We Have a Winner!!!

 

I was so pleased with the turnout of my 1,000 follower giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered! I need to give an even bigger shout-out though to all of those who made it possible with their donations!

Without further ado, the winner is...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will be emailing you shortly Megan with details and to ask you for your choices. :) 

If I do not hear from Megan within 24 hours after my email is sent, I will select another winner.

DIY Classroom Wreath

 I posted this just a few days ago, but I also wanted to link up with Tara for her Monthly Monday Made It!

Thanks to my sweet friend, Lauren, I attempted a Pinterest craft for the first time. I am so grateful that Lauren is back in town. She had been teaching in a town a few hours away, but she took a part time PK job here where I am back in October and she is now being moved to full time Kinder for the spring. She is so crafty and I had seen this wreath outside of her classroom. She told me that she would show me how to make one, so we did just that last night. 

We spent most of our day in San Antonio yesterday hitting up some teacher stores, Ross, and last but not least, Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby was having 50% off of all ribbon so we knew that we had to make the wreaths. We picked up quite a few rolls there and then Lauren had some already that she had collected. 

The best part of these wreaths is that there is no right way to do it. All you need is a Styrofoam wreath (ours were white) and whatever ribbon you would like to use. There is not a certain length that the ribbon has to be except you will want to double knot it around the Styrofoam. In my opinion, you want the pieces of ribbon to be between 15 and 18 inches. 

Here is a picture of mine when I was about halfway though making it. 

The only thing to be aware of though is that you will make quite a mess since there is no real rhyme or reason to the order that you put the ribbon on the wreath. This is what our table looked like about half way though the project. 

I got super excited when I was almost finished and of course I had to take another picture. :)

Here is what the finished wreath looks like. 

I added a glittery K to mine to add some extra character. I could not wait to get to school today so I could hang it up on my door. Unfortunately, the next picture does not do it justice, but I am so grateful to have something fun on my door to break up the nasty tan color. 

I will be posting the Giveaway winner tomorrow sometime...be sure you check and see if you were the lucky one!

Currently...

The good news is that I am already holding up one of my goals for 2013 because I am blogging on the first day of the year. :) Now lets just hope that I can keep this up! 

I just love linking up with Farley (have I mentioned that I have met her twice in person now) for her monthly Currently party.

Listening: Hardly ever do I sit in my room without the TV on because I can not deal with the silence. Tonight's choice is one of my all-time favorite movies Mean Girls.

Loving: I absolutely love my job, but the fact that we get two weeks off for Christmas is pretty darn great too! I also loved that Christmas happened so quickly once we got out from school because I have really been able to relax after the holidays!

Thinking: I have a whole bucket of papers that need to be graded. I do not know what I was thinking! Luckily grades are not due until Tuesday the week we go back. I am usually known for getting them submitted about 10 minutes before our noon deadline. I also need to get some lesson planning done for the first unit when we go back. Luckily I have found some wonderful units on Teachers Pay Teacher to help me out! :)

Wanting: I remember that it was like the first day of school all over again when we went back for the spring semester last year. I am really wanting my students to remember all of our rules and procedures, but I know that we will have to do some reviewing. I already know that I am getting three new students from other teachers, so I am going to be up to 106 students for this semester. I already have a class promise activity planned and we will be doing some WBT review too!

Needing: Some serious organization is what I need! The spring is going to be crazy for me because I am teaching, taking my Principal Certification test, organizing and completing cheerleader tryouts, participating on an ACTS team, doing some staff development for the camp I am working at this summer, and graduating in May with my Masters degree. My new best friend is my Erin Condren Life Planner!

One Little Word: If you just read my needing section, it might be a little more obvious why I need balance. I need to find the right balance between school, faith, outside work, and me time. I have struggled with this and I really want to improve it!

2013 Goals and Resolutions

It is hard to believe that today is already the last day of 2012. Is it just me or does it seem like the year has absolutely flown by? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I was immersed in grad school for most of the year, or that I am frantically trying to teach Language Arts to my 6th graders in a matter of at the most 55 minutes a day. As 2013 gets ready to begin, I thought I would share some of my resolutions/goals with you all. I prefer to call them goals because then I am able to work towards them all year long. :)

My Goals for 2013...

School

 

One. I want to use my conference period more wisely. On my campus we plan collaboratively for two of our conference periods during the week, but the others are ours to use. I feel that too often I get nothing productive done during that time. I need to use it to make copies, lesson plan, grade, or make parent contacts. 

Two. Learn to say no. I feel like I do too much and am afraid to say no when someone asks me to do something. There is too much on my plate and I am overwhelmed by it right now. I need to learn to say no when I get asked to do something. 

Personal

One. Take care of me. I have to admit that I have neglected my weight for quite some time because it has remained constant and I have not put more on. I am ready to change that and lose some weight. Any good tips out there? One of the first things I know I am going to work on is my caffeine intake because it is a bit out of control. 

Two. Read 100 books in 2013. I love to read and am so grateful that I am finally done with grad school because I get my reading life back! Since being on Christmas break I have already finished three books and I am working on my fourth. I love Goodreads and plan on using that to help me track my progress. If you are on Goodreads, follow me.

Blogging

One. Make sure that I am blogging at least two to three times a week. I usually post twice a week pretty consistently, but sometimes I fail to do so. I also want to make sure that I am posting pictures of the learning taking place in my classroom at least once a week. 

Two. Continue to grow my Teachers Pay Teachers and Facebook pages. I just started using these this year and I have loved what they have done for my blog!

What are your goals for 2013?

SA Meet Up and Christmas

I had so much fun last night meeting up with some other teacher bloggers in Central Texas! I had done this once before, but the turnout this time was much better. Sweet Reagan was kind enough to organize this for us and she even made us name tags!

I think I was most excited to finally meet Lindsay from My Life as a Third Grade Teacher. She has been such a huge help for me during my first two years of teaching! She was just as nice in person as I thought she would be. I just wish we did not live four hours away from each other because I am pretty sure we could be best friends! This was the only picture I snapped all night! 

I borrowed the below picture from Jennifer (hope you don't mind). Here is everyone that was at the meet up!

1st Row Left to Right: Jennifer from Rowdy in First, Me, Lindsay from My Life as a Third Grade Teacher, Rachel from Sub Hub, Gladys from Teaching in High Heels

2nd Row Left to Right: Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade,  Ari from The Science Penguin, Shannon from If My Calculations are Correct, Reagan from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, Suzanne from Krazy Town, Charlotte from Fabulous 5th Grade Fun, and Rachel.

I also wanted to share with you all the super cute gift that Brianna gave me for the Holly Bloggy Teacher exchange! I absolutely loved everything that she gave me and her notes that she put on each item were so sweet! I got a stamp, some washi tape, chapstick, knee socks, bangles, and some of my favorite pens!

Don't forget to also enter my 1,000 followers giveaway!

1,000 Followers Giveaway!

When I started this little ole' blog back before I even started student teaching, I never thought that it would turn into what it has! Starting this blog has been one of the absolute best things that I have ever done. I have learned so much from each of you and I feel like I have grown as a teacher while blogging too. Plus, I have this really cool scrapbook of my first two years of teaching. I thought since I reached 1,000 followers that I would have a mega giveaway as a thank you to all of you! 

If you are the luck winner of my giveaway, you have an opportunity to win the following items:

 You can win Lindsay's Vocabulary Cards!

Lindsay from My Life as a Third Grade Teacher

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

My Life as a Third Grade Teacher on Facebook

Michelle's New Years Craftivity Packet!

Michelle from Just Wild About Teaching

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Just Wild About Teaching on Facebook

Lisa is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store! 

Lisa from Fourth and Ten 

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Fourth and Ten on Facebook

Jana's Vocabulary Lesson Plans for The Lightning Thief!

Jana from Thinking Out Loud

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Thinking Out Loud on Facebook

HoJo is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

HoJo from HoJo's Teaching Adventures

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

HoJo's Teaching Adventures on Facebook

Jen is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Jen from Hello Mrs. Sykes 

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Hello Mrs. Sykes on Facebook

Kim is giving away a $10 giftcard to Starbucks! 

 

Kim from Finding JOY in 6th Grade

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Gladys is giving away Reading Graphic Organizers for Little Learners!

Gladys from Teaching in High Heels

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Teaching in High Heels on Facebook

Ari is giving away a $10 credit to The Science Penguin!

Ari from The Science Penguin

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

The Science Penguin on Facebook

Kate is letting the winner choose one item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Kate from Second Grade Sparkle 

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Second Grade Sparkle on Facebook

Amber is giving away her 36 Editable Lapbook and Foldable Templates!

Amber from Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher on Facebook

Latoya is giving away her Short A Word Families Bundle!

Latoya from Flying into First Grade

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Flying into First Grade on Facebook

Tammy is giving away two items from her store, item #1 and item #2!

Tammy from Teaching FSL 

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Teaching FSL on Facebook

Kristen is giving away her Tessellation Angle Measures Challenge!

Kristen from Ladybug's Teacher Files

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Christina is giving away her Common Core Reading Comprehension Graphic Organizers for Big Kids!

Christina from *Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge*

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

*Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge* on Facebook

Lacie is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Lacie from Polka Dots and Pencils

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Polka Dots and Pencils on Facebook

Sally is giving away her Bandaids or Lassos- Contractions, Plurals, and Possessive Nouns from her store!

Sally from Elementary Matters

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Elementary Matters on Facebook

Heather is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Heather from Teach It Today!

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Teach It Today! on Facebook

Erin is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Erin from Small Types

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Small Types on Facebook

Corinna is letting the winner choose any item from her Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Corinna from Surfin' Through Second

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Surfin' Through Second on Facebook

Farley is giving away her Currently for the Classroom!

Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade 

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Oh' Boy 4th Grade on Facebook

Gina is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers Store!

Gina from Third Grade Tidbits

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Third Grade Tidbits on Facebook

Krista is letting the winner choose an item from her Teachers Pay Teachers Store!

Krista from Stellar Students

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Stellar Students on Facebook

Rebecca is giving away her Multiplication 1 Minute Timed Tests for Facts 1-12!

Rebecca from Teaching First

Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Teaching First on Facebook

I will also be adding two gift certificates to the pot for the winner! One will be a $15 gift card to Amazon and the other will be a $15 gift card to Teachers Pay Teachers! I wish I could win those myself!

I need to give a big shoutout to everyone who donated to the giveaway! It would have been impossible without them! Be sure that you go and visit their blogs and leave them some love! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2012 Blog Best and Brightest-Linky

I am so excited to be linking up with Christina from Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge for her year in review linky party. I thought I would share some of my most read posts this year, three things I have learned from blogging, and three of my favorite blog friends. 

First off, my three most read posts this year...

One. I shared about using the Daily 5 in my 6th grade classroom and shared some examples of activities that we did.

Two. I shared about the Interactive Notebooks that I use in my classroom. I cannot imagine trying to teach without these things. I absolutely love that my students leave my classroom with a tool that they can use for the rest of their educational careers. 

Three. I hosted my first ever big link party called "A Day in My Shoes." It was so neat learning about how a day is spent in different people's classrooms. I plan on doing this again sometime in January and hope you all will participate again.

Secondly, three things that I have learned from blogging this year...

One. There is such a huge support system out there that is filled with people who I do not even work with on the same campus. I have had some moments during the past year that I wasn't sure I really wanted to keep teaching. It is the amazing people like you all who gave me that encouragement to keep going. 

Two. Blogging and Pinterest are such great inspiration. I have really grown my blog and Pinterest over the past year. It has amazed me at how many friends I have made through the blogging world. I have also been lucky enough to meet several IRL too! I cannot wait for our Texas girls meetup on December 27th! 

Three. My Teachers Pay Teachers store really took off during the second half of the year and I have also used many purchases from there in my own classroom. This has been such a lifesaver for me, and I cannot complain about the extra income that I am making too! I just wish there were more middle school people on there! 

Lastly, three of my favorite blogs to read...

One. Ladybug's Teacher Files

If you have never been to her blog you are so missing out! Not only does she share amazing ideas from her classroom, I just love her tutorials and classroom organization tips. Kristen was the person that inspired me to get rid of my teacher's desk and I am still so glad that I did. 

Two. My Life as a Third Grade Teacher

I just love Lindsay and her super cute blog! I know that we have never officially met, but I am pretty sure that she would be my BFF. Lindsay made the move from 5th to 3rd this school year, but I still love her posts about how she incorporates Reading/Writing workshop into her classroom.

Three. Middle School Teacher to Literacy Coach

Kasey's blog is a recent find of mine but I instantly fell in love! Kasey has recently made the transition to a Literacy Coach on a middle school campus. This would be my dream job. :) I have loved reading about her journey and how she and her campus are implementing guided reading into the middle school classroom. I am hoping to implement some of her ideas into my classroom for the spring semester. 

 

 Be sure to click on Christina's link so you can share some of your blog's best and brightest moments of the year!