Questions Answered & Kindergarten Downloads

Thanks for the sweet comments on the last post, y’all. You sure know how to make a girl smile :) I’m just happy that those files will be useful for y’all! Alright…down to business. Some of y'all cutie K teachers asked for the Kindergarten versions of the handouts for the Meet the Teacher packet. They’re *slightly* different from the first grade versions, but not by much!!! Click on the pics to download your copies.

And apparently I can’t spell. I like to go on FILED trips instead of FIELD trips :) Thank you girls for pointing that out!!!! If you need the edited version, here it is:

Now to answer some of your questions…

Q: What are the fonts and where can I get them?!

A: The fonts are all over the place, so get ready…

You can get most of these for free, I think. I know for sure that the first 3 are free downloads. I’ve had the other 3 fonts for years and I don’t remember if I paid for them or what. I’m almost thinking I did and if so, they were purchased from DJ Inkers.

Q: I’ve GOT to have those borders. Where are they from?!?!?

A: Y’all are going to KILL me because I have NO clue where the heck I got ‘em!!!! Everytime I download graphics/fonts/borders/frames, I immediately transfer them to a disk. I have a disk full of graphics…one full of fonts…one full of borders…one full of frames. My computer crashed a while back and I lost EVERYTHING, so I’m super paranoid about it happening again. Anyway, I just found this missing disk of borders the other day and that’s where I found them!!! I’m trying to go back to different sites to see where I could’ve gotten them, but it was a LONG time ago, so I have NO clue!! The borders on the “First Grade Expectations” download and the “What is My Child Learning?” download are both from DJ Inkers {her Fall clipart CD}.

And while we’re on the subject of computer crashes, I HIGHLY recommend storing all of your files…especially pictures!!!!!!….on an external hard drive. My EHD holds SO dang much, I doubt I ever use all the space!!! I have EVERYTHING backed up on disks, my EHD, and online {I use Mozy}. I’m seriously paranoid!!!!

Q: How do you insert borders into your documents?

A: I use Power Point for EVERYTHING. I don’t think I’ve touched Word for the last 5-6 years…seriously. I just upload the borders into my power point files as a picture and then it’s really self explanatory from that point on :) SUPER easy!!!

Q: How are you embedding the docs into your posts? I can’t find the setting to do that anymore!

A: Neither can I!! HA!!! I cheat. I just save the page I’m working on as a jpeg. If you’re working in Power Point…and Word, too…you have the option to save your file as a jpeg. You can either save every slide/page as a jpeg, or just the current slide/page you’re working on. So…save it as a jpeg…upload it to your post…and then hyperlink the pic to the web address of your document. Clear as mud, right?!?! If you’re working in Windows Live Writer, is REALLY easy to do!!!

Hope this helps!!!

Meet The Teacher Ideas & Downloads

Can y’all believe Meet the Teacher night is right around the corner?! For some of us, it’ll be here much sooner than later. I was going through some of my files and came across my “Meet the Teacher” packet, so I thought I’d share it with y’all incase y’all can put any of it to use.

Our Meet the Teacher night always falls on a Thursday. That’s kinda genius if you ask me. It gives me the entire next day to organize and {inevitably} change name tags of the kids who go by another name than the one listed on my roster :) I love getting to meet my new cast and get a feel for the dynamic of my classroom (which is always a little scary to think about, eh?!) Here’s how the night typically plays out…

The kids come in, give me big hugs, and find their desks. Supply packets are placed in each kids’ seat {of the kids who pre-ordered} and I set out an envelope of school paperwork and another little packet of paperwork and info from me.

This is a little checklist of “to-do’s” that sits on top of their desk, also. This is great to have out just incase I’m talking to one family as another one comes in. I don’t have to repeat myself all night!

The kids have to sort their own supplies which I LOVE. I use to do this all by myself…and then I got smart. I have TONS of baskets {hello, Dollar Tree!!!} and I label each basket with a little index card…erasers, pencils, folders, crayons, markers, etc…whatever supplies they have in their packets. The kids have to sort ALL of their supplies and put the supplies in the labeled baskets. LOVE it.

Right underneath that little checklist, I have two forms that MUST be filled out before they leave. One is a transportation form the school gives us for the parents to fill out and the other is this little student information sheet. I’m sure we all have one similar to this! Just incase you need a new one, you can click the pic to download.

The transportation list that the school gives us is broken up into three sections…first day, first week, remainder of school year. I take all the transportation lists and then make three copies of the master list below. One for the first day, one for the first week, and then one for the remainder of the year. I keep the “remainder of the year” copy in my student info folder, by our door, and in the sub binder. Click on the pic to download your copy.

Then I have a cutesy little “Welcome to First Grade!” packet that I put together for the parents to take home & read. I buy the fun little bordered paper at the teacher store to run off for the cover…I just type, “Welcome to First Grade” in a cute little font on the front, and at the bottom I type my name, school phone number, and my email address.

The first page of the packet is a little “Meet the Teacher” bio type sheet. One of my favorite things about teaching is getting to know my kiddos and their families. I like having close relationships with my parents, so I always like for them to know a little bit about me…and I have a little first day activity I like to do with my kids where I sorta quiz them about some of that info :)

Graphic courtesy of Scrappin Doodles

Next up, my class schedule.

Graphics courtesy of Thistle Girl Designs

A lot of firsties have older siblings who’ve already passed through the grade level, but a lot of our families are first grade newbies, so I like for my parents to have this “What is My Child Learning in First Grade?” handout so they get the gist of what we’re all about in 1st. I did something almost identical when I taught Kindergarten and the parents loved it! I run a two sided copy so I don’t waste too much paper :) Click on either pic to download.

I also like for my kids…and parents…to have an idea of what my behavior expectations are like, so I add this little sheet to the packet, too.

The next couple of pages are for the parents to fill out and return to school with their kids the following week. I LOVE this “Getting to Know Your Child” questionnaire. As you know, when you have 22+ kids in your class, it can take a while to get to know each kid…what motivates them, what are their interests, etc. This really helps me to get to know my kids before I really get to know them. And it helps me understand what the parents are like, too!!! I make a double-sided copy of this form and put it in their portfolios when I get them back. You can click on either pic to download a copy for yourself.

I also send home this volunteer sheet. There are lots of volunteer opportunities and always lots of parents who can’t wait to help. I combine these and use them to make a master list of volunteers and how they’re willing to help and then pass that info along to my room mom(s), then they coordinate the volunteers for the year :) I know that you might have different volunteer opportunities at your school, but feel free to download this if you think you can use it! Just click on the pic!!

All the downloads are in black and white because I like to print everything on colored paper. Wal Mart has huge packs of multi colored printing paper for cheapo, so I use that for all the copies. And it’s just more fun when it’s colorful! HA!

I like to 3-hole punch my “Welcome to First Grade!” packets and tie them together with cutesy ribbon. Time consuming and unnecessary?! YES. Cute?! Absolutely?! And it makes a fun little first impression :)

Okay…now I’m all sweaty and I feel like I’m gonna be sick. Do I seriously only have a few weeks before it’s time to go back!?!? NOT.READY.AT.ALL!!!!!!!

A Little Blogging Tip…Windows Live Writer

Hey sweet friends! This little tip may not be news to some of you, but for those of you who aren’t familiar with it, I just wanted to tell y’all a little bit about

Windows Live Writer.

I’ve been using Live Writer for my personal and domestic blogs for the last year & a half or so {and of course, this little blog, too}. I originally started using it because Blogger was SO frustrating when it came to uploading pictures. It would take FOR.E.VER & I was WAY too impatient for all that! Then I got hooked on the Live Writer format and now it’s all I use for all 3 blogs :)

Live Writer is a free download and you can check it out HERE.

In my opinion, it’s MUCH easier to use than Blogger…quicker, too! I can add borders to my pictures…arrange them in little photo albums…add text to my pics…and make my pictures any size I want. Editing posts is easier, the format is cleaner…overall, I just like it a whole lot! HA!

Anyway, just thought I’d throw that out there incase any of you are looking for a quicker way to blog :)

Happy Monday!!

When Virtual Meets Reality

Since I started this little teaching blog about a year ago, I’ve “met” lots of wonderful teachers…virtually, of course. Between reading about their posts, talking through email, and sharing ideas, you can definitely feel like you really “know” your bloggy friends! So, it wasn’t weird for me at all to ask my sweet friend, Abby, to meet me in Ohio for a little afternoon rendezvous :) We’re still up north, so we met half way at a little Panera in Dayton to have lunch at talk the day away. I gotta say that I felt like I was meeting a celebrity!! I was *12 kinds* of nervous ;) HA!

Four hours later, we were exchanging hugs and promising to do it again soon!! And the crazy thing is, we probably could’ve stayed for another 4 hours!! I think it’s safe to say we both really love to talk :) For those of y’all that love Abby as much as I do, yes, she’s genuinely that darling, and precious, and sweet, and funny in person as she is on her blog{s}. We were BFF in no time ;) Such a fun afternoon!!

Thanks, sweet friend!!

You can read all about Abby at Babbling Abby and check out all of her darling classroom ideas and activities at The Inspired Apple.

Look What I Found…

While I’m waiting to get back to Texas and share some fun ideas and units with y’all, I thought I’d share with you guys some pretty fabulous ideas I found on Pinterest. If you’re not scouring their boards already, you’re missing out!!!

Fabulous writing center organization ideas from Playful Learning.

DIY dinosaur fossils from PaperVine that would be great to use with Deanna Jump’s Dinosaur Unit :)

Some really neat science experiment ideas! Making it Rain from I Can Teach My Child and Glow in the Dark Slime from The Idea Room.

This FABULOUS report card comment printable from Mrs. Nielson. LOVE this and definitely tucking it away for the next year :)

This DANG cute bulletin board from Krissy Venosdale’s Flickr stream. Gosh darn, I LOVE that! Our first grade team is going with an “Out of this World/Space/Alien/Astronaut” theme for the year, so I couldn’t have found this at a more perfect time!

And I know this has NOTHING to do with school, but heck if I don’t LOVE this printable! Sweet Shannon Long created this and even went so far as to make one that says “school” and “classroom” instead of “home”. I’ll proudly be displaying mine in my classroom and I’m having one framed for our lounge :) THANKS, SHANNON!

Like I said before, if you aren’t on Pinterest already, get there FAST! You can check out more of my sweet finds HERE and you might wanna snoop around while you’re there because I’m following LOTS of fabulous teachers who are pinning some really amazing things!!!!

Don’t forget that voting starts today for the Really Good Stuff’s 2011 Classroom Blog Contest. Vote for your favorite blog by clicking the link below. Voting starts July 1 and runs through the 7th.

Happy holiday weekend, sweet friends!! Hope you have a FABULOUS 4th!!!!

Really Good Stuff

I have been years behind in the world of blogging & email lately…I’m really taking advantage of summer break :) Hosting out-of-town guests, planning & throwing a birthday party, spending QT with some of my favorite girlfriends at our first annual girls trip, and now traveling 16 hours for our 2 week trip up north. Yeeks. I promise I’ll be back real soon with lots of fun ideas and things to share :)

When I finally checked my email today, I found out this little ol’ blog was nominated for the Really Good Stuff's 2011 Really Good Classroom Blog Contest. I have no idea who is responsible for such a sweet compliment, but I just want to say THANK YOU! This little blog that I was so good about nurturing & visiting almost daily has been neglected the last few weeks, so I thank you for even deeming this worthy of such a sweet little honor :)

I don’t anticipate to make it very far in the contest…there are SO many amazing blogs out there!!!…but I genuinely appreciate the nomination :) You can vote for your favorite blog starting July 1st by clicking the link below :) Voting will run through July 7th.

In the meantime, I PROMISE to return emails very, very soon!!! Email access will be slightly limited for the next couple of weeks, so please forgive me if I’m not quick to reply! I’ll be back with lots of goodies, ideas, and printables very, VERY soon!!!!

Happy last week of June!!!!

I’m Still Here

Hi sweet friends! If you’re still reading this little ol’ blog, I’m still here…just enjoying EVERY.SINGLE.SECOND of this beautiful summer! Is it possible to be busier during the summer than the school year because I’m DEFINITELY thinking it is! I miss my sweet kiddos so much {as crazy as that might sound ;)} We had a fun little ice cream party for our end-of-year festivities and my class gifted me with this darling director’s chair! LOVE IT!

{Please excuse the terrible quality of these pictures…they’re all from the phone!}

I even had a sweet mom put together the dang cutest dvd full of pictures from the year all coordinated to music. We watched it during our party and I definitely teared up :) Love the way the cd matches my wall of fame!!!

I had a few emails from some of y’all asking what I give to my room moms at the end of the year. Well…I do something different every year. This year I had 9 moms that were in my room on a weekly basis…helping with publishing, poetry, stations, guided reading, and a slew of other things. I was very blessed! I had to do something for each of them because I wanted to let them know how much I appreciated what they did for me & my kids. I wanted it to be personal and also cost effective. SO, I painted these pots, filled with with cute tissue paper, then I baked some monster cookies and wrapped them up in fabric, and put them inside the pot along with a recipe card for the cookies :) They were a hit!

The week after school let out, I spent a few hours cleaning my classroom…attended an awesome Ruby Payne poverty simulation…and had the most fun at our staff retreat! I absolutely LOVE our staff retreat! I’m such a big nerd!! Those things are always so much fun to me! We did lots of team planning and we already have our grade level theme planned out for the next school year :) Can’t wait to share it with you!

I went to my first ever NBA finals game…Mavs vs. Heat…and had the most fun being rowdy, proud, and LOUD!

Then we celebrated a MAVS CHAMPIONSHIP downtown with some of our closest friends and it was INSANE!!!!! SO much fun!!! GO MAVS!!!!!

My biggest little man started VBS this week and I got to spend lots of QT with my itty bitty. We’ve been getting things ready for my almost 4-year-old’s pirate party coming up next week and I’m dying that I almost have a 4-year-old. Really?! My brother-in-law & sister-in-law & their kids are flying in this weekend to stay through the week and I’m leaving on my own little girls trip Wednesday to get away with some of my close friends for a few kid-free days! Mr. Spouse & I will be celebrating our 7 year anniversary next weekend and then we’re heading out for our annual 18-hour road trip up north to visit his family for a couple of weeks. MY LAWD!!!! No rest for the weary!

I’ve also been OBSESSED with Pinterest and spending all my time falling in love with everything there. You can find me…and all my boards…HERE! Email me if you need an invite. You’re missing out if you’re not on it already!!!!!!

In the meantime, I’m working on lots of fun things for my classroom and to share with you guys, too!! I’ve had lots of emails asking if I take requests for unit ideas & such…I’d be happy to if you’re interested, so let me know what think you need! I have a Back to School unit in the works filled with lots of fun ideas and printables, so be on the lookout for that next month.

I’ll be back soon with a few end-of-the-year memories and ideas for next year! Does anyone else feel like summer is almost already over?! HA!