Story Wands- Consolation Prize

I found these super cute story wands in our school's Reading Specialist's room.  She is the Lakeshore Queen!

 

After using them whole group, I have been having my buddy readers use them while reading to each other. The students love them! Anyway, I will need to turn them in soon, and they cost $25 from Lakeshore. Here are my knockoffs:



If you are not a cheap-o like me, click here to get the real thing!

WINNER!!!

Mrs. McDaniel please email me so Erica and I can get you your prizes!

I cannot thank Erica Bohrer enough for all of her help with the contest.  Thank you! Thank you!!

Thanks to everyone who entered!  I am finishing up a consolation prize and will post it soon.

Thanks again everyone for all of your encouragement!  You're the best bloggy friends EVER!

Tonight's the Night!

If you have not entered the contest for the wonderful Jelly Bean Math from fabulous Erica Bohrer and the personalized door hanger from me, do it now! I'll be posting the winner tomorrow! Click here to enter.

You know you're a teacher when.... Linky Party!!!

Babbling Abby is having a Linky Party through her Teacher Blog, The Inspired Apple! I absolutely love the topic, "You know you're a teacher when...." Without further ado, here is my contribution to the Linky Party! :)

You know you teach first grade when...
-You take things out of people's trashcan because it would be perfect for whatever project you or your kids are working on.
-Shut up and boobs are bad words.
-Almost everything in the Dollar Spot at Target can be used for something in your classroom.
- You can always use a couple more storage bins.
- You watch Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana, and Phineas and Ferb to get ideas for your job.
- You've considered buying stock in Pink Pearl, Elmers, and Dixon.
- Tears of joy roll down your face when a student who couldn't write her name, didn't know her ABC's, and cried every day at the beginning of the year because, according to her, she was just too dumb for school, leaves the writing center to bring you this (while sporting a huge toothless smile nonetheless):

Notice it begins with a capital letter, ends in a period, and was written all by herself!

Now it is your turn! What a wonderful idea Abby! Click her button to join the party.

Kite Themed Mini Unit

My absolute favorite activity to do with my kids in the Springtime is to have them build their own kites and fly them. I put together some kite themed activities to do the week of our kite project. At the very end of the unit are instructions on how you can do the "Build a Kite" lesson.



I hope you like it! What is your favorite Spring project?

P.S.: Thanks to everyone who has entered My Very First Contest, and a BIG thanks to Erica Bohrer who is giving away her Jelly Bean Math unit from her TPT store!

If you have not entered, do it! Contest will end Wednesday. :)

Character Traits with SpongeBob SquarePants

Who lives in the hallway on the right? SpongeBob SquarePants!

 I blogged a week or so ago about teaching character traits. While introducing them, I was inspired by a student's comment to do a SpongeBob lesson. I have several SpongeBob books that stay in the "Just for Fun" reading tub, but they came in super handy to teach character traits.

      We stared the lesson by voting on a book to read, and my FirstGrader SmartiePants picked the perfect one.  

It showed SpongeBob as a hard worker and good friend who can get a little annoyed at times.

After reading, each student wrote a character trait on SpongeBob.   Here are a few examples of what they came up with.  

"Nice Dresser"  :)
"Funny"
"Respectful"
"Good"






"Sponge"
"Jellyfisher"  <--Haha.  I love it!






Then I gave each student a sentence strip and asked them to write the definition of character traits.  This SmartiePants almost wrote  everything, word for word, that I had been telling them all week.

This was so much fun and they loved it!

Students are almost finished with the rough drafts of their writings about SpongeBob.  I still need to make a writing mat for their final draft.  I will post a copy of that and some of their writings when they finish.  My kids are a hoot!

My Very First Contest!

        When I reached 100 followers, I promised there would be a giveaway posted on this blog by Friday. Well, that is today! I wasn't sure what to do or where to start, and the wonderful and oh so talented Erica Bohrer offered to help.  I cannot thank her enough!  Without further ado,  here is what you can win:

A personalized door hanger from me,

This is mine from school, but I will make it however you request it.

and

Erica's brand new, 42 page,  Jelly Bean Math from her TPT store!  I bought it last night, and she covers a ton of First Grade math skills.  It is fantastic!

This is what you do to enter:

1.  Follow my blog.

2.  Follow Erica's Blog and her TPT Store (which is packed full of amazing resources!).

3. Post the Contest on your blog.

Leave a comment for each step you do!

You have until Wednesday, March 30th, to enter.  The winner will be announced Thursday.

I am so excited!!!