Letters to Armed Services

Every year I take time from computer oriented projects to have the students write notes to the armed services that are serving overseas. My school waived Veteran's Day, so that we can educate the students in an assembly. I usually ask around and find local ones to send to. I can tell you the response we get back is overwhelming appreciation. I have done in the past cards and sent them via OWH (Operation Write Home) while exploring their site, I found some coloring pages

since my classroom is all about dogs (this is based on OWH mascot) it couldn't be more perfect!
Here is more info for schools.

OWH: Coloring pages

I encourage everyone to take time and do this soon (mailing for holidays deadlines on site)

6 days and today was the toughest

It was a Monday and I will stop there. Now can you believe it has been so crazy that my room is not done. We started on the 17th and the kids on the 19th and its been non stop busy since. My to do list is so huge. Now we have Open House the 8th, I am looking for some great ideas, can you share what you do? Know of a great idea please share. We also do our Book Fair that night and my department is in charge of it, along with our Parent meeting, so it is a crazy crazy long night. Please comment I need all the help I can get :) I am setting a self imposed deadline to have my room done that night....Thanks in advance for any and all help :)

Owl watching

Photo courtesy of Yvonne Nieves 

In February, my friend Denise posted a link on Facebook. Little did I know, when I clicked on said link, it would lead to an obsession. What link you ask. She posted a link, to a webcam of an owl box, in which eggs were to hatch at anytime. I watched the mother and father, (Mel and Sydney) as each of their eggs hatched.  I even got my students involved, we turned on the projector on to the whiteboard, it was a great incentive for my Third grade labs! We watched as the owlets grew and flew the nest. Currently, the owner of the box has the cameras still going. Mel and Sydney, have revisited, but no new clutch. There is a blog that keeps you updated on the state of the box.

I did not know until this, that there is a webcam set up for just about any and all species you can think of. I am sure that you too got into (or heard about) watching the Eagles as it was on every news station you turned on. I have found myself watching the birds around me a little more closer since. I encourage you to check these out to add to your lesson plans or like me just observe and learn right along with the students!

Michaels - Cool Off With Crafting - COUPONS Expire Friday

As mentioned Plug-n-Plan: BTW. . .

Just noticed the email (note Melissa and Doug (stamps, alphas, and numbers I gave away in my giveaway) are 40% off)


Michaels - Cool Off With Crafting - COUPONS Expire Friday

RTS:is 20 days, 7 hours, 0 minutes, 54 seconds
until Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 8:00:00 AM

Summer Reading

I have made reference that we do a summer reading program at our school. What we use as a base is the leveled books from Reading AtoZ. We also use their partner site web based raz-kids during the summer. I've had a few emails about the subject. One emailer said they used both all year and would like to know how we use it. So either you will be bored by the details or you will learn something...LOL

First off here are the videos from both (saves me doing alot of screenshots)






Now how do we do it.

First of all, we either used STAR Reading or STAR Early Lit tests to a get base line reading level.

Then we converted it over to a level in both Reading atoz and raz-kids. We sent out an note to 1-3rd graders asking if they want to participate. Pull out Title I students(We are all school 1st-3rd) were given a choice of either books sent to their home and or raz-kids. We have 16 mailers this year and 36 raz-kids (some are both)!

What we did to get this up and running last summer is to download ALL (yes 863 of them)then from the master list(found on website excel version) they provided, I used it to make labels for the folders. We downloaded the books, worksheets and discussion questions. Then we put in rubbermaid bins in levels (you can see them in my classroom pics from last year)This year, we have students starting in level B going all the way to S. So having them all ready to copy is so nice. I didn't think so last year with 1 week between school starting and wrapping our part of summer reading. This year we have it down to a semi-science, so we only go in about every 3 weeks. Tomorrow is the last one to mail out!


Then based on the master list, I use the below to keep track what we sent last time (average about 6 per time, so 3 weeks worth) I go down the master list and pick the next six books.

 

It gets tricky, when they do both raz-kids and mail, as raz doesn't have every book that reading atoz does. So I just went thru the master list and highlighted the ones they do. For the ones on raz we set them an the entire level of their base level. For both we keep in contact via email, and/or notes, asking if they are too easy, too hard or just right. I check in with raz-kids and send messages to the kids, to get going, or good job.

They love getting to decorate their ships. Raz-kids has a feature where the kids can record themselves reading, and this year that has taken off. We require both sets to complete 85% of the program, then we have a pizza party the first week or two back.

I am working on the master list, as I didn't know they update new books on reading atoz all the time. So I downloaded the list in May. Did the assignments, went to pull the files to copy and had six kids missing stories in their level. New stories. So I am trying to Merge old and new, add in the serials we use during the year...But as we all know, if its organized it will be worth it in the end. If you do both and have tips for me, or if you want to know more, labels I have, etc. email me or leave a comment.

Both sites give a 7 day trial to test it out. It is a great resource I highly recommend both. Below are links to the site. Thanks for staying with me!

http://www.learninga-z.com/


(Not paid or associated with the group, just a user)

New Vistaprint

Here is my latest (free) vistaprint order.

First up...(go here for a great how to)

 

Small banner

Small Poster

I took the posters from here added some more cute clipart...(free upload is the key) 

We always have hat day at school! Perfect!

sticky notes

Prior to the days of Pinterest I found this from another Vistaprint user .I changed font

(If anybody knows let me so I can give credit) Again free upload is key.

Now for my theme...

Small window decal

 I am doing a 10pt/per lab (each class has 2/wk) behavior plan ....so as more of incentive....

Small Tote bag ...get it ..lab bag (I crack myself up)

Binder covers (flyers)

Note pads

Mouse pad

Property stickers (return address labels)

There you have it, free (I paid shipping) but woohoo. I also have to use my Gift Certificate from Living Social. But with those you only get 30%, I don't know about free upload.....Thanks for letting me share!

Living Locurto - FREE Printables, recipes, party ideas and crafts.

I subscribe to this site via google reader and facebook. Amy always has the cutest free printables .....Here are some of my favorite



A coworker did this for Mother's Day class gift.....the moms loved it

A Dollar Gift & Super Mom Free Printable Notes

Who doesn't need a blog calendar around here....

Free Printable Blog Calendar

Here's a link to the rest of her's and other's Free Printable Designs 

While you are there take time to explore .......

Blogging

Just a few things....

This is the new Blogger Draft blog, it has been a year since I posted on my personal/scrappy blog, so there were just enough changes to throw me off a little, but reading some the changes coming ...Boy am I glad it rolls out (hopefully) over the summer ! Blogger in Draft

I've been catching up blogs, finding new ones etc. I have noticed ALOT do not have email listed. My coworkers, friends, and family will tell you that I think with a computer. Most of the time I will shoot off an email with something to share with a blog post (too long for comments). In all my years in computers, I learned you can disguise your email so spammers won't get to it...For example timmgraw at timmcgraw dot com....It is ALWAYS good to disguise your email when you leave it in comments..  Here is more on the topic.

I personally, do have more than one email (6 in fact one for blogs, one for school, one for ordering, paypal (oh I love the spam from them) see what I mean) My brother in law who is a bigger computer person than I am told me to do this eons ago, and it does wonders. So set up another email for other things, there is a way, you can have it all download in same place(here is what my brother in law did to theirs, if you are so inclined)...Keep your gmail one for blogs (as blogger and gmail are all together)!

Ok,  now we shall see who stayed with me on this journey. If you go and put your email on your blog, leave me a comment here saying you did so! If your email has always been visible go here saying just that!

Thanks for joining me on this winding road called blogging :)


2 days left, so if  you haven't joined up remember my Linky Party and Giveaway here

Frisbee Golf Game!

My dad was one of 4 children, his family lived about a hour away, while my mom's parent's lived next door. I was blessed to live on a 5th generation 180 acre farm, with over 100 trees. When my dad's family came up, my dad and his 3 brothers and my Grandad would always get the frisbees out and play Frisbee golf (some call it disc golf) ! I was blog hopping the other day and came across a free printable to make your own! I hurried up and downloaded. Then I emailed my coworker who does PE and asked her if she wanted me to make this for PE ! She said of course....so adding this to my list of things to make for work! I figure if I get a set of 25 frisbees, and the 6 baskets we will be covered for one class in PE, and enough for kids indoor recess! Run over and take a look, you will be glad you did! Yikes, 20 kids at six baskets I best make two sets...thank goodness for the dollar stores :)While at the dollar store, I got the last of six baskets, they are may not be sturdy enough....Go get the printable for yourself!

Freebie Printable... Frisbee Golf Game!: "

If you haven't joined up remember my Linky Party and Giveaway here

Scrabble Tiles

I made scrabble tile necklaces for my coworkers at Christmas time. Since then,  I have been looking to buy sets for reading centers in my building. But wow the prices are out of this world. Does anybody have a resource to getting them in bulk?

Organizing the resources from the blogs!

I wish I had thought of this at the start.....

You know how all the wonderful teacher's blogs are sharing wonderful resources! Some are sharing google documents, some pdfs. My process is that I organize them all in collections in categories on my own Google Documents! (It says shared as I shared with my school email in case gmail is blocked)

Well that works just great, but I was worried that I would never remember where the original owner was, and what the resource went with (ie Debbie Diller's math) Then just now a light bulb moment hit! Jennifer over at First Grade Blue Skies just shared a great pirate map here! I wondered come fall would I remember what the thought was behind it was? Then I thought maybe I could put the link to her blog in the notes section of the file! Well on google documents when you have your document in front of you(Your home screen lists recent uploads click on the box next the document you are editing) , on the right it will say the document's name, then it will say description, click on the edit button and add the link to blog! (It will look like this when you are done)

Now come fall when I open these great resources I will remember the "story" behind them! Now 1 down 5 billion to go! Hope this helps others out! Any other ideas please feel free to share!

PS...Thanks to all the wonderful teacher's blogs for sharing all the great resources, my life at school is always crazy, you made it so much easier, now I have resources readily available at a click of my mouse!

Wish List Linky Party

is having a Wish Link Linky Party and I always have a wish list......

etsy is my downfall :) 

I think this doormat would be awesome outside my computer lab door :) 

My wish list would not be mine if I did not mention IKEA

I just want the dog ones (classroom theme) so on the lookout

Now that is just products I would love for my computers to work the first time, my room to be organized (working on that since it is all currently taking up my garage) and more, thanks for stopping in! Now it is your turn (I always can use more ideas)

Sources and Sharing

This past school year I was Title I in the morning, and computer labs in the afternoon. K-3 had 2/30 minute labs per week. In one of those labs it was mandatory we did Lexia. The other was done based on Grade Level. What I did was found various websites for each grade level and set them up in Ikeepbookmarks then on a good day if the technology cooperated, the kids would come in and click on a button on IE and go to their class page. On the lower right side of my blogs is a link to Grade Level resources @Internet 4 classrooms. This was one of places I found ideas. Here are some of the students (and mine too) favorites that were not from Internet 4 Classrooms.

Random house revised seussville.com, and has limited games that are available. This is some of the well loved games of the old seussvile.com ...games will open in new window...students must return to this page not click on return to playground on seussville. If students click on return to playground they go to the new seussville

http://www.gamequarium.com/seuss.html

Put the comic strips in the right order to win in the ring

http://www.professorgarfield.org/ReadingRing/Strips/strips.html

Students picked a story and answered ?'s about the story

http://www.storylineonline.net/

Here is a lesson I did based on scrabble

Randomly pick a number of letters

Go to Scrabble Word Builder on Hasbro and enter those letters. It will then generate a list of words for you (copy and paste them to a word document for future reference)

I put the letters on the board, went over the directions and gave the students the option of using The Scrabble Dictionary to check their work.

I did not time my students, I just gave them 3 class periods, some have used this in some variations in centers so they were timed. When the students had checked their words with me, they had to add up the value of their words...(Tricked them didn't I)

(I used Scrabble Font on the worksheet below but note W is now worth 4 points since font was made)
Download Worksheet here
Those are just some of them right now! Let me know if you have ones to share!

Vistaprint

School was just a little crazy....not bad but not good.....Just Crazy

But I wanted to start posting more here....I discovered Vistaprint, they give you free products you pay the shipping (most I have paid is $7.95)

Here are some of the items I made for school this year:

Loyalty Cards (Punch Cards for us)

(For Dog Themed Computer Lab)

 

Made these for a coworker

Saw something like this in a catalog for alot more

Small Banners

 This is for PBIS Teacher (Ironically the week this arrived I was pulled)

(We have 3 of these a school year so great deal)

Sticky Notes

 (Some Fun on Black Lab Themed Computer Lab )

Tshirts

 

PBIS

Saw this at Reading Convention and Had to have one :)

Large Car Magnet

For Computer Lab (hopefully technology will work better this year)

Now some tips, they have templates, it will cost more to alter them. So play around with what they give you.
Now here's some deals, sign up for LivingSocial then watch other cities, they every so often offer vistaprint $50 for $10.

Then also sign up for Ebates, they give you cash back on your order, currently 5%. Then also google "vistaprint codes" if all else fails :) Below is a link Vistaprint!


Just wanted to share these ideas! Catch you later!


Save up to 80% on custom printed products at Vistaprint. Order today!