Five for Friday/GiveAway/Freebie!

It's that time again! I'm linking up with this Friday favorite!

1) Summer time and the living is easy! Well maybe not so easy, but at least it IS summer. I'm savoring every moment I can with my "children" who are really not children any more. It is a bittersweet time to see your kids mature and grow into independent, capable, delightful people. Two are flying the nest and for my oldest this is her last summer vacation before she steps out into the real world. How did my sweet little boy grow into a man with a girlfriend and desire to go to college nine hours away?! I'm so glad my baby is my most demonstrative and sensitive child. She'll be good company for me for four more years...when she isn't babysitting, or hanging out with friends! Where does the time go?

I love these people...well most of them! I'm sure if I knew the random strangers I'd love them, too!

2) I've been continuing my reading on the kindle. I don't like it! I can't flip ahead quickly to see how many pages are left in the chapter. I can't take notes and highlight all over the page. I'm gaining so much from this book study.  Catching Readers Before They Fall is easy to read and has so much worthy information to take notes on and highlight. I'll admit that I wasn't real excited to read chapter 3{Wow! I'm not sure what happened here, but I'm too busy having fun with my family to fix it!}Vygotsky Takes a Seat in Our Classrooms. I'd never heard of this man. That's how old I am. When I was in school it was all Piaget. When confronted with the letters ZPD I didn't really have a clue what it stood for. I do now and I'm richer for it. I'm glad to say that I've had and continue to have a classroom where I have been able to meet with my students in small groups and individually to understand what they know about reading and guide them to a deeper understanding of the process. 
Go HERE to read more from Kimberly and friends about this chapter! 

Darth Vader and friends!

3) Do you like coffee? I do. I like it so much I'm going to make another cup. Wait here...I'll be right back. That didn't take long did it? I made it in my Darth Vader coffee maker. I'd love to give you a cup of coffee from Starbucks. That is why I'm participating with Jessica and giving one away on her blog. Check it out and other great prizes, too! Plus Jessica is one of the kindest most encouraging bloggers you'll ever have the pleasure to know. Click the picture to go enter.

Graphics by Emeto Designs at www.scrapbookgraphics.com

Do you enter give aways you are a participant of? I'm thinking I have to enter to win some of these great prizes!

4) While watching Downton with my girls I was able to put together a freebie for you. This is part of a bigger more grand collection I'm selling HERE! It will be free for the first 10 or more, depending on how vigilant I am today, downloads. If you do download would you please give me feedback?! Thanks!

5) Would you like a cup of coffee? Comment below and I will randomly select someone next Five for Friday for a Starbucks giftcard! After reading this long, you deserve it!