My Target Finds

Check out my Target Finds.  I started to panic a bit when other bloggers were posting their finds and I hadn't had a chance to check it out.

Here are my dollar spot treasures:

Love these colorful small pocket charts......a few book marks and  a collapsable open box 

Love these colorful pointers......I can use them as different team signals for answering questions.

Can't wait to add a dry erase board to this stand,,,,,I bought three to give to my favorite first grade teacher friends.

Storage Boxes area finds:
Two years ago I found these terrific plastic open boxes that were just the right size to fit into a desk.  I was happy to see them on sale at the end of the summer and snagged 10.  I discovered that these boxes make the best pencil boxes.    It acts just like a drawer.  They are nice and long so they don't fall out of the desk when the students tries to retrieve a pencil or crayons.  Some kids love to have all of their markers and crayons spilled inside their boxes.  There is plenty of room for that.  The kids like not having to take out their closed boxes every time they need an eraser or color pencils.  I love them and looked everywhere online to get more so that my whole class could have a box.  My find of the day was I snagged 7 more boxes for my classroom at Target!  I was thrilled.  Try at least one and you'll be sold like me.

Happy Shopping!

Beach Vocabulary

Here's an idea for you.  If you go to the beach somewhere at low tide write some vocabulary words in the sand.  I love being on vacation in Maine and doing something fun on the beach that benefits me in the classroom.  I print these words out on cards and have kids alphabetize them, have kids give these words a category (ocean/beach/Maine words), write sentences using these words, find these words in a story book about the ocean, etc......  You get the idea. Use my words if you are not able to take a trip to a sunny beach.  Enjoy!

 I forgot the word sandcastle.
Which words are compound words?  Which words have digraphs in them?  So much learning.

Cousin Day, Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, Maine

 

I Love New Books!

Books Books Books!  My own kids and my friends often think I'm crazy for spending so much money on new books.  They all think that I've got enough books..........I always tell them......."You can never have enough books."  It funny how, when I find a book I like it's a must have for my collection.  Check out of the books I found over this past year.

 I tell my first graders that 10 is the most important number.  This book helped to make this point. As well as how being by one's self is ok but life gets much better with friends.

 This is a beautiful book with a beautiful message.  I used the title as a prompt for my Mother's Day Tea videos from my kiddos.  I read this book at the Tea.  The pictures are very inspirational, colorfully painted rocks.  I love this book.

 I love chicken books and this was a great addition to my chicken collection.  Great book to teach problems and solutions.

 Here is a great book about loving who you are.

 Another book by Cronin and Lewin with lovable characters.

 This a wonderful leprechaun story about being smarter than you think you are.

 Cute story about having  friend!

Love Love Love this story!  I love it so much that I bought another one for a friend.  Winning is over rated.  This book is so fun as a read aloud.  The fart contest is just what your smelly class will want to try.  Hahaha   OK maybe not but kids love the monsters and the message.

Enjoy these great reads!  

I'm Back!

Wow, that was a long break from my blog.  It was a tough year!  But now it over and my summer is wonderful!  Here is a little video of the last day of school.  I couldn't wait for this moment to happen.  Now it's a thing of the past.......ahhhhhh!

I had a wonderful class of parents this past year! One parent was so thoughtful that she brought me dinner on the 2 evenings of my parent conferences this year.  I cherished that meal and was happy to accommodate any-time she wanted for a conference.  It was a pleasure chatting about her daughter. Here are a few pictures of a few gifts from other fabulous parents.

 Thanks Diana for this beautiful quilt.  It is something I will always cherish.  It will be hung permanently in my classroom.  Greg is a super student who is seated right beside me.

 Thanks Heather for everything including my new Smart Board this year.  This party basket made my day.   It was full of lots of fun stuff.   I love how Julia matches the basket with her clothes and her personality.  

Thanks for everything Jamie.  Your moral support saved me a  few times. Katie is quite a reader now and her math skills shine.

Some other favorite gifts from students were lots of love notes plus lots and I mean lots of chocolate.  I just love my chocolate.

What are some of your favorite end of the year moments?

I'm glad I'm back!  I've got so much to tell you.  Check back soon to find out about some fabulous new books that I can't wait to share with kids.

Have a splendid day!

Some Favorite Newer Books

Here are a few of "my" newer books that I love:

1. The End (Almost) by Jim Benton, is a hilarious book about a bear named donut that doesn't want the story to end.  My kiddos loved loved loved it.  We read the story over and over again with kids playing the two parts.  Great practice for reading with expression.  Such great voice in this book.

2. It's an Orange Aardvark by Michael Hall is a book of wonder and discovery.  It will keep the kids guessing and making predictions for what will come next.  This book is funny and full of suspense.

3. Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban.  Great story about a mouse figuring out how to be mad.  It's all about self expression.

 4. I'm Not by Pam Smallcomb  is about what makes everyone special.  Love the pictures and the message.

5.  The Handiest Things in the World by Andrew Clements, is all about the how important our hands are.  This book is done in beautiful pictures.

Have a wonderful school year of sharing books with kids.