Versatile Blogger Award

Thanks so much to Jessica at Heeren's Happenings and Lara at Organized Teaching Addict for awarding me the Versatile Blogger Award.  Please check out their fantastic blogs!

Here are the rules for this award:

1.  Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2.  Include a link to their site.

3.  Include the award image in your post.

4.  Give 7 random facts about yourself

5.  Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.

6.  When nominating, include a link to their site.

7.  Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

Let's see, 7 random facts...hmmm

1.  My favorite t.v. show is Game of Thrones.  The third season is so far away, I can hardly wait!  How do they expect us to wait so long for the next season?  I can barely remember what I saw a week ago, much less a whole year!

2.   I love chocolate, but only dark chocolate.  It's like Coke and Pepsi- no comparison! (Coke is better)

3.  My husband is a firefighter and he's the best! Love ya James!

4.  I love Texas, but one day I'd like to live in Tennessee.  No rhyme or reason...just because :)

5.  I sleepwalk- scary I know!!!  A dr. once told me that only children sleepwalk. Really...try telling my husband that!

6.  I won't eat anything that lives in the sea.  Weird I know, but true!

7.  I'm terrified of birds!  For  a long time my classroom was in a portable, and I swear some of those pigeons had it out for me.

I'd like to pass this award on to these 12 fantastic blogs. Sorry- kinda broke the rules and nominated 12 instead of 15.

1. Dixie at Teachin' Little Texans

2. Misty at 3rd Grade's a Hoot

3. Katrina at A Love for Teaching

4. Sarah at The Eager Teacher

5. Krista at The Second Grade Superkids

6. Jenny at Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

7. Stevi & Tamara at 2 Crazy Texas Teachers

8. Nicole at Mrs. Rios Teaches Second Grade

9. Katie and Lisen at Second Grade Smartypants

10. Ann at The Caffeinated Classroom

11. Jackie at Third Grade's a Charm

12. Jill at Tales from Second

Reading Incentive

We have used AR on our campus for a long time.  We just found out that our campus will no longer have AR, and I knew that I needed to come up with a new reading incentive for my students.  I wanted something fairly simple, so this is what I've come up with.  If they read a book, and complete a book blurb page, then they will get a buck.  I plan to run the different dollar amounts on different colored construction paper.  The goal will be for them to earn at least ten dollars per six weeks.
I was thinking if they earn $10 during the six weeks, then they'll get to eat lunch with me in the classroom at the end of the six weeks.  If they earn $20, then they can sit with a buddy during lunch.  I'm still brainstorming ideas.  If you have a good idea, please share.

You can purchase this packet in my Teacher Pay Teachers store.

Award

Thanks so much to Brandi from Success in Second Grade and Dixie from Teachin' Little Texans for the "One Lovely Blog Award".  I was super excited to get the award not only once, but twice! I really look forward to passing it on to some super great blogs.

Once you receive the award you have to pass it on to others! Here are the 3 rules to follow:
1. Follow the person that gave you the award.
2. Link back to the person that gave you the award.
3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers.


I'd like to pass the award to these great blogs!

The Bubble Gum Tree

Mrs. Heeren's Happenings

 

Mrs. McDaniel's Second Grade Super Stars

Station Sign

 This is my first time joining up with 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It.  I decided it was time to make a new station sign to go above my pocket chart.

I know it's called Monday Made-It but, I actually almost didn't make it.  It's almost Tuesday-yikes!  There are so many things on Pinterest that I've been meaning to make, but finding the time to start a project is another matter.  My days are usually filled playing with my toddler- and there truly is nothing I'd rather be doing.  My evenings can be summed up with this E-Card...

...actually Greysen is usually snoring on my lap and yep, I'm still watching Dora Dora.

I came across this welcome banner on Pinterest.  It doesn't link to a site, must have been uploaded by the user.  I've seen other variations as well, but this one was my inspiration.

I thought I could use the idea to make a station sign for my classroom.  I don't have a theme in my classroom.  I really do love themes, but I am so fickle, and change my mind every other day.  I once tried frogs, and that lasted all of 2 days.  Luckily, there was a kinder teacher looking for none other than frogs.   I suppose my theme is more along the lines of rainbow, not actual rainbows, but colors galore.  Maybe I should call it Color Splash!  So, I was determined to make a colorful sign to go above my station pocket chart.  This is what I came up with.

  If you are crazy about colors too, you can get a copy by clicking below :)

 

Rockin' Resources Linky

So... it's time for another linky party.  This time it's with Kelley from Teacher Idea Factory.  This linky is all about things you can't live without.   There are so many things I can't live without, but I'll narrow it down to just a few.

Here it goes...
1. Double Stick Tape Rollers- There's nothing worse than creating a great resource and then you start gluing the pieces together and the pages warp or don't stick at all :(   Problem solved with these! I used to be able to get them everywhere and now they aren't quite as easy to find, and not as inexpensive as they used to be.  But, nevertheless they top my list.

 2. Personal Laminator- I LOVE my laminator.  I had a smaller one, but this is my new larger one and I can't say enough positive things about it.  It heats up in just a minute and works like a gem every time.  I also get my lamination at Sam's Club and you can't beat the price- $20 for 200 sheets. I can make it through a whole year with one box. Ok- I feel like a commercial now, I better stop!

3. Reading with Meaning by Debbie Miller- If you haven't read it, it is a must read for this summer.  These comprehension strategies are at the heart of my reading instruction. I absolutely LOVE this book and all the strategies!  I could go on and on about the book, but I'll let you read it for yourself.  There's nothing better than hearing your kiddos say, I used my schema to answer that question or I made a text to self connection when I read that poem.  This is an anchor chart we created when we discussed visualization, which is a chapter in her book.  I read a poem about grandmas and they drew their mental images.

Word Builder

I had intended to create this earlier in the school year, but didn't get around to it until just now.  I wanted an additional phonemic awareness activity for my station block, something that really encompassed a variety of skills in one.  This is what I came up with.   It reinforces chunking, syllables, word building, and spelling.  I'm hoping it will also help my struggling readers become better at chunking unfamiliar words.

Click the image below to get the FREEBIE.

 

My Obsessions Linky

I am all about Linky Parties lately.  Now that summer is here, I finally have more time to check out all the fantastic blogs that are out there.  I am super excited that there are so many great Linky parties going on right now!   I decided to link up with Bonnie at Living a Wonderful Life for her Obsessions Linky.  What a fun idea!!!

So...here it goes, a few of my current obsessions:

1. Pinterest- I love it, but I think it's time for an intervention. When you're on Pinterest at 5 am, I think it's safe to call it an obsession.  What can I say....Pinterest is fantastic!

2. Real Houswives (of everywhere)- Yep, I DVR all of them. I was telling my husband a story about  two of the housewives, when I realized he thought I was talking about people I really know.   Nope... honey, I don't actually know them, but I sure know a lot about them!

3. So You Think You Can Dance- It's back :) I love this show!!! I'm not a dancer, but after watching an episode, I sure wish I was. 

4. Picture Books- So maybe I should have been a librarian, because books are overtaking my classroom and house!  I could really use a card catalog to keep track of all my books.  Did I just say card catalog...I must be getting old because my teenage son didn't have a clue what I was talking about!  I suppose I could find a great idea on Pinterest for keeping track of all my books  :) . I actually think I may have pinned something that does just that.

5. Apple- I don't mean the fruit. I'm thinking more along the lines of my go to gadgets- I Phone, I Pad, and I Pod.  What did we ever do without these things!!!

Favorite Fonts Linky Party

I just joined up with Natalie at Teachery Tidbits for her Favorite Fonts Linky Party.  What a fantastic idea! I am totally addicted to fun fonts.  I have so many I love, but I'm always on the look-out for new ones to add to my collection! Here are a few of my all time favorites.