Happy 4th & Friendly Letter Fun

Happy 4th of July everyone!  I hope you have something fun planned today...picnics, parades, and parties, oh my! 

I saw this yesterday morning at IHOP when I was checking out and I thought it was amazing!  I just had to take a picture. (What did I ever do without my iPhone?)

Don't forget that my entire (all 9 products!) TpT Store is on SALE today for 20% off.  Head on over and pick up my Word Parts We Know vocabulary program if you are looking for a great way to teach Greek & Latin Word Parts to your students.  I've been using this program for three years now and it has brought my kiddos AMAZING success!  I hope you'll check it out!

 

Today I'm also checking in with Erin at I'm Loving Lit for her first ever linky party, Thursday Throwdown --Ways to Make Learning Interactive.  You HAVE to check out Erin's blog...so many awesome ideas!!

 

One of the tricks I use when I teach the parts of the friendly letter (if my 4th graders can't seem to remember them from years past.....Hmmm.....) is to use our body parts.  I learned this neat trick when I was student teaching from my cooperative teacher, Cathy Mardon.  My kids LOVE IT!  Here's how:

 

Ask the students to stand up and push their chairs in.

 

Heading:  Pat the top of your head.

Greeting:  Extend your hand from your mouth outward and down, as if you were carrying your words.

Body:  Wiggle your hips and body as you run your hands up and down the side of your torso.

Closing:  Pretend to tie your shoelaces.

Signature:  Tap the bottom of your shoe.  (Where you will find the "signature" of the company who made your shoes.)

 

Say the parts in succession as you go through the body motions.  That's it....So when they pretend not to know the parts of the friendly letter (or leave one out), everyone stands up and goes through the five motions.  It's awesome!

 

Well, I hear my husband walking around in the kitchen downstairs which means it's time to get breakfast started. (He has to work today, poor guy...) Don't forget to enter my Rafflecopter contest to win a $10 Amazon gift card and your choice of one of my new Writer's Notebook Divider Pages packs from my TpT Store.

                          

  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have a safe and fun 4th!

Celebrating the 4th with a SALE!

I'm joining in with several other bloggers out there and I am putting my TpT Store on SALE for 20% off for the rest of today and tomorrow.

Now would be a great time to snatch up my Word Parts We Know vocabulary program or my new Writer's Notebook Divider Pages.  (Don't forget to keep reading to see my other post from earlier today to enter my raffle!)

Enjoy!

Workshop Wednesday, PMA & What Happened to July?

OK, so I look at the calendar and it says JULY 3rd....but from the weather we've been having around here in Wisconsin lately, you could have fooled me!  Check out the temperature this morning when I was on my way to Kohl's:

It's supposed to be WARM outside....I am wearing a sweater, for crying out loud!  (I guess days like today are Mother Nature's way of showing us that she is still in charge...)

But at least I got to meet my BFF for breakfast...

Blueberry pancakes....yum!!  Icky, rainy weather...yuck!  {Read to the bottom and there might just be something to lift your spirits.... :)

First, joining up with Teach & Tex for PMA Wednesdays.  I firmly believe that our thoughts create our reality and when I saw this on Pinterest, I knew I had to share...(I wish I could give credit to who ever created this, but the link was broken...:(

See...it's all in how we look at things!

Now on to Ideas by Jivey's very fun Workshop Wednesday.  Her regular weekly Workshop is taking a vacation during summer vacation, so she is having a month-long Workshop Wednesday.  You can link up at any time and go back often to see who else has shared a great idea!

This month's topic is Workshop Preparation....How do you prepare for workshops in your classroom?

I run a Writer's Workshop format for writing.  One of the "must-do's" (in my opinion) for writing workshop is have students maintain a Writer's Notebook.

When I first started doing this, I just had them clip everything inside a 1" three ring binder.  But I'm sure you know what happened...papers got mixed up, lost, destroyed, etc., etc., etc.

So I decided that I needed to use divider pages between each section of the Notebook.  Simple, right?  I copied each divider page onto different colors of card stock, three hold punched them, and had the kids clip it right into their binder.  Then we went back and added some notebook paper between each section and a big bunch of notebook paper at the back.  (Also handy for when you ask kids to take out a piece of paper....)

I have added my Writer's Notebook Divider Pages to my TpT Store.  I have three themes (monsters, birds & aliens) and if you purchase the divider pages, I will customize up to three additional pages for you at no additional charge.  (In case I don't include a page that you would regularly use.)  Each set costs only $2.00.  I hope you will check them out!

I promised that if you read all the way to the bottom, you might find something fun!  With all of the icky weather we've been having lately, I've been spending a lot of time reading -- the mailman delivered THREE boxes from Amazon today!  (Lucky me!)  So I'd like to give away one $10 Amazon gift card and your selection of one of my new Writer's Workshop Divider Pages to one lucky winner.  (I don't want to be the only one getting a gift from the mailman!)

Enter with the Rafflecopter below by midnight on July 11th.  You can enter every day if you'd like!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wishing you sunny skies and positive thoughts wherever you are!

Join Me on a Blog Hunt!

We are officially two days in to the end of Google Reader and I'd have to say that I am really enjoying Bloglovin'!  I love to look at my daily e-mail from Bloglovin' and catch up on my blogs as I am eating my breakfast....they make it so easy!

If you are not already following me on Bloglovin', please click the Bloglovin' button on my side bar.  If you have a Bloglovin' account, it will take about two clicks and you will be signed up!

Hopefully, you were able to import your favorite blogs from Google Reader so you're not scrambling to track down them down now. If you're like me, your always on the hunt for new and fun blogs to read.  That's why I'm going on a Blog Hunt with the amazing Laura Candler of Corkboard Connections. 

 

Please click on the bear for more information or to link up. 

 

This is a link up for elementary blogs.  It is a great way to find some new blogs or catch up with old friends.  I hope you will come along with me!

 

Ready For Some {Linky} Parties???

Hello blogging buddies!  I hope this blog post finds you all well and ready for a fun week!  Since it's Monday, there are lots of linky parties to attend so here we go....

I just love Tara's Monday Made It  party.  I has really reminded me that I need to nurture the creative side of myself throughout the week.  I made THREE trips to Hobby Lobby this week!  (Good thing it's close by!)  Here's what I made:

Take one pillow form.

(Found at Hobby Lobby)

Add one pillow cover. 

 (Found at Hobby Lobby)

Stuff the pillow inside the cover.

(Rosie is trying to help.)

Zipper it shut.

Hot glue some decorations on it to personalize it.

(Found at Hobby Lobby in the paper crafting section.)

And there you go!

Beautiful and so incredibly easy!! 

And it is Puggle approved!

 



At last week's Monday Made It party, I saw these adorable teacher gifts at Head Over Heels for Teaching and I knew I just had to make one.

 So here is my version:

This will come in very handy...especially since I can't ever find my Post-its when I need one!
You can click HERE if you want to know how to make one for yourself (or someone else!).  Super easy...all you need to do is be able to operate a paper cutter and a hot glue gun!  Love it!!

Moving on to Teaching Tales Along the Yellow Brick Road's Eating, Drinking and Linking party.  There are some great recipes here!  I hope you will check them out for yourself.

 Since simplicity is the name of the game this week, I will share my recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Dip.  It is my husband's favorite thing to have when we are having company.  Why not bring some to your Fourth of July picnic?

Loaded Baked Potato Dip
1 16 oz carton sour cream (I use light)
1 pkg dry ranch dressing
1/2 cup Oscar Mayer bacon bits
1 cup finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 T chives, finely chopped

Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix.  Sprinkle more cheese, bacon bits and chives on top. Serve with potato chips, fries, crackers or veggies.  Saves well (as if there is ever any left to save... : )

 

Photo source: http://ginamarieskitchen.com

 

Next, and staying with the simplicity theme, I'd like to share something that I can't live without for Sabra's Teaching with a Touch of Twang Must Have Mondays.   

 

I am TRYING to eat more healthy foods so getting my daily dose of veggies is very important.  I really, really dislike steaming my own veggies because it makes a big mess (two pots to wash) and very often, I overcook the veggies until they are mushy.

 

Enter Ziploc Zip & Steam bags...

Photo source:   http://jjdishitout.blogspot.com/2009/05/steam-fresh-bag-recipesgreat-idea.html

 

Simply rinse your veggies, pop them into the bag, seal it tight and microwave it as directed on the bag.  We sure are eating A LOT more veggies since I found these babies!

 

And finally.....THANK YOU for following me on Bloglovin'!!  I have been blown away by the amount of people who signed up to follow me and who entered my giveaway.  Congratulations to Layla H. & Charlene S. who were the two winners of my complete Word Parts We Know unit.  If you didn't win but would still like to pick up one of these for yourself, head over to my TpT store.

 

Thanks also for reading this VERY long post!!  :)  Lots going on today....I'm off to pick strawberries with my favorite aunt then we will be making freezer jam this afternoon.  Yum!

 

Have a great week!

Don't Miss Out!!

Just a reminder that my Bloglovin giveaway ends tonight at midnight!  TWO lucky winners will each win my Word Parts We Know bundled unit.

If you are looking for a great program to help your students improve their vocabulary, comprehension and fluency by learning five new Greek or Latin word parts a week, this is the program for you!  Common Core aligned and classroom tested!  Enter now!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The lucky two winners will be announced on Monday.  Have a great Sunday!

July Goals & a Freebie!

Well, this crazy month of June is quickly coming to an end.  I have only been on summer break for three weeks, yet it seems like forever since there has been so much going on!

Looking forward to July, I'm linking up with Jess at I {Heart} Recess for her July Goals linky:

Personal:  I have been checking in with Kristin at Teach n' Tex every Wednesday for PMA Wednesdays and it really has helped me think more positively throughout my week.  I read "The Energy Bus" by Jon Gordon and it has made such a difference in my life!  I need to keep it up!

Family:  Ryan will be heading to the Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia soon.  Last time the boys went to Jamboree, Kara & I took a trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis.  We can't do that this time, but we hope to find some fun things to do around home to help build some good summer memories for her.

Health:  I need to drink more water.  Period.

School:  At the end of last year, I took EVERYTHING down in my room.  (Usually, we can leave everything up...which I have done for the past five years.)  I did this on purpose so I would HAVE to find some new decorating goodies.  I'm loving chevron and owls...maybe I'll head toward that.

Blog/TpT:  I hope to share more tips about how to teach writing.  This seems to be one area that is sorely missing out there, based on the feedback I've received already.  Stay tuned!  Lots of good shares coming!!

Outside the Box:  It may be rather boring, but I am pledging on eating a fruit or veggie before I eat anything else -- meals or snacks.  (In the past, sometimes I would go a whole day without either of these...sad, I know.)  This is a Weight Watchers trick and I need to be more diligent about doing this.  It will fill me up and help improve my health.

So there are my June goals.  I hope you will head over to I {Heart} Recess and add your own!

With the close of June, also comes a close to our teaching contracts for many of us out there.  July 1st begins a new contract year and is a time when many teachers are reflecting on their salaries.  So I offer this freebie for you to ponder when you are looking at those numbers on your next paycheck. (You can download it by clicking on the picture or here.)

You probably didn't enter this profession for the money....so I wanted to remind you of what you "make" in addition to your paycheck.  Enjoy!