Need ideas because... I'M GETTING A SMARTBOARD!!!!

You guys, I am SO giddy and excited right now... Like, THIS excited....

...because I just got a call from my principal and she said our district is putting 7 Smartboards in each school.....AND I GOT CHOSEN FOR ONE!!! She said there are some "strings" attached, but they are seriously nothing at all!!! People receiving Smartboards must:

A) Currently use technology in the classroom

B) Continue to use technology in the classroom

C) Use the Smartboard on a daily basis

D) Make lessons and be willing to share them

E) Let other classes come in to use it {when we are in computer lab, etc}

DUH!!!!

So, friends, I am in need of some help! Do any of you know of some awesome calendar resources? I would LOVE to do our calendar on the Smartboard!! Have you made your own? Is there a program you use?

I AM BEYOND EXCITED!!! Thanks in advance for any help!! :)



20% off at Mardel Today!! PLUS a Word Work FREEBIE from yours truly!

Howdy, friends! I see I have gotten past the 50 follower mark!!! Woo :) I feel like I have neglected this blog for the past week or two! I just really haven't had anything to post because in all honesty, I haven't done a whole lot that is school related {or anything worth posting about!}! Stay with me, and I promise a Word Work FREEBIE :)

Today is Mardel's 20% off education sale!! A few ladies from my 2nd grade team and I went this morning. BUT I just found out that the discount applies to online purchases too! Ends today, so get on that!!!

Aren't you just LOVING these owls?? I started working an owl theme into my classroom last year, and I already had the small cutouts, so OF COURSE I needed the large ones, too!!

Velcro was a buck a pack!! Amy and I stocked up like crazy! {I will show you later how we plan to use all this velcro on our OWL folders}.

Our school theme is "Learning is a Treasure" this year, so I got these cutouts. I plan to have my kiddos make some cute little pirates, too. I do not go all out on school themes. I basically get something to decorate the hallway near my door. I keep my same color scheme/owl theme in my classroom. I just can't justify spending all that moolah to change the theme inside my classroom every year :)

I saw this idea on Pinterest and HAD to do it! {I couldn't find the exact same ones, but these are the same idea, and I think I like them better!} One of the jobs for our kiddos will be to erase the boards at the end of the day, and these were a buck each at the Dollar Tree!! I think the kids will LOVE them :) Plus the green one will help them reach those hard to reach areas!!

Amy has the other stuff we bought, like two digital timers {2 for $5!!! Normall $10 each!}, a giant calculator {so we can teach them how to use one with our not-so-favorite math series}, and other random stuff. Mardel's Education sale is one of my favorite days of summer :)

OKAY so on to the FREEBIE!

I have uploaded 3 different Word Work Tic-Tac-Toe Menus to my TpT Store. My students will have to choose 3 of these "Must Do" activities each week to turn in. Once they have finished them, they may choose "Can Do" activities {such as magnetic letters, play-doh, SpellingCity.com, letter tiles, pipe cleaners, dry erase boards, etc.} I needed something that would hold them accountable for their word work, because you always have those few who don't REALLY work on their words :) Hope you are able to use it in your classroom! Be sure to follow my store if you download a copy :)

I will be MIA for the next week or two, as my vacation starts very soon!! Hope everyone has an awesome week!

Target, Take Home Folders, and a FREEBIE!

Today I met up with Mr. Hubby for lunch and then went to the Super Target on the north side of town and they had more teacher stuff than my Target did! I was excited! I didn't get a TON yet, because I need to figure out what all I *really* need {trying to be budget friendly!} But here are a few things I snagged...

These lanterns were on clearance! I am going to hang them above my teacher table along with some green and blue tissue paper pom-poms that I will be making:

I also picked up some Dr. Seuss stuff. Name tags {25 per pack} and some Lorax border and cut outs! I can't wait to use it during our Dr. Seuss week, especially when we write our letters to the Once-ler!!

Lastly, I picked up some vinyl folders for $0.50 each! {on sale this week}

This is what I use for my take home folders. I have used them for the past two years and boy am I glad I made the switch!! They are not as bulky as binders and I have found that they hold up a lot better! Plus, they are cheaper for parents to buy {we put them on our supply list, but I always get some extras for those who need them}.

Our take home folder is the O.W.L. Folder {Organized & Wise Learners}. It includes:

• Front Pocket: Mailbox {to take home notes and graded work}
• Back Pocket: Homework {students fill out the homework log on nights they have paper assignments}
• Important Info Page {includes my email, school #, start time, dismissal, lunch time, etc}
• Reading Homework Log
• Parent-Teacher Communication Log
• Math Homework Helper
• Sight words
• Our Schools Expectations

Now, speaking of take home folders, I just posted 3 different ones on TpT. You get an OWL folder, BEE folder, and FROG folder cover pages & rules... all three for only $1!!! Click HERE to pick up your copy:)

Here is a FREE preview of what the format of each folder looks like. Click on the picture below to get your STAR Folder! ENJOY :)

Pinterest Craft & Target Finds

I had all these intentions of making LOTS of crafts and projects from Pinterest over the summer.... Yeah. Hasn't happened. {However, I will say I have tried several yummy recipes from there!} I am just too busy being poolside and stuff :) Today I finally made something that will *hopefully* make my life easier and more organized!

Inspiration:

Don't you just LOVE it? And I especially love the chevron background!! I don't really have a place to put something this big, so I decided I would make a smaller version for my fridge. I chose to do a to-do list, a menu, and a cleaning list. I bought some cheap dollar store frames, and magnets and scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby {I got a 50 pack of magnets, regularly $6.99 for like $4 with a 40% off coupon!} This whole project cost less than 10 bucks! Just use a dry erase marker, and voila!

The other day I went to Target hoping the dollar aisle would be full of teacher stuff. No such luck yet. BUT all of their blue dot stuff was 70% off, so I got a few things for 30 cents each!

Not much, but I can always use stamp pads! And I plan on using the organizers to hold different sets of flash cards. I cannot believe our kiddos come back in about 5 weeks... Meaning summer is almost over for me :( SLOW DOWN, SUMMER!!

Hope your week is off to a great start!!

4th Grade Common Core Posted to TpT!

As promised, I have been working on Common Core documentation for all grade levels. I finished 4th grade this morning. Click the links below to pick up your copies!

4th Grade Common Core: Reading & Language Arts

4th Grade Common Core: Mathematics



And the winner is.... plus a mini flash sale!!

Thank you all for entering my first little giveaway :) The winner is

Lisa R. at

Congrats! I will be emailing you very shortly :)

And as a bonus to you all, I will be putting my Back to School Math Journal Prompts on sale for 20% off until the end of the day!

Thank you all for the well wishes on our anniversary! Mr. Hubby and I spent a couple hours at our favorite steakhouse. DELICIOUS! I am pretty sure we both gained about 10 pounds with all the food we ate :) I am so excited because this is the first year where I feel like I did an awesome job at picking him out a gift {he is SO hard to shop for, especially on an anniversary!!} I got him a Nike Fuel Band.

 This thing is tight! I think I will probably end up getting one for myself.... But I was just thrilled that I actually surprised him and got him something he's really been wanting-score! Mr. Hubby and I are going to Boston this summer, so for my gift he booked us reservations for a wine tour in the North End, Boston's Italian district. I am beyond excited!! All in all it was a great anniversary :)

I am off to the gym now to try and work off some of what I gained last night at dinner ;) Have a great weekend!

Anniversary Giveaway!

Happy four year anniversary, Mr. Hubby :)

I can't believe how young we look! Tonight we are celebrating by going one of our favorite steakhouses! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

To help me celebrate my 4 year anniversary, I am going to give away my Back to School Math Journal Prompts packet to the 4th person who comments! Please be sure to leave your email address, and to follow my TpT Store!