Back to School and Recycling Unit (Giveaway!)

It was really tough to leave the beautiful sunny and warm weather in Mexico!  My husband and I debated staying a few extra days but we ended up coming home after our 6 day trip.  In Ohio, it is back to wearing jeans and a jacket.  :(  I just cannot wait for summer to arrive here!

I am going from a week of this view...

To 9 more weeks of this view...

I do miss my students so I am happy to go back.  Plus I need to finish my recycling unit that I finished planning while sitting on the beach.  :)

I submitted my Recycling unit on TPT which means a giveaway here! 
The first 3 people to leave a comment with their email will receive a free copy of my recycling unit!  ;)

Here is a peak:

I hope that those of you going on break are having a terrific break and those of you going back get all of your last minute things done (like my husband and I tearing apart our master bedroom and bathroom TODAY) before you go back!

Also I am really thankful to have reached 100 TPT followers!  If you are a follower- watch out for a super sale message that I sent you!  :)  I am also very grateful for some new blog friends on here as well!  I am heading over to send them some love!

Have a good night! ;)

Vacation, a Glimpse into one of my obsessions and a FREEBIE!

I am leaving tomorrow for Cancun!  We didn't think it through going during spring break however convenient for me is also convenient for thousands of crazy college students!  AHHH!  Here is to hoping that we are "cool" old people and we don't get mocked by the 19-22 year old kids!  :)

I have many obsessions and one of them is 31 bags.  They are fabulous because they are sturdy and they are able to be wiped clean!  :)

I am not exactly packed yet (yup but I am blogging)... but did choose SOME of my 31 bags that will make their way to Cancun with the four of us. (We are going with another couple)

Don't you love them?  :)

This one if still full of my groceries from this afternoon.  I am using it for my carry-on bag because it has a ton of the little outside pockets and can fit anything from my laptop to my gallon bag full of medicine (I am an OVER preparer- I'm ready for bug bites, allergies, headaches, scrapes etc.) and even my first day of clothing plus a swimsuit so I don't have to wait a single minute at the hotel.  :)

This is completely empty so it is slouching a bit.  This is by far my favorite 31 bag that I own.  It is called the Weekender and it is really perfect for packing a weekend worth of stuff inside of it!  I am sadly going to check this because it is too large to claim as my purse.  :(  I am putting all of the bathroom stuff and our shoes inside. 

This baby is going to be my purse for the week.  It has all of the fun little pockets to store my sunscreen, chapstick, bandages (I know- OVER preparer- can you imagine what I will be like when I finally have kids????)  I can leave this lovely thing on the beach because it wipes clean and if for some misfortune it gets borrowed by the college kids- it is only $15 unlike my real purse which would leave me crying for days.
On to the FREEBIE :) 

I normally teach about recycling during the week of Earth Day but this year I just couldn't wait!  One of my lovely teaching partners found a 25 minute version of The Lorax in those $5 movie bins at Walmart.  (I since went and snagged one for myself as well!) 

I made an entire recycling unit but still have to put some finishing touches on it and was hoping to take photos of my students' work but forgot to do it before I left school yesterday. 

I thought that I'd share my pre-writing and drafting pages for our persuasive Saving the Earth story.

You can download yours here for free.  ;) 

I also included 2 book recommendations.  They are short and sweet rhyming books.  I also recommend reading The Lorax by Dr. Seuss.  My students were really into the story.  It was really sweet to watch their emotions as I read the story.  Then you can run out to Walmart and snag your own $5 The Lorax movie copy!


I also am having a 20% off sale at my TPT tomorrow to celebrate the official beginning of my Spring Break! 

If I do not respond to your emails in a timely manner I apologize because I will be sleeping on the beach!  :)

Have a great weekend and an even better week next week!  :)

WINNERS!

Gosh it was beautiful outside today!  I even got to eat outside with three of my favorite people in the world; my husband, and mama and papa LaSota.  I gotta tell you that I am the luckiest person in the world to be blessed with the most wonderful in laws.  (I'm not just saying that because mama LaSota told me tonight that she reads my blog.  ;)  )

I have absolutely loved Ohio this year.  I don't even care that we haven't used one single snow day!  To top off the wonderful day- I had my last observation of the year!  :)  I don't know why I get so nervous for those.  This year was extra nerve racking because I am going for my continuing contract.  YIKES!  I'll be crossing my fingers.

ON TO THE WINNERS-
To make it easier I just submitted numbers numbers and picked those out. 

Congrats to Barbara, Marcy and Hcarp!  Check your email ladies!  :)

I wish the rest of you a very happy Wednesday!  :)

A new for me and a transition tidbit

I have definitely gone out in public in my work clothes or even workout clothes (after being disgusting after an hour of Zumba). Today I shared a new trend with half of my town- I like to call it mullet wear.

My work pants were soaked at the bottom today so when I got home I threw on some workout pants but left my dressy top on. My husband asked me to take him to his storage unit so I slipped on my dress shoes and thought that no one would ever see me. I'm going to Cancun in a week so thought I'd stop by to tan. It ends up half of the people that I know decided to do the same thing! I was so embarrassed! I had a frilly top, workout pants and 3 inch shiny high heels on! Lol! Business on top- party on the bottom! I don't know what I was thinking going out like that! One of my brothers rocked a mullet most of his childhood. I need to share this trend with him. I think I'll put away my outfit until I have kids and it will
Reemerge during their teen years when I pick them up at school. That is why you have kids right? Torment them!!! :-)

On a less embarrassing note-

Today I was reminded of a transition trick that I learned last year. It is bound to have came from proteacher or the cafe newsletter...

Before a transition say, "3" and the students stand up.

Hold up 2 fingers and they are to think about what they need to do next.

Hold up 1 finger and they should go follow your direction.

I pulled this trick out of my bag of tricks today and it worked well! I have dismissed in many ways but I really like this especially when there are a lot of steps involved. Today we were rotating tables every few minutes during a recycling activity and using this technique allowed them to stay calm and focused!!

What kinds of transition tricks do you use?

FANTASTIC WEBSITE and Giveaway Reminder

Hi Friends!

I'm guessing that I am probably the only person who did not know about
http://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/.

Some lovely teachers in my district told me about this website a couple of weeks ago.  It is fantastic!  Click on your grade level to the left. It has fun and engaging activities to do organized by the new common core standards. You gotta love people that take the time to do that and give it away for FREE!  :) 

If you are like me- and apparently the last to know about this amazing website- go check it out!  :)

Also a reminder that I posted 3 new products to TPT.  Each time that I post new products I always have a giveaway.  If you are interested- scroll down to my giveaway post and enter!  ;)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  :)

Thank you, awards, new products and GIVEAWAY! :)

I don't think that it has ever been this long since I've posted!  I actually took a personal day today to catch up on some things.  1.  I slept in   2.  I registered for a team event in May   3.  I am going to blog stalk and blog!!!!!  I don't even care if I get other things finished!  :)

Get ready- this is going to be a SUPER LONG post!  I'm a talker and I haven't "chatted" in a while!  ;)

Up first for discussion- Thank yous and awards!

Elizabeth from Fun in 4B awarded me with the One Lovely Blog Award!  I'm so honored!  ;)  The word lovely and Danielle are often not in the same sentence.  ;)

Now for the rules for this award:

1. Link back to the blog that gave you this cute award.

2. Pass this award to 15 other lovely bloggers.

3. Follow the person who sent it to you!

 

 

 

I also have a BIG thank you owed to Claire over at first grade smarties.  She nominated me for the Top Ten Award!  ;) 

 

Click here to read the rules.  :)

 

Now- perhaps it is cheating- but I'm going to award these blogs with BOTH the One Lovely Blog AND Top Ten!!!!!  ;) 

Sarah from Snippets by Sarah. 

Jodi at Fun in First.

Mrs.McKown from Little Literacy Learners.

Traci from Dragonflies in First.

Barbara from Grade ONEderful.

Sheree from Peterson's Pad.

AND MORE... my blogging stamina is down.... :( 

Before I go- here are 3 new TPT products that I submitted.  (I also am working on a recycling unit and finishing up my addition strategies.)

Problem Solving Strategies:

The last Common Core Math Operations and Algebraic Thinking Set:

Common Core Math Bundle by Quarterly Expectations:

This has taken me about 7 months to complete!  It has all of the Math Mention newsletters, math skill cards, a class action plan sheet and recording progress for each quarterly math skill, I Can Notebook broken down by quarterly skills and assessments for each broken down quarterly skill. 

On to the GIVEAWAY!  :)  I will be giving away 1 of my products to 3 winners!  ;)  I will draw names on Wednesday March 21st!

1.  Follow my blog and comment about it earns you 1 entry. 

2.  Follow my TPT store and comment about it earns you 1 entry.

3.  Blog about my giveaway and comment 3 different times earns you 3 entries.  :)

(Hey- a gal can hope right?  :) )

Now I'm heading off to the post office to FINALLY mail the free books from my last giveaway!  It sure if difficult to make it to the post office during their limited hours!  ;) 

Long time no post!!!

For some reason the past two weeks have been out of control busy! This isn't even counting end of the grading period and conferences that are coming up. :-).

I thought that I'd stop on by and share some of my favorite Leap Year day purchases!

BabblingAbby posted a March packet and I absolutely love it! She even includes items discussing the Blarney stone!

My school has an annual Fun Night and it is a circus theme. I downloaded a packet full of great circus themed math and literacy items by Erica Bohrer.

I am using blogger on my phone so no fancy links to follow for today. :-)

I also am super excited that I've been nominated for a blog award!!! :-). I will have to do a separate post when I find time to use my computer for something other than common core assessments!!!

Enjoy your week and I can't wait until I can find more time to start blog stalking y'all again!