How Do You Start Your Day?

I always starts my day with a song.  Here is the one that I use for the first few weeks of school.

It goes to the tune "Goodnight Ladies."  I made it into an interactive chart where my student's can place name cards on the velcro spots to change the song and practice their tracking and reading skills as they sing. We use this chart for about the first three weeks of school and manipulate the names as we sing.

How do you start your day?  Do you have a favorite song that you sing?

Happy Blogging!
Ann

Welcome to My Classroom

Let's take a tour of my beach themed classroom!

The view from the door.

The view from my guided reading table.

Another view from my guided reading table.

The carpet area

The calendar, DRA leveled book baskets, and book buddies.

My happy chair (made from bamboo).

The Beach House (Playhouse)

Storytelling area/math tubs in front (I still need to paint that shelf.)

My palm tree/Felt board

Word Wall

My treasure buckets.

Behavior Chart (Purchased this from TPT)

The writing center.

Thanks for taking the tour with me.

Happy Blogging!

Ann

Back To School Linky

I'm linking up with Jeannie over at Kindergarten Lifestyle for her back to school linky party.

Every teacher has something that comes to their brain when they think of back to school time such as walking down the school supply isle just to see if there are any good deals that you just can't pass up.

Or maybe you just can't wait for the Sunday newspaper flyers to see what is Staples offering for only 1 cent this week.

Well, here is mine...

Yep, this is me!  It never fails!  Two to three weeks prior to going back to school I start having that reoccurring nightmare that my new class has GONE WILD.  And no matter what I do, THERE IS NO CONTROLLING THEM!

Is it just me, or does anyone else have these unwelcoming dreams?

I have always wondered if it is just my brain trying to problem solve what I would actually do if I were placed in such a situation.  I am sure they must have some purpose other than depriving us of our much needed rest prior to the school year starting.

And why do we never have a dream where they all behave like perfect little angels?  That is not very nice of our subconscious to always think that our littles are going to be little devils in disguise.

Well, whatever the reason,  they always happen and then they start subsiding after the school year begins.  Which is soon for me!  My first day with the kiddos is Monday.  As always, I am hoping that THESE dreams DO NOT come true.

So what do you think of when it is back to school time?  Go link up and tell us.

Until then....may all your dreams be good ones!

Happy Blogging!
Ann

My Home Away From Home

I know!  I know!

I have been on hiatus from my lil' ole blog this week.

I apologize immensely, but I have a good reason!

Here it is...

I have been busy arranging, rearranging, laminating, labeling, meeting, conferencing, gluing, re-gluing, creating, discussing, counting....I think you get the idea!

It was preplanning week.

It began on Monday with a full day meeting on our new evaluating system.

Then, it continued on Tuesday, with a district required "motivational" meeting in the morning and our new grade book training in the afternoon.

FINALLY, on Wednesday, we were able to work FOR A FULL DAY in our classrooms because Thursday (TODAY) was meet your teacher.

Thank goodness I was able to pull the room together in time  AND THE BEST PART...

I actually remembered to take pictures.  Aren't you proud of me?

Now, I know they are not the best...I used my iPad and I was in a rush because I had to make it home to watch my littles.  I will try to take some closer up images later and give you some greater details.

But, in the meantime, this is it!  This is my home away from home and I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT!

Thanks for understanding why I was on hiatus.  I will try to be a better blogger now that I have met all 21 of my kinder cuties.

Until next time....Happy Blogging!
Ann

Winner!!!!

Winner!  Winner!  Chicken Dinner!

Well, I didn't give away a chicken dinner!  But I did give away one of these little cuties:

$10 Dollar Tree Gift Card

This week seemed to be on turbo speed and then we had company on Friday and Saturday.  So, of course, I forgot to announce who won my Blog's Birthday Giveaway.  I guess that's what I get for having a giveaway during a teacher's busiest time of year.

But...at least I did contact the winner after that lovely "Real Random Number Generator" decided who won.  On a side note...Is there a "Fake Random Number Generator?"  Sorry, A.D.D. moment!

The winner of the above gift card was (insert drum roll here)....

Catherine

from

Kinder Cuties

Catherine was quick to respond and the gift card is already in the mail.  I know she will have a great time buying goodies at Dollar Tree.  I stopped by their today and spent another $20 for my classroom.  Wait....some of it was for home!  Especially that bag of Twizzlers that is almost half gone already.  I knew I should have stayed out of the candy isle. 

Now, would you believe I went to my classroom today?  I was there for about five hours.  Ugh!  Preplanning begins tomorrow but we have a meeting ALL DAY.  I know, what genius thought of that schedule?  That's what the other half of the bag of Twizzlers is for.

Anyway, I wanted to get something done and feel like I am ahead of the game.  So, I spent some time in my home away from home.  It is coming together.  I keep saying that I am going to post pics, but to no avail, I keep forgetting to take them.  If someone could just text me like right before I leave my classroom and remind me that I need to take pics....that would really help.

Well, I best be going.  I have ignored my family all day with the combination of going to school/Dollar Tree and the AWESOME TpT sale (where I have already made my wonderful purchases and can't wait to use them with my kiddos this year).

Until next time....Happy Blogging!

Ann

Another Giveaway!

Hi blogging friends!

I have been crazy busy these past two days.

Yesterday I worked in my classroom for the entire day.  It is starting to look less like chaos and more like a kindergarten classroom.

Today, I attended a great Singapore Math workshop led by two of my blogging friends, Kim and Meredith from Sunshine, Sand and Scissors.

I am so excited to announce that I am joining up with them for their FIRST GIVEAWAY.

They are also pairing up with Liz from Leaping Into First Grade.

Who couldn't use some extra $$$ right now?

Check it out!  You could win one of the following gift cards. I know I could easily spend that $10 Oriental Trading Gift Card right now.  Have seen some of the cute stuff in their current catalog?  I don't know about you but I'm having to hide my credit cards these past few weeks!  It's so tempting to just keep spending for my classroom.

Anyway, click here to check out the details about this giveaway.

Oh, and don't forget about my Bloggy Birthday Giveaway that is also going on until Friday.  You can check out the details regarding that giveaway by clicking here.

Good luck and Happy Blogging!

Ann

Look Who's Turning One Giveaway

I can't believe it!

It seems just like yesterday that I discovered blogs and then got the itch to create my own.  

Has it really been a year already?

Yes, my blog is turning one today!

Over this year, I have learned so much from all of you and made such great blogging friends.

I feel the need to show all of you some appreciation.

Therefore, I am giving away one of these:

$10 gift card to Dollar Tree

I know we all visit this place way too many times during the school year, so I am sure one of my bloggy friends could put this to good use for their classroom.

Here is all you have to do:

1.  follow my blog and leave a comment 

2.  follow me on Pinterest and leave another comment

That's it!
I like to keep things simple for you.
Especially since we are all into our back to school hustle and bustle.

The giveaway will end on Friday at midnight eastern time.

I hope you win!

Now, I am off to my classroom.
I am hoping to get a lot done today since I have a workshop tomorrow and Thursday.
Also, preplanning begins Monday and I want to have most of it done.
I will try to take pics for you.

Good luck and happy blogging!
Ann

Summer Appreciation Giveaway

Stacy over at Simpson's Superstars has a great Giveaway happening.  Go check it out and enter!

Happy Blogging!
Ann

Currently...

Wow!  It's August already!

Where did my summer break go?

I only have one more week and then I'm back full time!

Actually, I only have half a week because I have two days of workshops next week.

I don't know about you, but the "back to school" nightmares have already started.  You know the ones!  Where you have the class from...well you know where... and they are so unruly and you can't control them no matter what magical idea you pull out of your pocket.  Ugh!  I hate those!  Do you get those too?

It's also time for Farley's Currently Linky Party.

Here goes mine...

I love the back to school must haves.

I have been obsessed with polka dots this summer.  Especially black and white.  I have found that I am using a lot of it in my color scheme this year.  It is looking GREAT too!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Scotch Personal Laminator.  It has really been a useful tool over the summer to help me prepare for next year and I am sure that I will be using it A LOT this school year.

Lastly, I MUST GO GET MY HAIR HIGHLIGHTED.  For those of you who participated in my Guess My Age Birthday Giveaway, you know that I just turned 42.  Well, let's just say that I'm currently a natural blonde with gray highlights.  The other day someone asked me if I had my hair frosted because if so, it looked great!

I really just didn't know how to respond at that moment.

Now, I must say that gray hair does look beautiful on many women, including my mother;  BUT I'M NOT READY YET!

So, I have made myself a hair appointment and my "frosty" look will be gone before the start of the school year.

So that is my Currently for August.  Go link up and share your Currently with us.

Happy Blogging!
Ann