What Will You Do Differently???

I think as teachers, we sometimes think...I'll NEVER do that again! So I love that Kim from Finding Joy in 6th Grade came up with a fun linky about the things we DEFINITELY WILL DO next year! Helps to come up with some new ideas from some other awesome bloggers too! So here are my things that I definitely plan to do next year!

I must admit...I say this EVERY year! I start out so well and then it just goes down hill from there! I bought one of the most awesome desk organizers ever...

 I am really, really hoping that this will help me to keep my desk clean and organized! Only next year will really tell!

So as if having two different sets of master copies isn't bad enough...I did a really poor job of keeping them in order this year.  So I am vowing right now to do a much better job of that. I see binders or file folders with labels!

 Sometimes, especially this year, I feel like I got so caught up in the grand scheme of things or the big picture that I may have definitely missed out on some of the small stuff.  But that's what happens when your personal and work lives decide to gain up on you in the stress department, I suppose!

Next year, I am going to plan out my year right away. That way I will have a nice pace set for myself and hopefully won't feel too much like I'm cramming in all the good stuff at the end. 

So those are the things I am definitely planning on doing next year. Link up and see what others are doing. You just might find something to add to your list!

Teachers Care for Oklahoma...

In the wake of the recent events in Moore, Oklahoma, I am proud to say that I am part of a wonderful teaching community that is so caring!

I was so impressed earlier this week when I heard about the wonderful people putting together an amazing fundraiser to benefit the teachers and students in Moore, Oklahoma.  I really wanted to be a part of it! V and Dani have done a wonderful job of getting things set up, collected, bundled, and posted.  There are so many great things you can get through your donation of $25! Included in the K-2 bundle is my Taste of Honey Author's Purpose Activity.

There is another K-2 bundle and two other bundles for 3-6. Each bundle is $25 and well worth the cost! You should definitely check it out. The link is in the photo above and will bring you to the K-2 bundle with my unit. The links for the other three bundles can be found there! 

Oh Summer...

Summer is getting quite close! Closer for some of you than me...but I digress! I have about a month left, so to make sure that the kids are engaged and really focused on their last bit of the year, I have made them a little something. In my class, we love making words. It is one of our all time working with words favorite activities! So I decided to make some work making sheets that have fun summery words. If you're interested, check them out in my store!

And while you're there, check out the preview as there's a freebie inside!

I hope you all are enjoying your extended weekend. I am off to spend some time with friends and have a long relaxing weekend...I definitely need it!

Summer Bucket List Linky

Here I am ready to link up with another fun linky party! A Cupcake for the Teacher, Miss Kindergarten, and  A Modern Teacher are hosting a Summer Bucket List Linky!

Many people are so close to the end of the year (or have already finished). I still have a ways to go my friends! But here is what I'm looking forward to over the summer...

~one~

I really want to make these crate seats. I have all the supplies and have been meaning to make them all year long. But this year has been absolutely crazy, so that just didn't happen! Definitely need to get it done over the summer!

Source: playgroundduty.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest 

~two~

Try to become more organized for the common core. I have all of my standards, but something like this would be wonderful to store ideas for each of the standards!

Source: secondgradeparadise.blogspot.com via Laura on Pinterest

~three~

Make a sign for my morning routine. When kids tend to trickle in, it makes for lots of directions being repeated...even when you do the same thing everyday ;)  I plan to use my Cricket and make something with images so everyone will know what needs to be done and in what order EVERY morning!

~four~

Spend time with friends and family! I plan to do a little traveling, a little time for myself!

There are many other things I'd love to get done this summer. But I'll be a happy girl if I can get these four things done ;)

Organizational Linky Party!

I am happy to say that I am linking up with Fun in 4B and Ladybug's Teacher Files. This is such a great idea! I am very excited to see what others are sharing.

 I am going to share about my Teacher Binder and my Monthly Tubs.  I made my Teacher Binder at the beginning of this school year. It is very eclectic as I found different things that I wanted to include and just threw it all together. Now that I've used it for the year, I have revamped it and made everything look a little more cohesive (teacher OCD)! There are several important things that I keep in my Teacher Binder. The first thing that I keep in my Teacher Binder is a school year calendar.

 Each month is a two page spread so that I have enough space to write in important meetings and such.   The second thing in my Teacher Binder are my standards. I keep my standards and my plan for the year to keep myself on a schedule and to make sure we've hit all of our standards throughout the year.  The third thing I keep in the binder is Meeting Notes and Agendas.

I started out really strong with this this year and then we changed how we did agendas for meetings and so it has kind of fallen to the wayside. But it is my plan to be better about keeping that in order next year as I found a cute printable from Ladybugs Teacher Files! The fourth thing in my binder (can you tell this is a big binder?) is Student Information.

Each child has a page where their parental information and other important information is kept.  This is also where I keep a list of accommodations for students and health information.  After the Student Information section, I have a spot for Parent Communications (another thing I am going to be better about next year thanks to my redo on the binder!).  This spot is where I document communications with parents which will include information about behavior referrals next year.

The other thing(s) that has helped to keep me organized this year are my Monthly Tubs. I have a big tub that I keep all of my monthly/themed items in. It makes knowing where certain books, stickers, and other fun stuff handy! Here's all my tubs!

Here is a picture to show what kinds of things I keep in my buckets, this is my April/May bucket!

I hope that you'll find some of this helpful!

Budding Blog Linky

I am linking up with Jess at I {Heart} Recess for a great linky.  This linky is for blogs that have less than 200 followers. I definitely fall into that category.  What a great way to learn about new blogs and have more people learn about me! Head over and check out some new blogs (after you learn all about me!).

1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging because I have followed so many wonderful blogs for a while now and wanted to be a part of the blogging world beyond just leaving comments! There is such a great community of people in blogland and I am glad to be a part of it. Plus, I've gotten so many great ideas from others that have definitely helped me to become a better teacher.

2.What is your favorite subject to teach and why?
My favorite subject to teach is Reading. I think it is because I have always LOVED reading. So it is great to see when a child really understands and is able to complete the skill on their own. It's great to be able to share the gift of adventure that books hold.

3. Describe your teaching style.
I am eclectic. I try to do different things that will engage my students and benefit all the different ways that my different kiddos learn. I try to incorporate hands on activities and have plenty of visuals for visual learners as well!

4. Give three interesting facts about you.
I have taught a different grade or at a different school every year. Not the most exciting fact for me, but it has helped me to grow as a teacher. I have found so many great colleagues to share ideas with and have gained some great friendships!

I shop when I am stressed. Kohls and Target love when I roll into the parking lot...especially lately! I have tried to curb this, but I've needed some stress relief as of late.

I love baking! My colleagues typically enjoy when it's my week for treats as do my kiddos! I even had a student ask earlier in the year if I share my recipes! Super cute!

5. Do you have a TpT store? If yes, post the link :)
I do have a TpT store. I started it earlier this year. Check my store out HERE. And here are some of my (and the kiddos') favorite store items!

So much to share...

Last week I blogged about my lovelies asking me to make a specific item for us to use in our classroom...check it out here.  I loved how they were buying into their own learning, so I obliged (we were on the same thought wave cause I had already started this item, but they didn't know that!). Here it is...

Leave me a comment with your email and I will send this out for the first comment!

Next up, I have joined Instagram...a little late to the party! But I suppose it's better late than never :) Look me up so you can see what we've been up to...enchantingelementary

And the last thing I have to share is an awesome giveaway that I totally want to win. It would definitely make getting to the end of the year a little bit easier! Krisitin at I Teach 1 to 1 is having an awesome giveaway that includes a $25 Starbucks giftcard. I don't know about you, but as the end of the year rolls around, it's a little bit harder to listen to your alarm. I typically need coffee and lots of it. So this would be great to win along with all of the great TpT products that are up for grabs. Head over and check it out!

Hope your weekend was lovely! I am off for some more relaxing (read as TpT creating) as I do not have to work tomorrow!

Asking for more...

A few days ago, I blogged about how my kidlets asked for me to make a math Classroom Quest (think: write the room) and so I did.

Today, we were reviewing fractions, which we will be testing on later this week. One of my boys says, "Remember how you made us the Classroom Quest about fractions?" As my heart melted for his cuteness (the classroom quest was created and completed only last week!), I told him I did remember. He responds, "I think you should make us another one about math.  You should do a money one." Adorable! Taking ownership of his own learning...love! So, I am currently putting in some work on creating a Classroom Quest all about Money.  I just had to share this as it was a shiny moment in my day.

I hope your Tuesday has been great!

Let's Get Acquainted!

Such a long Monday! Doesn't it seem like when you're close to a break, time goes so slowly??? Well, to help the time pass a little more quickly, I am linking up with Flying into First Grade for Let's Get Acquainted. This week's linky is just three questions. So here goes...

Linky Questions

1.  What made you decide to become a teacher?

I have always wanted to be a teacher.  I had a wonderful first grade teacher. She made school so incredibly fun and engaging that I would go home and play school! I think it also helped that I am the oldest of all the cousins, so I've always had littles to "teach."

2. What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?

I love seeing students after they've moved onto new grades. It's so wonderful when you pass a former student in the hallway (or in public) and they go out of their way to say hello or give you a hug.  I especially enjoyed being able to visit with some of my former fifth graders who have since made the jump to middle school but were not too cool to run over and deliver hugs and gushing hellos! It's great when you realize how much you've touched a student's life.

3. If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

This is really hard, I've only ever really wanted to be a teacher.  But I suppose if I had to pick something, I would want to be a baker. I sure to love to bake up some sweets (which my kiddos truly enjoy!).

So there's a little bit of knowledge about me! 

You should definitely link up!

A Classroom Quest and an Awesome Giveaway!

I just posted an item I created specifically upon request from my students.  That's right...they asked me to make a specific thing for us to use in our classroom!  We have really been enjoying Classroom Quests in our classroom (also known as write the room or classroom hunts).  We have completed quite a few language arts quests over the past few months.  Last week my kids asked me if I could make them a Classroom Quest for Math. And so Pizza Party Fractions was made! Of course I forgot to snap any pictures...but it was well loved! Check it out at my store through the picture.

The first person to comment with their email will win a copy!

Tori's Teacher Tips is having a wonderful giveaway that I definitely want to win!  There are four different categories to win, one of which is your choice of an amazon or target giftcard...fingers crossed! You should definitely head over and check it out!

Retail Therapy Via TpT Sale!

This week has not been so great. In fact, it's been a little bit stressful and it's only Tuesday!  What better way to get rid of some stress than a little retail therapy???  And what better retail therapy than a sale??? So excited to do a little shopping tonight.  I've got quite a bit of clipart in my basket right now. I'm not sure what to buy for next year yet, so why not buy some clipart?

In order to celebrate Teacher Appreciation with you, I would like to send my newest Severe Weather Unit to the first two people to comment. We have been using it in the classroom this week and are loving it! Leave a comment with your email and I'll send it out to the first two people! Happy Teacher Appreciation!

Click the picture to check the unit out in my store! Be sure to check out my store during the TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale. Head over to Learning with Mrs. Leeby to see what other great stores are on sale!

Teacher Appreciation Week!

There are some wonderful things going on for Teacher Appreciation Week.  There's an awesome blog hop going on to celebrate Teacher Appreciation.  Not only can you score a bunch of freebies, you can enter to win some awesome prizes at the end.  You are really missing out if you don't check it out!

Teachers Pay Teachers is also getting in on the Teacher Appreciation fun! They are having a sale!  And I am definitely participating.  Click the picture to head to my store!

You will be able to purchase from my store and receive 28% off on Tuesday and Wednesday! Head over to Learning with Mrs. Leeby to see what other great bloggers will be participating in the sale!

And make sure to stop in here during the week as I may just have a freebie or two going on here!  Happy Teacher Appreciation week!

Currently...May!

It's May...what? Cannot handle how fast these months seem to be flying by.  I am linking up with Farley for her fabulous Currently Linky. Such a great way to start out a new month!

Listening...I am a bit obsessed with Luke Bryan right now. He's got a great singing voice and he's definitely fun to look at!
Loving...I am loving this warmer weather. It's about time that it showed up!
Thinking...pretty self explanatory!
Wanting (and needing)...My allergies are kicking in full force. It is all I can do to keep myself from rubbing my eyes every few seconds. Ugh!
Summer Bucket List...I've already got my trip to Arkansas planned! Cannot wait! I have so many boxes in my basement that contain so many things for different grade levels (all of which I've actually taught!) and they really need to be reorganized.

So I said earlier in the week that I would have something up this week for Severe Weather....even made the mention of Monday. Monday has come and gone and that clearly didn't work out! I'm hoping to get it finished up this weekend to have it ready for my cherubs next week! Stay tuned...