Classsroom Photos Linky Party!

Hi everyone!
I hope you can all join the party and post your mid-year classroom photos! I'm sure all of you, like me, have made many changes to your classroom since the beginning of the year... SHOW OFF YOUR STUFF!

Here the motherload of my classroom...

My desk

Welcome!

View from my desk

Add caption

Helpers Chart... everyone gets a job in our class!

Daily Calendar

Schedule

Handy dandy clapper and supplies for my daily calendar

Calendar Journals (on clipboards), whiteboards and supplies

Class Rules

App Store, SuperKids (our reading curriculum) and Computer Info

App Store

Crafty Supplies Shelf

Surprise!

View from the back corner

Projector, radio, ELMO and hidden storage

Steps chart

Steps chart supplies, Parts of a Book cards and Wet Ones (gotta have those ready!)

 

Check out the other party-goers' posts, too!

Autism Awareness and Let's Get Acquainted!

First of all- Happy Autism Awareness Day!

I work at an amazing inclusive charter school. We strive to meet the needs of all students. In my kindergarten classroom, I have students who are gifted, typical and have special needs. The best part of all of it? Watching the kids learn and grow with and from each other. The empathy and respect that our students learn from being in classrooms with friends who would typically be in a separate classroom is astounding! I cannot even put it into words. I am thankful that there is more awareness for students with autism and I hope for every person- especially teachers- to know that there is nothing wrong with any person with autism, just something different just like you and me. Visit my friend Adie's blog, she is a Special Education teacher at my school and an awesome person! Special Education Meets General Education

Ok, next order of business... Let's Get Acquainted!

I just started following Flying Into First Grade's blog and she has an awesome idea for a new linky each Sunday! This Sunday is about our faves, here are mine...

Favorite Place to Shop
Ummm...well... I have a little bit of a problem with shopping! lol. I can spend some serious time at the mall. But what can I never resist, ever?? TARGET!  Target holds a special place in my heart (and my wallet)

Favorite TV Show
I'm a little embarassed about how much TV I really watch... let's just say my DVR is always full. But here are a few shows that I hate missing... New Girl, The Mindy Project, Any of the Real Housewives series, Grey's Anatomy, Modern Family and The Office

Favorite Sweet Treat
Doughnuts! I LOOOOVE doughnuts! So bad for you but soooo tasty. I like to bake, a LOT, so I usually don't eat too much of what I bake but I do love some doughnuts!

Favorite Food
PIZZA! That's it, I just love pizza. (I'm not really that healthy, am I?)

Favorite Restaurant
Wood Ranch BBQ...yummy! In fact, today's the day my hubby makes his final decision about work, so maybe we will visit Wood Ranch tonight!

Ok, your turn, Link up!

Lastly, are any of you on Twitter??? Follow me! (in the right sidebar) I just followed The 3am Teacher this morning and totally got hooked, there are so many bloggers out there on Twitter! I joined last month and haven't been able to put it down since, I can't wait to start tying in my blog, my job and everything in between!

Also, don't forget to enter my giveaway! 200 followers and counting, yippee!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'm baaaack with a CURRENTLY!

Hello folks!
My poor little blog hasn't gotten any love in such a long time! Well, I'm here today and I'm ready to jump into the Currently linky party! Ok, ok, first let me tell you what's been going on since I've been gone... my sister-in-law had my first niece! Hailey Marie... oh, she's so stinkin cute! AND my sister is pregnant now! Oh babies are going to be everywhere! That has put the pressure on my and my husband like no other... we have a plan... now isn't the time... now isn't the time... now isn't the time... lol. I have to keep telling myself that because seeing so many babies makes me drool! =) Anywho...here's my currently...

Listening: Ahhh the sound of clean dishes and well moisturized hands!

Loving: My new red Toms! I usually stick to the basic colors: black, white, blue, beige but I went out and got RED! I love them! My feet are quite small so I was able to snag some kid's sizes AND they are sooooooo comfy!

Thinking: It's been a long time, I missed you all!

Wanting: to try Hulu. Anyone have it? Is it worth it? Could I get rid of my cable for it? A friend of mine said that her friend has Hulu and Netflix instead of cable but is it really worth it? Will I still be able to see my Housewives?? lol.

Needing: A haircut! My locks are getting dry and long and out. of. control!

Pet peeves: Loud chewing. Ugh! You know that Kit-Kat commercial that has everyone taking a bite? I mute that commercial because I can't stand the sound! It especially gets under my skin when I can see the food or hear the food turning around in your mouth as you chew so loudly on it. Ick! Keep your lips together people. If it's too hot, don't drink it because slurping is gross! lol. Ok, I think you get it. My next pet peeve? Rule Breakers! Can't everyone just follow the rules? Not following the rules makes it harder on everyone else. I'm talking about adults people. Adults who choose not to do what has been asked. It really bothers me because I am such a rule follower that I can't even believe others would do something different.

Ok friends, I'm off to complete the rule of 3... Head over to Farley's blog to see the almost 300 other Currentlys!

be back tomorrow!

Vanessa

Teaching Tip Linky Party

Teaching Tip Linky Party?? Yes, Please!!! Miss Kindergarten's Linky Party? Absolutely!
I love me a good linky party and this one is great! I've been reading through almost all of the teaching tips...
Soooo... what's my teaching tip? I've been trying hard to think of a good one. One that everyone will remember and come back to my blog about BUT I couldn't think of anything that good.... lol... Here are mine:
1. STAY ORGANIZED! Take 10 minutes at the end of each day to organize files, clear off your desk and get the day started for tomorrow.  My summer is usually spent organizing my books, files, and what nots into places where I know I can find them and get them quickly. If there is anything in front of it, it's never coming out. Can I always find my things? No. Can I always take the last 10 minutes of my day to organize? Almost.

Which takes me to...
2. LABEL EVERYTHING! I teach kindergarten and labeling everything over the summer saves me SOOO much time throughout the year. The kids know where to get things and, more importantly, where to put things away. Can you imagine? YES! They can do it. Someone always asks how I keep my classroom so clean and my answer is: hard work! My next answer is: teach the kids how to clean! =) Most of them don't clean up after themselves at home (just being honest) so, it's time to give them that responsibility! =) Can you tell that I'm passionate about it?? lol.

3. USE MUSIC! Save your voice and use music to countdown, clean up, transition, teach EVERYTHING! In my classroom right now we use music to: *tell us when to clean up and when to end ("When the song is done, we can sit down") *help us remember the days of the week, months of the year, and letter sounds *the seasons of the year (thanks, Harry Kindergarten), *numbers in the teens (Harry, you're the best)

Alrighty everyone... be back tomorrow... wait... no I won't.... it's my baby sister's 21st birthday!! We'll be out to dinner for her tomorrow. Will we do anything else to celebrate this milestone?? Why, yes! Yes we will! We are going to VEGAS!! Woo Hoo! Totally excited. Aw man, I just realized that I have been a blogging slacker again. I'll try harder next week. THANKSGIVING WEEK!

BOO!

Hi everybody!
I've had an VERY eventful weekend and now I'm back to the grind ANNND I've been BOO-ed by Amy at Adventures in Teaching! I love linky parties! Actually, I love all kinds of parties but linky parties let me meet more virtual friends ;) 

So, here are the rules...

1. If you've been boo-ed, copy and paste the above pic and these "rules" into your post.

2. Give a shout out to the blogger who booed you and link back to their site!

3. Share 3-5 October activities, books, products (maybe yours or someone else's) or freebies(s) that you love!

4. Share the Boo love with 5 bloggers-make sure you check this link so that you don't repeat the "Boo"

http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html

5. Link up {here} so that others can find you and read about your October ideas! While you are there check out the other great blogs!

Here are my fave October activities...
1. It just so happens that we teach counting and graphing during this time so I love activities like this freebie from Lisa at The Lower Elementary Cottage...

Isn't it cute!!??
2. I also like this one...

Is it messy? yup! Is it adorable? yup! After they ripped and glued and ripped and glued, we cut them out and will hang them in the classroom (pics to come soon!) Anything candy corn is cute!
3. Lastly, since October means everything PUMPKIN, we always do a pumpkin tasting & graph!

I have the kids taste each one of these and then fill out the graph to decide the class favorite! It is the best! And it's free on TPT! Click on the picture to take you to the download. I wish I had pictures of this in action but I don't, I know, I'm a slacker.

Here are the friends I'm going to BOO!

See ya!