First Grade and Kindergarten Smartboard Lessons Giveaway!

I love my Smartboard, but I didn't LOVE it until recently.  

I didn't use it the way I needed to.  I can admit it now.  I used it with my Elmo, I used it for PowerPoints, and I used it as a glorified computer monitor and overhead. 

I didn't LOVE it, and use it the way it wanted so badly to be used.  I am so sorry little Smartboard for the time we could have spent together.  I know now you were just dying to be engaged with my students. Wanting so badly to be touched with the pen, and interactive with those little minds.

 I think I heard you reboot a few times over it.

But...I DO NOW!!!!

Enter the.....

Smart Lesson Stop!!!!

I love them!  They have saved my entire Calendar Time!  I no longer take up half the room with my calendar wall!!!!  I can actually display child centered work!  I can have room to put anchor charts!  I absolutely think these girls are the most up and coming gals in the teacher world!

Just look at Calendar Time on a Smartboard:

It is interactive to actually keep track of the weather.  On the next page, you keep a running temperature graph that is interactive and connected to Weather.com

Money keeps track of the days we have been in school!

Number grid can be used a variety of ways.  The next page that isn't shown is a fact family house where we roll die, yes, interactive Smartboard die to determine our fact family house!

I cannot tell you how awesome these programs are!  If you use Everyday Math it goes over the same skills!

I also love the games they created.  Our classroom favorite is probably:

Long Vowel Speedway!

The kids can't get enough of this game and all that are included.  I believe there are at least 8 different games in the Long Vowel Speedway file.  Kids love this during Daily 5.  I include it in Working on Words.

Enough of how much I love Smart Lesson Stop!  Now I get to tell you how you can love them!!!!

Go to their site, look around, and then come back here and just leave a comment about what you think would be of good use to you in your classroom. (1 Entry)

Follow me (1 Entry)

And the WINNER WILL GET..... 4 Smartboard Products of their choice!!!!

YES, I SAID 4!!!!!  WHOOO HOOO!

I will announce a winner on Friday, March 4th at 7:00ish EST

I just know you guys are going to love their stuff.  I only like the best things out there and items that I just can't make myself, or don't have the time.  I LOVE their resources, the kids LOVE them, and it saves time!  Not to mention that their products are so teacher friendly priced!  

Let the Smartie's Smartboard Contest Begin!

Doodle Bugs Paper Winner!!!!

I am so excited for this person!  I had to go back and count two times to make sure I wasn't messing up!  She is seriously my new BFF blog friend and I just love her to pieces! 

 I couldn't have picked a better number for a hardworking teachin gal like:

Kinderglynn said...

And I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, did I mention how much I LOVE her things. I have my eye on those pinks and greens. I am going to wait and keep my fingers crossed b/c I want some things What a fabulous site Thank you so much for sharing it with us!!
Donna

http://kinderglynn.blogspot.com/

Whoo Hooo!  I promise Donna I didn't cheat!  This is your lucky time!  I just know you are the Rock Star teacher that deserves this!  Go buy up Doodle Bugs Paper's Pink and Green STASH!  I am doin the Happy Dance again for you!  

Wink...Wink...

Stay tuned for another FABULOUS giveaway tomorrow for all you high tech Smartboard Lovin Teachers!  You don't want to miss this one!  

I can't live without it.  

Hint:  They offer something you do everyday, but you will love the new way to do it.  It gives you so much more space...If, you choose to get this one...or maybe another???  You get 4!!!!  Hope your not confused!  ( I am a little)

See you tomorrow!

A Few of My Favorite Things!

I was just talking to one of my good friends from Florida, who reminded me that I love shopping and life.  :)  I decided to do a little post about my favorite things.  I am no Oprah, but I LOVE to shop and have pretty good taste.  So here goes....

First, I am sick of Vera Bradley.  Everyone and their mother has it now.  I loved it about 8 years ago, but when I am in Walmart and the toothless lady beside me has one, I just can't look at them the same (I know, sounds stuck up). 


 So I recently switched to this little Scout Uptown Girl bag for my teacher items.

I love it for $27!!!

I also just got this one from Lilly Pulitzer.

This one runs about $88, but will be instyle for a lifetime!  

Lilly never goes out of style.

This is the best darn planner in the world!  I buy it every year from Tiny Prints.  I love that it puts my name on it, comes with clips, a zipper pouch, stickers, and gift tags inside.  This planner is by far the best out there for moms, teachers, and everyone else in between.  If I could kiss the person who made it, I would!

I am addicted to address labels, but these are my favorite!  I get them over at the Preppy Princess.  You get 30 for $4.

Holls Chocolates are the best chocolates in the entire universe!  Since moving to West Virginia, I was introduced to these unbelievably good treats!  I would rather have these any day over Godiva or any other brand.  I highly recommend them and they ship all over the world.  No preservatives either!

My camera strap by Cotton Candy.  I love this thing!  I love the print, I love to wear it on my neck, and it is a great price.  Very high quality!

My new favorite artist is Jill's Dreams.  I have bought several of her paintings for my "office".  They all are bright, cheerful, and pretty to look at.  I have gotten so many compliments from friends at my house on these cute paintings.

I am a makeup junkie!  I worked behind a Clinique counter to put myself through college.  I am an addict!  One day I will take a picture of my bathroom and you will just die!  I can't get enough of Hourglass Carbon mascara!  It is the best for my lashes!  It doesn't cake, it defines each little lash, and doesn't come off during the day.

For all of us teachers who get up at the crack of dawn and have NO eyeshadow on at the end of the day, then Urban Decay Shadow Potion is for you!  I have had my shadow stay on from 5:00 am to 9:45 pm on conference night with this bad boy!  No creases, no smudges, just beautiful eye shadow!

Finally, I love Stila Long Wear Lip Color.  I love that it stays on at least until lunch at 12:00pm with my kiddo's (after many cups of coffee and Diet Dr. Pepper).  I love that it doesn't cake in the corners or peel like many long last lipsticks.  This stuff is moisturizing and has a little hint of  mint to it!

• I am still on the search for the perfect pen to write with.  I like the Sharpie pen, and Flair's are OK, but I am on the quest to find the perfect pen!!!!

I know this post is pretty random, but that is the type of person I am.  I keep you busy and thinking!  

Now go and join over at Fun in First Grade and share your Favorite Things!

Clipart Coupon SALE!

One of my FAVORITE shops for clipart, My Graffico is having a 40% off of everything!!!!  If you buy for making items for TeacherEBooks or TPT, make sure you read the terms and if you need to, buy the Commercial License.

Oh, if you would like to start selling on TeacherEBooks, shoot me an email and I can get you set up!  I have been selling with TeacherEBooks for almost 8 years (way before TPT) and I LOVE them!  You get PAID each month!!!  There are no FEES, and you can still sell on TPT!!!!  Shoot me an email and I can tell you more!

kwalsky@gmail.com

iPods in the Classroom

One of the best things that I ever did was ask my principal, well beg my principal, for iPod touches.  I got 5 for my very own classroom.  Then I went, no ran, to the Dollar Tree and bought protectors for the bunch.  :)

I love the games and apps that are available for teachers to use with their kids.  I use these iPods daily in my Daily 5 rotations.  I use them for work on words, listen to reading, and writing.  Here are the apps that I use for Reading:

Here are the apps I use for math:

Little tip:  arrange the apps to use for Reading on the first page, and math on the next.  I moved all those non-student friendly apps to the last page and then put them in their own folder.  Kids don't even try to use them at all.  I also took everything off the dock at the bottom.  This is very easy to do in iTunes.

I use the voice recorder to have kids make math sentences to solve for their partner.  They record a problem and their partner solves it on paper.  They also create story problems orally which are fun to see them write down.  Students also use the apps for math games during math center rotations.

 I also have them record themselves reading during Read to Self.  They like to hear themselves read and they also critique themselves for accuracy, fluency, and expression.

I also record myself in QuickTime reading books and other faculty and staff in the school reading books to guess the reader.  I love this little mechanism for a Listen to Reading Center:

How cool is the Rockstar by Belkin (buy it through Amazon.  It is the cheapest)?  A little iPod Listening Center!

I recorded all the Scott Foresman CD's for Listen to Background Songs into iTunes, typed out the words and put them together in a book for a listen to reading center.  No CD's to loose, not scratches, and super easy!

Here is a fantastic site for more ideas on how to use the iPod in the classroom.  I seriously don't know what I did without them.  Engagement has increased, time on task rocks, and each student is getting a little personal tutor.

I looked around today during Daily 5 and just smiled!  I had kids on iPods, kids on the Smartboard, kids on computers listening to reading, and kids making video's using the Flip Camera of the plays they had written, and kids just reading books.  

I love how much fun teaching has become.  Who would have thought the classroom would become this???  I remember in 6th grade, our class got our first Atari Computer.  It was brown and huge, and none of us knew what to do. My teacher cried at her desk and said in 10 years, no one would need teachers (Chuckle). It took about an hour to write a billion(maybe not that much) code to get a balloon to float across the screen.  I remember in college being "high tech" with my Brother Word Processor that weighed a ton in my sorority house and all the other girls were in admiration.  I can't wait to see what it will be like in 10 more years!!!!

Doodle Bugs Stationery Giveaway!!!

I  found out about Kacey and Doodle Bugs Stationary from Primary Perspective a few months ago and I knew I just had to buy a portfolio!

Can you imagine how excited I was to get my POLKA DOT PORTFOLIO IN THE MAIL????

You all know how much I love my name on things and Polka Dots.

Well, my giveaway is for a $20 gift certificate to Doodle Bugs Paper!!!!

I would love to win this!!!!  I can only imagine all the cool stationary I could buy with my NAME on everything!!!!

Here is what you need to do to enter:

Become a follower of Doodle Bugs Paper (1 entry)

Follow me (1 entry)

That is it!  Make sure you leave a separate post for each entry.

I will announce a winner next Sunday evening around 7:00 EST.

I can't wait to see who wins and what they pick out.  I know I LOVE my portfolio and all the other teachers are jealous!!!

Dental Health and Teeth

I am finishing up Dental Health activities this week.  Here are some items that I just plum forgot to post.  I also have the entire unit on TeacherEBooks and TPT for sale.

Click on the Picture for some fun for your class!

TeacherGoneTechie

There are some really cute blog templates still left on TeacherGoneTeachie!  The price is only $6 for your blog design with a custom title and signature.  I will also install them within 48 hours!

Take a look at my latest designs!

I am loving this one!   I know I keep saying I have a favorite, but I love this one!

Everyone knows that I love pink and green!

This just reminds me of spring and happy thoughts!  ;)

My blog designs do NOT come from a scrapbook kit.  

No one else on the web will have a blog that looks the same, EVER!  

Now off to take care of my little sick one!  I had the temperature down, but it just went back up to 101!  

Congrats #33

Congrats to winner number 33!!!!!  You are:

Lindsey said...

I am his fb fan!! I am also a new teacher!! I need this:)

-lindsey
www.theteacherwife.blogspot.com

As a new teacher, I think you absolutely need some Jack Hartman in your life!  

You are going to love him!  

Please email me within 48 hours to claim your prize!  

Thanks everyone for playing!  Wait until you see the Giveaway on Sunday!!!! 

You are going to LOVE it!

Now off to put my kids to bed, and probably me (So Sad on a Friday night...I am getting so old).  I got the littlest one's fever down from almost 103 to 99!!!! Let's hope it stays there!

Cute new Blog Design at TeacherGoneTechie

I posted a two new premade blog templates at TeacherGoneTeachie.  I will be posting a few more this weekend.  Get them while you can!

I have had this one for about a month, and couldn't decide if I wanted to keep it for myself.  I decided to let it. go to a happy new blog home.

Don't forget to register for the Jack Hartman!

Tonight I will announce the winner of the new Jack Hartman CD!  

Don't forget to register here!

Click Me!

Everyday Math Prompts

I spent all night at an Everyday Math Training on Tuesday.   Our county is really pushing writing in math.  We were given these writing prompts already written out for EM.  I thought some of you that use it would like a copy.  I started today using them and modeling them.  The kids enjoyed doing the prompts.  I plan to use them at a Math Center next week to see how they solve the problems.

Download Here:

A pretty little organization tip with style

Some of you know that I decided to take an organizational class in January.  I am a bit on the random organization side.  I know where everything is, but I just have it in random stacks.  Mr. Walsky calls it absurd chaos, and I like to call it creative and unique.  

Well, the first day they gave us link to look at organization ideas, and I couldn't get past the first picture!  Sterilite containers!  After that, I was pretty much done.  I had learned all I wanted from the course.  This is why....  

Notice the pretty white bow bins and the ugly plain red bins!

Seriously!!!  I have used these containers for years and hated the holes.  Who would have ever thought to put a cute little bow through the holes? 

 I LOVE it!  So this is what I have been doing every day to my reading leveled books, and changing out my bins.  I am loving the ribbon and the polka dots.  I actually just bought some pink and black zebra striped ribbon for my room next year!

Why didn't I ever do this before.  The room is looking so cute with bows tied to everything.  The reading section just looks so much more stylish.

I guess I have to take the course over again....Maybe I will actually learn clutter control and not be overwhelmed with cute little decorative suggestions on how to make my clutter bins more attractive.  At least at home I am pretty, creative, and unique chaotic clutterfied!

Cute new site with a great Giveaway!

I just wanted to share a cute new site by an author of a book I just love.  It is Erica Bohrer and she is the author of 

Just-Right Reading Response Activity Sheets for Young Learners: 50 Reproducible Graphic Organizers That Help Children Write Meaningful Responses to the Books They Read

I love this book!  I use it all the time with work on writing and the Daily 5.  I was just telling some of my friends at a training about this book.  Go check out her blog and register to win an autographed copy!

Accessory Swap

I think this is a pretty cool thing!  I joined the accessory swap at :

I love getting mail, and I truly have to say that I am lacking in the accessories department.  I have scarves, but that is pretty much the extent of my coordinating of accessories.  I am also tired of wearing the same scarves.  I think this is just about the coolest thing ever.  I can't wait to pick out something for someone I don't know.  I may have some new Blogging Friends after this.

You can sign up over at Miss Delk's Blog.

My biggest problem will be staying below the $20 budget. I have expensive tastes.  I guess Tiffany's earrings are out, huh???  This maybe hard, or my person may just love me.  Whoever I get, just pretend I spent $20.  ;)

A Musical Giveaway!

This giveaway has a special place in my heart!  My first year teaching was as all us Veteran Teachers call it "Survival"!!!!

I had no idea what I was doing.  I was stuck in a portable that had a huge hole in the very back lot of the PE court with 36 kindergarten kids and NO AID!!!!  We had to walk through 1 foot high grass in mud and rain to get to that stupid thing.  I think at the end of the year it was condemned.  It was just madness.  

I am so grateful for that year, because I can handle anything that comes my way!  I didn't know any better, and I thought that was just teaching.  :)

Well, I was lucky enough to live in Tampa, Florida and Jack Hartman came to our school to give a concert, one of his very first ones!!!  He is from St. Petersburg, Florida which is right across the bay from Tampa.  At his concert, I was blown away!  He gave us all Shake Rattle and Read and told us to play it, give him feedback, and pass on the word to teachers.

Basically, Jack Hartman saved my first year teaching life that year!  I still have my little autographed picture of Mr. Jack Hartman.  I made him sign it because I knew he would be famous!

So here is the Giveaway:  A brand new CD of his latest Songs

Transition Time!!!!

I was just thrilled that Jack Hartman would give me a CD to giveaway to my blog group!  

He rocks in many WAYS!

So, here is what you do:

Go to FB and Like him.  (He cracks me up because he will dress up and put on anything to get the kids moving)

Then come back here and post.

For all of you who don't have FB, just tell me you couldn't.  But do go to his site and look around and listen.  It is sooo worth it.

My favorite CD's are the Hip Hop AlphaBop series.

I will announce a winner on Friday night around 8:00ish EST.