My very first Guest Blogger!

I have been non-stop traveling since Christmas Day....whew and won't be back for awhile yet, so I asked an awesome blogger to be my very first guest blogger!  I was blown away, literally BLOWN AWAY- by her blog and resources so far!!! Just like this one!


SERIOUSLY- one of the cutest and most awesomely put together FREEBIES I've ever seen!!!




You must go check out her blog!


Without further ado, Kayla, from Meet Miss Parker!



Hi everyone! Kayla Parker here from Meet Miss Parker at www.meetmissparker.blogspot.com! I am so excited to be a guest blogger for Amber while she is away. I met Amber through blogging just a few months ago. Thanks to her, I am finally getting the swing of things with the blogging world. I have started making my own teaching resources and made my first few sales on teacherspayteachers. Even though it isn’t much, I am still excited! It doesn’t take much to excite me though. For Christmas, I got lots of teaching materials and children’s books and I was happier than a 6 year old in a candy shop! I guess Santa thought I was good all year. Also, lucky for me, my brother got me a desk plate for my desk when I eventually get my first teaching job (hopefully, sooner rather than later!). I guess I got a little spoiled this year, and I hope everyone else did too. With all your hard work this year teaching so far, I hope Santa got you all what you wanted. (If not, there is always next year, and as we know time flies so that will come quick!) Either way, the New Year is already around the corner and I have been thinking a lot about my resolution. I have gone through the typical eat healthier and get my butt to the gym more kind of resolutions, but this year I was trying to come up with a resolution that is, well, better. So, with the Newtown tragedy that recently occurred, I have been trying to do 26 acts of kindness in memory of those beautiful children. So far I have done 6. I bought presents for 4 families for Christmas this year who couldn’t afford gifts, bought snacks for some kids waiting outside a store for the new Jordan sneakers to be released (boy, were they happy!), and I paid for the car behind me in the line at my local coffee shop. It feels really good to do something nice for someone else! Therefore, I have decided to not stop after my 26 acts of kindness and instead try to do nice things for others throughout the year. Now that is a resolution I can be proud of! With the way this world has been lately, we need more kindness in this world and I am glad to be a part of it.

Well, I guess I better stop writing and start packing. I am going to visit family tomorrow in New Jersey for New Year’s and I haven’t packed a single thing. Thanks for checking out my post, and again, thank you Amber for having me be a guest blogger! I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year and please swing by and visit my blog! I would love to meet you all! Happy blogging!!!


Kayla Parker




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Holiday Happenings

It was somewhat hard going back to school today after Friday.  All I could think about were the students I was with, and how even if I'm not with them everyday that it wouldn't matter- I was their teacher that day. 

Coming back, I was reading over plans today and one of my former students from student teaching delivers this today!!!





IT MADE MY DAY - I gave him the biggest hug!!! He sought out a SUB and remembered to make one for me. It gave me the best start to the day :)  I love little things like that!!!


Well, I've been meaning to post some Christmas/Holiday happenings that I have gotten to be a part of!!! Love this time of year especially in classrooms!!!  

I got to do this reindeer craft with some kindergarteners the other day, not sure where the template is from but how adorable!!!






















Learning is something to treasure- has this amazing Christmas How-To pack that is FREE!!!

Click the picture below for more details, I love how creative the students get to be with it.  Check out some of our responses.  How-to writing is a blast with this!!!


Christmas How To Writing Pack FREEBIE







I'd put butter on him and then try put him out then put oil on him if that didn't work. 


I would go down and jump on top of him to get it out :(  Not exactly sure Santa would like this one.


 I know these are all wonky but look at the detail.  He put full descriptions for everything he could possibly try to get Santa out! 



Hope everyone has a great last and hopefully (not too crazy) week!!!




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Silence for Sandy Hook Elementray









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Tragic

My prayers go out to all those who lost someone yesterday!  This event is so truly devastating.  I was literally  sick watching the news....a school!!!....of all things! Please know that so many people's thoughts and prayers are with you!














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12 in 12 Linky

After the day I've had, I could use a little reflection...whew....so excited to link up, I've LOVED the ones I've read so far!





12. Favorite movie you've watched

PITCH PERFECT.....HANDS DOWN! 


One of the funniest I've seen of all time!  

11. Favorite TV Series: 

Hmmm...might be with Kristin on this one..I sure do love some real Housewives and anything that doesn't require thinking. 

I also love Food Network and Bravo, not too much on whole series...I tend not finish them :(

10. Favorite Restaurant: 


Madison's - a local Italian place

I could eat Italian food EVERYDAY for every meal...not joking. 



9. Favorite New Thing You've Tried: 

I could go with the cliche....blogging, which I started this year but I'm going to go with more general and say Awesome computer things like: 

All sorts of computer things I'm learning and more and more everyday- I love how they integrate into classrooms and how it is improving education. 


8. Favorite Gift You've Received: 

I would probably have to go with my engagement ring!  I'm so excited to marry my best friend in just a little over 7 months!!



Gadget: my new Iphone - it has already saved me tons with all the apps I look at to get coupons when shopping....who knew?!  It's pretty cool too!



7. Favorite thing you've pinned


Can I just pin my whole "Canvas DIY Board"  I am so into painting and love rainbows and glitter, I've had so much absolute fun creating this year!!!!

These are such bad photos but I plan on doing an artwork update soon (yes there is more...I'm crazy)

Check out my board for more inspiration!




this one was for my awesome cooperating teacher!           Some of the squares sparkle on there! 



the date thing all over Pinterest!





New last name...soon anyway!!

Betcha can't guess my wedding colors by now?! :)





This one has silver Bible quotes around the outside, I love this one!!!

6. Favorite Blog Post

It took forever to make but was so worth it to share with students and parents plus I have gotten the best feedback for it! 



Over 75+ experiments for FREE!! 


5. Favorite Accomplishment: 

 1. Getting an article published with a professor!  That was HUGE!

2. Presenting in D.C. with another professor....like a business trip but for school and getting to meet educators from all around the world!!!




My professor had friends in D.C. so we got to see some AMAZING sights, it was definitely an unbelievable experience.

3. going to Denmark, studying their schools that was pretty cool too!!!

4. oh ya....and graduating that was in there too!

4. Favorite Picture:



I didn't do anything like parasailing this year, we did take color dust photos and I love so many of them! Here are two!  It captures us....so quirky and color

3. Favorite Memory

Well...I would say getting engaged.  It wasn't some crazy planned picture perfect moment, but the entire day was so unforgettable and even thinking about it I'm filled with so much happiness!  

2. Goal for 2013: 

Keep up with blogging for one, I'm usually one that starts and doesn't finish tasks so I want to make sure to keep this up!

Try not to get so overwhelmed...I'm so type A it isn't even funny. I need to have so many plans and control of EVERYTHING..sadly.  I just need to realize some things will take time and are in God's hands.  

There will be waiting and turmoil this year I'm sure, but I'm getting married and I know everything will work out the way it is suppose to!!

1. One little word: 

Faith!


Faith that everything will work out in little things and big things!  

Trying to live this everyday!!



There's mine!  What an awesome linky!




4

Get your Dojo ON!

I'm sure you have heard by now about Class Dojo, Friday was my first experience with the program.  I had heard about it plenty before but not getting a chance to use it, but the class I sub in did - so I got some experience!!

I was pretty excited to see this!  The little monsters they can pick from to represent themselves were adorable!!!





The teacher showed me some pretty cool features of it- I must say, that made it even better than I had originally thought!


Quick overview:   a classroom management system where you can give students points for positive or negative actions/behaviors in a classroom.  Click the picture above to check it out!


Awesome NEW (to me!) FEATURES: 


  • FREE (website only)
  • can use to take attendance
  • makes cool sounds- so even when not displayed students can recognize the sound
  • they have AN APP, so you can track behavior throughout school (paid)
  • REPORTS- display positive and negative in ratios , easy for parents and students to see (Could be easier than clip chart management)

  • You get to pick the options for positive or negative!
  • You can use it to randomly pick students (like for answering- HOW HANDY IS THAT?!)
  • I love that it shows points but doesn't show what they are for (unless you go to results)
  • ***************MY FAVORITE**************** - there are special settings - where you can choose to only show positive!!!  This has been an issue I have had with clip charts so this solves that problem but still keeps track!!



Choosing the options came in SUPER handy for my one friend on Friday who eats everything!!! (no joke...paper.....lots of paper....so sneaky :(     This way parents can check and notice what behaviors good or bad are occurring with the most frequency!

There is an IDEAS tab on the bottom with more awesome info- these are just things I noticed.  Pretty neat alternative to the widely used clipchart, but could be a rewards system in itself!

What do you think?  Have you used it? 





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Attendance and Lunch Count FREEBIE!

Being a sub, I have a unique perspective on the education system currently.  (Bonus: I should be able to write rockin' sub plans by the time I would need them :)

Well sometimes I run into problems---usually daily----usually not too big, but nevertheless there are issues.  The school is always happy I'm there so they are not too concerned but it's nice to know and be prepared for everything (if possible)

Here's my newest FREEBIE- Attendance and Lunch Count Sheets!  



GREAT TO : Leave for sub
use everyday (depending on school)
use when technology is down! 



I plan on bringing some of these to my schools because sometimes these are specified and taken for granted!   Plus- they are super cute so why not?!

Let me know what you think? Would they be useful?


---------------------------------------------squirrel--------------------------------------------------------

If you haven't entered, go guess my favorite Christmas song, here.  I even left clues, you could get a chance to win my new Pirate Plunder Pack below!





Freebie Fridays




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Pirate Plunder

So apparently...I'm the only one not in the Christmas mood!  Perhaps it is because it was 70 a couple days ago and 60 TODAY!!!!!


People I live in Missouri, this is downright UNCOMMON! Oh well, I worked on this crazy fun Pirate Unit lately after being in so many pirate theme classrooms!

Win a FREE copy by guessing my favorite Christmas song and leave a comment!






This includes activities for:


  1. Map skills including cardinal directions and using a compass
  2. Time
  3. Measurement 
  4. Class Treasure Hunt
  5. Writing 
    1. Journal prompts
    2. Roll your own Pirate story Piece
    3. Make your own Treasure Map
  6. Books to accompany the unit!






I plan on using this toward the end of the year, when we get to pick the extra theme weeks we teach!  It even has a class treasure hunt - complete with clues!!! I'm so excited because I know the students will love it!







Even though it is not Christmas unit, if anyone can guess my favorite Christmas song, they can get a FREE copy of this - to keep for later in the year!  Make sure to leave your email!!!

Since my favorite song is a kind of weird one, here's a big hint.

(HINT: It was recorded by Dolly Parton and it is a duet)





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