Sunday, July 29, 2012

To Do List Linky Party!


Hey everyone! I found this linky party that I feel just helps everyone! As a new teacher, I am always finding myself asking more experienced teachers for advice or helpful tips. By reading other teacher's to do lists, I keep getting reminded of something else I need to do! {By the way, I have had to prioritize my list in order to sleep at night!!!} 

Here's my list:

1. Create daily schedule cards for whiteboard
2. Organize classroom library
3. Create library basket labels
4. Level and sticker new library books
5. Make message center
6. Finish bulletin boards
7. Look up activities for Open House
8. Finish Open House information packet
9. Create Sharp and Dull pencil buckets
10. Create Word Wall
11. Address labels for student folders/notebooks
12. Buy foam poster boards for Reading Goals
13. Find clips for calendar days {the small gooey kind...have no idea what they are called!!!}

Looks like I need to get off my MacBook and get started! Did my list help you think of anything you may need to do in your classroom? 
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Student Displays Giveaway and an Award!

Hey ya'll! I have been working on my classroom NON-STOP all week! I am so excited that different parts of my room are beginning to come together. I still do not have air conditioning in my room {wahhhh}, but nonetheless I am getting more and more excited about the first day of school {August 8th}!

I will be posting many more pictures once my room comes along a little more, but I do want to share the Student Display area that I created on my cabinets! I do not have a lot of wall space, so I decided to get creative with my classroom cabinet doors that line my back wall. I originally got the idea from The Clutter Free Classroom.

To make these, you will need a pack of bright scrapbook paper, clothespins, my number cards, and masking tape! I printed my number cards onto white card stock and laminated them for durability. I used masking tape to attach the scrapbook paper, and hot glued the number cards in the top left corner. {I am finding that hot glue is one of the best adhesives to use in the classroom! Seriously!} I covered the top of the clothespins with scrapbook paper for a little extra wow factor {ha!}. I tried to vary the colors of the scrapbook paper and the clothespins for more interest.

 I think it turned out pretty cute, and I can't wait to start hanging my students' work on them! It really brightens up the room and it is going to be so functional.

Here's the giveaway! I will give a free copy of my number cards to the first person who leaves a comment telling me one way you plan to use the number cards in your classroom! Please include your email address where you would like to receive the classroom number cards.

Student Display Area

Clothespins with scrapbook paper

You can check out my Classroom Student Number Cards {here}! 




Since my last blog hop, I was nominated for my first award by 2 people! Thank you Ashley from Inspire, Dream, and Create & Leah from Learning 4 Keeps for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog Award!




1. Follow the person who gave me the award.  done :)

2. Link back to the person that gave me the award.  done :)


3. Pass to 15 new bloggers and then let them know they have received the award. 

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Thursday, July 26, 2012

One more Blog Hop!


Seeing as I am a newbie blogger, I felt I should join in on one more blog hop before calling it a night. I found this "Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop" and it seemed pretty obvious, right??


1. What state are you currently in: I live in Indiana, but I teach in Kentucky.

2. Current teaching position: 3rd grade!

3. Started blogging: I started blogging at the beginning of this year, but haven't explored the blogging world until I got my first teaching job a few weeks ago!

4. A blogging tip: Do you want a signature at the bottom of every post? Here's how you do it!

"If you already have an image, all you need is the HTML code for it. Upload it to Photobucket, copy the HTML code, and you're good to go."
-Go to Settings
-Posts and Comments
-Post Template
-Paste that code in
-Save settings


No I didn't think this up on my own. I got it from an a-mazing blog I stumbled upon that helps all newbie bloggers figure out this crazy world of Blogger! It's called I teach. What's your super power?



Click {here} for more awesome tips and tutorial videos.

You're welcome! :)


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Tell Me More {Linky Party}


Mrs. Lemons over at Step Into 2nd Grade is hosting a fun "Tell Me More" linky party where other teacher bloggers share some fun things about themselves!  I've enjoyed browsing through some of the other links over there and decided to share some of my own fun, random facts!



1. I have only owned 1 car since I was 16! Yes it is true... I am still driving the same 1996 white Toyota Camry that my parents surprised me with on my 16th birthday. Since I now have my 1st "grown up" teacher job, I think I'm will soon be ready to go car shopping for my 1st "grown up" set of wheels. I can't wait, but it sure will be hard to part with...we've really bonded over the years :)

Circa 2005
2. I LOVE sports. In 3rd grade, I started playing softball, soccer, basketball, and volleyball {seems my mom must have just selected "check all" on the sign up sheet!lol} Softball only lasted, ehh about 2 hours seriously and soccer didn't make it through middle school, but I stuck with basketball and volleyball through high school! Volleyball was my *fun* sport, and basketball was my L-I-F-E... here's a picture of the good ol' high school bball days... I was quite the tomboy.




3. I have naturally curly hair, but I've spent most of my preteen to adult life trying to find ways to straighten it. Now I like it. Weird.

4. I have never dyed my hair. 

5. My first pet was Todd...he was a stray that found our way into our home and our hearts. He has been gone since I was in high school, but I still think about him often.
2001 or 2002

1999

6. My family goes on a vacation to Florida every year. We used to always go to Nettles Island, FL, but recently we have been resorting it up in Orlando... I think we are planning on vacationing in Destin this Thanksgiving at a condo with my hunny's family. Here's another oldie but goodie. I also have one sibling, a brother, named Brennan. He is pretty awesome :)

Nettles Island, FL {2002}
Downtown Disney Orlando, FL {2010}-- minus my mom whose taking the picture

7. I have worn glasses since I was in 3rd grade and contacts since I was in 5th.

8. I had back surgery when I was only 15 years old. I had a sports injury my freshman year of high school where I ripped a disk in my spine {ya know, the cushy kind that keep your vertebrae from rubbing together?} A few short months later after dozens of doctor visits and therapy, I had a spinal fusion at my L5 S1. I was a "homebound" high schooler for the rest of the year, having my teachers come to my house until the last day of school. A back brace became my only accessory and I had to give up my love of sports until I was able to get back on the court. {About a year later} 

9. During my 2nd and 3rd semesters in college, I went on a whim and changed my major to Apparel Merchandising with a minor in Business. After I got to the big ol' school of Indiana University Bloomington, all the excitement and hype got to me a little, and I decided to try something new. After I transferred to a school closer to home, I switched back to Elementary Education {my calling and my passion}, but I will always remember the fun I had while I was a fashion major. 


2007

10. While attending IU, I joined the sorority AOPi {Alpha Omicron Pi}... just call me an A-O-Cutie pi:)  Here I am with my dear friend and sister Whitney on our bid night 

 Bid Night {Spring 2008}

Living in the sorority house {Fall 2008}

With my mom in the house,  Meredith {Fall 2008}


11. I have a puppy named Tucker that I love to pieces.... after a long and *sometimes* frustrating day at school, my spirits are always lifted when I see little Tuck baby. He always puts a smile on my face and has been with my family since 2008. He has some snaggle teeth and a severe underbite, but to me there is no cuter dog in the world :)
Tucker riding shotgun

12. I waitressed at the same little restaurant from my senior year in high school until 2 weeks ago {when I got my 1st teaching job}. I loved working at that little "mom and pop" sandwich shop, and the money was definitely a bonus. I always felt that working there helped me learn the value of money, time, and how hard people work in the food service industry. I grew up in the lap of luxury, and came from a great family, but working as a waitress taught me many great life lessons. {And how cruel people are to servers! Helloooo I have feelings too!!!!!} I said adios to that sweet place one week after I found out I was going to be a 3rd grade teacher. There were tears, but I reminded myself that this was all part of the plan and I'm moving on to bigger and better things! 

Here's a picture of my on my last day of work as a waitress. Please excuse the crazy hair:


13. I am an artist. Yes, like a painting, drawing type of artist. I have painted 2 murals at my parent's house and continue to paint and draw as a hobby in my spare time. 3 years ago, I painted pumpkins around Halloween for decoration, instead of carving {I love to avoid a mess when I can!}. I started painting some for my family, then for the neighbors, and before I knew it, my pumpkins became a huge hit! I couldn't paint fast enough! I was getting orders by the dozen and staying up late into the night for weeks, all while going to school full time and working part time as a waitress. Every year it gets bigger and bigger. Last year, I was very blessed and got contracted to paint pumpkins for the huge family farm in my town {the kind with hay rides, haunted corn field mazes, bonfires for rent, the whole 9 yards} Sales were AMAZING and they payed me IN PUMPKINS! Can you believe it?? It felt like a God thing people. I couldn't believe how such a little thing just took off. I look forward to pumpkin painting season this year as well... hopefully I will be able to juggle that along with my 1st year of teaching.

All of my pumpkins are done freehanded...lettering and all.


14. I had the best last first date in the summer of 2011. I've had my own relationship ups and downs {doesn't everyone?}, but mine had been more downs than ups in the past. People always told me that you will find the right person when you stop looking. So guess what? I stopped looking. Low and behold, the man of my dreams waltzed into my life literally 1 month after. People always say when you meet the right person, you know that you know they are the one for you. We aren't engaged yet, but let me put it this way: I know that I know. 

October 2011

Joe and I {2012}


15. I love Chicago. I fell in love with that wonderful city back in my AOPi days when one of my sorority sisters had a real sister {ha!} that lived there. We stayed with her 2 different times. Well my dream man's family also happens to be from Chicago {I know, right?!?} 

Fall 2008
Chicago June 2012

16. I started a blog to "journal" about my experiences as a student teacher at the beginning of this year, and never realized what an amazing community of teachers I would soon find! Blogging has CHANGED everything I knew and felt about teaching, and it is because of everyone here that I am so inspired to help my students create, learn, and thrive.

17. I am a 3rd grade teacher! {Nope, saying that still hasn't gotten old yet!}

Now that you have gotten to know me a little more, join the blog hop!

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Sunday, July 22, 2012

HOOT Prize Pack


Hey everyone! I am so excited to show everyone my new product I made for my classroom! I have been going back and forth, back and forth about whether or not I want to do a treasure box in my classroom.

Here are the cons:
1. $
2. $$
3. $$$

If a treasure box didn't mean that I had to go buy the prizes, I would be all in! But seeing that it would be up to me to fill the treasure box, unless I could get students and parents to donate, I decided to come up with a different reward system in my classroom. I created some simple, easy to implement prizes that don't cost the teacher a cent. The cover says "Our Behavior is Something to HOOT About", but the prizes are not owl-themed. The prizes are in the form of coupons that you can print on colorful card stock, cut out, and distribute at your discretion.

You can check them out {here} at my Teachers Pay Teachers store.



I absolutely cannot wAiT to get into my classroom tomorrow! I haven't been able to work in my room AT ALL since last Wednesday and I think it may be adding to the stress of my new job. I have so many ideas floating around in my head, and without being able to implement them, it seems to be information/idea overload. My purse and school bag are filled with lists upon lists! Every time a new idea pops in my head, I jot it down. I was doing just this in the McDonald's drive through when I got honked at yesterday. Thanks for your patience, Mr. Rude Honking Man...

I have also been doing my homework and I plan on creating my own blog design FROM SCRATCH! Just waiting on my digital scrapbooking kit to arrive in my email. Here's the kit I purchased on Etsy:


I can't wait to get started :)

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Friday, July 20, 2012

Homework Pass *Freebie*

Hey ya'll!

In honor of my 600th TpT download, I've posted a new freebie! I can't wait to stick these adorable {Owl Themed} Homework passes inside of my kiddos' First Day of School Goody Bags! It'll definitely give them something to HOOT about :)

Click {here} for the FREEBIE!



Enjoy!

-Hannah


Thursday, July 19, 2012

Owl Themed Math Posters

Hey ya'll! This morning I created some adorable owl themed math posters ifimaysaysomyself ! There are 4 posters included in the pack. Each poster includes commonly used words and phrases to help your kiddos solve word problems! You may check them out here at my Teachers Pay Teachers store!



Enjoy! :)

-Hannah

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Moving in, Writing Posters, & a *FREEBIE*!

Is everyone having a great summer? I sure am! And now that I have my own classroom, the days until school starts seem to be ticking by at a rapid pace! For days I've been waiting to get into my classroom and begin the process of sorting through everything the previous teacher left me, and begin moving in my own belongings. My room was being worked on since last Friday, and I couldn't access it until today. When I arrived at school, geared up for a day full of sorting and organizing, I was informed I only had until 2 pm to get it all done, because they were going to wax the hallway! Don't get me wrong, I love a nice waxed hallway, but I sure have been anxious to start getting my classroom the way I want it. So nowI cannot get into my room again until Monday *sigh*, but this has given me the opportunity to shift my focus to my TpT store!

To go along with my Owl themed classroom {which I am loving more and more everyday, let me tell ya} I created some writing traits posters that will surely brighten up anyone's classroom. I sent these babies off to Staples this morning and couldn't believe how great they looked on the white card stock. It's almost a shame to have to laminate them...


If you would like to grab my Writing Traits posters, you can click {here}!

I am totally loving the bright colors! 

Now, to some of the awesome stuff I have found this week:

Since I have started my new job, a whirlwind of information has been coming my way, and as always, Cara Carroll came to the rescue. She has the best stuff, let me tell you! I am preparing documents for our Open House and wasn't sure where to start...so of course I went to Pinterest. Duh. There I found everything I needed, and they were from my favorite blogger. The fact she is a 1st grade teacher and I am a 3rd grade teacher didn't affect these documents in the slightest as they were mostly informational.

You can check them out on her blog, The First Grade Parade "Meet the Teacher Ideas and Downloads".

Now I know I love a good *freebie* so here is what I have cooked up for you. I created some simple yet cute Voice Level posters. I plan on cutting them out and gluing them to bright card stock that matches my writing posters {Staples loves me right now!} and then laminating them. They are only going to be free until the first week of school, they will then be listed for $1.00, so grab them while you can!

Click {here} for a copy of my voice level posters!

Check out my TpT for other freebies and products!








Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Miss Jackson...3rd Grade Teacher!

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I have posted... I know. This summer is already getting away from me and I have been busy with my summer job -waitressing!! BUT, I do have so exciting news!


I got a teaching job!!!!!!!

Yes, you read that right! I got a job. I am so beyond excited. This summer has been a long one...with all of the waiting and concern about what this fall would be like. Teaching is my calling and I have missed my student teaching kiddos so much.  I was going to be devastated if I didn't find a job. When I got called for the interview at my school, it all just felt right. It is a very tech savvy school, which fits perfectly with me as well. I am going to be a 3rd grade teacher, which also happens to be the grade I was in when I decided I wanted to be a teacher. Ahh, I love it when life comes full circle.

So, since I found out that I am going to be a teacher {which was last Wednesday} I have been working my booty off trying to figure out what I am going to do with my own classroom. There are just so many options, and the feeling of being overwhelmed soon kicked in. I have found several blogs that are life savers for me. 


This lady is a genius. She has been the nerve pill to my panic. I love that she just makes everything seem so easy. Her ideas are always functional, useful, and cheap {another added bonus!} I see her ideas, and it just makes me wonder why I didnt think of that! She also gives you tips on how to make you classroom cute. It you haven't checked out the Clutter Free Classroom, you must do so. Now. Click {here}.


Ms. Durbin is so great! When I found her blog, I was so excited. I am doing an owl theme in my classroom, so when I realized her classroom was owl themed as well I knew I had hit the jackpot. I can implement virtually everything she posts. If you want to check out another genius blog...click {here}.

Number 3: Schoolgirl Style

Melanie is so so so creative. When I came across her owl themed classroom on Pinterest, I knew it was love at first sight. I am so UNinspired by the boring teacher stores with the cookie cutter classroom theme kits. Buying something someone else made and calling it done has never been my thing. I love to put my own spin on things and I just wasn't "vibing"with anything else I had found. But Melanie saved the day. If you just need INSPIRATION, visit her site. It makes my creative juices flow just reading her blog! 

Here is the theme I bought from Schoolgirl Style






I will be posting some freebies that go along with my owl theme as soon as I create them!

-Hannah