Spring is Here and a Giveaway!

Spring is Here!

     Spring Break is officially over!  This was probably my first "break" from school where I did very little school work.  I have a slight problem of wanting to get ahead.  So, I am always working on something to get ready for what is coming up next at school. This Spring Break, I only worked for about 30 minutes TOTAL on school work!  Those who know me well, know this is very shocking!  Not working on school work helped me really relax and enjoy my break! 

     When I went to get in my car this morning, it was warm and outside it had that smell of spring.  You know that smell of the newly blossoming flowers and budding trees! It made me excited for the day!  Last week during my break it wasn't very spring like, however, this week it is going to be beautiful!  I can't wait to get outside and enjoy the sunshine!  I hope you have been able to enjoy some spring like weather, as well. 

     If the spring weather has put you in a good mood, I have another reason for you to smile!  The Frizz in First Grade is having a 100 Follower Giveaway!  She has teamed up with some wonderful bloggers to have a giveaway in honor of her milestone.  Her giveaway ends this Friday, April 12th.  Make sure to head over to her blog to see what you can win and to enter into the giveaway!  Click on the picture below to go to her giveaway!

  Don't forget to enter by Friday!  Enjoy the beautiful week!

- Michelle  

Five for Friday...Spring Break Edition

Five for Friday

I am back with another Five for Friday...Spring Break Edition!  I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

 

As you know, this week I spent time in Cincinnati with family. Now I am back in Charlotte.  Here are five random things from my week:

1.  My mom was dog sitting for some family friends.  We took them for a few walks this week!  Arent' they cute?  They have a golden retriever and a black lab.  (Two of my favorite types of dogs!)

2.  I knew that I would have colder weather, being up north for my spring break, but REALLY?  SNOW!?  Yep!  I was driving back and was totally shocked when what I thought was supposed to be rain on my drive home, ended up being snow and lots of it!  I couldn't believe it!

3.  I don't know about you, but I am ready for spring and one way I am getting ready for spring is by creating items to use with my students.  This is my latest Cam Jansen Novel Study.  It goes along with the book: Cam Jansen and the Green School Mystery.  This book will be perfect to use in preparation for Earth Day! My students love Cam and her photographic memory!

4.  Today is my last week day of spring break!  I had planned on going to the beach today.  I LOVE the beach, but it is not as warm or sunny as I was hoping it would be!  I live about 2 1/2 hours away from Charleston, SC and I try to make it to the beach as often as I can, even if it is just for the day.  These aren't pictures from Charleston.  They are actually from last summer in Destin, Florida, but either way, I was dreaming of the beach today while I sat on my back patio!

5.  Earlier in the week, my cousin contacted my mom telling her she was in Charlotte.  I, however, was in Cincinnati.  I did however, get in contact with my cousin and was able to meet her out for dinner tonight!  I haven't seen her in almost three years.  She is a nursing student in Omaha, Nebraska (wheremost of my mom's family lives and where my mom is from) and she is here in Charlotte for a student nurse's conference.  It was nice seeing her and it was a nice way to finish out my spring break week!

Have a great weekend!  If you are at the end of your spring break, enjoy these last few days!

-Michelle

Currently April

      I am linking up with Farley for her April Currently.  I am a few days behind because I did NOT bring a computer with me on my Spring Break!  It has actually been a nice feeling, being away from my computer and my school work, etc. 

Listening...I'm not really listening to anything right now!  It is quiet here!    

Loving...I am LOVING spring break!  I am at home in Cincinnati and have spent some time with family and visited with friends.  I am leaving tomorrow and heading back down to North Carolina! 

Thinking...I am thinking about my running group and how they have kept me motivated over spring break.  One of our runners created a Facebook page for our running group and we have stayed in contact over break, encouraging each other to keep running!

Wanting...My mom is cooking ribs with Montgomery Inn BBQ sauce, so I am wanting to eat them!  They smell so good!  This is a special BBQ sauce from a restaurant at home. 

Needing...To head back to the gym when I get back to NC.  I have been running the past few days, but I have also been eating a LOT!  

Advice...Save time for yourself   This spring break I brought my school bag with me to OH and I haven't looked at it one time.  I am glad that I have just relaxed and enjoyed spending time with my Mom instead of working on things that can wait!

I only have a few more days of spring break!  I am going to enjoy them as much as I can!

-Michelle

Five for Friday!

      It is time for Five for Friday!  This Five for Friday is EXTRA special!  You might ask why and I will tell you!  Today is a training day and next week is spring break!  No, I am not heading on a fancy vacation, but I am heading to Ohio to visit family and friends! 

1.  Opening Day Sale!!

Monday is Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds!  Unfortunately, the game is sold out and I didn't realize I would be home until it was too late to get tickets!  I am, however, having a SALE at my TpT site on Monday in honor of Opening Day!  Make sure to check it out! 

2.  Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia!

My kiddos this year are huge sports fans and they share a love of Amelia Bedelia, so I was inspired to get a set of activities ready for the book Play Ball, Amelia Bedelia.  I am planning on using this with them after spring break.  This packet includes five literacy response activities in color and black and white.  They ask the students to analyze the characters and their traits and understand and explain idioms.  If you love Amelia Bedelia, you will love this story and these activities!

3. So today's training was on standards based report cards. Our county attempted to move toward a standards based two years ago without a lot of planning or piloting it to see how parents would perceive it. They looked back and realized they made some mistakes. One, in particular. was that every CCSS for math in 1st grade is listed! The math report card alone is two pages! This year they took the time to create, tweak, and pilot a new one. Today we learned about that new report card. It looks MUCH better! What are your thoughts on standards based report cards? Do you have any suggestions?

4. This week I spent my last few dollars that the school gives us to spend on my classroom! Check out the goodies I bought! Aren't they cute?

5. This last one is for my southern friends! As I type, we are driving up to Ohio for spring break!

Don't forget to head over to Doodle Bugs to link up! Click on the picture below!

For those on spring break this coming week, enjoy the week! I know I will!

-Michelle

Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday

     Well, it actually feels like a Thursday instead of a Wednesday because our kiddos only have a half-day tomorrow and then we have a teacher workday on Friday, BUT here we go for another round of Oh, How Pinteresting Wednesday!  I am linking up with The Vintage Apple!  Make sure to head on over to see what everyone is pinning lately!

Here are a few of the things I have been pinning lately:

Raining Nouns...

Source: acrossthehallin2nd.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

A Magic Tree House Door...

Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

It's not too late for Easter Activities...

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Beet Ravioli...YUM! I  can't wait to try and make this!

Source: theitaliandishblog.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Feta Dip...

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Thanks for checking out my pins!  Happy Wednesday!

- Michelle

15 Followers Away and Ollie's!

      One of my goals for the New Year was to reach 100 followers and I am only 15 followers away!  I can't believe it, especially because I have been bad at blogging the past few weeks!  I should be blogging all of the time since my student teacher is teaching full time, I just haven't had the motivation to work on  my computer each night!  I've been taking advantage of having a little free time in my evenings.  I promise I will get back on track! 

      Thank you for following my blog!  The blogging community is just that, a community!  I know that since I have began blogging and following other blogs, I have become a better, more creative teacher. 

      I know I have shared about books from Ollie's, but seriously this place is amazing! (Well for books that is!) If you have an Ollie's in your area then you need to check it out.  They have hard bound books for $2.99 and $3.99.  I bought two books for me and two for my student teacher's end of the year gift and I only spent $12.00. 

 

                     These two are for me and they are adorable!

These are for my student teacher.  I bought her a Thirty-One bag and am going to fill it with items for her first classroom.  I am collecting books to put in the bag.  Skippyjon Jones is one of my FAVORITE characters!  So, I knew it was a must for my student teacher!

Don't forget to check out the steals at Ollie's and Thank you again for being loyal followers!  Only 15 more and I will be at 100!!!

Happy Tuesday!
- Michelle

St. Patrick’s Day Freebie, Common Core, and Reading Street

     If your school is anything like mine, you have had a year or two of transitions with the Common Core.  This year our school is in full implementation of the Common Core and it is a transitional year from using Scott Foresman Reading Street towards a Reader's Workshop Model. 

     Our grade level has worked very hard to find a balance between a workshop model and the positive aspects of the Reading Street Program.   We took the stories and rearranged them with our ELA Curriculum Map so that we could teach the Common Core, with a workshop model, in the sequence that is required by our county.  This has allowed me to really incorporate a variety of methods for teaching specific reading skills.  I am so proud of the amazing readers that I have in my classroom!  They are applying all that is taught in the Reading Street Program and the Common Core for first grade, during their independent reading. 

     One of the ways that I blend the skills from Reading Street and a workshop model is through my interactive read alouds.  I love using thematic books for this and using them to teach and model the skills that good readers do. 

     This week my our class is focusing on cause and effect.  They are going to listen to the story The Night Before St. Patrick's Day and review cause and effect with a little activity I created.  Head on over to my TpT site to grab a free copy of the cause and effect activity for this book.  Click on the title above or the picture below.

    

      If you download this activity, please go back afterwards and leave me some feedback.  Also, don't forget to follow my TpT site for more freebies and class activities to support your daily instruction!