Congratulations to TpT

Congratulations to Teachers Pay Teachers!  TpT's Facebook page has reached 100,000 Likes!  This is a huge milestone. To celebrate TpT is offering 10% off your purchase, just enter FB100K at the checkout.

I am also throwing a sale thru Oct. 14th.  My entire store is 20% off.  What a great time to purchase things that you have on your wish list.  If it is like mine it's a huge list.  So it's a great time to buy.  I know many other sellers on TpT have sales going on too.

Now it's time for me to shop and enjoy the rest of my 3 day weekend.

It's My Birthday

Well actually tomorrow will be my birthday. Lucky me it falls on a Monday this year.  To top it off we even have a staff meeting after school.  Yes, it will be a fun day.  Can you tell how excited I am abut that.

Well anyway I thought I would celebrate by having sale.  Everything at both of my stores will be 20% off tomorrow Sept. 30th.  Check out the links to the left to find my stores.

Have a good week.

Target Finds!

I don't even want to think about Back to School yet.  So of course I don't want to see this in my mailbox or in my Sunday paper.   

However I did go to my favorite store today Target.  Of course I had to stop at the $1 spot.  You can't pass that up.  It's right in front when you first walk in!  How can one resist!  So I have to check it out.  

This is what I found.

I thought these would be great to use with any bulletin boards.  You can write on them with chalk or I was thinking silver glitter pen maybe.

Pouches- they have a place for a badge.  I was thinking for field trips.  Just making a badge and putting it in the photo id slot.  This way I don't have to make name badge for each field trip.  I got purple for the girls and black for the boys.  I might have to visit another Target to pick up a few extras since I don't know yet how many boys/girls I have.  Lucky for me I have two Targets within 10 min.  or less from my house.  I took all that they had.  We don't let me bring money on field trips so they won't get to use the the zipper pouch (I know were mean- we are not there to shop, but to learn about something.)  Another use might be when we have book fairs to the library and they bring money without any envelopes/baggies.  They can just use this.  I just couldn't pass this up.  

Scotch Duct Tape- $1.50 - found this in the school supply area.  I'm always losing supplies to the students so I thought of using a little decorative duct tape might do the trick.  

My Target didn't have a lot of Back to School stuff out so I'm sure I will be back looking.

Guided Reading Giveaway

Happy 4th of July!

Simply Skilled in Second is having a Giveaway that I just had to enter and even blog about.  I just heart these flip flap books!  I think they are so cute!  If you haven't seen them check them out here.  Click on the image below to go to Simply Skilled in Second to learn more and enter the giveaway.  Winners will be picked on Friday.  

Don't forget everything in my TpT store is on sale today 20%.  See the post below.  

Have a good 4th of July! 

FireCracker Flash Sale

Woke up this morning to a gloomy, cool, and damp morning.  So when I checked my email this morning and saw that Rachel Lamb had sent me a graphic for a 4th of July Sale.  I thought why not.  It's been awhile since I've had a sale.  So Thank you Rachel Lamb for the idea and the graphic.  

Just click on the graphic below to go directly to my TpT store.

So everything in my TpT store is 20% today July 3rd and July 4th.     It's a great time to stock up anything that you were looking to buy for Back to School.

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful 4th of July holiday!

Bloglovin

Finally got my Bloglovin button on my blog.  It's on the left side.  Nothing fancy, but it's there.  I wouldn't be surprised if I was the last blogger to get mine up and going.  Better late than never.  I has happy to see that I already had 303 followers.  :)    Definitely put a smile on my face.  

This week I hope to have a freebie ready to post. So be sure to check out my blog.  

Missing in Action

Sorry I have neglected my blog this past school year.  I had a lot on my plate this year.  Then this spring my laptop started acting up.  Well I decided to go Mac and got my new computer just the other day.  Macs are new to me, but I figured the summer is a good time to learn a new operating system.  Once I get a handle on things again I will be posting and creating more items.  

Oh, if I wasn't busy enough I even started another part time job selling lia sophia jewelry.   Needless to say I have been extremely busy and stressed out.  But now that school is FINALLY  over things are starting to calm down.


Question to any of my blogging friends.  I have created many of my old documents using PDF (can't remember which one I had) , but I could make things fillable.  Does anyone know a good pdf app in Mac or should I stick doing things in pages or  ppt (keynotes) and making that editable, but still keep my graphics protected.  (Which I will have to learn how to do all over again.)  I hope that makes sense.  Like I said I'm not sure what I'm doing yet.


Stayed tuned  . . . I hope to add some math ideas here in the near future.! 

TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale

Everything in my store is 20% off on May 7&8.  TpT is also giving an additional 8% when you
use the code TAD13 at the checkout.  What a great deal!

Sorry I haven't blogged much this year or have new items.  It's been one of those crazy years.   I also just decided to sell lia Sophia jewelry as well.  So needless to day I have been swamped.  However this summer I have many great ideas that I want to share and create.  I am looking forward to having time to do that again.

21 more wake up days for me.

Happy Teacher Appreciation week to everyone!

A Cool Website Find!

Tonight I was looking for an interactive rekenrek that I could use on my smartboard; when I came across a website from the Indiana Department of Education.  What else had can I ask for a rekenrek and Garfield. How cool is that?  Plus it had even more activities on the site so it was a bonus, and it's available in Spanish. I know my bilingual teachers/friends are always looking for things that are available in Spanish as well. :) 

So I won't keep you in suspense by writing a long post.  Here's what you can find on the website:

"What Do I See?"  This will help students to visualize a number.  It will show the number in beads to the students then the curtain will close.  They will give the students three numbers to choose from.  If they can't remember they can click on to see it again.

"Push to Make 10"  Here students practice pushing beads on a rekenrek in a certain amount of pushes. Helps students to get away from counting each bead.

Another great math game. There are other things on the site as well so be sure to check it out.  This is primarily for grades K-2.  

Professor Garfield

Introducing the Hour Hand

Ever have one of those years when you just what a do over?  Well I’m having one of those years.  In our district we have had so many changes that I just can’t wait for the year to be over so I can plan for next year.  This year we started a new math series.  Next year we will have a new reading series Benchmark Literacy. (Which I will create new trifolds for.  If you have been following me over the years you may know I created trifolds for the Treasure series with Ms. Winston- now Mrs. Saunders. ) I will still offer the trifolds for free on TPT.

Telling time is difficult.  For starters there are two, sometimes 3 hands and students have to remember which hand is which.  Then, although there are only 12 numbers written on the clock face, they have different values.  Sometimes the 1 really is a 1 but sometimes it means 5 min.  Then the 3- sometimes it’s  3, sometimes it’s 15 min, and it can be a quarter hour.  And we haven’t started on ‘to’ and ‘past’.  No wonder students struggle with telling time.  I have a few students who are still having problems with telling time.  Then yesterday I attended math training for our grade level after school.  Someone mentioned that they had tried one of her ideas this past quarter for telling time that worked out wonderfully.  Something I never thought to do. Telling time only teaching the hour hand.  Hmmm

So I was thinking of trying this with my some of my math groups next week.  Teaching only the hour hand.  My thinking is something like this:

Teach only the hour hand because it counts the hours around the clock.  It takes one hour to move from one number to the next number which means that we can tell the time (more or less) with just this one hand.  Teach just hours.

Next, move on to the half hours.  We stop the hour hand exactly half way between two numbers.  Talk about the fact that because it takes one whole hour to move from 1 to 2, when it is exactly half-way between the  1 and 2 it is half past the hour or 1:30. 

Then I move on the quarter hour and etc.  I don’t know if this makes sense or not.  I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try.  Most of my students have mastered time.  I just a have a few things to wrap up on this unit and a few students who still don’t get it yet.  So maybe this strategy may help.  Has anyone tried this before?  I would be curious to hear your comments about it.

 

Super Bowl Sunday

Are you are for some football/shopping?

Well if you are ready for some shopping I have  a sale going on in both of my stores for today only.  

All of my items at 20% off.

TN store:  http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/sfiorini

TPT store:

  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Fiorini-Oasis/

Don't forget if you purchase something to leave feedback to earn TPT credits.  

Super Sunday Sale!

Don't forget, this weekend is the big game sale at TPT!    I  will be joining Teachers Pay Teachers huge sale.  All of my items will 20% off Sunday Feb. 3, 2013 only.  Don't forget to enter coupon code SUPER at checkout for your additional 10% savings from TPT.  

Happy shopping!

Enjoy the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl Sale

Don't forget, this weekend is the big, game  and sale at TPT!  I'm joining Teachers Pay Teachers and throwing a sale in my store on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 only.  All of my items will be 20% off.  Don't forget to use the Promo Code:  SUPER at the checkout for additional savings from TPT.  


Have fun shopping!

Super Bowl Activities

Well my Bears were disappointing again this football season, but it's always fun watching the Super Bowl. (Maybe next year.) In years past I have a Super Bowl Reading Contest.  I split my class up into 4 or 5 teams.  Each team reads for homework and for every 20 minutes they read they earn so many  yards.  (This usually depends on how long I run the contest.  Usually it is 5 or 10 yards.)  When each team reaches the end zone they score a touchdown.  Each student can also fill out a book report for field goal points.  Each team keeps track of their points.  It's just a fun way to encourage students to read.  

If you are interested in this unit.  Just click on the link below for more information on TPT.  

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Super-Bowl-Reading-Contest

  

Product Giveaway Winner

Congratulations!  We have a winner Ashley!  I just emailed you.  I tried to attach my print screen snap shot but you can't see the name so I'm not attaching it.  But it really is Ashley.  It's been one of those days. I can just tell it's going to be a long week.  

It's the last week of the quarter so I have lots to cover.  I have F&P tests to complete on 24 students, assess students in math, so let's not even talk about science, and social studies because I'm so far behind in those subjects it's not even funny.  

Coming Soon Water Cycle Resources

Product Swap

I was fortunate enough to be paired up with Jen Sykes for this round of the Product Swap. I remember Jen from the 2nd Grade Teachers Club so I was very excited to work with her.  I knew I would find some great ideas at her TPT store and blog.  My students were just learning about  prefixes and suffixes so when I came across her game collection of prefix and suffix I just had to have it.   It didn't disappoint at all! 

So if you want something that is teacher friendly, is engaging for students, and that will help your students understand prefix/suffix. Be sure to check out Jen's Prefix and Suffix Game Collection.  Click the image below for more information.

This collection is a time saver for any teacher.  It includes whole class games and games that work well for any type of centers that you might use during guided reading and course it meets those CCSS.  I don't know about your class, but anytime I can call something a game I have my classes attention.  My students just perk up when they hear that word.  

There are 2 I Have . .  Who Has . . . ? (whole class) games.

Each game has a different graphic on it so if you mix them up you can easily sort them back together.  

With this game you pass out all the cards.  Choose a student to begin and they read their card aloud.  The rest of the student listen and check their card to see if they have the answer.  If they have the answer they read their card.  I have my students go up to the front of the class to get them out out their seats.  We then have the students check the cards to make sure we agree.  

Matching Bam!

(Two games included in this set)

This game is a favorite of my students during Word Work time.  For my lower reading groups I do have to divide up the suffix and prefix cards up into two different games.  My medium and higher level students are mixing them both up now.  This game is played like a Memory Game so students are familiar with this one.    There are also directions and decorative card back covers that are included.  

The 5th Game in this Collection is Scoot!

I play this whole class.  I put a card on each desk.  I play music for a few seconds and when the music goes off the students Scoot to the next next.  I used this for a quick assessment and the students have lots of fun.  Pictured above is the recording form that is provided.  

Be sure to check out

Mrs. Syke's TPT store. 

For more great ideas be sure to check out

Mrs. Skye's Blog

Hello Mrs. Skye's - Resources for Classroom Teachers 

Be sure to enter our giveaway for a chance to win both of these great items!  But don't wait too long.  This won't be around long.  Good luck!**Forgot to mention for my product, the Homeworkopololy, if you don't do that you can choose another product from my store if you win.**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Starting off the new year with good habits

Can't believe our two week break is almost over.  Just enjoying weekend before the rush starts back up next week.  When we go back we have two weeks before the end of the quarter with so much to do.  I would love to spend lots of time on what you did over break/New Years, but just can't with all that still needs to be covered.  However I plan to do this on Monday.

I like to start off by reading the book The Beranstain Bears and the Bad Habit.   We talk about how Jan. is like a clean slate and we how we can change a bad habit to be the best we can be. Then I have my students write down their own New Year's Resolutions for school and at home.  If you don't have the book you can view the book on youtube.

For some reason I couldn't attach a picture, but here's the link to my google docs. of the doc. that I use to follow this lesson.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-9IkoEl_Qdgc05HbERQY2pFOTA/edit


Have a great week back.