Saturday, July 30, 2011

It's a Pinterest Party!



If you pinterest, go check it out...if you don't, ask me for an invite!!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

First Grade Pandamonium is having a giveaway!

Mrs. Walker at First Grade Pandamonium is giving away a fantastic packet that I'd love to get my hands on! Those of you who know me 'in real life' know that I was a first grade teacher for 12 years, and this was my inspiration for getting my Master's degree as a Reading Specialist. So when I find things that could be used to help out the firsties I work with and/or the first grade teachers at my schools, I jump on it!

Could you use this too? Jump over there and enter!!

Facebook Mixer!



Michelle over at KinderFun came up with a great idea...link up with other bloggers who have a presence on Facebook! I've found some GREAT ideas lately from people updating on Facebook about their blogs, and I'm sure you will, too!

C'mon and join in the fun!! Go to KinderFun to link up! Can't wait to see you there, and learn more about YOUR blog and Facebook page!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Useful ideas!

I was just finding some materials that I would like to use next year for school and was thinking about how I didn't really want to print them all out here at the house, when I remembered that I don't have to! I remembered that I have a dropbox account! If you haven't used dropbox, it is a useful way to be able to access documents from several places. Since I work at two schools, I can access documents at both schools and at home if I download them to dropbox. So instead of having to carry things around on a jump drive, I can just access them and the changes I make wherever I go from this convenient online storage spot!

I also have been downloading quite a few free materials off of TeachersPayTeachers, too! I love paying teachers, the REAL experts, for their knowledge! But if you are like me, money is tight. It has been 3 years since we have gotten any kind of pay raise...cost of living, step, or whatever. And in that time, I've had another child! So our money stays pretty tight. When I can, I purchase needed materials, but I'm all about finding things for free as well!

I also was notified today about a fantastic sale on ebooks at the Scholastic Teacher Express store! The prices are good through July 31, so be sure to check it out!

What are some items that come to mind when you think of things that make your life easier or good deals you have found lately?

Sunday, July 17, 2011

It's a Post It Party!!

Rebecca over at Create Teach Share is having a celebration!! She just reached 300 followers and is celebrating by sharing ideas and by having a giveaway! Be sure to head over there and share ways YOU use post it notes in your classroom and enter the giveaway!

One way I use post it notes in my classroom is to do marginalia when a student is reading a story. He or she can use the note to write down a word they don't know, an impression they wish to remember, or a question they would like to remember to ask later. Then the post it notes can be labeled with the page number and placed chronologically on plain white paper to 'jog' the memory of the reader, and can also be used to review the text as needed.

I look forward to reading more about ways others use post-it notes in their classrooms, and would love to see YOUR post as well!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Hidee ho!

I've broken over! I've been blogging on my personal blog for years, have a giveaway blog and a blog for my own spiritual thoughts, but now I'm getting started in a new realm: a blog about my work! I've found numerous fantastic blogs out there about reading and specifically about different grades, and I thought I could do this, too! :)

So jump on in, enjoy!! I know I'm going to, as well!

A little about me: I have been teaching for 15 years, and will start my 16th year in the fall. I taught visually impaired children for two years, and then started teaching first grade, which I taught for the next 12! The past two years I have taught as a Reading Specialist after completing my Master's Degree in Reading. I cannot imagine doing anything else than teaching!I truly feel as though it is my calling and my mission field! It is likely that I will have to go back the classroom in the next few years because of budget difficulties, but I'm enjoying my resource-type work while I can. If/when I have to go back to the classroom, I think I would enjoy teaching in the 2nd-4th grade range, but we'll see!

OK, NOW enjoy your foray into my teaching and learning!