It's a New Year! Linky :)

Happy New Year's Eve!

What's on the agenda for tonight you ask?  We're heading over to my in-laws to play some games and eat some yummy food.  :)  I plan on being home, in bed, and asleep before midnight.  I like to be sleeping when the ball drops. :)  It's true.  I'm an early bird so I don't like staying up past, uhh... 9:30.  I'm such a granny.

What are you doing tonight??

I'm also linking up with Jen at The Teachers' Cauldron for this fun linky!  It's a chance to blog about your personal and blogging resolutions!

My personal resolution is to be more positive.  I'm usually a "negative Nancy" and I'll be the first one to admit it.  :)  So, I'm going to see my glass as half FULL from now on.... especially at work.  It's a huge resolution but I have faith in myself!

My blogging resolution is to post more often and include pictures of things we are doing in the classroom.  I love seeing bloggers' classrooms and all of the fun things they are doing.  It's the best kind of post to read - one with lots of pictures! For some reason I NEVER remember to pull out my camera to snap a pic of our happenings...but I can and will do it!  (see.... I'm being positive already!)

It's time to get ready for tonight... shower and slip into some (clean) pajama pants! ;)  Nothing fancy for this girl. 

Enjoy your last night of 2012 and may 2013 bring you lots of happy, positive things!  Oh, and don't forget to link up with Jen, too! 

1

SEW Happy - Part II

I've been sewing up a storm on my brand new machine!  I just wanted to share some things that I made!

I went CRAZY in Joann's and bought each and every fabric that my heart desired.  Thank goodness for the 15% teacher discount!  :) 

I came home and made some cute button bookmarks.  The original idea came from here.  So cute!!  I just want to keep making these - even though you really only need one!

 I also made my husband a remote/candy holder for his gaming chair.  :)

I'm going to search the internet for more sewing projects! :)  I've put the weighted lap pads on hold because I need to go out and get LOTS and LOTS of rice... and I just haven't yet.  Hopefully soon!

Enjoy your weekend!

2

SEW Happy!

I got the BEST Christmas present.....

I am in love!  I made my first little pillow and it came out pretty cute. :) 

The other side has opposite colors.  I have a lot to learn... but, I was proud because it was my first project on a sewing machine.  

I plan on (still) making those weighted lap pads for my kids.  I'm going to head out for some rice to fill them with so I can whip them up.  

I also found some other projects that I want to try out.  Here they are: 

Ribbon Bookmark from Percolating Projects

Loopy Bean Bags from Sew Like My Mom

Sewing Machine Cover from Sparkle Power

I'm heading out in the AM to get LOTS of cute fabric and I plan on being in front of the sewing machine ALL day! :)  

Thanks for stopping by! 

1

Christmas Classroom Happenings

I know, I know... Christmas is over.  We're all on Winter Break.   My ideas are late.  But, stick them in your back pocket for next year! ;)

I LOVE The Polar Express.  First, we graphed whether or not we read the story (no picture... sorry!).  Then, we did a quick picture walk (my students LOVE picture walks).  After reading the story, we picked out some story elements and wrote them down.  Then... for more fun, we did some fun activities with this cute (FREE) packet from Living Life Intentionally.  My favorite part of that MEGA PACK (it's AMAZING), was sequencing the events of the story.  Here are some pics from all of our Polar Express fun!

We also made some gingerbread people and described them with our super adjectives.  We've been learning about adjectives so this was the perfect activity!  I can't remember exactly where I got this from... so, I'm sorry to whoever it is!

We also did this cute activity from Shining and Sparkling in First.  First, we brainstormed some "ch" words together.  The students did an excellent job of coming up with tons of words!  Then, I set them free.  They had to use 4 marshmallows with a different "ch" word on each.  They all came out super cute.

On the Friday before break, we made some pancakes for our kiddos and watched The Polar Express.  It was so nice.  One of my students even said, "thanks for everything today".... it warmed my heart. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

0

Just Because!

I'm having a sale on some itemes in my TpT store... just for the fun of it!  :)  Check out some of the items that are on sale!  Click any of the pictures to find out more about the item!

I also have a sale going on my backgrounds.  If you're interested in any colorful, cute, fun backgrounds for personal or commercial products, check them out by clicking the links below!

Striped Backgrounds

Bright Chevron Backgrounds

Checkered Backgrounds

Tiny Chevron Backgrounds

Diamond Backgrounds

Christmas Backgrounds

Skinny Stripes Backgrounds

Chevron Backgrounds

Thanks for stopping by!

0

Weighted Lap Pads

This week is the last week of school... then 2 weeks off!  :)  I hope to spend lots of time creating.  I'm hoping to get a sewing machine for Christmas and I can't wait to start some cute crafts around the house.   I've been wanting to make some weighted lap pads for my students.  The occupational therapist told me about them last year when I had a student with severe ADHD and lots of sensory issues.  There is research behind why they work - it helps students with sensory issues and provides a calming effect.  I'm sure there is a more researched-based explanation of why and how they work... but, I do know that THEY WORK!  :)

I got some fabric quarters at Joann Fabrics for just 99 cents!  I also got some at Walmart a while ago for 97 cents!  Basically, you sew it together and fill it with about 5 lbs. of rice.  It helps to put a couple rows of stitches through the middle so the rice doesn't just fall to the sides. :)

Here are the super cute patterns I'm going to use...

Once I (hopefully) get my sewing machine, I'll put a little tutorial up of exactly how I make them!  

I'm going to make a lot because I think it will benefit many of my students... I want one for myself, too!

0

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

0

2 Weeks!

Christmas is 2 weeks away!!   Is your shopping done?   I still have a few things to buy...

I made some Christmas backgrounds that are sure to spread some holiday cheer in your classroom or on your TpT products!

I put a new background up on my flipchart each morning and I'm so excited to use these!  There are 26 of them so I might have to use a couple each day... because they are ALL so cute. Check them out by clicking the picture below!

Thank you for stopping by!  Be sure to grab the freebie background below! ;)  Oh.. and I'm still crossing my fingers for more people to follow me on Facebook, too.  Please?

0

Tell Me Something Good - Christmas!

I'm linking up with Jennifer from Rowdy in First Grade to tell you something good!  Click the picture to head over to her blog to link up!!

Something Good from School:
I am amazed at all of the progress my kids are making... especially with their writing!  Last week we worked on informational writing.  They picked something they were really good at and explained how to do it in three steps (using "first", "next", and "last").  It was hard getting them to pre-write, but when that was all said and done, their paragraphs came out GREAT!  Proud teacher moment!

Something Good from Home:
The Christmas tree is up!  I was dreading putting it up... but, I forgot how much I enjoy it.  The best is  when it gets dark out and all you have lighting up the living room is the beautiful Christmas tree.  LOVE.  My wonderful hubby "fluffed" our branches and put the lights on all by himself.  He's so sweet!

Gifts Purchased in the Past:
My husband is a HUGE computer nerd... so, most of his gifts are technology, video game, or computer related.  Like Jennifer, I've purchased a Harmony remote (...so long ago that I don't even know if he uses it anymore?).  Last year I think I just got him a $100 gift card to GameStop.  Although I don't like giving gift cards, I figured he could use it to buy a game or two in the future.  I already bought his Christmas gift this year and it is AWESOME.  I can't write about it because I'm afraid he would read it!  So, it'll be hush-hush until after Christmas!

This is unrelated to Christmas, but I recently bought my husband this shirt from Kohls.  It describes him perfectly....

Don't forget to link up with Jennifer!!

1

Place Value Fun!

We have been learning all about place value in Math for about a week now.  I had to spice it up because  it was going right over the kids' heads (the ones that were still awake...;) haha).  So... I pulled out the dry erase markers.... but not the dry erase boards.  The kiddos were shocked when I told them to write on their desks.  Some of them just looked around to make sure other people were doing it first.  :)

We used our dry erase markers to circle groups of ten.  They LOVED it!

The dry erase markers left a little marker smear here or there... but we just wiped it right up with a baby wipe!  It was fun and engaging for the kids and easy for me!  What's better than that?

I made a couple more backgrounds last night and thought I'd share them with you!  Click the picture to head over to the FREEBIE! :)

That's all for now!  Thanks for stopping by!

2

I'm Lonely!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet today...

I am shocked at how many wonderful followers I have on TpT and on Pinterest.  I'm thrilled that I have 72 followers on my blog, too (thank you!!).  But... I'm lonely on Facebook.  :(

Want to come like me on Facebook?  I'd appreciate it!  Pretty please?

Thanks!

0

Currently and Backgrounds Galore!

I'm linking up with Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade again for the monthly currently... here is what I'm up to!

LISTENING:  I'm mad at the fridge.  We've had this big guy for 4 years and he's been acting up for about 2 of them.  Water pools under the veggie drawers.  Sometimes the water gets into the drawers, so I can't put anything in there.  It's a TON of wasted space.  This morning, I soaked up all the water and found ICE.  Ugh.  I've read that there's a fix... the drain is clogged/frozen.  Who knows.  That's a man's job... :)   As for the rain, I'm just glad it's not snow!!

LOVING: I can't believe it's in the 50's in Ohio... in December! I'm not complaining!

THINKING: I have NO idea what I want for Christmas.  I'll think of something and then tell myself I don't need it.  I usually buy myself whatever I want so it's hard to think of something for someone else to buy me.

WANTING:  Who doesn't want more hours in the day?  I've been making lots of super cute backgrounds today... keep reading to check some out!

NEEDING:  Ugh.  Laundry.  Yuck.  I need to start dinner, too.   I'm making one of my faves.. beef stroganoff.  MMMM... so comforting and filling.  Yummmmy!

RAK:  I read about someone else doing this already.  I thought it was the coolest thing.  Who wouldn't love to pull up to the window to find out that someone has already paid?  And, there's no time to thank them or even see who is was... because, by the time they hear you did it, you are already gone!  :)

So....

Like I said, I've had TONS of fun creating bright, colorful backgrounds!  Click any of the images to check them out!

I'm working on some new dot backgrounds and wavy backgrounds, too!  Have to get back to creating... :)

Thanks for stopping by!

3