Fall Math Freebie , Reading Strategies Bookmark Freebie, and Hello

I'm just popping in to say hellooooo and post a couple of freebies.  The weather here in Southern Illinois has finally started to feel like fall so with the help of Krista Wallden's ADORABLE clip art I made this Scarecrow Math Freebie just for you. 

I have had many request to make a reading strategies bookmark to go with my reading strategies posters so here it is in two colors. 

 

Well friends it is Thursday night and at my house that means "The Big Bang" will be on soon.  So..... I'm off to help with homework and get the littlest in bed.  Happy Friday Tomorrow!

 

Alison

All About Me and a Manic Monday Freebie

How I became a teacher and what I’m doing now…..

 

I have always loved children but I wasn't one of those kids that played school when they were younger knowing they would be a teacher someday. I also wasn't like many others who had a long line of teachers in their family; no one in my family had been in education until my older sister became a speech pathologist.    One January while college was on break my sister invited me to spend the day with her in her classroom; at the time I was a mall girl working as a junior assistant manager at a trendy store and taking classes in marketing. I didn’t have class on Friday and thought well that might be fun I can go hang out with my sister during the day and we can hit the town that evening.  When I accepted the offer I had no idea that I would have so much fun,  despite the fact that the first activity of the day was "head checks" and a couple of kids had to be sent home.  Boy I still remember itching like crazy all day long but  the encounter with “couties” did not discourage me one bit I still decided this was way better than the business world, it was exciting, fun, it didn't even seem like work and those kiddos say the cutest things. The following day I couldn't get home fast enough to sign up for classes in Early Childhood Education.  The rest as they say is history, I have taught first grade for 20 years.  I would have started my 21^st year this year but instead I have taken a leave of absence to tend to two very special people in my life, my mother and mother in law.  In January my mother in law (the best mother in law on earth) was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. We knew her prognosis wasn't good but we put her illness in God's hands. She experienced ups and downs with her treatments but we thought she was doing ok considering the treatment she was going through. The second week of August she became very sick and had to be airlifted to St. Louis, that’s about a two hour car ride from where we live. Although we all thought the issue we went to St. Louis for had been fixed and our prayers had been answered a week later we were blindsided with the news that we should take her home and make her comfortable, she passed away 5 days later. She had 9 grandchildren, 4 children, 1 daughter in law, and 3 son in laws. She treated us all like her own and we will miss her greatly. 

 

My leave was intended to help with her and my own mother who is scheduled to have back surgery next month.    It has been a month since my mother in laws passing and although my heart will forever be broken I finally feel like I am starting to get my footings again where I can spend a little time  on our blog.  I will say that although I am not teaching this year I am busy every single day, I’m not sure how I work 9 months out of the year it seems like all I do is run from pillar to post.  So there you have it a little look inside who I am, how I became a teacher and what I’m doing these days.  Here are a few more things about me in pictorial form……

We live on a grain farm.......

 

This is what I see out my front window……

 I married my college sweetheart and we have three wonderful children. 

 I had to throw this pic in to show my boys are actually happy kids. They

just hate getting their picture taken because in their words I take way too many.

            

HA!  I love photography.....

 

Now here's a little freebie so you can learn more about your kiddos.  I'm sure everyone has already completed their "All About Me" unit for this year but hopefully you can still find it useful, I'm thinking filler, sub, center, or station. 

 

And Finally I believe God is the reason for my being and the many blessings in my life. 

Happy Monday Everyone!

Alison

 

You can link up your freebies every Monday here....

 

Teacher Finds You Can't Live Without and a GIVEAWAY

What teacher doesn't like a great back to school sale?  Well during my many travels during the last few weeks I have found some pretty awesome deals and cute as a little girl with pigtails things for any classroom.    Only a teacher would be found during her family vacation in a JoAnn Fabric store scouring the isles for great back to school items.   A couple of years ago I found the great stools for my reading table at JoAnn's

 

and returned this year to see if they had them again for my colleagues and THEY DID! 

You may have to order these gems from another store if you can't find them at your location because they are going super fast..............and don't forget to use your JoAnn teacher discount card when you shop. 

And ooohlala check these out

Also at JoAnn's :

Desk organization

I have to admit I am a bit of a postaholic, so when I saw these I had to have them. Seriously cute stuff, Just Sayin!

                                    Big Lots

A teacher can never have too many baskets.......Can they?

Endless possiblities for this magnetic dry erase board........Guided Reading, Stations, Word Work, etc.

 Composition notebooks can also be used for so many things in the classroom; in the past I have used them for reading response journals, math journals, station journals, you get the idea.  I've also heard other teachers say you can take them to a home store and have them cut in half.  Genius!!!!!

 

And don't forget Staples Teacher Appreciation Sale 2013

 

 

Free $15 iTunes® Card

via easy rebate

when you purchase $75 of HP ink

Valid August 11 - August 17

Sharpies  50 cents 

(FYI all staples don't have the same items on sale each week)

   

I was plesantly suprised the other day when the cashier handed me one of these great coupons. 

 

And the BEST back to school deal ever.......A GIVEAWAY

At the request of a colleague I just added bigger cards to my Stations or Centers Rotation Management Pack so I MUST GIVE ONE AWAY. 

 

 

 

 Leave a comment telling when your school starts back, make sure you are a follower and I will pick a winner before my next post. 

 

Alison

 

Anchor Charts...A Confession

So I have to admit something...  Until the fall of 2011 I had NO CLUE about anchor charts.  If someone had said, "Oh I have an anchor chart about reading comprehension..." I would nod and smile and go about my business.  I would make lists or chart things with my then Kindergarten babies but I didn't know what I was missing.  It all started when I stumbled across teacher blogs as I researched the summer before I graduated to first grade.  Ohmyword. They were CUTE!  Doodles and cute little drawings and fun handwriting.  Loved.  It.  From then on, I decided Anchor charts were definitely coming into my classroom.   Abby at  The Inspired Apple and her awesome charts were my first intro to anchor charts.  Then I came across all the other great bloggers and took off from there!

When First Grade Fabulosity posted a linky party for Anchor Charts, I wanted to join in on the fun!

Unfortunately, since I can't get into my room and I didn't put my classroom pics on Dropbox (WHY??) I only have one to show!  Sadness.

I used this to meet Common Core Standard 1.G.A.3.  My kids and I made this chart together and added to it when we learned more about fractions.  It worked great to help them visualize the different parts of a whole.  Nothing fancy but it did its job!  I was inspired by one similar to it on Pinterest and now I can't find it.  Let me know if it was yours!!!  Sometimes I make my anchor charts with the kids and then remake them to make them cute.  Sometimes we whip it up together and that's the end product!  What do you do?

Thanks First Grade Fabulosity for having a Linky Party!  Link up and join!  Woot Woot!

Summer Vacation is ALMOST over

Hey All!

It's Caroline.  :)

So I haven't been blogging since...May???  Oops...  Alison did a FANTASTIC job working on this blog over the last school year as I was learning how to do this blogging thing while working as  a full time teacher with a baby and an almost 3 year old!  Love my little boys!  Love my job!  Love blogging!   I've figured out I have to blog and work on the computer when everyone is asleep...(including the hubby).  If I don't, I get A LOT of help from my little guys.  Smile!

I've noticed a lot of emails and traffic coming through about my bulletin board post I did last year.  Welcome!  I loved that bulletin board!  Of course, I'm one of those people who likes to do something new every year.  So I've started on my newest bulletin board craftivity.  Too bad I can't get into school to work on it!  I LOVE the look of shiny, clean, waxed floors but I HATE waiting to get in!  Know the feeling?

Since people have been checking out my Firsties Wanted bulletin board craftivity...I'm doing a Flashback Friday on a Monday!  I'm on summer vacation, it works!  Haha!

Last year, I had the idea to do a bulletin board that looked like a "Help Wanted" sign.  I created one for first grade last year and recently added one for second grade and third grade, too!  Thanks to everyone who was interested in my work!  Love seeing those downloads!!!

I'll be back soon to share my COOL (hint, hint, hint) bulletin board for this year!  Hopefully the hallways floors will be waxed by then!  :::crossing fingers!:::