To Caroline-

Well for some reason I'm unable to comment back? UGH!! So I figured I'd just write you back in a post :0)
The seating was fully funded through donorschoose.org. It is an amazing website that is able to get items for classrooms that are normally out of a teacher's/school's budget. I picked out the furniture through the Lakeshore website (click here). Hope this helps and make sure to check out donorschoose.org!! :0)

"Pin"spiration!

Well Blogging Buddies,

Took me a bit longer than expected to get back on here. I promise I was not watching all of my new favorite shows and wasting hours on Pinterest. I was hard at work creating lesson plans....(did that sound believable? hehe :0))

So here are some pictures of my classroom with some "pinspirations" (or AMAZING ideas that I found on Pinterest)

Here's a look at my "math work stations" tubs. I found the labels for free on this fabulous blog. (here)

Found this idea on pinterest! It has worked wonders! Before we disperse for Daily 5 we discuss where our voices should be on the "noise o meter". I then let one of my firsties, that needs a little extra reminder, move the "noise o meter" to the correct voice level. We interactive wrote the labels. (this idea was found here)

Our Word Wall

A ten dollar lamp from a garage sale, a few tables recovered with fabric (my sewing skills consist of stapling the edges) a few dollar store finds, and our going home graph

Our comprehension focus statements will be housed here at the comprehension wall.

(We also have a word knowledge wall, word wall and vocabulary wall)

Found this classroom promise on pinterest and also in Debbie Miller's book, Reading With Meaning. (If you haven't taken a look at this book, drop everything you're doing and grab a copy!) The zoomed out picture is of our new seating area that we received from donorschoose.org! The kiddos LOVE this special reading area!

Speaking of Debbie Miller... This is from her schema lesson in the book, Reading With Meaning. In the book she shows the kids that she is using her schema when she lays the book in her lap, when she's reading she holds the book up. I found this thinking bubble on pinterest (here and here).I read the story, The Relatives Came, (Debbie Miller uses this as her first schema read aloud and it is a really cute story), pre-wrote my connections post-its and when I made a connection, I held up the schema bubble (my lovely face in the middle) then posted my thoughts to the schema bubble. I felt this really helped the kids understand that the connections came from the information in my brain, or schema. (In later lessons, I had the kiddos come up and use the schema bubble to make their connections.) Hope that made sense.

CAFE menu (it's a bit different to align with district time allotments)

Hope you enjoyed the tour and I hope to upload a few more pictures soon!

I'm BACK! ;0)

Well Blogging Buddies,
It's been a very long time since I have officially hopped on here to blog! (don't worry I've been pinning on pinterest and stalking your blogs like CRAZY! :0) )
It's been a chaotic start to the year, but I have an AMAZING class! I will be uploading some photos of some of our activities and also uploading some freebies very soon! In other exciting news we were able to get our Donorschoose.org project fully funded. My kiddos LOVE their new seating area!!!
Just wanted you all to know I'm still here and I'm still very glad you have stuck with me during my blogging brain fart. (;0P) Can't wait to update you all very, very soon!! :0)

The "S" Word!

Hello Blogging Buddies! I am sorry I've been missing in action, but I'm trying to savor the last few days of summer! Can't believe the "s" word (school...UGH!) is going to be starting soon, and shocked that some of you have already started back! So here's what I've been up to, and my final summer plans...
1. Pinterest... Also known as "crack"!!! Seriously sooooooo addicting! I've found so many amazing ideas and can't wait to show you all!
2. Splash park and lots of snuggles with my best buddy, Brody. Our local aquatic center has a splash area that my 18 month old LOVES! Best part...it's free in the morning! And he takes awesome naps after!
3. Visiting family in Missouri...seriously folks the actual temp without heat index was 107 the other day! Love my family, but holy cow this state is HOT!
4. The IOWA STATE FAIR!!!! Ok I'm sure some of your all's states have great fairs...but nothing compares to the ISF! I mean come on, we've got a life size cow made from butter and not joking, you can get adult beverages on a stick! Not to mention the amazing food! (milkshakes from the dairy barn, hot beef sundays (mash potatoes, layered with pulled beef, gravy, cheese and a cherry tomato to top it off), fried pickles, and Ginny grinders... are my FAV!) We also have amazing free entertainment like, The Band Perry! I'm also hitting the grandstand to see Casting Crowns and Jason Aldean :0)

So now that I've convinced you all how awesome the state of Iowa is, I'd better get back to my to-do list (visiting family)! What are your all's final summer plans?

i LOVE shoes!

Mrs. Tabb over at Just Another Day In First Grade, has a great new mini-unit on my favorite subject SHOES! And guess what blog buddies, if you blog about her unit by tomorrow (7/24), she'll send it to you for FREE! If you love shoes and much as I do...check out Mrs. Tabb's blog!

http://anotherdayinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2011/07/um-shoes-shoesa-mini-unit.html

Shiny Legs and Belly Buttons!

Mrs. Dillard is hosting a linky party so I thought I'd re-post this blog entry from last month and join the fun! Hope you enjoy! :0)

The inspiration behind this blog post is some of the HILARIOUS things my kiddos have said! I'd love to have you all share things that your kiddos have said as well, it'll give us all a good laugh! :0)

(Comments from kiddos when I was pregnant...)
"Mrs. B., is that the baby's head?"-Student
"No sweetie, that's my belly button."-Me
"Ohhhh, I've got one of those belly button things too!"-Student

"Mrs. B. I've figured out why you've gotten so fat!"-Student
"Because I'm going to have a baby soon?"-Me
"No...because you eat A TON!"-Student

"Mrs. B. are you going to eat something really spicy and hot to get the baby out?"--Student
"Ummm...."---Me! ( I still have no idea where that one came from!! LOL)

(comments that still have me laughing!....)
"Mrs. B. how do you get your legs so shiny?"-Student
"I don't know sweetie, lotion."-Me
"Well I don't know how you do it, but I think it's great!"-Student

"Mrs. B. you look much better when you put make up on."-Student
"And good morning to you too!" :0) - Me

"I would like D to explain how he solved his CGI problem." -Me
"Well, class, I was thinking very deeply about the problem, because I really wanted to get to my center, so I just solved it in a snap and off I went."-Student

There are so many more! I should really start writing them down! Love my first grade kiddos, you never know what they might say!!! :0)

Donors Choose Project

Hey Fellow Blogging Friends!

My DonorsChoose.org project is almost due and I still have around $200 to go. If you all know of a company or might be able to donate yourself that would be GREATLY appreciated! Also fellow teachers who do not know about DonorsChoose.org... IT IS AN AMAZING website, that helps you get supplies for your classroom and it's soooo easy to create a project! Plus it's tax deductible!! :0)

Click...HERE...to see my classroom project :0)

THANKS!

New Kids On The Blog! Linky Party

Denise over at Yearn to Learn is hosting a Blog Mixer! Love the idea and thought maybe some other newbies might like it as well! So here are it goes... :0) Make sure to join the Linky Party! (And check out my side bar for some other AMAZING blogs, there are sooo many great blogs out there!)

1. A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog":

(Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)

Amber over at Apple Girl Amber has some awesome freebies and great ideas!! :0) Check out her posts on Math Work Stations, they are GREAT!

Miss. Bower's at The First Grade Jabber has a very cute blog with some great pictures of her updating her classroom, and of course I have to give a fellow Hawkeye fan a shout out! :0)

2. Post a blogger in your same grade level:
Melissa over at F is For First Grade has an amazing blog, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her ideas!

Mrs Cooley over at First Grader At Last! has the cutest classroom and some spectacular ideas! I love her "Pigeon" book ideas, they ARE SO CUTE!

3. Post a blogger in a different grade level:

Fran at Kindergarten Crayons is AMAZING!!! Freebie galore and she is so sweet to take the time to respond to her followers! Love that!

Also LOVE Deedee's blog, Mrs. Wills Kindergarten! She has a very cute blog, great ideas, and she also is so sweet to respond to her followers!!!!

4. It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it:

( I thought instead of a button, I'd give a shout out to two non-teaching blogs)

Lions and Lily Pads (children's clothing...SOOOOOO CUTE!!!)

If your looking for some great recipes, cute DYI projects, or a great laugh, stop by Channeling June Cleaver, by Amanda! It's great!!

My Friend Amanda, also known as, AWESOME AMANDA!

Blogging Buddies,

My VERY talented friend,Amanda, over at, Channeling June Cleaver, has created a really neat and super cheap, fabric hoop decoration for her home. I think the hoops would also be really neat to use in the classroom! I'm thinking about putting them up and then pinning student work to the fabric hoop to "frame" the work! Just thought I would share with you all her awesome ideas and please stop by her blog!!

Check it out...HERE

Middle of the Road

Well Fellow Bloggers,

I was able to go back into my classroom and continue setting up :0) I still have a list of "to-do's", but I'm getting closer! YIPPY! Let me know what you think!

Classroom Photos

Lions and Lily Pads

Hello Fellow Blog Friends!
I feel like I am going through blog withdrawal!With the 4th festivities and hanging out with my favorite one year old buddy (my son, Brody), I've been slacking on my blogging! :0) I've got a non-teacher related blog I'd love for you fellow mommies to take a look at! A friend of my has started a new clothing line called Lions and Lily Pads. She has THE CUTEST clothes!! If you are looking for a unique shower gift or birthday present, take a look at her blog! I sent another friend of mine monogrammed burp cloths and the cutest little onesie and she adored it! Hope you all like her things as much as I do! And I'm sure she would be thrilled to have new blogging buddies!
You can take a look at her blog at... lionsandlilypads.blogspot.com

Extreme Classroom Makeover

 Well it's summer and instead of enjoying the beautiful outdoors, I've decided that I must get into my classroom and once and for all get it organized! So I've taken the before pictures, and will be updating as I transform this classroom into a room that would make  Debbie Diller proud, hopefully! (fingers crossed!)  :0) 

WANTED: Upper Elementary Blogs!

Hello fellow Blog Friends, A friend of mine just found out that she is going to be teaching 5th grade. I have been telling her about all of your FABULOUS blogs and she is trying to find some upper elementary blogs, any suggestions? Thanks for your help! :0)

Doubles/Fact Family Books

As I was reading chapter 5, I had a "DUH" moment! Of course kiddo's need the opportunity to create their own problems! It is also fantastic that we are able to include some writing time in math as well! :0) I created two booklets, a fact family booklet, and a doubles booklet. I am going to try and set up an area in my room that is devoted to math materials (like in Chapter 2) and I can put extra copies of these sheets in that area for my kiddos to use, as well as in the station itself.
Hope you like them and please feel free to leave a comment... I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU ALL! :0)

Fact Family Booklet and Doubles Booklet

Chapter 5 Math Work Stations "Aliens Love Underpants" Inspired

Here are a few items I created to go along with Mrs. Jump's "Aliens Love Underpants " theme which you can check out here and purchase on her TpT site! (It's awesome and my kids LOVED it!) I created "dot cards" and a "story board" to use in addition to her fabulous theme. Hope you enjoy! And be sure to check out Mrs. Jump's Unit, it'll be sure to make your kiddos laugh!! :0)
* The clipart in this download is to be used strictly for educational purposes only!!!!

WOOHOO!! I think I have finally figured it out! :0)

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELPFUL COMMENTS!! I think I've figured out how to upload google docs! YIPPY!!

I found an awesome end of the year award from a blog... and I can't remember which blog
I found if from?!? I'd love to give credit so if anyone has the link to the creater of the "officially a 2nd grader award" please let me know :0) THANKS! I could not find Swedish fish anywhere (they were probably right in front of my face, knowing me! hehe) So I taped smarties to the middle of the award.

Award

Tester

Hello fellow bloggers, I just wanted to see if could upload a google doc :0) I will be uploading more if this one goes through!
Also all the clipart that I have used is for educational purposes only!!!!
THANKS!

Making Predictions Chart

Help pretty please! :0)

Please don't judge...I know these might be really silly questions, but hey...isn't the old saying, "The only dumb question is the question that goes unasked?" (or something like that?)
So where do I start...
UGH!!
I'd love to figure out how to share my files with you all, but I am not great with computers and I'm having a tough time!
I tried google docs and scribd, however they both changed the font, which isn't very important, but I loved the original font! (also when the font changed... I had to go back in and reformat the doc). Any advise or great sites you all use to send out your freebies?

I'm also wondering how everyone has these amazingly cute buttons and how I might be able to create my own?

Also how do I create a link? And how do I add someone's amazing link to my posts?

Any advise would be great!!!
THANKS!

I have FOLLOWERS!! :0)

I just wanted to say thank you to my newest blogging friends! I can't tell you all how excited I was to find that I had a new comment and a new follower on my blog! :0) I'm sooooo glad that you all have joined me on my new blogging adventure! :0) THANKS!!!!!

Overwhelmed and soooo excited!

Well... The AEA came through and I was able to grab the newest book from Debbie Diller, Math Work Stations! I've gotten through one chapter and I couldn't help but take a look ahead at some of the pictures, and all I can say is... I AM SO EXCITED TO IMPLEMENT THIS NEXT YEAR!!! I have also linked up to a, "blog party" and OH BOY, OH BOY, there are some amazing teachers out there who have taken the time to add some amazing FREE downloads that go along with the book. I will be catching up with the blog party and will be uploading some of my thoughts about the book, but for now I better stop blogging and get back to reading! :0)

A few things I will be thinking about as I read....

1) How will this look in a CGI (Cognitive Guided Instruction) classroom?

2) How can I include my title resource teacher in on this new and exciting adventure?

3) What will I need to prepare this summer in order to become the "organizational wiz" I've always dreamed of becoming...and every year fall short of?

Lastly...

4) Why am I up so late on a summer night...what should I grab out of the fridge... OH WAIT! That's not about the book hehehe :0)

And they say teachers have their summers off BHAHAHAH!!!!

Kindergarten Crayons: Chapter #4... Now Let's Explore! Freebies Galore!

Kindergarten Crayons: Chapter #4... Now Let's Explore! Freebies Galore!

Data Walls

This year our school has adopted the "Data Teams" process. We had a very small taste of data teams this year and will be implementing it more in depth next year. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or thoughts? Success, things to change? I'm also very curious about how other school districts run their data walls. Excited to hear back! :0)

Here we go

Well here it goes... my very first blog post EVER.... (cue the echo sound effects)! Two things have inspired me to start my own blog, #1: all of you amazing teachers that have great ideas and lessons that I am addicted to reading and trying out in my own classroom. #2: A great friend of mine that is a stay at home mom. She started her blog a couple of months ago and as I read her blogs, I'm either laughing out loud, crying or trying my darnest to figure out how I could possibly be half as crafty and talented as her. (I'm very lucky she lives so close, in case I have any difficulties warming up my newest dinner experiment or trying out a new craft; she is able to come over and save me from blowing up the house or gluing my fingers to my head.) I am sending out a disclaimer, I do not claim to be the greatest or most amazing teacher, heck, I hardly know my name after a difficult day at school! I do love to learn and can't wait to get feed back and constructive advise from fellow bloggers! So here it goes, wish me luck! ;0)