Retirement...for my MacBook!

Hello hello hello!!  I have MISSED you all so much!  Not just writing to you, but reading all you sweet bloggers as well!!!  Can you tell I'm excited to be back?!  I wanted to explain my ridiculous absence...boo...

Well, it finally happened...my 8 year old MacBook retired :(  It decided it had had enough.  So, there has been no blogging of TPTing for me until I scoped out my newest purchase.  I'm a Mac girl gone over to the HP side.  I kinda like it :) 

Anyway, no long blog tonight.  I'm heading off to finish setting up my new tech "baby".  Can't wait to catch up with you all...gosh, I have SO much to blog about :)  Thanks for your patience while I get back in the game!

xo

Loving this year...so here's a FREEBIE!

How do you celebrate the fact that the school year is off to SUCH a great start?!  By giving away a FREEBIE!  More on that in a minute...

Oh my gosh, my iPhone is chock full of photos from the past couple of weeks at school and my notebook is OVERflowing with blog post ideas.  We've been inundated with our brand new math (and some new ELA) module curriculum, so blogging time has been so scarce :(  But not anymore!  So I've got a freebie for ya' to grab!

We have spent a HUGE amount of time modeling and practicing our ELA workshop, and one of those topics have been identifying genres.  In 3rd grade, they're pretty solid on the difference between fiction and non-fiction, but not well versed in the specific genres.  So this handy little 'thang is for them to keep on hand.

Go ahead and grab it over at my TPT store!  Ok, so many posts comin' your way.  Get ready...

xo

My classroom & 1st week!

Hellllloooooo all!!  Whew, it's Friday night the first full week of school.  Know what that means?!  Sweatpants and a ponytail :)  Hehe...I swear, I think as teachers our bodies know when Friday night rolls around and just refuses to function normally, aka, snuggle with your loved ones and relax.

I hope you all had a FANTASTIC first week back!  We had school two days last week, but we got to really sink our teeth in these past few days.  In any case, I'm so glad to be back on a blogging schedule. I love setting up for a new class, but it definitely feels like a marathon-whirlwind event :)

So much happened this week that I'm going to throw up a couple of different posts, starting with just a quick view of some of my classroom!  I figured I can postpone "Fab Fit Friday" in honor of a relaxing first Friday evening :)

The top pick is my crazy cute new Bucket Fillin' Classroom Bulletin Board!!!  It got a completely new facelift this summer, and I am in love <3  I posted about my bucket fillin' management system here.  You can also grab it over at my TPT store.  I've completely implemented this with my kiddos and they are so excited.  And between you and me, it always works WONDERS to address kind and appropriate behavior immediately.  

Next is my objective board...some of you might have something similar.  With our new standards, Common Core, APPR, and LMNOP (I'm just kidding with the last one, but sometimes I feel like acronyms are coming out of my ears!), we had to start posting daily objectives in our room.  THESE bad boy mini-whiteboard frames were a STEAL at Christmas Tree Shop.  $1.47 each.  ONE DOLLAR AND FORTY SEVEN CENTS!  I admittedly get way too excited about school supplies :)  Each pencil cut-out is a label for each subject, and the corkboard around each allows for easy hanging of any misc. items having to do with that subject.  Underneath is my kiddos' Supply Station.  Easy access to all supplies, all the time.  *Swoon*  No more stopping lessons to replace a glue stick or a pair of scissors...

Lastly, my little ol' classroom Library, or as I like to call it, my Kid Cave.  It's TOTALLY a work in progress, but it's a start.  I'm still looking for some inexpensive and cute lamps for the bookshelves.  And, at the risk of you noticing and me not explaining (ahem), I still have to finish painting the bookshelves :(  I started the blue one, and have lime green for the other, but it poured rain the last few days of classroom set-up.  There went getting those bad boys done in the beautiful sunshine outside the school.  Stink.  Trying to find some time to do that asap!

A LOT of the other pics of my room have to do with DIY projects or activities that I want to post specifically about, so I'll stop there for now :)

Time to go do that relaxing and snuggling I was talkin' about :)  Have a great night, ya'll...

Fab Fit Friday!

**GUYS, I'm SO sorry!!  I had this drafted and totally forgot to post it!  Eek, a day late, but consider it your extra "rest day"!**

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!  For those of you that are back in the classrooms, I'm sure this is a very welcomed day for you :)  And for the rest of us, it's savoring every last bit of summer *sigh*.  Either way, I'm stoked to make it a Happy FAB FIT Friday!  So, here are my fit tips for this week...I'm going to throw these up here and save the "linky", but leave some comments and let me know some of your goals for this week!

{Quick disclaimer: *serious face* As excited I am to share with you, please note that I am a former certified personal trainer turned teacher/mommy :)  But, I've always kept fitness as part of my lifestyle.  Anything shared in these posts are merely my shared experiences. None of these tips/workout routines should be considered equivalent to medical advice.  As always, consult a doctor before beginning ANY fitness routine or nutrition regiment.  Use any of these tips at your own risk and discretion *serious face*}

The absolutely best "bang for your buck" moves are the ones that combine cardio and strength in ONE move.  You burn calories and fat WHILE you strengthen your muscles.  Nuh-uh?  Yup!

One of my go-to moves is both for beginners and the infamous love/hate move or most athletes: BURPEES...

Haha, totally made me laugh...but in any case, this amazeball move works you're ENTIRE body, plus helps completely torch calories.  Here's a great diagram to help you with this move.  *Note: when it says to kick back both feet, I step back quickly with one foot at a time.  I have back issues, and definitely recommend you do the same.  Also, in step 5, make sure you land softly on bend your knees to ensure you don't jar your joints/knees.

{source}

OH.MY.WORD.  Seriously, this week's recipe is a to-die-for smoothie I made my breakfast for the past 4 days :)  I know we're all about grabbing a quick, but super healthy breakfast.  And the protein pancake recipe I posted last FFF is awesome.  But, I wanted to experiment!

This smoothie incorporates RAW oatmeal, which is super good for your digestion.  Dump all of the ingredients in, and wah-lah!  I made my smoothie with gluten-free oats, rice milk, chocolate plant protein powder (this brand is crazy good), banana and peanutbutter.  Mmmmm...try this one, and then experiement!

{here's the recipe!}

This is another ridiculously catchy tune that I CANNOT stop listening to :)  This week's "Listen Up!" goes to Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop"!  {eek, just take a page from my book and ALWAYS get the edited versions!!}  This is a song I specifically use for a cardio session...upbeat and a good pace:

And lastly, this quote needs no more explanation...let's commit to no more "yesterdays" and "tomorrows" :)

Be fit!!

xoxo

{Pinspiration} Sweet Words

Hey ya'll!  I hope everyone is having a GREAT night :)  I wanted to start a series of posts called {Pinspiration}.  Because...duh...we all adore Pinterest, right?!  Some stuff I find on there is WAY too good not to share.  Anything from lesson plans to organization ideas to amazing quotes.  Some if it you may have even seen some of these pins yourselves.

This first "pin-spired" quote is one of my favs...and how timely is it for the beginning of the school year?!  I spent another full day in my classroom today setting up.  If I'm honest, I actually LOVE this time of year.  It's like a fresh start, and I'm always bursting with so many new ideas and procedures to implement.

Buuuut, on the flipside, I also kinda overwhelm myself from time to time.  Anyone?  ANYONE?  Yeah, all of those Pinterest ideas, professional development brainstorms, etc...once I actually sit down to do them all, it can seem a bit daunting.

So, here I am taking my own advice and telling all of you fellow overachievers out there: r.e.l.a.x. 

We're teachers.  We CAN do anything...but we CAN'T do everything.

And you know what?  Let's be ok with that.  We will get it all done.  The first day of school will (or already has) happen, and we will have an amazing year.  So, for the rest of the night, put your feet up, grab some coffee, remember how blessed you are, and know it will all fall into place.

Have a great rest of the night!

xoxo

WOW Word Poster Sets and Flashcards

Happy Tuesday, all!  I hope you had a FABULOUS weekend and enjoyed some down time.  For some of you, it was probably sweet relaxation from the beginning of school, and some of you are soaking up the last few weeks of summer :)  I've been busy in my classroom, but took the day at home to catch up on some work and blogging...so here it goes!

Today's blog is all about my beloved WOW Word curriculum.  I started using this system a few years ago when I first switched to 3rd grade.  They're at that stage in their learning where the "eye roll" starts....*gasp*.  Yeah, I said it.  Something about this adorable stage lends itself to the kiddos wising up a bit...they're not as easily excited about EVERYTHING school related.  Something like "vocabulary work" or "vocabulary journal" elicited groans.  It does sound a bit boring, right?!  Enter WOW Words! 

These WOW Word sets are basically frequently used words beefed up a bit.  I hold my students accountable to use these words in their daily journal writing, as well as ALL of their writing assignments.  We spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year doing the standard "boring vs. vivd" words.  I have my students use AT LEAST one WOW word in their Writing Journal every day {take a peek at my Writing Grids to see how we do writing journals, McSmartPants style ;)}

When my students enter the room each morning, I have a WOW Word poster displayed on the front board.  HINT: I actually have these in a binder in page protectors.  I just pull the poster out each morning and pin it to my objective bulletin board.  I have my students copy down the word and definition in a journal specifically for these words.  They move straight into their Writing Grid work, where again, they must use a minimum of one WOW word per entry.

Sounds simple, right?  I can promise you one thing, it is AMAZING to hear how sophisticated the kiddos' writing sounds after just a few weeks.  They absolutely LOVE this curriculum!!  My students take this on as such a challenge and take HUGE pride in knowing that their writing sounds sophisticated.

SO, seeing how much my kiddos love this system, I'm taking it one step further this year.  I've actually created WOW Word Flashcards to use in my Word Work centers this year!  These flashcards sets can be used during writing or reading centers as a way for students to truly integrate these vocabulary words into not only their writing, but their speaking as well.

Whew, enough blabbering.  You can take a peek at the WOW Word Set #1 in my TPT store right here

and the flashcards here!

Have a great afternoon!

TPT Back To School Sale!!!!!!!

It's HEEEEEEEEERE!!!!!  Oh my word, I am just tickled to be participating in my FIRST ever TeachersPayTeachers (TPT) Back to School Sale!!!!  

I am so overwhelmed by all of you who have taken a chance and purchased some of my new products. I hope you are LOVING them as much as I am!  So, I am honored to join the group of TPT sellers saying "thank you" with a sale.

My store is still a newbie, but growing every day!  I can't wait to show you what else I've been working on!

So, head on over to my TeachersPayTeachers store and get your shop on :)  Don't forget to enter the site's code (BTS13) for extra savings!

Again, THANK YOU for all of your support and CANNOT wait to see what this year holds!

xoxo