Whew! What a week! and a new unit!

Whew...is right! We started with the kiddos on Wednesday and it was a marathon! Those three days are so crazy, trying to explain everything and get all those cute activities done that you want to do! Thanks to Babbling Abby and her Fun with Firsties unit I was set!

So, today I finished my new unit for TPT! We always start the year with all about me and citizen topics in Social Studies. Unfortunately our curriculum is kinda boring with those activities, so I decided to make this unit to spice it up a little bit and make teaching these important concepts more fun! It has activities for all about me, all about my family, being a classroom citizen, and following the rules. I added literature connections too! Click the picture below to go and check it out!

I am also going to giveaway TWO of these units for FREE! You have to answer this question in a comment on my blog and I will pick the the first TWO people who get it right! Make sure to put your email in the comment!

My first name is Ffion, what language is my name from?

Happy Sunday!!

Classroom Complete!

After a marathon I finally got that thing done! I took a bunch of pictures yesterday to share!

My behavior chart, I shared them in an earlier post!

Math and Reading focus walls

Writing workshop and workstation

Good work wall

My poetree! I have always wanted to make one and finally did! It has poem clipped all over it. This will be the poetry workstation.

Classroom library

Classroom library, all organized :)

The entire classroom library.

Word Wall with my fabulous letters from Poco and Pop!

Front board, with objectives and reader response and word helpers. Also, the big book station!

Other side of the front board, all calendar math!

Wide shot of the whole group area.

Whole group area, the green baskets will be math stations.

My king or queen of the jungle display.

 So there it is! There will be most likely a few changes before our first day. Now I am just organizing all the little stuff, like binders and whatnot!

Also, I made those classroom library signs, and at the end are some supply signs! Check them out, I know that some of your categories might not be there since everyone's library is different! I hope they help someone get organized, because my word my library was a mess last year without these!

The yearly Wal-Mart trip occured!

I have been gone for a while, I know. I was at the beach! Huge bummer though, it rained for most of the trip. :( It was still lovely to spend time with my parents and sisters!

The manfriend and my Daddy

Little seester and I

                                  Now to the teacher stuff!

I made my annual pilgrimage to Wal-Mart today. Also known as: My total is what?!? (which did in fact take place) I guess I think I am being smart about what I am buying then all of sudden this is in your cart:

But let me tell you, this thing is Ah. May. Zing. I played with it already, I couldn't help myself. I laminated some of the things I have been making non-stop:

These will be going on my take to your seat workstations. 

I also stopped by Sarah Cooley's lovely teacher blog, and saw her awesome behavior catalog! I tell you sister, I struggle every year keeping up with my little "treasure chest". I never have it updated in time, and then I always forget to pull the names for the raffle. Really, I feel bad for my kids because they deserve it. I love her idea of using simple rewards that are FREE and will motivate. Sarah couldn't upload hers because of the commerical license stuff, so I made my own like she suggested! I called mine "Top Banana Behavior Catalog" keeping with the jungle theme.

I also made punch cards like she said she had for me to keep up with! Each student will get a card and when they do something awesome or go above an A+, they will get a punch. When they get all 15 they pick something from the catalog! I can't wait to see how it goes, I wonder which one will be most popular?

I can't wait to pass these out! Love making these for FREE!

I get in my classroom tomorrow. Yes, it is just over a week till school starts. Yes, I am sort of getting worried. I am going to be a girl on a mission tomorrow!

Starting to get things made!

So, reading everyone's blogs lately inspired me to start making all those signs for the room. I was already working on something new for behavior, then I saw Babbling Abby's adorable behavior chart and was inspired to finish mine! Thanks lady!
I just finished it after getting the clipart I wanted! I like it ALOT! I plan on posting the signs on a large palm tree cutout, and having the awesome behavior signs at the top with the branches and the others down at the bottom. Then, my kids will move their clips to each sign. There are enough signs for A+, A-, B, C, D, and F if you use letter grades. I also included the top sign for those awesome kids in the room. I cannot wait to get in my room and get this done! Pictures will come soon! Here are the signs, I know not everyone can use them BUT if you have a jungle themed classroom take a peek!

Ruling the Jungle with Behavior!

Also, my speech to the grad school class went AMAZING! It was such a great experience...who knows maybe one day I will be a professor?? 

Scaredy my new favorite squirrel!

At the Debbie Diller conference a week ago she read this wonderful book to us. I fell in love with it and then at the table bought it on amazon! (I have a shopping problem) The book is called "Scaredy Squirrel" by Melanie Watt.

 

This book is ADORABLE and really hilarious, for kids and teachers! SO, while I was sitting there I realized this would be a great book to use at the beginning of the year. It talks about jumping into the unknown and not always being scared. (Debbie read it so we would not be scared about math stations!) I decided to make a mini unit with different written and coloring activities to do after reading the book. I just finished and posted it to TPT! Go and check it out, I even figured out how to make a template to make a Scaredy. They will look so cute in your room at the beginning of the year! (and we all know it will be here before we know it!)

I will not be Scaredy!!

 

-Ms. Thomas :)