Updates! Get Your Updates!

Well the 1st week of school 2015 is IN THE BOOKS! (Well, technically 4 days). Here's me:

More like every night this week... MAN! Where did my stamina go?

Anywho, as I've been resting up this morning I realized 9/11 is coming up this Friday. I made some updates to my Patriot Day unit! First, it's technically called Patriot Day (not Patriot's Day). Woops. Fixed that. Next, I made this cute mini book that is focused on teaching children what patriotism is.

I also updated the overall look of the product, added a word find and key and created a letter and graphic organizers for soldiers in addition to police officers and firefighters. Click the image below to check out my preview file at TPT!

Happy September!

Back to School... Back to School...

Hi folks! I hope everyone is off to a great start of their school year. I've got to say so far things have been looking pretty good in room 148. There really is something magical about the 1st week of school (although giving up summer is pretty rough!). So many shiny pencils, new outfits, perfectly sharpened crayons and friends to see again. This time of the year is exciting, yet scary, because the environment that is created in these first few weeks really sets the tone for the rest of the year!

Here's my classroom on the first day. Take a good look because it will never be this clean again!

The other thing that gets me at the beginning of the year is PLANNING. Why is this still so hard? This will be my 4th year teaching and every fall I feel like a first year teacher again. I wrestle with myself back and forth... back and forth... over the best things to start with. What skills do they need before they can do this? What do I wish they had known earlier last year? Since everything isn't an option I find myself having to make some decisions. Then change them again. "It is what it is" right?

One thing that is sure to be a part of my plans that I don't have to think about so hard is Patriot's Day. So glad to have my Patriot's Day Literacy Activities resource to put into my plans! The link is below:

Cheers to an awesome year!

Patriot Day

While sitting and planning for the beginning of the year I thought I'd  share a resource I created for Patriot Day - September 11th. It sneaks up so quickly once school starts.

Here's what I've included...
Making Words Cards & Recording Sheet
9/11 Vocabulary Cards
Firefighter Letter & Graphic Organizers
Heroes Graphic Organizer
My Hero Star Flip Craft
We Remember Sept. 11 Class Book (cover & student page)
Long /a/ Rhyming Word Sort
Patriotic Snackin’ Mix Recipe
Snack Mix Family Letter & Treat Toppers

You can get it at my Tpt store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Patriots-Day-Literacy-Activities-More-for-September-11th-818176

Teach and be merry,