Piano Recital, End of the Year Balloons, Summer Math

I was very happy to have had my second annual piano recital last night.  I currently teach 10 students at my school, and I have one lovely 8th grader and one beautiful 3rd/4th grader that I teach outside of school.  Piano was a lot of work this year, but it was well worth it.  Ever since my own second grade teacher taught me piano, I always knew I wanted to do that "on the side."

It was a packed room with probably 60ish people there, so it was wonderful for my kiddies and their families to see their musical talents.  Below is a picture of me after the recital was over with. It was a hot day in New York yesterday!!

 

These adorable End of the Year Balloons are a freebie that comes from the wonderful, talented Panicked Teacher.  Click HERE for this amazing free product!!

Check out the lottery ticket "plants" that I gave my boyfriend's mom and stepsister for their birthdays.  A cute and fun gift that you can give on any occasion.  All of the materials (the flower pot, tissue paper, marbles, and stirrers) were all from the dollar store! The lottery tickets I of course got at our local gas station ;) but I hope you this enjoy!

I finally got my Summer Math Pack up on TPT and TN! I am very excited since I will be using this during tutoring over the summer : ) Summer Math Pack Grades 3-4 covers topics from 3rd grade as well as introducing 4th grade material.  This 35 page activity unit includes the math topics of rounding, decimals, multiplication, word problems, a little division, regrouping, adding by 3's, area, place value, and more.  The total number of pages is 67 because of the answer keys and reference pages : ) Check it out; you won't be disappointed!

 First 3 to comment with their e-mail addresses will get this product for free ;) Ready, set, go!
Thank you so much for being a follower and for all of your support XOXO

TN Winner and Book Project

This weekend is getting away from me!.... I forgot to announce the winner of my Teacher's Notebook Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner is... Tara!! Congratulations, and please check your e-mail soon!
I am so thrilled with the feedback I have gotten with this giveaway... all of you deserve to make sales and make a little extra money by joining Teacher's Notebook - and I can't say enough about how wonderful the people that work there are.

Before I "leave" you, I wanted to send you my students' latest book projects... comic book strip! As I have posted before, my lovely friend Krista from Stellar Students has this wonderful product I purchased a while back of a bunch of different, fun book projects that students can do with any book.
Check out these cute title pages and a peek inside a comic book strip made by my kiddos!

Have a wonderful day!!

Summer Bucket List Link-Up 2013

Summer is almost here!! Some of my fabulous friends, Miss Kindergarten, A Cupcake for the Teacher, and The Modern Teacher are having their second annual Summer Bucket List Linky :] My last day of school is June 20th, but I am okay with that.. still lots to do and catch up with for the end of the year!

Laura's Summer Bucket List

 

1. Go to Lake George

My honey and I go to Lake George every year whether it be for Great Escape, or outlet shopping, or walking by the lake - but with not having too much money, we just take a local visit 45 minutes north and stay there for a day (or sometimes two.)  We do love to go there to get away, shop, walk around, and eat good food!! The picture below is us last year in Lake George. [We also will attend many fairs and eat bad food as well in the summer]

 

2. Work out, eat better... for real.

I need to get my act together and do better about my health.  I especially need to get into that lifestyle since I will be SUPER busy working 10 hour days... oh yes people, I work more in the summers than I do the rest of the 10 months of the year, so I BETTER HAVE ENERGY and get on that! I need more motivation and to not give up!!

 

3. Create more TPT and TN units

I definitely want to find time in my busy schedule to continue to build on my Teachers Pay Teachers and Teacher's Notebook stores.. with all of your support, it helps me so much.  And I hope I can help all of you out especially for [dare I say it] back to school ;]

 

4. Read 2-3 novels

I don't read enough, let's face it. I don't have time.  But one of my goals this summer is to definitely at least read 2 or 3 books.. let me know if you have any suggestions ;]

 

5. Be more creative

I want to do another fun project like I did at the Pottery Place :] There are many paintings or pottery pieces that are out there, and I plan to make at least one of them this summer!! I know I already showed this on my blog, but I am too proud not to show it again ;] here is my first piece of pottery.. and many more to come!

6. R-e-l-a-x and enjoy myself.

This will be the most difficult task of all.. because I certainly have not done this in many summers.  I am going to try and make time for myself and do things for me... money is important and we need it to live and eat, but I also need to remember to relax and do something for me once in a while. It doesn't have to be work, work, work... I am 27 years old and I need to remember to live my life and not work 12 hour days, 7 days a week.

Me and my Zoey

I hope you all can link up.. I can't wait to read your summer bucket list! XOXO

 

Teacher's Notebook Giveaway

I know some of you are done with school already, but for me and others, we are still approaching the end of the year! :) The kids (and us!) are very excited, I am sure.

I am very happy to announce my giveaway with Teacher's Notebook.  My sales at my TN shop has been wonderful and continue to grow.  The founders and workers of TN work very hard to ensure that their customers and sellers are 100% satisfied.  Open up your own shop today and receive up to 90% of your sales... with a ONE TIME fee (not annually or monthly.. one time!) Don't want to pay the fee or want to wait to see how you do? Well, you can open up your FREE shop and start selling and earn 75% of your sales :)

Border from the 3am teacher & Fonts from Kevin and Amanda :)

Please enter my giveaway below to win $25 to Teacher's Notebook... there are so many amazing resources from amazing people.  Stock up for next year or for your summer tutoring/school :] Good luck!! Also as a little bonus, you will win one of my products from my store ;) Giveaway runs now through Saturday 5/25! Best of luck!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/88e1c310/

Five for Friday :)

Hi everybody! I am linking up with the wonderful Doodle Bugs and her Five for Friday :]

Here are 5 random things about my week:

 

1. Almost done with science test prep with my kiddos!! I am actually more "relieved" with this part even though I am a new 4th grade teacher AND I am the only one... so I had to make sure that we got all the equipment and resources that we needed (or at least I am pretty sure we needed!)

Here is a picture of our electricity kit today.. we also did one yesterday on simple machines but I didn't take any pictures.  With doing review and taking practice tests, I realize that they are ready and a lot of the questions on previous tests are "common sense" :) Almost done.. 5/22 and 5/23 are the performance testing dates for my kids and 6/3 is the written test.  And then NO MORE TESTING :]

 

2. I went to a place called "The Pottery Place" in Albany, NY with some friends (including K-2 is Splendid!!!) last week and we created these beautiful plates with a scenic background with cute love birds and flowers... here is how mine came out.  I am pretty artistic and creative when it comes to certain things, but wow did I really make that?! :) :) I can't wait to go back.. anyone who has the opportunity to do a painting or pottery or something creative in their area should do it.  It's a lot of fun and I learned a lot about painting!

 

3. Today I was dismissing my students, and one of the students in another class got picked up by someone new today.. wouldn't it happen to be a former student of mine :] So wonderful seeing them so grown up.  I had him in 6th grade, and he is now in 11th grade and looks so happy and tells me he is doing great.  I love students of all ages.. I try and teach them as much as I can and have them enjoy learning - that was always my motto.  Life lessons and engagement.  This is WHY I am a teacher XOXO

 

4. I am in the middle of gathering ideas for my wonderful tutoring students for over the summer.  I am sure I will have a summer math unit of some sort for 4th or 5th grade (or both).. :) Also, just want to give a shout out to Teacher's Notebook... are you a part of it yet? You should be.. they rock! GIVEAWAY COMING SOON. ;)

5. And last but not least, I wanted to tell you about a contest I am in and the voting just started.  Mary Kay is a company that basically wants women to feel beautiful "in their own skin" and be happy to be themselves.  Mary Kay gives different messages but I think it is overall very positive, encouraging, and builds confidence.  I am a part of the Mary Kay Makeover Contest that is going on now... and I really would LOVE your votes.  The grand prize winner (there can be 50 winners throughout the country) win $5,000 for A CHARITY OF CHOICE.  That is HUGE and I could never in my wildest dreams give away that much to charity... what a wonderful, beautiful prize to be able to give back.  There are so many children and families that need that money in my area and to help them out would be better than any prize.

Please please please if you have the time or a chance at any time between now and 5/28, please vote for me.  You can vote up to 5 times every 24 hours (no sooner.)  If you vote for 4 days (20 total votes) I will give you anything from my store - big or small.  If you vote 40 times, you can get 2 products from my TPT or TN store!!
Thank you so so much.. all of you are amazing! :]

 

 

Science winner and teacher appreciation

The winner of my science giveaway is..... Charlene!!! :) Check your e-mail late tonight or early tomorrow for your prizes :) Thank you so much to all of you who entered... it really means a lot to me!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Science has been a major subject in the 4th grade so I am happy I can make some resources to help you all.  This was one of my very first freebies I think, Work and Machines Matching Cards :] I hope some of you can put them to great use!!

I cannot believe I haven't posted about Teacher Appreciation Day yet! Myself and the teachers I work with were so blessed to have our amazing parents come together and provide us with a breakfast, lunch, yummy treats, a teacher survival kit, and other amazing gifts.

Here is a picture of some of the greatness!

 I am full of pictures today since I never showed you what my lovely tutoring student (and former student from last year) completed... a setting map! I was so excited to help her with it and it came out GREAT.  I love this idea because it helps students understand what a map key is and how it can help you read a map and understand how important the setting of a book is.  The book we discussed and she read was Frindly by Andrew Clements.

End of the year is coming up... how many days do you have left? We have I believe 23 or so! I cannot believe I will have to say goodbye to my kiddies so soon!

Pick up this adorable freebie from Middle Grades Maven!! Absolutely love it :) Click HERE for this freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Have a great rest of your day!!

Science, science, and more science!

Hi all! How are you doing?  24 days of school left.. I can't believe it! I am not ready academically or emotionally to leave my kiddos... I hope they keep with them all that I have taught them this year -- some of them over the past TWO years! It's crazy to think that I will be saying goodbye to them.  It says a lot about "looping up" with students, and I am sure glad that I have.

I am linking up with my bestie Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper for her Tried it Tuesday!! Check out her post about Powerpoint ;)

What's coming up?.... SCIENCE EXAMS!
As a new 4th grade teacher, I wish I had another team member (I am the only 4th grade teacher at my school) to have helped me with test prep, but I think I have done a pretty good job doing what I can :) I have gotten lots of things from the internet, TPT/TN, and fun online activities.
What I really needed were science materials.. let's face it, science = experimentation! And the kids LOVE it! Here is a picture of the balance scale that I bought from Lakeshore Learning-I bought all my supplies there including the balance, a simple machines kit, magnet kit, and electricity kit.

I found some wonderful freebies about Science too! My friend Ashley from Primary Teacherhood has this wonderful Water Cycle product out on her store... a concept that can needs to be reinforced with multiple grades.  Click here to check it out!

I have also tried to make my own products!! Click on each product if you want to check it out :)

And then there's my baby, my science task cards - which covers almost EVERY topic in 4th grade NYS science :] These include reading comprehension, but your students will only be able to complete these if they use their inferencing skill and prior knowledge as well.

Sooo.. how did I do? I mostly created these products for my own students, but I thought that maybe you guys could use them too :) I am giving away ALL FOUR PRODUCTS to one lucky winner!! Please enter using the rafflecopter below :) Giveaway ends Thursday at midnight!

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/88e1c39/

 

I also wanted to touch on the point that I mostly advertise for Teachers Pay Teachers, but I hope many of you are also using Teacher's Notebook!! Both websites are wonderful and the people are great.  Teacher's Notebook has been so good to me this year and helping me build my sales and advertisements.  I actually will be having an amazing Teacher's Notebook giveaway VERY Soon ;) So keep your eyes peeled for that!!!

 

 Speaking of Teacher's Notebook, the amazing Tonya's Treats for Teachers is having a BIG SALE! :) Today ONLY check out her incredible products on Teacher's Notebook all 50% off!!! Hurry you won't want to miss it... Tonya is where I get all my fun fonts besides Kevin and Amanda! Pick up her font license today:) :)

 

 

 

Teacher Appreciation Freebies Roundup

Hello all!  Teacher Appreciation Week may be coming to an end, but the celebration isn't over yet!  Teaching Blog Roundup is teaming up with 20 of the best blogs to host this Teacher Appreciation FREEBIES Roundup blog hop.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!  I would like to show my appreciation with this great freebie for you.

I am so excited to show you my latest product... which is a FREEBIE [even better, right?] I called it... Butterfly Rounding Cards! [not very creative, I know.. but simple and cute and a great reinforcer!] Some of my precious kiddos still need some review and fluency practice with rounding, especially switching quickly from the different place values.  I kept in mind 2-4th graders when I made this product as it features rounding to the nearest ten through ten thousands.  I used adorable Clip art from Krista Wallden (Creative Clips) and fonts from Kevin and Amanda.  Both fabulous sites that you must check out! Click HERE for this freebie on TPT and HERE for TN! Can make for a great math center or an extra activity for their notebooks :]

I hope you enjoy!!
I'm glad you hopped by!  If you are new to my blog and liked what you see, don't forget to follow me!  Now head over to Hopkins' Hoppin' Happenings to roundup the next FREEBIE!

We Appreciate You!

Mother's Day Madness

Mother's Day is right around the corner and I wanted to share with you some of the things that we have done in our classroom this year :] I love my own mother so much so I wanted to make sure that my students' mothers feel very appreciated.  One of my students does not celebrate Mother's Day but we celebrate his amazing grandmother instead :]

So I had my third and fourth graders paint and decorate jewelry boxes that I found at Michael's [$1 each] and put a special note inside for their moms. They had a lot of fun with this, and were able to create their own designs [or copy each other.. but I tell them that that is the greatest compliment!]

I love tissue paper flowers! I have always made them with my kids on different occasions.  They are beautiful and very easy to create.  All you need is tissue paper and a pipe cleaner!

I found this great tutorial HERE on how to make them!

I actually attached each of their tissue paper flowers to give their gift bags [see picture below] a touch of loveliness.  I did not take a picture of the flowers with the bags, but all I did was wrap the pipe cleaner around the handles of the gift bags and voila!

Tomorrow we are making chocolate lollipops for our moms.  My kids are super excited to heat up the chocolate and use the molds! I bought all of the supplies at Michaels [including the tissue paper and gift bags] - it really is my "go to" store for crafts!! 

 

Besides all of the items above, each of my students made a very touching card for each of their moms [or grandma's.]  I love that they can share their feelings with their families even at such a young age.

I hope you got a few ideas from this post.  I try to do something different every year... thanks for reading and Happy Mother's Day!!