July Goodies

I can honestly say I have been busy lately.  After busting out my new Communication Log for this year, I created my standards for this year.  Last year, I hand wrote next to the subject (on the board) the objective in dry erase marker.  I don't have any clear pictures, but this was my schedule (to give you an idea)

This was like the first or second day of school.  No worries, I added a Lunch/Recess circle and also made the days of the week.  

So anyways, once I found out SC was moving to Common Core, I bought this.  I printed it off before the summer and had plans to get it all set up.  Then, I found out we're only following Common Core Writing next year.  So, I set off to create my own SC standards for the poster.  This is what I've been working on...

Math (Reading has been cut out)

My stack to cut out (the rest of Math and all of Science and S.S.).

So that's what I've been up to.  I went up to the school today to print these out and help a friend get her room set up.  They were waxing the halls my room is on so I couldn't go in.  Darn.  Hopefully next week though.

I've also been busy shopping!  I didn't think I got that much stuff until I lugged it all in from the garage to take pictures of.  These bags have gone on many joy rides in my car with me in the hopes of getting in my classroom!  I'm linking up here:

So, let's start with good ol' Target.

Okay, I'll be honest.  With the exception of the white and blue holder, I have no clue what I'll use these for.  You can never have enough containers though, right?!  I'll put the white and blue holder on my desk for my many colorful pens and markers :)  Oh yeah, all are from the Dollar Spot, of course!

More Dollar Spot purchases.  I got the cute round tubs to use as my recycling holders.  I saw this on not one, but TWO blogs and cannot for the life of me remember where.  I'll pull these out when we're cutting and the kiddos can put all of their scrap paper in here instead of making fifty-million trips to the recycling bin.  If this is your idea or you know whose it is, puh-lease tell me so I can give credit where credit is due.  If I remember correctly, the original poster had blue bins?  I got the felt holder to hold some dry erase markers up high on my board.  I'll hot glue a magnet to the back.  Oh, and I couldn't pass up a $1 beach ball...duh!

I got 20 composition books for $.50.  I thought they were $.40 and am still hoping to find them a little cheaper.  I'll use these for my communication logs this year.  I got the blue containers for trash cans at the student desk (I think?!).  I honestly don't even remember.  Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's for nasty tissues and whatnot.  Who knows!

Oh Crayola markers...how I love thee.  I really don't need these, but they're so pretty!

And this was another Dollar Spot purchase.  I will probably make my own cleaner with natural ingredients, like vinegar, baking soda, etc. to clean our desks :)

Now, on to Wally World

I don't know about you, but my kiddos go through erasers like they're going out of style.  I eventually get fed up sometime in September March and refuse to buy anymore erasers.  These were I think $.84.  I got 2 packs of paper, even though I didn't really need it...

I also bought 10 (or 20?) glue sticks for $.10 each.

How about Staples?

I don't know why this won't rotate, but whatev (please tell me you used to shorten whatever to whatev...because clearly saying-er is hard work!).  I got all of this during Staples first back to school sale (the week after the 4th).  I got 2 packs of copy paper for $.01!  Say what?!  I also got a new flash drive (mine is busting at the seams...), a pen holder for my notepad I take to meetings, and such pretty pens!  I couldn't pass them up (I need more pens like I need a hole in my head...).  I also stocked up on their deals.  The glue and crayons were a penny each.  I believe the glue sticks, scissors, and erasers were either a quarter or 50 cents.  Those cute little boxes were only a quarter a piece!  Amazing!

I went back this past Saturday with my friend for Staples Teacher Appreciation Day!  I got a pretty holder for my new Flair Pens (mainly for my Erin Condren Life Planner).  Oh, and whatdoyaknow, MORE COLORFUL PENS!  I love those Tabs and could not pass up the super cute paper clips and binder clips.  Looks like 3B will be good on glue sticks for a while.  I got the duct tape to line the edges of our notebooks.  I think we may try interactive notebooking, so this will help students easily find their Science and S.S. journals.  Finally, I got a pack of 12 dry erase markers.  We also go through those like they're running out of style...

This was all in my bag from Staples...for free!  LOVE it!

And last but not least...Big Lots

I got this super cute lamp at Big Lots!  I love it!

Can't wait to see all of your great finds....make sure to link up!

Class Dojo Communication Log

Hey y'all!  Wow, I am embarrassed that I haven't posted since July 1!

I'd love to say I've been busy creating things and getting ready for the new school year.  HA!  I have been busy with other things that I'll tell you about later.  Today is the first day I've done anything school related.

Like many of you, I use Class Dojo in my classroom.  This is actually something I started in February of last year.  I needed to do something different and one of my coworkers had just started Class Dojo so I thought I'd give it a try.

It worked really well.  However, I never changed my communication log.

So, today I set out to make a new communication log.  Then I went to open it and it's done in Publisher...dun dun dun.  Shouldn't be a problem.  I have my work laptop here.  However, and this is sad sad sad...I didn't feel like getting up and taking {literally} three steps to get my work laptop.  I also didn't feel like switching out my flash drives.

SO, I made a new one in Powerpoint.  That way, if you want to use it, you can edit it!  Here are the font's I used {ALL are from Kevin and Amanda...LOVE!}:

• My Name & Class Name:  Pea So Lovely
• Dojo Description:  Pea Hollee
• Points & Behaviors:  Pea Heather Michelle
• Points & Comments{right side}:  Pea Picky Panda
• Days:  Elephants in a Cherry Tree

Communication Log

Anyways, hopefully someone out there can use this!  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer :)

July Currently and a Fab Find

Hey y'all!  Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!  This is going to be a short and sweet post.  I'm trying to get it done before the Real Housewives of New Jersey comes on!

I'm linking up with Farley for her July Currently.

Have you been watching the coverage of the Olympic Trials?  Last night I got obsessed over the swimming trials.  Not necessarily the trials itself per se, but rather the set up of the pool.  Did you know they set the pool up in 8-10 days?  They have a 13 lane warm up pool as well.  AND they filled it up via fire truck!  Seriously, watch this video.  Amazing!

I just ordered my very first Erin Condren Life Planner.  I LOVE it (even if the picture won't rotate correctly!).

I LOVE The Lorax.  It's such a good story and puts taking care of the environment in a way my little 3rd graders really understand.  Plus, it's good to discuss the differences in the pictures.

I couldn't choose just one professional book.  I had to buy the book Improving Reading for one of my classes in grad school.  It has really good activities to help any kiddo that is struggling with reading.

I LOVE Dinah Zike's Foldable books!  I got this one this year and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  It is split into section for things like ABC order, prefixes, dictionary skills, etc.  

Head on over and link up with Farley!

I'm also linking up with Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B (It's her first linky so show some love).

I talked earlier about my Erin Condren Life Planner.  It's my first and I {LOVE} it!

I'm starting to fill it up!  I don't know why some of them are sideways.  I got the 16 month calendar so this will last me from July 2012 to December 2013.

Head on over and link up!

June Classroom Shopping

Hey folks!  How's it going?

I'll admit, I'm a little disappointed our boys didn't win the CWS.  But, I'm SO proud of their hard work. They are an awesome team :)

So I'm linking up with Kristen, none other than Ladybug herself.  It's hard to believe her coworkers don't know about her blog!

She's having a linky for summer purchases.

Now, I haven't bought a whole lot, and I'm not even sure all of my purchases were in June, but I think they were?  I swear, during the summer, the days just blend together.  I thought today was Wednesday!

So here's what I've got so far:

I ordered these from Really Good Stuff.  Here's how I use them.  Throughout the day, I give out raffle tickets for anything from participating to answering a question correctly to being on task, etc.  On the back, the kids write their number.  At the end of the day, they can turn in any raffle tickets they want or they can choose to not participate.  I choose one ticket and that kid gets to go to the prize box.  Now last year I used the raffle tickets they sell at Wal-Mart.  However, I had one kid that kept producing a lot of tickets.  Now, I won't call this kid bad, I'll just say there was no way I gave him that many tickets.  So, I thought he was taking them from the roll.  Turns out, he brought them from home!  So, I ordered like 7 rolls of this.  Hopefully it'll last me all year!

I got all of this from none other than the Target Dollar Spot.  I plan to use the trophy for the weekly winner (or maybe daily...haven't decided) of Class Dojo.  That kiddo will get to keep the trophy on their desk.  The other things are obviously for recess.  Hopefully they'll last a little longer than the things we had this year did. Do your kids go through recess supplies like they're going out of style?!

I don't know why it's upside down, but whatever.  I got this super cute border at Wal-Mart.  It was in a clearance section.  Can't pass it up!

I also got this at Wal-Mart.  It was also on clearance.  I thought it would be calming in the classroom.

I also got all of this at Wal-Mart and you guessed it...on clearance!  I think I"m going to put the time thing in my prize box.  I also forgot to take a picture of it, but I got clear pencil pouches on clearance at Wal-Mart as well.  

Have you bought anything for your classroom this summer yet?  I've seen a lot of people linking up so I'm sure you have!  Looking forward to your finds!  Head over and link up if you haven't already!

Stick a Fork in Me...I'm Done

Whew.  I can't believe it's essentially been 3 weeks since my last post.

I am done folks, D-O-N-E with grad school.

I took my last two classes during the last 3 weeks and I am 100% finished!

Our last day of school was Friday June 1.  Teachers came in on Monday June 4 for a workday.  I'll be totally honest...it doesn't count as work when the kids aren't there!  I was checked out and officially on summer break by 11:00.

Here's what I left my room looking like:

Those boxes on the tables are heeeeaaavvy.  SO heavy!

I was a liiiitle nervous because I found out during my check out meeting that my room would be used during the summer session so I went back and covered the cubbies with the green paper and taped my community supplies closed. 

Well, I had to go back to get something a couple of weeks ago and I found out one of the best teachers we have is in my room for summer clinic and she has the room set up so cute!  

If you're really noticeable, you can tell I switched rooms.  I mentioned it before, but my previous room was yellow, and this one is a pretty teal.  I am excited that my entire cabinet (at the front) is totally set up and organized.

On Friday, my kids helped SO much.  I think they thought I was kidding when I told them if they came on the half days they'd be put to work.  No joking here.

Have you seen the new blog Endless Pinabilities?  

Such a good idea!  Plus I'm a contributor, which is crazy considering I've been slack updating this blog!

One other thing on my totally random post, I have started to tackle my summer bucket list.  I started organizing my flash drive the other night.  Here's what it looks like so far (I'm not done yet):

So, I am slowly but surely accomplishing some things.  How's your summer going so far?  Have you accomplished a lot?

June Currently

Hey y'all!  I am so super excited because I am now officially on summer break!!!  Whoop whoop!

I kicked it off with a nice lunch with two coworkers.  One, my associate teacher, is leaving our school.  She is going to teach 6th grade Science ALL BOYS!  Kudos to her.  She would totally stay at my school, there just aren't any openings.  The other is my new teamie!  Remember how I've mentioned there's a girl that doesn't exactly show up for work all the time (as in, she's probably missed close to 20 days this year)?  Well, they moved her out of 3rd grade and into a non-testing grade (2nd) so I get to have the 2nd grade teacher as my new teamie...YAY!  We went to Panera (yum!).  For all of you sweet tea lovers out there, and thanks to the linky I know there are tons of you, Panera has really good sweet tea!  Just a little FYI :)

I tell ya, I am so tired!  I'm trying to get this posted so I can maybe go nap upstairs with Gizmo, who by the way, STILL has not come downstairs and I've been home over an hour.  Great guard dog I tell ya.

So, I am obviously linking up with Farley and her June Currently.  Have you seen her new blog design?  CA-UUUUTE!

 Seriously, how cute?! Okay, so here's what I'm up to:

 
A little elaboration:

Gizmo will NOT stop escaping from the kitchen.  I think we may have to crate him.  Seriously, here's just one picture of all of the junk crap household items he has managed to escape from:

HA, honestly, looking at this makes me laugh because we now have large Rubbermaid bins, our large cooler, and Matt's heavy toolbox among our current barricades.  Seriously, our living room looks like we are white trash.  It's embarrassing.  Plus, putting these barricades up nightly and taking them down is ridonculous.  He of course escaped at 4:45 this morning when a huge storm came rolling through. Even though it was a workday, I ended up just getting up with him. Ugh...okay, I'll stop talking about this because it really deserves a post all its own.

Have you seen the commercials for the Hey Batter Batter Blast at Sonic?  I got it today to celebrate school ending & before I can't eat it since I'll be returning to my diet tomorrow.  It was good, but not enough cookie dough and brownie batter.  I guess there never is. 

I would LOVE to go back to NYC.  I went with the hubby's family back in 2007 and it was amazing! 

We went to Atlanta last weekend.  Here are some pics from our trip since I totally spaced and never shared!

At the Braves Game.  The men behind us would NOT stop talking!

At the Georgia Aquarium

At the Gwinnet Braves game.  My college roomies!

At the Ferndale Museum of Natural History

Tristen got married!

There was a photo booth complete with props!  LOVED it!  They actually used this as their guest book!

Finally, I want to go to an amusement park.  I went to Carowinds last year so who knows, maybe we'll go again this year!

I don't think I even have to say it, but head on over to Farley's and link up!

And thanks so much to those of you who have linked up with my first linky!  I cannot believe all the entries!  I promise I'm slowly but surely getting to commenting on all of them!  Still haven't linked up?  Join the fun!