I've been busy, busy, busy working with Dr. Jean on our latest creation.  We've been working on these packets this past year- and we just love them. We couldn't wait to share these! Last year, Jean and I were talking about how much we enjoy sharing ideas with teachers, and how much we want the JOY of teaching and learning never to be lost.  With all the trends and changes and standards out there, sometimes teachers get so caught up in having to keep up, they forget to enjoy the journey. Dr. Jean wanted to put all of her best teaching songs together with practical, helpful ideas an ..read more

Happy Summer, everyone!  It's always such a great feeling to rest and reflect after the school year is over.  This summer, my sister and I have discovered such a fun way to do just that- and I couldn't wait to share it with you, because it's a great idea for the classroom, too.  (Of course- doesn't that happen with everything you do- your mind instantly goes to, "How could I use this in the classroom?!") The latest trend in our area has been painting rocks.  Basically, people have fun painting rocks, hiding them, and waiting for other people to find them and be happy! We ..read more

It seems like FOREVER since I have posted.  We've had so many things going on... and it's just plain been busy.  We moved.  Jeff's sweet mother passed away.  And then there's school.  You all know! I have a few fun ideas if you are still in school like I am... (until June 23). I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey! First of all, our writing units are DONE!  We scored our last writing sample.  It always amazes me how far the children come in a year.  Yes- when we read the kindergarten ..read more

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey! We worked on  these number bonds with gold on St. Patrick's Day!  This worksheet is from The Printable Princess. It was in a packet a while ago- but I think the packet has changed and I can't find it there now.    Anyway- we worked on number bonds using our 'real' gold.  I spray paint lots of rocks with gold spray paint, and have counters forever.  The leprechauns also left everyone a piece of the 'real' gold, too.   The leprechauns wrote on our ..read more

We've started learning The Water Cycle song in our class, and as usual- it's a favorite! Every year, without fail, it's a favorite.  Dr. Jean and I made a packet all about The Water Cycle, Water, and Clouds! Here is the Prezi that is included with the packet. This Prezi includes The Water Cycle song by Steve Songs.  We also love singing  Dr. Jean's The Water Cycle song, (the download is included in the packet)- and WOW- do my kids know all about the water cycle! Here is my class singing the song after only one week!               I taught ..read more

I wanted to share this book I just got at our book fair!  It's called We Are Growing, by Laurie Keller, and...  I cannot wait to use it.  I am sharing it with you before I even do anything with it, in case you want to get your own and have fun with it.  Maybe you already know about it, and I've been missing out.  Anyway- here it is! I was so sad when the Piggie and Elephant series ended.  So sad... but I knew something else wonderful would be coming along, and it has! In this story, Walt and his blades of grass friends are all excited to be growin ..read more

Are you feeling lucky? Because it's your lucky day! I've written many times about the benefits of and my love for ESGI as an assessment tool that I use in my classroom.  Not only is it such a time saver and easy-to-use assessment tool that gives me TONS of information at my fingertips, graphed any way I could want, and easy to use and access wherever I am- WITHOUT fumbling through paper after paper-  but it also provides me with so many extras that just plain help me out in my daily teaching.  It's obvious that this program was created by a teacher who GETS IT. (Thank you, G ..read more

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey! Hi! I hope you all had a wonderful week.  Quick question- Where is this "spring" I've heard about? Actually, this winter hasn't been as cold as some I remember, but I'm ready for it to be over.  It doesn't look like that's happening, at least this week.  We are actually already hoping for our last snow day on Tuesday if the forecast is right.  That's a teacher's way of turning lemons into lemonade... Our saying should be "If winter gives you snow, turn it into a snow ..read more

Happy March! I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. Thank you for hosting, Kacey! This week, I introduced Bossy "e" or Magic "e."  A few weeks ago, we talked about Bossy "r", so the children were ready for another bossy letter.  Some of my kids are really ready to take off with Bossy "e," (and not just because they enjoy being bossy themselves sometimes...) because they are noticing the silent e at the end of words in their books.   We LOVE these videos! Susanna from Whimsy Workshop does a DARLING Bossy E idea that I lov ..read more

I love old fashioned, paper lists that I can cross off when I'm done with something.  It helps me bring order to a crazy day and quiet my mind.  Once I write something down, my mind is free to let it go, for some reason.  My love of lists is one reason I absolutely loved this post by Rachel Stafford.  Rachel was a special education teacher, and used lists very successfully with her students for behavior management. She explains  how her approach was to break tasks down into small steps, so there would be no confusion what was expected from her students.  S ..read more