Tried-It (& Now Obsessed with It) Tuesday! Hah!

First off I need to apologize for the lack of educational posts. I promise I have been working on some fun activities and units that I hope to share very soon! =)

Today for Tried-it Tuesday, I found the COOLEST thing ever to share with you guys. It's not educational, but based on all the teacher fashion posts/instagram pictures I've seen floating around, I think a bunch of you guys might LOVE this! 

Have any of you heard of Stitch Fix? One of my favorite non-educational bloggers talks about it all the time. Basically its a fashion website where you have your own personal stylist. You sign up for a "fix" and your personal stylist sends you 5 unique pieces of clothing and accessories based on a detailed style report you fill out. You have three days to check out the clothes, and then you send back (free shipping) the ones you don't want. The only commitment is a $20 styling fee that you can put towards any item you purchase. 

I got my first "fix" yesterday and I am already addicted! 

I REALLY want order another fix, but I decided to purchase two of the five items I received yesterday, so I need to save up some more spending money first. 

Check out my first fix:

Items I got in my fix:

1) Super cute blue and white dress... sad news though... 

it is much too short for me.

2) Maxi-skirt... I love this skirt so much that I actually already have it. 

3) Ombre tank...OBSESSED. This one was a definite keeper.

4) White tank... This one looks much cuter on... It was also a keeper.

5) Necklace... This was cute, but I decided to send it back. 

Another super-fun thing about Stitch Fix is that now that I've seen and tried on these five items, I go back to the website and report what I thought about each item. This way my "stylist" can try to make some changes before my next fix. 

Have I convinced you to give this a shot? 

Go to the Stitch Fix website and sign up. You give them your email and then in the next day or two you will get an invite where you can fill out your style profile and get your first fix. Give it a one time try or you can even sign up for monthly fixes! If you sign up let me know! I want to see what fabulous fixes you receive! =)

Check out the Stick Fix website HERE.

** Just a side note... Stitch fix didn't ask me to write this post! Hah! I just think they have come up with the coolest idea and I had to share it with all of my fashionable teacher friends! =)

Go check out other things everyone else has tried! 

Thanks for the fun linky Fourth Grade Flipper!

Beach on my Brain!

So I must say that I have been MAJORLY "slack-a-lackin" in the school department. I have let summer sweep me off my feet! Hah! ... And it's been very hard to be motivated to get moving on school work. 

This is BAD. BAD. BAD. 

...because with the new common core standards and with no textbook series I have MUCH to do. I have been working on some school stuff this morning but my mind keeps wondering and my mouse keeps clicking on non-teaching related things. Anyone else having this problem? I said this a few posts ago, but I need to map out my teacher related necessities on a calendar so I can make sure I get them all done!

Being beach OBSESSED, I knew I had to link up with Across the Hall in 2nd for her favorite things (beach edition) linky. Man... just thinking about the things I take to the beach makes me want to pack up and hit the road... its only a 4 hour drive. I could be there by early afternoon! 

Okay... on to my must haves...

1) Beach chair.

I like the kind of chair that sits you nice and close to the sand. It also needs to recline and have a cup holder. Hah! It also needs a strap to make it easy to carry back and forth to the beach. Gosh, I didn't realize how picky I am with my beach chairs! hah!

2) Sunscreen.

As much as a I wish I could tan, I can't. This means I am constantly applying sunscreen out of fear of getting burnt to a crisp.

3) A Cooler... Oh, and a koozie is a definite must have!

4) Jams and a good read.

No beach trip is complete without some fun tunes to listen to and a good book to read. I won a cute little radio at my 5th grade class auction that still accompanies me to the beach every summer. This radio  15 years old and is still going strong! Hah!

(This is my actual radio... isn't it cute? Hah!)

5) FRIENDS.

I know I am stating the obvious, but friends really are a beach necessity!

My beach necessity list could go on and on!

Other honorable mentions include:

A hat, an umbrella, a paddleball set, a super cute cover-up, and of course you need sunglasses!

What are your beach must-haves? I know I had to miss something important!

Okay, now that I've got beach on the brain, it is back to my school work. I am determined to get something accomplished today... unless I decide to load up and head to the beach (oh, so tempting!)! hah!

Year Two...CHECK!

Last Several Friday's ago (I started this post and then summer happened and I forgot about it... yikes!) I finished my second year of teaching. I can't believe how fast time has been flying since I graduated college in May 2011. I have two years of adult world under my belt and I must say... its not too shabby. I think it helps that I found a job that I really enjoy. I don't always enjoy the big girl expenses and decisions... haha. But overall, my life of a grown up isn't too shabby.

What I learned in year two of teaching.

From day one, be consistent. 

This is in regards to decisions and behavior. 

Smile, EVERYDAY. 

We have been implementing the 7 Habits at my school and they use the phrase...

"You carry your own weather." This is so true. No matter what is going on, I need to always choose to be happy for my kiddos.

It is impossible to stay organized. (In my world anyway! Hah!) 

We get SO many papers, students turn in so many papers... what do I do with it all? This is one of my goals for the summer.. come up with a system to stay organized.

You don't always have to re-create the wheel.

In an internet world where there are SO many resources,

I am learning that I don't always have to come up with ideas myself.

Have a life OUTSIDE of school.

I tend to stay in school mode long after the kids have gone home for the day. I need to know when to leave everything school related alone so I can go have some fun.

Never wait until the last minute... or at least try not to.
No matter how hard I work to try to get ahead, I always seem to be running to the copier right when I get to school in the morning to make that extra set of copies. I don't know how this happens because I try to be prepared for my whole week.

Always have a plan B.
You never know when the copier might break, the power might go out (this for real happened to us several times the year.. yikes!), or when the technology won't cooperate. Always have a back up plan in mind. How can you teach this technology driven lesson without technology? How can students complete a worksheet without an individual copy of their own? Several times this year I wouldn't have survived without a back up plan. 

Well, there ya have it... just a few things I learned/realized during year 2 of teaching. It is hard for me to believe that I have been teaching for two whole years! Craziness. Now I need to get back in the grind and start working on things for next year... I have not been very good at that so far this summer.
Happy Monday... aren't Monday's so great during the summer months? =)
Have a fabulous, relaxing week!

Sweet Summertime...

I will never get tired of having my summers off.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job,

but it's nice to have a month or two to relax 

and rejuvenate for another fabulous school year. 

This weekend I was beach bound.

Toes in the sand, waves crashing in, sun beating down...

that's one of my favorite spots. 

It officially feels like summer. 

Pumped to link up with Farley like we ALL do every month!

Here's to a fun, slow moving June that doesn't get too too hot! 

Hope you are all enjoying your last few days of school 

or your first few days of summer... I know I sure am!

End of the Year Freebie!

HAPPY SUMMER! Last Friday was my last day with my kiddos for the school year. I can't believe how fast this year has flown! Whew! I thought I'd share a quick activity I did with my students during the last week of school. I always like to give my students time to reflect on the school year. This activity works perfectly because I can save their reflections to share with my new students in the fall!  I am going to place the completed sheets in a binder to display in my classroom at the beginning of the school year.

Handout #1

Current students will reflect on their school year. What was the best part of the year? What was the hardest thing? These reflections will give my future students an idea of what to expect for the upcoming school year. 

Handout #2

Students will come up with a grade level word for each letter of the alphabet. Students can think about things they saw, did, and learned during this school year. Students next year will be able to look through the ABC's and get excited about the upcoming year. 

While I was making these for my 3rd graders, 

I went ahead and made them for grades 2-5. 

You can download this freebie for your classroom at my TPT store.

End of the Year Reflection Freebie

What kind of end of the year activities do you do in your classroom?

End of the Year Math Review FUN!

I have become addicted to task cards. My kiddos this year have been SO active that task cards are a great way to get them up and moving around while they are still learning. This weekend I created a set of end of the year math task cards for my students to complete this week. We completed the first half today and we will complete the second half tomorrow. 

(Side note: Tomorrow is our last full day of school... 

Where as the time gone?)

While I was trudging away at my computer, I went ahead and made a set of 30 math task cards based on 2nd grade common core standards. I am planning to use these during the first week of school next year with my 3rd graders to review the 2nd grade skills they should know. These would also be great for current second grade teachers to use at the end of this year. 

Task Card Details:

Both downloads come with 30 task cards and two different versions of an answer sheet.

You can find all of the details by clicking on the TPT links below. 

Mixed Math Task Cards: 2nd grade

Mixed Math Task Cards: 3rd grade

One more Preview...

HAPPY LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!
Check back tomorrow for a fun end of the year FREEBIE. =)

Testing Craziness!

State testing starts TOMORROW.

Ohhh, my gosh. 

This moment has been much anticipated and is finally here. 

My kiddos are ready. I just hope they realize they are ready.

I've been pumping positive thoughts 

and saying phrases like 
"Wow! That open ended question is AMAZING!"...

for like a month straight.

Our work is DONE. DONE. DONE.

Now its time for us to show what we know... and we definitely know it.

Today we spent the whole day reviewing in centers. I created/purchased 5 different ELA sports related centers for us to use today with a sports theme. I have a bunch of boys, and most of my girls play softball, so I decided this was the theme to use. 

The first center I created was Synonym Sort 
(basketball addition). 

I created two centers, but ended up only using one. 

Center #1 – Synonym Match Up
This center contains thirty different word cards. Your students will match each word card with its appropriate match. These cards can be left face up or they can be placed face down to make matching the cards more difficult. Once each pair of cards has been matched, students will record their answers on their answer sheet. Early Finishers can brainstorm an antonym for each pair of synonyms. This can also be recorded on their answer sheets.

Center #2 – Synonym/Antonym Sort
In this center, students will read two different words and determine whether they are synonyms and antonyms. Once they have determined if the card contains synonyms or antonyms, they will place it under the appropriate header. After students have sorted all 30 cards, they will pick 5 different cards to practice writing synonyms and antonyms. Because there are two words on each card, students will end 

up with 10 different sentences.

The second center I created was Syllable Baseball.

Sorry, no catchy name, but boy was it a hit!

In this activity students will pair up with a partner. Each student will have 4 bases (each base representing a syllable). Students will take turns drawing a word card and sorting it according to the appropriate syllable. After all cards have been sorted, each student will add up their points (each base is worth a different number of points). The student with the highest number of points wins the game. Students will also complete a syllable sort handout while they sort and play this game.

Here is the "Syllable Baseball" in action!

Both of these are posted on TPT and will be on SALE tomorrow and Wednesday! 

Check them out here:

Syllable Baseball

Synonym/Antonym Centers

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Hope you all have a super special week!