Welcome the New Year with Dollar Deals!

This Christmas break needs to s---l---o---w  d---o---w---n!  I can't believe how fast a week has passed.  I've had such a nice break, though, visiting family, having at least one pajama day, doing a little shopping, and catching up on shows on Netflix.  I've also managed to clean the house up, catch up on laundry, and do some experimental cooking with my new pressure cooker.

But, soon enough, it will be time to head back to school.  To help you plan for your back to school, some blogger friends and I throwing two days worth of dollar deal sales.  Two days, two products per day, and over 30 bloggers participating!  You will be able to plan out all of January with these resources!!

For December 30th, I will have these two resources on sale:

How to Writing is prefect for starting to get your firsties writing in an organized way.  The January edition starts with writing an introduction, two supporting details, and conclusion.  Subsequent editions, February through May, build on those four sentences by introducing transitional phrases and adding a 3rd detail sentence.  By the end of the series, your firsties will be able to write a 5-sentence paragraph using transitional phrases. 

click the above picture to see this resource up close

Celebrate the New Year 2019 is a complete resource for that first day back after Christmas break.  Although the photos might show a different year, I go in and update this resource to the upcoming year each December so it is ready to be used again and again and again! There are language arts activities to complete that include reading and writing about New Year's Resolutions, alphabetical order, and more.

It also includes a add/subtract and color by sum or difference math resource and a 10 more, 10 less, 1 more, 1 less interactive notebook page that builds off the New Year 2019.

And for social studies, there is a PowerPoint story about New Year Celebrations around the World, and a flip booklet for the children to put together based on the PowerPoint story.

Click on any of the pictures above to see this resource in my store

Happy New Year and Happy shopping, everyone!

An InLinkz Link-up

Ease into the New Year with this Addition and Subtraction Practice Freebie!

We opened the presents. Then we drank the champagne toast to the New Year.  Now we turn our thoughts back to the classroom.  If you're like me, you will spend that first day getting back into the school groove. You need to put some F-U-N into that day, so download my tested and free New Year fun math sheet!

Math Freebie to Welcome the New Year!

This is something I use every year to get the kids back into the groove of solving addition and subtraction problems and stressing look at the sign before you solve the problem.  After solving the problems, the children use the sum or difference to color a bright, colorful New Year 2019 picture!  As an added bonus, children will practice color word sight word recognition, too!  After passing out the sheet, children take their clipboards and solve the problems with a partner.  Then we check the problems together, making sure they have focused on the sign.  After we've checked the problems, they can go ahead and color the picture by sum or difference.  

I use this as the math portion of my first day back All About the New Year theme for the day.  It is New Year fun all day.  First, we start with language arts, then focus on math and social studies.  These resources can be found in the complete "Celebrate the New Year 2019" resource.  This paid resource is updated each year, so you'll be able to use again and again! You can click on any of the pictures below to see the paid resource.

After all the work is done, we put on our New Year hats.  Then we toast the New Year with sparkling white grape juice.

Get Your Free Download Now

Click on the picture below to download your tested and free New Year fun math sheet.  

Then go ahead and celebrate the New Year in your classroom!  You'll build memories with your students, and they will be learning without even realizing it!  As an added bonus, I update the freebie each year, so you'll be able to use it year after year after year!

If you're looking for additional New Year activities, you can add in writing by clicking here.

Here's to a fantastic 2019!!

This post originally appeared in Classroom Freebies.

Johnny Appleseed Craft Freebie? Yes, please!

With Johnny Appleseed Day fast approaching, I wanted to share this little Johnny Appleseed craft freebie with you.  It's part of my day-long unit of everything apples.  My children always enjoy this day!  We integrate everything apples across the curriculum all day long.  First, I invite parents into the classroom to help us with center rotation activities. They include making applesauce, taste-testing various apple-based products, listening to a story and making apple star stamps, and a Johnny Appleseed directed drawing station.  Here is the video we use. You will need to stop the video at various points to let the children draw what she demonstrates since she goes pretty fast!



After center rotations are done, we gather for whole group lessons in math, science, and social studies.  In math, we make a graph about our favorite apple foods we tasted and interpret the data.  We also play an apple seed addition game.  Then, in language arts, I read the Steven Kellogg version of the story of Johnny Appleseed to the children, we sequence the events of the story, then the children work with a partner to illustrate the story.

Then, for religion or social studies, we make the wreath craft freebie.  If you would like to look at the complete Johnny Appleseed Theme for a Day Freebie, click the picture above.

Where do you get your Johnny Appleseed Craft Freebie?

I've just described what I do during my Johnny Appleseed theme for a day activities, but today, I have just for you, the Johnny Appleseed craft freebie.  It's a super cute wreath the kids can make during religion or social studies.  Then you add the ribbon bow and a loop for hanging.  They make a wonderful, colorful display in the classroom.  Since I've included both a religious version and a non-religious version, you can use it no matter where you teach!

I hope you enjoy this little Johnny Appleseed craft freebie as much as  I have over the years.  The kids are always so proud to take them home and hang them up to celebrate all things fall.  It's also a great opportunity to bond with the kids outside of the normal classroom activities.  By inviting parents in to help, you will start to establish those important teacher/parent relationships.

If you're looking for a few other Johnny Appleseed freebies, you can find a subtraction game here, and a comprehension coloring sheet here.
Until next time. . .

Classroom Decor - Llama and Succulent Room Theme Freebie

Moving to a new classroom often means choosing a new theme.   Since I am moving to a new classroom this year, I have been busy creating my new classroom decor llamas and succulents theme.  I almost -- ALMOST -- can't wait to get back into the building to set up and decorate my new classroom with this adorable room theme.

   

 This forever free resource includes editable label in both rectangle and circle shapes.  To edit them, all you have to do is open the PowerPoint file.  Then type in whatever label you need. You can also make more labels.  Right click on slide view in the PowerPoint view panel. Then click on "duplicate slide." In that way, you can create as many copies as you need to have enough labels!

I've used them to label my storage baskets for various classroom supplies.  I also plan on using the circle labels in my classroom library.

 I love the soft watercolors of this freebie.  As I've coordinated the various parts of this set, I've used many of the shades for accent colors.  I think it will make my classroom relaxing and peaceful.

There is a complete line of classroom decor llamas and succulents available.  You can see them by clicking on the picture below.

 But even if you don't want the complete set, I'm sure you'll find many uses for this freebie.

 Click on the big picture near the top of the post, or you can click here to download this forever freebie!  Enjoy what's left of your summer!

Grab your Back-to-School Freebie Idea! Cheap and Easy!

I've got the perfect back-to-school idea freebie for you if you like things that are cheap and easy!


Welcome your students back to school with this cute treat and welcome card

 It's an o"fish"al back to school freebie! (See what I did there?)  All you have to do is simply buy a bag of goldfish snacks or Swedish fish. Then separate the treats into the number of snack baggies you need.  After that, attach the bag topper label appropriate for you grade level.  Voila!  You've got an excellent back-to-school treat your students will love!

 In addition, you can print out the pre-printed card.  Add your students' names in the greeting and sign the card. Your students will have a great little keepsake for the first day of school.  As a special surprise, you can mail the cards out before school starts.  What kiddo wouldn't love to get a surprise note from their teacher?

 I hope you and your students enjoy this little back-to-school idea freebie!  It is perfect for that stressful few days before school starts.  After spending so much to get your classroom ready, as I know you do, this is quick, easy, and cheap.  I have put these little treats together the night before the first day of school some years!  I think the total cost is less than $6.00 if you buy the big bag of goldfish.  I usually get my snack bags at the dollar store to save a few bucks as well.

Click here or on the picture to download the freebie! If you're looking for another quick, easy, and cheap back-to-school idea freebie, check out this blog post! Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Mastering Sight Words

Head over to Classroom Freebies to read all about my newest resource for mastering sight words!  Just click on the picture below.  Psst - it includes a forever freebie!

Enjoy and have a great day!

The Big Finish!

It's May!  How did it get to be May already?  I hope your school year has been as wonderful as mine.  I have the best group of firsties this year, and I'm really going to be sad to see this year end.  One of the events that mark the end of the year is the annual Teachers Pay Teachers teacher appreciation sale.  I've teamed up with a group of my teacher friends to bring you a great giveaway!  We have three $50 TpT gift cards to give away.  Just click on the image above to visit the Rafflecopter and your chance to win big!

Free Finish Line Resources for You! I have a few end of the year free resources in my store to share with you.  One is this summer reading log.  If you give a suggested summer reading list, and you'd like your incoming students to have some accountability, they can use these quick and easy reading response forms to log their reading.  The forms are of varying difficulties, so students and parents can choose the one that best fits their ability.  Click on the picture to download this item from my store.

Battlefield Cross                               I have gone back and forth with this resource so many times because of the rifle and the ongoing issues with school shootings, but I do believe that in the right context, the context of military and trained men protecting our country, it does have a place. With an ex-Marine son, this image of the Battlefield Cross has always haunted me. It's a poignant way that warriors on the battlefield honor those lost during a battle on site, and since Memorial Day is about remembering those who have died during battle, I decided to include it. I personally would not choose to use this with my first graders, but perhaps older grades with the accompanying explanation sent home along with the project would find it useful. If you would like to use this, click on the picture to download the resource.

Basic Facts Automaticity Practice  I've been using this fun and fast game with my firsties since the beginning of the fourth quarter, and they are getting wicked fast with their basic facts within 10. They are not so fast with facts 11 to 20, but I see them applying strategies to quickly solve the problems.  If they seem stuck, I'll yell out a strategy for them to try, like doubles plus one or count on from the bigger number.  It's fun.  It's fast.  And it's great to use to fill time between lessons when you're waiting for some students to finish. Click the picture to download! End of the Easter Season Religion Resources           Click here to view this resource The Ascension of Jesus Finally, I have two religion resources available to finish out the Easter season.  You can click on the picture to check out The Ascension of Jesus lap book resource.  There are many components that can be used together, separately, or independent of each other.  Whatever fits your needs!             click here to view this resource               Pentecost And finally, there is this religion resource that marks the end of the Easter season.  Both resources are child friendly, telling the stories in simple ways that the children can understand and relate to, and finishing the Easter timeline and the transition back into ordinary time.  Click the pictures if you're interested in checking these out.