Diggin' Series HUGE Giveaway!

Well, I don't know about you all, but I love myself a good giveaway.  However, this one is a GREAT giveaway!  9 winners.  Awesome gifts.  Amazing Bloggers!  I've been so lucky to learn from all of these great bloggers this summer for everything from classroom management to structuring writer's workshop!  So enter away! 

Are you ready?

 We could hardly wait to end our Diggin’ Series with the BEST giveaway of the season!

Just in case you didn't hear these are our awesome prizes:

Come and join us, as  this is our way to THANK YOU for all your support and friendship! Click below to get started!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday Made-It and Giveaway Winner!

This was certainly a busy week, but a fun one! I also got to cross a lot of things off my list, so I'm joining 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It (x3)!  

 

The first thing I'm going to share I'm in love with, but I forgot to take a true "before" photo!  Ultimate fail!  Anyway, our patio furniture was a hand-me-down from my in-laws when we moved into our house 5 years ago.  At that time, I thought, man they need some new seat cushions but it was not really on our priority list upon first buying a house.  Soooo...five years later I bought 5 cans of spray paint to paint the furniture black and got new seat cushions!

In the middle picture you can see the table frame in its original color which was a light gray color.  Our porch is white, so it just kind of blended in.  Now the table and chairs pop a bit against the white.  It was a very easy facelift...although, I didn't think I'd need 5 cans of spray paint (and my finger got really sore from spraying).  :) 

I don't know if any of you have been in the market for outdoor cushions, but they are expensive!  The original cushions were green and white floral, and were waaaaay faded (sorry no pictures!).  5+ years at my in-laws and 5 years at our house - they were ready for retirement!  I had pinned some new cushions I really liked but they were $40/piece!  Then...I found Kohl's!  Oh, Kohl's, how I love thee!  These cushions and pillows were originally $35 and I got them for $9.80!  Woohoo!  I have a 2 black lanterns from IKEA that are at my parents that I'm trying to decide whether I'll hang them or put them on the table, but it was quick and easy!

The second thing I worked on this week was a set of student-friendly posters for the Standards for Mathematical Practice that go along with the math CCSS.  My staff studied these during some PD this year, and we realized that the document is really wordy and quite frankly, hard to understand.  If our students were to know these, WE needed to know them!  We spent some time breaking them, finding web resources, reading texts, etc. and tried to make meaning of them.  

Then, our next step was for our students to know them and understand them.  But, how!?  So, I decided to make a primary and intermediate version of these posters for our teachers.  However, as you will see, there are still some mathematical words included because I think it's important that, although some words are challenging to understand, our students need exposure and use in order to become fluent with them.  I have included words such as precise, equations, expressions, etc. so that we can begin to use this language with our students.  

Click on the image for the TpT link.  They are only $2.00 for now and you get the primary and intermediate versions and two designs for each!   

 I also have two different sets for the design factor.  One is the pastel with lined background and one set is vibrant colors with the bubble border.  They should work in most classrooms!

The final thing I've been working on is invitations for my brother-in-laws wedding shower.  What started as an idea for a small couples get together, ended up being quite a large invite list!  I volunteered to do invitations since they'd be done ahead of time and before I go back to school (I think I've mentioned I only have 2 weeks of summer left!).  

I made 27 invitations and used yellow rick rack ribbon and a burlap flower.  Their colors are yellow and coral, and the wedding is going to be a in a barn.  I was trying to make them a bit informal, but still fun.  My future sis-in-law wanted people to bring recipes, so I included a blank recipe card for them to bring.  

One of my favorite parts, though, was using my personalized stamp on the envelope!  I just love that thing.  Glad they're in the mail and the mess is gone (well, kinda!)!

Have you made anything lately?  Hop on the Linky train and share what you've been making!

And....how could I forget my Giveaway Winner?!?!?!?

Thank you to everyone who joined me on Bloglovin' over the past week!  Change is hard, but sometimes good.  If you haven't followed me on Bloglovin' yet, please click this link, and join in on the fun!

The winner of 5 of my TPT products is....Lindsay R.!!!  

Congratulations!  Start looking and shopping!!

                                                       

Alrighty, gotta run!  Have a wonderful Monday!!

July Currently, Teach Like a Pirate, and a Giveaway!!

July Currently
Woop Woop!  It's that time again...it's Farley's July (I can't believe I'm saying that!) Currently! Part of the reason I hate saying it is that I go back to school on July 15th!  Ahh!

My tip, trick, or hint is just to be you.  In whatever you are doing, blogging, creating, teaching, or hanging with friends, just remember who YOU are!  You are what make YOU special!!

Don't forget to link up with Farley, and all of her awesomeness, this month!  Never done her Currently? Just dig in and try it...it's super fun and you "meet" lots of super cool people.  Oh, and she's super cool, and will post her Currently to dropbox a bit early so you can be preparing.


Teach Like a PIRATE

Okay, so last week I posted here about how excited I was about my new book purchases, one of which was Teach Like a Pirate.  Well, my order came in, and I've finished the book!  Let me just say, it was very fast read, and I loved every minute of it.  What I love about Dave Burgess, the author, is that he connects all of his theories and topics to real world examples that we have all experienced.  It makes it easy to read, but also easy to connect to.

I have to admit, I also had a rockin' place to read about half of the book (although the back of my legs are not appreciating the lack of reapplying sun screen!).

One of the pieces he writes about are all of the different types of hooks you can use to engage your students.  As I was reading, the one that particularly struck me was the Costume Hook.  Dressing up like a character or a person from history, or making up a character that would fit your content.  I've been cooking up a list of "characters" I might be able to be this school year!  I think this could be fun!

Burgess also has really good quotes in his book...one liners that make you say, huh? or Wow! or Why didn't I think of that?!

A couple of them are:

1.  "I'm suggesting that when delivering first instruction, especially to struggling learners, you need to leave the comfort of the lounge chair or lifeguard tower and jump into the water with your students."
    * This quote came from the Immersion chapter where Burgess talks about being fully present, even    when watching videos in the classroom.

2. "However, one of the big secrets and shortcuts to engagemetn is to spend less time trying to get students interested in what you are presenting and more time making connections between what you are presenting and what they are already interested in."
  * This piece came from the chapter on Rapport.  I love that Burgess explains how to get to know your students and how to build rapport with your students.  He doesn't just say to do it.

This is an EXTREMELY short list of "ah-ha" moments for me in this book, but I thought I'd share just a little bit with you.  If you have the book, pick it up and read it.  Now!  If you don't, order it.  Now!

Bloglovin' Giveaway Reminder!
Just a reminder to join my giveaway and join me on Bloglovin'!  It's pretty easy, and you get 5 of my TPT products!  Woohoo!  My giveaway ends tomorrow night, so hop on over!

Alrighty, gotta run!  Stay tuned for my 4th of July 4.5 mile run with my sister!  We're getting patriotic and decked out for a fun run in our town!

4 Teacher Appreciation Specials!

The best part of Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrating those we work with, AND it comes near the end of the school year!  The end is in sight!  To celebrate, I have several things for you!

1. My TpT Store is 20% off through Tuesday to go along with TpT's 10% off sale when you enter the code: TAD12.  When combined, that's 28% off!  Merry Christmas in May!

Thanks Erica for the image!

2. Last day for my GIVEAWAY!!  3 easy ways to enter for 3 things worth a total of $82!  A 12-month subscription to Sumdog, 12-month subscription to Runner's World Magazine, and $10 at my TpT store that will go even further with the sale!  Click here for your chance to win!!  Start your Teacher Appreciation Week off by being the big winner!  

3. Lastly is the Freebie I shared last week to celebrate the teachers you work with!  Easy labels to put on candy, drinks, or flowers for the people you appreciate the most in your building! Find them at my TpT store by clicking on the picture below.

4. My Teacher's Notebook store is 40% off right now, and they are having a HUGE $100 giveaway each day to spend on items! Can you believe that!?  Click on the image below to get my items 40% off and check out all of the other great sales!

I hope you all have a wonderful week full of surprises from your students, colleagues, and families!!  YOU ALL DESERVE IT! 

Sumdog and My First Giveaway!

Our 2nd graders have been OBSESSED with a website over the last few weeks, and I have to share it with you!  Our principal first sent out an email about a math website having a contest for Indiana students and it was free.  We decided it would be a great way to practice our skills and have fun, so we hopped on board...and boy are we glad we did!

The website is called Sumdog, and the games are all FREE!!  There are 20 different games for the kids to pick from and there are 10 levels of skills.  As the teacher, you can pick specific skills or levels or just have them pick what they want.

The kids have taken off and are playing at home, and beg to play at school!  Did I mention the games are FREE!?!?!  There is a teacher fee only if you want reports based on your students' progress and responses to questions.  Below are some of the reports you can see once you are registered.

This is the report for this child's Strongest Skills. This one only shows what they have done this week (It's only Monday...cut the girl some slack! Haha)

This chart shows their weakest skills based on accuracy.   

You can disaggregate the data based on what you need on this drop down menu too!

Here is what you see once they have completed some games!  I love that it shows you the table of what is mastered, fast and accurate, accurate, etc.  What a terrific resource for helping parents see their child's progress!!

Motivation for the students is that it is game oriented, they get points for each game, and they also earn coins to upgrade their profile and add clothes to their avatar. As they earn points they are also able to earn "animal" status that depends on their point balance.  There are so many ways to keep them motivated!  

Motivation for the teachers is that they kids LOVE it!!  Also, they are able to do it at home and continue practicing their math skills beyond their classroom.  I also love that I can change the skills based on my students.  It is extremely easy to differentiate their skills on the program and add/subtract skills as needed.  The reports are also AMAZING for creating math groups.  I know many people are going toward the math workshop model, and this helps identify student strengths and weaknesses as you go through the classroom.  That data is great to see what they are capable of on the independent level!  I love it!

Okay....I know, I know!  I made you read A TON before The Giveway, but it is soooo worth it! 

3 Items for the Giveaway:

1. A FREE 1 year class subscription to Sumdog!

Yes, you heard me!  This is worth $60.  The wonderful people at Sumdog are giving this away.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I'm secretly jealous I can't win this now!

2. One Year Free Subscription to Runner's World Magazine!

This magazine has given me so many great pointers and motivation and has wonderful articles about working out and healthy lifestyles, that I had to share my love with others!

3. $10 at my TpT store!

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, come on over and shop for a bit!  Also, there will be up to 28% off next week to celebrate, so you can get 28% more!

Total Value: $82.00!!!!

3 Ways to Enter:

1. Follow my blog!

2. Click on the Sumdog link.  Check out the 20 games, and write a comment about which one you think your students would love the most!

3. Follow my TpT store.

Leave a comment for each entry with your email address included!  Giveaway ends on Sunday, May 6th!  Just in time for Teacher Appreciation Week!

Guest Blogger, Freebie, and a cool Giveaway!

Good morning!  Well, I get to celebrate my last official day of Spring Break guest blogging for Natalie over at Teachery Tidbits!   You know when your principal is coming in to observe, and you want all of your ducks in a row...that's how I felt when creating my blog post.  Ahhh!  After much thought, I decided to go the reading route.

Hop over to see my post on how I try to change up some reader's response activities in the classroom!  They are easy to do, fun to use, and something different for the end of the year (or to begin next year)!  I also have Freebie on my guest blog for you to download so you can begin one pronto...and I think you'll want to! :) Click on Natalie's header to go to her blog and get some new ideas!  I hope I don't get an evaluation and a follow-up meeting after this experience, but I do hope you enjoy it!!

Natalie also has some great posts (hence, how I found her!)!  Follow her while you're there too.


Also, Teri, at A Cupcake for the Teacher has hit 1,000 followers in 4 months...WOW!!!  She's having a great giveaway with 10 prizes.  Although I hate to add to my competition (I'm a runner...you know I'm competitive!!!), click on the image below to see how you can win!

I hope everyone has a very blessed Easter, and a wonderful weekend!!