Versatile Blogger Award

Thank you to Lori from Homemade First Grade  for my second blog award! I was also nominated by Callen Rhoads from Mrs. Rhoads' classroom!  Thank you ladies!

Here are the requirements for accepting this award:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you. Thank you Lori!
2. Include a link to their site... Check!
 3. Include the award image on your blog...Check!
 4. Include 7 random facts about yourself:

1) I will be a third grade teacher in the fall. I was a 7th grade math teacher prior to getting my new job!

2) I have six boys - yes all boys and yes all six are mine. They range in age from 6 to 19.

3) I am currently serving my second term on the city council where I live.

4) I direct children's theater.

 5) Teaching is actually my second career - I was once a accountant, but wanted to spend more time with my family.

6) I am really short - 4'11".  My 7th graders' favorite assignment was - "Is the average 7th grader taller than Mrs. Malloy?"  Sadly that answer is - yes.  I am looking forward to working with 3rd graders - I may have a height advantage. :)

7) I might be extremely slightly addicted  to blogs!

Back to the Rules of the award:

5. Nominate 15 other blogs for this award ( I am working on this and will include more shortly.) There are a lot of bloggers who have already gotten this award!



My nominees are:

1. Fierce in Fourth
2. 3rd Grade Troops
3. Moore News - Hoppin' Into Second Grade
4. Heads Carolina, Tails Alabama (Love that song!)
5. Bee Teaches
6.
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15.

6. When nominating, be sure to include a link to their site...see above.
7. Let bloggers know they have been nominated.

Newbie Blog Hop

One of the things that I love about blogging is not only writing my own blogs but reading all of the blog posts from all of the amazing bloggers out there!  So, was excited to join this newbie blog hop from Grade Three is the Place for me.  She has an amazing blog and you will definitely want to check out her posts, especially this one about teaching grammar mechanics - love it!


So the rules of the hop are, answer the following questions, then link up!


    1.  what state you are in Nevada

    2.  your current teaching position I will be teaching 3rd grade in the fall.

    3.  your teaching experience I taught 7th grade math prior to this.  I did my student teaching in 4th grade.

    4.  when you started blogging I started THIS blog in June, but I have been officially blogging since 2006.

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource My blogging tip would be to write about the things that you love or that interest you.  I've noticed that the best blog posts are the ones that show the writer's passion.  Write about your favorite book, your best lesson, or even your pet  cat - if your passion shows through, the readers will love it!

Can't wait to read everyone's intros!

A few giveaways!

I really want one of these.  I mean really, really, really want!

I could use it to help my kiddos practice their fluency, to assess their thinking, and to use for parent teacher conferences so that the parents can hear their child in action during school.  The best part is that it is wireless, requires no batteries, and can be downloaded to your computer!

Luckily Teaching With Love and Laughter is hosting a giveaway!

There are several ways to enter, but the giveaway is over in 6 days - so head over and enter!

AND...


Ms. Lindsey from Lovin' Kindergarten is celebrating 100 followers with a great giveaway!  I am offering up a winner's choice from my own TPT store, and several other bloggers are offering prizes as well.

#1 Winner's choice of 1 item from my TPT Store!

The Daily 5 Book Study Chapter 6 -My Notes

I am participating in the book study at  We Read, We Blog, We Teach.

Chapter 6 Work on Writing and Word Work

During the Work on Writing session, students work individually or with a partner on the writing of their choice.

When introducing the Work on Writing component, the Sisters suggest teaching a mini-lesson in which you model what the students should do when they get to a word that they do not know how to spell.  This is so important so that you are able to meet with small groups or conference with students without a line of students interrupting to ask how to spell a word. I also plan on having a frequently asked word box for the students to refer to as well, and I will introduce this box during this first lesson as well.

Word Work is an area that I would like to get better at.  When I did the Daily 5 as a student teacher, my lead teacher was using Words Their Way to teach spelling.  When we tested the students they ended up being divided into four different spelling groups which was quite difficult to keep up with.  I am thinking about using the approach suggested by Beth Newingham instead.  I will post later to show you what that will look like in my classroom as I finish it up!

Must Have Picture Books

When I first saw the Teacher Wife's Must Have Picture Books post and linky I knew that my Amazon wish list was going to explode because I LOVE pictures books! I also love giving people picture book reading ideas - I am usually the person that my teacher friends ask when they want a good book recommendation for teaching a certain skill or just for finding a book that their kids will love.  Here are a few of my faves:

Pete the Cat is one of my all time favorites!  I just love the beat of the song that goes with it along with the idea that Pete the Cat never gets upset when his beautiful new shoes get dirty - he just keeps going along singing his song.  I think it really teaches a great lesson about resilience. If you want to hear the book and the song - you have to check out the video below - its how I first learned about this book!

The second book on my list would be Knuffle Bunny.  After you debate how to read the first word (is it "nuffle" or "ka-nuffle"? LOL) you will just love this cautionary tale by Mo Willems about a little girl who loses her beloved stuffed friend.  The illustrations (real pictures mixed with drawings) are amazing, and both kids and adults can relate to the fear (for both the child and the parents) when a beloved friend is lost.

And my list just would not be complete without EVERY Skippyjon Jones book.  Thank you Kohls for choosing these books this year!  I love the vocabulary, the play on words, and the inference practice to be had with the Spanish words used in the series.  And as a mother of boys, I can totally relate to this naughty boy cat with a wild imagination!

If your own Amazon Wish list needs a bit more added to it - be sure to check out the other posts at the linky! 

Win a $50 Gift Card From Target!

Calling Plays in 2nd Grade has hit 100 followers and in honor of that occasion she is giving a way a gift card to her favorite store - Target!  I am practically getting goosebumps thinking of the amount of damage careful shopping that I could do in the Dollar Bins with a $50 card!  If you would like a chance to win, head on over and enter!

National Ice Cream Day Freebie

In honor of National Ice-Cream Day, I took my youngest Luke out to enjoy some ice cream.  All of the other boys had plans with their friends so we made it a date!  We had a great time talking math - he had just learned about the concept of infinity and he was arguing that the last number should be the last number to be named.  Fun talking math philosophy with a 6 year old!

Anywho, in honor of National Ice-Cream Day, here is a math journal freebie for you!  Enjoy!If you have any issues downloading, email me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net and I will help you out!

You Scream for Ice Cream Math Journal