Take a Peek at My Back to School Sale Purchases! {A Linky Party}

Wow! I just now realized how long it has been since I've posted on this little ole' blog. Between switching grade levels, chasing around a 2 year old, and being 20 weeks pregnant, I decided to take a break from blogging for the summer and try to enjoy all of the new changes in my life! I'm happy to say that I'm back and can't wait to share all about my year in THIRD grade!

This year, I am looping with my second graders from last year and I couldn't be more excited. I had such a fabulous group of kiddos last year and I get to keep them for another year! I usually get so nervous for Meet the Teacher night but last week when we had ours, it felt like a family reunion! It was great to see all of my kids and hear about their summers.

Since I'm switching grade levels, I am in need of a lot of third grade resources. So what did I do? Went a little crazy shopping at the TpT Back to School sale! I wanted to share some of my finds with you and I hope that you link up and share yours too! Here's what I snagged:

3rd Grade Common Core ELA Ultimate Vocabulary Resource by Math MoJo

 

This year, I'm using a vocabulary wall to help reinforce all of the new vocabulary terms that we learn in third grade. I've already created math vocabulary cards but just didn't have the time or energy to create the cards for ELA. I went searching on TpT and found this fabulous resource! These cards are going to look great on my vocab wall.

 

 

3rd Grade Language Interactive Notebook (Common Core aligned) by Nicole Shelby

3rd Grade Reading Interactive Notebook (aligned with the Common Core) by Nicole Shelby

 

This will be my first year using interactive notebooks in the classroom and I am so excited! Nicole has put a TON of hard work into these notebooks- they are over 100 pages each! I think my students will really like keeping track of everything they are learning in these notebooks. Plus, it will be a great resource for them to refer to throughout the year.

 

Math Camp-In Grades 3&4 by Math & Science with TLC

 

I can't believe I haven't discovered this wonderful store until now. If you are looking for Math and Science resources, Math & Science with TLC is the place to go! I'm always looking for ways to make math fun and exciting, and what better way than a Math Camp-In! During a Math Camp-In students hike to math "trail posts" (stations), complete rich mathematical tasks and record ideas in their Camp Journal. The Math Camp-In can be used as a day-long program, a mini-unit in the regular classroom, or as a Family Math Night. How fun!

 

Common Core Mathematical Practices Poster Set-Primary by Math Coach's Corner

 

We've had a lot of training recently about the 8 Mathematical Practices. When I saw this poster set, I knew I had to have it! (Plus, the kid-friendly language on each poster helps ME understand the meaning of each mathematical practice!!)

 

 

Gr. 3-8 MVPs in Math-Common Core Mathematical Practices by Math & Science with TLC

 

This product is another great resource for using the 8 Mathematical Practices in the classroom. It includes 18 cubes with questions for your students to answer before, during, and after problem solving. These cubes will help give me the language needed to ask open-ended questions in math!

 

Shades of Meaning Task Cards: 32 Multiple Choice Cards for CCS L.5 by Rachel Lynette

Vocabulary Task Cards: 35 Activity Cards for Any List! by Rachel Lynette

 

Okay, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that these task cards are the first that I've purchased from Rachel Lynette. I'm so excited to try them out in the classroom! Understanding shades of meaning is such a tricky thing to teach so these should be a huge help.

Whew.... I think that's it! Link up below and share your goodies from the Back to School sale! I just might have to shop a little more before the sale ends tonight =)

TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale.... It's Almost Here!!!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! To show you how much I appreciate your support of my blog and TpT store, I am offering 20% off of ALL products in my TpT store for the big sale! From May 7th through Ma 8th, you can save 28% off by using the discount code TAD 13 at checkout. This is a great time to stock up on end of the year items as well as back to school products for next year! My wish list is full and I can hardly wait to snag all of the goodies that I have been eyeing lately!

Here are some recent additions to my TpT store:

Customized Kindergarten Common Core Standards Posters- "Kid Friendly"

 

Customized 4th Grade Common Core Standards Posters- "Kid Friendly"

 

 

These posters include "I can" statement posters for ALL Common Core standards along with Science and Social Studies posters specific to your state. If you're anything like me, you'll love having a matching set of posters for all subject areas!

Mom, You Couldn't BEE Any Sweeter! {A Mother's Day Craft}

This is a cute and easy craft for your students to make for Mother's Day! Three different message boxes, patterns, and directions are included.

This Year ROCKED! {An End of the Year Memory Book}

 

 

 

Celebrate the end of the year with your students using this fun rockstar themed memory book! There are two different versions provided- one features girl rockstars and one features boy rockstars. This book is printed like a booklet and will save you on paper! Just print double sided, fold in half, and staple in the middle.

 

 

I hope you enjoy the big sale tomorrow and Wednesday! Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

 

Flash Birthday Sale!

Today is my birthday and I'm having a hard time accepting that this is my last year in my twenties. I seriously can't believe that I'm going to be 30 next year- I still feel like I'm 22! To make myself feel better about turning the big 2-9, I decided to have a sale at my TpT store =) Today and tomorrow, you can save 20% on ALL of my products! To visit my store, just click on the picture below. Enjoy!

Super Sunday Sale... and a Challenge!

The big sale on TpT is almost here! It's time to discover new products, empty those wishlists, and save yourself boatloads of time with all of the amazing resources available. I'm excited to share that I will be offering 20% off all items in my store on Sunday. You can also use the coupon code SUPER to receive an additional 10% off!

   Here are a few of my seasonal resources for this time of year:

 

 

       

Here are a couple of my personal favorites:

 

 

Last, here are a couple of my best sellers:

 

 

          

Today, we started the Random Acts of Kindness Challenge in our classroom! It was so fun! We kicked it off by talking about what R.A.K.s are and how it makes you feel when someone does something unexpected for you. I then read the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. If you haven't read this book to your class yet, you NEED to!

I then gave them the first daily challenge (of 10). Their challenge for today was to smile at someone in the hallway and ask how they were doing. (We made sure to discuss making eye contact, talking clearly, etc.) Many of the kids tried this challenge during the day and were so excited to tell me about it! It was great to see them feeling so good about themselves for doing a random act of kindness. We are going to continue doing a daily challenge for 10 days, all the way up until Valentine's Day. Some of the different challenges include: holding the door open for someone, sitting with someone at lunch who you normally don't sit with, picking up trash that you see without anyone asking, leaving a little note thanking the custodian at the end of the day, and many more. If you'd like to check out more about this challenge, just click on the image below!

 

Share Your "Deals and Steals" From the TpT Sale!

I am so pumped about the big sale tomorrow and Tuesday on TpT! The thought of saving money is so exciting! I don't know about you, but I love to look at my Kohl's receipt after a big purchase and see how much I saved. What a great feeling! =) I thought I would create a linky party so that we can all link up our "deals and steals" from the sale. This is a great way to show and promote the awesome products you snatched up!

Here are the goodies that I grabbed during the sale:

Red and Green Christmas Digital Scrapbook Paper by Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs (LOVE this new clipart seller!!)

 



 

Here Comes Christmas! {5 Math and 5 Literacy Centers} by Amy Lemons (Who doesn't love fun and meaningful activities for Christmas?!)

Writing Center Starter Kit {Printables} by A Cupcake for the Teacher (I am always looking for new ideas for my writing center- this looks awesome!)

Snowman Search and Bar Graph by Rachel Lynette (This looks so fun- I know my students will LOVE it!)

Sub Tub & Substitute Binder Resources by One Extra Degree (No more typing sub plans in bed or on the bathroom floor!!)

If you'd like to join in, please make sure to link up a BLOG POST showcasing the items you purchased during the TpT sale. Feel free to use the image above and make sure to link back to this blog post. Happy Shopping!

 



Number Talks, Flash Cards, and My New Addition!

Have you heard about using Number Talks in your classroom? If not, you are missing out! Number Talks are any easy way to encourage your students to understand numerical relationships and think deeper about WHY a specific strategy works. Number Talks also encourage your students to solve math problems mentally without using a pencil and paper. Here is an example of a number talk for second grade:

9+1

9+5

9+8

 

All you do is write these three facts on the board. Give your students time to mentally find the answer of each one. Once they have their answer, they put their fist on their chest. If they can think of another strategy or way to get the answer, they put up a finger. If they can think of two ways to get the answer, they put up 2 fingers. This encourages the kids to think of multiple strategies for solving these facts.

 

Once you've give the students time to come up with their answers, have them share with the class. Focus on HOW they got their answer instead of just the answer itself. It's pretty amazing to hear what your students come up with! Some responses might include: "Well I know that 9+1 makes 10, so to solve 9+5, I just took 1 away from the 5 to make 10 and then had 4 left. I added the 4 left and got 14."

 

As the year progresses, the Number Talks become progressively more difficult. Students are able to solve problems with two 3-digit numbers being added together in their head. It's amazing! If you'd like to check out the Number Talks book, click on the picture above. I promise it will be worth it!

 

To go along with the Number Talks book, there is a sequence of facts that you teach your students. In the past, I've always done timed math fact tests starting at +0 and ending at +10. This book encourages you to teach these facts in a different order stating at +1, +2, +0, +10, and so on. It totally makes sense! One area that I've always had a difficult time managing with math facts is flash cards. These are such a pain to manage because all of my students are working on different levels. My awesome teammate, Kristin, came up with this great idea of using an envelope with a checklist on the front.

 

 

The envelope is where the students keep the addition and subtraction facts that they are working on for the week. This envelope stays in their take-home folder so that they have it at home and at school each day. They can practice their facts with their families and during times when they finish their work early at school. The checklist on the front is a visual reminder for the students and parents of which levels they've mastered and which levels they have yet to master. I explained the envelopes to my kids and passed them out- it was such a breeze! The parents are excited to have the flash cards at home to help their child practice also. It's a win-win!

 

Speaking of being excited, I'm so pumped to show you the new addition in my classroom! This Monday when I came into school, this is what I found...

 

 

Woo hoo! My SMART board has arrived and is installed in my room. I am in love =) My students couldn't contain themselves when they first saw it! I'm slowly trying to figure out how to use it, so it's going to take a little while but I'm starting to get the hang of basic things. I can't wait to see what all this bad boy can do!

 

Well I hope you all are having a fantastic start to your week. Tomorrow is the big day that I will be announcing the winner of my 200 follower giveaway. Be sure to check back and see who the lucky winner is! Also- remember that tomorrow I'm having a Halloween sale at my TpT store. All of my products are going to be 20% off for one day only. Happy Halloween!!!

 

 



 



It's a Spooktacular....

SALE! I am excited to be joining JD's Rockin' Readers (and many other fabulous bloggers) for a sale on Halloween! I absolutely love Halloween- the cool weather, trick-or-treaters, decorations- it's so fun. This year, my little guy will be trick-or-treating for the first time. He is going to be dressed up as a puppy dog... it is absolutely adorable. The only problem is, he HATES it! We did a practice run in the costume a few nights ago and it only lasted about 5 minutes. So Halloween this year should be interesting!

To celebrate Halloween, I'm offering 20% off everything in my store! I typically don't discount the customized Common Core posters that I sell (because of all the time involved in customizing each set), but I decided to include these as well. The sale will be for one day only- October 31st. Be sure to check out all of the other bloggers participating in the sale by visiting JD's Rockin' Readers blog {here}.

This weekend, I finished up a new Thanksgiving unit that I've been working on- Thanksgiving Math and ELA Activities! Check out the pic below- my favorite part is the turkey craftivity. This was the first time I've created a craftivity and I think he's just too cute! This unit will 20% off during the 'Spooktacular Sale' so be sure to check it out!

 

I hope you all have a great Monday! Stay safe with Hurricane Sandy!