Beginning Sounds Baby!

I just realized that I had posted some beginning sound activities on Teachers Pay Teachers and never posted about them!  We are hitting beginning sounds hard!  Not all of my little lovelies know all of their letters yet, but they are getting there.  We have been using our Itty Bitty Beginning Sound Books as we have learned the letters during our literacy workstations.

Itty Bitty Beginning Sound Books on TPT

We have also been using activities from my Beginning Sounds Bundle during literacy workstations and in small groups.

Beginning Sounds Bundle on TPT

As with everything I post on TPT, I have to give a few away.  If you would like a copy of Itty Bitty Beginning Sound Books and Beginning Sounds Bundle, enter below.  I will pick two winners on Monday morning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have a Winner!

Congratulations to Sara from Miss V's Busy Bees! She was the winner of my 100 follower giveaway!  

I'm off to do some shopping at the huge Teacher's Pay Teachers Back to School Sale! 

 (graphic created by the fabulous Amy Lemons)

I neglected to post that my goodies will be on sale too (20% off) and use the TPT promo code BTS12 for up to 28% off!

Be sure to hop over to Blog Hoppin' and check out the huge list of teachers participating in the sale!  Happy Shopping!

100 Followers Giveaway and Goodies for Everyone!

Sometime during my lengthy absence from blogging I hit 100 followers!  I am amazed, and honored that you want to listen to my rambling :)

In celebration, I would like to give away a $25 gift certificate to Teachers Pay Teachers! 

It's a win-win. You get some fabulous new products for your classroom, and you're supporting a fellow teacher!  I want to make this a quick giveaway so that the winner will have their certificate in their hot little inbox by the weekend.  I am going to try Rafflecopter, so here we go...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And because I love all of my followers, and I want everyone to be a winner...I have a little something for you.

I was creating a background to match some clip art and got a little carried away (AKA-procrastination).  I ended up with a ridiculous amount of backgrounds.  

All 43 are yours.  You can download them for free from TPT for personal and commercial use, just give a little linky love in your creation.  Now, here's the disclaimer...this is my first stab at this, so hopefully all will go well.  If not, email me, and I will actually read one of the 15 different pins I have on making backgrounds and fix it :)

Nicole, over at The Kinder Kid, has created some fabulous space themed things.  I was on the fence about doing a theme this year.  I created a Bloom's Chart and used a space theme, because the metaphor fit, but the space theme started growing on me.  Then I read Nicole's post, and that confirmed it for me.  The alien headband is killing me! I love it!  Hop over and check out her creations, and I will be posting my creations soon.

I start back for training on our new math curriculum tomorrow, and I am in complete denial :)

Long Time No Blog, Plant Freebies, and a Giveaway!

Wow, spring break was fabulous, but it feels like everything has been moving at mach 3 since we started back!  We wrapped up our weather unit practicing color words and incorporating a bit of poetry with our 3-D rainbows.  I have to give my kids kudos for this one because they largely completed this activity independently during our literacy work stations.  They turned out pretty cute, and they just make me smile!

We started work on our plants unit.  The kids are loving it, and I have to admit it is one of my favorite units to teach.

I will post some more pictures (and freebies) of our fun later this week, but in the meantime, here is a sight word game that we are using in our literacy work stations.

Click here to download this freebie from TPT.

I have been trying to create some free choice activities for our math stations.  I wanted activities that focused on number sense and could remain in our free choice baskets for an extended period of time.  Here's what I came up with to add last week.

This game is played just like traditional dominoes, but instead of the traditional dot patterns, students must find a match with various representations of the number (numerals, number words, objects, tally marks, dice ten frames, base ten blocks, addition, subtraction, and coins).  My kids absolutely love them.  And I love that they are practicing so many skills!

You can find them here at my TPT store.

Our second addition was Bingo Bonanza.

You can find this pack on TPT.

Again, the focus is on number sense.  Bingo is always a hit, and this pack includes bingo games that can be used throughout the year as students build number sense.  There are 8 bingo cards and caller cards for 11 different versions of bingo.  

Versions include:

Number Bingo

Ten Frame Bingo

Tally Mark Bingo

Addition to 5 Bingo

Subtraction within 5 Bingo

Mixed Addition and Subtraction 0-5 Bingo

Number Word Bingo

Addition to 10 Bingo

Subtraction within 10 Bingo

Mixed Addition and Subtraction 0-10 Bingo

Number Words

Bonanza Bingo (includes representations from all versions)

I have used these in small groups, and they are also out in our free choice baskets.  Since students will be self selecting versions during work stations, and to avoid a potential management nightmare, I printed each version on a different color.  

So far it has worked beautifully!

I would like to giveaway a copy of my Number Representation Dominoes and a copy of my Bingo Bonanza Mega Pack to 2 people.  

Here's how to enter:

*Follow my blog & leave me a comment

*Follow my TPT store & leave me a comment

*Blog about the giveaway for 2 additional entries

Easy peasy, right?  I will pick 2 winners on Friday night, April 20th.

I will have more plant ideas, pictures and freebies later in the week!  Wishing everyone a fabulous week!

Giveaway Winners

Drum roll please.... And the winners are...

Ladies, I have emailed you!

And to everyone else who entered, check your email too.  I just couldn't help but say thank you for visiting my TPT store and taking the time to rate and leave feedback on one of my products!  I truly appreciate it!

I'm off to have some spring break fun with my kiddos!  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous this week.  My creative juices flowing, so I will have more gardening goodies to share later in the week! 

Spring Break, Finally! And a Giveaway!

Whew! I'm so happy to be on Spring Break this coming week!  I am looking forward to sleeping in, naps, a little reading, painting a few rooms, and working on some projects for my classroom!  My kids are working on a Spring Break Bucket List, so I'm sure my list will be growing!

Last week I started putting together some activities for our gardening and plants unit, but I didn't have much time to work on it during the week.  I finished my Green Thumb Math Work Stations, and just uploaded it to TPT!  It has 5 days worth of math journal prompts with manipulatives and 5 math work stations.  I absolutely love KMP Doodles Veggie Garden Clip Art!

Here's a peek at what's inside:

I would love to give away 3 copies of Green Thumb Math Work Stations!  Here's how to enter (3 chances):

          1. Follow my blog.

          2. Follow me on TPT.

          3. Download one of my free products on TPT and rate it.

Leave me a comment for each one.  Giveaway closes Monday night.

Giveaway at Growing Up Teaching

Growing Up Teaching is having a flash giveaway to celebrate 100 followers!  She's giving away a $25 gift certificate to Teachers Pay Teachers. She's picking her winner tomorrow afternoon (Wednesday) so the winner can use it at the huge TpT sale!

Hurry over, check out her blog, and enter!

And the winner is....

Sorry, I'm a bit late selecting a winner.  Thank you to everyone who entered and everyone who follows my little blog!  It made me smile to read all of your sweet valentine memories!  Hope this year brought everyone some new sweet memories!

Congratulations to Jennifer at Keys4Education!

Will pick a winner tonight so if you haven't entered my giveaway you still have time!

My oldest is having his "Epic12th Birthday Party" today (his words not mine - although the preparations are starting to feel like some epic work) which culminates in a slumber party tonight!  I'm sure I will be getting very little sleep tonight, so I will figure out the random number thingy and pick a winner tonight.

That means you still have time to enter!  The winner gets a $30 gift card to Amazon, Target, or Teachers Pay Teachers, your choice!  You can find all the details and enter here.

30-30-30 Giveaway

I know I'm breaking the don't post more than once a day rule, but...
I just posted my 30th post and I currently have 30 followers.
Ok, I know it sounds pitiful, but it seems rather fortuitous (or maybe just random coincidence - it's late).  At any rate, I decided it's time for a giveaway!  Valentine's Day is coming and I want to spread a little love!

In honor of my 30th post and my 30 followers, I am giving away a $30 gift card.  
You choose the destination: 

or 

There's 3 ways to enter:

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment. (1 entry)

2. Blog about my giveaway and leave a comment. (1 entry)

3. Share a sweet Valentine memory or story. (1 entry)

I'll pick a winner Friday night!

Now, I'm off to find a post I tagged about number comments, so I can do this right!