First Days of School and Classroom Pics!

Whew!  I. Am. Exhausted!  What a week!  I got home from our vacation last Sunday, set up my classroom in record time and started school with a new bunch of firsties.  Tired doesn't even begin to describe how I feel.  I know, I know... preaching to the choir!

Anyway... I went in on Tuesday after Labor Day for our first in-service day.  All of my colleagues had already been in while I was on vacation.  (We are only allowed in during the last two weeks of August and coincidentally, that's when my family takes our vacation.  So I'm left with no choice but to bust my butt two days before the kids come to get it done.)  So I unlock my classroom door expecting to find everything similar to where I left it in June.  (You may remember I came in to set up my new classroom a bit in June.  I put up some bulletin boards and covered them and arranged the furniture.  I actually asked the custodians if I should take pictures of how I wanted it so that they could arrange it, but they told me not to worry they would.)  To my surprise... it wasn't.  I screamed a little in my head, set my boxes down and headed to our upper elementary school for a day of stimulating in-service, wink!  

This is what I arrived to see, Ahhhhhh!

So I arrived back to my school a bit after 3:30 to begin to tackle my room.  I worked until 8pm that night and again until 7pm the next day and these are pictures of the finished project.  I'm so happy with how it turned out!  I want to also give a thank you shout out to my mom!  I couldn't have done it without her!   (Please excuse the quality of the photos.  I'm not a great iPhone photographer.)

View from the door of the front of my classroom featuring my SmartBoard and my main teaching area. My desk is on the far side.  ( We are required to have our teacher's desks directly across from our door at the front of our classroom for technology reasons.)

A view from the door of the rest of my classroom.  

A closer view of the front window side of my classroom.  I love my animal print alphabet and number cards.  The alphabet cards are from my TPT store.  The number cards are from Peterson's Pad.

The front door side of the classroom with calendar, rules and schedule cards.  My How We Go Home clip chart is on the side of the cabinet, next to the door.

The back inside corner with lots of storage.  I need to put some curtains or something up to hide it, though because looking at the boxes is driving me nuts.  My behavior clip chart is on the closet door, too.  I'm loving my horseshoe shaped table-- never had one before!

Another shot of the back corner.  

The computer center- 2 laptops and 4 Chromebooks (I had one with me at training.)  The black wall above is our future word wall.

My classroom library... loving my great built in bookcases, too.

My desk area.

My desk- those that know me, note the lack of desk clutter!  Four days in and it still looks like this!  Woo hoo!  The pocket chart has daily objective on it.  

A closer view of the rules posters and schedule cards.

 A view of my door from the hall.  New rules per our wonderful fire inspector... nothing can be hung on the inside or outside of the door.  So my welcome pennant and student names are behind it when it is open.

So that's the quickie tour of 1G.  I'll post more about our first two days tomorrow... hopefully!  

Thanks for stopping by!

We Have a Winner!!

Tiffany (One Fab Teacher) and I would like to thank all of our wonderful followers, both new and old. We would also like to thank all of our sponsors, Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade Teaching Tidbits, Teacher at the Wheel, The Lamppost in First, Erica Bohrer's First Grade (now Erica's Ed-ventures), All Things Apple in 2nd, Primarily Speaking, First Grade Critter Cafe, First Grader at Last, and Just a Primary Girl.  We couldn't have pulled this off without you!  I would also like to thank my partner in crime, Tiffany.  Thanks for agreeing to do this together.  I couldn't have asked for a better bloggy buddy!
There was a great response to our 100 Follower Giveaway and we are ready to announce the winner of the awesome prize pack!  Drumroll please....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Angela, check you email because some great goodies are headed your way!  Congratulations!

I'm off to enjoy the last two weeks of summer with my family.  I may or may not take a hiatus from blogging for a few weeks.  But don't forget about the HUGE Back to School Sale on TPT.  My store will be on sale for 20% off, plus if you enter the code below TPT will take another 8% off.  Woo hoo! Happy shopping!

(button from Ink n Little Things)

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to School Sale and a Freebie

Hey there!  I've neglected this little blog this week but it takes a lot of work to get a family of four ready for vacation for 2 weeks.  Whew!  

Anyway, I'm coming to you now to remind you about the big TPT Back to School Sale happening this  Saturday and Sunday and Monday (Sorry... I don't even know what date it is!).  It's time to check off that wish list and pick up goodies you have had your eye on.  Don't forget to leave feedback for sellers.  Not only is it sweet and sellers love the compliments, but  it earns you bonus points you can use to get products for FREE!

(button from ink n little things)

So this is like the Black Friday of Teacher Back to School Shopping.  (I LIVE for Black Friday sales, hehe!)  So ya gotta have a plan.  Here's my plan... I'll pick up some new goodies in one transaction and then give feedback to the sellers.  That will earn me bonus points that I can turn around and buy more goodies with.  SCORE!! Can you tell I am excited?  

So, I have a little Freebie that you can only get here!  My best selling items in my TPT store have been my Journeys (reading series) Word Wall cards.  As of right now, I have four styles to choose from.  I created these adorable welcome buntings that you can use in your classroom.  They coordinate with my other products, but the beauty is that they could be used on their own, too.  So you can download these even if you don't use Journeys.

Click on the image above to download your bunting for FREE!

I'm going to be using the Zebra and Turquoise on my classroom door.  Here's what it looks like at home.

Just print it out.  Punch holes in the two ends of the top and add some ribbon to connect the triangles.  Instant cuteness!

If you pick up this adorable freebie, please leave me a comment letting me know which print you are going to be using.  That way I'll know if anyone is downloading it.  

And don't forget to enter my giveaway.  Only one more day left!

Click the button to enter! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Teacher Week '13- Meet the Teacher

Hey there!  Since I haven't been blogging for too long, this is my first Teacher Week.  This is a great linky party where you can meet more great bloggers.  

There is a great schedule of linkys.  I'm going to be perfectly honest...  I will not be linking up every day.  Many of you are going back this week or have been back to school for a bit, but my school year doesn't start until September 3rd for teachers and September 5th for students.  I'm actually getting ready to go on vacay with my family next week for two weeks.  You may have done the math... There are only three more weeks until September... "When does she set up her classroom?" you ask.  I don't know how I do it, but I work like a maniac between in-services and meetings those first two days.  I stay until dark, but I get it done.  Going away those last two weeks are not my choice.  My husband's family has been going to the OBX (Outer Banks, NC) for many years for the last two weeks of August and the traditional has continued.  Since I am only one person who it inconviences, I can't expect everything to change to make my life easier.  So... I find ways to make it work.  That's a topic for another day...

So here's the schedule of great linkys, go to Bloghoppin' to link up or check out other great blogs.

Since, I have recently added many new followers, this is probably a great time to participate in this linky, so you all can get to know me better... So without further adieu...

1. I am getting ready to start my 12th year teaching.  When I started my career, I spent a year in third grade.  But, I've been in first grade ever since.  

2. My mom was always my best inspiration to become a teacher.  She retired a few years ago after teaching for 37 years.  Actually in my family, there's no other career path.  Everyone becomes a teacher.  My father taught for a few years at a catholic school.  My grandmother also taught for years.  My older sister teaches high school math and her husband teaching high school science.  My younger sister tried to buck the family tradition.  As a teenager she actually said, "I'm not going to be a teacher!  I'm going to do something where I use my brain!"  GASP!!! I was in my first or second year of teaching and I wanted to slap her.  I got over it and she caved after two years in nursing school and changed her major to Health and PE.  Haha, couldn't resist it.... we are a family of teachers!  

3. I married my best friend 9 years ago.  We met when I was in college and it was love by third date.  He's a great husband and even more incredible dad!

I wish I had a digital version of our wedding pictures, but my scanner is on the fritz and our wedding was before digital became the only way.  I'm not really that tall and he's not really that short, LOL!  I am taller but I think it's a combo of small heels and the camera angle that make me look like the Jolly Green Giant and him like a Oompa Loompa.

4. We have two wonderful and crazy little boys.  K is starting 1st grade this year (I'm so nervous about being in the same grade.)  L is going to nursery school two mornings a week.  

5. My first son is my fur baby Otto.  He's an english bulldog who is such a lover.  He just turned ten.  We got him right before we got married.  

6. I love bad TV and juicy dramas.  I always say, "Separate TVs make for a happy marriage." My hubby and I disagree on what great entertainment is.  How does he not see the intellectual value of The Bachelor, Dancing with The Stars, Glee, and Scandal?  

7. I may have a mild addiction to Diet Pepsi.  I saw this and had to pin it.  I just wish I knew how to cross out Coke and replace it with Pepsi.

8. I love, love, love Target.  Who doesn't?  Where else can you grocery shop, buy cute clothes, and shop in the dollar spot for cute, cheap stuff for school.  I have to resist the urge to go more than once a week.

9. I love doing Zumba.  It is the first workout I have stuck with for over a year continuously.  It is so much fun and the time just flies.

10. If you have not participated in the giveaway that I'm hosting right now with Tiffany of One Fab Teacher, you have to click here to check it out.  You could win a great prize pack!

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great week!

Five For Friday! Giveaway and a Sale!

Hey there!  It's Friday! (Haha, I didn't even realize it was until I saw all of the Five For Friday posts going up- gotta love summertime!)  Anyway... I'm linking up with Kacie from Doodlebugs Teaching to share five random things from my week.  

1. Do you have a great group of co-workers who help you stay motivated and make it fun to come to work?  Besides a wonderful group of current co-workers, I need to acknowledge my first teaching family.  When I started my career 12 years ago. I worked as a classroom aide in our district's third grade team.  Within just a few days, I realized that this group of women would become my friends for life.  I got hired as a third grade teacher the following year and was officially "in."  No one in our little group  actually works together anymore.  We've all gone separate ways... some have retired, some have stayed home to raise children, and the rest of us have moved around grade levels.  But even though our work experiences may have changed, our friendships have remained strong.

So every summer we get together at Mrs. T's home on the Barnegat Bay with all of our kids.  I don't know about you but whenever teachers plan a party... it's organized, packed with fun, and has a dash of learning!  One of our fun activities was to create an obstacle course.  We made our course down the street at her neighborhood beach club.  Each family brought one or two items to add to the course.  The kids had a ball!

Then we headed back to the house to enjoy the pool.  We had a grilled cheese bar.  My favorite was grilled ham and cheddar cheese with apple slices... mmmm good!  Never would have thought of that combo myself!

Our annual get together is one of the highlights of our summer.  I hope you all have had the opportunity to work with amazing and inspiration teachers, like I have.  It makes going to work even more fun!

2. We are counting down to the end of summer.  Our last hurrah is a vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina so, the boys and I are spending the last two weeks before vacation doing "one lasts".  We went to Sesame Place and Six Flags Great Adventure.  I'm hoping to get in a trip to the Philadephia Zoo and the NJ State Planetarium next week before we go away.  This week, the boys and I took a quick camping trip.  My parents have a travel trailer and we met them for a few days of camping fun.  We visited Crystal Cave in Kutztown, Pa.  My oldest is very into rocks and crystals so this was a perfect trip for him.  They loved seeing all of the cool formations.  My little guy was just looking for Batman the whole time, since he heard there were bats that lived in the cave.  

3.  I don't know why I didn't do this sooner... I uploaded all of my learning CDs onto my iTunes account and now I have MP3s of them that I can play through my computer and SmartBoard.  I'm working on making some pages for my SmartBoard that I can use as a Jukebox.  When I get that done, I'll share how I did it, in case anyone else is making the transition away away from CDs.  (Confession... I just gave away the last of my cassette tapes at the end of this year.)  Not sure why I was hanging on to them, but I did part with them... you can put off the call to "Hoarders"... for now!  

4.  My district adopted Houghton Mifflin's Journeys Program two years ago and I hand wrote all of my word wall cards... until this year.  I created word cards specifically to match this program.  Since, I posted my first few, I've gotten a few requests for specific backgrounds.  This is my newest creation... it's basic and goes with any classroom decor.  Each card is on a plain black chalkboard background.  The frames are without fussy borders and the font is traditional penmanship.  I also included several editable pages, so the user can add any other words they wish.  You can check it out in my TPT store.  

5. Finally... the big day has arrived.  Tiffany of One Fab Teacher and I are hosting our ver first giveaway to celebrate 100 followers.  We are so excited to giveaway tons of great prizes from us and many of our well-known bloggy buddies.  Click here to see my original post and enter the rafflecopter.

Also to celebrate this big milestone, everything in my TPT store is on sale for this weekend.  Stop by and check it out!  Thanks for stopping by!

It's Time to Celebrate!!

Wahoooooo!! It's finally time to start the party and this is one you just don't want to miss! The fabulous Miss Tiffany of One Fab Teacher and I are hosting our first awesome giveaway.  We want to thank all of our amazing followers with a prize pack from us and all of our best bloggy friends.  Check it out to see what you could win!

Frames from Mrs. Fultz's Corner, beach ball from Glitter Meets Glue Designs, and Fonts from 

Kevin and Amanda

The winner could be you!  But, only if you enter below!!  Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Feel Like Dancing!!

Woo hoo!  I just opened up my email to find that this little blog has reached a really exciting milestone! One hundred FABULOUS followers on Bloglovin'.  I promised a great giveaway and it is coming.  If you haven't visited Tiffany at One Fab Teacher, she needs one more follower to hit 100, too.  

Look for our giveaway to go live in the next few days.  I'm going to be away camping with my sons for a few days and it will depend on the WiFi access in the campground on whether I can get to blog and post about the celebration.  But, I'm going to enjoy the mini-vacation, too.  

Thanks to all of FGH&HF amazing followers!