Social Media

Thank you social media! Without you, I wouldn't be planning and preparing for the school year already. We do not start until after Labor Day this year, and with my 7 week old bundle of joy, preparing for the upcoming year hasn't been on my "to-do list" yet this summer (snuggling and lots of QT top that list) ;) . However, since I can sit in the comfort of my own air conditioned home while baby sleeps, instead of a sweltering classroom, and shop TPT via Facebook updates and blog posts I am getting pretty excited for the upcoming year. Thank you Christmas in July!! My TPT wish list is being added to weekly as I'm excited to start with new activities, themes, and ideas this year! I felt burnt out early in the year last year (maybe it was pregnancy?), so this year I want to change my weekly themes up and introduce some new things in the classroom. I also have a student teacher coming this year, something my husband suggested to help change it up a bit. I'm really looking forward to seeing my new kiddos too, as I work on my calendar for next year. I am starting with Pete the Cat this year. I was so excited to find this cute and creative packet on TPT to start off the first day of school. It is editable too, so I can customize it to fit my building! Thank you Keepin' it Kool in Kinderland! Now head on over to Keepin' it Kool in Kinderland's blog and enter to win the font giveaway. Ohmiword, she is brilliant! She has created a product where you can turn your handwriting into a font! I'm so excited, if I don't win, I'm going to buy it anyways!! You can enter to win a packet with over 100 of her fonts or the "Make My Own Font" packet. Hurry, you don't want to miss it!!!


Back to the beginning of the year. ;)

I love this idea from Sunny Days in Second Grade for Ready Confetti to give away at Open House.

I would like to prepare something for parents to take home at Open House too- I'm thinking little favor bags with flavored popcorn with the "Thanks for Popping In" message using these labels from Classroom Freebies.

I also plan to have envelopes at our Orientation for parents to address- then throughout the year I will send a positive message home in the envelope about their child. I always try to make 2-3 positive phone calls per week, but haven't sent anything thru the mail, so that is one of my many small goals for this year. 

If you're still with me.... thank you! I realized I've been rambling and all over the place in this blog post... it's been a few years since I've done this so bear with me as I get back into "writing mode"... especially during the summer! ;) I want to close with sharing  a freebie that Abby, from The Inspired Apple (One of my FAV's! ),  so graciously posted this past week. I downloaded it and actually plan to frame it and put it on our fire place mantel as a daily reminder for my family. Thanks Abby for inspiring me everyday not only as a teacher, but also as a new mommy too! :) Get over to her blog and get yourself a copy too!!!

August.... already???!!!

Don't get me wrong-- I LOVE my job and the kiddos! But I have really enjoyed having this summer off! This is the first summer since I've been teaching that I didn't work thru the summer (other then taking grad classes). And let me tell you-- I didn't know what I was missing! Summer has consisted of  enjoy days at the pool, days with family and friends, days catching up on home improvement and gardening, days visiting out of state friends, and days to improve my cooking/baking skills! It's sad to see summer come to a close, but exciting to start with a new bunch of Kindergartners! I've started to work in my room and that beginning of the year excitement is slowly starting to make its way into the end of summer. As I was blogstalking last week, I found a super cute Open House treat at What the Teacher Wants. Click to check it out-- it's a cute and inexpensive way to start the year off. Thanks for sharing your awesome idea! 


As the back to school organization continues in my room, I have decided (with the help of my wonderful aide) that I'm going to paint a door in my room. I have a "door" that used to be a door, but now is blocked off and covered with Styrofoam. My sister is an art teacher, so I have plans for her to come in a paint a scene as if we are looking out of a window. I will post a before and after picture of the door as she works her magic! I'm excited for the end result as the past few years I've had posters that have been stapled and stapled and stapled again because they continued to fall off of the "door".

As I mentioned, I've been working on my Master's Degree in Ed. Technology. I thought I would start to share some of the projects I have created, so they have a chance to be put to use-- instead of sitting in storage on my computer. :)  I've created two WebQuests for Kindergarten students. A WebQuest is a inquiry based lesson with many web based features. (Check our www.webquests.org for more information and more awesome WebQuests!) The first WebQuest is a math lesson based on Shapes. The second is a Science lesson based on a Pumpkin Life Cycle. I have included a link to Little Giraffes in this WebQuest. I love this website, so if you have a chance and haven't before-- check it out! Let me know what you think, hopefully they are of some use to you! 


Click to access the Pumpkin WebQuest.
To access the Shape WebQuest see below: