Start Your Engines!! Indiana Blog Hop!

I have been anxiously waiting for today to get here!!  The fantastic teachers/bloggers of Indiana have come together this week to put on a special Blog Hop just for YOU!  Why now?  Because one week from today is the most amazing spectacle in racing - THE INDY 500!  This is a HUGE event that takes place in Speedway, Indiana (not too far from me!).  I have never been, but it's always a big thing my family has celebrated.  We get together, cookout, listen to the race on the radio, make/take bets, and have tons of fun!  I am officially the LAST stop of the Indiana Blog Hop.  I want to thank Anita Goodwin of "I Live 2 Learn, I Love 2 Grow".  You can check out her blog and Indiana Blog Hop post HERE.

So in honor of the Indiana Blog Hop, I have put together a little Freebie for everyone!  It's the end of the year and things are winding down.  We do a lot of reviewing at the end of the year (as I know most of you do as well).  I've made these really simple partner dice games that will help do just that!  It's called Rolling Through the Races!

Basically, you would pick which activity you want to use.  There are both reading and math activities.  Print off the papers and give the kids a die and ta-da!  Instant fun :)  Here's a picture of one of the games.  I made them for vocabulary, spelling, fiction stories, nonfiction stories, operations (math), story problems, and place value.  Not too fancy, but loads of fun!  Click on either of the pictures to download for FREE!!  While you're there make sure you follow me on TPT! :)  

Well, I thank you for stopping by on your Blog Hop through Indiana!  I want to thank Brenda Frady at Primary Inspired for putting this whole thing together!  You can check her out HERE!  She is FANTASTIC and slowly becoming a great blog friend! :)  I hope you enjoyed your blog hop.  If you haven't seen all of the posts, make sure you go back to Brenda's blog - the fun starts there!  Let the Racing BEGIN!

Photo Friday! (On Saturday)

So I've been wanting to start up this linky party for a while now, but I'm so bad at blogging on Fridays that I haven't been able to.  So I'll just post my own Photo Friday and make it a linky party some other time.  :)  I have had two amazing weeks back at school.  I didn't realize how much I missed the students.  They apparently missed me too.  My first day back was like the first day of school.  No one spoke out of turn or got into trouble.  It was great!!  I'm glad to be back into my routine of things.  Still trying to get EVERYTHING squeezed in:  blogging, facebook page, TPT, school, home, husband, and most importantly the TWINS.  Lots to do.  Thankfully my husband is extremely supportive.  He was a teacher at one point in time in his career path but it didn't suit him well.  But thankfully that means he knows that it's like.  (And he likes the extra money from TPT too!) So he's always asking if he can help or gives me time to work when I need/want it.  So great!

The twins turned 4 months old yesterday.  It was so busy that I didn't even get to take their 4 month pics :(  So sad.  I'm going to get them taken today - but they're asleep now so it must wait..  

So do you want to see what I've been doing the last few weeks??  Take a look!

We started my Rock Unit my first week back.  We're about 1/2 way done but unfortunately these are the only pictures I have of it :(  I'm super bad at remembering to take pictures.  The kids are LOVING it though.  They enjoy writing in their journals each day and they are even more excited about the fact that they are scientists!!  You can check it out my clicking the image below.

Here's a photo of one student happily writing in his journal.  

And another journal.

 This may look a little...Umm.. ewww!!  But I promise they are not!   These are the igneous rocks we made from the recipe in the unit.  They are delicious actually and the kids loved them!

It was this simple!!

Here is the KWL chart we made.  I'm in no way artistic with a marker/pencil/pen or any other type of writing utensil.  Thank goodness for clipart!  So it's bland but it does the job!

Before I went back to school, I made these amazing finger painting bags for my students' word work center.  Again, I didn't get pictures of THEM using them (yet) but I did remember to snap one of them afterwards. They are great and the kids are so motivated!

We also reviewed Context Clues my first week back.  If you have never heard of the book Baloney you need to go and grab it now!  Check it out HERE.  I read through the book and posted post-it notes next to the 'alien' words.  I had a chart already made out but just covered so the answers couldn't be seen.  I read the book and when we got to an alien word we stopped and used our context clues to figure out its meaning.  The book is adorable and the kids love it!

 Sorry this pic is sideways...

 And finally my favorite!!  We worked on perimeter this past week.  On Friday I got to use my Farmer Frank Perimeter Activity.  Talk about a HOME RUN!!  The kids were more engaged than they had been all week.  It was fantastic!  Click on the picture below if you want to check it out.  (And if you want it - you better be a follower of my Facebook Page - it may or may not be free RIGHT NOW for ONLY 4 hours - until 3pm EST April 20th.)

That's all the pictures I have for now.  I'm working on a fun Writing Revision activity now so hopefully it will be up soon.  Keep an eye on my Facebook Page for it to be posted (and probably free for the first few hours!)   I'd love to hear how your week went!!  Have a fantastic weekend!!!

TGIF!!

I hate wasting time away, but I'm so thankful it's Friday!  I just love having my husband around and home with me and the kids.  I go back to work on Monday so this weekend is especially important to me.  We have no plans so I'm hoping for just a nice, quiet weekend on the couch and playing with the twins.  Doesn't that sound amazing??  

To make sure I could have a nice quiet weekend, I hurried and hurried to get my Fact and Opinion Biography Pack done and I DID!!  Take a look!!  If you head over to my Facebook Page you could have a chance to WIN this amazing new product! :)  

Just click the first pic to see a closer look :)

ALso, don't forget to follow me on TPT/Facebook for a chance to win 15 FREE TPT products of your choice!  Contest closes on Sunday!  Just comment HERE to enter :)  What are YOUR plans for the weekend?

April Currently!

This is officially my FIRST currently!!  I've never linked up for this wonderful craze - but I'm giving in today! (Mainly because I'm stalling on working on my current TPT item... HAHA)  So link up with us over at Oh Boy 4th Grade!!

Listening - It's 7AM here right now - the twins are sleeping and I'm listening to the news in the background.  I heard about the Louisville game last night (even unfortunately watched the video - don't do it!) and heard about the player who broke his leg.  Sooo sad to see and extremely hard to watch.  And what makes it even more sad is, with his bone sticking 6 inches out of his leg - he still yelled to his teammates "Win the Game!" as he was on the sidelines.  What a trooper!  I hope he heals well and his basketball career isn't over.  I'm definitely rooting for Louisville now to win the Championship!  

Loving - The twins - how could I NOT choose them!  I know I mention them in almost every blog post I write - but do you expect anything else?  They are still so new and I just can't get enough.  I sit anxiously every minute hoping they wake up so we can play and cuddle and talk.  They are my life and world and I can't wait to grow up with them!

Thinking - Yes, as you all know I go back to work next Monday.  I currently have two weeks planned for when I go back, so that's pretty good!  I'd like to get 2 more planned and copied.  I also have 2 observations to do when I go back so I want to get them planned and materials ready (those take longer than planning an entire week!). I just hope I can get it all done this week and not neglect my children and my husband!  Here's hoping!

Wanting - Who wouldn't want more time in the day!!  What would I do with that extra time? Well, if my kids are awake - spend it with them.  If not, blog - TPT - Create - Plan - the list could go on!

Needing - So it's been 'spring' now for almost 2 weeks and we have YET to hit 60 degrees here in Indiana!!  It got up to 56 yesterday and you would have thought it was 80 degrees on how we were all acting during our Easter celebration.  I just want to go outside and take my little ones for their first walk!!  Come on warm weather!!

Advice - I've learned the hard way - but no harm done!  Always make sure you have others check your work that you plan on selling.  There are many gracious bloggers and TPTers out there that are willing to help edit products.  It's a great way to get to know other bloggers more personally, make friends, and even be asked in return to edit others' products!  I love getting the e-mails back on my edited products and seeing their positive and constructive feedback!  

And now it's your turn!  Go link up! :)  And don't forget about my little giveaway I'm having.  Check it out here!

Happy Easter!! (Giveaway!!)

So I have ONE more week home with my little ones.  I have a lot to get ready for school, but I want to spend every moment possible with them...  I just can't believe this time is gone already.  Wanna see some new pictures!?!?

We had a fantastic first Easter together!  The twins were SPOILED with gifts (and not from mommy and daddy!)  I'm sad it's over and looking forward to our next holiday with the family!

With that being said - I need my sprits uplifted so I'm going to have a very EASY giveaway.  Simply follow my Facebook page and/or TPT store and ta-da - You've entered the giveaway!  Just comment below with your 'screen name'  for whichever you follow!  (I will be checking to make sure you're a follower if you win - so no cheater cheater pumpkin eaters!! Haha)  The links are below!

Facebook Page

(I have LOTS of flash giveaway's and lots of other teacher news posted on my Facebook page - it's worth following!)

Teachers Pay Teachers Page

(Don't you want updates on new products!?  I love getting those e-mails everyday about new products being posted!)

Just follow and comment!  It's that easy!  The winner gets FIFTEEN free items from my TPT store of their choice.  And I'll be uploading a lot more items this week so there will even be more to choose from!  It takes 3 minutes - go enter now!  The giveaway ends next Sunday night.  I'll post the winner on Monday, April 8th!  

Have a great week!  I'll be joining the teaching world soon! :)

SALE!

Happy Easter everyone!   I've snuck away from the family to do a quick blog post reminder about the amazing sales going on today.  Mine included!!  20% off all of my items in the store :)  You can't beat that! 

AND - if you are a Facebook fan - there's a special buy 2 get 1 free going on.  If you haven't like my Facebook page yet, make sure you do so!  I post lots on there about new products and special offers and giveaways.  It's great!

I hope everyone out there has a happy and blessed Easter.  Today is the day the Lord has made - let us REJOICE and be glad!

A Few New Products!

I have been working like a DOG lately.  Besides the twins, I've been trying to get things planned for my return to the teaching world.  But one thing I've LOVED about it is I'm finally getting some amazing products finished.  I just wanted to quickly share them with all of you!  

We are doing Author's Purpose upon my return so I made two fun activities.  The first is a Swipe game (one of my many!) and the second is an Author's Purpose PowerPoint and Coloring Activity.  Check them out! (Click on the images to see!)

I'm also teaching Perimeter when I get back.  So I made these two adorable products.  The first one has students practicing finding the perimeter of polygons using street signs.  The second is an ADORABLE perimeter project where the students help Farmer Frank design his new farm.  They must find out how much wood he needs to build his animal pens.  It's seriously too cute.  Probably one of my favorites now.  I hope you check them out too!  

I probably won't post again until after Easter.  I'm wishing all of you the BEST and most blessed Easter weekend.  :)