tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79993490541720296402024-03-13T15:10:03.745-04:00Owl Things First!Ramblings of a first grade teacher!Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.comBlogger309125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-88401352168482442272017-08-27T21:08:00.001-04:002017-08-27T21:08:23.107-04:00Ready, Set, Learn!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So blessed to be able to lift HIS name on high!<br />This year's chapel theme: It's Still All About Jesus</td></tr>
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In about twelve hours I'll be starting my 20 somethingish year of teaching. It's been difficult for me to figure out the exact number of years I've been teaching. Between my first seven years and my last sixteen years I took a long maternity leave to have three children. Those three went and grew uprown up and the last one just fledged leaving me an empty nester...I'm both happy and sad about the whole state of affairs. It's like a brand new beginning. A whole new chapter to life.<br />
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So I haven't been tied into the blogosphere in quite some time. I'm going to give it a go again. My goal is to chronicle my year in pictures and words. I'd like to be able to share these adventures with my students' families as well as you!<br />
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This year I've decided to go with a camping theme. I found some camp chairs and tent on clearance and the rest is history! I'm so excited for my campers to arrive tomorrow and start our learning edventures. Here is a sneak peak of what they'll see...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We'll spend the first two weeks of school...or more<br />talking about character traits of campers! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfxMzIJCHNI/WaNk32ON16I/AAAAAAAAJpY/RdjigJjhXoMBjPkm_kzYoxUMEV6M771kwCLcBGAs/s1600/tent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfxMzIJCHNI/WaNk32ON16I/AAAAAAAAJpY/RdjigJjhXoMBjPkm_kzYoxUMEV6M771kwCLcBGAs/s320/tent.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who won't want to read in this tent? </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVE my large group area! Everyone has a seat crate to<br />store their stuff! Mine is the red one. I got a nice stash of coffee in mine!</td></tr>
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It gets better watch what happens when I flip the lid...</div>
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YES! It's a lap desk/dry erase board!</div>
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I'm so thankful for a handy hubs and a youtuber! I linked</div>
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you to the video below!</div>
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<br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XxrmUS3raEE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxrmUS3raEE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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I Sold pillowcases to family and friends to raise money for the materials.</div>
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You can help too because I have some left over! I give books suggestions</div>
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for almost each pillowcase. Plus if you time it right you'll find Pete the Cat</div>
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buntings! Those guys sell immediately, so (sew!) I keep making them!</div>
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Pillowcases make great gifts and it's fun to have fancy cases for company. 😉</div>
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Click the picture if you'd like to check out my store!</div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/OwlThingsFirstSews" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-24DAh5IV5Yw/WaNphHgXCXI/AAAAAAAAJp8/HcoBiyv0FNIB51YtCQuHHhaDTGtFMkA2QCLcBGAs/s320/DSC01965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<img align="left" src="https://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-68407033721399548532016-09-16T22:03:00.000-04:002016-09-16T22:03:25.348-04:00Hello Yellow and a Freebie!<i>I was honored to be asked to review <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Sharpener's</a> newest sharpener, Hello Yellow! This review is totally my own and completely and totally honest. I have to say that though I was given this sharpener free I have bought many of these sharpeners for gifts as well as for my own home use. They are quiet, practically indestructible and the most reliable pencil sharpener I have ever owned. They are a bit bulky to carry in a purse, but I have managed to do it on occasion. Did I tell you I LOVE pencils and they must have a nice sharp point? Just thought I'd throw that out there! Now on to the review... </i><br />
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There is nothing more exciting to me than getting deliveries! When my name shows up on a package I feel downright giddy! When my sharpener arrived days after I was told it had been shipped I could hardly wait to tear it open.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your pencil sharpener arrives well packaged!<br />(I hope it's okay that Firstie Science is in the background! I'm loving this growing bundle from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FirstieScience-Growing-Bundle-2739686" target="_blank">Tara West</a>. It has made science fun again!)</td></tr>
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If you have a chance to dash over to my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/owlthingsfirst/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> page you'll be able to see a VERY short video of one of the cutest ever smiles as the first pencil gets sharpened. This is the one thing I have against these sharpeners...They fascinate my Owlets. They would rather sharpen pencils then use them to write sentences about what they like or what they can do! I have actually caught kiddos breaking pencils so that they can have the joy of sharpening them.<br />
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In the picture above you can see how quickly and easily a child of six can learn to operate the sharpener. Look at the beautiful lemon yellow of this sharpener. I thought I loved my blue one until I got a pink one but this yellow is my favorite and it sharpens just as well as the other two! I keep one fastened down to my work table and this one will be able to float to where it needs to...sometimes my purse!<br />
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An added benefit of this sharpener is the way kids have found to work as a team. Look at the teamwork above as these friends help each other get ready for some serious writing. The sharpener is easily attached to the table and quickly removed as well. I eventually had to put it away for the day because they just kept lining up to sharpen their pencils.<br />
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I have had many an electric sharpener in the classroom and at home, but none have lasted as long as my <a href="http://classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Quiet Pencil Sharpener. </a> These sharpeners make great gifts for students going off to college too! Stop thinking about getting one of these sharpeners. Just do it! You won't be disappointed! If you have any questions please ask away!!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by! Here is a graphing freebie for all K-1 grade teachers! Use a nice sharp pencil to complete the activities. Click on the picture to grab a copy!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spin-Graph-Add-Autumn-929211" target="_blank"><img alt="Spin Graph Add Autumn" src="https://ecdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Spin-Graph-Add-Autumn-023529500-1381889171-1474077455/original-929211-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-82863953329427336882016-08-26T15:56:00.001-04:002016-08-26T15:56:24.902-04:00Happy New Year!!I'm trying an experiment. I'm in the car. No wifi. I'm here for at least seven more hours. Can I compose a post using the Blogger app on my iPad? If you're reading this, then it worked! If you aren't reading this my experiment failed. I guess I shouldn't use the word failed because I will have learned something.<div><br></div><div>I'm holding on to the last remnants of summer, but it's slipping away. Taking my son back to college is a sad reminder that it's time to let go. I love my work and certainly feel called to it, but this summer was the best! </div><div><br></div><div>My baby girl is a senior in high school this year. I've never been overly weepy, but where did the time go? She is my best buddy! We work out together (Check out Fitness Blender videos on YouTube!), shop together, and she'll even go birding with me...now that's true love!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AX2eL7VF_TI/V8CeyvzYWXI/AAAAAAAAJlU/97whqPG0sGY/s640/blogger-image-1327210267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AX2eL7VF_TI/V8CeyvzYWXI/AAAAAAAAJlU/97whqPG0sGY/s640/blogger-image-1327210267.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So if you don't see many posts this year, she is the reason!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I do want to show you a couple of pictures of my room ready for action. This year I have 11 Owlets, but I will undoubtably have a few more fly in. No split for me this year...just owl firsties! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ahs9k9NxqvQ/V8Ce4E08QHI/AAAAAAAAJlY/jC3ZFobMMU0/s640/blogger-image--445757012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ahs9k9NxqvQ/V8Ce4E08QHI/AAAAAAAAJlY/jC3ZFobMMU0/s640/blogger-image--445757012.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Password protection enabled!! First password? Jump. We're going to jump right into our learning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d5iM9bH-kWY/V8CetipVrFI/AAAAAAAAJlI/2c93a740DMA/s640/blogger-image-824017358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d5iM9bH-kWY/V8CetipVrFI/AAAAAAAAJlI/2c93a740DMA/s640/blogger-image-824017358.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>I love this project for our first day of school. My Owlets will take it home to display there best work for their families to see! Thanks to Kindergals for including this in their Open House packet available on TPT!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n2oFVUrc7S0/V8Ce5-ua4cI/AAAAAAAAJlc/D_8yix0DlEg/s640/blogger-image-572586530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n2oFVUrc7S0/V8Ce5-ua4cI/AAAAAAAAJlc/D_8yix0DlEg/s640/blogger-image-572586530.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A newly installed bird feeder has already seen some chickadee action! I use Safflower seed to discourage the squirrels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IFwoMCR1HEM/V8CesCt-zRI/AAAAAAAAJlE/4R1Pe9WoIdY/s640/blogger-image--1276904469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IFwoMCR1HEM/V8CesCt-zRI/AAAAAAAAJlE/4R1Pe9WoIdY/s640/blogger-image--1276904469.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My reading teepee is pinned open to prevent shananigans!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DDs0W7jN-UE/V8CeqffdPWI/AAAAAAAAJlA/Xny_47bRQ-g/s640/blogger-image-712368245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DDs0W7jN-UE/V8CeqffdPWI/AAAAAAAAJlA/Xny_47bRQ-g/s640/blogger-image-712368245.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Super Learner capes are ready for my super learners to earn badges! Some of my learners have already visited!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JtqYlxfgvlI/V8CevOpnIfI/AAAAAAAAJlM/FTnDW43pAWA/s640/blogger-image-727811509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JtqYlxfgvlI/V8CevOpnIfI/AAAAAAAAJlM/FTnDW43pAWA/s640/blogger-image-727811509.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These awesome new stools are part of my growing collection of flexible seating options. I think they're going to be really popular!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOUk1gdmnKs/V8Cew_tVR-I/AAAAAAAAJlQ/N_8Ps615Hqk/s640/blogger-image--2036193535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-LOUk1gdmnKs/V8Cew_tVR-I/AAAAAAAAJlQ/N_8Ps615Hqk/s640/blogger-image--2036193535.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My bookshelf got a makeover and now I can stand to look at it. No more selves overstuffed with books out of the reach of my Owlets! I love the way some of my math manipulative a look in the Mason Jars!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've prepared my room for my loves. Now it is time to prepare my heart. My prayer comes from Deuteronomy 32:2 " Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants." Amen! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I hope to be back on Sunday to tell you about a give away I'm working on with other Michigan bloggers on Instagram!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">IT WORKED! </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-31236226810363387692016-07-22T10:23:00.000-04:002016-07-22T10:23:07.855-04:00Five For Friyay!<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/07/five-for-friday-link-up-july-22.html" target="_blank"><img height="227" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6TMN2rjS40/V5FAO0zmThI/AAAAAAAAhdY/SZyfoDcZR0Y8b4_lLyy_Cg7h6ArIU-fuACLcB/s320/fiveforfriday2_thumb%255B3%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
It's a hot one for Michigan. It's a perfect morning to stay inside and share 5 random things from my week with you! Thank you <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/07/five-for-friday-link-up-july-22.html" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching </a>for hosting such a great Linky Party! Get ready for some random ramblings. Grab a cup of coffee and take five minutes peace!<br />
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I LOVE THIS BOOK! I just ordered a copy for a friend who, like me, has three children. She's a teacher who, like me, loves to have five minutes peace from time to time. Unlike me, she still has one in diapers, so her five minutes peace is much more valuable than mine! I miss the days of craving five minutes to myself. These days having five minutes with my children is a pleasure! If you have little ones at home or you used to, you must check out this book. You will love the story more than your littles, but they will laugh right along with you as Mrs. Large tries to find a place for just five minutes to herself.</div>
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<a href="http://learninga-z.nextbee.com/index.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Learning A-Z" src="https://accounts.learninga-z.com/accountsweb/img/laz-logo-2016.png" /></a></div>
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Have you used any resources from <a href="https://www.learninga-z.com/" target="_blank">Learning A-Z.com</a>? As a Learning A-Z Referral Program member, I'm able to offer you a $5 discount to every Learning A-Z website! Please use my promo code NB1289 to take advantage of this discount offer. These products have helped me tremendously and I know they can do the same for you. As a referral member I have won subscriptions to Science A-Z and Raz-Kids. These resources have allowed me to differentiate quickly and easily. I supplement my daily instruction with easy to use materials that I can easily project or print out. Monthly drawings give a lucky referral member a tablet of their choice. GUESS WHAT? I won!! I am still pinching myself. My Apple iPad Air 2 should arrive before school does. This is a huge blessing for me. At my school we share five iPads, giving each class one day to use them. Having one that stays in my room will be AWeSOme! </div>
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I didn't make it to Orlando for the TPT meet-up and I didn't get to go to Vegas for the teachers conferences. But guess what? I'm going to East Lansing! I can't wait to meet and be inspired by my Michigan blogger friends!</div>
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I will be able to go to the meet-up in style because I just got my StichFix number 8! I love pulling out my Fix Sandwich!</div>
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I kept three things from this Fix. Chessie helped me decide which ones were keepers!</div>
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Ready to try your own fix? Click <a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4395202" target="_blank">HERE</a> and I'll get a bonus too!<br />
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This has been one of the most relaxing summers I have ever had. My kids and hubs go to work every day leaving me lots of time on my hands. There have been projects on my mind for a while that I have wanted or needed to take care of. But guess what? I didn't do any of them! Instead I've gone out almost every day to pursue my passion...birds! I'm what you call a Lister. I list all the birds I see and I'm up to 182 lifetime birds. Not too shabby for rarely leaving my state of Michigan! People often ask me what my favorite bird is, or assume it's an owl! They are all my favorites. Check some of my finds out...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="271" src="https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13769581_10210030379421130_5293660627070680845_n.jpg?oh=57ecf387ffcafac96cb77068a572ad54&oe=582C6BF5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willow Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Woodcock strutting his stuff!</td></tr>
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Want more? Follow me on Instagram. I've been trying to post a bird picture everyday! That's it from me this week. Next week I'm heading back to school to start getting things set-up. Just a couple of hours here and there, so I'll still have plenty of time for the birds!<br /><br />
<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-8261964974558814902016-06-03T21:23:00.000-04:002016-06-03T21:23:36.976-04:00Five For Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm carrying around such a mixed up bag of emotions! Do I sing or cry? I'm just not sure yet, but I'll let you know when I figure it out! I'm linking up (seems like all I've done this year is link up) with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/06/five-for-friday-linky-party-june-3.html" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching for FIVE FOR FRIYAY!</a> (I think I just sang that!)<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvtFNfM1PgQ/VN6Zm2M2rNI/AAAAAAAAJQQ/-WeofuigRpIs-KVoBb293ZeSEJaFXfUowCKgB/s1600/blogger-image--550576542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vvtFNfM1PgQ/VN6Zm2M2rNI/AAAAAAAAJQQ/-WeofuigRpIs-KVoBb293ZeSEJaFXfUowCKgB/s200/blogger-image--550576542.jpg" width="140" /></a> One of my students had her last day today. She has been a delight to teach and have as a student. Her mamma just graduated from law school, so they are moving back home to her dad and brothers. I'm singing for her family being back together and no longer having to drive hours to spend weekends together. Her mom was an inspiration for many as she studied, worked, and mothered! This family has left their fingerprints on my heart!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13307501_10209662978636340_4000306661236051680_n.jpg?oh=c962b7a51f96415b9eeb71d1a463008d&oe=57C14746" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I traced around her arm and hand leaving the fingertips open. Then we all used green paint to put our fingerprints on to make green leaves. I used three shades of green. I thought about putting a brown fingerprint on and making an owl somewhere in the tree!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlAukotY6dQ/VN6XYD53ZVI/AAAAAAAAJPc/kvwNY7yKBxE1H-g9u-6uvr1EYD5z8pQuACKgB/s1600/blogger-image--1450100865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tlAukotY6dQ/VN6XYD53ZVI/AAAAAAAAJPc/kvwNY7yKBxE1H-g9u-6uvr1EYD5z8pQuACKgB/s200/blogger-image--1450100865.jpg" width="140" /></a>I get to pick TWO winners! One will get a set of <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/" target="_blank">12 Kwik Stix</a> and the other a gift card to Starbucks! Oh how I love giving stuff away. Congrats to the winners!!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VI2nP14tcNQ/VN6XWklD_rI/AAAAAAAAJPU/ysPBmuuJfQ4AwVHI8-Fglyu4dbnBOe4kwCKgB/s1600/blogger-image--69713887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VI2nP14tcNQ/VN6XWklD_rI/AAAAAAAAJPU/ysPBmuuJfQ4AwVHI8-Fglyu4dbnBOe4kwCKgB/s200/blogger-image--69713887.jpg" width="140" /></a> Three. More. Days. Water Day, Field Day and Last Day are all that's left. I just cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by. I'm hoping for really nice weather for Water Day. Come back next week to see what my kindergartner partner in crime and I think up!</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x355lBqhsRU/VN6ZcbUqDXI/AAAAAAAAJPo/lJ1tPCiVmNgj2DtiYi8C6rgzpd_NTFz-QCKgB/s1600/blogger-image--625071859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x355lBqhsRU/VN6ZcbUqDXI/AAAAAAAAJPo/lJ1tPCiVmNgj2DtiYi8C6rgzpd_NTFz-QCKgB/s200/blogger-image--625071859.jpg" width="140" /></a> We are finishing up memory books to help us remember the special times we've had this year. I found <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-1st-Grade-End-of-the-Year-Memory-Book-717503" target="_blank">THIS</a> on TPT to help me wrap things up and put some closer to the school year. The details that some of my kiddos came up with were amazing! Here are FOUR pics from the books...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13321679_10209661346115528_6610582029081394762_n.jpg?oh=31b1743fdce1be90bbc1acd74b46a5aa&oe=57C79BED" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look how long my arms are. They either got stretched out from carrying bags to and from home, or too much hugging!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13344599_10209665378096325_6051702186276476551_n.jpg?oh=1ae743721b79460416475d615bb31773&oe=57CA6919" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spent a lot of time thinking of the shapes we can see on our school and playground. I pressed them to add as much detail as they could. Our skies were blue most of May!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many of my Owlets chose The Wild Robot as their favorite. It was certainly mine for the year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13342882_10209665377776317_8020122120789540612_n.jpg?oh=7d0bd2f94317e56364a37132cf7a2a44&oe=57DB497F" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am again. This time I'm birdwatching...Imagine that! The artist said I was watching a Pileated Woodpecker! Made. My. Day!<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8dgHvF5AtE/VN6ZqF4hxKI/AAAAAAAAJQg/CVUx0Sz5yj4mhDXd6XvphuRYzY9d-TSkACKgB/s1600/blogger-image--2066490995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b8dgHvF5AtE/VN6ZqF4hxKI/AAAAAAAAJQg/CVUx0Sz5yj4mhDXd6XvphuRYzY9d-TSkACKgB/s200/blogger-image--2066490995.jpg" width="140" /></a> Five Eastern Bluebirds are getting closer to becoming fledglings. How I love sharing my love of birds! How can you NOT love these bluebirds? Since putting up ten boxes three years ago we've had nesting pairs in them each spring. Wouldn't it be awesome if they flew away on the last day of school?! Take a quick peek before I close the box back up! Can you see the little hint of blue?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can read about our bluebird house building project <a href="http://owlthingsfirst.blogspot.com/2013/03/bluebird-boxes-for-malauri-freebie-for.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</td></tr>
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-28680684403626326502016-05-27T08:11:00.000-04:002016-05-27T08:25:34.345-04:00Best Year Ever! GivEAway Time!!<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/05/five-for-friday-linky-party-may-27th.html" target="_blank"><img height="227" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EpBmRT8ntp0/V0YU-FcHj9I/AAAAAAAAhHw/L6ldwjf2lk48Sa8OBz1UmeGT_uC5og9tACLcB/s320/fiveforfriday2_thumb%255B3%255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I'm linking up with<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/05/five-for-friday-linky-party-may-27th.html" target="_blank"> Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> for Five for Friday. It's a time I can share five random things about my week...Okay this may be five random things about the year!<br />
In so many ways this has been the best year ever. I think I probably feel that way at the end of MOST years. (Come on we've all had THAT class!) This years group was eager, curious and excited about learning. They responded well to instruction and handled their mistakes as opportunities to learn...most of them most of the time! I have know several of this years students since they were babies or toddlers and looked forward to having them as students. The relationships that developed with parents helped to support the learning in and out of the classroom. You have to love a class that gives a disappointed sigh when you announce the day is over!<br />
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Reflecting on different "Bests" of the year I think about the "best" read aloud, "best" field trip, "best" TPT find, "best" after school activity and the "best" new school tool! Ready? Here we go!<br />
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<img src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M4M9keA3-ZA/Vz3mJuvP1nI/AAAAAAAAhFU/3X9z9iR8vsIYJrWkrmu4zEFwySXe1igUgCLcB/s200/Divider%2B1.png" /> Best Read Aloud goes to ... Peter Brown's The Wild Robot! It was a tie between this and The Giggler Treatement with my class, but there were was so much depth and meaning to be found in The Wild Robot that I have to pick it as my favorite. You've probably read Peter's picture books. This novel has short chapters making it easy to read just one more a couple of times. When taking a walk in our school woods and hearing students discuss what we'll do if we run into Roz the Wild Robot meant they were as invested in the book as I was. You must read this book! Peter has already told me that there will be a sequel. Yep! He commented on my picture of The Wild Robot on Instagram...twice!<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Robot-Peter-Brown/dp/0316381993/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1464314100&sr=1-1&keywords=the+wild+robot&linkCode=li3&tag=owlthingsfirs-20&linkId=95e55075558abe096754a432b237fba5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0316381993&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=owlthingsfirs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=owlthingsfirs-20&l=li3&o=1&a=0316381993" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Best Field Trip goes to... <a href="http://www.countrydairy.com/" target="_blank">Country Dairy</a>! This family run farms employs over 100 people and has around 1400 cows. They take time to run Moo School and give tours to city kids so that they understand where there milk and cheese come from. You can eat in their restaurant and buy cheese and milk as well as other wonderful products and books to take home. My family and I love stopping on bike rides for their homemade ice cream.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A three month old calf checks us out!</td></tr>
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Best Teacher Pay Teacher find award goes to...<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Cathe-Mccoy" target="_blank">Cathe McCoy's</a> My Amazing Brain packet. My students and I were fascinated by the facts and information Cathe shares in this engaging interactive resource. This really helped me to guide my students deeper into a growth mind-set. You've got to check it out!<br />
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-About-the-Brain-1734559" target="_blank"><img alt="All About the Brain" src="https://ecdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/My-Amazing-Brain-A-Beginners-Guide-for-Knowing-and-Growing-Your-Brain-1734559/original-1734559-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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The Best after hours activity for me has been...Mahjongg. Playing this complicated game has been a great way to meet new people and it's a great stress reducer! It isn't the online solitaire game I'm talking about. This is game requires lots of concentration and practice!<br />
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The Best new school tool for me has been....Kwik Stix!<br />
<img src="https://mail.aol.com/webmail/getPart?uid=739560&partId=3&scope=STANDARD&saveAs=image002.jpg" /><br />
The Pencil Grip, Inc. has come up with a fun way to paint that isn't messy and makes a stunning picture. My students LOVE to use them and I don't mind letting them use them because they are so easy to clean up after! My favorite way to use them is to just set them out with white paper and let my Owlet's creativity go wild. Here is a sample of two pictures made with these fun paint sticks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beauty was painted on Earth Day. I love the way you can paint over the paints and maintain the right color!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture of all four seasons was created by one of my reviewers. They commented that they felt like they were using oil pastels, but without the smearing or mess.</td></tr>
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<img alt="Kwik Stix 12pk picture" src="http://mediacdn.shopatron.com/media/mfg/324/product_image/thm/t179_9cc2a9b36b2333de8f0617bae71d7d74.jpg?1456802898" /><br />
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script>You probably can't wait to get your own to play with this summer or put away to make Back 2 School something to look forward to! You can try your luck at winning your own set of 12 below or follow the link <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to order some right now! I love love love the metallic Kwik Stix! Thank you for letting me try this amazing product. I wish they lasted forever, but with the affordable price I'm able to keep my classroom stocked for all kinds of fun creative projects!<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="363e42df16" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/363e42df16/" id="rcwidget_pj9pkppe" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-17348731607647955612016-03-16T22:22:00.001-04:002016-03-16T22:22:39.612-04:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!Happy St. Patty's Day! I'm more excited than ever for St. Patrick's Day. I've always loved the shenanigans of our classroom leprechaun. I've never said no to a Shamrock Shake and who doesn't like rainbows and gold? BUT this year I have my very own lassie in Dublin, marching in the parade. I'm so excited to see her marching with her marching band streamed live into my classroom tomorrow morning. It's been amazing to share some sights from Ireland with my Owlets this week as she toured beautiful sights on the Emerald Isle. Here she is with her good friend at the Cliffs of Moher the first day of their arrival.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the only cloudy day they've had! </td></tr>
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My classroom leprechaun, Seamus has been up to his usual tricks; knocking over supplies, hiding chairs, dumping the classroom library books in a pile on the floor and today he wrapped the room in yarn. My students will be so delighted to clean this mess up. They'll have to wrap the yarn around a pencil to get to a prize at the end of the string. I wonder whose string will be the longest and shortest. I wonder if we line all the strings together if they'll stretch down the entire length of the hall...Hmmm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We did try to catch that leprechaun. Each child designed their own trap at home and brought it into school. They were so proud of their projects and loved giving a presentation to show how it worked. We thought we'd caught a leprechaun until we looked closer and realized a leprechaun had tricked us...again! Here are a couple of our traps. Aren't they fabulous?</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See! Caught in our traps!!</td></tr>
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<br />If you need some great resources for St. Patrick's Day, I can't say enough about Sunny and Bright in First Grade's St. Patrick's Close Reading Passages. I paired my students up and had each pair take one of the 10 passages and work on that passage together. We are working hard on fluency, so we practiced our passages and then read them to the class. The photographs in this product are beautiful. I'll be able to use this for many years to come! Click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-2444126" target="_blank">HERE</a> to take a look at it.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing you the happiest of St. Patrick's Day!</td></tr>
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-53620363938827451282016-02-20T09:42:00.001-05:002016-02-20T09:42:26.601-05:00Five For Friday on Saturday! Why did this four day week seem soooooo looonnnng? It wasn't bad. In fact, it was a lot of fun! It just seemed to be a bit draggy! Maybe it is the mid-winter if the ground hog saw his shadow why isn't it spring yet blues! As long as it is too cold to head outside, I'll link up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2016/02/five-for-friday-linky-party-february_19.html" target="_blank">Doodle Bug Teaching</a> for a little Five for Friday fun.<br />
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<img src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7mU6YI4DVh4/VrPBCYZJg_I/AAAAAAAAgjM/JkqUYvwNS28/s200/Divider%2B1.png" />Did I tell you I'm having a Give Away? Consider yourself told! You can find out more about it <a href="http://owlthingsfirst.blogspot.com/2016/02/pencil-grips-and-give-away.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>!<br />
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<img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8y91pcC9X5g/VrPBCwXEW_I/AAAAAAAAgjQ/3VgmoTUSHik/s200/Divider%2B2.png" />Wondering what to do with old calendar pictures? You know they are two beautiful to throw away, but what can you do with them to turn them into a learning tool? I've recently started to cut mine into strips to help students practice skip counting and putting words into ABC order. They have been a big hit in my room. I have so many bird calendars that I'm having them do double duty...My kiddos are learning the names of some amazing birds, and what birds aren't amazing?<br />
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Chinese New Year is coming to a close. My Owlets and I loved celebrating it's coming in and we'll celebrate its going out with a festival of lanterns. A friend of mine lived and taught n China for five years. She visited and brought many beautiful items that delighted and thrilled us. We loved dancing around with dragons over our heads. Of course we came up with a long list of words that begin like dragon and used them to decorate our own dragons.</div>
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I found the template for the head and tail <a href="http://www.crayola.co.uk/free-coloring-pages/print/dragon-parade-puppet-coloring-page/" target="_blank">HERE</a>! You'll find a plethora of pretty cool ideas at that site to explore!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long noodles for a long life, anyone?</td></tr>
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Do your students like or love <a href="http://www.mowillems.com/" target="_blank">Mo Willems</a>? Mine happen to love everything about the guy. So when I stumbled across Diva and Flea on a Friday night, I couldn't wait until Monday to start reading it. It is perfect for every reader in your classroom. Even if the reader happens to be seventeen years old. Ah... The joys of having my own personal chauffeur! After buying said book, my chauffeur drove me home while I happily practiced my read aloud skills. She was, my daughter who also happens to be my driver, laughing and so engaged, I almost had to stop reading. The friendship between two unlikely characters, who are really quite a bit alike, will find their way into the hearts of your youngest reader. I've already gifted this books several times. Oh, Mo...You've done it again!<br />
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I wish I had loved numbers as a first or second grader. It may have helped my math curse as I had grown older. I do a good job of hiding my disdain for math. It's probably because I've changed my thinking about math. I've changed my mindset and have come to fully love math and numbers. I've been helped tremendously by Bedtime Math. If you don't know about this website you must click <a href="http://bedtimemath.org/" target="_blank">HERE</a> to check it out. I frequently read the daily Math Problem of the Day to my Owlets. The story and three questions take only five minutes at the most and are easily incorporated into a Morning Meeting. I love the videos and ask to watch them over and over again. My kiddos love them too so they put up with my watching them again and again. Please, Bedtime Math folks, more videos, please!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! They have a section just for us!!</td></tr>
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<br /><br /><img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-66668761682070061202016-02-17T21:29:00.000-05:002016-03-16T21:38:47.499-04:00Pencil Grips and a Give Away!What is squishy, * "feels like a booger without being slimy" * and comes in some pretty cool colors? If you guessed a pencil grip you may win a set of your own! When asked by <a href="http://www.thepencilgrip.com/" target="_blank">The Pencil Grip Inc.</a> to review their pencil grips, I had just been given two of these same grips by our occupational therapist. She has been at her job for a long time and I feel she is one of the best in the business. She gave them to me saying she had tried many over the years but these are by far the best...So would I be willing to review them? Yes, please! *Directly quoted from a first grader!*<br />
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I had an eager batch of students ready to try them. Their excitement did wear off when they realized that they would not be able to hold their pencils the wrong way. Over the years I've noticed more and more students struggling with correct pencil grip. I can only guess that it could be that children are asked to do more and more writing at an earlier age than they once were. Perhaps their fingers are not developmentally ready for such small motor skill tasks causing them to form pencil holding habits that are quite difficult to break. I can see that these pencil grips may be a great tool to helping break some of these bad habits.<br />
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I would recommend several practices when implementing them into your handwriting instruction. Make sure they are placed low on the pencil. Keep your initial times using the grips short and keep it fun. Sit with your students and show them the right way to grip the grip! I used pens to introduce them making it even more fun! Monitor their grip as they begin using them. The grips won't do what we want them to do if they are not used properly. Our goal of course is to get students to be able to grip the pencil correctly and not fatigue too quickly. I would highly recommend these grips and found them to be an effective tool in handwriting instruction.<br />
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<img src="https://mail.aol.com/webmail/getPart?uid=710502&partId=4&saveAs=family+of+pencil+grips.jpg" /> Which grip is right for you? From the left is the Crossover Grip provides support while keeping fingers from crossing over each other. The middle Pinch Grip is possibly my favorite for my students. It guides fingers to the right position without being too rigid. The far right is The Pencil Grip that worked great for my over grippers! I liked using this one the best myself. I was able to hold the pencil comfortably and had good control all while feeling that my pencil was riding on a pillow!!<br />
And look at all the cool colors...<img src="https://mail.aol.com/webmail/getPart?uid=710502&partId=9&saveAs=pencilgrips.jpg" /><br />
The most amazing part is you could win a set of the three grip training kit for yourself. I'm able to give away three kits. I hope you are one of the lucky winners! To enter, just comment below. Please leave your e-mail address so I can contact you if you are a winner.<br />
Can't wait to get some of your own? You can buy your own right <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=sr_1_9_acs_h_1i_2602132011&node=2602132011?ie=UTF8&qid=1455119052&sr=8-9-acs" target="_blank">HERE</a>! Winners have been notified!<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-22726584972551384542016-01-01T21:19:00.001-05:002016-01-01T21:19:30.753-05:00Currently JanuaryHappy New Year! New Year's Day is my favorite day of the whole year. No expectations. No work. A brand new start to a whole new year. I have enjoyed a day in my jammies, working a puzzle, reading and eating every yummy thing my man concocts in the kitchen! There is only one thing left on my to-do list for this day...<a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2016/01/currently-january-2016.html" target="_blank">Currently</a>!<br />
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I love all the attention there has been to having students learn to change their mindset into a growth mindset. Before a student can can have that kind of mindset a teach should too! I will always be looking for ways to better reach my Owlets and encourage them to grow. </div>
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To start my growth pattern thinking off to the right start, I started (today!!) Bible journaling. I asked for a journaling Bible for Christmas and didn't get one. I am so glad I didn't! I've decided to just write out passages from scripture in one of the many journals I've accumulated over the years will help me concentrate on God's word for me. I've joined an accountability group and I'm so excited to \see how God will lead and grow us up in faith this year. I know there are fancy pens out there, but I just used my trusty flair pens to write and decorate my text. I've thought about these verses all day long and felt so blessed to be truly seeking to grow in God's grace.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isaiah 43:16-19</td></tr>
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<br />If you would like to know about Bible journaling, I am probably not the one to ask. Today is my first experience with it. I am following <a href="http://www.swtblessings.com/2015/12/january-scripture-writing-plan.html#.Vocw5EorLIU" target="_blank">Sweet Blessings</a> plans for the month of January. I don't have a lot of artistic skills, so for me copying The Word and dwelling on its meaning is going to be a huge blessing for me. Hey, Shannon, you forgot verse 20...<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the <b><u>owls</u></b>: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.</span><div>
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Friends, I hope 2016 is a year filled with more laughter than tears, more joy than sadness, more sunshine than rain and more love than hurt.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-59923068151889584142015-10-19T21:59:00.000-04:002015-10-19T21:59:10.288-04:00Monster Book Fair and Two Winners!Happy Monday! I hope your Monday was as delightful as mine! After a week of Book Fair Chairpersoning, I was ready for a normal, average, everyday kind of week! Have you read Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern?<br />
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Last week I felt like Peter getting more and more crowded by life's activities and chores. Like Peter by the end of the week I got the quiet I was longing for. Unfortunately, it ended with an accidental kick to a full box of books and a broken toe! An ice pack and the couch were my best friends on Saturday!<br />
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I do love my job as Book Fair Chair! Getting to push books on eager readers and giving lots of books away to those who don't know they are eager readers yet is a great joy! The Monster theme of Scholastic Book Fairs was too much fun. We did all kinds of monstery things during the week. My favorite was letting children add an eye to our big purple monster with each book bought. Here is our little guy half way through the week! He is now standing in the hall thanking everyone for all the books that were bought.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3M6DXjvL8o/ViWbcBMbbpI/AAAAAAAAJgs/oGLvEbzB4gc/s1600/IMG_0614%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O3M6DXjvL8o/ViWbcBMbbpI/AAAAAAAAJgs/oGLvEbzB4gc/s320/IMG_0614%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He was easy to make. I projected his image using clip art onto a large sheet of paper. I used one of the monsters from <a href="http://kpmdoodles.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">KPM Doodles</a>. (Click on the link to check out some awesome freebies!) Then easily cut around the outline and voila...A monster! I do this frequently to make full size animals and people to add some pizzazz to different units!<br />
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Are you ready for a winner? I hope you took the time to check out Primary Punchbowl. Grab a cup and head over to get yourself a cup of good ideas! And the winners are:<br />
$10.00 TPT winner is Emily<br />
$10>00 Giftcard to Starbucks: Bekah<br />
Congrats!! Happy shopping<br />
<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-29432793089168769622015-10-11T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-11T00:00:01.477-04:00Finally Fall Blog Hop and Giveaway!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://theprimarypunchbowl.blogspot.com/p/meet-punch-bunch.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh458HtVGQQ/Vhm7KiVlEEI/AAAAAAAAJfw/sXw_hQSIrh4/s320/Square%2BBlog%2BHop%2BGraphic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So it is finally fall around here. I find myself looking for every crunchy leaf available and going way out of my way to step on it. Is there anything more satisfying than the sound of a crunchy leaf? It is such a great time of year to get my Owlets outside collecting leaves and acorns to use in math or to use to help them achieve mastery over vocabulary and sight words. I hope you have acorns in your neck of the woods!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking pumpkins is so much fun!</td></tr>
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My students enjoyed reading a little book to find out if they were an apple or not a couple weeks ago. This week we will read <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/You-Might-be-a-Pumpkin-1518473" target="_blank">THIS</a> book to see if perhaps we are pumpkins instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/You-Might-be-a-Pumpkin-1518473" target="_blank"><img alt="You Might be a Pumpkin!" src="https://mcdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/You-Might-be-a-Pumpkin-1518473-1444522104/original-1518473-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/You-Might-be-a-Pumpkin-1518473" target="_blank">Click on the picture to get this freebie!</a></td></tr>
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I'm very excited to be in a tribe with some amazing teachers from across the country. You can find out more about the tribe by visiting <a href="http://theprimarypunchbowl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Primary Punchbowl </a>and following along on some great EDventures. Be sure to head over to win some great prizes. Meet the tribe by hopping along below! Be sure to enter for your chance to win a gift card to Teachers Pay Teachers!<br />
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<a href="http://theprimarypunchbowl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NskwtGZbIF4/Vhm7_pPsIoI/AAAAAAAAJgM/je4iF369SYk/s320/4%2BFall%2BGiveaway.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spin-Graph-Add-Autumn-929211" target="_blank"><img alt="Spin Graph Add Autumn" src="https://mcdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Spin-Graph-Add-Autumn-023529500-1381889171-1444523222/original-929211-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spin-Graph-Add-Autumn-929211" target="_blank">Click Here to get this for only $1.00!</a></td></tr>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-49868376983206371862015-10-03T20:27:00.003-04:002015-10-03T20:27:53.427-04:00Currently: OctoberWell, hello! I am not quite ready to stop blogging all together. I do have an appreciation for people who can continue with a blog for more than two years! I wish I had that excitement I did when I first started. . . Sigh... I am thankful for <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/10/currently-october-2015.html" target="_blank">Farley</a> and the opportunity to share what I'm doing currently!<br />
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Yep! My husband usually does all the weekend cooking. He tries new recipes that are really healthy and yummy! After twenty-six years, I still love that guy and would say, "I do!" all over again!</div>
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Oh. My. Goodness! This year's class is a hoot! They love learning and get excited about every. Little. Thing! </div>
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Seriously, why do apples get such little attention? You can do more with an apple than you can a pumpkin. Can you pick up a pumpkin and take a bite? You can't throw a pumpkin in your lunch or eat one for a snack after school. Apples come in so many more varieties than pumpkins too.<br />
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After I said all that about apples....I keep buying EVERY pumpkin flavored food available. True story.<br />
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By the way Trader Joe's has about a million pumpkin flavored foods. Pumpkin is yummy and it makes a much better latte than apples. Sadly, I have to drive a whole hour to get to the nearest Trader Joe's. I'm pretty sure my community could support a TJs!<br />
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Finally, I want to say that every time one of my kiddos calls me mom I feel that I have created a safe place for them to learn and grow. Who makes us feel safer than mom?<br />
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Now I'm going to try to visit and comment on every other <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/10/currently-october-2015.html" target="_blank">Currently</a>. Thanks for such a great party, Farley!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-12792643646646267742015-08-30T21:01:00.000-04:002015-08-30T21:01:13.154-04:00Twas the Night Before School...Yep! Tomorrow's the BIG day. THE day that all teachers dread and look forward to all summer long. THE day that we see our new learners for the first time. THE day we begin to form our own community. THE day we become chief of a new tribe. I. Am. Ready.<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NiVDCHq7-Pc/VeOcJGyUAbI/AAAAAAAAJd4/kST479_ZMtE/s640/blogger-image-1351605297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NiVDCHq7-Pc/VeOcJGyUAbI/AAAAAAAAJd4/kST479_ZMtE/s640/blogger-image-1351605297.jpg" /></a>This little girl helped me prepare</div>
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capes for my Super Learners to don when they step into the room tomorrow morning! Of course there will be a ceremony to receive there capes! Here they are...</div>
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And so the intense training begins! I love <a href="http://curiousfirsties.blogspot.com/2015/08/we-are-ninjas.html">Curious Firsties</a> Ninja training so I'm going to join them and train my students to be "Super Learners"<br />
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Come back during the week to see how our training is coming! </div>
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By the way...the capes were super duper easy to make. I went to Joann's and got three yards of felt which made 12 capes, iron on velcro, Heat and Bond UltraHold Iron on adhesive and small sheets of contrasting color for the badge.</div>
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I downloaded and printed a template from Jolly Mom...<br /><a href="http://www.jollymom.com/no-sew-superhero-capes-free-template/">HERE</a></div>
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Each cape probably cost about $2.00. It only involved cutting and ironing. I can't wait to share a picture of my students wearing their capes! </div>
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-46092640265533189962015-08-24T01:00:00.000-04:002015-08-24T07:11:14.607-04:00The Reading Strategies Book: Goal 7Welcome back to The Reading Strategies Book study! I am so excited to be hosting. heck I am so excited to be writing a blog post! I feel like this study has reinvigorated my desire to blog, so watch out!<br />
I am going to share some thoughts on goal #7. Drum roll please...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><u>Goal 7: Supporting Comprehension in Fiction/Understanding Themes and Ideas</u></b></td></tr>
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A funny thing happened as I began to teach students to be more thoughtful as they read. I became more thoughtful about my own reading. Once I was content to just plow through as many books as possible without stopping to think about themes, symbolism, and ideas hidden in rich texts. I've found myself being much more thoughtful myself and wondering and enjoying what I'm reading. I will be greeting my students one week from today and can hardly wait to start sharing these strategies to teach this goal...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SEB2Moe55c/VcyW_XhxRJI/AAAAAAAAJbI/xCjDUYaaG3E/s1600/11760207_477936209040984_7946934647020963816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SEB2Moe55c/VcyW_XhxRJI/AAAAAAAAJbI/xCjDUYaaG3E/s640/11760207_477936209040984_7946934647020963816_n.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
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When I first glanced at these strategies I was taken back by how many are aimed at level J and above. Some of my firsties will be there by the middle of the year, but some may not make it quite that soon. I believe modeling these strategies can take place in read alouds long before readers work on this strategy independently. So as I was reading I thought of ways that I could use these strategies during our read aloud time. Jennifer lets us know that students who have demonstrated an understanding of story structure are ready to dig deeper and think more critically about their stories. Goals 5 and 6 give great strategies for building an understanding of story structure. Click on the pictures below to check some of those strategies out.</div>
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<a href="http://lovetoteacha-latte.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-reading-strategies-book-goal-5.html"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F-vFaKEE-XU/VcyZ5GPkZtI/AAAAAAAAJbU/1-Gl9d4XFGg/s200/11745521_10153515838527640_3341778219815815299_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://applefortheteach.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-reading-strategues-book-study-goal.html"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DydDeEEQeQ0/VcyZ9pTadvI/AAAAAAAAJbc/Y-yPUY_zjFo/s200/11796210_10153515839022640_6643883074979893515_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Back to Goal 7! If you could turn in your book to page 191 you'll want to highlight this, "Put simply, although thinking deeply about text may be an enjoyable part of reading literature, it's also fair to say that without understanding themes, ideas, symbolism, or social issues that show up in the text, it could be that you misunderstand or at the very least miss a lot of what the story is about." It's our job to slow children down and help them to dig deeper into the text so that reading begins to "really matter". It's then that readers begin to feel joy, sorrow, surprise and a multitude of feelings that lead to a life long love of reading. </div>
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Here are three of my favorite strategies for this goal.</div>
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<span style="color: orange;">7.1 Notice a Pattern and Give Advice</span></div>
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Well who doesn't like to give advice? I like the idea of telling characters what to do. It turns out so do my students! I recently read <u>Good-Night Owl</u> by Pat Hutchins. We stopped in the middle of the story and gave the owl advice about how he could get a good night's sleep. Here are a couple pieces of sage advice...</div>
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Owl, you should get some ear plugs.</div>
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Owl, you should find another tree to sleep in.</div>
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Owl, why don't you eat those animals so they don't bother you anymore?</div>
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Owl, when I can't sleep my mom tells me to count to twenty and then roll over. You could try that.</div>
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Not only were the children engaged in the story they were also making connections and drawing inferences. </div>
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Jennifer recommends you first discover the pattern and then give advice by starting with, "You should_____."</div>
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<span style="color: orange;">7.7 Mistakes Can Lead to Lessons</span></div>
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Everyone makes mistakes. We can all learn from those mistakes too. Noticing mistakes made by book characters help us notice them in ourselves and then also learn from them. Model this for your students by using chart paper to write down mistakes made by characters and then the possible lessons learned. Here are a couple of sentence starters Jennifer shares that can help you use this strategy.</div>
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<li>When you _________, you should or shouldn't learn _________.</li>
<li>You don't have to _________ to _________________.</li>
<li>Try to (or not to) ____________when you ___________.</li>
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This strategy helps students with inferring and in determining importance.<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">7.13 From Seed to Theme</span></div>
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Any one book may have different themes based on what prior knowledge the reader brings to the text. Starting with a single word is like the seed of the text's theme. It is important to get our readers to state these seeds in sentence form. The book <u>Fish In a Tree</u> by Lynda Mullaly has many such"seeds" that could be stated as a theme. Friendship, hope, perseverance, and kindness are all topics that can be found in the book. Ally learns that friends are the people who stand up for you and help you even when it's hard. She also learns that with hard work she can attain her dreams. You could use the worksheet below to help students use this strategy to practice finding and stating the theme.</div>
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Just click on the picture if you think it may be something you can use.</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwBx6vDfRAI6ZkpnQ0hrRE9lUm8/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cu46hHp_e4c/VdPx_ot9jRI/AAAAAAAAJcU/8sKAct1xbsI/s320/theme.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you have not gotten your hands on this book yet, you may borrow mine or buy your own! It is a book you want if you are a teacher of reading! </div>
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Watch out I'll be back soon!! </div>
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Want to know more about this book? Join the study. Look at the schedule below to see who is up next. I'll link to chapter 8 when it is published!</div>
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-55304832440052652822015-08-21T19:20:00.002-04:002015-08-21T19:20:52.110-04:00Five for Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Yipee! It's time to link up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/08/five-for-friday-linky-party-august-21.html">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> to tell about five random things from your week. Finally, I've done something besides relaxing and reading that I can share! </div>
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I love these <a href="http://www.reallygoodstuff.com/ez-stick-classroom-line-up-helpers/p/161876/">line-up numbers</a> from Really Good Stuff! I will be using them for a lot more than just lining up! It's a life size number line for my Owlets to use to add and subtract. We can even build number sets all around these easy to apply floor stickers. See the broom in the corner? It just glided right over those numbers. Look how shiny that floor is...Wow!</div>
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I have seen these all over Pintrest. It took me HOURS to make my own. I was so proud of my finished product, I took a picture and put it on my blog. It's ready for Meet the Teacher Night and so am I since I got these...</div>
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I made this picture EXTRA LARGE because I wanted you to appreciate how cute these Lollipops are. I was so excited to get these for my Owlets when they come to meet me AND I have enough to give them each one for their birthday. I LOVE double duty!! Click <a href="http://lollipicsforteachers.com/">HERE</a> if you want to get some too!</div>
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This has been a highlight of my summer. I have now learned how to play Mahjong. This game takes so much concentration. I thought it would just be a matter of making matches...Ha! That's Mahjong solitaire! Here is one of the times I actually won. I'm going to miss my Mahjong friends when school starts. They will be headed to warmer parts of the globe and taking their tiles with them. I'll just have to wait until next year to play some more. </div>
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Here my friends is my amazing new table. I ordered two from Amazon. One was damaged on the oak side. I was told to just throw it away. They sent me two new ones to replace it. I am now the proud owner of four brand new tables for my kiddos. Goodbye desks! You won't be missed. I'm so thankful for my handy husband who gladly comes and puts all these together for me.</div>
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Come back on Monday. I'm hosting the seventh goal of a book study I've been following on Jennifer Serravallo's The Reading Strategies Book. We're mid-way through and it isn't too late for you to join check out the schedule...</div>
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GREAT book! See you in a couple of days!!<br />
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<br />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-24872197639902361742015-07-24T22:26:00.000-04:002015-07-24T22:26:52.343-04:00Five for Friday : Worm Freebie<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/07/five-for-friday-linky-party-july-24th.html"><img alt="fiveforfriday2_thumb[3]" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iBqTNuCq-yg/VbEzoSrC4HI/AAAAAAAAed0/rKLncSwRDAY/fiveforfriday2_thumb%25255B3%25255D_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="227" width="320" /></a><br />
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I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to share five random things about my week. It's what all the cool teachers do on Friday. You can find new blogs to follow or old friends to check on by going to Doodle Bugs and seeing all the amazing teachers that have linked up. Of course everyone is curious what teachers do all summer long, so the summer is the best time to check out what is happening. Just click on the graphic image and check out some other teachers too.<br />
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I have done several things this week that I said I would never do...<br />
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The first thing that I was never going to do was buy an Erin Condren planner. Planning is not my favorite part of teaching. I am a <a href="http://educationtothecore.com/2015/06/10-problems-every-tips-b-teacher-will-understand/">type B teacher</a>. I'm hoping THIS planner will make me better at planning. It's so pretty and user friendly. In the past I've used the student planners supplied to us. I'm thinking if I am diligent this will help me keep all my important information together. I think I can do it 'cause I've made my bed every single day this summer.<br />
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Want your own? Click <a href="https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/jenniferreck1026">HERE</a> to check out these planners(and you don't have to be a teacher to find a planner to fit your life style!) </div>
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The other thing I was never going to do was download the Periscope app. I would have missed out on so much awesomeness. My children have started broadcasting, Hill Song Live has amazing broadcasts, and Brooke Brown from <a href="http://brookebrownteachingoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/">Teaching Outside the Box </a>did an fantastic job presenting information about the Responsive Classroom. You don't have to show your face! You can just send hearts by clicking on the screen and respond by texting your questions or responses. Please leave me your name to follow on Periscope if you are already on. Maybe one day we'll both be brave enough to broadcast something!</div>
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I had my first of four playdates for my future students this week. It is a fun informal way to get to know them in a group setting. I keep our time together short and sweet. We play a game, have a snack, read a book and complete a craft together. The time flies by and leaves me looking forward to spending my days with these great people. This week's theme was worms so we went on a worm hunt and we hit the jackpot!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using chopsticks to find gummy worms hidden in the rice sensory bin is lots of fun.<br />
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Want a freebie? Click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwBx6vDfRAI6T0hxRmZEV1VmVUk/view?usp=sharing">here</a> for a little...and I do mean little...book and worm printable. I hope this inspires your bookworms! If you have trouble getting it leave me your e-mail and I'll send it to you. I put 10 gummy worms in a sandwich size baggie, folded it in half and then stapled the worm label to the top of the bag.<br />
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Something great is coming...<br />
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There is still time to get the book. It will blow your mind. It is a treasure trove of practical information that you will be able to use starting on Day one!</div>
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The baby deer are back and helping to keep my weeds under control. They are just adorable. I've learned what I can and can't plant. The explosion in the deer population has led me to some beautiful new plants that deer are somewhat resistant to eat! I love seeing them in the yard and like to pretend they are my gardeners eating just the tops of my bushes to keep them well groomed!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-1462890827850519582015-06-12T17:42:00.000-04:002015-06-12T17:42:58.196-04:00Truth Revealed! Five For Friday<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/06/five-for-friday-linky-party-june-12th.html"><img alt="fiveforfriday2_thumb3_thumb4_thumb2" height="227" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O2aRTAE0N-Y/VXDFE19V-yI/AAAAAAAAdvM/AUsR95bTxHQ/fiveforfriday2_thumb3_thumb4_thumb2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" /></a><br />
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I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for another Five for Friday. A chance to blog about five random things from my week. Thanks for hosting, Doodle Bugs. I'm sorry you couldn't make it to the party this week. Enjoy some much deserved time off!<br />
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I had so much fun linking up late to try and stump you all with my two truths ans a lie. I have to say that I kind of sorta did two lies!! I didn't intend to, but it happened. If you haven't had a chance to guess you can go back and take a guess <a href="http://owlthingsfirst.blogspot.com/2015/06/tell-all-tuesday-two-truths-and-lie.html">HERE</a>!<br />
So the lie(s)...I haven't blogged much lately because I've lacked motivation! It just seemed kind of nice to blame it on my daughter. My daughter and now son in law planned and executed every detail of their wedding. I just showed up and smiled a LOT. The whole day was unbelievable. All of my sisters and my brother were able to come and so many friends too. The wedding was in my former stomping grounds...St. Louis home of the Cardinals. It is pretty cool that my daughter born and raised in Michigan ended up at WashU where her grandmother, for whom she was named, attended nursing school. My mom would have loved every minute of the celebrating right down to the bagpipe playing the processional and recessional in the church. Here is one more picture for you...Okay you twisted my arm hard enough here are two!! (See randomness number 3 for the real lie!!)<br />
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Cutting the first piece of this awesome cake with Bilbo's sword. Yes. They are Lord of the Ring fans!<div>
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So the whole thing about the Bocce Ball team...Never happened. I like playing Bocce, but I don't even know if there are teams. I went to Germany two summers ago, but didn't ever play a game of Bocce there. I hope my IG friends saw my post about my Bocce Ball tournament being cancelled today. I was just trying to throw you off!</div>
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It is time for a true confession. Sometimes I read books to my class for the sheer joy of reading. I don't think aloud and I don't make them respond in a writing assignment or project. We just pick up a book and read it. We laugh and sometimes, if they ask, I read it again. Sometimes on Friday afternoons I let them play too. I don't have any hidden agendas in their freetime. They get to play with anything they want.They make zoos out of cardboard, They set up the train set to go all the way around the zoo. They plan, execute and work in collaboration with each other. They play school on the chalkboard. They set up a bakery with playdough. They are allowed to be kids having fun with each other!</div>
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Do you know <a href="http://www.lauriekeller.com/books/arnie_01.html">Arnie the Doughnut</a>? I love that guy! For National Doughnut Day we celebrated the only way I know how. We ate doughnuts. We gave our doughnuts, hands and feet so they could escape if they didn't want to be eaten. We gave him/her eyes and then asked them, "Do you want to be eaten?" If they don't answer it is safe to eat them. So far, I've never had a doughnut tell me he didn't want to be eaten! Laurie Keller herself taught my children and I the proper way to eat doughnuts years ago at a library event she spoke at! All of her books are delightful, but Arnie is my favorite! </div>
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-52792044519702072812015-06-10T22:48:00.001-04:002015-06-10T22:48:13.510-04:00Tell All Tuesday: Two Truths and a Lie!<a href="http://mydayinkinder.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELRETINvuM0/VWNs818BCMI/AAAAAAAABSw/OZUkJ1QmGhI/s400/Slide1.JPG" /></a><br />
First of all I want you to know that I'm not ALWAYS behind! I quite often arrive at the right place on the right day. Occasionally I do end up somewhere a day early or late. I really hadn't planned on linking up with <a href="http://teachtalkinspire.blogspot.com/2015/06/tell-all-tuesday-two-truths-and-lie.html">Teach. Talk. Inspire</a> and <a href="http://mydayinkinder.blogspot.com/2015/06/tell-all-tuesday-2-truths-and-lie.html">My Day in K</a> for Tell All Tuesday. I was just going to read every post that linked up! I couldn't just sit back and enjoy. I had to join the fun too. I get to tell two truths and one lie about myself to get to know some other bloggers. Ready to play along? Make sure you comment to tell me which one you think is the lie. One of you who is right will win a gift card to Starbucks! Ready?<br />
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I haven't been blogging very much lately because I've been so busy getting ready for my daughter's wedding. She got married over Memorial Day weekend to the love of her life. I never thought she'd meet anyone so well suited for her! They and I are a perfect fit! The photographer took many gorgeous pictures, but this one with both daughters is one of my favorites!<br />
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NUMBER 2: I played Bocce Ball on a travelling team in high school. I met some amazing people and got to travel all over the world. My favorite spot was Germany. I was able to take my family back to visit some of the friends that I made their during one our training camps there. We were able to visit some famous castles as well as play a few games of Bocce with old and new friends. A lot more people play Bocce in Europe than in the U.S. I think my love for travel stems from my old Bocce Ball days!<br />
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NUMBER 3: I love to go to our local waste water facility. It is a wonderful place to go to look for birds. I do love birds. I have traveled all over the U.S. to see as many birds as possible. I've probably seen more birds at the waste water facility than anywhere else! It doesn't smell very good, but the birds there are spectacular. I have seen Golden Eagles, Snowy Owls, Ruff Legged Hawks, and so many more amazing birds in this one location.<br />
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Now it's your turn to guess. Which will it be? Comment below to join the fun and come back Friday to find out which of the above doesn't quite ring true!!<br />
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-88149935679785537722015-05-08T23:50:00.000-04:002015-05-08T23:54:10.784-04:00Five For Friday<div>
I'm linking up with the amazing Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday. I get the opportunity to share five random things about my week.<br />
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The end is near! I always have such mixed feelings about these final weeks/days of the school year. I feel rejuvenated by spring in the air. I also itch to be outside watching and waiting for migrants of the bird kind to pass through on their way to their nesting sites here or further north. Luckily I manage to find ways to integrate the outdoor learning with reading and math. I teach at a school that has a delightful wooded lot attached. We've used this woods to learn about insects, birds, fairy house building, environment and oh so much more. My <a href="http://chickadeejubilee.blogspot.com/">BBF</a> posted a picture of Birdology on her Instagram and I'm pretty sure she knew before I did that I'd have to have it. What a treasure trove of great information about birds, color photographs and activities, 30 to be exact!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We learn about nests and what materials are best for putting out for birds to use in nest building.</td></tr>
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I've been watching birds since I was 6 months old. Crazy? My mom tells me that I used to take out all the toys in my toy box, climb in and look through a birding guide. My sister and I were out birding last weekend and had the pleasure of seeing an American Woodcock taking a stroll with her three young. I was shaking so hard from pure excitement that I couldn't get a great picture.<br />
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Check out this sweet video of young eating. They have this cute little wiggle when they walk.They are just darling.<br />
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I think my little American Woodcock story counts as number 2.</div>
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I run two book fairs a year. I just finished up number two today. This was our BOGO fair where everything was buy one get one free. I'm stocked up on books for the rest of the year and next year too! Favorite book of the fair...</div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761455507/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0761455507&linkCode=as2&tag=owlthingsfirs-20&linkId=F6KRYO7UL4HRKFWK"><img border="0" src="http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0761455507&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=owlthingsfirs-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=owlthingsfirs-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0761455507" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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This story is told by the tree and starts at its roots and grows up to the leaves introducing the reader to the delightful creatures that find shelter in its branches. Jennifer Ward hasn't written a book I don't like! I'm going to read this to my class next week outside under an oak tree! Not only do Jennifer and I have the same first name we also both have four sisters. What are the chances of that?!<br />
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<img alt="Divider-4_thumb3_thumb2_thumb2_thumb" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GAmxdcfDlnM/VUv14zAyu_I/AAAAAAAAdfg/AVWBs7pVdpM/Divider-4_thumb3_thumb2_thumb2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" />I was starting to talk about the book fair when I got distracted by Jennifer Ward. Sorry about that! In December a former student of mine was hospitalized. She is still in the hospital. She's had one health crisis after another and is only 13 years old. She used to love the book fair visiting every day to pick out books and erasers! This year the book fair is going to visit her. We were able to raise enough money to send her more than a couple of books to read and to gift to other children in the hospital as she meets them. If you are a prayer warrior, please pray for my friend Sable to be returned to health. If you would like to help Sable you can read her story <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/lgvrys">here</a> and give her a helping hand. These books and assorted fun items will arrive at Sable's bedside soon!<br />
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Oh, no! I'm back on birds again. Our chicks will be three weeks old on Monday. They love to sit on the edge of their box and roost. My Owlets know they are making too much noise if they wake up and start hopping around. We started with eleven chicks. Seven have already found a forever home and these four are left...</div>
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I had so many more random thoughts to share. I guess I'll have to wait until next week . . . or tomorrow!</div>
<br />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-57979695610855868262015-05-07T23:48:00.000-04:002015-05-07T23:48:13.991-04:00First StitchFix and a Winner!I had to try it for myself. I saw so many other's cute and not so cute Fixes. I forced myself to look at every #stitchfixfail to convince myself I did not want to get sucked in. It did not work and this is what I got...I'll let you guess which ones I kept and which ones I sent back at the end!!<br />
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Most people post a nice neat shot of their box right after opening. I didn't have a camera when I opened this up. I tore right into it! I don't get new clothes often, so I was really excited!!<br />
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This sweater has 3/4 length sleeves. The shoulders are relaxed and the teal stripe has a little bit of sparkle. It covers up my booty...I like that!</div>
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I love the little keyhole on the back of the sweater. </div>
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This tunic is so me. It might be too much white to wear to school, though. Hmmm. What do you think? Kitty seems to like it!</div>
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This black and white maxi-skirt was just the right length for me in a high heel and I can easily roll the waistband down to shorten it when I need to put on something comfy at the end of the day. But will these stripes make me look to wide?<br />
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These black trousers fit like a dream. A little pricey for my taste, though! They looked great with a heel, but I could see myself wearing them with a variety of other shoe choices! They were the perfect length for my short self. What a dilemma! </div>
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This long tunic blouse was pretty busy. I liked the details on the sleeves. You can roll up the long sleeves and button them with a cute tab that stays hidden until it is needed. The colors on this shirt are some of my favorites. They do go perfectly with the black trousers. </div>
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So that's it. I tried everything on just like I was directed to do. Everything fit perfectly. I had shoes, scarves and jewelry to go with each item. This is what I decided...</div>
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The striped sweater...Kept it!</div>
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The bohemian tunic in orange and black...It has triangles so I had to keep it!!</div>
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The striped skirt matches my cat...It's a keeper!</div>
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The trousers...I'd buy another couple pair in different colors if I could. They are my favorite.</div>
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The long blouse? Yep! I kept that too. I kept it all and justified the expensive pants with having 25% off if you keep it all. </div>
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I signed up to get my Fix quarterly. I'm thinking I may have to change that to monthly. I had so much fun being able to try everything on at home in natural light at 11:00 at night. The true test will be how well they wash up. If you are on the fence on whether to try it or not...I say to take the leap and let me know what you think! </div>
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<a href="https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4395202">CLICK HERE TO LINK TO STITCHFIX! </a></div>
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I ran a giveaway a couple weeks ago. I used a random number generator and got 3! So, Betsy is the winner! I love comments!!</div>
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-7457841107579539522015-05-02T17:00:00.000-04:002015-05-03T18:31:33.359-04:00Teacher Appreciation Blog Hop!Hello, May! You<a href="http://grammarist.com/usage/sneaked-snuck/"> snuck</a> up on me so quietly. I was expecting more of a fanfare from you. I would have enjoyed some days in the upper 60s and low 70s. A thunderstorm or two would have been nice. Since you are here, I invite you to stay and bring your beauty with you and fill my yard with flowers and birds! You are my favorite month!!<br />
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I am linking up with some new friends! Instagram has made it so easy to micro-blog. I've noticed since I started, I've kind of ignored my blog. I was pretty excited when one of a group of teachers wondered about a blog-hop! Now I'll be able to hop along and see all my "new friends" blogs too. Come along with me and grab some fun freebies on the way! Click the picture below to get this item FREE! I hope it is something you and your owlets will enjoy!<br />
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Don't waste any time! Click below to hop along and meet some new friends and get some great freebies!</div>
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<a href="http://www.thescoopinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cMXtqRsm8Y0/VUJSDdUFNVI/AAAAAAAAJU8/NxpDFwWYpnQ/s1600/Slide2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<img align="left" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Owl%20Things%20First/sgn1.png" />Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-81630555722971821352015-04-10T10:15:00.000-04:002015-04-10T10:15:04.523-04:00Five for Friday: Freebie and GiveAway!Honestly it has been so long since I've visited with you that I couldn't remember my password to get into this place. I'm so happy you stopped by, I promise a little treat if you can stick through to the very bottom! With out any more babbling I'll get on to...<br />
<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/04/fivefor-friday-linky-party-april-10th.html"><img alt="[fiveforfriday2_thumb%255B3%255D%255B4%255D.jpg]" height="227" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W3A9fl-VZOI/VSciBRqsEOI/AAAAAAAAdIs/tL3ey_ebOlo/s320/fiveforfriday2_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
I love you<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/04/fivefor-friday-linky-party-april-10th.html"> Doodle Bugs!</a> You have so many awesome things to share and my favorite Linky ever. Keep up the good work. I've met so many wonderful teacher friends through you and have been able to find and implement great ideas to help kids learn because of you.<br />
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I'm on spring break this week. Why does this week zip by so quickly? One more day to hang out with my gorgeous 16 year old. In Michigan kids have to drive 50 hours with their parents before they are able to take their driving test. This is a true test of a parent/child relationship. If you come home talking it is a bonus. We've tried to drive like crazy this week and neither of us is crazy. She has surprised me with her awesome driving skills and she looks good too! Cheers to you my lovely lovable Ella!<br />
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Are you touchy? Math was always a struggle for me as a kid. Where was the Common Core when I needed it?! I spent hours with my dad at the dining room table crying in high school cause I just didn't get it. If only I had known about Touchmath then. It is a great multi-sensory approach to math. I have a child that wants me to dot all of her numbers for her every day. She'll be so happy to have this little cheat sheet at her desk on Monday. You can have it too and you can get free training, materials and information about Touchmath <a href="https://www.touchmath.com/">HERE!</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/These-Boots-are-Made-for-Touching-1801197">Click on the picture for your own set!</a></td></tr>
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Do you <a href="https://instagram.com/owlthingsfirst/">Instagram</a>? I find it to be like micro-blogging. I've made some great new contacts and friends. You can win a $150.00 gift card by coming over and following a loop of teachers. Make sure you read the directions...It involves answering a different question at each stop. You have a couple of days to enter, but don't wait too long!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was so excited to finally have a tournament of books this year. I used ideas that I found <a href="http://www.sturdyforcommonthings.com/2012/02/tournament-of-kids-books/">HERE</a>. I ran into our school library one day and just grabbed random books until I had 16. I spread them out on the floor and they magically found another book to go head on head with. My large wall bracket got a little beat up, but it lasted the whole month of March! </div>
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I had no clue what I was getting into when I started. I didn't know how to "score" the entries in the brackets. I could find plenty of people to help me and the winner was determined by how many of the books they chose won. For the first round students were awarded 1 point for each of the books they chose that won. Round 2 was worth 2 points. Round 3 was five points and the few that predicted Green Eggs and Ham won 10 points! </div>
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Here is the winners bracket...</div>
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I have made this available on TPT. You may feel free to edit it and add your own clipart and changes to adapt it to your own situation. Whatever it takes to get kids reading we are willing to do! Click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/March-MadnessTournament-of-Books-1805332">HERE</a> to download your own copy.</div>
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I'll give you one next time I see you! Until then, leave a comment below win a giftcard from Starbucks! Be sure to leave an e-mail so I know where to send it!<br /><div>
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-3829558063398857652015-02-22T20:46:00.000-05:002015-02-22T20:46:01.155-05:00Five for Friday (Early or Late?!)I'm linking up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/02/five-for-friday-linky-party-february_20.html">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> for Five for Friday on Sunday. I'm feeling random, so I thought it would be appropriate! Now you can either claim I'm a couple days late or you can think like I do and figure I am five days early. I'm not going to explain my thinking because I don't know that anyone would understand my explanation. It is just the way I think!<br />
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This week was short. Three days short. Monday was a scheduled day off. Friday was a snow day. That leaves only three days of teaching this week. I can't believe I'm about to say this but here it goes, "I've had enough snow days for the year." My house is so clean, I follow my kitty around and take pictures of her. I even use kitty treats to get her to pose for some of them.<br />
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Does anyone else feel like February is way to short to fit all the awesomeness there is in the month? Ground Hog Day, Valentines Day, MLK Day, President's Day, Black History Month, Dental Health Month, and Chinese New Year plus Hundreds Day always comes in February. Who decided to only give this great month 28 days? I'm starting a petition to add an extra week in February. We all want a longer winter anyway. Right? </div>
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And now for a joke...What goes clink, clank, clink, crash? A robot laughing his head off! Get it? I told that joke to my Owlets and they thought it was pretty funny. When I was a kid I told a similar joke quite a bit...What goes ha-ha-ha plop? A man laughing his head off! Get it? </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love you a-bot! Get it?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are some of my favorites!</td></tr>
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This year was my Third Annual President's Parade and Luncheon. Each student researches a different president and makes a poster about him/her(someday there will be a her). This year I invited participants from the last two years to participate if they wanted to. Several of them decided to be first ladies instead! We marched through the halls to the sounds of John Philip Sousa's President Garfield's Inauguration March. Candy was thrown and streamers were waved!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some how we ended up with two Tafts! Only one was stuck in the tub!</td></tr>
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Speaking of Taft....Have you seen this book? Hil.ar.i.ous! My students love Taft because he was the um the um largest president of anything including the United States of America. Chris Van Dusen's illustrations are always a win with me. For that matter, Mac Barnett hasn't written a book I didn't like either. I'll keep reading everything he writes to make sure he keeps up the good work! </div>
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I should warn you that one of the reviewers said it wasn't appropriate for the classroom because of all of the pictures in the tub. Apparently Taft bathed without clothes on...gasp! That is why I think it is especially engaging! Kids love this kind of humor!!</div>
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It's never too <strike>late</strike> early to link up with Five for Friday!<br />
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999349054172029640.post-70050773778100614682015-02-15T17:58:00.004-05:002015-02-15T21:59:46.080-05:00Sunday Letters With Big Time Literacy<div>
I'm linking up with Michelle at Big Time Literacy for Sunday Letters. You should too. It is fun!<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Dear Chessie,</span><br />
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When we brought you home I was doing it to appease my daughter's desire to have a cat. Oh sure, I wanted a kitty too. It's just I wanted a cute little kitten of 8 weeks. You weren't that cute. You were rather big. I think you were older than six months. I felt sorry for you living in the back of Petco for months. </div>
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Now when I look at you, I see the most beautiful cat in the world. The way you hold your tail straight up like an exclamation point makes me smile. I adore the way you greet me when I come home. Throwing yourself at my feet begging for attention is just a blessing. Your silly antics with yarn and turkeys fills me with delight. </div>
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Some day very soon I'm going to read you the book Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag. For good reason, it is the oldest American picture book still in print. Perhaps it would have won the Caldecott in 1929. Since Caldecott awards didn't come into existence until 1938, it had to be happy with the Newberry! You'll love the repeated phrase, "...hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions, and trillions of cats." So, dear Chessie, I want you to know that I have seen a lot of cats...maybe a few less than a million...but you are the kitty for me. Your sweetness and unconditional acceptance of me makes me happy to be in your presence. Thank you for choosing me to be your person! Love, Momma<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8qHuavRXqQs/VOEZb3TxDpI/AAAAAAAAJRA/K4DY4AG-Xxs/s640/blogger-image-675440083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8qHuavRXqQs/VOEZb3TxDpI/AAAAAAAAJRA/K4DY4AG-Xxs/s640/blogger-image-675440083.jpg" /></a></div>
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Dear Couch,</div>
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I love long naps and cold winter days. I love the way you hold me and support me after long and sometimes trying days at work. Thanks for always being there and catching my coins and crumbs for later. I promise a massage with the vacuum. Just not today. I'm busy napping today.</div>
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You got my backside, Me</div>
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Dear Kazumi Guy,</div>
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I am still amazed at the way you caught that egg in your hat. I wonder if you've ever forgotten it's up there. Has one ever broken? I wonder if a chicken sat on top if that egg would hatch. I know that's impossible, but it is fun to think about. My friends and I loved the way you could shoot saki into our mouths without getting any on our faces. Do you spend long hours in front of a mirror practicing? Your talent amazes me and I now see why your place is such a popular eatery.</div>
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Growling,</div>
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A Hungry Tummy</div>
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Owl Things Firsthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978780415995185795noreply@blogger.com3