Long time---NO see!!!

Sorry for the delay in posting. Changing schools and grade levels has overtaken me and proven that I really needed the change more than I ever knew. Isn't it amazing that the Lord knows what we need before we even know it?? HE truly is AMAZING! I praise him daily for allowing my husband and I the opportunity to grow and learn in this new environment.

We are busily working on decorating our halls for Christmas. We will be having a Polar Express ride in a few weeks. I will attempt to post pics of the activities as we do them. I am not going to promise anything.

I wanted to post some of the Christmas ideas I've used in the past.

 We made the grinch face. On the mouth I attached a saying that said, "To make the Grinch smile I would.....". I got this idea from my mom (who also teaches K). I am not sure of where she got the original idea.

 This santa was a Pinterest find. I gave my 3rd graders (last year) the paper and allowed them to cute the body and legs. I already had precut the head and feet. Super cute and super easy. This craft took some time, even for 3rd graders. I haven't decided if I will attempt this with K though! :)

 We read the story The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy and did this cute craftivity to accompany it. I got this idea from Amy Lemons-Christmas Craze! Unit. It is great to review the beginning, middle and end of books.

 We created a Techy Santa. We wrote on our make believe iPads what we wanted for Christmas. This came from Reagan Tunstall's Techy Santa unit. I love her stuff. It is creative and cute but has tons of meaning behind it. I love crafts that have meaning behind it.

 This was my door last year at my previous school for deck the halls. Super easy!! I gave each child an ornament printed on cardstock and allowed them to use magazine clippings, scrapbook paper, etc to decorate their ornament however they wanted. Turned out to be very unique! Got the ornament idea from First Grade Blue Skies.

This was created by the 2nd and 3rd grade students last year. We painted handprints green and made them into a Christmas tree.

I just thought I would share some things I have done in the past, to try to help me get into the Christmas spirit in my classroom. I have my tree up at home. SCORE!!!! I am working on getting everything in place to post pics. I LOVE Christmas and decorating but I HATE taking it down. Can I get an AMEN? Hope you have a fantabulous week! Of course I have to add a huge ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!! Sorry not sorry!

Behavior Calendars--SALE!!!

Who is ready for fall????? ME!!!!!! I love fall!! Mainly because that means it is time for FOOTBALL!!!! I love to watch the TIDE ROLL!! I have been busily working in my room trying to keep my head above water. Moving grades and schools can rock a "wanna be" organized gal's world. Just saying! LOL! I am still looking for and finding things that I lost in the move to my new school. Slowly I will locate my MIA items. One of the items I lost was my behavior calendars I have used for years. Guess that mean I just needed new ones!!!

I have created behavior calendars for October-July. A behavior calendar provides great communication between you and parents about behavior. It allows you to share the action the child took without having to write a note to the parent. I also add my colors that correlate with my behavior clip chart so that the parents can see what color their child was on that particular day. It gives students ownership of their behavior when they are the ones coloring the calendar instead of you. I am placing these on sale for this week!!! Go get them now--because everyone loves a SALE! I hope you find these helpful. 

Blessings,
Elaine

Lacey Walker the Nonstop Talker Craftivity

We are in week five of kindergarten and I am loving it more every single day!!! Now are there days I am about to pull my hair at the end of the day...of course. However, this is the most rewarding grade I've ever taught. 

We have really been working on rules and routines and we read the book Lacey Walker the Nonstop Talker. 

We talked about being a good listener. I got the activity idea 

from The First Grade Parade. 

I created the anchor chart with sticky notes that will help me be able to reuse it next year. :) We brainstormed ways to be a good listener.  We did a little teacher directed activity where the kids got to put together a little sentence and create their own little Lacey Walkers created from construction paper and old scrapbook paper.  It was tough having to listen to and follow directions…  The labels at the top are the students names. I print them off and use them on several crafts at the beginning of the year when the students can't quite write their names yet. I also got this idea from Cara Carroll at The First Grade Parade.

Whew!  It’s definitely been a BUSY week and I.AM.WIPED. 

Hope y’all are having a GREAT week!!!

Behavior Calendar and My Name is FREEBIES!!!!

Well, I have survived the "until Labor day" with Kindergarten. To say that I love it is an absolute understatement. I love my new school and co-workers! God truly does work everything to the good to those who love him! I posted a couple of freebies on TPT this weekend.

I posted a behavior calendar that I'm using to help students have ownership of their behavior/actions. I am trying to really reiterate the fact that we need to make good choices. I allow the students to color the color that their magnet lands on that day.

You can download it HERE.

We are also working on writing and recognizing our name. I downloaded the My Name Has.... This document allows students to see how many letters are in their name.

You can download it HERE.

The first few weeks have gone very smoothly. May you enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Blessings,

Elaine

NEW grade and NEW school

As most of you know I got a job offer last minute.. (like really last minute) and it was TOO FABULOUS to pass up! And guess what?!!  It’s in Kindergarten!!!  Although I was super sad to leave my 3rd graders, I was super excited to start a new journey with kinder babies! 

I am at an amazing school and I absolutely love my grade level team and my faculty!  Everyone has been so welcoming and supportive, it was a joy to be a LION again!! My husband got a job in the same school system and is working at the high school. He and I feel totally blessed with this opportunity.

Here is the new coach, health/PE teacher of HHS!! Love him so much! Glad he is now a Haleyville LION too!!!

Well, I got offered the position on a Friday and in-service started that following Monday.  So I had one weekend to set up my classroom before I would be in training and meetings all day.  Whew, was that weekend CRAZY, CRAZY!! 

Here’s how it all started.

Excuse my dad---in the pic... couldn't have made it without my family helping me thru this process!!! He moved hauled and moved some more! Love that man!!!

Totally blah right?  I had A TON of work to do!

Well after A LOT of work and help from my family and friends, it started to come together.

Here are some pics of the final product! 

 This is the view from the front of my classroom.

My desk area 

 Writing Center

 My LION crates that hide my computer cords. Thank you Mrs. Beth for the idea!!! Love you to the moon and back!!! You have been the most helpful and kindest person. BIG love!!! 

 Focus Wall and Calendar

Meeting Area. 

 My door-Don't know why I didn't take it with the door closed. Don't ask. LONG weekend!!! I made the letters with my Cameo.

Hallway 

Hallway names with GLITTER clothespins!! 

 Had to add one more lion!!! Can you tell I am back at home???

 First day of school selfie

 One of my sweet kinders brought me a back to school gift!!! :)

I could not have made it without this lady here! She took her last few days of summer and spent day and night literally with me helping me, even through some of my mini meltdowns of feeling overwhelmed. If you know me at all, you know I don't do unorganization and this about killed me.

My sweet mom sent me a ROAR LIONS bracelet for my first day of school. She knows the way to my heart---jewelry! She is happy---- I am a LION again too!!! 

My sweet friend that was once my majorette sponsor sent me a HAPPY too! Thank you so much Trallo! I big pink puffy heart love you!

Thank you to every single person who helped, cheered me on, checked on me, called or texted to tell me congrats. Your generosity did not go unnoticed. I appreciate all the love, prayers, and most of all the HELP! I am settling in and LOVING being back home! God truly does answer prayers! 

I love this sign from Hobby Lobby and plan to buy it at my next outing. This is truly a DREAM come true for Lee and I . Thank you Lord for giving us this opportunity to teach and work in the town we live in and for me to get to teach at the school in which I graduated from. To GOD be the GLORY for GREAT things HE hath DONE!!!

Happy weekend! 
Phillipians 4:13

Monday Made It -Link Up

I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for the Monday Made It!!!

4th Grade Frolics

Well, this week I have a little different something to share with you for Monday Made It. If you are reading this and know me, you already know that I love (big pink and red puffy heart) all things MONOGRAMMED!!!!!

I am a monogramacholic!!!! I started monogramming in high school during my home ec class. It grew into a huge hobby of mine. For high school graduation, most students ask for cars, computers, etc. Nope not me, I asked for an embroidery machine. I got my first one in 2003 (the year I graduated--man that makes me feel old). I later graduated to an industrial machine, which I purchased in 2005. I started small and it grew, and grew, and grew some more!!!! I love it. I consider it therapy for me. I can't cook, I just sew!!! LOL! So this week, my mom had surgery on her shoulder (prayers needed). While she is recuperating, I chose to use this time to catch up on some monogramming that I have put off for myself. I usually do for others and seem to never have time to monogram anything for me. Here are some of the items I worked on:

This is a Comfort Colors shirt that I plan to wear to the gym.

This is one of those Columbia fishing shirts. I chose a men's medium and monogrammed it in a rather large font. I think it is actually 9 inches tall.  

I was pleased with the way it turned out. I am always looking for things to monogram or "bedazzle" up a bit. 

I have an unspoken prayer request. Until next time...... God Bless and Roll Tide!!!!

Monday Made It Link up

I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for the Monday Made It!!!
http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/

I have completed yet another home project until I can get into my classroom. My mom had an old desk that was my granddaddy's. She had been wanting to paint it for sometime. I decided to tackle the project with my Annie Sloan chalk paint. I used Florence paint and mixed dark and clear wax together.

I was pleased with the way it turned out. I am addicted to this paint now. I am heading to every yard sale and thrift store looking for something to paint. 

Check out my most recent addition to TPT. I am running a sale now through Wednesday. Until next time...... God Bless and Roll Tide!!!!