Wow I am a terrible blogger.  I decided to get off of Pinterest for 2 seconds to update blogger and take off my Christmasy background! (eeek better late than never right?)

I finished my first year of teaching!! woohoo!! This year in a nutshell:  As you know, the beginning of the year consisted of a lot of moves and changes.  When school began in August I instantly loved my smart, cute & amazing first graders.  This year has been such and learning and growing experience for me and I loved every minute of it!!  I am so excited about next year and hope to have another great group of students. I feel like summer is flying by! I have been busy prepping, planning and crafting to get ready for the fall.  This year I have found that Pinterest and blogs are the greatest things ever!! I'm obsessed..like everyone else!

Here's a pic of of my latest craft.  I made my own teacher toolbox like the cute ones all over Pinterest.  I purchased the toolbox from Lowes and got the scrapbook paper from Michaels.  I think I might spray paint it white or pink!

Thank you if you are still coming by my blog!! :-)

Now Featuring: Star Students!

I decided on a movie theme for Open House to showcase my star students! They have been busy reading and writing daily and have become excellent at both!  My superstars had to make the toughest decision of whether they are a "Star Writer" or a "Star Reader." Each student received their star after completing a reading or writing assignment. They wrote 'Reader' or 'Writer' on a black construction paper card using chalk.

Pulled out the red carpet for this event!

 I had a pretty good turnout and many of the parents brought their kids along.  After signing in, the parents found their child's card and wrote an inspirational note to their child.  The cards were left in the student's desk for them to read the next day.  One student was thrilled when her parents mentioned her clean desk in her note! :-)

After the students showed their parents every nook, cranny and chart on the wall they observed a picture slideshow and headed home with these goodies!

I got this  label freebie from Fun in First.   I taped the "Thanks for popping in!" to a mini  bag of popcorn...The parents loved it!

M.I.A.

I'm back!!

..Well, I never really left but I have been neglecting this poor little blog. One day I will be able to go to school and come home at a decent time while being energized enough to form sentences on this blog! {imagine that} haha

First grade is in full swing!
We just wrapped up a unit on ten-frames. My students really enjoyed the hands on activities and learned a lot but I am glad to be moving on after two weeks! We just started our new unit on graphs.  We made a pictograph on Friday displaying our favorite seasons. To my surprise I am the only one who likes fall the best! :-O Tomorrow I will be introducing bar graphs using M&Ms. (I will add pictures).

I have been doing running records and letter/number assessments since the beginning of the school year.  I finally finished testing and have placed my students in groups and the work stations are up and running!  yay! For the past couple of days I have been getting guided reading assistance but tomorrow is my first day working independently with my groups. eek! I am hoping for smooth transitions!

Sleep with this under my pillow for good luck?

gotta go-The Sing-Off and DWTS is on!!
Happy Monday :-)

Open House help??

School just began and Open House is right around the corner! Any suggestions on parent activities??

I found this dragonfly clothespin on Pinterest! I made some to hang up student work in the classroom to go with my garden-ish themed room! (I'm just not sure where to put them?)  How do you display student work for Open House?

Added some bees to hold up the "What's the Buzz" bulletin

Meet the teacher Monday

I have linked up with Blog Hoppin' for Meet the Teacher Monday! Sorry this will be short..I need catch some zzz's.

Tell us a little something about you...

I'm Heather! I am new to blogging and teaching. I just graduated from college and I am so excited about this new chapter in my life!

How long have you been teaching?

...one week today! :-)

You might not know...

I started school in Hawaii and since then have gone to 10 different schools before college! My dad was in the Army and we moved constantly...Virginia, New Jersey, Missouri, South Carolina

What are you looking most forward to this school year?

I'm most looking forward to getting to know my students, parents and coworkers.  I moved to a new town and this school year is sure to bring a lot of new experiences.

What do you need to improve?

I need to work on time management.  I seriously do not know where the time goes.  Hmm That's why I spent the last thirty minutes cutting out laminated color words. 

What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?

I couldn't live without post-its (at school and home)!  I have them on everything!! Sharpies and Avery labels come in 2nd and 3rd.

175 more days of fun!

It's 7:40 P.M. on a Friday and I just completed my first week of school.  Sleep is in the near future.

I had a great week with my firsties!  Monday we did a lot of singing, dancing and name games.  A few students told me that it was the best first day of school E.V.E.R.!! I was so relieved that the first day went as smoothly as it did.

goody bag for the first day of school

The rest of the week consisted of going over rules, procedures, and doing art projects.  The students also reviewed letter sounds and how to count by fives and tens.  Since all of the students made it through their first week of first grade (as in-didn't cry everyday), they received Magic Dough!  I spotted this cute idea on Sarah Cooley's blog First Grader...At Last!

...then I wrapped white play dough around it

I did orange play-doh for the boys and pink for the girls

I told the kids that if their magic play-doh turned colors, that meant that they would have a great year in first grade! One by one they screamed with excitement when their dough turned into a color.  "Yes! I will have a great year!"  hehehe I loved it


What is the first week of school without some getting to know you activities!?  The class ended the week with Show & Tell.  The students were allowed to have a Q&A segment after showing their goodies from home.   I thought I would participate in all of the sharing fun.....

Nearly died laughing with all of the oooohs and ahhhs when I whipped this out for Show & Tell :-)
 {My teacher's helper was the photographer eek}

'Twas the night before first grade

I am beyond excited and anxious for the first day of school tomorrow!! I spent a few hours at school today putting together treat bags, cleaning, organizing books in reading corner, organizing massive piles of papers and  putting the finishing touches in the class!  I know I will not be able to sleep tonight..or at all this week {but that's what the weekend is for right?}

I love seeing everyones classroom pictures..Here's mine!!

classroom Bee-havior clip chart

"Information Station"

"Ducky Helpers" -classroom jobs

Reading corner

Apples ready for the kiddos on their desk :)

Calendar/Meeting area

computer, listening & writing centers

cubbies

"Flying into First Grade"

Happy Sunday :)