The 100th Day Craze!

Ahhh! So, so, SO stinkin' excited about this unit! {Pause for a party...that I am having all by myself!} I know, I know...it's still a few days away. I think like 19 for my kiddos...BUT...nothing like planning ahead! I LOVE the 100th day of school and I am definitely one of those crazy people who go ALL OUT! Yes...we do the crazy hats, crazy glasses...basically, if it has the word crazy in front of it, we are all over it. The kids just eat it up...every last bite! As a matter of fact, today during morning meeting, they were already counting down the days! I love it when learning can be so fun and something that we can look forward to rather than dread!

With all of that craziness said, here is my 100th Day Craze Unit in all of it's glory! :) Ha! I am loving the fact that all of this is organized and ready to go! I did have to think outside of the box this year, because wouldn't it just be devastating if we had a repeat of last year? Kind of like wearing the same outfit two days in a row! ;) {For those of you who are newbies to Shenanigans...I looped with my sweet kids to 2nd.} 

This year, rather than simply collecting 100 items {like I said...it would be devastating for a repeat} we will be creating 100th Day Hats and having a HAT PARADE. Yes...all 100 pieces of their "collection" will be glued to a baseball cap! I mean...how fun is that? {Do you think that our dear, dear custodial staff will have the same feelings toward my craziness?!? Even if they have to pick up all 1,000,000 objects that have accidentally fallen off of our hats?} This may be a one hit wonder but one thing is for sure...It will be a blast!

If you too like a little craziness in your day to celebrate 100 fantastic days of learning, my 100th Day Craze is partyin' it up over at my TPT store!

Here is a little look inside!

Tell me...what are your 100th day plans?!?

It's Snowing...Graphs

First day back  = success. My kiddos were so ready to get back and they totally rocked it out today. {Well...that was after the trillion stories that they wanted NEEDED to tell me! Seriously, I don't even think that I was able to eat two bites today at lunch!}

Today, we hit the ground running {or running back} to our graphing unit for a little review. They loved the winter graphing activity that I posted yesterday, so I created a little unit to incorporate a little more winter fun into our review and as we move on to new concepts next week. I just posted it to my TPT shop and you can pick it up for $3.50. So, if you will be doing any graphing during the winter months, or if you are just in the mood to mix it up and have a little fun...I know your kiddos will love all of this winter goodness. I can't wait for my kids to graph their favorite winter drink...what do you think it will be...snowman punch or hot cocoa????

If you didn't grab the freebie that I posted yesterday, you can pick it up HERE!

I hope that you are all having a great start to 2012!!!

Happy Teaching, Friends!!!

Reminder: Giveaway ends FRIDAY!!!!



Winter Graphing

Ok y'all...tomorrow is a big slap in the face the big day...back to reality...AND...TRUE STORY...I have caught a nice little stomach bug! Nope...not joking! I am digging deep and praying for favor before I greet those 16 sweet faces tomorrow because ready or not...here they come! I didn't even make it into school until 4:30 today, but YES I went because I just can't stand that little sense of chaos that I feel if I am not prepared! {You know what I mean!} It may not have been a pretty sight...but nevertheless...I was there!

I am keeping it short and sweet tonight because my live in doctor {a.k.a. the hubs} is ordering me to bed!

Tomorrow, we are going to do a little graphing review before we move on. Next week will be all things snowmen, so I am trying to get our little brains in gear for some winter fun. Now...since we live in the south, I am sure I will be explaining some of  these little winter activities. {Nothing like integrating some vocabulary into math!} Ha!  

 Here is a little freebie that you might be able to use for review, or you can tuck it away for later! You can click on any of the pictures below to pick it up!  

Wish me luck!



A Bright New Year

I am slowly but surely slipping back into reality. I still have until Wednesday and believe me, I am soaking up every last second of this wonderful break! {a.k.a. stayed in my pajamas all day long!!!!}

Even though I stayed in my pajamas, I still managed to pull myself up for a while to get some work done and try to start preparing my brain for the 5 a.m. "WAKE UP CALL" on Wednesday morning! {That one's gonna hurt!} Although I do not love mornings, I am excited to get back and see my 16 little darlings. I really like to get them excited for second semester so I have a few things that I am going to use to get them back in gear! If you haven't started back...maybe you can use these little gems as well! If you are already back in school mode, it's never too late to "pretend" that it is on the lesson plan! :)

My kids love glow sticks. I have them in a cup and pass them out to "shining authors" during writing time. They are really something serious in our classroom. I thought about giving all of my kids one for Valentine's Day, but then I saw this little number on Pinterest.

So, why wait? Maybe this will cause some "bright" thoughts to process through their brains since they haven't done anything have studied and read ALL break...right?!? {Please tell me I'm right} Ha!

Here are the tags that I am going to attach. I have made several versions just in case anyone else would like to encourage bright thinking! You can download the tags {HERE!}

If you are looking for a New Year's Resolution writing, I posted this freebie a few days ago. You can click on the picture below to check out that post!

And if you need some engaging centers to whip those little brains back into shape, you can check out my Winter Wonderland Math Centers on TPT. These are wonderful for the month of January because they require minimal prep. work for teachers {Do I hear an AMEN?!?} and they review all of those basic math skills. You can check out my post {HERE} or you can check them out at my TPT shop!

Wishing you a wonderful return! Oh yes...and don't forget to enter in my giveaway for your chance to win 11 time savers wonderful units that will totally engage your students during the first few months back to school! It will end January 6th! Click on the picture below to check it out!

Now, I must prepare for The Bachelor. Is anyone else excited??? Are there any Ben fans out in the teacher blogosphere???

It's a Brand New Year....GIVEAWAY!!!! {You Won't Want to Miss This!}

Happy, Happy New Year, friends! I have some exciting news as we begin 2012...which of course will be our best year yet! I have teamed up with some AH-MAZ-ING blogging buddies for a HUGE New Year's Day Giveaway to get your "new year" started off right in the classroom. This is our way of saying "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for such a great year filled with new friendships, collaboration, encouragement, freebies and a whole lotta inspiration! Take a look below to see what you can win and most importantly...HOW you can win it! I am so excited about these amazing classroom resources that I may even enter {would that be inappropriate?!?...HA!} I'll try to refrain! No promises! ;)  

      Anna's Blog                                               Hope's Blog

Anna's Store                                                Hope's Store

Facebook Page                                          Facebook Page

                              Erica 's Blog                                                 Cara's Blog

                              Erica's Store                                                Cara's Store

                            Facebook Page                                            Facebook Page

Amanda's Blog                                              Jennifer's Blog

Amanda's Store                                              Jennifer's Store

Facebook Page                                               Facebook Page

Farley's Blog                                                  Amy's Blog

Farley's Store                                                 Amy's Store

Facebook Page                                              Facebook Page

Kristen's Blog                                                Cheryl's Blog

Kristen's Store                                               Cheryl's Store

Facebook Page                                            Facebook Page

Denise's Blog

Denise's Store

Facebook Page

The Giveaway will end this Friday, January 6th!

Best of luck to you! Remember, you can enter the contest one time for following all 11 blogs, one time for following all 11 stores and one time for following all 11 Facebook pages! Post your comments below. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!