a new year? what?! 2012.

my winter break is now coming to an end...i do have to say that it was one for the books! getting to spend time with family and friends...and finally able to spend some time in my apartment!! it was a much needed break. here are some of the highlights through pictures...

my new coffee table!!! you know you are getting older
when you ask for a coffee table for christmas!! :)

my living room 'frame wall' added a santa hat for the holidays.

my christmas wreath i made...sad to take it down.
any suggestions on what color ribbons to use next?

homemade chex mix by sophie YES please!!

i was able to have my first apartment dinner party!!

i am now officially obsessed with my apple tv that i
got for christmas from my sister and b

spruced up my closet lamp shade! :)

spending time with some of my favorite friends!
amanda and meg!

more of my favorite people. adrian (we have been friends since 2nd grade!!)
and her boyfriend hunter!!

my nephew is the next ringo starr!!

more friends! meg and john...i miss you guys!

wreath i made for my mom!

best friends.

my niece stella is now mobile...watch out!!!!

pinterest project!!....nail polish on your keys.

did i mention i celebrate christmakkah??? because i do! :)

new years eve with miss stephanie geddie

new years eve with miss emma golden!!!

 speaking of new years....i don't really make 'resolutions' but i saw this kate spade print and i'm going to say those are some words for me to live by this year....and also to...

continue trying to  make the best choices possible for my life. 

and always remember this....

happy 2012 everyone. this is going to be the best year yet....i can feel it. 

now off to organize, clean, finish projects, and enjoy my apartment as much as possible before it is back to reality tomorrow!!

five more days...WHAT????

...five more days until winter break??? where did this semester go???...

here's some holiday entertainment...enjoy!

...and since i celebrate both... here you go...

you're welcome.

counting down the days,

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