currently for July & {my birthday!}

Yay!  It's July!!  Then again...I am turning {30} this month so I guess it's ok if it crawls by slowly!  I'm linking up with Farley again and love her new Rule of Three.  I hope some of you new readers checking out my {currently} will become a follower & join my giveaway!  I love new friends!!  :)

Click the game below to head to the right post & get all the info on my giveaway.  And just because I'm in a good mood for a Monday morning, I'll even up the anty on this one.  If you post about my giveaway on YOUR blog, go back and leave a 2nd comment with the link for an additional entry.

Happy July!  :)

storage wars.

Yes, that's that show on TLC.  No, that's not at all what I'm dealing with.  But I do have a sense of fear creeping in...that I may be becoming a storage hoarder!!!

Granted, many of these empties have come from my parents {decaf coffee?  I don't think so} but still, I am the one holding on to them!  Ladies, when you don't know what to do, where do you turn?  Pinterest of course!  Here are some of the things I'm thinking of upcycling all of that junk...treasure...no, junk into:

Coffee Can: Organizers!  I only have 1 for now but wrapping it in pretty paper is super simple and it would be great for storing pointers or Morning Meeting supplies.

Pringles Cans:  I already have one in my art supplies that I use to hold my paintbrushes.  They never get smooshed and even if they get put a way a tiny bit damp, the water runs down & collects at the bottom. It's great.

I may have to save the rest of these for Christmas, though.  How adorable are they for holding cookies or homemade candy?!  And my hunt for the perfect kalidescope craft?  Over!  So cute.  {as is that sweet little munchkin!}

Cereal Boxes: I love the idea of these as magazine/file holders but I'm just not sure they're sturdy enough to stand up and hold it all without falling over.  Which makes this paper holder tutorial just genius.  I've already bought great wrapping paper to get started.  I also love the idea of turning them into notebooks.  But I would do it boring-side-out so the kids could decorate their own covers!  Perfect for taking outside as we explore this or that.  {technical content area names, obviously}

Egg Carton: I have more counting games than I know what to do with.  So...how about some crafting?!  The flower wreath is beautiful and I would've never thought those were cardboard.  But those apples!  How perfect for Back to School!

Plastic Jars: I think I'm definitely going to use the big ones to create Vocabulators {themed jars with words & toys to introduce a topic} because they are just too cool!  And if nothing else, I'll just modge podge some paper on them and use it for storage.  :)

I'd say that's a pretty good start.  And makes me feel better about my closet full of containers.  :)  I hope you find something to spark your creativity and let me know if you have an even better idea.  In the mean time, I better get a move on transforming it all!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway!  One of you will win my new literacy game just by following my blog & leaving a comment {on that post} that says you do so!  Super simple! 

Sight Wordgories. {win your copy!}

{Product still available but the giveaway has ended.}

Whoa!  I got so into finishing this game that I worked right through Live with Kelly!  Let me tell you, girls, that does not happen.  So obviously, I am excited about this one.  :)  I love my Candyland Sight Word game so much that it got my wheels a-turnin as to how I could use my other favorite board games in the classroom.

Ta-da!  I introduce to you....Sight Wordgories!

It's just like Scattergories in that your students will create lists based on a category.  I've included 20 categories so you can use it across the curriculum....science words, social studies words, math words, you name it.  For literacy practice you can choose initial, medial or ending sounds.  There are rhyming cards to practice word families and rhyming words or you can use the word wall for sight word practice.  And then some.  :)

It's up on my TPT Store but I am going to give some away next week before I go on vacation.  That's right.  {some}  Here's the deal...you have to officially follow my blog by clicking that "Join this site" banner on the left.  Then {leave me a comment saying that you do} and that's it! For every new 100 that I hit I'll add 5 more winners!!  ;)  I know you're out there reading this anyway so just clickity click and you're in!  I'll post the winner on Friday July 6th before I leave for the Caribbean!

UPDATE: Post about this giveaway on YOUR blog then come back & leave a 2nd comment with the link for another chance to win!!!  :)

clip chart {updated}

I was asked to make a parent letter to go along with my adorable clip chart behavior system.  I've made 2 options in case you want a smaller version or a full page with space to write in your own rewards & consequences.  They're both included in the packet now so make sure you download it again.

And if you do download it, only one rule...please click that blue "Join this site" banner on the left & be an official follower so I can introduce myself and be able to share my appreciation!  :)

app for scrappin & teachin

I got an email today from Snapfish offering me a free trial for a Martha Stewart app and my initial reaction was like...umm....no.  But, it was free and I am on vacation with nothing to do so then I figured, why not?  And I am so glad because it's fabulous!  It's called Craft Studio and you. will. love. it.

It's a brand new app and it is only free until July 8th!  There are a few free categories to choose from right now {everyday, birthday party, nature & doily lace} and you can purchase other bundles {elegant celebrations, spring, the great outdoors, vacation adventure & summer fun} for 1.99 each.  Don't you worry your pretty little head...I've already been to the app store to put in a request for school bundles.  :)

This morning I played with the free ones.  It's so great!  You can choose from a square or rectangle page & then change the orientation.  The tray on the left has all of your little tricks.

First I chose paper.  I edged the lined one and used that little tool bar {pops up when you hold down the screen} to move the layers up/down until it was on top of the blue one.  You can also lock things in place, crop, delete, etc with that tool bar.  The standard pinching function on the screen makes items bigger/smaller or allows you to tilt them on the iPad screen.

You can add text, change the font & color.

You can add stickers, stamps & draw or write with your finger in lots of colors.  Then if you pick that little glitter jar, you add glue where you want it and {wait for it} shake your iPad to see the glitter shake all over your creation!!!!  Haha!  Fabulous!!  :)

Here's my finished product...with just a few ideas of how I could use this in the classroom.

I also made this precious one of my nephew {ha!} that matches his nursery scheme.

And a birthday day card for my favorite cousin of all time who is turning 30 tomorrow!!  {shhh...I won't post it on her FB wall until tomorrow!}

I'm telling you.  Classroom possibilities are endless.  You can save your cards right to your photos or send them to Snapfish to be printed. {5x7 or 5x5 are the only options so far}   How would YOU use it?!

Dr. Seuss' ABCs

Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss?  And why are we limiting his influence to his birthday month?  Seriously...there are so so so many things to do with his literature that I've decided to stop stressing about squishing it all in to March 2nd {because I never can} and let his exposure shine all year.

Typically after reading Dr. Seuss' ABC book we make a class alphabet book.  Each kid gets to pick their own letter and write an alliterative sentence.  Kids who finish early can do a second one and we do the toughies {Q, X, Z} together.

Now, your firsties will probably be able to do that BOY {beginning of year} but our kinders?  Not so much.  So...use a circle map to have students draw things that start with the letter!

Feel free to brainstorm together for your kids who don't have a grasp on alphabetic principles yet and help them label their drawings.  {totally not cheating and perfectly acceptable for early writers!}  Or pull the Circle Map back out for Dr. Seuss' birthday - kids who struggle can use it create a "bank" of words and pictures to choose from when writing a sentence.

Growing Kinders posted a similar activity where students write & illustrate six words that begin with their letter.

Since this is one of Dr. Seuss's most rhymish stories, we also have Rhyme Time after reading it.  The kids can basically say whatever they want as long as it rhymes.  "Are you ready?" {keddy!}  "Understand?"  {gunderstand!}  "Can I go to the bathroom, wathroom?"  As long as they rhyme, I don't really care how it comes out.  The kicker: no rhymey, no talky.  ;)

I've had to remove all of my Dr. Seuss products from TpT because Seuss Enterprises, Ltd. doesn't like anyone to sell or give away any Seuss related products.  So...as long as you promise NOT to use these printables on March 2nd...you can download them by clicking here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B49Ez_FUuVcIOVNPdWxkdlI1ZDg/edit?usp=sharing.  Remember, they are for alphabet & rhyming practice only in a boring, old lesson!  ;)

Happy snappy rhyming!

oceans of fun at the beach!

In case you're taking your own little ones pool side or to the shore {or teaching on the theme because it's just perfect for summer} here are some cute and easy crafts to do.  No template to share because the're pretty easy...and end up even better when kid-created.

To add some sparkle & shine to the starfish, throw some glitter paint spots on there.  You could even add sand to the paint for additional texture or brush it on with glue before adding the glitz.

I love this sweet clam...complete with pearl inside!  We added glitter to this too {of course} because pearls are so shiny.  This would also make a great place to write about a beach trip if your kids are thinking about sending a postcard back home...or if you want to sneak in some writing practice!  ;)

Look closely at this whale for my favorite part...his teeth!  We used what we already knew about the inside of a whale's mouth {thank you, Nemo} and researched real pictures to get a better look.  Using yellow yarn came straight from a child and I thought it was the perfect thing!  You could use tissue paper or crepe paper for the water spout for a better contrast.

The octopus and jellyfish both have cute dangly legs/tentacles to wave about.  The octopus' mouth is actually on the back because once we watched a real octopus eat, this little artist knew she couldn't put a smiley mouth on the front.  {Their mouths are actually up underneath their heads!}  And the jellyfish we watched were more of a pinkish shade but my friend who chose the jellyfish didn't want HIS to be pink...{not a battle worth having, am I right?!}

Hopefully you can use the first picture above to eyeball the rest of the designs.  We added teeth to the shark and had fish of all colors and sizes but the patterns were quite simple and ended up being great for teamwork practice.  {Do you think I should put this here?  How would you make a claw?}

If you have a Discovery Education account, there are fabulous video clips there about the ocean and the animals who live there.  {If you don't, you need to start harrassing your admin to get it now.}  There are also some great clips on YouTube...just be sure to watch them before showing any kids to assure there are no potty words or icky body parts on the beach!!