2nd Annual Favorite Things Giveaway!

Hello everyone!!!

Today we are throwing  a big, humongous bash to celebrate YOU!

Last year we blogged about our favorite non-school related things, this year we have decided that we will share with you our favorite school things! So here we go:

My first favorite things I'd like to share are my favorite educational subscriptions. At our school, we have subscriptions to both Tumblebooks and BrainPOP, Jr., which are sites I use all the time.

Tumblebooks  offers an online collection of books for you to use in the classroom- whole group on the Smartboard, or individually on iPads or computers.
Here is a list of the different types of animated picture books they offer, right from their site:

Story Books are our animated, talking picture books. Users have the option to automatically or manually turn the pages. iPad users please note that the iPad-compatible Story Books on the Mobile site have been converted to an mp4 video format and thus the auto/manual feature is not available.
Chapter Books/Read-Alongs are our early chapter books for older elementary readers. While there are no animations, the ebooks are narrated. They also include Chapter menus so that you can jump chapters, and a bookmarks and notes feature which are cookied onto your computer. Our Chapter Books also allow readers to change the colors of the background and text, as well as the font style, size, and line spacing. This helps our ebooks to be even more accessible to a wider range of readers.
Videos are from the world renowned National Geographic! Simply click on "Watch Online" to watch the 2-5 minute clips on various topics. Most of our videos have been paired with ebooks as a way to introduce a topic!
Featured is where teachers, librarians, parents, students, and TumbleBooks staff can recommended a book! It's a quick and easy way to find books on those rainy days!
Puzzles & Games accompany each book and reinforce concepts from the books, allowing for a fun and educational learning experience.
Language Learning is an easy way to access our French and Spanish titles!
Non-Fiction contains our growing collection of non-fiction titles in subjects like health, science, astronomy, biology, and nature!
Playlist allows you to access our pre-loaded playlist. The eBooks play back to back just like a music playlist! In addition, you can create your own playlist! Simply click on the "Add to Playlist" button below a TumbleBook to create your own! To access your customized playlist, click on the "Playlist" button in the silver nav bar! Please note that this feature is cookied onto your computer. To access your customized playlist from any computer, create a MyCloud account and save your playlist there.

Here is an example of one of the books I found on Youtube- just to show you what they're like.  

                            

BrainPOP, Jr. is another one of my favorites for the classroom.  It has wonderful, kid-friendly videos and games for any and every subject area you want to explain. It's perfect for science and social
studies.

Next, here are some of my favorite organizational tips! We have five iPads in the classroom.  Since some games require students to sign in and continue where they left off, I have certain iPads assigned to certain students, one from each group as we switch. I take a picture of the students who will always use a certain iPad and use that for the screen saver.  Ta da! They always know which one to use.

 I know this picture doesn't look anything like organized- but actually it is one of my favorite tips. 

I keep a copy of ideas and worksheets that go with books right inside of the book. That way, if I need a quick activity, sub plan, or even if a friend needs a quick activity for something unexpected, I can just pull a book that I love out and know that it will have a great activity right there with it.  Sometimes I keep a class set of copies in or beside the book, so it's ready to go if I need an activity.

                                     

 

Below are the papers that I use with Rainbow Fish and Pattern Fish.  Just click HERE if you would like them. 

I have the children color rainbow fish as pretty as they can, then I put on a special shiny fin when they are finished. This is my sample fish. I usually only put one or two sparkly fins on the kids' fish.

  I used left over shiny silver border for my fins. I keep these inside the book, too.

I also copy the cover of books that I use for certain lessons and keep them in my folders so I don't forget the books I want to use. I know I could just write the titles, but I like the photocopied pictures.

It's always nice to be able to pull a book with an activity to go along with it, and know you've got at least a 45 minute activity to do.

Finally, I love this idea from Bethany at Ship Shape First Grade for organizing extra crayon! 

Here is what my extra crayons look like now.  I can't wait to change them into the colored containers!

Finally, here are some of my favorite fonts.  Just click on the picture to get a PDF with the links to all of them.  I tried to show some of them to you in this picture.  (Not sure if that worked out so well!)

Once again we want to treat you all to our favorite things!!! Check out these great prizes!
















Enter the Rafflecopter to win this prizes!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Come and visit my other teacher friends' blogs for their favorite websites, organization tips and much more!

An InLinkz Link-up

Link to link up http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=585883

Five for Friday!

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

I still have some time left in summer vacation mode- so I have been slowly getting more and more school projects done- but haven't hit panic mode yet- so it is still fun! ;)
Here are my fabulous FIVE for the week!

My Nephew's Karate Studio

My nephew Tim just moved to Naples, Florida (from here in NY) to open his own Gulf Coast Karate Academy ! I am so proud of him! He had an awesome opportunity-and he was brave enough to do it. He is awesome, himself... ( brag time from Aunt Carolyn...)

Tim Rupert is a Third Degree Black Belt and internationally certified instructor. He began training in Tang Soo Do on January 29, 2001. He achieved the rank of Cho Dan (first degree) in April of 2004, and ultimately earned Sam Dan (third degree) in October of 2009. Soon after, he began teaching professionally, discovering his true life's passion. In March 2011, Mr. Rupert joined the U.S. Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation and recertified his Sam Dan ranking in later that year, earning Dan number 43822.
Some of Mr. Rupert's highest achievements include serving as Program Director to Winding River Karate Studio from 2011 - 2013, winning Grand Champion in Forms twice at the Mid Hudson Championships in 2012 & 13, being a Region 2 Team Sparring member in 2012, and recognition for his dedication to his school as the 2011 recipient of the Kristopher E. Heim Memorial Award.
In addition to Soo Bahk Do, Mr. Rupert holds a first degree black belt in the ASN style of Nunchaku (tournament-oriented use of the "Nunchucks").

Here is his Facebook page- Gulf Coast Karate Academy, Inc Facebook Page. He is just starting- in fact I think later this week is his first class down there at a temporary location until his studio is ready.  If you know anybody in Naples- send them his way. He is a fantastic teacher/person. ;)


I need your help on these next two...

Entering the 21st Century of Fonts

AKA...

Goodbye, Comic Sans

Thanks to Lori, from The Reinspired Teacher I have been figuring out how to add some fonts to my world.  Thank you again, Lori! Do you have any "favorite fonts" that you use in the classroom? I loved comic sans because the 'a' and 'g' were normal looking for the kids.  (Even though the typed a and "goofy g"(as I call it) are on their list of letters to know.)

On this same note- I was talking to my friend Sandy- AKA Queen Pretty- from Kinder-Gardening last night- and after we got done talking, I was thinking that I am pretty sure God put me in her life to make her feel WAY better about her technology skills.  Yep.  Pretty sure of it.  :) Sorry I was zero help, by the way, Sandy... :(  Still had so much fun talking! :)

If some of  you "youngsters" saw me work my trial-and-error magic, you would think I am just crazy.

So- let me know some favorite fonts if you get a chance! ;)

Thank you!Thank you!Thank you!

Cookie Theme

 I have been working on my back to school ideas- and my theme is smart cookies!  I am going to post about it this weekend-  The next thing I need help with is deciding which cookie bag is best. 

I am going to have these "You are one smart cookie!" cookies at each seat for our Kindergarten Picnic. I found the wonderful free printables from The Teacher Wife TPT Store.



 

Cookie 1

 or Cookie 2?

I can't decide which cookie  I want to use.

 

 (of course I bought both... duh... I am sure I can think of some other use for the 2nd place cookies.)Please let me know which cookie idea you like better... the packet or the individual. The individual cookies come wrapped- so they are wrapped and wrapped again. :)

 

Pittsburgh Trip- Why not?

Jeff and I are going to go to Pittsburg for a few days just to get away and have fun! We are going to the Pittsburg Zoo and Aquarium- and just to walk around and have some fun!

(That's not Jeff and me, by the way...)

We will be taking our friend David Sedaris with us- by way of his books on CD... I LOVE HIM!
We don't really need anything else.  I read all of his books and loved them- THEN I heard him read them and loved them more. 

My New Friend

I talked about my new cardinal friend the other day, and thought I would take his picture today to share him with you. (It's through the screen- sorry!) He cracks me up. He does the same thing all day.  He flies in and chirps really loudly. Gets a seed.  Cocks his head to see if I am there.  Shows me his messy little crest. Then STARES at me.  I love him.

 





Have a wonderful weekend! :)