in the packet I included extra shapes for anyone that has to teach more. I also included thirds for the fraction section as well. We only teach halves and fourths. I really tried hard to make this as well rounded as possible making it easy for any grade level k-2 to possibly get the most use out of it. There may be certain pages you don't need if you don't teach that particular objective, however, it is included in case you do ever need it! 

Feel free to click the link under the picture and go check it out. Please leave any feedback you think would be beneficial and if you have any requests or ideas for something send them my way! 

I am just guessing and totally not counting the days ;) but I thought I over heard that summer is almost here...maybe....don't quote me....I'm totally guessing... 27 days......or something...but whose counting?!

It was recently my hubby's birthday and we took the day off and just enjoyed ourselves. We went to a movie in the middle of the day...best thing ever! We were the only ones in the theater! 

We also walked home with this...in preparation for the movie....he now lives in our office.

In case you weren't aware, the husband does Cosplay with our friend Robbie. It is actually pretty cool and funny at the same time. Their goal is to get to California for the big venture and get myself and Robbie's wife to dress up with them. 

Here is a picture of hubs...he is Winter Soldier from Captain America

 Robbie and Keanan (Robbie is Star-Lord)

Feel free to check out their Facebook page if your into that ;)

Well friends I hope something peaked your interest this post..I will return with more before those (totally oblivious to the end of the year) 27 days are up. I plan to be a busy little bee this summer with new products and ideas! 

Have a BLESSED Sunday!

"But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." 

Acts of the Apostles 2:21

I felt this particular scripture was on my heart. I had a conversation today with my mother in law and have struggled with some things having to do with this verse. I have a very worried heart for others' eternity. One thing I struggled with is the day my grandma passed away a few months ago, while we were at the hospital I wanted to be able to ask her if she was still strong in her faith and still saved after all these years. I was not able to communicate with her about that so I asked my dad and he reassured me she was and knew exactly where she was headed. I felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted off of me and my heart. I have dealt with death in my short time on this earth but that was the first time is was directly in front of me and someone I was so close to. I just wanted to be sure she had still "called upon the LORD".  As I pray you do too!

Classroom Organization 2014-2015- Am I ready?!

Well the time is here! Monday is my first official day back with the little's! In the midst of getting everything ready I managed to take some pictures of my room this year. I will be adding more as the year goes on and we get more things on the wall!

Check out my library cards I made from a training over the summer. These will help manage your classroom library this year!

Check it out!

TPT Store

Well I am off to finish a million other things before this day is over and I wake up at 5:30!!

Have a BLESSED start of school!!!!

 “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2