thank you veterans.... from A113

we are getting ready for veterans day....a day early in A113!!...I was inspired while i was doing my morning blog stalking....when i stumbled upon the famous inspired apples veterans day art work/writing. I didn't have time to get the art project done, but i did have time to whip up a fun writing activity worksheet!!!

I made this anchor chart to fill in with the kiddos ideas/answers...my army man is pretty darn cute...if i do say so myself! ;)

Then we did a fun smartboard lesson that I found...to really get their minds working on what a veteran really is, and why it is important to honor and respect them!!
I wanted to share their ideas on how we can show them respect...their answers were pretty funny (i thought..) please excuse my awful handwriting...i'm not very good at writing on my airslate!!!

After the smart board activity that is when we filled out  the bottom part of the anchor chart "characteristics of a veteran"....they are all their answers listed!

when all of those steps were said and done....i handed out the "thank you veterans" writing worksheet for the kiddos to do independently at their desks...and wow they really got into it....it was the quietest they have been all year with independent writing work!! I put the worksheet up as a PDF on google docs...click the link below to print your own copy!

veterans day writing page


i hope you liked my impromptu veterans day lesson!!

she's baaaaaack!!!!!!!!

The inside and outside of my classroom door!!! 'wizard of oz' theme this year!!!

first day of school goodies...highlighters for a
'bright' year...and my first real apple as a teacher!!

what a way to start a school year...happened a
couple days before school started....i miss my car ...

so...i have totally neglected my blogger friends...i am so sorry, but between school,moving,and wrecking my car :( i haven't had alot of free 'blogging' time!!! i promise i will make it up to you!

I wanted to share my classroom photos that i took before school started!!...there have been some changes already...i'll add some photos below of the newest classroom updates!!...click the link below to view my photos....please leave me some comments on what you think!! :)

extreme make over: glitter edition...classroom 2011 (facebook photo album) CLICK ME!!!

i can't get this picture to rotate...but i love the note so much!!

welcome...to total chaos...over 100 degree weather...and no a/c....

before...

locker tags i made to go with our theme

their name tags for the first day of school and
when we go on field trips...i wrote their names in
the box...and my information is on a label stuck
on the back! :)

their 'GO' books...."getting organized"...thanks for
the 'GO' idea to one of my bloggy friends!

in the door way....

desk reminders...how we do our heading....and
"writer's eye" mini poster!

quotes and new mirror in the back above sink area!

behavior clip chart

my new classroom library...that NEEDS to be cleaned....but i'm LOVING it this year!! 

my new apartment living room! :)

since i said school, my car wreck, and moving was taking up all of my time....i wanted to share pictures from each of them!!...i am super excited about my new living room wall...it makes me so happy every time i walk into my new place....comments are always appreciated!

well this teacher is totally exhausted....good thing tomorrow is friday!! woo hoo!!!...i have a fun weekend ahead...going on a day trip to hico,texas for some junking/flea market shopping with a good friend and teacher friend, emily! (you can find her blog here...a first grade frenzy)

ok i need to stop staring at the computer screen, and need to finish project runway FINALE!!!!!!

until next time....

ollie says good night!!!

......i hate cancer....think different....

watch the link below.....

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/10/jobs/

crazy for nonfiction!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well it has only been....like 4 weeks since my last post????????? school has taken over my life!!!!!!! not kidding!


this is a short post....i just wanted to share my nonfiction text features notebook i created (with inspiration from persnickety pickles) I am so excited to do this with my kiddos on monday!!!


happy friday!!!!......more to come this weekend....

click on the link to download....

Nonfiction Text Features Notebook

sneak peek into A113.....

today was my first day back in my classroom...i could hardly sleep last night....NERD ALERT!!!!!!! i am going to post more pictures of my "new" classroom, but i wanted to share a little something with you...this is a bulletin board i made for the hallway outside my door...i'm super excited about it!! :)

(the letters are glittered along with some of my favorite books!! :)

thank you matt damon...

2 postings in one day??? i know it is crazy, but i just saw this on another blog...and i wanted to say thank you matt damon....who is with me??

enjoy.

glitter. sooooo much glitter.

ok so who here is loving target's back to school commercials??? well i wanted to show you this particular one...because i'm glittering everything in sight these days....i have a serious glitter problem....( just for classroom things, i haven't gone off the deep end yet...i promise).

so enjoy!!! and it is titled 2nd grade teacher....EVEN more perfect!!

i have been one busy girl this week...here are some MORE projects i have been working on...

glitter, glitter, glitter....making my own 'die cuts',
magnets, clothes pins....what else can i glitter???

my new DIY  'die cuts'...use word art in word,
enlarge the letter to the size you want it...print....
then i paint it the color i want to glitter it, and then
use a brush to put the modge podge on and then...
you've got your own DIY glittered 'die cut' (there are
red ones in the background of the first picture)

my clothes pins to use to label my tall pink
metal 'mail box'...i'm going to tie on labels with
the kiddos names!

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this is how i glittered the small magnets,
you just brush some modge podge on the top
of a magnet...then dunk it in the cupcake holders
full of glitter! (you can kind of see them in the
first picture)

 WARNING....NO GLITTER!!! ;)

ok if you need to paint clothes pins....
you HAVE to use my sister Katie's DIY tip!!!
All you do is clip them onto a box like this...and
no mess no fuss!!! your hands will be totally cool,
instead of them being covered in orange paint! :) Thank you Katie!!!

then i polka dotted them...just like the letters on my wreath!!

so did i inspire all of you to get out the glitter and make a mess??? i hope so!!!!

 p.s. - i opened a TPT store!!! i still have some kinks to work out...but i uploaded my first 3 documents!! i am so excited to start this new little store... :) 
check it out.... my store!!!