EEEPP!!

I can't contain my excitement! My class list was put in my mailbox yesterday!!  You all know how I feel! I get to put names on my Roster, labels and name tags! Squeee!

I am cooped up in a hotel room in West DesMoines, IA - my hubby has meetings here and he needed to drive back and forth from home to have soccer camp (2.5 hrs one way - ick).  Being the nice wife I am, I offered to drive with him so he can rest on the way to camp. I am sitting here contemplating whether to venture out to look for food! StArViNg!

I have a question for you...let me know what you think. My school has a Facebook Group page managed by PTA. They have put class assignments up by gr. level and teacher - cool-ish - but students are listed first middle last names. I am a little uncomfortable with this. What are your feelings?

Littles will be here on MONDAY!!

Happy Teaching,
Jessica

My Week in Pictures...

One week to go! We report to school on August 1. EEP! So excited, but nervous at the same time! I spent the week spending time with my rugrats and doing school work.


On Monday, my BFF from school had a teacher slumber party to watch Bachelorette, movies and do school work; of course I brought my .  We didn't go to sleep until 3:30 AM (we woke up at 8 ish). So tired for at least 2 days! This is the only photo that came out...apparently, I had something on my phone camera lens - grrrr!!

 

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A colleague's grandmother passed and we went to the visitation on Tuesday.  Then we headed to school do get some work done!  Well, I keep making more work for myself and made a mess of my kidney table. FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE!  After dropping Emily off at soccer, I sat in my car and made up some job cards - I posted them on my TPT Store HERE.  I found the "cutie pie" clip art and also made literacy station tags!! Here is what it looks like...

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On Wednesday, I relaxed all day! The kids hung out with friends, so I got caught up on True Blood, Season 4 - yes I am behind.  I just started watching - LOVE on demand! Eric and Jason are my FAVORITES!!  My hubby went out of town for work - king bed to myself!!

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On Thursday, the rugrats and I went to my "Heart Sister's" house to swim...eww my knee and foot got in the way. So fun! Loving her new pool! Next summer I will be there EVERYDAY!  I went into school to put together my new bathroom passes, after dropping Emily at soccer practice.  I saw a version of this on pinterest and loved the idea.  When a student leaves the classroom he/she will out the hand sanitizer on their desk so I know who has left the room. If you like them, you can have them by clicking HERE for FREEEEE!!

  

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Friday was cleaning day - I got the living room, kitchen, and garage cleaned.  I also managed to get some laundry done!  In the afternoon, Chase went to workout and then went to the basement to play video games while Emily and I got the movie The Host on Demand. Meh...I loved the song at the end (Radioactive by Imagine Dragons).  Welcome home Honey Pie!  When Randy got home, we watched Covert Affairs (2 ep.) and Wipe Out with the rugrats.  My husband laughed so hard he almost spewed his screwdriver through his nose - Those people are so funny!

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Today, shopping and more cleaning...blah...then laminated my job numbers and behavior chart, you can get different versions on TPT.  I love mine!  I also put together my 120 chart - I love Erica Bohrer's 0-120 Charts and Activities - I totally recommend it to first grade teachers!! I printed a 3 page X 3 page poster of one of her charts to hang on my wall.  I cannot find one in the stores yet - apparently Common Core State Standards hasn't reached them yet!

Anywho...this is my week in pictures. Next week I plan to STAY AWAY from school until I HAVE to be there!!

Happy Teaching,
Jessica

Sunday Smorgasbord...Monday

Happy Sunday!!

I'm feeling pretty random today, so I'm linking up with Michelle over at Fabulous in First for some Sunday Smorgasbord fun!

 

One...

After two weekends (in a row) of soccer tournaments, a garage sale, and soccer camps; I.AM.POOPED! My daughter was selected to represent Illinois in the Region II Youth Soccer Tournament in Rockford, IL - they WON! They will be going to the National Tournament in March 2014. My son's high school team played in a tournament with other area high schools.  They did well - winning 3, tied 1, and lost 1. Pretty great start! they are looking good!  My husband coaches at one of our high schools and he had camp last week - it was H.O.T. hot! Of course, being his wife, I volunteered to help out. I thought I was going to melt!

Two...

I took Emily to Peoria for soccer camp and stopped by Walgreens to get her some razors.  I hit a small jackpot!  I have a science station in my classroom and only 1 microscope - which doesn't work so well.  I found these little beauties on SALE!! I bought 4 each. The microscopes were only $5.17 and the Field Tools were $1.99.  My littles will have a great time!!

I also stopped at Wal-mart to look for baskets but found these chart tablets instead!  They were under $6.00. I LOVE the Picture Story Tablet - there is a place to write and the top is left for a picture.

Three...

Garage sale...I had one table. My mother-in-law and mom wanted to participate in my town's yard sale.  I made some money for the few things I had; but my moms made a small fortune! 

 

Four...

Having fun surfing/stalking people and boards on Pinterest.  This was my favorite...I think I will make one of my own.  I just think that the magnets will fall off.  Has anyone done this yet?

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I can't wait to get into my classroom to put my new treasures away! We have registration later this year; only a week before school starts! I am a little annoyed by this because the only work I have left to do is label items for my new littles.

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!

Jessica

Three Weeks to Showtime...

I have been working in my classroom over the past few weeks.  My friend and colleague came up with the greatest idea...go in one day per week to set up. Taking her advice, I have take 4 days (about 18 hours) to get my room done.  I am down to my last pile; which includes items that cannot be completed until I get my class list, copies to be made, Book Hospital, and things that need to be laminated. Whew!!

 

This is the LAST pile to be done!

 I am so excited on my leveled library!  These two shelves were given to me by a teacher who retired this year (40 yrs...WOW). They fit my baskets PERFECTLY and fit just at the board's tray. I am LOVIN' the labels - from Erica Bohrer!  Here is the link if you want to purchase ($3.50) them for your library HERE.

I got these cute Bird Themed Focus Signs from Life in First Grade.  I printed them at 35% and they fit so well into pocket charts.  I put magnets on the others and put them on my board.  I don't have a lot of wall space so I had to shrink them a bit for my use. They come in different designs and are only $4.50. To get yours visit her TPT store HERE.

 Part of my regular library. I am bummed, because with the new leveled library shelves, I have room on these (which my father-in-law made me about 8 years ago).  I am now short 5 white baskets! I have looked EVERYWHERE and cannot find them. I have blue ones; but if you know me, you know that this will totally mess with my mind.  I may have to change them - I can only find black though.

 These are two views of my classroom, I don't put anything on the walls/boards until I have taught it.  I will post more pictures soon.  The blue pocket charts cover book shelves holding math manipulatives and guided reading sets. I am working on getting my desks all the same height, someday my wish will come true!!

Happy Teaching,

Jessica

Planbook.com & Favorite Pins Friday!

OK so I have found something worthwhile!! It is called planbook.com! A few teachers in my district were talking about this site and I just never thought of the conversation until about three days ago! I have begun planning my year, we start school August 5; with kids! I wanted to see what this was all about.  They give you a free month to try it out...how great is that?! So I did it, well I ended up purchasing a year (only $12-there are 2 & 3 year options as well).

It is really easy to use AND allows you to select standards! Yes, they have common core and next generation science standards; plus all state standards too.  This is great because you can choose to see standards and it will show you how many times you have used that standard!  That is not all...you can also attach documents/pdf files right to the lesson plan AND it will save it each consecutive year! I am constantly looking on my computer for documents or forget what I named it...now I can simply click on the attachment - so cool! There is an option for you to copy all plans for the upcoming year (from the previous year). I totally recommend it!

 

I am going to try this...hope it works; remember I am still new to this!!

I {heart} these little journal prompts from Doodle Bugs Teaching.  They are only $4.00 from her TPT Store! I am not going to have to think up another prompt again!!

All I have to say ... "Clever!" No why didn't I think of that!!?

 

Where have you been all of my career?

 

These are the cutest earrings...EVER!  Owls are the rage right now!  My friend makes jewelry and this is one of here pieces!! What a cute way to greet kids, especially if you have an owl theme!

I am TOTALLY making these.  I usually buy "boo-boo packs" from the $ Tree to keep in my freezer.  I am going to save some money and make these for the coming year!

Thanks for visiting!!

Jessica Bollman