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!!