MIA, Sentence for a Cause and St. Patrick's Day!

I feel like I have been gone for a while!  I can't believe that February is almost over!  I think that wind we keep getting just blew it away!  We've finally celebrated our 100th Day and Valentine's Day... I've been feeling a bit "blah" about you know who's birthday coming up next week...  I now have mixed feelings about Dr. S*$#&! now, since we pretty much can't as much SAY the name without being in trouble!  But, alas.. I'll be doing a few little things next week in honor of a man who helps my firsties learn to read---and love to read!

My kids have been struggling with writing COMPLETE sentences.  We've only been working on them for like, what.  105 days?!  I decided a few weeks ago that we were going to have a Sentence Writing Boot Camp!  I've been slowly adding to it and putting things in that HAVE worked in the past that I haven't done this year yet.  They WILL be sentence writers by the time they are finished! ;)

{Click here to read more about the details of this packet at TPT or HERE for TN}

I also wanted to share that I'll be donating the proceeds that I get from this unit to the family of Bradley Fox.  I have this incredible friend from High School.  Of course, I haven't "seen" him since, but we kinda keep in touch on Facebook.  He has done so many great things for our country over the past 10 years.  He is a Marine.  This past September, one of his best friends was killed in the line of duty while chasing a hit and run incident in Philadelphia.  This story has just made me sad.  He left behind a small child AND a pregnant wife!  Tony is going to be participating in a Tough Mudder competition in June near Philly.  While running through a course that I just can't even imagine---he's going to fill a rucksack that will be filled with memories of his friend, Brad.  He is trying to raise money for the family.  You can read more about it here. 

When I read about his tribute this week, it was like someone was speaking to me because my latest "in development" project would fit perfectly with it!  (Though, I did NOT have any Marine clip art... sorry Tony!)  I want to say that I've never met the Fox family---but though Tony's words, I know they are great people and I have just been touched by the friendship that he had with Brad.  I just want to help out.  If you'd prefer to donate directly-you can do so at the above link to the website.  Thanks for considering donating!  Every little bit helps.

Before I go, I wanted to repost a freebie from last year for Saint Patrick's Day!  Of course it's math :)
Click on the picture to download your game!  (There are 2 different games when you download!  The first one is shown-rolling 2 dice and adding 10.  The second one has students rolling 3 dice and adding 10!)

Also-before I forget!  Make sure to check out this new digital magazine (click on the picture to take you there---it's a pic from the magazine):

There are great tips for teachers!  I know I can always use help with organizing the never ending paper piles, supplies, students...  ;)

A New Look & Rainbow Adjectives

I'm the type of person that JUST has to figure things out on my own.  Blogging to you, is quite new to me.  I wasn't happy with how things were looking, nor could I find anything that I liked----so I started googling and looking for ways to make it more appealing, and also JUST a little bit different than others.  So, for now, I'm mixing a few different things with a header that I created myself.  :)  I think this blog will forever be a "Work-in-Progress."  :)

Next week we will review adjectives-specifically with color adjectives.  I figured I'd tie in the rainbow with it, since St. Patrick's Day is next weekend (not to mention my oldest's birthday party that I'm frantically planning and making things for!!!)  I had the idea, but had to figure out how to make it the easiest way possible.  When you download it, keep it in the EXACT order and the EXACT way it prints out.  Every other page will be upside down.  This is very important.  Once it printed, copy it double sided.  Then, you will be able to layer it and fold over to make a pretty cool flip book.  Under each flap, have the students write a sentence using the color adjective.  I am going to make sure my students write a sentence that does NOT say "The ball is red."  But instead, model and get them to write saying something like "The red ball bounces high."  I created 2 different versions for you.  The first one already has the color printed.  The second one will be black and white, so that students can color in the word/box (and also save ink---plus the indigo printed out a little bit off for me...)

 Color Version       Black and White Version

Don't forget to follow me so you don't miss out on freebies and ideas!  I'm still loving all the "love" from your emails and comments :)  It's amazing that there are so many different people from ALL over the world checking this blog out.  Thank you!  I love getting ideas and inspiration from others too-which is what makes this blogging "era" absolutely wonderful!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and week!  I'm going to be working on my soon-to-be 6-year-old's Angry Bird party!  Which involves me making 60 pom pom red birds and 40 green pom pom pigs... and trying out my new found crafty-ness inspired from Pinterest and am also making some cute angry bird magnets (well, they are cute in my head---we'll see what happens to the final product) and will also be requesting the assistance of a certain 5 year old to make his "non-edible" birthday (non)treat for his friends in Kindergarten.  (Melting more crayons, but molding into a football shape) :)    (Then, I have 1 month to plan my soon-to-be 2-year old's party!  That's right-my kids are EXACTLY a month apart--March 15th and April 15th!)

Check out my TpT store for more St. Patrick's Day needs!  Literacy Games   Math Games   Story Problems 

Book Groups and a St. Patrick's Day Freebie

I LOVE book groups, but have never found a "good" template or job roles, etc. that has ever completely met my needs, nor has been very primary grade friendly.  Now that I have started making my own things, I decided to work on this so that I can finally put them back into my classroom.  I am SO happy to say that I have completed it and am actually very proud of what I created that I am the only one that ever uses them, I'm okay with that!  I just posted it on TpT tonight.  I created different roles related to animals and have recording sheets that I feel my students will do well with.  We are in the early stages of completing them together with a book that I would read aloud to the class, just so they get used to the recording sheets.  I have already had my students read a book together in a group, without jobs over the course of the past few weeks, when all were present.  I have decided that all of this work will be done in class, as we now have a homework policy for our firsties that is only 10 minutes of work a night.  I can't expect my kiddos to read a chapter/book AND complete his/her "role" for the next day or 2 days at home.  Next week we will go full steam ahead with the groups and I'll see how it goes by only doing it in class....  I'm hoping for the best!  Click on the picture to go to my TpT store to read a detailed description of what I created.  I didn't want to bore you and have it here too.  :)

With St. Patrick's Day coming up, I created a quick game for students to play with partners.  There are 2 versions, of course :)  Version one--students will roll 2 dice and add ten.  They will find that number and cover it.  They need 5 in a row to win.  (They can decide what happens if the number they need is no longer available--lose a turn, roll again, etc...)  The second version is for THREE dice.  Same rules, just adding 3 numbers.  (Covers yet another Common Core Standard!) ;)

Click on the picture to grab your copy!

(I have Common Core Aligned Math games and Literacy games/stations on TpT if you are in need!)

Hope you have a wonderful week!  We are still finishing up Dr. Seuss stuff!  AND OH.MY.GOODNESS!  Have you seen the Lorax?!?!?!?!?  They did such a fantastic job with that movie!  My son and I saw it this weekend (while the hubs stayed home with the almost 2 year old, who is definitely already hitting the "terrible twos") :)  If you haven't seen it------you definitely need to!!!!  If you did see it, what did you think?!

Don't forget to click to be a follower!  I'm getting closer to the big 5-0!  (and almost to 100 on TpT!)  W.O.W.!