tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80620286589323201442024-03-05T07:12:56.041-05:00What's The Buzz in FirstJaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-73512897760150001992012-01-08T19:15:00.000-05:002012-01-08T19:15:58.039-05:00The Heart of a Reading ConferenceBefore we get started with the nitty-gritty of a reading conference...go check out how Andrea over at <a href="http://steppingintofirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/01/lets-go-lions.html">Stepping Into First Grade</a> adapted my "If I Was a Snowman" art activity! {My daughter is the model...lol.} <br />
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Don't forget to come back here...I have some more "Kate" wisdom to share with you. If you haven't been with me very long, you will want to type in "Kate" in the search option to your right to read more about our amazing district reading coach!<br />
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Once a month or so, Kate comes to our staff meeting to present on a reading workshop topic. This past week, it was on conferring...the HARDEST part of reading workshop in my opinion! Our morning staff meetings are only 25 minutes, so it was a quick overview/reminder of what we should be doing during a reading conference.<br />
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When you meet with a reader, you first have to decide what you are going to teach during your 5 minute (approx.) conference. Once you decide what you are going to teach, you can go about the teaching 3 different ways. We'll start with the easiest and move to the hardest...<br />
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1. <u>Coaching/Guided Practice</u>: the teacher can remind the child of a previously taught strategy, the reader tries the strategy, the teacher prompts and gives tips as the reader tries the strategy.<br />
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2. <u>Example and Explanation</u>: the teacher chooses a strategy that has previously been taught and reminds the reader of the example from the previous lesson about that strategy, the teacher can then show the child another way to use the strategy or how to come at it from a different angle, the reader then tries it on his/her own.<br />
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3. <u>Demonstration</u> (this is the hardest for teachers to execute properly): the teacher says to the child "I am going to teach you {insert strategy here} and watch me as I {blank}." The teacher could use a mentor text to think aloud through the process. The teacher is the reader, IN the moment. The teacher then restates what the child should have noticed. The reader then can try this strategy out on his/her own.<br />
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I like to use the demonstration teaching option when I am working on fluency with a child. For example, I would say: "listen to me read these 2 pages (I would read), then "let's read it together" (child and I will read the same 2 pages together), then "let me hear you do it on your own now" (child reads the same 2 pages alone).<br />
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To help me remember the 3 different options of teaching during a conference, I made this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9jWJswcR0XFZjEzODc2NTEtYzMxZC00Y2QyLTkwOTgtOGNjMDZmY2Y1NmI1"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcxRlIni15J4Y26K-NQn_aSkJ79zqZE_xeSowTJvbXfZfvxvQX4j9pNp_6O7_9oHU-x874GHB5G7Y2unoZIxMU0tABDoLtBOSkKEJYuMiCxMIE0Jxef27zSCobnp8HG2A3ylW9CaQp1IB/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
You can click on the image to download it using Google Docs if you are interested. I am going to put them in the inside cover of my conference notebook to help me remember. I made the most important one the biggest for an extra reminder!<br />
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I know this post isn't all glittery and crafty, but sometimes I feel like I have to get my #1 passion out there...teaching reading to little ones...I hope you enjoyed!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-87436798380722891492012-01-04T19:35:00.000-05:002012-01-04T19:35:26.872-05:00I'm On a Roll With SnowmenOur hallways were looking pretty bare after all of the holiday decorations came down...so I had to think of something, and think of something quick! : )<br />
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With a quick search on Google, I came across <a href="http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2009/02/adorable-close-up-snowman-painting/">Deep Space Sparkle where I found these adorable snowmen</a>. The directions say to use tempera paint, but if you know me...paint and my name are hardly found in the same sentence at school! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2Y45k0i2hY/TwTt9HaG--I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/pVBTI9MttxI/s1600/DSCN1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2Y45k0i2hY/TwTt9HaG--I/AAAAAAAAAsQ/pVBTI9MttxI/s400/DSCN1785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I couldn't bear to get the paint out, so I opted for our oil pastels. I modeled how to draw a snowman up close (just like Deep Space Sparkle did). They colored in all of the white first so it didn't bleed with the other colors. Everything was outlined in black oil pastels when they finished. To make it a little more academic, I added a writing piece which you can download for free by clicking on the image below.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/If-I-Was-A-Snowman-Freebie" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4tk9YUtBL3s/TwTuhft2EiI/AAAAAAAAAsc/VYnTGrKi76Q/s400/DSCN1786.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I was a snowman, I would be still as a statue. I would sneak around at night.</td></tr>
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Don't you just love this one?!?!?!?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4_R0aXM9qk/TwTvNeri-UI/AAAAAAAAAso/GnOwbJSti3U/s1600/DSCN1783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n4_R0aXM9qk/TwTvNeri-UI/AAAAAAAAAso/GnOwbJSti3U/s400/DSCN1783.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
No matter what we are working on, this little one always manages to fit in the pink lips, some bling and flowers. {SMILE}<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8PZtzmGUWtg/TwTvf7KY4II/AAAAAAAAAs0/KxUGp8Fmf0k/s1600/DSCN1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8PZtzmGUWtg/TwTvf7KY4II/AAAAAAAAAs0/KxUGp8Fmf0k/s400/DSCN1782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmshc5rCg4M/TwTvm32EcLI/AAAAAAAAAtA/kcQSvn71Ev0/s1600/DSCN1781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmshc5rCg4M/TwTvm32EcLI/AAAAAAAAAtA/kcQSvn71Ev0/s400/DSCN1781.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think this art project is a keeper!!! Let me know if you try it!!! : )Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-88933134791908192092012-01-02T13:26:00.000-05:002012-01-02T13:26:14.409-05:00A Freebie and a Whole Lot of RandomnessFirst, I have to THANK all of my blogging friends who took advantage of my "insane" TPT sale!!! And, the best part of the whole thing...the sweet comments from friends who told me how much they appreciated it...that made it so worth while! Oh, and the feedback left on the items that were purchased...priceless! So, here is a little freebie as a thank-you...<br />
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Snowman Soup Tags...click the picture to download. After you download, come back here if you want to read some more randomness...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Snowman-Soup-Gift-Tags"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SukWLE-R3YE/TwHeYGFa_UI/AAAAAAAAAr4/IdLyieU1G7Q/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if you care to read about it...here is some complete randomness...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">I'm getting ready to head back to work tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. Alarm is set for 5:10, the kids clothes are set out for grandma and grandpa's house (my daycare) and I still need to go shopping for my lunches. These breaks always fly by, but I am secretly ready to go back. WHAT?!?!?! you scream? Yep, it's time. My husband has been off of work for 1 1/2 years on disability and I'm going a little cuckoo. It's hard being on break with extra body in the house...love 'em to death, but work is starting to sound more like vacation.</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">Is it horrible that I have NOTHING ready for tomorrow? I mean, I know what I am doing, but walking into a classroom after 2 weeks is a little scary. I am sure I have a few Christmas decorations still hanging around, I know the December calendar is still up and the custodians like to play tricks on us and move furniture around. And...I need to get there early enough to print <a href="http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-year-freebie-some-resolutions.html">Cara's New Year unit</a>, cut it out and get it in the math tubs {& laminate later}! YIKES, especially when you have ONE color printer in the building that is so darn picky. You have to literally stand there and feed it one piece of card stock at a time. Not even kidding...</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">And since we only have that ONE gem of a color printer, I have to get my math tub stuff printed and made WAY ahead of time. That's why I made this pack of 6 math centers for Valentine's Day. Yep, Valentine's Day. Let's see...26 pages, feeding that printer one page at a time...that should take me about 2 days...lol. And I never have a spare minute in a school day to stand around feeding a printer one piece of card stock at a time...see what I mean...Valentine's Day doesn't seem that far way now, does it?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentine-Theme-Math-Centers" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FeN08QOyZzY/TwHvYjphOAI/AAAAAAAAAsE/-IGMkLWusgQ/s320/Slide1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the pic to check out the center pack.</td></tr>
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Now...is it ok to bribe you with a little something? If you purchased my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-Activity-Pack">Chinese New Year Activity</a> pack, it is feeling a little left out. There is no feedback on that item yet. : ( Maybe you need to try it out with your kiddos first, or maybe you just don't have time for feedback... So here is your bribe. If you purchased the pack (or if you go buy it now) and you go and leave feedback, come back here and be one of the first 5 to leave me a comment with your TPT user name, I will send you an item of your choice from my store. You will need to leave your choice of item and your email address as well in the comment. : ) Why do I care so much about feedback on this item? Well, the competitive side in me is out in full force. When I originally posted about this unit a few days ago, I was the ONLY one who had a lower-el Chinese New Year Pack out there!!! And a few hours after that post...yep, you guessed it...a few more units popped up! Holy Cow, does word travel fast!?!?! I love my TPT friends, but I man, I thought I was kinda nice being unique for just that one moment... : ) Silly, huh?<br />
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And another piece of randomness...totally not school related...I got a few iTunes cards for Christmas and I ventured into the app store for my iPod. I think I was the last one invited to the Angry Birds party. Can you say ADDICTED? Blogs are addicting, but omiword, this darn game has me hooked. My 5 year old and I <strike>fight</strike> argue over who gets to play next. I secretly practice so I can beat his score...that kid has got an aim!!! The funny thing is that he says to me (mid-game) "mom, now I know what those big bird pillows are at Meijer!" Every time we would go to the store, he would ask me what those Angry Bird pillows were. He's not in the dark any more...and neither am I.<br />
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One more, and I'm done babbling, I promise. Yep, there is another party that I haven't been invited to and it is totally by choice (I guess). I don't have a facebook account and I probably never will. But, that leaves me wanting Pinterest even more. Somebody needs to tell MR. Pinterest that it is dumb you have to have a facebook account to join (it's gotta be a guy that would do something like that...sorry guys). So guess what I did? I hijacked my mom's facebook password (with total permission) so I could invite HER to the Pinterest party and now I'm in the loop...kinda...with <u>her</u> profile and <u>my</u> boards. Make sense? Her facebook friends probably wonder why a retired teacher has so many school crafts and ideas all over her boards. Funny, right?<br />
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Ok...I'm done...time to get ready for the craziness of tomorrow.<br />
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</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-62499997442066727592011-12-31T14:20:00.000-05:002011-12-31T14:20:01.434-05:00Insane Sale!So my retired teacher mom said "you did WHAT?!?!?!?!" when I told her about the sale I just posted on TPT. I have marked everything in my store down to $2 or less!!! Yes, even my $8 mega packs!!! Everything will stay $2 until I get a free moment tomorrow to put it all back to original prices. Enjoy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whats-The-Buzz-In-First" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NXfEshYWqrdEaobsSLftjamKrn9pTcDj6S5Z_DJ2fDW1uf4_V43q_j-HQhCmEChUjFt9HOvoIl0rGf3bkpOLTF7KC3NNALtUA6UM9G1I_gvlgjTqPkhfO7Xw1xXpNQ58Y_DFLJLX1q_h/s1600/Leelou+Blogs+-+Best+Days+3C+header" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click here to go directly to my shop!</td></tr>
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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-14250711978676865472011-12-30T13:52:00.000-05:002011-12-30T13:52:52.674-05:00Winter Reading Incentive & A FreebieI'm gearing up to go back to school on the 3rd...how about you? As soon as we get back, it is time for my annual Blizzard of Books Challenge! If you live in a place where you get snow up to your knees and temperatures that would scare a polar bear, you know how often your kiddos get outside to let off some steam in the winter. They get all holed up inside playing the Wii or watching TV when we are praying and wishing that they would {just this once} read a book. My Blizzard of Books has helped spark the love of reading in my students for the last 10 years!!! Even if they only get fired up during the months of January and February, it is totally worth every minute! And then, thankfully, comes March is Reading month to hold them over for one more month. : )<br />
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Click on the picture below to find out more!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blizzard-of-Books-A-Reading-Incentive"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9H634aI7fmc/Tv4HCeSMRnI/AAAAAAAAArU/5I7h5Gt14-w/s400/blizzpic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And for a little freebie for those of you who need a quick and easy math center for Chinese New Year...click on the picture below to grab it up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-Zodiac-Animals-Count-by-2s"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2_8-8bFB3U/Tv4HkDv04RI/AAAAAAAAArg/2gxoXgDvO-I/s320/chinesecounting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy New Year!!!!!</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-19396830039413292612011-12-28T14:25:00.000-05:002011-12-28T14:25:14.464-05:00Cupcakes and Chinese New Year! {& My Top 3}So cupcakes and Chinese New Year have nothing in common except for the fact that I have just added a Cupcake Contractions Activity and a Chinese New Year Activity Pack on TPT. : ) Click on the pictures below to check them out! : )<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cupcake-Contractions-Literacy-CenterSmall-Group-Activity"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh1N6hbzzGM/Tvtn2aLDLlI/AAAAAAAAAqM/X6qy6rIczZk/s320/cupcakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-Activity-Pack"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqWp8qxkl0k/TvtoAlO-3WI/AAAAAAAAAqY/hvPSz06h-2g/s320/KlouiseDigiArt_DOTW_China-1.png" width="226" /></a></div><br />
I'm pretty darn excited about my Chinese New Year Activity Pack because there is nothing similar on TPT. I think it is due to the fact that there is NO clip art available for this theme. I found a sweet girl from "across the pond" in England to make me some custom Chinese clip art so I could put this pack together. : ) Gotta love Etsy!!!<br />
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<a href="http://fern-smith.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011s-top-three-most-viewed-blog-posts.html">Fern Smith</a> is having a linky party for us to list our top 3 blog posts of 2011. Here are my 3...<br />
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1. My <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/08/common-core-standards-posters.html">Common Core Standards Posters post</a>...sadly I think this is the top post because it includes a little bit of blogging DRAMA. People just love to read drama...right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwM6LRnCB-VXXx-oGcIW860KlG9-1SFFP7TxYAXUAVQzYro46C3pNbv_aTS-n9bWueLHnfHpF6gq9NA9fnb8h-p78AN7gW14TbZNTwW2AcYJ9LVp9mfOeIFOxyizS8dxVCAUNTxWX3733-/s1600/DSCN1478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwM6LRnCB-VXXx-oGcIW860KlG9-1SFFP7TxYAXUAVQzYro46C3pNbv_aTS-n9bWueLHnfHpF6gq9NA9fnb8h-p78AN7gW14TbZNTwW2AcYJ9LVp9mfOeIFOxyizS8dxVCAUNTxWX3733-/s320/DSCN1478.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm currently sold out of these in my Etsy store, but if you are interested leave a comment in the comments with your email and what you are interested in.<br />
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</tbody></table> 2. My <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/11/secret-santa.html">Secret Santa post</a>...too late for you to benefit from this post this year, but you could tuck it away for next year!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGIVe2pD_CXz_CX6P-28r3hyphenhyphenwP1GEos9TtmSeHcDAAeHrnoVqLh8xm7zFOXMPTgiPuDXegzaqpj3Q8knl4chwG2rOSfDI7Ju7KaTQeGlwnUl2O-VJYGao3HSN7_sLGkQdjlPShBaX7GQv/s1600/secretsanta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGIVe2pD_CXz_CX6P-28r3hyphenhyphenwP1GEos9TtmSeHcDAAeHrnoVqLh8xm7zFOXMPTgiPuDXegzaqpj3Q8knl4chwG2rOSfDI7Ju7KaTQeGlwnUl2O-VJYGao3HSN7_sLGkQdjlPShBaX7GQv/s320/secretsanta.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFIE9VbC5-gRvb5pDlvez9yZ1jHzGl8n0xbEh_27hUnGHjpWFg95FHMALKZ2h41ain-ish6Kk_0pHAZ_TuLlu3s9fhHvWWUL6RckTEl5uVgqUJU9OKghtj1wpztN-sJ89_wc5fU_FvMIt/s1600/secret+santa2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFIE9VbC5-gRvb5pDlvez9yZ1jHzGl8n0xbEh_27hUnGHjpWFg95FHMALKZ2h41ain-ish6Kk_0pHAZ_TuLlu3s9fhHvWWUL6RckTEl5uVgqUJU9OKghtj1wpztN-sJ89_wc5fU_FvMIt/s320/secret+santa2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><br />
3. My <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/06/easy-holder-folders.html">Easy Folder Holders</a> post...these have popped up all over Pinterest since my post. Have you made them yet? : )<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m3vvGKhIQjzK0sCX65BM91xZR20sEE715AkWXCaEnZju6DS3RcXGCFsZZPlRkDNhvb7eyfQDbNK3PJQ6UsqLQXujVj9fh1XXVcA1B6mqsZEFHsIolzJtUfXE-LxB6darqUG7FL3obd1f/s1600/DSCN1449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5m3vvGKhIQjzK0sCX65BM91xZR20sEE715AkWXCaEnZju6DS3RcXGCFsZZPlRkDNhvb7eyfQDbNK3PJQ6UsqLQXujVj9fh1XXVcA1B6mqsZEFHsIolzJtUfXE-LxB6darqUG7FL3obd1f/s320/DSCN1449.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Can't wait to see what 2012 brings!!! Happy New Year!!!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-30701460671296151342011-12-26T11:17:00.000-05:002011-12-26T11:17:04.608-05:00Winner!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBVkEiHqcg0/TvidlWwciFI/AAAAAAAAAqA/fBzPTXG5n8U/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rea="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tBVkEiHqcg0/TvidlWwciFI/AAAAAAAAAqA/fBzPTXG5n8U/s400/Presentation1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jen, I will be emailing you your prize pack!!! Thanks to all of the donors and bloggers who played along!!! I am so glad to have made so many new "blogging friends!" Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-66962061316838740172011-12-23T21:47:00.000-05:002011-12-23T21:47:15.236-05:00While You Are At The Store...Today, the kids and I made cookies for Santa and our 90 year old neighbor, but we were missing one important detail...the SPRINKLES! So...since I knew my hubby was already at the store, I called him and said, "While you are at the store, please pick up some Christmas sprinkles for the cookies." I had to give him a little direction as to where in the world a store might keep sprinkles, but he agreed to the task. (My husband is the type that doesn't venture into the grocery side of a store very often.)<br />
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So....30 minutes later, he arrives with THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZ_v86Y3i5o/TvU7QC9aJDI/AAAAAAAAApc/z68yclFDfic/s1600/DSCN1778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZ_v86Y3i5o/TvU7QC9aJDI/AAAAAAAAApc/z68yclFDfic/s320/DSCN1778.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The last time I checked, it wasn't Easter or the Fourth of July!!!! My 5 year old even said, "Those don't look like Christmas sprinkles!" I thanked the hubby for trying and we ended up with cookies that look like this:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-giPeOEXrkho/TvU7kZcfAJI/AAAAAAAAApo/kIAPVsg3-og/s1600/DSCN1780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-giPeOEXrkho/TvU7kZcfAJI/AAAAAAAAApo/kIAPVsg3-og/s320/DSCN1780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the "candy canes"... I managed to make them with the only sprinkles I did have on hand in the cupboard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Pretty sad...but I know Santa won't mind and Mr. Morris, our neighbor really won't mind. : )<br />
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If you have any Christmas craftiness left in your bones, you might want to give these guys a try! Super easy and they don't require sprinkles!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6LHPk49h38/TvU8GqZDeSI/AAAAAAAAAp0/RnhiuVOkfkU/s1600/DSCN1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m6LHPk49h38/TvU8GqZDeSI/AAAAAAAAAp0/RnhiuVOkfkU/s320/DSCN1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Put the stick into a large marshmallow, dip in chocolate and lay them down on your already broken pretzel antlers. Quickly add a red M&M for the nose and miniature white chocolate chips for the eyes. Leave them laying on the wax paper until they are completely dry. They are darling wrapped in a clear treat bag with a little curling ribbon. I made these for friends at work, and they seemed to be a hit!<br />
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If you haven't entered my BIG giveaway yet, you have until midnight on Christmas Eve to do so. You can click <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/12/lets-get-this-party-giveaway-started.html">{HERE}</a> to go straight there! <br />
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I am sooooo looking forward to candle light service on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with my 5 and 3 year old babies!!!! Have a wonderful Christmas!!!!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-24696491074103208132011-12-20T12:24:00.007-05:002011-12-21T13:49:35.044-05:00Let's Get This Party {Giveaway} StartedI am knee deep in emails, pdfs, links and units (and Christmas shopping), but I wanted to get this party started! I recently hit 600 followers and couldn't be happier! I have learned so much in my blogging journey and have become a better teacher by being an extreme blogstalker. I have "met" some amazing teachers along the way and I am so excited to bring you this HUGE giveaway!<br />
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Eighteen (18) TPT sellers have donated a favorite item from their stores! To enter, you will need to follow the blogs and TPT stores and leave a comment for each store/blog that you follow. The giveaway will end at midnight EST on Christmas Eve (December 24th). One lucky winner will be randomly chosen and their winnings will be sent via email shortly after Christmas Day.<br />
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<u>PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE</u> leave your email in your comments so I can easily send you your huge pack of units/games if you win! Remember to leave a comment when you follow a blog or store (one comment for each).<br />
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Here we go....<br />
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1. ME!!! Follow my blog (to your right) and follow my TPT store (link to your right as well).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zVjvLevhQZ4O2guVhw43exuUarj8B6yLTYy8eG8-B09SRcLFt4uDCo1n1Oz7uRlopIKIZzx4KlGrisFPCK7ptfRgwr7i31mm8ARst0IauxxzLciMY3mH36I4ioieMYWNqeVcul3XRTjS/s1600/fairyjaime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zVjvLevhQZ4O2guVhw43exuUarj8B6yLTYy8eG8-B09SRcLFt4uDCo1n1Oz7uRlopIKIZzx4KlGrisFPCK7ptfRgwr7i31mm8ARst0IauxxzLciMY3mH36I4ioieMYWNqeVcul3XRTjS/s200/fairyjaime.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>2. Andrea from <a href="http://steppingintofirstgrade.blogspot.com/">Stepping Into First Grade</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Andrea-W/Products">TPT store</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwtXcCphXpK4-W7tGvvGfYnBTB8MQdfHXUhruPyT_AIRFxVLLYaLWWMYl9skJ5WWaumMdgC8P32mKq2O2drIUbHBHAw4iSVcJ-Pn_jnJk92pv2aluZxx9s92tu5PUF1tduw9yPwFCVo06/s1600/henryandrea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwtXcCphXpK4-W7tGvvGfYnBTB8MQdfHXUhruPyT_AIRFxVLLYaLWWMYl9skJ5WWaumMdgC8P32mKq2O2drIUbHBHAw4iSVcJ-Pn_jnJk92pv2aluZxx9s92tu5PUF1tduw9yPwFCVo06/s200/henryandrea.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><br />
3. Deanna from <a href="http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.com/">Mrs. Jump's Class</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Deanna-Jump-11">TPT store</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi74d9QkmRWa0-940rtcwJteOeP7IrZhoPHsQVnX9j3sA9iLdQFKGJc_x-pq_LR2hm7jzKP0Hmokie3M0VzdIr1c_IS-EDdYB-he2LKZ2tI7JzqzPg5trG2JQL_igYFphpvvwtRwO99P4/s1600/penguinsdeanna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi74d9QkmRWa0-940rtcwJteOeP7IrZhoPHsQVnX9j3sA9iLdQFKGJc_x-pq_LR2hm7jzKP0Hmokie3M0VzdIr1c_IS-EDdYB-he2LKZ2tI7JzqzPg5trG2JQL_igYFphpvvwtRwO99P4/s200/penguinsdeanna.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">4. Jenaya from <a href="http://www.lessonplandiva.com/">Lesson Plan Diva</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Lesson-Plan-Diva/Products">TPT store</a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQd2Tp_d8gYGUlaTZ8QsDK628xJ_exLLDc7P6rnOYueFnDKHyhFXqBlZ86Fh8eULyXMwPiVXGCExeuPCwzBUbhrJCnEC-M4lqK2hMdS_N_QS2pjpS-L-kbSwA4CqJK8SwpMpWCga5EvkG/s1600/demo-50-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-to-use-with-any-book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQd2Tp_d8gYGUlaTZ8QsDK628xJ_exLLDc7P6rnOYueFnDKHyhFXqBlZ86Fh8eULyXMwPiVXGCExeuPCwzBUbhrJCnEC-M4lqK2hMdS_N_QS2pjpS-L-kbSwA4CqJK8SwpMpWCga5EvkG/s200/demo-50-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-to-use-with-any-book.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Rachelle from <a href="http://whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com/">What the Teacher Wants</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Rachelle-Smith">TPT store </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vdqTE9hqGoLqMzdmjUenrEdYr9j-mDehWOLNj2cc50XuUY5GBtIe6MxA3pot_uiKYy7GtBux5clYbX5fg6gh_0m7pzcixzMSZt_ShQrUy9N4gdNbEiioZ9RUzMPrQx9-TWXBO_8tMMZT/s1600/timerachelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vdqTE9hqGoLqMzdmjUenrEdYr9j-mDehWOLNj2cc50XuUY5GBtIe6MxA3pot_uiKYy7GtBux5clYbX5fg6gh_0m7pzcixzMSZt_ShQrUy9N4gdNbEiioZ9RUzMPrQx9-TWXBO_8tMMZT/s200/timerachelle.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
6. Linda from <a href="http://primaryinspiration.blogspot.com/">Primary Inspiration</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Linda-Nelson/Products">TPT store</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO34R0sc33MOyJnWhmiNeJQF7GKPHrPW86C7tFWIYivWson2FaFL_j3hctyuisGWPSOCqzW5YUdPEEKO3Mjnmmtm6Mk1byDk0jKbiqHyu2KNMO5FfiPa8qmINLQQL7WRlmjaPERe7grmUW/s1600/zoolinda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO34R0sc33MOyJnWhmiNeJQF7GKPHrPW86C7tFWIYivWson2FaFL_j3hctyuisGWPSOCqzW5YUdPEEKO3Mjnmmtm6Mk1byDk0jKbiqHyu2KNMO5FfiPa8qmINLQQL7WRlmjaPERe7grmUW/s200/zoolinda.jpg" width="141" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">7. Shelley from <a href="http://teachingintheearlyyears.blogspot.com/">Teaching in the Early Years</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Shelley-Gray">TPT store</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsje2434QsirUO5b6FHAJhPowydZ81W6NZpUklHkVAKuIW8CogpAcnS14cGGQ9o5-7tCVtYJ5hLDjvum-z4brnn60Xf88HJVkXp39a94goYP6MfwcOMBFTZNURZFg1eqRXP_UzYzcvogXM/s1600/doublesshelley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsje2434QsirUO5b6FHAJhPowydZ81W6NZpUklHkVAKuIW8CogpAcnS14cGGQ9o5-7tCVtYJ5hLDjvum-z4brnn60Xf88HJVkXp39a94goYP6MfwcOMBFTZNURZFg1eqRXP_UzYzcvogXM/s200/doublesshelley.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><br />
8. Karla from <a href="http://lifeinspecialeducation.blogspot.com/">Life in Special Education</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Karla-Banks/">TPT store</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTqFoMd2T21h1VO9slguJe66sCYP7Yjk-AlVHEP3txKEZ8xz9ww2zWwqUHecNjbjci3-dlMD4svPU-Z18ymlaApZHNyr6xiSmZoIWmDjZZXUsZow8WHEzNrvQcw3xAz1F-rPMN7Hyd0mx/s1600/frogkarla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTqFoMd2T21h1VO9slguJe66sCYP7Yjk-AlVHEP3txKEZ8xz9ww2zWwqUHecNjbjci3-dlMD4svPU-Z18ymlaApZHNyr6xiSmZoIWmDjZZXUsZow8WHEzNrvQcw3xAz1F-rPMN7Hyd0mx/s200/frogkarla.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>9. Lisa's <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lisa-Rombach">TPT store</a> (no teaching blog) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpT_OOHd-DZLwEFEFeboj4uuwh48cKk0FMg7haJzr5_qLUmsw84PtWqe6bKLPVIveBSH4m0Z5VwJ8WVsQ4VgjJmjaDvNUZGOBIJTVNnQ-F5bMIoFh-ze48twhyphenhyphenKxcxHy3tOU17lAZk_AU/s1600/loisehlertlisa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpT_OOHd-DZLwEFEFeboj4uuwh48cKk0FMg7haJzr5_qLUmsw84PtWqe6bKLPVIveBSH4m0Z5VwJ8WVsQ4VgjJmjaDvNUZGOBIJTVNnQ-F5bMIoFh-ze48twhyphenhyphenKxcxHy3tOU17lAZk_AU/s200/loisehlertlisa.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">10. Heather from <a href="http://hojosteacherstore.blogspot.com/">Hojo's Teacher Store</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Hojo">TPT store</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMAtbTMh0FYBpALZkzbvKo0nNxgcRQH0Cmh9nRjtbNWqt2hhUpr4I7JWGTN9L0CE6BHzqoZeoQdTR6vrWveLXp3OETHEldctcFncYeyKbOc6GPpj_Dxy9rcBLqaAWjmQrnTzG_GOfvzsT/s1600/alphabetheather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMAtbTMh0FYBpALZkzbvKo0nNxgcRQH0Cmh9nRjtbNWqt2hhUpr4I7JWGTN9L0CE6BHzqoZeoQdTR6vrWveLXp3OETHEldctcFncYeyKbOc6GPpj_Dxy9rcBLqaAWjmQrnTzG_GOfvzsT/s200/alphabetheather.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>11. Anna from <a href="http://www.fun-n-first.blogspot.com/">Crazy For First Grade</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anna-Brantley">TPT store</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qz2bgkKpa2q3FMvkIGiAZO0GbrePYMCMePAwX12YqxUzsm5qokGpFBsHgRoyuQm46uoqQcrBa8JEXY52zCWTliwAMsF-Nbu9gpoeZHfc22ug705tgUj3PMT92HDZ3LNPDCZcWo8mS_qv/s1600/annacover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qz2bgkKpa2q3FMvkIGiAZO0GbrePYMCMePAwX12YqxUzsm5qokGpFBsHgRoyuQm46uoqQcrBa8JEXY52zCWTliwAMsF-Nbu9gpoeZHfc22ug705tgUj3PMT92HDZ3LNPDCZcWo8mS_qv/s200/annacover.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>12. Donna from <a href="http://peacelovelearning.blogspot.com/">Peace Love Learning</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/D-Conway/">TPT store</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1heVpdbwK6HyKxtST3rVZfQSDMAfx_3WeRE-I3jC4AXCq3TZo4GOeWAvEQ2EY4u89Qtl9k52b3fUmkIYWlI51fjt1-HScZ0odcOzK3TxqgoMUl9_gb0CMdq1A9zTQpnUiYoClrJiKs2-9/s1600/chickadonna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1heVpdbwK6HyKxtST3rVZfQSDMAfx_3WeRE-I3jC4AXCq3TZo4GOeWAvEQ2EY4u89Qtl9k52b3fUmkIYWlI51fjt1-HScZ0odcOzK3TxqgoMUl9_gb0CMdq1A9zTQpnUiYoClrJiKs2-9/s200/chickadonna.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>13. Amanda from <a href="http://aspecialkindofclass.blogspot.com/">A Special Kind of Class</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amanda-Myers/">TPT store</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6sSZyyZ7I0UTxVChP4EL9scbW3TD4_47kn7_uTD5GPvP1d0zzeyj431HSUnT0_lGC-uoI86ZI388z4FOYehTF8yKnt4_QS-gaZ9g3AYV4P_qfrTxeFrYMwcXKD1E8sWc8zQs1Fa55jnH/s1600/pizzaamanda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" oda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6sSZyyZ7I0UTxVChP4EL9scbW3TD4_47kn7_uTD5GPvP1d0zzeyj431HSUnT0_lGC-uoI86ZI388z4FOYehTF8yKnt4_QS-gaZ9g3AYV4P_qfrTxeFrYMwcXKD1E8sWc8zQs1Fa55jnH/s200/pizzaamanda.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>14. Michelle from <a href="http://creativeclassroom123.blogspot.com/">Creative Classroom 123</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Michelle-Walker">TPT store</a><br />
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15. Hilary from <a href="http://rockinteachermaterials.blogspot.com/">Rockin Teacher Materials</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Hilary-Lewis">TPT store</a><br />
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</div>16. Carolyn from <a href="http://www.wiseowlfactory.com/BookaDay/">The Wise Owl Factory</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Wise-Owl-Factory/">TPT store</a> <br />
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</div>17. Mel from <a href="http://www.seusstastic.blogspot.com/">Seusstastic</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mel-D">TPT store</a><br />
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</div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>18. Jodi from <a href="http://fun-in-first.blogspot.com/">Fun-In-First</a> and her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jodi-Southard/">TPT store</a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">WHEW!!!! Did you get all of them? Isn't this amazing!!! I am so excited to use Random.org this weekend to pick a winner!!!! Thanks for playing along!!!</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com755tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-68769513177846297282011-12-09T18:34:00.000-05:002011-12-09T18:34:46.353-05:00Christmas Tree Snack and More!<div style="text-align: center;">Are you looking for a fun, but healthy snack for your holiday parties? Try this one!!! You will need a Styrofoam cone, red and green grapes, a star fruit and toothpicks. </div><br />
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It is fun to put it on a plate with some shredded coconut for the "snow." What fun food do you have at your celebrations?<br />
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Remember <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/11/parent-gifts-for-holidays.html">this post</a> when I posted our parent gift idea? Well, here are a few from my kiddos. I thought they turned out pretty darn cute! My room smelled like a paint factory after school today...but it will be so worth it when they are good and dry on Monday morning.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">And one more thing...it was like Christmas today in my room when a mom showed up with this:</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">A whole bunch of goodies for our classroom!!!! I have a little "donation" display out on our lockers, and she fulfilled a ton of my classroom supply wishes!!! I was soooooo excited! If you are interested in my Sweet Donations pack, click <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sweet-Donations-A-Creative-Way-to-Ask-for-Classroom-Donations">HERE</a>. </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">5 more wake-up days and then a well needed 17 days off!!! Can't wait!!!</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-36584005253192810782011-12-07T19:08:00.000-05:002011-12-07T19:08:52.746-05:0012 Dogs of ChristmasIf you have not heard of this Christmas book, you need to head on over to Amazon and get yourself a copy!! It includes a CD of the song that is so fun to listen to! This has been a favorite of mine (I have a habit of saying that every picture book in my library is a favorite of mine) since I did my student teaching back in 2001. My cooperating teacher bought a copy for me and now every year right before the holidays, I play it for my kids. They beg me to play it over and over again. It kind of reminds me of the excitement they had when I first played Pete the Cat for them!!! I tried to find a sample of the song on the Internet, but had no luck. You will just have to buy it and hear it for yourself!!!<br />
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What is your favorite holiday book? I think A Wish To Be a Christmas Tree comes in a close second for me!! Polar Express used to be on the top of my list until the movie came out and ruined the magic that the book had on its own. Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-1707508429048919822011-12-04T21:03:00.001-05:002011-12-04T21:12:15.848-05:00Parent Volunteer GiftsEvery year around the holidays, I like to give my parent volunteers a little gift to thank them for coming and helping in our classroom. I have been known to send my poor husband into Home Depot on Black Friday (when in fact, he secretly loves to be sent there) to grab the beautiful poinsettias that are just 99 cents!!! He says he has nightmares for days after of little old ladies shoving him out of the way to get their hands on the little red plants. <br />
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This year I have NINE awesome moms that come in once a week or once every other week to help with our intervention block time. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I have a parent in my room helping with sight word games or math intervention tubs. I wish I could take them all to Hawaii...they deserve so much more than those 99 cent poinsettias, so I made them these:<br />
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You need a clear acrylic frame, scrapbook paper, cooridnating ribbon, ink pens and sticky notes to make these adorable sticky note holders. A few glue dots or a hot glue gun wouldn't hurt to have on hand as well. Trim your scrapbook paper to fit inside the frame. Add embellishments inside or outside of the frame, which ever you choose. Attach the sticky note pad with glue dots or a dab of hot glue so they stay on. I also found a four pack of matching pastel ink pens at the dollar store that work perfectly!!! Wrap in a clear treat bag and tie with some ribbon and you have got yourself a pretty awesome gift!!! I am also making them for my kids' preschool teachers with a little bible verse "fancied up with embellishments" inside the frame. <br />
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My coworkers tease me because this is type of a project is so NOT me at all. Me + scrapbook paper are usually not said in the same sentence. ; ) <br />
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What do you do for your parent volunteers?<br />
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In case you missed my post last week...click <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/11/parent-gifts-for-holidays.html">{HERE}</a> to see what my students make for their own parents for the holidays!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-85432894998038308012011-12-03T14:59:00.000-05:002011-12-03T14:59:28.617-05:00HTML WHAT?I have watched tutorials, read blog design tips, looked at DIY blog articles and messed with HTML codes until I couldn't see straight. I finally got rid of the pastel blue background, birds and butterflies, found a background to match my header, and installed it. I think I lost a few strands of hair in the process...<br />
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And I have decided that HTML stands for this:<br />
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<strong>H</strong>ow in the HELL-O do<br />
<strong>T</strong>hey<br />
<strong>M</strong>ake it <br />
<strong>L</strong>ook so easy?<br />
<br />
-or-<br />
<br />
<strong>H</strong>ow many <br />
<strong>T</strong>housands of<br />
<strong>M</strong>onkeys did it take to make up this<br />
<strong>L</strong>anguage?<br />
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I am not in love with what I ended up with, so I might play with it a little more later. : )<br />
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I'm making my parent gifts this weekend and will post directions and pictures, soon!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-22446565061545456162011-12-03T11:17:00.002-05:002011-12-03T11:17:54.052-05:00Bound and DeterminedI am bound and determined to do a little DIY blog makeover!!! Please pardon the construction mess as I play with things...Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-80769542278619399652011-11-30T19:46:00.001-05:002011-11-30T19:54:49.522-05:00Singing Penguins and Struggling ReadersWhat do singing penguins and struggling readers have in common you ask? Keep reading...<br />
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Once every few months, my son is in charge of a snack for his preschool class. Being a first grade teacher and wanting to make everything cute, I usually make a "creation" out of food for his snack. I have made skeletons out of veggies, turkeys out of melons, cheese and grapes, Christmas trees out of Styrofoam cones and grapes, rainbows and pots of gold out of fruit and marshmallows, etc. His teachers always tease me and tell me that it is ok to send in plain pretzels or goldfish crackers. My friend's son also goes to the same preschool and she just rolls her eyes and wonders where in the world I find my time. The time I brought in little penguins made out of olives and cream cheese, she said "let me guess, these penguins sing, twirl around and explode firecrackers from their beaks." I just about died laughing!!! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjQWUx93EYs924VM1sR9xGD5FWaqQpm4HrJRkBZWZk6BJ4IwmIkdNCY_mCzFB9bdriKjhZR_H4X5oFBpZk0d5yhcthtH3tpFLvxlyquooxmq2cKUcdRr7LxG_nqpPdoPWMYaYuV7bG1Wf/s1600/100_3609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjQWUx93EYs924VM1sR9xGD5FWaqQpm4HrJRkBZWZk6BJ4IwmIkdNCY_mCzFB9bdriKjhZR_H4X5oFBpZk0d5yhcthtH3tpFLvxlyquooxmq2cKUcdRr7LxG_nqpPdoPWMYaYuV7bG1Wf/s400/100_3609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I forgot to take a picture, but I also had a cheese ball in the shape of an igloo for these little guys!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hang on...I'm getting to the part where these penguins have something to do with struggling readers. : )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Almost every blog post I write, I feel like I have to come up with this "exploding with fireworks" post that is about glitter, cupcakes, and butterflies so people will read it. Who wants to read the boring stuff (like the pretzels and goldfish) about struggling readers? So if you are all about the fluff, stop reading now. If you would like to hear more about the amazing day and information I learned about this past week, keep on reading!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was blessed to have spent the day with our District Literacy Coach (if you have been with me for a while, you have heard of the Amazing Kate!). We met to talk about what we can do about those readers who are stuck between DRA levels 3 and 4 (C and D). WOW, did we get some awesome professional development!!! We are now armed with some great mini lesson topics and conferring points for kids who are stuck at those lower levels. Here they are (underlined headings are the big ideas and bullets are the teaching points):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
<u><span style="color: blue;">How to Teach "Picture Walks"</span></u><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers use pictures to tell about the setting. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers use pictures to tell what the character is thinking. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers name the things in the pictures during their picture walk and make it sound like a story. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> </span><u><span style="color: blue;">How to Teach "One to One (1:1)" </span></u><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers touch under, not on the word. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers touch under each word to keep their place. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers use phonics to check for 1:1 using letter sounds. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers know that spaces separate words. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers know that words with more syllables need to hold their finger under the word longer/slide finger under the word until the word ends. (ex. The word umbrella would be held longer than pointing to the word is.)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> </span><u><span style="color: blue;">How to Teach "Look Through the Whole Word" </span></u><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• The size of the word needs to match the word coming out of the reader’s mouth. (Ex. Umbrella is much longer than the word under.) </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Ending sounds must match the word readers try while reading. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Middle sounds must match the word readers try while reading. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"> </span><u><span style="color: blue;">Look at the Picture </span></u><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers name the things in the picture and check with the first letter in the unknown word to see if it makes sense. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers recognize that pictures can have more than one name. (ex. Couch, chair, sofa) </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">• Readers cross check pictures with letter sounds. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">If you made it this far, I hope you enjoyed my singing penguin story as well as the not-as-exciting topic of struggling readers. : ) I wish you all could meet Kate and enjoy her as much as my coworkers and I do.</span>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-74192002031744390472011-11-28T18:36:00.000-05:002011-11-28T18:36:53.278-05:00Parent Gifts for the Holidays<div style="text-align: center;">This is an easy and fairly cheap project to do with your students to give as a gift for their parents. We ask our local big box hardware store to donate the supplies and they are usually very willing to donate everything we need!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To make the decorative tiles, you will need the following:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6x6 white bathroom wall tile for each child</div><div style="text-align: center;">an assortment of fine and extra fine Sharpie markers</div><div style="text-align: center;">piece of fine sandpaper</div><div style="text-align: center;">clear lacquer spray paint</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky1DvxuVgFTr0sHK0fx1j6OU7QlVhskBTr9LTv4b5pPUrUFShvDMlDKqAbXz9NlaBa5uo-HzZZNO6singfL6spRGgCj2xq2eUohgcQNa0AaNkQK0BCaiF25BPolpaNLwbtmwu8O5HjwJm/s1600/DSCN1713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhky1DvxuVgFTr0sHK0fx1j6OU7QlVhskBTr9LTv4b5pPUrUFShvDMlDKqAbXz9NlaBa5uo-HzZZNO6singfL6spRGgCj2xq2eUohgcQNa0AaNkQK0BCaiF25BPolpaNLwbtmwu8O5HjwJm/s320/DSCN1713.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Lightly (very lightly) sand the tile (this is so the marker will "stick") and wipe it clean with a dry paper towel. Give each child a piece of paper with a 6x6 square traced on it to use as a practice before they attempt the real thing...there is no turning back once a first grader is armed with a Sharpie!!!!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaZ4dn6afkebPdli1bk1tk6R68CoUOs2G0aLBvemX3GsjCJnl4gTr6G__u7PZlsFZstcYZTR6xrph98sjqalZCmr8qSIhIFD5RyoY-ltN9g5Rti9nQeI7FulHMQQpP_5dIOr2KNwxrEuT/s1600/DSCN1714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaZ4dn6afkebPdli1bk1tk6R68CoUOs2G0aLBvemX3GsjCJnl4gTr6G__u7PZlsFZstcYZTR6xrph98sjqalZCmr8qSIhIFD5RyoY-ltN9g5Rti9nQeI7FulHMQQpP_5dIOr2KNwxrEuT/s320/DSCN1714.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my attempt at making a practice sheet for the example. Don't laugh at my artistic abilities!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Next, read the kids the riot act about not dropping the tile because the nice folks (over at the store that rhymes with Gnome Sheep-o) only gave us enough for each child to have ONE! Have the nice little talk about how moms and dads won't be too thrilled if permanent marker gets on their clothes and how the markers are NOT smelly markers and that they should not put them anywhere near their nose.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WOdcujR3Tri5-kuLesVc1O1n9uf48eGiNyrzSfTfXCZIO_5OlQgdwyedNXmMzuMLZm-extOEAMDGtGA6WBLp7G2BnQu7hKPxOZf5fVy4c1DA_OeEEvGEofrWKkz0eQDE9neEFkCvCERN/s1600/DSCN1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WOdcujR3Tri5-kuLesVc1O1n9uf48eGiNyrzSfTfXCZIO_5OlQgdwyedNXmMzuMLZm-extOEAMDGtGA6WBLp7G2BnQu7hKPxOZf5fVy4c1DA_OeEEvGEofrWKkz0eQDE9neEFkCvCERN/s320/DSCN1715.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">When the kids are finished, I have them CAREFULLY place the tiles on a large sheet of butcher/bulletin board paper on the floor. When they all go home for the night, I lightly coat them with the clear sealer. (Make sure your windows are open and you warn the custodian not to be alarmed when he smells a strong odor coming from your room.) You may want to clear your senses before you attempt to drive yourself home. That sealer is wicked strong!!!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">It is totally optional, but you can put tiny sticky felt pieces on the four corners on the bottom of the tile so it doesn't scratch tables and things. Parents LOVE this gift and cherish it for years to come...except for the one single dad that emailed me 3 days after receiving it with a warning to tell other parents not to put it in the dishwasher. It completely erased the whole entire image that his child put on the tile!!! I didn't have the heart to tell him it was for decorative purposes only. LOL</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I found some red and green bubble wrap this year that I will wrap the tiles in once they are completely dry. The kids decorate a white paper lunch bag to use as a gift bag, too!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">What do you have your students make for their parents????</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">I will be back soon with my parent volunteer gift idea that is easy peasy and el-cheapo!</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-40635266523945568182011-11-26T11:22:00.000-05:002011-11-26T11:22:16.298-05:00Amazing Sale!<div style="text-align: center;">Starting Sunday, November 27th, I will be holding a 20% off sale in my TPT store through Tuesday, November 29th! If you shop on Monday, enter the code CMS28 to get another 10% off your total purchase!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some of my more popular items include Mo Willems' extenstion activities for his Pigeon and Elephant and Piggie books, Santa Countdown Craftivity, Conferring Shortcuts, Reading Workshop Printable Sticky Notes, Sight Word packs and Nonsense Word games.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Click <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whats-The-Buzz-In-First/">{HERE}</a> to go directly to my store! Happy Shopping!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MvbEtZ4abQWZpuF-SWcZ7gix1TGIF5H7Gl2f13NQYFi5jn_cYg7t5Ja5JwVkMad6p3DeZC7uzZr7kYgAOX4eEm34W3338FouyuzUSZJO27f6RbVGRC-jOYh-UsDDHIfMED0u8Shl6KZH/s1600/page0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MvbEtZ4abQWZpuF-SWcZ7gix1TGIF5H7Gl2f13NQYFi5jn_cYg7t5Ja5JwVkMad6p3DeZC7uzZr7kYgAOX4eEm34W3338FouyuzUSZJO27f6RbVGRC-jOYh-UsDDHIfMED0u8Shl6KZH/s640/page0001.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-24812066647448287612011-11-20T09:32:00.001-05:002011-11-20T09:34:07.846-05:00Secret Santa<div style="text-align: center;">Does your staff need a little boost in the culture department? Do you forget the true meaning of the holidays in the hustle and bustle of things at your school? You need to participate in a Secret Santa Gift Giving activity!!! We do this every year in our building and it is so much fun! Each day you act as Santa to your recipient and give him/her a small $1-$2 gift for four days. You have to get creative on how you deliver the small gifts so he/she doesn't figure out who you are! On the final day (usually the day before break) we gather in the media center for a wonderful holiday breakfast before school starts and reveal ourselves to the person we have been showering with gifts all week! We also give a bigger gift at this time, usually around $10. Of course, not everyone participates, but it is still a blast!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have cleaned up (and "fancied") the form that we use and have it as a FREE download for you if you would like to start this awesome tradition with your staff! Click on the picture below to get your copy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Santa-A-Fun-Festive-Staff-Activity"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGIVe2pD_CXz_CX6P-28r3hyphenhyphenwP1GEos9TtmSeHcDAAeHrnoVqLh8xm7zFOXMPTgiPuDXegzaqpj3Q8knl4chwG2rOSfDI7Ju7KaTQeGlwnUl2O-VJYGao3HSN7_sLGkQdjlPShBaX7GQv/s400/secretsanta.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Santa-A-Fun-Festive-Staff-Activity"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFIE9VbC5-gRvb5pDlvez9yZ1jHzGl8n0xbEh_27hUnGHjpWFg95FHMALKZ2h41ain-ish6Kk_0pHAZ_TuLlu3s9fhHvWWUL6RckTEl5uVgqUJU9OKghtj1wpztN-sJ89_wc5fU_FvMIt/s400/secret+santa2.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-28728893039374733672011-11-18T17:36:00.000-05:002011-11-18T17:36:05.317-05:00Candy Corn and Turkey Toes???<div style="text-align: center;">Somewhere out there in the world wide web, I stumbled upon Turkey Toes...never to be able to find the exact same one I originally found...so I created my own tag. What are Turkey Toes, you ask? Place candy corn in a clear bag and attach the tag with some cute yellow or orange curling ribbon. I thought it would be an adorable gift for your students or your coworkers! Click on the labels for your FREE download!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Turkey-Toes-Gift-Tag-for-Thanksgiving"><img border="0" hda="true" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBc14dk0qbW4GAyHXOcdisKg5OoPKLYxdZ6LFpUz_WIy-xc3R9sfVnsSYuJ6rjN1vrnovRC7_rpQ_67I7uBph3aZLsOLi9vA8TYS6aVd0F5KXTzKQKFkKPdq1aqsitmCArUgzXojE97Zj/s320/untitled.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Plus</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95S7BiN8Dh4MNrgI_B9DNNxC3A2fpkYVG96AGYmmplQ-iHm3uys8h9ZeWBJPWesnEccs1sOttsvKoDAmdTTuh_DVC3QeJh6CVPzyu14O6BbC0Fj447xgWBahPRCTyPI4B2MW8EzIeIaTx/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95S7BiN8Dh4MNrgI_B9DNNxC3A2fpkYVG96AGYmmplQ-iHm3uys8h9ZeWBJPWesnEccs1sOttsvKoDAmdTTuh_DVC3QeJh6CVPzyu14O6BbC0Fj447xgWBahPRCTyPI4B2MW8EzIeIaTx/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Equals a cute Thanksgiving Treat!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you missed my post about the next set of Conferring Shortcuts you can click <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conferring-Shortcuts-Series-1-A-Must-Have-Resource-for-Busy-Teachers">{HERE}</a> to go directly to the listing in my TPT shop!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Also...a HUGE favor to ask...I am in the running for an awesome grant opportunity! I need votes to win!!!! It literally takes 30 seconds to vote and they won't even send you junk email! I would appreciate as many votes as you can get for me!!! November 24th is the last day to vote! Click <a href="http://www.weareteachers.com/ideas/partnerask/teachingidea?app=19034&grantId=80">{HERE}</a> to vote! Thanks a million!</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-83511968733516202032011-11-15T17:13:00.000-05:002011-11-15T17:13:44.104-05:00New Conferring Shortcuts! {and winners}<div style="text-align: center;">A huge thanks for everyone who entered my Brag Tags giveaway!!! What a fun giveaway!!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">The lucky 10 winners have already been contacted by email.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Did you download a set of my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conferring-Shortcuts-FREE-A-Must-Have-Resource-for-Busy-Teachers">FREE Conferring Shortcuts</a> yet? If you have, and you love them, a new set of 10 are now posted and are $2.00 for a limited time!!! Click on the picture below to go straight to the listing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conferring-Shortcuts-Series-1-A-Must-Have-Resource-for-Busy-Teachers"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8H1_Uze8VDkd2ahvjN0w2aLYSuCbTUkeu1MTmcaFxDrWVWLosrr5arZOq61hBC0SIU_vdy0K9ZUzL-If4jyHTKyNkrKCMcSujdG4iHmgTn6V5Bpj38iW5OjjSiMYfylexGEMMZV_P27B/s400/tptpic.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Included in this pack are the first 5 from my original free set and 10 more series books:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #313131; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Princess Posey<br />
Roscoe Riley Rules<br />
Poppleton<br />
Max Spaniel<br />
Lighthouse Family<br />
Biscuit<br />
Iris and Walter<br />
Moose and Hildy<br />
Fluffy<br />
Frog and Toad</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">A total of 15 Conferring Shortcuts for only $2.00! This deal won't last long, so don't delay!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you aren't familiar with Conferring Shortcuts, and you teach reading using a workshop model or the Daily Five, these are for you!</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-59182541118380137162011-11-12T13:07:00.000-05:002011-11-12T13:07:32.689-05:00Have You Heard?Don't forget to enter my giveaway for some awesome Brag Tags!!! Find out <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/11/imagestuffcom-giveaway-for-10.html">{HERE}</a> how you can become one of 10 lucky winners!!! If you already entered earlier in the week, come back to find out how you can earn more entries!!! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-6Z2oOPTPf9Xi53ptb7gqNhQwMW2bf8aL3ofGYcSKcKdFnnMtm6jlVE5ZQH4gmy7VK9Pg4Tl8_mpNOPpZ7TiOnrTnHbUdkm198Z3PoZ1FsTJfPrOjBgk4BZXofNS1oqprgV1JXhK29n0/s1600/bday.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-6Z2oOPTPf9Xi53ptb7gqNhQwMW2bf8aL3ofGYcSKcKdFnnMtm6jlVE5ZQH4gmy7VK9Pg4Tl8_mpNOPpZ7TiOnrTnHbUdkm198Z3PoZ1FsTJfPrOjBgk4BZXofNS1oqprgV1JXhK29n0/s1600/bday.gif" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1ZQ7YwtmJ-brA68IxEnPdEEJMUBwpv1SNWyPuKFSAL7ixqCh3mCD_axTdujsrEipJi7uwWmbCQBXmAw9HZXQBR13eI4BUDBl_fOQagNgqK0MKblV_dPrwBz4YwpgWVy65a5RQKEbKTql/s1600/bdayread.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1ZQ7YwtmJ-brA68IxEnPdEEJMUBwpv1SNWyPuKFSAL7ixqCh3mCD_axTdujsrEipJi7uwWmbCQBXmAw9HZXQBR13eI4BUDBl_fOQagNgqK0MKblV_dPrwBz4YwpgWVy65a5RQKEbKTql/s1600/bdayread.gif" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-65938261146200422982011-11-09T19:19:00.001-05:002011-11-12T08:10:35.984-05:00imagestuff.com Giveaway For 10!<div style="text-align: center;">Back in October, I posted about Brag Tags from imagestuff.com and how amazing the company and their products are as well as how I use them in my classroom. You can read it again <a href="http://whatsthebuzzinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/10/brag-tags-thanks-cara-from-first-grade.html">{HERE}</a> in case you missed it last month. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1K5eHLH4E24ohTOYmMtjAmBH7Ha7nLb_2N-vrufZIomEVOlZtx2chVG9rko8MgGmliLPHtj4Douya1FfdQYpMbp84l33ideiCmgfStsKIo-c4HtwciYjVwPa9To5fLd1S2uV_BscR_IV/s1600/DSCN1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1K5eHLH4E24ohTOYmMtjAmBH7Ha7nLb_2N-vrufZIomEVOlZtx2chVG9rko8MgGmliLPHtj4Douya1FfdQYpMbp84l33ideiCmgfStsKIo-c4HtwciYjVwPa9To5fLd1S2uV_BscR_IV/s320/DSCN1671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, I have been in contact with one of the company's owners, Kim. Let me tell you, she is the sweetest person to deal with and I even had the privilege to talk with her over the phone! We have teamed up to bring you an amazing giveaway...drumroll please...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Kim from imagestuff.com is going to give 10 (yes, 10) teachers 40 Brag Tags and 40 necklace chains each! Each winner will be able to choose one design (all 40 tags will be the same) to be shipped straight to their doorsteps! You can browse the tags <a href="http://www.imagestuff.com/products/prodsbypcode?pcode=st_lam_tag&maxlist=10">{HERE}</a>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I love these:</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1ZQ7YwtmJ-brA68IxEnPdEEJMUBwpv1SNWyPuKFSAL7ixqCh3mCD_axTdujsrEipJi7uwWmbCQBXmAw9HZXQBR13eI4BUDBl_fOQagNgqK0MKblV_dPrwBz4YwpgWVy65a5RQKEbKTql/s1600/bdayread.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1ZQ7YwtmJ-brA68IxEnPdEEJMUBwpv1SNWyPuKFSAL7ixqCh3mCD_axTdujsrEipJi7uwWmbCQBXmAw9HZXQBR13eI4BUDBl_fOQagNgqK0MKblV_dPrwBz4YwpgWVy65a5RQKEbKTql/s1600/bdayread.gif" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-6Z2oOPTPf9Xi53ptb7gqNhQwMW2bf8aL3ofGYcSKcKdFnnMtm6jlVE5ZQH4gmy7VK9Pg4Tl8_mpNOPpZ7TiOnrTnHbUdkm198Z3PoZ1FsTJfPrOjBgk4BZXofNS1oqprgV1JXhK29n0/s1600/bday.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-6Z2oOPTPf9Xi53ptb7gqNhQwMW2bf8aL3ofGYcSKcKdFnnMtm6jlVE5ZQH4gmy7VK9Pg4Tl8_mpNOPpZ7TiOnrTnHbUdkm198Z3PoZ1FsTJfPrOjBgk4BZXofNS1oqprgV1JXhK29n0/s200/bday.gif" width="117" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">imagestuff.com also has a new blog that you should check out! The blog offers teaching ideas, motivational reads, and more. You can check out their blog <a href="http://imagestuff.wordpress.com/">{HERE}.</a> And...you should see their very cool newsletter!!! I just subscribed to it myself. You can see the newsletter <a href="http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=ac21eaed09483fd769d1a832d&id=d055f22e08">{HERE}</a>. If you subscribe to the newsletter, imagestuff.com promises informational newsletters and only 1-2 times per month so that your inbox won't get cluttered with one more thing. : )</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So do you want to know how to enter this amazing giveaway? You can have 5+ chances to enter by doing the following: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Follow What's The Buzz In First</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Follow My TPT Store <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whats-The-Buzz-In-First">{HERE}</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. Follow or subscribe by email to imagestuff's blog <a href="http://imagestuff.wordpress.com/">{HERE}</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Become a subscriber to imagestuff's newsletter <a href="http://imagestuff.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/we-are-excited/">{HERE}</a><br />
**5. EXTRA ENTRY! Vote for my grant <a href="http://www.weareteachers.com/ideas/partnerask/teachingidea?app=19034&grantId=80">{HERE}</a> (each email you vote with earns another entry!)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">(You will need to leave a separate comment for each item you complete to serve as your entries.) </div><div style="text-align: center;">****Please leave your email address with your comments so we can quickly email you to get your mailing address.****</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the rules...just because I'm a rule follower...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">RULES: Giveaway open to </span><country-region><place><span style="font-family: Georgia;">U.S.</span></place></country-region><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> residents only. Must be 18 yrs or older. Giveaway ends Sunday</span><date day="4" month="8" year="2011"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">, November. 13, 2011</span></date><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> at 11:59 PM EST. Rules must be followed. Winners will be selected using Random.org and will be emailed no later than Tuesday, November 15th and given 72 hours to respond with a mailing address and your choice of Brag Tag. In the event of no response, no new winners will be chosen. Blogger is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Prize fulfillment comes directly from participating sponsor. By entering this giveaway, you agree to have read these rules.<b></b></span></span></span></div><div align="center"></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com141tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-72510480748250177772011-11-05T15:25:00.000-04:002011-11-05T15:25:16.666-04:00What You've Been Waiting For<div style="text-align: center;">It's Here!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you read my post last week, you know that I have been working with my District Literacy Coach, Kate (aka Debbie Miller, Donalynn Miller and Kathy Collins all rolled into one) to bring you an amazing resource!!!! Hold on to your seats...I hope you are just as thrilled as I am when you download your FREE sample!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a little background about how these Conferring Shortcuts came about...</div><div style="text-align: center;">During Reading Workshop or the Daily Five when your kiddos are independently reading and you are going around conferencing with them, do you find yourself doing a "drive-by" conference? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">By a drive-by conference, we mean this:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teacher "How's it going?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Child "Good."</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teacher "Can you read a little of your book to me?"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Child {reads}</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teacher "Great, keep up the good work."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">During this conference, the teacher listened to the child, gave a compliment and went on to the next child. Where was the TEACHING in that conference? Maybe the teacher didn't know how to find a teaching point with the child because she has never read the book herself. Maybe the 4th grade teacher doesn't know how to conference with a lower-level reader because she has never had to deal with a 4th grader who can only read level J books.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have a solid conference with a child about his/her reading, a conference should have:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Research (listen and talk to child)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Decide (what are you going to teach)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teaching Point/Compliment (actually teach something meaningful)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These Conferencing Shortcuts were developed because Kate was watching teachers struggle with what to teach to their readers during a reading conference. Conferring Shortcuts were designed to be used with series books like Elephant and Piggie, Commander Toad, Minnie and Moo, Henry and Mudge, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the product description straight from TPT:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Conferring Shortcuts</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxGam9zw-Shbwa7tLW5lWdsH7CqGz_h5wWX74hXYjlS3OyMOVKeM3qAsJ6col41EbI59KyBAQQb6JCL1_ryL_T1AKNXv7fYVLvHkhaHg4QQqaB78GJrEGzypee3Eir7Zz-po8HJ5UooGQ/s1600/pic2henry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxGam9zw-Shbwa7tLW5lWdsH7CqGz_h5wWX74hXYjlS3OyMOVKeM3qAsJ6col41EbI59KyBAQQb6JCL1_ryL_T1AKNXv7fYVLvHkhaHg4QQqaB78GJrEGzypee3Eir7Zz-po8HJ5UooGQ/s320/pic2henry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Reading Workshop Conferring Shortcuts are life savers for busy teachers (if you have plenty time . . .this isn't for you). In the research phase of conferences teachers often struggle with what to confer about. Constantly searching for the perfect teaching point is frustrating especially when you haven't read all the books. So . . . for each series, Conferring Shortcuts suggest 4-5 teaching points that will not only work for any book in the series but will also meet the needs of children at that independent level and be generalizable to their entire reading life. Whether you are using a reading workshop approach like Lucy Calkins or Daily Five, these conferring bites will help guide your one on one time with learners. Each bite is a 2" by 4" label (Avery 5163) that can used inside the cover or on the back of a series book and presto . . .you have a teacher guide OR labels can be adhered to index cards and placed in a 3" by 5" binder for teachers to carry with them as part of their conferring tool kit. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Who says you can't cheat in school?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Come on over to my TPT store <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conferring-Shortcuts-FREE-A-Must-Have-Resource-for-Busy-Teachers">{HERE}</a> to download the FREE sample and start changing the way you confer with kids. If you download the sample, don't forget to follow my store so you don't miss any more Conferring Shortcut Series Labels. Kate has over 50 already made and almost ready to be posted in sets of 10. Please spread the word to your coworkers and blogging friends about this amazing resource! If you have any suggestions for more Series Shortcuts, please leave me a comment.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-25727043576526492722011-11-03T18:04:00.002-04:002011-11-03T18:09:25.769-04:00Christmas is Around the Corner!<div style="text-align: center;">Halloween was only a few days ago, but if you step into any store...Christmas is (and has been) coming as fast as lightning! Poor Thanksgiving...it usually gets one lonely end cap shelf and Christmas explodes into aisles and aisles!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I have a great excuse that I am posting about Christmas today! I have less than 30 days to get pieces prepped and ready for our Countdown Santas! They go home with the kids on November 30th so they can countdown to Christmas! Parents LOVE this activity and I even do it with my 3 and 4 year olds at home! It is a great visual and even practices counting backwards! Bonus!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you are interested in my Countdown Santa, please click on the picture!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Countdown-to-Christmas-A-Santa-Craftivity"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDCR4q1LJS-avsrjDMfP_RR8XJfuilrhVtko2JtENJof5vF_Bhp5wHuj5Q0aR76LS2acjYPh-oc9qVUNwpRsGPkrYWkyoYAragYA4DsbLgSOEQwghbjLJZ1RiklQ3CP-gV7vMcQ609d-0/s400/DSCN1685.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Another fun activity I do in December is to make the EASIEST ornaments with my students. You need sticky back foam (I find it at pretty much any craft store), glitter, sequins, small foam shapes, pieces of pipe cleaner, small pom poms, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Leaving the backing on the sticky foam, cut shapes with a die cut machine. We have an Ellison Die collection at my school and I usually go with the classic Christmas Tree for this project.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4er2lubDfpR2wgauadwgGOwRCg40esIwR7Yr4DwSQEhirwbnOg5bZmGQGXp20NEZ8uXGCAu_wLvFAfphPIA_0Ir_-mnu_XIQEFvnA87VE1hDL4YxAYefckcplD9nrKVuPdnWRdAQsnRc/s1600/DSCN1688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4er2lubDfpR2wgauadwgGOwRCg40esIwR7Yr4DwSQEhirwbnOg5bZmGQGXp20NEZ8uXGCAu_wLvFAfphPIA_0Ir_-mnu_XIQEFvnA87VE1hDL4YxAYefckcplD9nrKVuPdnWRdAQsnRc/s400/DSCN1688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Have the kids peel off the backing to expose the sticky side. Let them decorate it until their heart is content. I like to already have their name and year written with a Sharpie on the back side before they start.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GIndYbJOc5F3Xb8uOCbAq26R0Z8ziboeZ58FZdm0WvY9NkxwGRolNouR9ie9qSLfRcFwibzexRbtwRVcPNayC1ukrvEupvIqw084aHpJYC56FXeDAvcvuIOPoEJjyBi35S9SqveOd8M0/s1600/DSCN1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5GIndYbJOc5F3Xb8uOCbAq26R0Z8ziboeZ58FZdm0WvY9NkxwGRolNouR9ie9qSLfRcFwibzexRbtwRVcPNayC1ukrvEupvIqw084aHpJYC56FXeDAvcvuIOPoEJjyBi35S9SqveOd8M0/s400/DSCN1689.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Next, sprinkle glitter (doesn't matter which color(s) you choose) all over the child's tree to cover the leftover stickiness. I like to do this over a paper plate so I can reuse the excess. Tap off the excess and you are done! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgSyjQw4pDcpVM6qm7kMBWnIcpekBck8hrzFA9QXqG2ZwCcNlJFyqnrGwMw-JleqGdID-Mjk3sJ2dtSXZ1_FOY8liB3WjqXDfQ_Uo43bR8MknfRH0MsvXlzW8HAJyQ9aXP9yElD-YhLN1/s1600/DSCN1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgSyjQw4pDcpVM6qm7kMBWnIcpekBck8hrzFA9QXqG2ZwCcNlJFyqnrGwMw-JleqGdID-Mjk3sJ2dtSXZ1_FOY8liB3WjqXDfQ_Uo43bR8MknfRH0MsvXlzW8HAJyQ9aXP9yElD-YhLN1/s400/DSCN1690.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlwdDYrYAbLaw9oowkq3ta_T2THG0Nb-cp-46u4fFWgjH2ePN1UAQX5bKk0G7UdY5mg3UthKohzsxlc-eGFXvmmaX6VwRiPBmKa5zptKldIWsSXHUBZMB0uzD6ng4zhglAJ3hL-BY-ybE/s1600/DSCN1691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdlwdDYrYAbLaw9oowkq3ta_T2THG0Nb-cp-46u4fFWgjH2ePN1UAQX5bKk0G7UdY5mg3UthKohzsxlc-eGFXvmmaX6VwRiPBmKa5zptKldIWsSXHUBZMB0uzD6ng4zhglAJ3hL-BY-ybE/s400/DSCN1691.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes I add a magnet to the back, or a string (after I hole punch a small hole in the top) to complete the project.</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">Easy and cheap!</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8062028658932320144.post-46813093523298846512011-11-01T18:09:00.000-04:002011-11-01T18:09:12.524-04:00Blogs on Fire...and an updateHoly Cow! My inbox was burning up today!!! Holly over at <a href="http://crisscrossapplesauceinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2011/10/im-on-fire-and-on-sugar-high.html">Crisscross Applesauce</a> awarded me the Blog on Fire Award!!! She is a crack-up and if you haven't checked her out yet, you have got to get over there!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcvds86MNTAbywNgs3-j4kijjNELLHXyGPyM3Hz5pRY6-gDEcdhuL-SD4H-kjDKmcRVvZKUIs2r5Jc2HSxccGjkM1KX_OyWlOIcFZGzW5wabfIRWz87ztrGO5wqomtWvaq8u7BrQYVqfr/s1600/blogonfire.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcvds86MNTAbywNgs3-j4kijjNELLHXyGPyM3Hz5pRY6-gDEcdhuL-SD4H-kjDKmcRVvZKUIs2r5Jc2HSxccGjkM1KX_OyWlOIcFZGzW5wabfIRWz87ztrGO5wqomtWvaq8u7BrQYVqfr/s1600/blogonfire.png" /></a></div>So here are the rules...I'm supposed to tell you 7 things about me and nominate 7 other blogs...<br />
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1. My husband and I have the same first name! Crazy, right? When I was pregnant with my kids, the joke was that we would name them the same, too!<br />
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2. I met my husband in the local hardware store where I worked in high school. He was the customer, and I was working in the electrical department! He proposed in a hot air balloon 2 years later and we have now been married for 11 years!<br />
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3. I drove a minivan for 2 years and HATED every minute of it!!! I hear you either love it or hate it...just got rid of it last week and couldn't be happier. Moved on to a diesel VW Passat that gets 700 miles to the tank!!!!<br />
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4. Ever done the True Colors test where you find your personality and the personalities of your coworkers? I'm the ONLY "<span style="color: #6aa84f;">Green"</span> on my whole staff!!!! I'm a thinker...I have to really digest information before I can act...thinking of 7 things about me is HARD!<br />
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5. I am a music fanatic! I went to my first concert when I was 3 years old. My mom and dad took me to the Moody Blues. I was hooked and went every year after until I went off to college. Believe it or not, my iPod has everything from Frank Sinatra to Jay-Z to Kenny Chesney to The Black Eyed Peas to Dave Matthews. Rolling Stone is my favorite magazine.<br />
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6. I HATE cooking!<br />
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7. And here is the biggie...can't even believe I am going to admit this...I have a blog and a TPT store and my husband has NO IDEA! I am keeping it a secret because I am earning a little extra cash on TPT. I plan on using my profits to take the "fam" on a nice vacation and I want it to be a huge surprise. My husband has been on disability for over a year and it is tough living on a teacher salary + a disabled income. By the time I earn enough money to get a jet plane in the air to go farther than the next state with my family of four, we might be 4 years older, but it will be sooooo worth it! If you buy something from my TPT store, you can feel good knowing you are helping to send me on a long awaited vacation. LOL <br />
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Ok...and now I have to think of just 7 amazing blogs...this will be tough...the "Green" in me needs to think a little longer...stay tuned...<br />
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Oh...and the update...Kate is working round the clock to roll out the AMAZING idea we have in store for you. I promise, we haven't forgot...Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02906568709435795697noreply@blogger.com0