2 and 1/2 years

 

Two and a half years is a long enough break, don't you think?  LOL  What have I been doing during that time?

Well... I bought a new home, and with that there was moving and work to be done outside of school hours.  Then, our family got not one but TWO new additions...I have two new grandbabies six weeks apart.  Well...and life in general...
So, I'll be starting my twenty-second school year in the public school system in 2019-2020.  With the next school year, I am planning on changing up some things in my classroom.  I have taken some summer PD that has inspired me to try some new things.  I plan on sharing those things on my blog, so I hope you will check back to hear all about them.
I hope you enjoy the remainder of your summer...and I encourage you to think outside the box at ways you might reach your students better in the coming school year!
Chatterbox Blessings,

Two Years....Really? Break Time Is Over!

Wow!  Has it really been two years since I've blogged here?  How does time slip away so quickly?  My goal is to to blog regularly through the year, so we shall see how that goes.  I will strive to do my best!

So...I'm going into my nineteenth year in the public school system, with this being the third year for me in fourth grade.  I adored third grade....guess that's why I stayed fifteen years before switching grades.  I taught second grade two years, but I was ready to move up then.  With a fourth grade position available, luckily I snagged it!  I'm excited to see what this year in fourth grade has to offer!

As summer comes to a close (I start back in two days, students in nine...) I have begun to gear up for the upcoming year....you know...visiting all my favorite websites, shopping at the teacher store, looking for deals, and of course clothes shopping!  lol

So, for my first blog here in two years, I thought I'd just share some of my favorite things for preparing for back to school...so grab a drink and let's get started...

PROTEACHER

I have been frequenting ProTeacher since 1998!  It is an amazing place to be to get new ideas, make friendships, ask questions, vent and much, more!  Check it out ::HERE:: if you've never visited!  Be sure to sign up...it's FREE!

INTO THE BOOK

Ok...so this one is my new found favorite!  

OMG!  SCORE!

This site is for both teachers and students!  There are tons of resources, games, songs, books, lesson plans, and more for lots of reading strategies.  You can be sure I'll be putting this site to good use!

APPS

These are some of my favorite apps to use with my students.  I especially love Google Classroom!  If you have access, you must check it out if you haven't already!

KAHOOT!

What a FUN way to review, practice, or assess what you've taught!  The kids love it, and they can sign in anonymously!

So what sites or apps are your frequenting as a new school year approaches?

Chatterbox Blessings,

Rebecca

Remember Me???

Obviously, I've been away from Blogland for a bit!  I have hardly had time to turn around since school began!  After some switching around of teachers {thankfully not me, but in my grade level} due to increased enrollment, and shifting of some kiddos {which did effect my class}, I think we are settling in.  Then, those little kiddo germs attacked!  I hate being sick so early into the school year but a doctor's visit was in order, and with that, orders to stay home for a day!

Now, here we are with a three day weekend...Yay, right?  Wrong!  Kidney stones aren't something to celebrate!!!  Friday morning I was in a dress and heels, taking school pictures with my class...two hours later, I was in a hospital gown, hooked to an IV, and begging for drugs!  OMG!  It came on so fast!  I've never experienced kidney stones before, and I hope and pray I never do again!  I got home yesterday afternoon, and now resting comfortably!  PTL!!!  But we did have to cancel our trip to the Tennessee Aquarium with our sweet little grandgirl.  :(  We'll make that up soon though!And I pray that this isn't how the rest of my year will go.  
And I am going to break the ultimate blog rule...I'm going to post more than once today...EEKKK...so I can get caught up some.  I hope that's ok!Many Blessings,

August Currently

{click on pic to read} So, I started back to school on July 25 {inservice} and had kiddos for the first time this past Wednesday.  Our school building is just a year old, and we are already bursting at the seams!  We keep getting kiddos daily...  So, yesterday afternoon our principal called an after school meeting.  We are getting two new teachers starting Monday...one in kindergarten and one in second grade.  So, some of the kiddos I had the past three days may not be in my class starting on Monday.  :(  We shall see how this plays out, as things are changing daily.  I am thinking that rezoning of schools will take place next year!  Anyway, here is my August Currently.  Be sure to head over to Farley's to see what everyone else is currently doing. I'll be back soon to share more back-to-school happenings!Back 2 School Blessings,

FREEBIE Circle Frames and Tickets

Click the above image to get this FREEBIE!ENJOY!Creative Blessings,

Theme Linky Party and WINNERS!!!

It's another Linky Party...and Winners announced!

 

Corinna at Surfin' Through Second is hosting a Classroom Theme Linky Party.  So I'm going to share everything that I have done so far for my Cowboy/Western theme for next year....some of these pics you have seen in previous posts.

This is a sample of things that I made for my Helper Board.  My Welcome Wagon is a small group of kiddos that welcome newbies to our class and help them learn the ropes.

This is a small sample of my notebook that I created.

...and a sample of pages in the kiddos' H.O.R.S.E. binder, desk plate, horse clip art and Wanted poster {both of which I drew}.

Cute cowboy stuff that I bought at the teacher store

More stuff that I bought

CUTE borders!!!

The Buckaroo Board area that I have started to work on in my room already...more work needed though!

My Buckaroo Board upclose...much still to do!

I set this up in my dining room so I could share these goodies from Shindigz.

The glitter horse shoes came in three different sizes.  The barbwire garland is so cute, and I love the red barn backdrop.

Adorable red book barn that I found here...and my hubby is using this for inspiration to build ME a book barn!  I adore that man!  Thanks, honey!

And last but not least, my cowboy and cowgirl puppets.  I adore them!  And that brings me to my WINNERS for my "naming my cowboy/cowgirl puppets"...

I had SO MANY wonderful names and ideas for these two cuties.  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT PARTICIPATED.  I have decided to let my kiddos name the puppets after we share several cowboy/cowgirl books {that were suggested}.  Four people suggested that I let the kiddos name them, so I put those four in the hat first.  So, I will announce the winners now...

 

For the naming part of my contest...and winner of the above prizes is...

Christina doesn't have a blog, so I will contact her my email.  Congrats, Christina!

So then I put the other three in the drawing with everyone else...And the winner of the above prizes is...

I'll be notifying Peggy by email as well.

Thank you all for sharing in the contest!

Now be sure to head over to Corinna's at Surfin' Through Second for lots more theme ideas!

Blessings to all,

Happy 4th of July and Web-errific Wednesday #2

Happy Independence Day, everyone.  Thank you to those that have and are currently serving this great country of ours.  God Bless each one of you!  

A special thank you to my son who served in the U.S. Air Force.  I'm so proud of you and love you so much!

May we always remember those that gave their lives, because freedom is NOT FREE!

Happy Birthday, America!God Bless The U.S.A.!
Now, on to Web-errific Wednesday.Here are the sites that I have to share today.

*Activity TV*Activities, indeed!  Crafts, Puppets, Cartooning, Origami, Juggling, Cooking, and MORE!  A must see!*Storybee*Great stories told by professional storytellers.  Stories are easily categorized from age 4 to 18.  Be sure to check this out!*Silly Books*Lots of silly stories, puzzles, games, and more.  SO CUTE!  You're kiddos will love it.
Thanks for joining me for Web-errific Wednesday!  If you want to share any websites with us, just leave me a comment.  Thanks!

May you all have a most HAPPY and SAFE FOURTH OF JULY!BLESSINGS,

July Currently

July already?  How can this be?  Where has half of the year gone?  

I have my July Currently ready to share.  

Don't forget to visit over at Farley's to see what everyone else is currently doing!
And don't forget to enter my "Name That Cowboy/Cowgirl" Contest!  You can read about it here.Stay cool and hydrated, y'all!  It's been 108 here!

Fabulous Find Friday

One of my 2nd grade teammates has recently started selling Thirty One on the side.  OMG!  These will be my very first Thirty One products, and I'm super excited!  This large utility tote was a special this month.  It is originally $35 but if you spend $35 you get it for $10!  Yay!  This is the pattern that I ordered for me.

This awesome organizer utility tote is fabulous.  A teacher friend has one of these and it is amazing.  I got mine in the pink lotsa dots {which was just a June special}.  I got one of the large utility totes {first pic} for my daughter-in-love in this swirls pattern.

They are suppose to be here next week.  I can't wait to start getting things organized for school!  I'd love to hear about any of the Thirty One products that you have, and how you like it.

*And sorry that I posted two times today...EEEKK!*  I had already posted before I saw this linky party. 

Be sure to head over to Fun In Room 4B to see what fabulous finds others have found.  And be sure to go to my previous post to enter my Name My Cowboy Contest!

Win Prizes for "Name That Cowboy" Contest

Today's post is about a convo at the teacher store and a way to win prizes in my contest!

Yesterday was a girls' day for my bestie and me.  We spent the morning at the teacher store, The Learning Circle, had lunch at Longhorn Steak, spent the afternoon shopping at Marshall's, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Charming Charlie's, and then Gigi's Cupcakes to top off the day.  FUN...FUN...FUN
So, let's go back to yesterday morning when we arrived at The Learning Circle.  Here's kinda how it went.store clerk:  "Good morning.  Can I help you find anything or do you just want to browse?"Me:  "Good morning.  Actually, I am looking for anything to do with cowboys/western for my class theme."store clerk:  "Oh that's a cute theme.  I have a bulletin board set on sale.  Follow me."Me:  "On sale sounds good!"  I happily follow her to the sale table.  "Oh, that's cute."2nd store clerk:  "Oh, there is another bulletin board over there." pointing to the wall full of bulletin board sets.1st store clerk:  "Here, I'll show you."Me:  I obediently follow.  This one iss NOT on sale, but I squeal with delight.  "I love this one better!"1st store clerk: "Oh, and there is border back here to match.  Follow me."2nd store clerk:  "Be sure to show her the cute bandana letters and hat cut outs.""Oh, and there's a wanted poster in the poster section."1st store clerk:  "These bandana and jeans library pockets are too cute."Me:  "Wow!  You sure do have cowboy/western stuff for my theme!", I chuckled.  The store clerk takes my items to the counter so I won't have to carry them around {and of course this is a ploy so my hands are free to load up again...and it works!...bwahahahaha}  Boy, did they see me coming!  bwahahahaha

As I browse {finally by myself} I find some other cute things that I know I could use.  I round the corner and come face to face with the cutest little cowgirl puppet!  I just have to have her!  I think a horse would be cute too...I don't find one, but I do find the adorable cowboy to go with her!  That's even better!!!  

They really are my "find" for the morning!!!  I head back to the front counter to see what the damage is.  For all that I'm buying, I am pleasantly surprised at the total.  I think I did well!

Now, can you help me out a little???1.  Will you help me in naming my cowboy and cowgirl?2.  Share with me how I could use them in my classroom.
If I choose your cowboy/cowgirl name...you will win this...

The book, Mortimer by Robert MunschA journal and bookmark made by me2 cute little highlightersEveryone else that contributed either a name and/or idea, will go in a drawing for this...

A K-1 literacy center bookChip board book {with metal ring}Pretty paper scalloped edged cut-outs {that fit the chip board book}Pink and yellow flower sticky notes
Ok, so put your thinking caps on and post your names/ideas.Blessings,