Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Show Us What You Bought: A Peek into my TPT Shopping Bag and Fabulous Freebies I've Found

Like many other bloggers and TPT shoppers out there, I build my wish list over many weeks and months. I was eager to carry over some of those Wish List items into my shopping cart last night. But only after checking out what others bought first!

Be it hair products, makeup, a dress, or an athletic tank, if I eye it and love it, I'll likely ask where you snagged it! 

So after much wish listing, blog hopping, and soul searching (kidding!) I made my purchases!


http://imbloghoppin.blogspot.com/2014/08/show-us-what-you-bought-linky.html



(Click on the images to see the item in the TPT shops.) 

I'm so excited to create Hope King's vintage label classroom organizer. I'm looking forward to following her adventure this year and the elementary shenanigans that are sure to follow!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Organize-My-Supplies-Can-Labels-1367353



A Common Core standard that I have been struggling to find appropriate resources for is shades of meaning, but struggle no more! I came across this great literacy activity from Jen Jones at Hello Literacy, and I am thrilled to print, prep, and use in Room 16!


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shades-of-Meaning-A-Cooperative-Vocabulary-Language-Center-Common-Core-752486 



Another gem from Jen Jones at Hello Literacy is this Picture of the Day activity that focuses on describing and inferring key details. I love the possibilities that this product offers.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Describing-Inferring-Details-with-Picture-of-the-Day-Reading-Photos-Closely-826852


Another product I bought that I am super excited about for Guided Reading and the Daily 5 is Hashtag #fluency. With a very active classroom Twitter account (@MrsMacksGrade3), a class blog, and 5 iPad minis, we sure are a class of digital natives! This 21st century product is also from Jen at Hello Literacy

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hashtag-Fluency-fun-phrase-reading-for-digitalnatives-1179173


I have always been a fan of Kristen at Ladybug Teacher Files and she did it again! She knew I was ready for change in our classroom library, and she sure delivered!




Mandy Neal from Teaching with Simplicity created this cute, clever, and technology-inspired back-to-school activity I know my kiddos will love!




To add to my ever-growing collection of QR code activities, I purchased a few more QR Critter packs from the creatively talented Stephanie from 3rd Grade Thoughts. (I already have her summer bundle and couldn't resist these two!)

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/QR-Critters-BUNDLE-Back-to-School-1270710

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/QR-Critters-BUNDLE-Fiction-Nonfiction-Reading-Questions-1148568


As I continue to build my classroom library of mentor texts (huge library sale next month!), I am always in search of engaging activities to accompany them. Ding! Ding! Ding! I found it! Ideas by Jivey created a huge compilation of Better Than Basal: Reading and Writing Units for 40 popular Mentor Texts including First Day JittersEnemy Pie, My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother, Fireflies!, The Man Who Walked Between The Towers, Stellaluna, and How Many Days to America? just to name a few! I am thrilled to have purchased this product to add to my files.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Complete-NO-PREP-Reading-Writing-Units-for-40-Popular-Mentor-Texts-1339979


So what was the hold up in blogging about my purchases?

I've been busy shopping vintage and antique shops with my sister...


wrapping up another season of summer camp...



celebrating 4 amazing years of wedded bliss with my best friend in the whole world...
 


a girls' day at Newport Vineyards...




the Luke Bryan concert Sunday...

 

prepping for a wedding I am baking for this weekend...

and spending precious time with this jellybean!








...and snagging a few fabulous freebies I suggest you check out...


Hall Pass signs from Jameson at Lessons with Coffee

Passes are ON! Sign

Sterilite 5 Drawer labels in Coral and Mint from Come to the Carpet

Sterilite 5 Drawer Labels: Coral & Mint

an Instagram bulletin board template from 3rd Grade Thoughts that is free now, but may not be a forever freebie

Classroom Instagram {Bulletin Board}

Welcome Back Smart Little Cookie tags from Inspire Me ASAP

Welcome Back Smart Little Cookie! FREEBIE :) 
 
a Close Reading/Text Dependent September freebie from 24/7 teacher

Close Reading and Text Evidence FREEBIE (Differentiated Se


The Daily 5 Classroom Pack from The Learning Reef

The Daily 5 Classroom Pack

End of the Day Jar Questions to spark conversation and build community in the classroom from Aimee V at Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks.

End of the Day Jar- Questions Cards for Community Building


What a week it's been-- and it's only Tuesday!


Sunday, August 3, 2014

Summer Fun and a Blog Hop

What a summer it's been! Here's a mere snippet of the fun we've had the past few weeks:

  • baking for a teacher friend's boyfriend's birthday

  • a visit from a teacher mentor I worked and learned from in college
 
  •  my second Finish at the 50 race on July 3rd

 
  • a rainy day July 4th play date
 
 
  • a stroll along the Cape Cod Canal and a pool date
 
 
   
  • numerous ice cream dates (which will continue Mr. Lovie!!) 
 
  • kiddie pool fun at Memere and Grammy's
  • a run-in with this cutie pie while leading the camp's Trailblazers group at the pond
 
  • more cupcake baking for our school's art teacher
  • a Trailblazing trip to the zoo
 
 
  • a teacher-friend's fabulous wedding, lawn games, and cupcakes courtesy of Sweet Mack Bakery--that's me!










  • Cupcake Club at summer camp
 

As you can see we have had one heck of a summer and it's not over yet!

But, I love back-to-school and I can't wait to tackle my ever-growing list of back-to-school tasks, set up my room, meet my newest kiddos....I just love it!

While I may not be doing much creating on the teacher front, (okay, none) I am happy and eager to share fabulous finds!

I recently finished prepping a few activities...

...like Hope King's place value Base Tents activity which she has as a Facebook fan freebie here.

Camp Out...Number Style

3rd Grade Gridiron's Economics Vocabulary Mix Up (click on the picture to snag)


FREE Economics Vocab Mix Up!
 
Baseball Multiplication freebie from Third Grade Doodles (click the picture to snag)


http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/kolenczuk/baseball-multiplication

My future is so bright... QR Code and Regular Writing Prompts and Activity (click the picture to snag)


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-My-Future-is-so-Bright-I-have-to-Wear-Shades-1240318



And just this morning I came across this SoCal blog hop....(click the image to surf away!)


http://adventureswithmrsrossi.blogspot.com/2014/08/socal-blog-surf.html


  
and started following a few fabulous West Coast teacher bloggers like....

Teaching... The Art of Possibility

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Sailing into Second Grade

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A Grace-Filled Classroom

A Grace-Filled Classroom


A Kindergarten Life for Me



A Teachable Teacher

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Miss Kindergarten

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Ramona Recommends


Fancy Free in 4th

 

...just to name a few!

Not to mention I spent an excessive amount of time gawking at Kristen's colorful organization tonight over at Ladybug Teacher Files and fell in love all over again with her fabulousness.

PTL for Teacher Pay Teachers' back to school sale this week!