Parent Teacher Conferences, fab finds and share time!

Okay, so I'm sure some of you looked at the title of this post and probably did a double take. But, yes, you did read it correctly...this week I have Parent Teacher Conferences. I know it's probably very early for most of you to be thinking about this, but I am curious. How do you share information with your parents on conference night?

I have found that using a Conference folder that the students help create is a great tool. While browsing through TPT I found some adorable conference ideas. I will share with you my top two favorite conference folder ideas.

The first favorite comes from Rachelle and Natalie at What the Teacher Wants. Their lion themed conference folder cover is just too cute! I used these covers my very first year of teaching and not only did my kids love decorating them, but their parents LOVED them. 

Photo is from What the Teacher Wants blog.

My second favorite idea came from Carolyn McCleary, from Nurturing Noggins, who was inspired by Rachelle and Natalie from What the Teacher Wants. This conference packet has a personal report card, a reminder note, a teacher form and a conference folder cover (that is adorable!). Click here to hop on over to TPT and snag this freebie from Carolyn! I thought the "Dog-gone" folder cover was brilliant and my students loved decorating their own conference folders. 

So feel free to share! How do you share information with your Parents at conferences? Post a comment below with any links or ideas you have! (sorry I don't know how to do all those cool linky doo-dad things yet, I'm still learning). So, in the mean time we will do it the simple way! I can't wait to see what wonderful ideas we find! 

Thanks for stoppin' by! 

Blog makeover and my first Made it Monday!

Hello there,  I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday. My Monday sure was magical when I got the email from Dreamlike Magic Designs that my blog makeover was finally complete! I absolutely LOVE my new look!!!  Be sure to stop by, if you haven't already, and look at all of her amazing blog templates. They are updated and changed regularly so watch close so you can find your perfect blog design!  Thank you, Alicia for my gorgeous blog makeover!

Okay, so I have been blog hopping for the past three years and have loved Monday's because that meant it was "Made it Monday"! I love seeing all of the amazing creations people have made over the past week, so here I am about to attempt my very first "Made it Monday. 

Here goes nothin'.....

.

This summer, one of my projects was creating a classroom D.O.T Binder (daily organizational tool), much like the one's found on TPT. However, I wanted to have pencil pouches in the front of my students binders to house notes from parents and lunch money. Well, when I went to go buy pencil pouches I found that they were WAY more expensive than I had first expected. While sitting at a Math workshop, our presenter brought up a photo of a teacher that had used Ziploc baggies covered with decorative duct tape to house students math tools! BRILLIANT!!! I borrowed the idea immediately went to Target to get my baggies and duct tape and ...............TA DA!!!!!!

What I love about the Ziploc pencil pouch is:

1. I can 3-hole punch them and they will survive in a binder thanks to the duct tape.

2. They are fun to decorate 

and most of all

3. They are easy on my pocketbook! I can replace these babies in a matter of minutes without having to run to the store to buy them! 

Now, I got a little fancy and alternated 3 different colors on my Ziploc pencil pouches, but given the amount of decorative duct tape out there your options are endless! 

Well folks, I need to get some grades entered and my outfit picked out for Conferences tomorrow and that may take a while. I hope you enjoyed my very first "Made it Monday" and my brand new blog design. Be sure to follow my blog so you can keep up with me as I (hopefully) grow as I learn more about the world of blogging!  

Thanks for stopping by! 

A little about me and some awesome finds at Target...

Okay...so since it has been awhile since I have posted anything I thought I would give you a little background on where I am currently in my life.  I am a first grade teacher in Nebraska and I love it. This is my second year teaching first grade, but my third year in the world of education. Last year, I took a jump into Fourth Grade and had a lot of fun, but I definitely missed my little ones! The school I teach at is on a "continuous calendar" which is similar to year round. I love it so far! I mean, only having 6 weeks off for my summer really isn't much different from everyone else nowadays. 

Just this summer I was able to fulfill a dream of mine. I got my very own puppy (well, with my lovely boyfriend of course). Everyone say hello to Kyle the Miniature Schnauzer. He loves to cuddle with me while I scroll through Pinterest or eat...I mean, help pick up the scraps of paper or lamination that I am cutting out at the time. 

 As you can see, Kyle also has great fashion sense. We were very lucky to be able to go out and spend a great day on the lake. You better believe that Kyle was the most ridiculous looking stylish dog out on the lake that day! For future reference, I do not always dress Kyle in clothes...only when I find it to be necessary...which isn't often.

When it comes to my classroom style I am a total color nut! I love animal print (my favorite being zebra), pretty polka dots and bright colors.  Let's be honest though, who doesn't love color in their classrooms.   I hope to post a classroom tour soon..so stay tuned! 

Enough about me....now let's talk about Target.....

I absolutely LOVE Target! I think we all know that their Dollar spot is simply to die for, there are so many hidden treasures in there! Well, I ran by Target for a "quick trip" which turned into me wandering aimlessly and finding magnificent items for my classroom. When I get into my wandering mode you can almost always find me in the school supply aisles. My boyfriend no longer worries when I wander off simply because he knows there is only once place I can be found.

 I LOVE school supplies! So, of course I ended up back in the school supply area where I found some awesome Scentos markers! My kiddos love when I get these out to grade papers or I let them use them for Word Work. The best thing is that they are only $1, plus they have so many fun scents. The item I am most excited about is the little note cards! ...

I mean, look at these! The opportunities are endless and they are only $1(ish) I will most likely be making mine into sight word flashcards, but I am tempted to go back and buy more simply because I can make them into anything! 

Well, I'm sure I will have more Target purchases to share sooner or later, but that's all I have for now! I hope you enjoyed my little update. I am glad you stopped by! Check back soon for my blog make-over and more classroom updates!

See you soon!

I'm coming back with questions!

I'm back!!!!  After a 2 year hiatus I have decided to return to world of blogging!  After browsing all these other educational blogs I have definitely been inspired to try and join this amazing world of educational bloggers.

Now, I know I originally started this blog as a reflection of my Student Teaching two years ago, but I honestly I think this would be a perfect continuation to use this in my teaching career.  

However, I have some questions on what would be the best way to go about launching myself into this crazy, cute blogging world and would love some feedback. 

1. Where do I find all of these amazing blog themes and how do I get one for my little ol' blog?

2. I would love to make these super cute signs and worksheets to share my creative touch with the education world, but where do I find them? 

3.  How do I successfully get myself into the world of blogging?

Again, I would love feedback! I'm all ears and would love to learn from those that have mastered this crazy world! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Sorry!!

I apologize for not keeping up with my blogging since the beginning of my Second Grade placement. I will be sure to post soon! Unfortuantely, today will be my last day of Student Teaching so the posts to follow will most likely be reflections. Once again I apologize for my absence.

Second Grade!

I have made the transition to Second grade!  I do miss my little Kindergartners, but I'm already loving my Second graders.  It's crazy to see how independent children become in just two years. It has taken some adjustments to get used to how independent all of my students are and that they can work quietly (for the most part), but it does give me time to grade worksheets and gather materials for the next day.  This week was my first week with them and all week I have found that they enjoy telling me that they are "almost as tall as me".  I guess I do miss the fact that my Kindergartners did think that I was tall, but I guess second graders are just more aware of reality.  I'm starting to get the hang of the routine and just how much these kids can handle.  I'm looking forward to teaching lessons because I will be able to do so many different techniques and I will be able to use technology (such as clickers) for practice tests. We had our infamous Halloween party at school on Thursday, now I always remembered those parties were so much fun at school and this time I was excited to actually be on the "other" side of the party.  However, I quickly found out that when children eat sugar it has an IMMEDIATE effect on their little bodies.  My kids were bouncing off the walls! As I walked them outside to have their parents pick them up I turned around to check on them and all of their eyes were WIDE open and frantically looking around the hallways. Some were skipping , some were hopping and I was just waiting for the rest of their heads to start spinning.  Don't get me wrong the party was a lot of fun, but I now understand what my parents would hide my sisters and I's candy on top of the fridge as soon as we got home...our heads might have been spinning had we had access to all of that candy too.  Even though my students were going into a sugar coma as they walked out to their parents car, the party was a lot of fun and I had a wonderful time.  All in all...Second grade it going to be great!!

The ending of one chapter and the beginning of another....

I know it has been awhile since I have posted anything, and I apologize for that. My life quickly picked up as I took over everything in my classroom as well as shuffling my little darlings from one place to another.  However, my placement for Kindergarten is quickly coming to a close, next week will be my final week with them :(. It is hard to believe that I am already halfway through my Student Teaching! I have been working toward this final test for three years and had always thought that once I reached it everything would slow down and I could enjoy every last bit of it.  Unfortunately, I feel as though time is quickly slipping through my fingers and if I could only just grab and hold on to it for a little longer....I still have so much to learn....I can't leave now!!!!!! 

In all reality I could probably spend a whole year with my Kindergarten teacher and my little ones and still feel as if I had not learned everything possible.  So since I must face reality I must come to terms with leaving my seventeen precious Kindergartners and move on to the Second grade.  I am excited and at the same time nervous for how my next class will accept me.  My Kindergartners accepted me from the beginning, because I was there from the beginning. This second grade class may not be so accepting in the beginning, which is understandable but I really hope that it isn't the case.  For me, this transition is similar to leaving home for the very first time and not knowing what to expect. Kindergarten is my home...where my roots are grounded and now I will have to leave my safe and cozy home to step into the unknown....second grade.  Now, I have been told that second graders are just like bigger Kindergartners that are somewhat independent.  I could see how this statement would become more appealing but I honestly LOVE Kindergarten ...I always have.  Here are a few reasons why I love Kindergarten:


Reason 1: They think I'm tall :)

Reason 2: They love to help you and please you in whatever they do.

Reason 3: We share the same attention span and enjoy sitting on the floor.

Reason 4: We find the same things intriguing

Reason 5: We love to color

Reason 6: We have LARGE imaginations



I could probably go on about all the things that I have in common with my Kindergartners but then you all will start thinking that I have issues so I will stop there. 


Don't get me wrong though....I am excited to go on to Second Grade and see what I can learn.  But when you have had such an amazing experience with wonderful students and a phenomenal cooperating teacher you find it a little bit harder to just pick up and move on.   I know my next placement will be absolutely amazing and there will be so many things that I will learn...and in the end I'm sure I will love them just as much.  I just don't want to miss all of the great things my little ones are going to experience and learn without me.  I want to see how much they have grown and listen to their stories as they tell me about what they are learning and all the little things they soak up.  There is no doubt that this is bittersweet, and in a perfect world I would be able to experience both. But that obviously isn't the case...so I will watch my little one's from a distance as the blossom into First Graders. 

I can't help but  wonder if I will always have this much trouble with my students leaving me or if it will get easier as the years go on?  Knowing me I will always have some emotional attachment to each class that I have....but I must realize that that is why I love it, that is why I chose it.

And at the end of the day, no matter the grade level...I will always know that I have one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.