Ten Pin Linky: Writing

Is it just me or is writing one of the hardest things to teach?  There is so much that goes into it and the Common Core Standards really revamped writing.  Just Reed's Ten Pin Linky is perfect for finding some new to me ideas!

Source: What the Teacher Wants

If you haven't read The Squiggle yet, it's a must read for next year!  Students turn the squiggle into a picture and then write a story about it.  There are a lot of squiggle options to choose from.

How cute, right??  I've used this idea the past two years and my students absolutely love it.

Source: Life in First Grade

Need to make this ASAP!

Source: Mrs. Kelly's Klass

This is great for informational writing.  Most of my students are understood that they couldn't copy the exact words from a book, but this printable would really help drive that point home.

Source: For the Love of First Grade

This is the only cure for the dreaded "And Disease."  My kids thought this was hysterical.  I played it up whenever I met in individual conferences.  I would ask the student "Are you feeling okay?"  They would say they are fine and I would feel their forehead and say "Umm, I don't think so - you've got the And Disease!"  ;)

Source: A Day in First Grade

Love the Rocket books!

Source: The Daily Cupcake

I always have to review spaces at the beginning of the year!!  Drives me slightly bonkers!

Source: 3rd Grade's a Charm

I first saw the heart idea on The First Grade Parade, but I like how this is divided into categories with a color code.

Source: Sherry Clements' TPT Store (freebie)

Great intro to opinion writing!

Source: First Grade Fairytales

Another opinion writing option - perfect for spring time.  It goes with the book Duck or Rabbit?

Those are my favorite Pinterest writing ideas!  I'm always in search of more writing ideas, so I can't wait to look through everyone's post.

Before I go, I wanted to mention that Amanda and Stacia from Collaboration Cuties are celebrating reaching 1,000 followers!  Isn't that a big accomplishment??  Click on over to enter the giveaway!

Pin It to Win It: Word Wall

I'm spending the morning in the car shop.  :(  No fun and mucho $$ for sure.  But I'm trying to think that in one week I'll be on this.

Sailing to the Bahamas!

I. cannot. wait.


A few weeks ago I made a Polka Dot Word Wall, but I never posted about it!

I've been using a word wall I bought from School Box ages ago and really wanted to make something that went with my theme.

The alphabet headers are in pink and green.

The cards have in black and white polka dots.

The pack covers all of the Dolch words and I also included some of the words from the Fry list.  The Dolch and Fry list overlap a lot so if you use Fry words at your school odd are that most of the words are there.  I can also easily add any other words.  There is a blank pattern at the end of the packet if you just want to write them yourself.

Pin any of these pictures for a chance to win the pack!  I'll announce a winner on Saturday.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find it HERE if you just can't wait.  ;)

Favorite Pins of the Week

Happy Cow Appreciation Day!  If you dress up like a cow and go to Chick-fil-a, you can get a free meal.  I'm actually staying with three kids for a few days and two of them wanted to make a costume and a mask.  I even put white spots on my black dress so I would look like a cow.  I wouldn't have done this if I didn't have kids with me, but almost everyone at Chick-fil-a was dressed up!

I'm keeping my favorite pins of the week short and sweet!

Source: Smitten with First

Common Cat = common nouns

Proper Pete = proper nouns

This is  Jillian Michael's 7 day detox tea.  Now I don't really believe in detoxes per say but I like anything that will help me drink a lot of water.  It doesn't have any strange ingredients (water, dandelion tea, lemon juice and cranberry juice) and tastes good.  I started this on Monday, so we'll see if it actually helps with bloating or not!

*I did have to go to a local health food store to get the dandelion tea. I tried Wal-Mart and Fresh Market and they didn't have it.*

I would have loved this gift when I was drinking Diet Coke. (70+ days Diet Coke free!)

If you want to follow my Pinterest boards, click HERE.  I'm still missing my science board from the other day, so I'm assuming I accidentally deleted it.  How sad!  :(

Ten Pin Linky: Science & Social Studies

I walked through Wal-Mart yesterday for a few things and was so excited to see the back-to-school supplies were out!

Well, the part about school being back in session soon didn't get me excited.

It was more the bin full of 25 cent glue sticks.

I loaded up on glue sticks, rulers, pencil holders, pens, and pencil sharpeners.

I had to get some pool noodles too because I saw Kelly's Throwback Thursday post about using pool noodles as tens and ones for place value.

It's linky time again!

Click the picture to visit the Ten Linky orginial post. 

This is a complete side note, but is anyone else having trouble with some of their boards disappearing?  This has happened to me more than once.  In the middle of creating this post, my science board disappeared. The number of my followers also changed (by about 20).  So I made breakfast, did a little bit of laundry, went back to Pinterest and it still isn't there.  What??  Some of the science pictures might not work, but you can click on the link below the picture that takes you to the source.

Source: Life in First Grade

One of our very first social studies units is tall tales.  I always struggle to find things that fit into this category that are fun and age appropriate.  Paul and his big blue ox, Babe, are always a favorite!

Source: Fun 2B in First

I had the hardest time finding things for John Henry.  This is a free download and it fits the needs of my students perfectly.

My students loved this visual aid!  It's another freebie.

This was one of the first things I made back in December.  It's a big hit in my TPT.  I hung them up in my room and my students were interested in seeing the different types of landforms.

Goes along great with the landforms posters!

Even better that it's part of a giveway today!  Julie from First Grade Critter Cafe is hosting a giveaway in celebration of her blogging anniversary.  If you've ever emailed back and forth with Julie you know how sweet and full of life she is!  She also has some AMAZING art projects on her blog.  

Click the picture below to head straight to the giveaway. 

Continuing on with the pins...

Source: First Grade Wow

Great writing connection when you are studying about animals.  "If I had animal teeth..."

Source: Squished Ideas for Preschool

Interactive way to learn the life cycle of an insect!

Source: First Grade Wow

Great activity to introduce living/nonliving!  Except I would have to touch a real worm.  Gag!!

I have tons more science ideas, but that darn Pinterest isn't working!  

*****

Amber from School is a Happy Place has a great post about being a no reply blogger.  Honestly, I didn't even realize I was when I first started blogging.  Click on the picture (isn't it cute??) to visit her blog and make sure you are not a "no reply blogger!"

Picture by Amber

Favorite Pins

Hey there!  I'm linking up with Cara from The First Grade Parade for My Favorite Pins.

I didn't use my favorite pins from the week, but my favorite pins EVER!  I choose all non teaching pins because every once in awhile you need a break from teachings stuff (even though this is a teaching blog).  

Yes, yes and yes.

Blueberry Buttermilk Breakfast Cake.  Yum!  You should make it right now since blueberries are in season.  :)

This is a good money saver - make your own detergent!  It doesn't bubble like the store bought stuff, but it gets your clothes clean.

This is a natural ant killer.  You make a mix of Borax, sugar and water.  The ants come to it and NEVER come back.  No dead ants to clean up and they are gone.  My mom and I have used it and it works!

Such a cute and healthy treat for Thanksgiving!  I made this with my niece last Thanksgiving and it was a big hit.

Ten Pin Linky: Reading & Winners!

Isn't this the truth?  I always get a little sad when July starts because I know I only have a month of summer left.  My husband said the perfect thing when he picked me up at the airport last night. He said not to be sad for the entire month of July, enjoy the pool and look forward to our cruise.  I promised I wouldn't get sad until the evening of July 31.

I couldn't just pick one winner for the Bloglovin Giveaway, so I picked two.  Congrats to Julie P. and Yashika!  Be on the lookout for an email from me.

Today's one of my favorite linky parties.

As I mentioned last week, I divided my math and reading boards into subcategories.  Right now for reading, I have boards for sight words, fluency, non fiction, cause and effect, and author study.  My  reading board has ideas for making connections, character traits, parts of a story and general guided reading.

Source: First Grade Fabulous Fish

This is an individualized reading log for class.  The top portion tracks the students' progress on centers. The bottom part is where the students answer one comprehension question per day about the story of the week.  It's a free download when you click through to the link.

Source: Fairytale of a First Grade Teacher

Great form to plan your guided reading groups!

Love this prediction anchor chart!

Source: Tunstall's Teaching Tibits

This goes along with the book Rocket Learns to Read.  It's a great way to introduce reading in the fall.  Each student gets a puppy and practices reading with it throughout the year.  Luckily my mom saved every single one of my pound puppies, so I have a good head start.  I'd love to do this in the fall!

Write sight words on popsicle sticks and label a few with "Zap it!"  Students pull the sticks out one by one and read the words.  If they get "Zap it!" their sticks go back in the cup.

Source: The Inspired Apple

Love this anchor chart for introducing labels!

Great activity for If You Give a Cat a Cupcake.

Source: Growing Kinders

I used to do a daily message when I first started teaching, but got out of the habit.  I hope to make this part of my daily routine for the next school year.

Source: Learning With Mrs. Leeby

Track the books you read with your students throughout the year!  I have the perfect spot for this in my room and can't wait to use it!  :)

Source: Life in First Grade

Great way to introduce sequence!

Be sure to check out all the other reading ideas on Ashley's blog!