Today's Deal & Reading Strategy Freebie

Welcome (back?)!!! 

I'm SO happy so many of you were able to snag yesterday's deal! Lots of repeat customers and many brand new ones, too. 

LOVE being able to show you how much I appreciate your support! 

The deal of the day for today is...

This pack is a companion to yesterday's deal on Building STAR Readers and was a HUGE help for my readers at ALL levels this year.

It includes 4 types of opportunities for students to cite text evidence to prove their thinking. I have heard from folks that they use it even in third grade.

If you'd like to read a more detailed post about it, click here.

Normally $6.50, I manually entered the sale price to $3.25, since TpT only shows "Sale" for items up to 20% off. It will be 50% off until I wake up tomorrow morning and change the discount to tomorrow's deal.

Click the pic above to grab it from TpT.

For your freebie, I have posters, bookmarks, single page and half page collections of Reading Strategies all in one pdf. Click the pic below to download it on Google Docs.

Fonts are by Kimberly Geswein (KG Be Still and Know; KG Lego House)
& Jennifer Jones of Hello Literacy (Hello Basic)
Graphics are from Scrappin Doodles

They might look familiar-ish to you...as both Deanna Jump and Cara Carroll have DARLING posters for them.

Those two have such amazing graphics of these strategies that I didn't want to make it seem like I was taking their work and making it my own. Cuz I wouldn't do that!

But in our district's work with adopting the Teachers' College Reading & Writing Project workshop model next year a group of us had a bit of discussion on using Flippy Dolphin over Flip Flop Froggy & Skippy Frog over Skippy Scott. So I made this set using the specific strategies we decided upon.

But before sharing with you guys, I contacted Deanna & Cara and they both gave me their blessing to share these with you. Love them. 

If you'd like to check out their wonderful work, here are their links:

Deanna Jump's "Guided Reading 101" Pack on TpT

Cara Carroll's Reading Strategies freebie

See you tomorrow for another deal and another freebie. :)

P.S....have you seen the lovely Tori's humungo giveaway? You definitely want to go check it out!! But...don't enter cuz it'll reduce MY chances of winning. Hehehehehe. Click the pic to get there...

Daily Deals Begin Today!

I have been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad blogger the last month.

My life was just extra cray and I just could not keep up.

Enter summer.

Feels like today is my official first day of summer vacay.

Since you guys STILL have sent the sweetest emails and have been such wonderful followers I was trying to figure out how I could say thanks!

I decided to do a sale for 50% off sale five days straight (one item per day)...

I will not be having another sale like this for QUITE a while (several months) so if you've had your eye on any of the items that I post this week, it's the best time to buy.

Today's sale has officially begun!

Building STAR Readers is my MOST favorite (and priciest) product! 

You can read more about it and see TONS more previews in this post. That post has had thousands of views, which is very exciting to me. I am SO proud of it!

Click the picture above to get to it on TpT. 

FYI - since TpT allows a maximum discount of 20% off...I have to go in manually to change the price. I'll do this when I wake up each morning. So, each sale will be approximately 24 hours long, give or take a little while here and there...based on when I wake up. It is summer and all.

And...if you leave me TpT feedback it will help my superstitious side...check out how my feedback number under the stars.

Ew. 

Today's Freebie...

I am a bit in classroom decoration mode so I made a bunting that says "Target" in three different black/white combos. Each piece of the bunting is a half page triangle. I haven't put mine together completely yet, but I'll be putting the final product up on my bulletin board where I list the Learning Target (I can...) for the day in Reading/Writing Workshop.

I have the whole word done in three different patterns...here's a sample of each pattern. You can print just the pages you like...or even alternate. Click the first pic to upload from Google Docs.

I'll post a pic of my final product when I finish it up.

Enjoy!


Check back tomorrow!

May Mystery Box...Revealed...

Our lucky winner was Katie Klohn!   Friday morning May’s Mystery Box arrived on her doorstep.  The box for May was hosted by Katie Knight from Teacher to the Core.   Included in the Mystery box was over $30 of digital units and a treasure trove of goodies to make summer days sweeter! Take a peek inside and get excited because June’s Mystery box is being photographed right now and will be announced soon!

The May box included:

~ The best teacher scissors ever

(razor sharp and ready to rock that stack of lamination)

~ Flair pens and notepad

(perfect “love letter” material or if you are still teaching like we are...great for sending an SOS to the teacher next door… either way! )

~ Pina Colada Lolipop

(‘cause Momma needs a drink and can’t have it right now.)

~ Pretty printed duct tape

(who needs black duct tape?)

~ Extra Large Zebra Zipping Beach Tote

(pack it and play all day... we are counting down to summer)

~ Grey and yellow Chevron Dish gloves

(pretty girls do dishes and look pretty doing them!)

~ Mr. Sketch Smelly markers

(yum)

~ Cupcake Day Crayola Crayons

(yum)

~ Jelly Belly beans

(yum…. never shop for the Mystery Box when you are hungry)

~ Polka Dot Labels

(glorious)

 Also included was:

Chicka Chicka Vowel Vowel is Katie’s CVC vowel study unit {CVC labeling, vowel mystery pictures, and Palm Tree Chicka Name art!}

 

Take Personal Narrative to a whole new level with Lisa’s writing unit!

The Main Idea is so fun to teach using Kate’s unit.

Want to Spin a Graph?  Your students will scream “Yes, we want to spin a graph!” Casey has made this unit for you!

Can you say clip art goddess?  Nikki is at it again creating and making us smile!  She sent over one of her magical sets to our lucky winner!

Also included in the May Mystery box was Christy and Tammy’s unit The Savanna Habitat. 

Was May’s box amazing or what???

Get ready to win June’s box!!!!!

It’s coming soon!

Really Soon!

We can’t wait!

AND - make sure you come back for a visit each day next week to see if something you've had your eye in is the featured item priced at 50% off...

Managing Student Papers + a SnEaK PeEk!

Hiii!!! I have missed you lovely followers! I appreciate your sweet emails and I promise I haven't forgotten you! Even if I haven't emailed you back. You guys are just the sweetest!!!!

I am FINALLY able to breathe! Yaaaaayyyy, summer break! Didn't think I'd make it...

There are all kinds of fun things I have planned for this little blog this summer so I sure hope you stay connected.

Today's topic...is all about managing student paperwork. I've handled student papers in a variety of ways over the years and have finally come up with a system that has been working for me. Ish.

Let's just say that collecting student papers = a pile. 

I will avoid, avoid, avoid said pile like the plague. 

(Except when it's a math test. I only semi-avoid those piles.)

For a while I tried having kids put those papers in folders and those folders in seat sacks. Not. Pretty. 

With this system I may or may not have discovered student papers several MONTHS after they were relevant.

Out of sight, out of mind.

My style, according to Julie Morgenstern, is to be Visually Organized. (Love her book Organizing from the Inside Out.) If I can't see it, I won't be organized with it. Soooo true, as evidenced by my various piles around the house, and much to my super tidy husband's dismay.

If you like the mini-me in the bottom left, head on over the The Library Fox on TpT. Crystal is LOVELY to work with!

Papers sitting out at kids table spots make me ITCHY. I've known this for years. The clutter just looks horrid in my eyes, cuz that's where my eyes are often looking.

My eyes avoid sweeping over my teacher areas cuz they are often filled with piles.

Those piles don't bother me so much. Just minor itch some days.

Over the past two years I've tried to use my own discomfort to help me get student papers looked at and sent home on a near daily basis.

How does it work?

Students and parents are trained to know that papers do not go home unless they have a teacher star/smiley face or have been self-corrected by the student.

I also train them that they may not recycle or dispose of any paper unless I give it the okay. 

I actually encourage them to narc each other out on this...I'll do my "not, not, notty, not, not" chant with these two important points...

When students complete their work they place it under their pencil box at their table spot. (The student in the picture had been absent for two days so that's why she has so many papers.)

Since I really don't like the clutter out at table spots, it's an incentive for me to scoot my patootie around the class to look each kiddo's paper(s) over.

Once the paper's been checked and okayed, I put a smiley or a star somewhere on the page and then students are to put them right away in their Daily Folder (Left At Home side).

If there are errors that need to be fixed I circle the errors. The kiddos are supposed to fix them asap and leave the paper out for me to re-check. 

For some errors or with few errors, I'll circle the mistakes AND add the star/smiley, which means I don't need to recheck, but the kids are still supposed to fix their mistakes and put it right away in their Left At Home side of their Daily Folder. This is especially so with reversals or when lower case letters are supposed to be upper case or vice versa. 

Overall, this system works for me and my families because students get feedback within the same day(ish) of working on that page AND their work goes home frequently.

I'd love to know how YOU deal with the avalanche of papers in your world. Share away!

I'm super excited for next week (6/17-6/21)....here's a Sneak Peek...

I'll be hosting a 50% sale on one of my top-selling, favorite products each day from Monday to Friday.

Stop back each day to see what item is priced at 50% off! If you follow my facebook page, I'll add a reminder to head over here each day. 

Also, I haven't done any giveaways on my fb page in quite a while, so let's just say I'm "in the mood." Ya might wanna like my fb page. See the fb like page on the upper right side of the blog.

More for Moore

I am honored to have donated Building STAR Readers to two bundles...

Teachers Treasure Chest (closes today)

TpT K-2 Bundle #2 (closes June 1st)

Mel Lloyd-Graphics from the Pond made this graphic

but I soooo want to do "More for Moore." 

I just can't stop thinking about the events that transpired and my heart is hurting for everyone involved.

My heart smiled when I saw that Donna from The Math Coach's Corner is hosting a linky of folks who will be throwing a sale tomorrow, Memorial Day, with all proceeds benefiting the people of Moore.

My sale starts today so proceeds both today and tomorrow will get to the Red Cross, earmarked for Moore, Oklahoma. You can head to my store by clicking right here.

So, if you have any items in your wishlist, check and see over at Donna's blog to see who's linking up....you could get it on sale AND the proceeds will benefit Moore. Win-win!!!

And, bloggers, feel free to snag the graphic above! The fonts are from Kim Geswein. Graphics from Mr. Magician, Ashley Hughes and Sonya deHart.

Classroom Library & TCRWP Label Freebies

My sweet Emily is having one of her Cyclic Vomiting episodes and has been spending lots of time laying on her mat by the couch. 

She wants me and only me when she wakes every 20ish mn or so. 

This means I'm spending a lot of time on my couch with my laptop.

Too much of my time (and money) is being spent online shopping...Very Jane, Old Navy and eBay are a few sites getting my moola.

Must stop.

When I'm not blowing my cash, I've been putzing around making labels for the shift we're making in Readers' Workshop next year...

Our district will be following the Reading & Writing Workshop model from Teachers' College Reading & Writing Project. We've used pieces of Calkins' work for years, but now we'll have a comprehensive program.

In preparation, we're redoing our classroom libraries...switching over from a numbered level (Rigby, Reading Recovery) to lettered levels. So, all five bajillion books are getting re-labeled.

I wanted some cute labels for our new book baskets, so I whipped these labels up...

There are four color choices, each with a polka dot option and a chevron option. Feel free to grab them by clicking the picture above. Would love your feedback, too!!!

I've also made labels for my file tubs for each of the Teachers College Units...they look like this:

I am not sure what my file tub size will be so I made a variety of sizes. There are three different patterns, each with a complete set of three different sizes for the 7 First Grade Units.

You can snag them up by clicking the picture above.

I plan to shop for my file tubs soon. My goal is to store the mentor texts and files in the tubs. I'll be sure and post pictures of my final products!

Would LOVE for you to link up in our Shout Out Linky!!! Click the pic below for more details...

AND, not much time left at all to enter the Mystery Box Giveaway!! Click the pic below to hop to it, friends! I hope you win!!! (Heck...I wish I could win!)

Shout Out Linky, Giveaway Reminder and Some Random Sauce

1. Stomach bugs are N.O.T. cool. Not. Not. Notty-Not-Not. (That's the chant I have my firsties say when I want them to NOT do something...as in, "Repeat after me...I will not, not, notty-not-not...work ahead." Or whatever. I don't use it often, which is maybe why it's effective for 95% when we do use it? Gotta always have one who still does it anyways. Often the loudest chanter. Sigh.)

2. Going back to work before you're 100% is N.O.T. cool either. Can you say 5:30 p.m. bedtime? For-realzzz.

3. I am LOVING the independence of (the majority of) my firsties right now. Having mini-anxiety attacks when I think about the beginning of the year firsties in Fall. 

Hot, super humid school building (no a/c) + Lacking-in-Stamina 
= 10 trazillion activities each day 
= Super tired teacher...as in noodle tired...every weeknight

4. Shout Out Linky! Katie and I would LOVE for you to join the fun!!! 

Click the pic below to get to the rules...(we especially love Farley's Rule of 3...)

Link up using the inlinkz at the very end of this post.

My Shout Outs this month go to these lovely ladies...

The phenomenal Lyndsey Kuster over at...

Her blog and TpT store have saved my patootie countless times over the last year+! I adore the way she arranges her graphics and page elements...she's got maaaaaddddd skilllllzzz. Plus, she is SUCH a kind soul. I.heart.her.tons.

I am currently prepping her latest pack to provide some great summer practice so my firsties keep their skills up over their joyful summer. 

This next pack is just too cute for practicing er/ir/ur. And, she has an ar pack (Smart Clark to the Rescue) AND an or (Stormy Norman to the Rescue) pack, too.

Lyndsey also has a ton of freebies on her blog and in her store. Click her button to get to her blog and right here to get to her TpT store.

My second S.O. goes to the incredible Faith Wheeler over at...


I adore her blog's updated look! (And am getting excited for my blog overhaul this summer!!!)

She makes the cutest darn work pages EVER! On ALL kinds of great skills! You must head over and follow her darling blog! Promise you won't regret it!

I am super excited to use this nice bundle next year (you can buy each fairy tale individually if you'd rather)...

She also has an amazing summer practice pack...filled with tons of wonderful skills practice! The girl is talented!


This lovely lady is FULL.OF.FREEBIES. And she shares SUCH creative ideas!!! PLUS, she is kind, thoughtful, smart and hilarious. Love.Her.Oodles.

Click her blog button to head to her blog and right here to hop over to her TpT store.

Thanks, Lyndsey and Faith for being so deliciously wonderful and inspiring to this gal!

5. Don't forget to enter this fab giveaway...click the pic to get there...



Nine more days of school for me! Countin' down fo' sho'. 

Thanks, Doodlebugs for such a fun Friday linky!!! Click the pic to head over and link up with her or to see the other folks who've linked up...love me some blog-surfin'!