Must Have Picture Books Linky Party

Oh how I adore picture books.  I can't even begin to tell you how many hours I have spent in bookstores such as Books-A-Million, Hastings, Barnes&Noble, etc. in the picture book section!  So, when I saw Lindsey's Linky Party, I had to join in!I am suppose to list my Top 5...OMG...just 5...I'll try!

1.  Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook by Michael GarlandZack is not excited about second grade at all.  That is until he meets his new teacher that can really bring a story to life!  You can find this book here.

2.  Three Hens and a Peacock by Lester LaminackNothing ever happens on the Tucker Farm...that is until a peacock shows up.  The hens and the peacock think they work the hardest.  After the old hound dog suggests them to swap jobs, they find out that others jobs aren't as easy as they seem.I adore Lester Laminack!  He is the best storyteller and author.  I have had the great pleasure of hearing him a couple of times at conferences, as well as, as a guest author at our school.  You can find it here.

3.  The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

This book holds a special meaning to me.  Every time my sweet little 2 year old granddaughter goes back home {in another town} she gets a little sad {and so does Gramma}.  I kiss the palm of her hand and gently close it for her.  I tell her that whenever she is feeling sad and wants me, just open up her hand and kiss it, and it will be like me giving her a kiss.That's what happens in this story when Chester Raccoon has to leave his Mommy to go to school.  You can find it here.

4.  The Giving Tree by Shel SilversteinThis story is a bit sad, but shows the unconditional love the tree has for the boy.You can find it here.

5.  Chrysanthemum by Kevin HenkesI know that everyone probably has this book, but I just love it.  I always use this book during the first week of school.  A sweet story to teach about how hurtful it is to make fun of others.  You can find it here.   Oh, I have SO MANY more but I narrowed it down to these five.  They are all great books that are a must have in the elementary classroom.Be sure to head over to Lindsey's to see what books other teachers are suggesting!Loving this linky party,

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,

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!

Summer Shopping Linky Party

If you are looking for my  Web-errific Wednesday post, I removed it.  No one linked to it so, I just decided to delete that post, and start again.  Can you say "DO OVER!"  LOL  There's a Summer Shopping Linky Party going on, and shopping {retail therapy, if you will} makes things better, so I'm joining in to share what I have bought so far.

My classroom will have a Cowboy/Western theme this next year.  I am super excited at the things I have found so far online.  Let's take a look...

I set this up in my dining room so you could see it better.  I love the barn backdrop!  The adorable table skirt will be great in my reading area!

The wagon wheel will find a place in my chuckwagon area.

The glitter horseshoes that come in three different sizes are TOO cute!  And that "barbed wire" strand is going to work great with my student's work board.

I'll incorporate this into my behavior some way.  Any and all ideas are welcome!

If you are interested in doing this theme in your classroom, 

then here's a FREEBIE for you.  

You might also want to check out this in my TN Shop.

Ok, so instead of Web-errific Wednesdays being a linky party, I'll just add new sites that I find to share.  So, here are the ones I have to share today...

I had given great detail about each site in my original post, but I'm just going to give you a tidbit on each, and you can go check them out.  

Storybird

This site is SO COOL!  Your kiddos can create stories with awesome artwork that is available on this site.  A must see!

PicMonkey

Love this site!  You can create collages, FB banners, edit photos, and more on this site.  It is FREE and NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED!  Can't beat that!

Funology

I might have known about this site before, but not sure.  It looks like there is lots of FUN to be had on this one!

Thinglink

This is the coolest!  You upload pictures and then pin items within that picture.  You can link pics to websites for your kiddos...really kewl!  Be sure to browse the Gallery for ideas!

Ok, so that's it for my "DO OVER" post.  tee hee

Now, head on over to Ladybug's Teacher Files to see what everyone else has been shopping for!

Hope you have a most blessed day,

Teaching In Chunks AND Made It Monday

I thought you might get more out of this if I did a short video. [no laughing please...teehee]I will address:Teaching in ChunksClass-YesTeach-OKHope this helps in some small way!Thanks for watching {and NOT laughing!]

Ok, so I'm a little late to the party, but had to share for "Make It Monday".

I have an obsession with vintage millinery flowers, and I'm still on the journal/notebook "kick"...lol

So, I wanted to share my personal journal that I made with some of my fav vintage millinery flowers and of course, some vintage "bling!  I LOVE the way it turned out!

And here is one that I made for a bloggy friend of mine.

Head on over and check out what others have made....HERE!

Web-errific Wednesdays

I love finding new websites that are great resources for my teaching and my students.  So I decided to start a Wednesday Linky Party.  I'd like to introduce you to Web-errific Wednesdays which will start next Wednesday, June 27th.

Be ready to share one or two websites that you have recently found and tell us a little bit about it or how you will use it.  Hope you will meet me back here next Wednesday for my very first, Web-errific Wednesdays!  

My Obsessions

Bonnie at Living A Wonderful Life is hosting her first Linky Party!  And since there are things that I really love ... Ok, I'll admit it... that I am really obsessed with, I just HAD to join!So, here are the things I am obsessed with {not in any particular order}

Anything shabby chic...vintage...cream colorBig ruffly flowers like peonies!vintage millinery flowers...YUMMMMMMMMY goodness!Mochas {raspberry mochas and peppermint mochas are two of my favs!}My sweet doggy, Maggie Bleu!Anything CARAMEL!!!!!!!
Drawing my own clip art graphics!

PINK and AQUA!Vintage dollies, stuffed animals, more pink and aqua decorations for our sweet granddaughter's bedroom when she visits us!

And my latest obsession!Impractical Jokers...LOVE THESE GUYS!!!Check out what others are obsessed with...here...and maybe you will want to join in!