Classroom Revamp

I am a Pinterest Junkie. Seriously, I love Pinterest. I love, love, love, the teachers that are pinning queens...Hadar Maor is the girl to follow on Pinterest. She pins all the stuff that you forget to :0) I am sure there are a great many others you can follow that are phenom...she is just my favorite. Perfect Pins, not too many and they are all useful and/or cute. Thank you Hadar, you save me loads of time!


Ok, so I started pinning things that I either wanted to create for my classroom or that inspired me.

It will be perfect for my Kindergarten Orientation display!

Love this!

I CANNOT wait to try this!

A Banner for my kiddos to take home!

Anywho...I started a file on my poor little flashdrive that is busting at the seams called Classroom Revamp 2012. It started out with making the Birthday Banner and has now taking on a life of it's own, I tell ya! I can't get rid of my frog theme, it sounds silly but when I have a sibling of a former student, they cannot wait to be a Kinder-Hopper. Well, I am all frogged out! I need a little change up. I've started with getting rid of some of my Carson Dellosa frog things and am changing to more of a color scheme.

Then I just started making new stuff. A new word wall, a new alphabet, new table tags...

I've become obsessed, I just hope it all prints well. We can't get into our classrooms until August 13th...ugh! I am itching to set it up! I did sneak in and started painting my cabinets. I did two coats of magnetic primer....it is not going well. It is not magnetic at all. I will put a few more coats on and hope for the best!

I just finished up a Space Unit, I will put it up tomorrow, I think. I will also put up the Bear Name Tags and Nameplates that I put together. 

A huge thanks for all the birthday wishes, donations, and just all the kind words! I have the best readers and blog friends in the world!!! 

OK gotta go...Breaking Bad is about to start....oh, Walt, you have become so despicable.

Shannon

Back to School Bash

Rachelle over at Life is Sweet....In Kindergarten is hosting a HUGE giveaway! Lots of goodies to start your year off from some A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. teachers. It's definitely going to be worth that click!

Tell Me More

Amy Lemons over at StepIntoSecondGrade is having a Tell Me More Linky Party, as if you don't know enough about me already, lol.

* I absolutely LOVE to cook and bake! I've been told that I'm pretty good at both. My favorite thing to make...anything that will make the people around me happy and full, no kidding! When I am cooking or baking, I like to pretend that I have my own cooking show, lol. I just keep it all in my head, unless I am alone. Picture me in my kitchen, talking to cameras that aren't there. Oh, and suddenly...I'm Southern. I think I was meant to be Southern. Throwin' around Hey Y'all's like I'm Ms. Deen.

* I am seriously terrified of centipede's. Nothing that small should have that many legs and be able to move that fast. Ick, ick, ick.

* I name my cars. Waaay back when I first started driving my parents gave me my Mom's old car. It was a Renault Alliance. She came with my Mom's plates...Jean608. She became the Jean Mobile. I also had a White Hyundai Accent, which was known as the Marshmallow. I went on to have a Toyota Corolla, he was Adam...that's right Adam Corolla. Now I have Rodge the Dodge Caravan.

* I am a movie FREAK. I can't even narrow down my favorites. If I love it, I can watch it over and over and over. Some of my faves are Superbad, Almost Famous, Old School, Steel Magnolias, Shawshank Redemption....oh the list goes on and on!

* I have 5 sisters, that's right 5. Three of them live nearby. Here is the most recent picture of us.

* I cannot drive without my IPOD. Radio stinks, and I don't have any of the fancy satellite radio thingies. My drive to work is about 40 minutes...depending on how heavy my foot is on that day :0)...it is simply too long of a drive to do without my favorites...

I don't think I go more than a couple of days without Counting Crows.

* I have forever struggled with my weight. Before Coop came I lost A LOT of weight. Then I got pregnant and was sick the ENTIRE pregnancy...I lost an additional 65lbs from the my second month of pregnancy to when Coop was born in December. I still shop like I am that big girl. I still don't go into stores that I couldn't shop in once upon a time. If you've never struggled, you'll never know....

* I am in the process of rebuilding my life in every way you could possibly imagine.

* I was born on July 23...today. :0)

* You already know that I am a relatively new Mommy. My little Cooper was born on December 13, 2011. He is 7 months old and is my absolute EVERYTHING. I could not love him anymore. I would go to the ends of the Earth to protect that little guy.

Another year

Tomorrow is my birthday. I am another year closer to 40....yowza! I'm in a totally different place than I ever imagined I would be. My life is completely under mega construction, but I am proud to announce that I am moving forward and attempting to do so with my head held high without losing who I am in the process. :0)

Ok onto classroom stuff.

My classroom has cabinet along one side. The lower half are painted like a light brown AWFUL color. Plus they are stained and chipping. The top half are just regular oak cabinets. I am debating painting them with either magnetic primer or just magnetic paint. I'm afraid I will make an absolute mess of things, I can't imagine that they would look worse; however, I am not what you would call the best painter. I had an entire living room that is proof positive, it had to be repainted professionally! Anyone have luck using magnetic paint?

Also, I think I am going to make those nifty little crate seats for my gigantic guided reading table. My question to those who are using them...are they worth it? I am extremely limited on space and storage, and I won a grant for a bunch of leveled readers for Reading Buddies. I thought it would be great to get rid of the bulky chairs and to have a place to house my new readers. This brings me to another question for you. I just won a grant for leveled readers to use for Reading Buddies with a first grade class. We intended on buying SunSprouts from ETA; however, they have been discontinued. UGH! Any thoughts?

I have a couple of goodies for you dog lovers out there...nameplates and a font sort. I love font sorting at the beginning of the year. These are both made with fonts and graphics from our friends over at DJ Inkers. They are used with permission :0) Show some love if you download! Also, if there is something that you would love me to make, let me know!
Dog Nameplates
Dog Font Sort

Also, if you missed my post. I have a brand new Bear Unit. I can't wait to use it in September!

Thanks so much for all the kind comments and emails! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful and supportive group of readers!
Shannon

A BEAR of a unit!

I have been OBSESSED with creating this bear unit. It gave me a much needed distraction from life and it is completely helping me to redefine my outcome. To the ladies that initially gave me the idea, I thank you!!!

This is one GIGANTIC packet! I debated not posting it for a week or too, but I am so excited to see what you think! Here are some pics...

My lengthy description...

OVER 150 pages of FUN! This pack has some of everything, 14 literacy and math activities; including 2 emergent readers, 11 centers, a class book, Teddy Bear Picnic ideas, parent notes, a class graph, and a few whole class activities.

Fishin’ for Sounds-RF.K.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Little Bears Letter Sort -RF.K.1. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print. RF.K.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Read and Match Gummy Fun -RF.K.1. Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print. RF.K.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

RL.K.10. Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

Beary Fun Rhyming-RF.K.2. Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).

Goldilocks Writing Activities -L.K.1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

W.K.5. With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.

Act Like a Bear-L.K.5. With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings

Spin a Sight Word-RF.K.3. Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words

Bit O’ Honey -K.CC.4. Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality. K.CC.5. Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects. K.NBT.1. Compose and decompose numbers from 11 to 19 into ten ones and some further ones, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each composition or decomposition by a drawing or equation (such as 18 = 10 + 8); understand that these numbers are composed of ten ones and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine ones.

Countdown with Grahams -K.OA.1. Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings¹, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.

Head to Toe -K.MD.2. Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/“less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.

Number Bears -K.CC.1. Count to 100 by ones and by tens.

K.CC.2. Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1). K.CC.7. Compare two numbers between 1 and 10 presented as written numerals.

Sorting Shapes with the 3 Bears -K.G.2. Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size. K.G.3. Identify shapes as two-dimensional (lying in a plane, “flat”) or three-dimensional (“solid”).

Spin a Bear -K.MD.3. Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.

Counting Gummies-K.CC.5. Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects.

Fun with Teddy Grahams -K.MD.3. Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count.

Beary Good Patterns -Not a Common Core...but it should be J

Click on the pic for TpT or here is the link for TN, http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/KindergartenHoppenings/beary-fun-learning-for-the-common-core

I hope there is something you can use! Happy Friday!!!!

Winner Winner...

CONGRATS to Amy! 

A HUGE thank you to Learning Resources for sponsoring this giveaway. I have 2 more products to review, one in August and one in September!

Holy Guacamole, I have become bear crazed! It's shaping up to be a great beginning of the year unit. A big thanks to everyone who has offered suggestions on what to include. I am excited to be bringing Bears back to my classroom!

Ohmiword, my little Coop is getting soooo big. He's 7 months old, just over 20 pounds, and is wearing 12 month clothing. He has THE best rolls and dimples, EVER! So, happy Wednesday from Cooper!!

Wearing his bib as a cape :0)

Sitting is hard, when you have a little Buddha belly!

Reminder

A Tuesday post, <enter a Psych "Whaat" here>? I love that show...and all things Reality TV related. Seriously, I cannot get enough of those Real Housewives or Big Brother or Teen Mom...look away, I'm hideous!

Anyway, this is just a friendly reminder that my Learning Resources Attribute Apples Giveaway ends tomorrow. Click on the cute apples below to enter!

I have LOVED reading the responses to how everyone feels about school supplies being out. I really do love when they come out. Something about new crayons, glue without clogged caps, and folders that don't look like they have been trampled on by 50 wet boots on a bus...delights me. I ache to go shopping; however, I want need for not. I am blessed to be at a school that allows us to order a nice chunk of necessities like stickers and stamp pads. Last summer I went Hog Wild with buying up stuff for school. I acted as if I would never get to spend another dime on my classroom because of Coop, turns out, it's pretty much true. My classroom is fairly well stocked, so there is no need to shop. Unless, you look in my closet....losing weight...a blessing for self-esteem and a curse to the wallet!

I'm looking forward to getting into my oven, eh hem, I mean my classroom! Our school doesn't open up until August 13, a week before school starts. I am looking forward to changing some things up. I'll post on that later. I REALLY want to paint some shelves and cabinets in my room. We have all these crazy fire code regulations (nothing hanging, no fabric, no more than 20% of your walls can be covered...goes on and on), so our rooms look more than a little plain and I'm sure that I would end up having to spend an arm and a leg on some special paint that not only resists fire but actually creates a bubble, similar to a fallout shelter or something.

Anywho, my Owl Unit is on sale on Teachers Notebook if you're interested. Ends tomorrow :0)

I'm working on a Beginning of the Year Bear Unit for some friends out there! It is looking super cute. I use to do a small Bear Unit, so I am really excited to be doing something I haven't done in a long time! I've also got a Space Unit that will be up soon. If there is anything you would like, please let me know :0)

Have a great night!

Shannon

This year will be a Hoot!

I needed to start out with that verse. I may not be in the perfect place right now, but I know that there are plans for me. I know that because I have been given so much support and love that I will never be able to repay it. I am ever so grateful for the donations, the support on my decision to begin selling things, and those of you who have purchased my first unit. I will never be able to adequately convey how you and this blog have helped in a way that was so unexpected. You, in fact, gave me some amount of hope during a truly devastating life experience. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for your support. Just thank you.

I wanted to put together a unit that I have not done before. One of my co-workers has an Owl themed classroom and there is so much cute owl things out there, it just called to me. I am soooooo thrilled and proud to present this unit. It is aligned with the Kindergarten Common Core Standards. I just LOVE it! 


With a total of 14 math and literacy activities all developed around the Kindergarten Common Core Standards. Activities and skills addressed include;

*Base Ten Memory- It’s a Hoot (Compose and decompose numbers from 11 to 19 into ten ones and some further ones, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each composition or decomposition by a drawing or equation (such as 18 = 10 + 8); understand that these numbers are composed of ten ones and one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, or nine ones.)

*Whoooo’s Tallest? ( Directly compare two objects with a measurable attribute in common, to see which object has “more of”/“less of” the attribute, and describe the difference. For example, directly compare the heights of two children and describe one child as taller/shorter.)

*“Owl” Find the Number (Count forward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of having to begin at 1).)

*Where is the Shape? (Describe objects in the environment using names of shapes, and describe the relative positions of these objects using terms such as above, below, beside, in front of, behind, and next to.)

*Who’s Counting? (Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects.)

*Adding Owls (Fluently add and subtract within 5.)

*Roll, Write, and Color (Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality. When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object.)

*Roll an Owl (Understand the relationship between numbers and quantities; connect counting to cardinality.  When counting objects, say the number names in the standard order, pairing each object with one and only one number name and each number name with one and only one object. )

*Let’s Learn the Vowels ( Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.  Associate the long and short sounds with the common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.)

*Go Hoot! (Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Associate the long and short sounds with the common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels.)

*Little Owl, What Can You Find? (Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print. Recognize and name all upper- and lowercase letters of the alphabet.)( Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.  Read common high-frequency words by sight (e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do,does).) (Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. Print many upper- and lowercase letters.)

*Colorful Owls (Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Read common high-frequency words by sight e.g., the, of, to, you, she, my, is, are, do, does).)

*Owl Craftivity (Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Associate the long and short sounds with the common spellings (graphemes) for the five major vowels. OR  Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Demonstrate basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or most frequent sound for each consonant.)

*Owl Map (Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. Demonstrate basic knowledge of letter-sound correspondences by producing the primary or most frequent sound for each consonant.)

The packet includes over 100 pages of color activities and student work (sorts, recording sheets, emergent readers) for your Kindergarten classroom. Also, good for early first grade.


Here are some pictures for you to check out!

You can purchase my new owl unit at both my TpT shop and my TN shop. I hope you will check it out!

There is also a new Dog freebie!

Apple Giveaway

Could Learning Resources be any better? No, they can't! Please check out their great product videos on YouTube. Ok so Learning Resources gave me the opportunity to play and review a few products, as well as, host 3 new giveaways! 

The first review is for Attribute Apples. 

This is a nifty little set. There are 5 attributes (size, color, and physical attributes). These are going to be a wonderful center for the fall. They will tie in perfectly to an apple unit <wink, wink>. They can be used for sorting, patterning, and counting (I'm sure there are TONS of other ways we will be able to use them. I can't wait to use them with our Sorting Circles! The apples are durable and super cute! The little container is made to resemble a basket. It will hold up. The entire set is great quality...exactly what we have come to expect from Learning Resources. 

The set retails for $21.99. For one lucky reader....it will be free! Here's how to to enter...

1. You must follow Learning Resources on either...

• Facebook,
• Pinterest, OR
• Twitter

2. You must follow my blog :0)

3. Leave 1 comment that includes the following (that you follow LR on one of the 3 listed), that you follow my blog, and an answer to this "School supplies have made their way to the shelves...does this excite you or freak you out?" Be sure you leave ONLY ONE comment along with your email address. 

Leave a comment by 12PM (Central Time) on Wednesday, July 18th, 2012. The winner will be announced on Wednesday evening.

Be sure to check out my very first unit on TPT. It's all new and aligned to the Kindergarten Common Core!

Teachers Notebook

First and foremost, I want to thank EVERYONE who has donated to me. Coop and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts! I cannot express the gratitude I feel. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

I truly hoped that the Donate Button would be my fix; however, I don't believe it will be. I am going to keep it, for a while at least, for anyone who wants to donate for any of the Scribd downloads. I don't want to remove any of the 594 free downloads I have (holy cow...I didn't realize I had so many :0) ) , so they will remain, for now. I am hoping to still giveaway some creations, but I know that it is in Cooper and I's best interest to begin selling things, just to stay afloat.

After reading comments, I have opened up a Teachers Notebook Shop! In honor of my grand opening and because I am so grateful for the support that has been given to me, my Apple Unit is set at 25% off!!! Click on the image below to check it out.

Thank you again for all your kind comments and support. :0)
Shannon

Decision

First and foremost, I want to thank EVERYONE who has donated to me. Coop and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts! I cannot express the gratitude I feel. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Well, I debated and heard TONS of advice (all appreciated, by the way), and I've come to a decision...I will be opening up a shop on Teachers Notebook and Teachers Pay Teachers.

I truly hoped that the Donate Button would be my fix; however, I don't believe it will be. I am going to keep it, for a while at least, for anyone who wants to donate for any of the Scribd downloads. I don't want to remove any of the 594 free downloads I have (holy cow...I didn't realize I had so many :0) ) , so they will remain, for now. I am hoping to still giveaway some creations, but I know that it is in Cooper and I's best interest to begin selling things, just to stay afloat.


My very first post on Teachers Notebook and Teachers Pay Teachers is a new Common Core Apple Unit. With a total of 10 math and literacy activities all developed around the Kindergarten Common Core Standards. Activities and skills addressed include;

* Sort the Apples (Understand that words are separated by spaces in print)
* Perfect Punctuation (Recognize and name end punctuation)
* A-P-P-L-E Poem (Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print. Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding)
* Let's Write About Apples (Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book)
* Don't Pick the "Ick" (Read common high-frequency words by sight)
* Spin and Write (Print many upper- and lowercase letters)
* I Have/Who Has (Correctly name shapes regardless of their orientations or overall size)
* Apple Ten Frames (Count to answer “how many?” questions about as many as 20 things arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1–20, count out that many objects)
* Comparing Sets (Classify objects into given categories; count the numbers of objects in each category and sort the categories by count)
* Apple Math Fun (Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations. Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem)

The packet includes over 100 pages of color activities and student work (sorts, recording sheets, emergent readers) for your Kindergarten classroom. Also, good for early first grade :0)I truly hope you check it out. Click on the image below to purchase.

I've also made a sentence building activity. I made it with two Facebook fans in mind...Alane Connolly and Stacey Arballo :0). Hope you like! It's FREE! Click on the image below to download.

Again, I thank everyone for their support. I hope everyone understands. It was a difficult decision, and I hope that you will continue to support me!
Shannon

Thinking Outside the Box

Starting this post was EXTREMELY difficult for me. If you will notice I've added a donate now button to my blog. I'm not sure why it gives me such ick feeling but it does.

I'm not going to go into the entire story that has brought me here. We all have a story to to tell. I am finding myself in a place I never imagined, in all areas of my life. I have to find ways to supplement my income, in addition to working full time and finding a second job. 

I love sharing my materials. It truly makes me good; however, I know I could make money if I chose to sell things. I don't believe that selling things is wrong. It just hasn't been right for me. Someday I may sell things...but for now, I am keeping my blog status quo...well, with the exception of the donate button.

I feel bad about adding that tiny little button, but honestly, I had to think outside the box. So, thank you in advance for the lovely comments and emails. My cup runneth over.

It goes without saying but I will say it anyway...I truly appreciate the love and support that I have found in the blogosphere. 

With Much Love and Gratitude,

Shannon

Hoppin' Back in the Saddle

I am making an attempt to get back to what I love...blogging, sharing, and creating. I haven't been shy that things have been difficult for me, and while I have a very long road ahead of me, I have to get back to who I am. I truly appreciate all the kind words that have been expressed, I truly am grateful for the prayers that have been sent to Mr. Cooper and I. I assure you, he and I will be good in due time :0)

Coop is 6 months now. I can't believe how time flies! You mommies out there weren't kidding when you said time goes by so quickly. I am loving the time I am sharing with him! We've enjoyed long walks, days at the park, and I have LOVED making his baby food! Here is a little Coop-a-Loop fix...

So, lately I have had an extremely difficult time concentrating, so I don't have a ton of new things for you. I did work on some fabulous frog creations. I decided that it just made sense to start ending my year with a mini frog unit. Something fun for my little Kinder-Hoppers! I also purchased Frog Math and Literacy Centers from Katie Mense and Frog and Toad Common Core Literacy Stations from DeeDee Willis. As always, I hope you find something you can use in your classroom :0)

Oh...and one last plea....
Please show some love to the blogs you adore...I am 9 votes from winning!!! Voting ends on July 2, so Hop on over!

I would love, love, love for you to take a little of time and vote for the 2012 Fascination Awards. It doesn't seem that many people are voting. Throw some love to your favorite Kindergarten Blogs. To vote follow this link and scroll down to Kinder Teacher Blog, click on comments, and click on your favorite. You will need a Google account and then upgrade to Google Plus (this takes two shakes of a lambs tail).

Vote Here!!!

Now for the Frog Goods...
Please leave me a comment if you download! 
Have a wonderful 4th of July!
Shannon


Literacy Goods

Toad-Ally Vowels Sort

Toad-Ally Vowels Worksheet Hoppin' Opposites Hoppin' Opposites Emergent Reader Frog to Log Picture &amp; Word Match Princess and Frog I Have Who Has Math GoodsLilypad Adding Cards Lilypad Adding Response Sheet Frolicking Frogs Place Value Memory Frolicking Frogs Place Value Worksheet Frog vs. Fly War Cards Frog vs. Fly Worksheet Hoppin' Down Worksheet Spin &amp; Subtract Frogs