Waiting...

That is what I am doing at this point.  Waiting.  My state has changed teachers retirement something or other once again.  I should probably know more about it, but I will not be retiring for about 30 years, so at this point, it doesn't affect me as far as my retirement.  The school district I worked at for three years offered a buyout this year.  At this point, there are TEN takers!  I am third on the list to be called back as far as elementary teachers go, so I am hoping to get the call in mid June saying I get to come back and my grade level.  But until then, once again, just waiting.  Cross your fingers and toes for me if you would.  I am dying to be back in a classroom again!  Being a teacher without a classroom for one year is long enough!

Manic Monday Freebie

I am linking up with Charity at Classroom Freebies once more to share a fun freebie!

Last week, I shared my Crafty Cupcake Mystery Message.  This week, I am sharing my Pajama Day Mystery Message.  Mystery Messages are a great management strategy, helping your students working together to earn a fabulous surprise.  And what student, and teacher, doesn't love pajama day!?!?  I use it as an excuse to buy new pajamas usually, which is always fun too:).  Enjoy.  And if you love great freebies, be sure to click on the Manic Monday button above and it will bring you to a bunch of great ones!
Pajama Day Mystery Message

Winner & A Freebie

Hey all.  Sorry I didn't share my giveaway winner yesterday.  However, it was an extremely busy day and it left me all kinds of exhausting.  But without further ado, the winner of my $20 gift card to Amazon.com or Teachers Pay Teachers is Jennifer at Keys4Education!  Congrats:>!  Jennifer, I will send you an email so we can get the details nailed down!

And for those of you that didn't win, I am sharing a freebie!  It is a Summer Fun Word Search, ideal for any of the primary grades.  When doing word searches in my classroom, I had students work independently for a bit, then for those who struggled, they got to ask their friends for help during the last few minutes.  This really allows everyone to be successful!  And I found my students love word searches, especially this way!  Enjoy the freebie, as well as the rest of the weekend.  It is 55 degrees and beautiful in Northern Michigan!  We are grilling out tonight and I can't wait!
 
Summer Fun Word Search

Rule Breaker!

Today, I am being a rule breaker, posting twice in one day.  Farley posted her Currently Linky Party and I just had to join.  So here's what I am doing, thinking, and feeling currently!

As far as my pageant title, when I was laid off from my previous district, along with 19 others, my school gave out awards to everyone at a little ceremony.  I was given sparklers for being the "spark" that got things going at my school.  I still remember the day and the nickname so fondly.  I hope and pray that I get to go back to my friends and my fabulous school family!

Oh and be sure to enter my giveaway for the chance to win a $20 gift card to either Teachers Pay Teachers or Amazon.com.  It is the last night to enter!

A Reminder...Plus a Cutie

Just wanted to remind all of my fabulous followers that today is the last day to enter my 20 dollar giveaway. It's just a few posts down!

Also, if you loved the Otter Creek recognition idea from my last post so much you pinned it, there's been a little change. If you could delete that pin and replace it with the one where the child's face is covered, both the handsome young mans teacher and I would appreciate it.  I kind of wondered when I posted, but I just loved the idea so much, I had to pin it right away!    Please and thank you bunches!  Also, in Patty's email, she mentioned that when a student passes an individual test, they get to stand on their chair while the class cheers on.  She calls them Chair Cheers.  LOVE that idea too!  I will definitely implement all of this should I be in a district with Otter Creek or a program like it!

And now I leave you with this little cutie.  This is my nine and a half month old niece, Miss Emma.  While being Stay At Home Auntie yesterday, I helped her create this masterpiece to give her mom for Mother's Day.  Her first art project!  It was messy but I think it turned out absolutely adorable.  

 

One more day until the weekend.  Enjoy my friends!

What I'm Pinning Wednesday

Today I am linking up with Laura from Kinder Kraziness for What I'm Pinning Wednesday!  Who doesn't love a little Pinterest linky?!  Here's what I am pinning lately!

This is the new and improved playroom from Jen over at IHeart Organizing.  I absolutely love every single thing she posts!  And if I had her skills, I would do this in my home someday too!  But what I really fell in love with is the shelving unit from Ikea.  I think these would be perfect for classroom library shelves.  They come in bigger units as well.  They are a little pricey, but I hope they would be a forever investment for the classroom.

This pin comes from Patty at Second in Line.  And no, your eyes are not fooling you.  That is a child standing on the teacher's desk!  As a reward for passing Otter Creek, a math facts program, students get the coolest rewards.  If they pass the addition tests, they get to stand on their desk and have their picture taken.  If they pass the subtraction tests, they get to stand on the teacher's desk and have their picture taken.  If they pass the multiplication tests, Patty has a window ledge students get to stand on as their classmates cheer for them.  And if they pass the division tests, they get to stand on the same ledge and cover their friends in silly string.  Each time they reach one of these goals, their picture goes on a wall of fame too!  How easy and FREE is that!

This colorful pin comes from Kylie at Down Under Teacher.  She did not have room for a word wall so she utilized her windows.  I doubt I will ever have a classroom with such a large wall of windows, but I was still greatly inspired by this photo.  Next year, I want to have a carnival/circus theme classroom.  I think, using a bulletin board, and covering it with a background color, then adding the individual colored paper for each letter would be adorable.  It may also help students distinguish where the words belong.  Plus I think it would add a lot to the theme.  Cuh-ute!

So this last pin has absolutely nothing to do with being a teacher, but I would love to find these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes, from Kevin & Amanda, on the teachers lounge table.

Be sure to link up with your Pin loves!  And don't forget to enter my giveaway if you want a chance to win a $20 gift card to Amazon or Teachers Pay Teachers!

Tippy Tuesday-Candy In The Classroom?!

My first year of teaching, after trying many other ideas, candy became my go to behavior management tool.  The behavior challenges I faced that year were hopefully the most difficult I will ever face in my teaching career.  I know how awful that sounds, but the challenges I faced that year in kindergarten were nothing short of super stressful.  I was a happy first year teacher, happy to go to work everyday, but near the end it was difficult.

This brings me to today's Tippy Tuesday post.  I am challenging myself to use candy as less of a reward when I get back in the classroom, fingers crossed, next year.  I want to choose more positive, healthier rewards for my students.  Plus, if it is not in my room, I won't eat it, and hopefully next time at the dentist, I won't have 10 cavities!  Of course, for those special occasions and  holidays, bring out the candy!  But other than that, I want to limit it! 

So here is today's tip.  Use positive notes to let students know you are proud of them or that they are on the right track.  I know this is nothing new, but it is definitely something I could of done more of that first year I taught.  The example below is test week homework.  It comes from the blog TIPS (Teach, Inspire, and Prepare Students) and I love the message it sends:>!  Head over to Mrs. Jordan's blog to check it out!

What do you think about candy in the classroom?  Leave me a comment with your opinion.



Another Manic Monday & Giveaway Reminder

Once again, I am linking up with Charity over at Classroom Freebies.  I am so excited to see what everyone else has to offer, as well as get more blog exposure.  If you have a freebie you want to share, click on the button below to head over.

Today I am sharing a freebie that is great for the end of the year!  It is coming to the time where the children no longer have shining halos.  Instead, their little heads may begin to sprout horns.  Enter the Mystery Message.  That is what I call my version of this behavior management tool.  I have seen these on Pinterest as well.  They could be called other things too, but I call my version the Mystery Message.  All you have to do is print these cards, cut, glue them to pretty paper (or leave them as white cards), laminate, and arrange them on the board or wall space to say CrAfTy CuPcAkEs!  When students are all on their best behavior, walking in the hall quietly, or doing something that makes you PROUD, flip over a letter.  In my room, the rules are once you figure out the message, you cannot say it aloud.  If someone tells the secret mystery message, then it will disappear.  When all of the letters are exposed, the students can read/shout it out together.  Then, the very next day, the students get the reward.  Crafty Cupcakes is not one that I came up with on my own.  I was inspired by Teri at A Cupcake for the Teacher for this Mystery Message idea.  Be sure to check out her post to see all the great toppings the children got to use to craft their cupcakes!  Here's the Mystery Message letters for you!  I promise they are cuter when you download!

Crafty Cupcakes

And be sure to go to my last post and follow my blog and leave a comment to be entered to win a $20 gift card to Teachers Pay Teachers or Amazon.com!  Until next time:>!

Wacky War Math Center & A Giveaway

Happy Thursday!  Only one more day until the weekend and I am sure you all, like me, are super excited!  Today I am linking up with Laura at Corkboard Connections: Super Math Centers Linky Party.  This game is something I shared over at Klinger Cafe as a guest blogger and I wanted the chance to share it on my own blog too.  Now is the perfect opportunity. 

The game is called Wacky War.  It is played exactly like the card game war, but with an added twist.  Instead of having the person with the higher number keep the cards, the person who can give the sum or product first, depending on grade level, gets to keep the cards!  There are two versions, one for addition and one for addition or multiplication.  The first set I created, for addition only, has my own version of a tens frame for those kindergarten and first grade friends who may need a visual to help them add the two numbers together.  This set goes to ten.  The second set can be used for addition or multiplication because they have a star in the middle of the card that has nothing to do with the number on the actual card.  They just add a little fancy.  This set goes to twelve. 
Cards

Multiplication Cards

Hopefully you can use one of these versions of Wacky War! 

Now, onto the giveaway!  I am very excited because I recently hit 100 followers!  To celebrate, I am giving away a $20 gift card.  The winner will have their choice of a gift certificate from either

Teachers Pay Teachers

OR

Amazon.com

There are two ways to enter.  Follow my blog and leave a comment and/or blog about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment.  Totally easy right?!  And who couldn't use a gift certificate to one of these two awesome places?!  The giveaway will end one week from today, Thursday, May 3rd.   Good luck to all who enter!

Pinterest Blogger Exchange Treasures & Tippy Tuesday!

Hello bloggy friends!  Before I share this weeks Tippy Tuesday Tip, I wanted to share the crafts I sent to my Pinterest Blogger Exchange partner, as well as the treasures that were sent to me.  First, this is what I sent to Ms Jennifer White from First Grade Blue Skies.

This is a photo frame used as a Post-It holder.  I absolutely love the colors!

This is a picture frame that I spray painted.  I added the scrapbook paper to make a pretty background and spray painted the magnetic clip as well.  I added the clip with a little hot glue and voila!  An easy to update photo frame! 

These are the 3 (yes 3!) treasures that I got today from Sharon McBee over at Ms. McBee's Kinderbugs.  She sent me a Post-It note holder which is perfect for me because I can never find them when I need them.  She also sent me a picture frame and a crayon pencil holder.  I have always wanted to make a crayon craft like this, but was a little chicken.  I love the one she sent!  And they all have rainbow ribbon on them.  That is perfect for me because I love bright colors and patterns!   Thanks Ms. McBee!

And this is today's Tippy Tuesday Tip.  I have taught kindergarten and first grade.  Sometimes students in these grades have trouble with finger spacing.  There are so many options of how to help students make finger spaces, but these are a few of mine.  The first is a wiggly eye hot glued to a popsicle stick.  I like to call this the wiggly eye that helps see where finger spaces are needed.  The second is a bingo dobber.  Once taught the proper procedure for using bingo dobbers, students can use a bingo dot for their space marker.  The last idea in the picture is a fake fingernail hot glued to a popsicle stick.  It may look a little silly, but students love using these to help them make finger spaces.  Sometimes just having these tools on their desk can help students remember finger spaces without needing to actually use them. 

And that is all for today.  I made another trip to the dentist today and got two more cavities filled.  Nine down, one to go!