Sunday Morning Letters {August 3}

I recently found a new (well, many new) blog to follow: Big Time Literacy.  I loved looking back at her old posts and enjoyed the one this morning so decided to link up.

Dear Office Max,
Thanks for ten cent composition books this week.  To the wonderful, patient employee this morning who rang my 4 transactions, thank-you for making purchasing a class set less painful!  Loved the glue, highlighters and Sharpies too!

~A Happy Customer

Dear WalMart,
Your paint samples made my center choice chart so much cuter (and budget friendly).  I wonder what other projects I can come up with using those paint samples?

~The Thrifty Shopper


Dear I Teach K conference,
You left me with a to-do list a mile long and a TpT cart that is overflowing. Thank goodness for the sale tomorrow!  I also came home with awesome ideas, great new friends and new ways to make my kiddos successful!

~A Grateful Teacher


Dear TpT,
Thanks for the back to school sale that will help make some "wish list" items become "purchases"!

~Bargain Hunting Teacher

Dear Reader,
You made it to the end!  Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read my ramblings.  I'd love to hear from you!

Wordless Wednesday {July 30}

I'm linking up with Christina from Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday.

Where is your favorite place to go bargain hunting?  Marc's is just one of my "go to" places!

Monday Made It {July 28}

I'm linking up with Tara from 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!

None of my "made its" are super exciting this week, but I made some things so I decided to link up.  I am not able to get back in my room for at least another week (probably 2), so I'm trying to get as much together as I can before I head back to the room.

I've been working on making some labels for my library and labeling the books I've acquired this summer.  I went through my books at the end of the year and did some organization of nonfiction books.  I'd love to make labels for those, but I can't remember the categories I made.  I use little Avery round labels for the back cover of my books.  Students did a great job putting books back in the correct bins with these last year.

I spent a rainy day putting together some new Reading A-Z books.  I printed off levels C-H (6 books per level; 6 copies per book) before leaving the summer so I'd have a jump start on my school year.

I worked on this little guy to update it with new fonts.  I purchased a couple new fonts and wanted to give it a little facelift for the new school year.  You can download it here.  It is a freebie!

Be sure to stop by 4th Grade Frolics to get some new crafty ideas.  Hopefully I'll have something a little more crafty next week!

Five for Friday {July 25}

I'm linking up with Kasey from Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

1.  I spent time walking every morning with my teacher friend around the corner.  We met last fall when I was on a walk and have enjoyed a morning walk many days this summer.

2.  I picked this guy up at a free veggie stand on my way out to my parents last night.  It became some zucchini bread.

3.  Earlier this week I had some fruit in the fridge that needed used up.  I found a recipe on Pinterest for strawberry blueberry muffins.  Yum!

Pony beads, various colored/sized pom poms, felt

red, white & blue craft sand; bag of suction cups (need to order sun catchers!)

box of popsicle sticks, bag of feathers, 2 ziplocs of ornament-shaped foam.

4.  Someone at my parents' church used to be a big crafter but was not longer crafting.  My mom said she donated tons of materials and wanted me to see if there was anything I wanted.  I came out with much more than I thought I would.  Any ideas for using above items?  Please share!

Blog Meet-Up Goodies!  

Picked these goodies up at various vendors throughout the Exhibit Hall.

5.  I finally sorted through a big pile of Vegas freebies and packed them to go to school in a couple weeks.

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday {July 23}

I'm linking up with Christina from Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday.

I scored this paper from Office Max for $4 a pack!

What back to school deals have you found?

Wordless Wednesday {July 16}

I'm linking up with Christina from Sugar and Spice for Wordless Wednesday.

This was my little travel companion in Vegas.  One of my students named him "Pengy" and he acted as a Flat Stanley throughout my trip.  I sent the pictures to students because they knew I was "teaching the other teachers" this summer (their words).  I got some strange looks as Pengy posed all over Vegas, but it was worth it because they loved it!

My question for you is what is the silliest/craziest thing you've ever done for your students?

Blog Meet-Up

We are safely back in Ohio after our wonderful adventure.  On Wednesday night, we had the opportunity to attend a blogger meet-up.  It was crazy the number of people there!  I got to see some old friends and met some new ones.  It was very loud, so a bit difficult to hear, but lots of fun.  I didn't take may pictures, but here are a few.

I saw my new friend Lcie from The Beezy Teacher.  She attended my session Monday and we chatted a bit at the blog meet-up too.  I'm excited at the possibility of collaborating with her in the coming year. She teaches in Germany, and I think that will be a great experience for my class!

Below is a photo of Ohio Bloggers.  Many of us had met prior to this meet-up, but it was great to meet some other people I've been chatting with!  Hoping to see more of them soon!

Amanda (One Extra Degree), Christina (Sugar and Spice), Sarah (Permanently Primary), Me, Em (Curious Firsties), Michelle (Fabulous in First), Jenny (Luckeyfrog's Lilypad)

The craziest thing that happened was that we had find a partner and line up around the room (inside/outside circle).  Holly (who went to Vegas with me) was on the inside of the circle, and as she rotated, she found Mary.  Mary and Holly both did their pre-student teaching in my classroom; Mary now lives in California.  We all went to Mount Union.  I had seen Mary a few times throughout the week and kept thinking she looked familiar, but couldn't figure out why. Small world!

Holly, Me, Mary

I'm having a sale on Teachers Pay Teachers this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in celebration of my week in Vegas and my birthday.  Everything is 20% off.