Giveaway Winner!!

Woohoo! My first giveaway is complete! Thank you to all of you have entered :) Also, a big Congratulations to Erin Y!! Erin, I've e-mailed you about your prize :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I've been busy setting up for a garage sale tomorrow. My girlfriends and I have been busy tagging all of our clothes and setting up. We finally finished at around 11 pm and I need to get up in about 6 hours for a 7 hour sale. Wish us luck..hoping for a successful garage sale!! Too bad all you bloggers didn't live here because we have a combination of 'stuff' from 6 teachers!! 3 retired and 3 current teachers. There are TONS of books, curriculum books, manipulatives, teaching posters, flashcards..

Well I better get some rest for the big day!

Fab. Five for Friday and Area and Perimeter Spelling

Awhile ago, I posted about the spelling contract that I use with my kids. Its available in my TPT store. I've also added in the worksheet that my students use to find the area and perimeter of each of their spelling words. This sheet has really been a hit with the kids. They LOVE finding the area/perimeter of their words and are truly able to grasp the concepts with this spelling sheet. I've uploaded a few examples for you, since it may be confusing at first :P

Students begin by writing their words in the boxes. I remind them it's kind of like writing when in Kindergarten with the lined paper. Tall letters go up to the roof, and letters like p and q go downstairs tot he basement. 

Students then must outline each word with a  highlighter or marker. This is where many students make mistakes, so its important for them to go slowly. They outline only the boxes that have writing in them.

Then, they find the area and perimeter of each word. I have my students label each side for the perimeter then cross it off as they add them up..so they don't get confused. 

Let me know if you have any questions about this sheet!! Again, it's available in my TPT Store..and If you'd like to read more about my spelling contract you can read my earlier post :)

Onto my Fab. Five for Friday

Source: mrsbrowndotcom.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I'm loving this no name paper hanger. When students don't write their names on their paper, all you do is clip it up. Students are responsible for checking to see if it's theirs..No more wasting time trying to figure out who's paper belongs to who..

Source: etsy.com via Courtney on Pinterest

This is such a cute idea!!! Pencil dispenser..Although, I can imagine kids just wanting to get pencils so they can pull that thingy down and see their pencil fall out. I remember loving to get straws from this dispenser as a child.

Source: thebudgetdiet.com via Courtney on Pinterest

This site has 72 ways to cut your spending my hundreds a month, and thousands a year. I really need to start budgeting my money better...I really have a problem spending on shopping and food!! If you don't already know by my pins..I LOVE food!! I've been having house fever for awhile, I really really want to buy ahouse..it is killing me paying rent (for the past 4 years) I feel as if I'm throwing my money away :( when it could be going to a mortgage payment...

Source: justinandashleyrefresh.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Has anybody ever tried this diet before?? It seems pretty easy..especially since I LOVE fruits and veggies. I'm a skeptic though and don't think you could really lose 10 pounds in 7 days. Doesn't really sound healthy to me either :/ haha Ive been wanting to try it out though..just to see if it really works. lol

Source: Uploaded by user via Courtney on Pinterest

I've been having to motivate myself lately with these kinds of pins to hit the gym and just work out. I've never really understood what people meant when they said "i have to get ready for bikini season' since I was always one of those really skinny people that ate a lot...although during and after college..it totally caught up to me!! I put on so much weight and have a hard time losing it and/or keeping it off!! My best friend and I are taking a mini vacation to Maui to the Grand Wailea Hotel. It is beautiful..and I need to get in shape to wear a bikini!!!   :P

BTW..Is anybody else excited that Magic Mike is coming out today?!?! Anybody going to watch it today?? I'm off to round up some girlfriends to check it out this afternoon..Oh the joys of not having school!!

Woohoo!! 100 Follower Giveaway!! AND a Flash Sale!

Woohoo!! Can you tell I'm excited?! I've finally made it to 100 followers!! SO, I want to thank all of you who follow me and listen to my daily ramblings (or weekly ramblings when I get busy :P). This is my first time using rafflecopter so I really hope it works! There will be only 1 winner. This winner will get any item FREE from my TPT store, a BLING hawaiian style purse holder of your choice 

5 surfboard bookmarks of your choice

You have a choice between all colorful, all plain, or a mixture of both as you see in the pic. 

AND last but not least, a $10 Starbucks gift card. :) I sure hope you are smiling as much as I am right now!! 

SO, how do I enter you may ask?? You, my friend are lucky because you have many chances to win!!

The most obvious, you must be following my blog (1 entry), follow my tpt store  for another 2 entries, and last but not least, blog about my giveaway and leave a comment with the link for 3 additional entries. Please DO NOT forget to leave your e-mail address so that I can contact you regarding your prize!! 

This contest will end on Saturday June 30. I will announce the winner on Sunday morning, so stay tuned!! Good luck!!

I've also decided to have a 24 hour FLASH SALE at my TPT Store to celebrate this milestone in my blogging career!! :D haha. Head on over!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fab. Five for Friday

Source: theinspiredclassroom.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

I'm really loving these state brochures I saw on Pinterest this week. I'm thinking of doing a year-long project where students will research school in different states, find an address and write to them asking for certain information to complete their brochures. Once they hear back, they could work on their brochure and then present it to the class. This could also be used as oral presentation grades!!

Source: anthropologie.eu via Courtney on Pinterest

I'm also loving this brown saddlebag. I love the color, don't have anything in this color yet. My bf doesn't like me looking at bags anymore since he just bought me a LV last Christmas :P haha

Source: talesofateachaholic.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Loving my new teacher  tool box!! :D Can't wait to fill this up with goodies when I head back to room...that is when I can bring my lazy but to driving over!

Source: thecheesepusher.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Can you believe it?? I actually MADE one of my pinterest recipes!! This was SO YUMMY!!! and SO EASY! This would be such a quick prepare on a busy weekday. I also added shrimp in here..just cooked it up with a little olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.

Source: learningresources.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Last week, in my fab. five I posted about the white board that had bulletin board dividers. I Love this idea about adding magnets to the back!! OR if you're not cheap (like me), you could splurge and buy magnetic borders from really good stuff.

SLOWLY getting ready for back to school with a ONE DAY freebie!

I've been getting a little push from all you wonderful bloggers who are already preparing for going to back to school. Here is a parent survey that I use at the beginning of the school year. This usually goes home on the first or second day of school. There are questions regarding the child's weekly schedule, interests, goals that the parents have, areas parents feel are strengths and needs, and some other very informative information. Sometimes its really interesting to see what parents list as their child's strengths and weaknesses...sometime I also have both parents fill them out..and they write completely opposite of what the other wrote :( Anyways, this sheet has proven to be so valuable to me in getting a feel for each of the families as a whole, the child, the parents goals for the child, etc. I usually end up learning all of these things quite quickly, being that we spend most of the day with the children..but it's helpful to find some things out in advance.

This survey will be available for FREE, until Midnight TONIGHT. Please head over to my TPT store to grab a copy of this one day only freebie. All I ask, is that you rate it in my store and give me some feedback..and if you want..please feel free to follow my store and stay tuned for more freebies :)

Promises from the Heart

What kinds of classroom rules do you have in your class?? I was never a fan of the "no kicking, no hitting" types of rules. I've always felt that they were extremely boring, redundant, and totally restricting. If I were a student, I wouldn't want to see an entire paper filled with No this, No that.

Years ago when I was in my first round of student teaching, I had a mentor teacher who had this amazing set of class rules called Promises from the Heart. I'm not sure where she got them from and I don't think they're very known since I didn't come up with anything from a google search.

Anyways, these rules are so adorable and positive! Just like Whole Brain Teaching rules, there really is no way around them. Kids can never say "but it's not in the rules". The rules are actually very simple and go like this:

"I will:
H: Help everyone to have a fun, safe, and successful learning experience
E: Express self control and positive behaviors
A: Actively participate to the best of my abilities
R: Respect everyone and everything
T: Try to be better today than yesterday"

I do use the whole brain teaching rules in my classroom daily, but I also incorporate these. I always find myself telling those extra energetic children "Billy, self control" haha. They can never get around the rule: respect everyone and EVERYTHING! Also, when students get in trouble for anything, I always like to use it to teach them a life lesson. Usually, since I take the time to let each child talk to me about their behavior, they really get it and most times start crying because they are disappointed in themselves or that they let me down. I always bring back to take this and use it for tomorrow to have a better day. This always makes them feel better.

This morning I decided to whip up some posters for these rules. I have this really ugly handwritten one that I'm ashamed to show you and have no idea why I haven't redone them yet?! haha.

Head on over to my TPT store to get your copy of these rules!! Perfect timing for the beginning of the school year!! I hope these can be as successful in your classroom as they are in mine.

Made it Monday: Teacher Toolbox

Woohoo!! I've had two productive days in a row. For me, that is extremely good since I am a huge couch potato. My mom teases me and says I have bum tendencies, since I could lay in front of the tv, curl up on the couch and watch h.g.t.v, and cooking  channel all day long!! haha. 

I'm linking up to Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for my very first:

I've jumped onto the teacher toolbox bandwagon! For those of you who haven't seen this yet, you must get yourself one ASAP. I'm hoping that when the school year starts, this will keep my desk clean (crossing fingers) haha. No more 'junk collectors', aka cute cups that hold all of my pencils and pens. 

I now have this handy dandy and super cute toolbox!

These toolboxes have been showing up on blogs and pinterest pages ALL OVER. In the pinterest search bar, type in teacher toolbox and you will see all the different kinds people have made. I believe the original idea came from Rebecca at Create*Teach*Share. She also shares the labels that she used, which are the same ones I used.