New Year's Linky

I'm linking up with one of my best blogging buddies, Jen Ross, from The Teacher's Cauldron. She's having a link-up for us to share one personal and one blogging resolution. And, we all know that resolutions only work if we tell hundreds of people about them, right? 

Personal Resolution

Well, my one personal resolution is to write neater when I'm not writing for and with my students. I actually have really nice handwriting when I'm around my students.

Neat right? But, something happens when I'm writing notes to myself.

I bet you can't even read it! Well, my resolution is to write neater when I'm not with my students so that I can actually read my notes and lists and stuff.

Blogging Resolution

My blogging resolution is to try my best to not take an hour or longer to write my posts. Seriously! It takes me f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to write every single post. It could be because I write, look at facebook, answer emails, and do about 10 other things at the same time! I LOVE to blog, but, I have got to try and give it my full attention so that I finish my posts in a timely fashion. Does anyone else multitask while you're blogging? While I am writing this post, these are the other things I did at the same time:

1. Answered 2 emails 

(one from Alessia and one from Kristen).

2. Took this picture of my yorkie, Max 

(to show Kristen!)

3. Watched a really cute video of Kristen's new yorkie, Koda, playing with his squeaky toy!

4. Pinned a few things to a new collaborative kindergarten pinterest board. You should check it out!

5. Wrote a few comments on facebook to my buddies.

I think you get the hint! I resolve to write a blog post and do nothing else at the same time. Let's see how long that lasts!

I look forward to reading about everyone's resolutions. And, to writing neater. And writing quicker blog posts. Wish me luck!

Give me a C! Give me a V! Give me another C! What does it spell?

Well, it really doesn't spell anything, does it? But, it is one of my favorite acronyms. Kindergarten is all about CVC words, right? Being able to read patterns, instead of just memorizing words, is crucial for reading and writing success. 

If you're like me, you have a lot of CVC activities! But, so many of the activities out there use the same CVC words over and over again, and the clip art is unappealing, and the activities are boring. 

So, instead of frantically searching for CVC activities that I can use all year, I decided to create my own. 

It is filled with the following activities:

Scrambled Sentences

Real / Nonsense Words

Puzzles

Memory Game

Mats

I Have, Who Has...? 

Write the Room

Bingo

Scoot

Word Searches

I like knowing that my students can use these activities over and over again without using the same words over and over again. I researched CVC words and made myself a list of just about every single one. Then, as I used the words in the activities, I crossed them out to avoid using them too many times.

If you are interested in purchasing any or all of these CVC activities, you can purchase them separately or you can purchase the money saving bundle!

Click the image below for more information!

2012 Bloggy Best and Brightest Linky

I'm linking up with Christina, from 

Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge!

She's hosting a fun linky where you share some of your blog's best and brightest moments of the past year, as well as, brag about other bloggers, too.

I looked at my blogger stats and found my 3 most popular posts of the year. 

Of course, I only started blogging this past March, so all my posts are from this year!

This post explained how I use my clip chart and contains lots and lots of freebies!

 This was my first ever freebie! It's a classroom promise that I keep on my door. 

The children love to recite it every single day. 

My MOST popular post, the one that gets the most views, is the one I made with all of my classroom photos.

If you haven't seen these posts yet, I hope you take a peek!

Now, I'd like to take a moment to brag about some of my favorite blogs. I have way too many to list because, I'm slightly addicted to reading blogs, so, I'm going to leave you the link to my Pinterest board, that has links to most of them. Please go check them out! I consider these bloggers my friends even though I have never met them. We really connected through blogging!

Well, this was fun! It was like taking a walk down memory lane! You should link up, too!

Just click on the image at the top of my post.

Snowmen At…

Who loves Caralyn Buehner books besides me?

After my two week vacation, my students will enjoy some fun activities based on all three books.

Kindergartens will respond to the stories, write the room, label, describe, and write sentences. Each story comes with a writing activity that can be made into class books with colored or black and white covers.

First and second graders will respond to the stories, write words in ABC order, sort nouns, verbs, and adjectives, put together compound words, and play a reading comprehension / grammar game. All of the activities contain words from the stories.

I am so excited for this unit because Caralyn Buehner books always excite my students and bring out their creativity!

I would love to give away one of these units to a lucky follower. All you have to do is comment below and tell me which is your favorite Caralyn Buehner book. Also, tell me the version of the activity you would prefer (kindergarten or first and second grade.) I will choose a random winner tomorrow. Good luck!

*Update*
Congratulations to Robin Smith! 
She has won the first/second grade unit!

Holiday Activities and New Year Freebie

This week, my students are enjoying many holiday related stations. Here are some pictures of them in action:

My second graders are playing a plural/possessive game. The girl on the left is the answer key girl. She doesn't play the game because she verifies that everyone gives the correct answer.

Here are my second graders sorting parts of speech cards and filling out their recording sheet.

My first and second graders are unscrambling holiday sentences and writing them on their recording sheet. I made the sentences a bit more challenging and they are enjoying figuring out what the big words say. Once they are done, all six sentences make a nicely organized paragraph.

My first graders are playing Kathy Law's Candyland Express – Nouns.

Here, my first graders are sorting common and proper nouns. After, they will fill out a recording sheet to check for mastery.

Here is a second grader drawing candy canes to stuff in his stocking. This is a free activity from A Cupcake for the Teacher. My kindergartners and first graders are doing it, too. I am having them make what they want in their stocking out of paper and gluing it to the top of the stocking. Apparently, most of my first graders want Hershey Bars! I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of one of those! They came out really cute.

You can find the activities shown here in my Winter Holiday Language Activity Pack for first and second graders.

Here is my activity pack for kindergarten. I haven't taken any pictures of them yet!

I'm sure you're all like me and want to plan for the new year before we begin our holiday break. Here is a cute banner my kindergartners are going to make the first day back. Many years ago, I saw something like this in one of my Mailbox Magazines. It has since disappeared, so I made this one from memory. Just click on the image to grab it. I hope you like it.

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

Sending my prayers...

12 in '12 Linky Party

I'm linking up with Miss Kindergarten and A Teeny Tiny Teacher for their second annual 12 in '12!

12. Favorite movie you watched:

I didn't really like any of the movies I watched this year, so, I'm going to throw in an extra TV show!

11. Favorite TV series:

I heard this is the last season and I'm so bummed about that!

10. Favorite restaurant:

Believe it or not, they have THE BEST hamburgers!

9. Favorite new thing you tried:

I always envied those who had a blog and read them religiously for about a year before I took the plunge. Blogging has made the world so much smaller. I've networked with tons and tons of teachers just like me and I learn from them every single day.

8. Favorite gift you got:

iPad Retina

I love how compact and totable it is. I just got it last week, so I'm still learning how to use it. The iPad Retina display is so incredibly sharp.

7. Favorite thing you pinned:

I can't find the original pin, but, I saw how someone used binder clips to label their students' mailboxes and I knew I had to do the same thing. Genius!

6. Favorite blog post:

I just love having my writing menu numbered and couldn't wait to blog about it. Since this post, I made a menu checklist for my students that looks exactly the same. (Minus the restroom sign!) They are loving it and so am I!

5. Best accomplishment:

I joined TpT in January of this year and made $1.80 for the whole month! I was so proud! To this day, I am stunned that teachers are interested in what I have to offer. I love to create and share what I do. I'm not sure what I'd do with my time if I weren't sitting in front of my computer creating!

4. Favorite picture:

My yorkies, Buddy and Max, are ready to celebrate!

3. Favorite memory:

Great food! Great fun!

It couldn't have been any better!

2. Goal for 2013:

My goal is to pay attention to whoever is talking to me. If I don't stop what I'm doing and look at the person who is speaking to me, I usually don't hear them. Needless to say, this is frustrating to some people, plus, I'm missing out on some good conversation.

 

1. One Little Word:

I want to see how many random people I can smile at this year! Try it! It's fun!