September Currently

I can't believe it is already September!!  I can't think of a better way to begin September than  linking up with Farley for her September Currently!! 

Hope everyone is enjoying their Monday off!!!

A New Level of Craziness and the Back to School Sale

I may have hit a new level of craziness today. I decided to head down to Michaels because I was feeling a little creative. My wheels were turning and I was going to get projects done for school. I was making my way around Michaels checking things out. I find an amazing deal on those Scentos markers. They were on clearance for 20 cents and I had just paid a dollar each at Target. So, I did what any normal teacher would do...I bought way more than I needed too.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE CRAZY PART!!

You know as you head up to the check stand they have the dollar bins as you wait in line. Well of course I had to glance through all of the bargains and that is when I found this:

And that's when I officially began my travels to an all new level of craziness. I decided that I would buy all the letters in my name to replace the wooden train that I have in my classroom. The bright colors would go perfect with my new color scheme this year. So I sifted through the bins of letters and pulled out what I needed. 

Cute huh??? Actually, not so cute because they had no "Y" that I needed to finish off my name. So, I did what any normal teacher would do...I went to another Michaels. I was super excited because when I arrived they had way more letters!! Guess what??? No, Y. So, I got in my car and headed to another Michaels. Guess what?? Even more bins of letters!!! Are you seeing where this is going?? No, Y!!!! What the heck?? I would totally get it if there was no A or E or S, but Y??? So, I called my sister and had her check the Michaels where she lives. (1 1/2 hours away). No...Y!!!!!

It's seasonal of course, so I just might buy myself a giant Y that is way bigger than the rest of my name just to prove a point. I don't know what point, but I want a Y!!

By the way I am participating in the big sale!! Woohoo!!

A big thanks to Michelle at 3am Graphics for the cute sign!!!

My First Day of First Grade...OMG...I'm Exhauste

Hello to everyone!! I have been missing from my blog for a bit trying to get ready for my big move to first grade. Earlier this year I had asked my principal if I could move to first and then loop to second.  It was official probably by the middle of June and I was super excited. Of course at the end of the school year  I couldn't wait to start summer vacation so I kind of lagged on cleaning my room. Alright, let me be totally honest...I did not clean it at all. I had every intention of going back after a week or two and getting cleaned and organized, but I kept putting it off. Before I knew it, SMACK me in the face it was time to go back to school!! Yes, I have spent the last couple of weeks getting ready and organized. You think that after 18 years of teaching I would know to clean before I leave. Of course not!!! I started my 19th year working and getting things ready until the very last minute possible!! Hopefully, I am not the only one that has ever done this!! LOL!!

So today was my first day of school with kids!! I have a very sweet class! I was surprised at how well they listened because I felt like all I did was talk. Oh we did other things, but the beginning always just feels like all you do is talk about everything and demonstrate how to do procedures. I am EXHAUSTED!!! These first graders are a lot different then beginning second graders. I wanted to curl up on the couch as soon as they walked out the door. My eyelids were closing as I was driving home! Not literally, but they were getting pretty heavy!!

I never thought that first grade was an easy grade by any means because both my mom and sister teach it, but HOLY COW...thank god it is only a 3 day week!!! I need the weekend to recover!! I am definitely going to have to work on my singing, dancing, and bags of tricks!!! And I can't believe in another ten hours I will be back there!!!


I just wanted to thank all of the wonderful first grade bloggers out there for sharing such great ideas!! It has really helped me to get a better feel of what first grade is like!!


I am off to get some sleep! I will post some pictures of my room over the weekend!! If you haven't started school...enjoy the last bit of  your summer!!!

Congrats and Cleaning

Congrats to Debbie and Pam. My husband picked you two lucky ladies for the freebies. Please check your emails to make sure you received the products. If not, please email me.

On Thursday I went to school to clean. It is something that I should have done before school got out, but I didn't. I spent about 5 hours going through things and getting rid of things I hadn't used or didn't need. I probably have 1 more day of the same thing and then I can start setting up for this upcoming school year! It's freaking me out that school starts in 3 WEEKS!!!!!  I still have golf lessons to take and exercise classes to attend!! This work thing is just getting in the way!!LOL!!!

It is supposed to be 105 degrees here today so I need to get moving and get my workout in so I can relax by the pool!! 

I hope everyone has a fabulous Saturday!! Relax and enjoy!!!

Back to School Shopping, Revisions, and New Products!!

Happy Tuesday to everyone!! Why is it that once June is over the summer seems to fly by??? I officially start school in less than a month...August 12th!!! OMG!! Where does the time go??? I try not to be Debbie Downer and just enjoy the rest of my summer, but of course the brain starts turning and it won't shut off. Last night I had a dream nightmare that it was the week before Open House and I hadn't done a thing!!! Yes, I tossed and turned the whole night trying to figure out how I was going to get my room ready in 3 days!! Does this happen to anyone else???

So I have been doing a little school shopping...

These are going to be my kids wallets to hold their Rockstar Bucks!! They were 47¢ a piece at WalMart!

I recovered my seat crates! I just love the orange chevron!

New rug from Ikea! It was only $19.99. I think I am going to get one more.

Book boxes and notebooks for Daily 5!

Couldn't resist the zebra accents!!

New color scheme for updating my Rockstar Theme!!

Here is my new product that I just uploaded to TPT!

My sister Marissa (Wild About First Grade!) has been trying to decide on a new theme for her classroom most of summer. She liked my first Owl Theme pack I had created for other friends, but when we found this border at Lakeshore she new Owls was going to be her new theme.

So this was the inspiration for my second Owl Theme pack!! It contains 225 pages of decor items!! Here are some pictures to show you what is in there:

                                      

Of course I would love to give one away to my blog followers. Just leave a comment below with your email and I will have my husband pick a lucky number tonight!!

I also added :

Here is a preview of some of the wrist bands!!

Yes, I will also give one of these away as well. Just leave a comment with your email address and the hubby will pick another lucky number!!

Finally, I did add a few new items to my Rockstar Classroom Theme Pack:

Below are the new additions : a new set of table group signs, 2 different sets of birthday months to display kids b-days, and a new design of tens frames posters.

I am off to a golf lesson and a Tight and Tone class!! I do love summer vacation!!!

A Big Change, New Products, and Some Freebies!!!

I hope everyone had a great fourth of July and is enjoying the beginning of their weekend!! We finally have had some cooler weather today...in the mid 90's. I live in California and the last 5-7 days have been 105 +. Miserable!!! 

So I have some news...Earlier this year I had asked my principal if there was a possibility of me moving to first grade and then looping to second with the new class. My current grade level partner and I thought it would be a great opportunity for many reasons. We knew there was one opening, but we wanted to take on this new adventure together. Guess what?? On Wednesday we found out that we are able to move to first and loop to second!! We are so excited!! I am a little nervous because I have never taught first, but I think it will be a great challenge and lots of fun too.

I just uploaded some new products today at my TPT store:

Each one has denominations of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $100, and $500. They are personalized for grades first through fifth grade.

I am going to give away 5 free copies!! All you have to do is be a follower of my blog on Bloglovin and tell me what your classroom theme is going to be this year!! The first five people to comment will get to choose. Please make sure you leave me your email!! 

TGIF to everyone!!

Five For Friday First Time...on a Sunday!!

I decided to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five For Friday Linky for my very first time!! So here it goes...

1. Changin' Up My Easel

This was the easel my mom gave me when she retired a few years ago. I decided to give it a little makeover!!

Here is the new and improved. I painted all the tray and the book boxes black to go with my ROCKSTAR theme. I think I am going to bling it out a bit to give it some pizazz!! I need  to put some labels on the book tubs and some cuteness here and there!!!

2. A Little Shopping!!

Love me some Ann Taylor Loft!! Found this cute little number the other day! It has bright yellow piping around the neck, waist and zipper!! You know what that means??? Shoe shopping time!! I found the perfect pair...

Tell me those won't be so much fun with that dress!!

3. IPad Minis

Yes, you do see 2 Ipad Minis. My grade level partner and I applied for a grant earlier this year. We received enough money so we could each get 2 Ipad Minis for our class. I am so excited to use these for the upcoming school year!

4. Surviving the HEAT WAVE!!

This is where I have been the past couple of days. We have been 103+ degrees. Tuesday looks like 

108!! Yuck!!! 

5. Girl Fun!!

This is one of my fabulous students from this past year.  She comes from an amazing family.  Her mom is our school secretary and both her grandmothers helped out in my classroom every week. Last Sunday her grandfather was in a near fatal accident. You can't imagine how long and emotional this past week has been for them... especially for this little one.

And that's where GIRL FUN happens. Her mom and grandma dropped her off at my house so they could spend the day at the hospital and we could have some fun!! We baked cookies, went to Farmer's Market, shopped at Charming Charlies, picked out nail polish at Ulta, did a little book shopping, went to lunch, and finished our day swimming in the pool and doing our nails.

Here is my ROCKSTAR student and teaching partner! 

What a great day we had!!