Friday Linkies

It's the first Friday of January & it's linky time!

First up is Five for Friday.

1. My Friday Freebie

My freebie for today is my Snow Buddies Sound Box set.  This set would be perfect for literacy centers, small group instruction, or RTI. 

2.  My January Currently

I am soooooo tired of the ringing in my ears!  I'm on week 4 of some miserable flu/virus/bronchitis type illness.  I know I'm not alone in my misery ~ I've heard that this ailment is very difficult to kick.  Which, is why I really wouldn't mind an extra day of Christmas break.  Yes, I know we will have to make it up, but one more day to try to get better would be a blessing!
We put up five (Yes, 5) trees and lots of decorations.  It takes about a week to get everything up, and just about as long to take everything down.  I really need to start un-Christmasing my house.  I did go into school yesterday and took down Christmas decorations in my classroom.
This was the first Christmas without my mom (Dad's been gone for five years).  It was difficult, but I have great memories of her at Christmas.  We did get together with my siblings and their families for Christmas ~ we had fun playing a Wasemann Family Trivia game.  It's good knowing that our memories will go on.

3.  I'm part of a new blog!  I was so excited when I was asked to be an author of Who's Who and Who's New.  The blog will feature a daily post by different teachers about lots of interesting topics.
 

4.   My new Hibernation mini unit.

The first week back in January will be spent with lots of review (both skills and procedures).  There are a few things to finish up so I can complete my report cards.  I also want to do a mini unit on hibernation, so I made this set.  Click HERE if you are interested in purchasing it.

5.  Winter Wonderland!  Here are some pictures of what my yard looked like this morning.

 The barn and pasture.

 Our front yard looking towards the old barn across the street.

 My front porch.

 Our driveway.

Randomness

Happy Sunday!  I hope you had a great weekend!  Mine was super busy, so that is why my Five for Friday is late (again...  is this going to be a trend?)
                                                 
                                                      
The Kinder Diva team:  Patty, Becca, and me.  (Deb wasn't at school Friday)  A parent in Patty's class got these cool shirts from Etsy for us.  It was such an unexpected and wonderful surprise!  (She is a friend of Patty, so she knows all about Kinderdivaliciousness!)

 

Jolly Phonics!  Oh, how I love Jolly Phonics!  This is one of the "cheat sheets" that came with our set.  I laminated them so the kids could write on them.  I gave them a sound & they circled the letter/letters that make the sound.  This is the first year using this program, and I am amazed at how well they can decode & write words already!

 These are some little booklets from Teacher's Helper - check out the spelling!  They really, truly did spell these all by themselves!  Yay!  We haven't covered every sound/spelling yet, but so far I'm impressed!

                                                          
Butterfly release.  The county's agriculture vocational building is on our school's campus.  Lucky for us!  The beautiful gardens in our elementary courtyard were planted and maintained by the "AG" students, and they raised a flock (??) of Monarch butterflies.  The Kinders got to help the "big kids" by holding the butterflies as they were tagged.  It was a great educational experience!  The kids were so excited!  Of course, this proved to be wonderful writing prompt!  Check out the great work below!

 

                                                            

Red carpet event!  Well, not really a real red carpet, but a fun event anyway!  My daughter (Gabrielle of The 219) works for an advertising agency that was hired to help a local wedding venue to upgrade their image & presence.  To celebrate their new advertising plan a cocktail party was held last Friday.  Because Gabrielle's boyfriend is in the Marines, and is currently in California for training, I got to go!  Check out my dress - it was on clearance at JC Penney for $5.00! 

                                                         
October Currently.  Check out this fun linky at Oh Boy 4th Grade.

The kale smoothies were pretty tasty!  Gabrielle is really interested in healthy living, and likes to create yummy (although admittedly sometimes unusual) treats.  And, yes this is the same girl who whips up decadent cupcakes!  

One of the things I like about fall is the fact that I can bring out sweaters!  I own a few, er lots, of cardigans and sweaters.  I also am looking forward to wearing my fallish skirts with my cardies.

Speaking of clothing...  I'm thinking of my leopard print ankle pants from J Crew, a cute tee, and one of my cardies.  I think I'll wear my gold flats I got on clearance from Banana Republic Factory.  Ahhh, clothes.  I really love them!  

I have tons of cute fall/Halloween decorations that need to come out of storage.  Soon.

I am getting close to being finished with my math set.  Look for it soon on TpT!

Treat!  Click HERE for a little freebie.

Five for Friday, 300+ Followers Giveaway & September Currently

It's Friday, and I'm actually on time with my Five for Friday!  (I am a little late for my Currently...)  I am just now feeling that I have my act together have my head above water with all things concerning school.  I got my beginning of the year things turned in (you know, stuff like Sub Folder, daily schedule, blood borne pathogen quiz, etc.).  The only thing left on my beginning of year check list is to make my SLO student groups.  One more test to do next week, and I'll will be set with that.  But, all in all, I do have to say my year has started out pretty smoothly.  I almost have my Kinders convinced that they need to walk quietly in the hall without dragging their entire bodies along the walls.  I don't know how many times I've said, "You are not paint, get off the wall!"  They are getting fairly good at following procedures, and they are a pretty agreeable bunch of kiddos. 

1.  On Labor Day we went to the little parade that has been a tradition for fifteen years.  It takes place on the highway (two lanes in our neck of the woods), and is comprised mostly of tractors, firetrucks, a few horses, tractors, a 4-H club or two, some tractors, and lots of candy.

 Isabella's road candy.  (And a banana that was thrown by someone in a gorilla suit.)

2.  Apple Picking.  Sarah came over with the girls today.  We had fun picking apples.  I am amazed at the number of apples we have gotten from our little trees.  We picked this little Cortland apple tree clean.

 Isabella is sporting her new riding boots with her little sundress.

 Sarah picked this big honeycrisp!

 Olivia had fun putting apples in the bag.

 ...and taking them out of the bag.

3.  Here is a little freebie to go with a freebie.  If you didn't get the alphabet freebie from July, click here.  Now, click here to get this companion freebie.

4.  I am just now getting around to putting together a giveaway to celebrate over 300 followers!  Yay!  Thank you!  For this giveaway, I will send one winner everything I have for sale in my Teachers pay Teachers store, and a 2014 chevron life planner donated by my talented daughter (Sarah of Kinder Cakes).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5.  Finally, my Currently for September.

http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/09/currently-september.html

                              

Is It Cheating to Use One Post for 2 Linkies?

...I hope not!  This isn't the first time I've joined up with two linkies in one post.

First up is Five for Friday
                  
                  

1.  Granddaughters 1,2,3!

 Isabella at the fair. She loves horses, but wasn't quite sure about this draft horse!

 Olivia - Criss-Cross-Applesauce!

 Amelia - a little snuggle bunny!

2.  Sarah and I recently went to a workshop where we met Harry Kindergarten!  We were so excited to hear his presentation, and were not disappointed.  He is a fun and energetic speaker.  And, judging by the pictures and movie clips of his classroom, he must be a wonderful teacher!  

 3.  Yay!  I got my new cabinet!  I plan to use this beauty for Daily 5 activities.  Not sure why there are those random orange bins.  But what the heck, I am thrilled that we were able to get new cabinets!

4.  Some of my favorite tools:

 My tried and true Fiskars cutter.  I've had this for years, and it has seen lots of use.  I can't imagine life without it!  From scrapbooks, school projects, and 4-H posters, this baby has done it all!

 Cricut Love.  It may not be the latest model, but I love, love, love my Cricut!

 This is a nifty little tool that puts sticky onto the backs of things.  It's great for little pieces cut out by my Cricut - place them into the front, turn the handle, and POOF!  out the back comes your pieces all nice and sticky-backed ready to affix onto your project.  So very cool.

Wah-Hoo!  I have a laminater!  Thanks to the lovely teachers who purchased items from my Teachers pay Teachers store, I was able to buy My. Very. Own. Laminater!  I am really excited to be able to laminate game pieces, etc. at home.  These cute little birdies are going to help cute up my classroom.

5.  Gabrielle's friend got married last weekend, and she was one of the bridesmaids.  Doesn't she look beautiful?

Next up is August Currently

I have all the Glee soundtracks, and have never missed an episode.  I am saddened by the death of Cory Monteith.  What a shame such a talented young man died such a senseless death.

I am absolutely LOVING the fact that I have three darling granddaughters!  In a few years all three girls will be old enough to have a slumber party at Mimi & Papa's house.  Isabella has spent a few nights at our house already and we had lots of fun, so I can just imagine the fun to come!

I always get this melancholy feeling this time of year.  I really, really, really like summer vacation.  I really, really, really like being a teacher, too.  It's this transition time that is tricky.  So, I guess I need to make the most of the remaining time I have when I'm not at school getting ready for the new year.

Speaking, of which - I have so much to do at school!  My room is in pretty good shape as far as furniture placement goes.  I'm going to spend a couple hours at school tomorrow and Monday.

Back to school needs: 1. New outfit - check!  I have a cute new leopard print pencil skirt and taupe top
                                  2. Cute, organized room - getting there
                                  3. A good book - I like to purchase a new hardcover book to read at the start of the
                                      new year.  A trip to Barnes & Noble is in my near future!

Your turn to link up with Oh Boy 4th Grade  and share your current status.