My First TPT Product!!!

All Summer while I was trying to plan my Wedding I was also trying to make a item to sell on TPT. I decided to make a Organization Planner/Binder for Teachers. I absolutely LOVE chevron stripes and polka dots, so I used those patterns and blue and purple as my theme colors.

I included a cover sheet for the planner, 11 Dividers (Lesson Plans, Common Core Standards, Student Data, Important Info, Meetings, Notes, Parent Communication, Calendars, Sub Plans, Ideas for Future Use, and Seating Chart), Class Roster List, Class Schedule, Birthday List, To-Do List, Transportation Guide (Walkers, Pick-ups, Bus Riders, and Stay-At-School), Parent Communication Log, Personal Information Data for Parents and Students, Parent Volunteer Letter, Edge Binder Inserts 1”,2”,3”,4”, and Calendars Aug. 2013- June 2014 with labeled Holidays.

On the Parent Log and Personal info for Students & Parents I have a box in the top right corner because I have found it easier to assign each student a number at the beginning of the year. Cubbies can be labeled with their number, behavioral system can be labeled with their number, ect.. so in your binder you can file them in number order. Also, I found it handy to have the line leader first in line then say “Number Order” and all the kids line up behind the line leader in correct order. For example, if Kim is line leader and she is #7 then whoever is #8 gets to be behind her and then #9 and so on. It avoids a lot of pushing and shoving.  

 

I am SUPER excited about my 1st product, I’m not expecting rocket high sales but hopefully a few teachers will like it enough to buy it. You can find my store HERE.

Antonyms!

Today for tutoring I wanted to focus on antonyms for the reading portion of our 60 min. I also wanted to her him read a book for fluency purposes. I got out “The Foot Book” and I read it first then I had him read it to me.


I printed feet templates on colored cardstock and cut them out (I plan on laminating them after I find my laminator!) and after reading he and I took turns writing antonyms on the feet.

Download Template



For a bulletin board idea, you could give each student a set of feet and display them on a decorated board showing the opposite pairs of antonyms.
“Feet Feet Feet, How many many feet you meet”
Idea found on blog post: http://msk1ell.blogspot.com/2011/03/antonyms-foot-book.html
Original Idea blog post: http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-many-antonym-feet-do-we-meet.html

Tech Tips

I stumbled upon this awesome blog today while on Pinterest. The name of the blog is “Teacher to the Core”. You can follower her blog by clicking here. I learned today how to add clipart backgrounds to letters in Powerpoint when creating printables.
1. Get a new slide in power point
2. Click the “Insert” tab
3. Choose “Word Art”
4. Select the style you want (1 or 2 work best)
5. Type your phrase, and adjust the fonts and size to your liking.
6. Choose “Format/Drawing Format” tab
7. Click “Text Fill”
8. In the drop down menu choose “Picture”
9. Power Point brings up your “my Pictures” file, you go to the spot where your keep your clip art or digital paper. Find the paper or clip art of your choice, choose it, and click insert/OK.
Click the graphic below to take you to “Teacher to the Core” original Blog post with pictures and directions.

View Original Post Here

Enjoy this Techy Tip! :) XOXO

Pop Rocks Descriptive Writing

Another “while I was student teaching” post… I was struggling with an idea to teach descriptive writing, or even just how to explain describing words. I wanted to plan a super fun activity because it was the week of testing in the mornings!!!! AHHH! So I stumbled upon this fun activity by Babbling Abby on Teachers Pay Teachers. I almost NEVER purchase thing on TPT just download freebies, I was a college student " [don’t judge me] ; )
Here are a few pictures of my class and the activities we did…

Day #1 I drew this graphic organizer onto a large piece of writing paper comparable to poster board size. I brought in a real bag that looked just like this and the students did a cute little activity along with me.
My recommendation would be to use poster board because it’s more durable AND laminate it! Then, you will be able to use it year after year and when you’re done with it your can just erase it off and store it away for next year.

Day #2 – Graphic Organizer that ended up looking like this -----> look below

This was the day they actually got to eat the Pop Rocks Candy! I bought them at the Dollar Tree 3 for $1. That was the best price I could find, I looked at Sam’s, but they didn’t carry them. Their faces and reaction were priceless! Most of them had never had this candy before!

Aren’t they CUTE?!?!

Day #3 – Comparing the Pop Rocks to something else
There are 5 days of activities, but I don’t have pictures of the last 2 days! But, one day is a writing activity and the last day is craft day, and you can attach the written activity to the craft and display it in the hallway. All the kids enjoy seeing their artwork out on display!

Technorati Tags: Pop Rocks,Descriptive Writing,Language Arts

Adventure to Fitness

While I was student teaching another 1st Grade teacher told me about a fitness website she had found and was thinking about using in her class in the afternoons when the class was getting a little sluggish. I looked at the website, reviewed the content, and watched a sample video. The URL link is www.adventuretofitness.com it is a get combination of problem solving skills and physical fitness.
First you have to make an account. Teachers use your school email address (that makes your account free) otherwise you'll have to pay about $12 and episode.
Here are a few examples of episodes I used in class.

First Post

My name is Sarah Jackson and I just graduated from college and received my Bachelors and double majored in Bible Theology and Elementary Education K-6.

I have just started this blog to share my ideas and learn from other teachers

     

                    

                                       I'm the second from the left:)