I'm BaAAAaack!!

It has been so long since I have seen my blog...psh its been so long since I've sat down!!

I have been moving not only into my new apartment but also into my new classroom and it has been CU-RAY-ZEE!!! lol

Amidst the madness I have been able to make some cute things for my classroom that I am super excited about!! I've also developed some new obsessions!! I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It.

I am OBSESSED with mod podge...ok ok that one isn't so new but we have definetly built a stronger bond ha!! I've also become OBSESSED with spray paint. You'll see from one of my projects below but I just love love LOVE it!!

Ok so onto my goodies!!

I revamped my three-drawer storage bins. I've had them since I started college (which I jsut realized was 7 years ago...yipes!!) so they were pretty beat up. So I gave them a makeover to match my classroom!! I will post a tutorial later if you are interested let me know!!

 

I covered these clothepins and I am going to attach thumbtacks to the back to hang my students work.



And last but not least I made this sign to hang outside my classroom. I made it by covering a shoebox lid....I KNOW!!! Soooo cute and soooo easy!! I'll post a tutorial for it as well later.

Ok I need to get back to work....although I'll probably spend some time checking out everyone elses posts.

Good luck getting back to "school mode"!!!

Winner winner chicken dinner!!

I've been a baaaaaaaad blogger lately!!

In my defense I have been going like crazy. I've been packing (I move in on Sunday!!), I have been at a teaching training (more on that later), and my internet is not working :(.

I'm posting on my mom's tablet and its going to be short because I don't like it!!!

I just wanted to announce my giveaway winner! I know I'm a day late....I'm so sorry!! but I had a crazy fun day yesterday and didn't have the time!!

Ok ok drumroll please and then winner is..........

Elis Brockway!!

Congratulations!! I will be emailing you to more info.

Stay tuned I have so much to post I just want to do it on my laptop!

Workshops, Traveling and Ideas Oh My!!!

Ok with everything floating in around in my head this feels like its going to be a long post so I apologize in advance :)

Today I attended part one of a two day Texas Adolescent Literacy Academy training for writing...whew it wears my out just typing the name. That is also exactly how I feel WORN OUT!!!

Days and days of lazing around my grandmother's house have proved my brain is severely out of shape!!! So hopefully tomorrow night I will recover have time to gather my insights so I can share!!

I saw something interesting and awe-inspiring today!!

 

The workshop was held at Midland High School and these were written on the back of the bathroom stalls.

I only got two pics (I didn't wanna be the weirdo snappin pics in the bathroom..lol)

Midland has suffered several teen suicides over the past year, so these uplifting messages just seem so neat and thoughtful!!

Even though the bathroom seems like an odd choice, how many times do you think there are crying teens sitting in these stalls?? These positive messages fit just perfectly!!

I'm so proud to be a part of a community that bands together like that to support each other :)

Now I'm starting to wonder if my superintendent will let me do something similar in our bathrooms.....hmmmm ;)

Ok so this really won't be as long as I had thought....my brain has officially run out of steam!!!

Please don't forget to check out my giveaway post here!! My birthday is quickly approaching (EEK!!!) and I can't wait to give that Target giftcard away!!!

Teaching in my Heart

Ok so I'm a little late (3 days) but I saw this and I REALLY want to share!!

Ohhhh there are so many things that come to mind when I think about what it means to me.

But really I just think about how I almost wasn't a teacher. I've been told my WHOLE life that I should teach, but when I entered college I did not pursue it. When you think about all the "realistic" points of being a teacher it is not very inviting....low income, long hours, all the hats you must wear, and the STRESS.

No way jose...not for this girl.

But it was always in the back of my mind.

Fast forward and here I sit a fully converted teaching nut!! I'll admit I'm a lil obsessed with becoming the BEST teacher I can be. Its not about me though. Being a teacher for me is all about my children.

Within days of being in the classroom with them and getting to know their personalities I can't help but fall in love. They become like my own children and I am deeply invested in helping them succeed. I will do whatever it takes to make his happen!! So I must be the best teacher I can be for them. I look for different methods to reach my children. I try my hardest to build relationships and trust with my students.

Being a teacher means I can mentor, love, teach, bond, and influence my students. And I LOVE every minute of it!!

Daily 5 Chapter 3

Is up to Chapter 3 in The Daily 5. I have to say the more I read the more I fall in LOVE!!

My mind is racing with things to do in my new classroom (I've only been in it once and the anticipation is KILLING me!!!!). I'm trying to figure out how to tweek the model to not only fit my schedule but my older kids.

My biggest concern as I hit Chapter 3 is Anchor Charts.

(I must admit I'm a horrible teach who has never used them. In my defense I never learned how to do them. I know SHAME ON ME!!)

The Sisters say:

"Discussions are held and children's thinking about student teacher behaviors during the Daily 5 is recorded on the charts. These are posted in the room so the children's thoughts and learning can be referred to all year long."

This sticks with me. Everything I put on the walls and around the classroom I want to be a learning tool. So having the charts with our procedures and discussion on the wall all year long seems like a no brainer.

So what's my problem??

Well along with never really having utilized the paper charts, I'm more used to (and comfortable) with technology.

That's why I never really used the charts before. I had a Smartboard, so this is where all our classroom discussions found their home. So I have made Anchor Charts...premade and on the fly. So using paper shouldn't be to difficult right????

I'm only worried my administration will think I'm crazy!! My room comes equipped with an Elmo and a Smartboard I'm sure they'll wonder why I'm not using them!!

I guess I'll just have to suggest they read The Daily 5 to learn the method to my madness :)

Now I just have to get in the classroom and start working!!!

Oh be sure to check out my Giveaway post here!! I can't wait to share my birthday with all my friends!!

Big Ol' Busy Bee

Believe it or not I've been a VERY busy girl all within a couple of days.

I'm still busy with The Daily 5 book study, prepping to move (and spending money :P), and getting ready for workshops and training.

Aaaaannnnddd my computer is acting up today!! I haven't even spent my normal time on pinterest....tear!! Ha!

I'm most excited about my trip to Dallas. Half of the trip will be for a workshop on Capturing Kids' Hearts (the behavior model my new school uses). The other half will be a celebration of my birthday!! I will be spending time with my mother (who I never get to see :) and my cousins.

I'm soooo stinking EXCITED!!!

Anywho this is my world right now

And then some!!! I'm busy trying to organize my planbook for next year as well!! More on that later!!

I better get back to work and off this possessed computer!!

Don't forget to sign up for my Birthday Giveaway here!!!

GIVEAWAY!!!!

Sooo I didn't win any of the giveaways I entered....insert tear here...lol

But I've decided to have my own giveaway!!

July is my birthmonth (yes I'm one of those people :) and to celebrate I want to have a giveaway to share with the wonderful blogger world!!

In honor of my 26 (yikes!!) birthday I will be giving a $26 giftcard to my favorite store......TARGET!!! (no this isn't just an excuse to shop while I get the giftcard...ahem well maybe :)

The giveaway will run until the 19th which is my actual birthday. And to make it a little more interesting if I reach 50 followers during this giveaway I will give another giftcard to another person!!
Wooo Hooo!!! I love getting gifts but I LOVE giving them also!! And I'm so SUPER excited about my first giveaway!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So sign up so I can give give give!!!!

Daily 5 Book Study

I've been a bad blogger lately...but in my defense I'm feeling a little under the weather.

Seriously?!?! Who gets sick in July???? Apparently this girl does :/

So because of this I haven't done much but lay around and be lazy trying to feel better. But today I got my new books in the mail!!! So I'm up and back to work learning.

 I've read about the Daily 5 on many other blogs and I was VERY curious. But I am the frugal type and I didn't want to spend the money on a book that would just sit around and collect dust.

So when I found out some fabulous ladies had gotten together to do a study on the Daily 5 and Cafe book I was sold!!! I even found a 3-pack book deal with Literacy Work Stations as well. All of this is a major score for me!! I'm alternatively certified so I wasn't taught alot of this information. I'm SO excited to learn these new techniques!!

The study started Sunday so I'm a little behind but I'm already reading and I will catch up TODAY!!

So I gotta go get to reading :)

Oh and I just wanted to share this picture!!

On the right is my baby Remi and my sister's baby Sadie. Aren't they cute???

Don't judge we don't have actual children yet so we took pics of our animal babies in the bluebonnets :)

A little Extra Reading

I can't beLIEVE I haven't shared this before!!

Sometime last year I found this wonderful resource (and I don't even mean from my point of view.) This resource is student approved!!

Extra Reading

is an amazing site full of reading resources for upper elementary and middle school (3-8). My student's favorite was the Whodunnit, where they read case files and tried to solve the mystery of "Whodunnit" :)

I loved it because this worked on their reading comprehension in disguise. That is actually my favorite thing about this site, all of the activities and printables use interesting topics and words that aren't like anything out of a typical textbook.

PLUS everything on the site is made by teachers!!

SCORE :)

I've learned that teachers really know what teachers want. I know I know that's a duh thing but still you'd be surprised how many people don't know that ;)

You have to purchase a membership to get access to their full library (I promise you won't be sorry!!!) but above are the links to their free samples. And I must mention they work with you on your pricing for membership. They let you price (within reason) what you are willing to pay for a year membership.

How cool is that???

You know all you "teacher's on a budget" are jumping for joy!!

I was extremely happy with the price I was offered and TRUST me I used it!!!

So go check it out....I think you'll fall in LOVE (atleast I hope so) :)

Feelin' Lucky

I just love blogging!! I may be new but I love all the giveaways and goodies that my teaching friends give out. I've entered one other giveaway and I WON!! So I'm feeling lucky again ;)

Amanda Madden at

is having a giveaway to celebrate 300 followers!!

and

Laura Ellison at

is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers!!

and

Cassandra at

is having a giveaway to celebrate 50 followers!!

(I hope I'll be there someday...sigh :)

So go run hurry check them out!! Trust me I have worn out the first prize I won, so you will not be sorry!!

*** Oh and as I post on all these blogs I see people leaving comments with the name of their blog linked back to their blog like this:

Miss Stallings's Safari

But I can't figure out how to do it...waaaahh!!!

LOL So this is my plea to anyone who knows how to do this....teach me, teach me PLEASE!!! I wanna be cool like everyone else :) Thanks in advance!!!***

Summer Vacay!!

I just returned from a spur of the moment vacay!! I went with my best friend and her girls to Sea World. I had a BLAST!!

Its just further proof of the big little kid I am :)

Cookie Monster (he's my fav :), Kiran & Myself

I'm home now so its back to classroom prep!! And hopefully more blogging to come on my totally cute new blog!!! I'm in LOVE with it!! The safari prints and animals match my theme for next year with bright colors that match my personality ;)

If you haven't already done so check out the girls at

I promise you will NOT be disappointed!!!

New Blog!!!

I was going to wait until the new blog was up and running but I just have to post now because I'm SO excited!!

The girls at

are hooking me up with a sweet new blog design!!

They are super friendly and I'm having a blast helping them design it. I highly recommend checking them out!!

Creations in the Makin'

Wow!! I've had a busy day! HA! For summer anyway :)

I'm currently homeless because of the job change and move. So I'm staying with my Grandmother until my apartment is ready. One thing about my grandmother she is the QUEEN of garage sales!! I knew I had to harness this power fo the good of my classroom ;)

We set out on our first adventure today in the big city (she lives waaaaay out in the country :*) Although we did not make it early enough for the GOOD goods at the g-sales we aren't giving up so easily.

Plus I still managed to gather goodies for my classroom and I CAN'T wait to start creating!!

Tissue paper and checkers and pipe cleaners...oh my!!

Check out this adorable ^^ animal print tissue paper!!

The animal will my safari theme perfectly and with the bright colors I will add my own little flair ;)

But what am I making you might ask??

Some totally cute tissue paper pom poms to hang from my ceiling!!

I found a tutorial (from pinterest :) at Polka Dot Made.

Of course I will be adding my own little twist...come back to check out my results!!

And why the checkers?? I'm glad you asked :)

I'm planning a unique game for my new English classroom!! Again come back to see how well it works out (I'll be testing it on my Grandma...she doesn't know hehe)

Now I have to give a shout out to my newest favorite blog!!

Mimi at 5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules

Let me tell you she ROCKS!!!

She has inspired so many ideas for next year and I have filled up my favorites with different websites she recommended.

Go check her out now!! But come back to see how my goodies turn out ;)

American Revolution

I wanted to post about the awesome American Revolution Unit I was able to do with my 5th graders last year...I know I know better late than never!!

It was a crazy whirlwind teaching both classes but I was able to give special time to this unit.

First I started with a timeline leading up to the Revolutionary War. To make it more interesting we made a:

We used our footprints to highlight major events leading up to the Revolutionary War.

Here is a pic of my 5th grade goofballs with their timeline ;)

Of course we did many other things with the unit (that I didn't take pictures of...I will get better I promise!!)

We did an activity to demostrate tax without representation. I appointed one student as the King and distributed starburst jelly beans (left over from easter & a classroom fav :) to the remainder of the class. Secretly one student was assigned the role of tax collector. The king could make up any "law" he wanted to tax the students...exp If you're wearing black pants or red shirt etc...then the students would pay the tax using their jellybeans. The tax collector would collect the beans and be given some beans back as payment. Eventually students ran out of beans and were taken to jail for lack of payment. This activity really helped to show the students how the colonists felt about taxation and how it may ave caused groups to rally for war.

We also did an assignment over Heroes of the War. Students did research over different heroes on both sides of the war. (I'm so mad I didn't take pics!!!) They compiled their info on redcoats (British or Loyalist :) and bluecoats (Patriots :). We hung them in the hall with the definitions of both sides. This helped us see who was in the action of the war.

This was such a fun unit and I'm excited to add more to in later years...if I teach 5th social studies in the future ;)

Hope you got some good ideas!!

WELCOME!!!

WELCOME!! I am dedicating this blog to all things teaching!! I have recently learned (been told by an older and wiser teacher :) that even though I am only in my second year teacher, I have some unique ideas to bring to the table. Not all are strictly mine, some are borrowed from others and revamped into my own ;). But I want to share them with anyone I can because you never stop learning!!

(Ahem off my teacher soapbox :)

So I will be getting them up as soon as I gather pictures (that part I'm really lousy at :/). But I hope you will follow my adventures!!