Love what we do

     In my school, one of our teachers teaches assembly every week.  Assembly is where we come together as a school in the morning and the children learn a daily lesson from one of us.  The month of February is about love and friendship.  I found these pins on Pinterest that I wanted to share with you... images (and songs) are worth a thousand words :]

I love this freebie from my friend Susanna (Whimsy Workshop) - Check it out HERE!

 

 

      That's why I love Pinterest.  There are so many beautiful pictures that can capture a teacher's heart.  Our imaginations are allowed to run wild through others ideas.  I take pride in being flexible and open minded to learn from my colleagues... and my students.

     I asked my Kindergartners what they loved about our school/classroom (This can be something you can do with ANY age level and they come up with some really fantastic things!)... I wanted them to think about what we love about each other and our community.  And this is what they came up with:

   

 My students had me take different pictures around the classroom of things they loved - their artwork, decorations, memories, the beautiful sunshine, and each other. When you take a moment to breathe and to really listen to your children, you can learn something - no matter how old they are, they have the thoughts and imagination to reflect on their learning and environments.

This is my classroom in a nutshell... small yet bright and inviting.  My kids have taught me a lot and to love my job even more... I hope you "love what we do" too : ]

I created a FREEBIE while thinking about wanting my students to reflect on love and friendship.  Even at such a young age, students can dig deep into their thoughts and understand what they love in the world.  I hope you and your students enjoy this freebie too, as it can be applied for grades K-3!

  

 

Five for Friday

Hello ladies and gents (and the weekend!) I can't complain much because I was off allll this week and have to go back on Monday.. so I didn't really want the weekend to get here too quickly ;) I always say I am going to relax on my breaks, but I.never.do.  I work my butt off with school work & my teacher stores - but that's our life, right? :] I didn't want to include it in my 5 for Friday, but this week has been very hard for me and the people in my town.  Our dear sweet lady Anna went missing Monday and we still have no idea where she is... I cannot help but think bad thoughts, but I am praying and hoping that she is okay XO.. say a little prayer for me if you could!

I am excited to be linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and it's her famous Five for Friday! She is just wonderful and has the best ideas... please go follow her!

1. Since it was my February break, I definitely have lots of new updates on my teacher stores (click here for Teacher's Notebook and here for Teacher's Pay Teacher's) and I really tried my best to make my products better... I actually am in the middle of fixing up my Landform Unit as well :] Every little bit helps more than anyone knows, so this extra $ (even if it's a few dollars) can do wonders! I wanted to show you my latest post, which is my Reading Common Core Task Cards.. they can go with any fiction story and are most appropriate for grades 4-6 (and higher level 3rd graders.) Perfect for guided reading or having your students try them independently in their notebooks.  Only $1.50 on TN and TPT!

2. Well... I went to my doctor and I need to eat BETTER. All whole wheat and whole grains for me.. I got a kick in the butt with how my liver is doing :\ everything else is great.  I have to tell you all, I am down 6 pounds and feel great! I am better when I am not on break, but I have still been doing my best.  I wanted to give you a heads up of a few great healthy eating choices when you are out to dinner (which I am a lot.)
P.F. Changs - Ginger chicken with broccoli and brown rice: Lunch portion is 570 calories: it is very filling, and one of the best choices on the menu (besides vegetarian options).
Red Robin - This is a toughie with yummy burgers and fries and other salty yumminess... but the regular burgers are over a 1,000 calories..without the fries! Ridic :X So it makes me feel better to have a plain grilled chicken sandwich (with a whole wheat bun) with a side salad.  The whole thing is around 500 calories including the low fat balsamic dressing!

 

3. I am still waiting to be able to pin from my blog to pinterest again!! Don't ever mess up your pinterest It is not worth it ;] And it has become one of my most favorite things in the world.. I just pinned my 1000th pin the other day AND it took me 3 days to sort out alllll my activities into different categories.  Wish I had did it a long time ago!! Come follow me :]

                            

4. My bestest friend and I got together and had a little work party with some yummy fondue... she got out her laminator, sharpies, smelly markers, and poster board and we did a few things that we never get around to and always wanted to do for our classroom.  Going back to Pinterest, it has the BEST anchor charts and poster ideas... here are two that I created for my classroom :]

5. I bought my first font license from Tonya's Treats for Teachers.. I am very excited and look forward to using Tonya's fonts in most of my products.  She is such a wonderful gal too :]

 

So glad I got to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching :] I hope you all have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!!



Common Core

Hi all! :] It is almost midnight, but since I am on February break I have been staying up late and trying to be productive.  I just had some fabulous ladies help me out by checking over my Reading Common Core Task Cards, and I am happy to say that they are live up on Teachers Pay Teachers and Teacher's Notebook! Please check them out :]

The Common Core learning is very important so our students stay on track.. working at a private school, it is not emphasized as much as the public schools, but I make sure to stay on top of it because I want my kiddies to be successful - I love them, and I want to give them all I got as a teacher so they are prepared for 4/5th grade.  I am proud of my ELA Common Core Pack as it has been selling quite nicely over the past couple days.  :] Thank you SO much to all of you for your support and love. I have re-did my Government Unit, Poetry Unit, and now Weather Unit.. all new and improved, better content, fonts, and additional resources.  It took me a LONG TIME but I am so glad I did it since those 3 units are my "Top 3 Sellers".  Please check them out at both my stores!!

I wanted to show you FIVE Common Core products that I think are just fabulous... Please check them out!!

From What the Teacher Wants.. Rachelle has amazing common core checklists for a few different grade levels!! Here is the one for first (one of her best sellers!)

From 3rd Grade Gridiron.. my girl Dana has a 89 page pack full of assessments for ELA for third grade.. Amazing! You need to get this if you are a 3rd grade teacher!

From Deanna Jump... the most talked about TPT seller and millionaire :] She has one of the best all time Common Core sellers for Kindergarten out there... Already has over 2,000 feedback messages! WOW! Such a sweet gal too :]

From Rachel Lynette... she is my go to girl for task cards.. she has the most AMAZING bundles and for such a cheap price!! I have a few of her task card sets, and this is one of my favorites.. perfect for the Common Core, please check these out!!

From One Extra Degree... let's not forget about Poetry!! There are 75 pages from Amanda's Poetry Centers, aligned with the Common Core!! Amanda is another talented lady with many amazing products out there.

 

Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY that I am having.. you can win $25 to TGI Fridays [yum!] and any two products from my teacher store!! Tell your friends!

 

By the way, my Pinterest is under construction.. I have finally decided to divide all my teacher delights that I have found into appropriate categories.. boy, I wish I had done that sooner than later!! It has taken me a few days, and I am STILL not done :[ Advice - if you have not already created a pinterest and you want to, do NOT bunch all of your activities into one category.. organize first ;]

I also messed up my Pinterest account by trying to pin from my blog from my Kindle Fire.. do not do this because now it won't let me pin at all from my blog because of "spam/inappropriate content." I was so excited to pin that I tried over and over and over.. and finally, it cut me off.  I can't wait until they respond and I can start pinning again!!
Come follow me anyway!!! :] http://pinterest.com/lauralove2teach/

Valentine's Love and Craft

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! I hope you had a wonderful day and enjoyed spending time and sharing the love with your students and loved ones.  I had a great (but hectic) day with my lovely kiddos, but I am excited for February break coming up.  I know many teachers do not receive a February break and they get a longer Christmas break than I do, but I like the split up.  I just wish it wasn't so early this year!

Check out our adorable candy holders that me and Miss Mound's class made :) So cute!! Heather is a lot better than me with keeping up with Pinterest and finding the best ideas!! Check out this pin HERE and how you can make a DIY Candy Jar/Gumball Machine!

Posted below is my finished candy jar :) I can't wait to put it in my apartment!! I hope Mike likes it!

Also, we made delicious Valentine's ice cream sodas!! Also found on Pinterest, here :) [What did we do before Pinterest?] Even though I am on a "diet/changing lifestyle", I HAD to have one of these!!

The love of my life of 3+ years and counting got me a half dozen roses and a half dozen carnations :) He also got me a beautiful necklace/earrings set, and the adorable pug that you see below!

I am still in the process of updating my TPT and TN activties... so far, Government Unit is fixed, and I JUST finished my Poetry Unit!! :) Please check it out on Teachers Pay Teachers and of course, Teacher's Notebook!

TPT and TN are both wonderful, but I am so happy that Teacher's Notebook will be featuring my ELA Common Core Pack in the upcoming newsletter!! Steve and Debbie are amazing!!

Speaking of awesomeness, I think I am going to be getting my fonts from Tonya's Treats for Teachers from now on!! She is a great and talented gal, so I am definitely going to get a commercial license once she gets going... Please check out her blog if you haven't already and show her some LOVE :] Tell her Love to Teach sent you!

Well, I am tired and need to try to wake up in the morning to do my workout.. I have been so exhausted, but it doesn't help that it's already close to midnight by the time I go to bed! Again, I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day, whether you are single or taken, live with someone or alone, always know that there is someone that cares for you!!
And you are all the best teachers!!

Therapeutic Thursday

I decided to join in on the fun with the blog hopping :) It's actually technically Friday, but I LOVE Thursdays topic of what everyone's go to therapy choices are.  I am always on the go and working working working, and rarely have time to settle and relax.. but these are the things that keep me (somewhat) stress free!

My favorite go to therapy is an expensive one, massage! It is my one treat for myself that I usually get maybe 4 times a year.  I love it and it helps relieve any back and neck pain, and of course, it feels amazing! :)

 

 

Sales also make me happy. I am a big bargain shopper and I love on-line surfing for different products, and also being at the mall and looking through new fashions and clothes. I am a pretty simple dresser, but it's fun to jazz it up sometimes too!

 

 

I recently quit the gym because after doing Insanity, I know I will never be able to get a better workout.  I did the 60 day challenge and received my t shirt, but I still am going to continue it at least 3 days a week to keep fit.  These workouts are 40-60 minutes long, but when I finished I am literally on the floor. I am able to get my stress out and feel better about myself with this workout!

 

 

Movies!! My boyfriend Mike and I love movies.  We don't go to the movies often because of the expense of it, but even sitting at home watching movies is something I love to do.  I am usually doing work while watching the movies, but there are times when I just need to put everything aside and relax and watch a good comedy.

 

 

 

Who doesn't love Pinterest?! I go on pretty much daily, and I love surfing and taking a "break" from my work to look at the amazing crafts, products, and ideas out that are out there.

 

 

Then of course, my biggest therapy is my boyfriend of almost 3 years, Michael. He is my saving grace and definitely helps my stress by making me laugh and we just have the best time together. This is a picture of us at a wedding we went to this summer.

 

Can't wait to read everyone's Therapeutic Thursdays :)

Moving and Grooving

I'm back! I have been MIA for the past week since I have been moving into my new apartment.. I am excited to almost be finished and hopefully putting the last finishing touches on decorations by the end of the week.  I am thinking about table decor and I saw this on Pinterest and I thought it was so simple and pretty, and just the right touch!

And yesss finally a walk-in closet!! I am super psyched and filled it immediately :) It has all my clothes, shoes, accessories, and teacher things in there :)

Also, I have this thing where I like to hang my necklaces on the wall.. it's easy because they don't get tangled and they are accessible.  The picture sitting on the shelf is a picture about Korea.. I don't have anything from there, but I found this online :) And "Happy wife, Happy life" is one of my favorite sayings ;) I am not a "wife" yet but you get the drift!

My latest and greatest find (well, my mom's find)... CROCS! Absolutely in love, and I was so in love I spent a good amount of money on TWO pairs.. yes, they were the same, exact shoe but I couldn't pass it up - I have never had a more comfortable pair of shoes! Will be wearing these all the time... check out your stores and try on a pair! You won't be disappointed.

Cute end of the year freebies!
I already set up these cute little seed packets for each of my kiddos.. I thought this was such an adorable idea especially because my 2nd and 3rd graders continue to grow :) Check it out here from The World of Mrs. B!

For my next bulletin board activity with the kids, I have decided to do this Dragonfly Craft brought to you by Megan Mitchell :)

I have been lacking energy to create new TPT/TN products lately.. I need to get a move on, but I know this summer is going to be full of fun units and activities.  I can't wait to do Summer School (It will be my 9th summer working this since I was leaving high school! And nannying, tutoring, teaching piano, and just keeping busy.  Always keeping busy!

I will be doing a GIVEAWAY soon, I promise! Just getting my life a little more in order! Enjoy your week everyone! Happy Memorial Day, and to some of you, Happy Summer already!!!