Super Cute Teacher Binder Cover :)

Just in time for the big Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) sale, I have added my Super Cute Teacher Binder Cover download to Teachers Pay Teachers.  This is only 80 cents during the sale!!!



Of course the binder cover and spine for sale do not have any written information on them - you are able to customize it any way you'd like! You will get this:





It's a SALE!!!


Teachers Pay Teachers is having a Cyber Monday (and Tuesday) sale!!!  Save 20% on all of the items in my store for these two days.  Click here to go to my store.

Super Cute PowerPoints!

I've just uploaded a new creation to Teachers Pay Teachers.  It is a set of PowerPoint Slides that are pre-designed.  All you need to do is add a text box and type in your text.  You can also add photos or any other objects you'd like.  There are 10 slides total:  6 unique slides and 4 additional duplicate slides but with a slightly lighter background.  The whole set coordinates and is only $3.  Here are some examples:



Here's a closer look:







Here is an example of a few slides I made:







Candy Land - CVC Words

I saw an idea for using the game Candy Land with sight words so I went out to Target yesterday and picked one up.  After I finished writing sight words on all of the cards, I decided I wanted a version for my lower students who are still having difficulty with sight word recognition so I made a CVC word version.  Instead of buying another game, I made new cards to use with the game board and pieces.


If you'd like the cards, click here.

Have a GREAT week :)

TPT Back to School Sale!!!



It starts tomorrow!!!  Teachers Pay Teachers is having their BIG Back to School Sale!!!  You will get 10% off from TPT and I am adding an additional 10% off, for a total of 20% off! 

The sale runs August 12th - 13th.  Make sure to use Promotion Code BTS12 when you check out!

Hope to see you there!  Click here for my TPT Store.

Welcome Activity Mats for the First Day of School

I made these last year and loved using them on the first day of school.  I had one at each student's seat when they walked in the door that morning.  It was a GREAT activity to do together on the front and then let them finish the back independently while I tended to unpacking school supplies, etc.

These are to be printed on LEGAL-SIZED paper, which is 8.5 x 14.  If you don't have a ream of legal paper for school, go get one!  I use it a lot for students to draw on and for making booklets to fold in half - there's just more paper there to work with!  But I digress......

I put both grades in the one download (so you will get both First Grade and Second Grade in this download).  The pages are meant to be printed back to back (the "Welcome to _____ Grade" on one side of the paper and the drawing page on the other side.

Click here to go to TpT.  You can download the Free Preview to see exactly what you are getting (except the red "Preview" word will not be on the paid download).  Best of all, this is ONLY $1.00!!!






Back To School Freebie

I've got a little back to school freebie for you, a school-themed "Read, Trace, Write and Draw" activity:

Click on the photo above (or click here) to download it.  You can use this as an easy center activity- a no-brainer to keep it simple the first few weeks of school.  Great for vocabulary, handwriting, spelling, reading, etc..... skills.  Hope you can use it!

Vistaprint Goodies

I just placed a big order with Vistaprint and I can't wait to get it!  I also have a special promotion to share where YOU can get up to 80% off plus an extra $5.00 off your order if you click here:  http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/BbrCn

Let me show you what I got:



 These were invitations/flat notecards but I changed the wording.  I will send these home with the kiddos that learn all of their sight words.  By the way, these were free.


 Stickers


 Stickers - I put these inside their BEE Books that go home everyday so parents will always know where to find the website address.


 Notepad - We are the Gators (that's our school mascot) so I flipped when I saw this design!


 Sticky notes




 A pen (the bottom shows what the message on the pen looks like)


 These are Return Address Labels - these are very cheap and you get like 140 of them!


 Flat Notecards (more Gators!!!)




Notepad - Just thought this was so cute!


Stickers - Just to label stuff with :)
More flat notecards - love this design!
Check out this cute totebag!!!
The following items were free:
 Rubber Stamp
 8.5x11 Magnet
 











 Business Cards - I distorted some private info :) 
The fine print :)
Watch out for shipping!  After you add items, go to your cart and click on checkout to see what the shipping charges are - they can get high.  After you click on check-out you can go back to what you were doing, you don't have to check-out then....that's just a good way of checking the shipping charges.   You may also get free shipping if you order a certain amount, so look out for that.  I got all of my items (plus more stuff for my daughter that I didn't show here) for $45 (including shipping).  I feel like it was a steal for all of the personalized goodies (and I got multiples of several items, like 3 sets of the sticky notes, 2 sets of the notepads, 2 sets of stickers, etc.....). 
Here's the code to the discount again:  http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/BbrCn 
If you have any great Vistaprint ideas for school stuff, let me know!
  

Office Redo - Finally Finished!!!

I have been working hard the past week and I am finally finished!!!!  I painted and spruced up my office/craftroom.  I've been wanting to paint it for a long time and finally did it.  Did I tell you how much I love summer break???!!!  It's so nice to have the time to take things like this on!

I took a lot of photos:


I love the color!  When I started painting I was worried the color was too dark, but I starting really liking it after I got more on the walls.

I use this room for my office and my craftroom.  I have an L-shaped desk (counter). The computer side is where I do more of my "office" things and the other side is where I do more crafting.  I just wheel my chair over to whichever side I want to use.


This is my "cutting area".  I have my Cricut machine and laminators in the cabinets.  I just pull them out and use this counter when I use them.  I also have my paper cutter on this counter.  When I laminiate stuff for school, I do it on this counter and have my paper cutter right there to cut things up after they are laminated (center activities...and all the stuff I buy on TPT :).  I am tall and I LOVE having my tall table (it's a pub table) right next to this area when I am standing here laminating and cutting. I stand at this table to put everything together and it is the perfect height for me.  I used to have two bar stools with backs on them at the table but the chairs always got in the way so I got a stool that I can keep under the table and out of the way when I don't want to sit.



I got the cart/shelving in the back at Sams Club a few years ago.  I keep craft stuff here.  I also have a very large walk-in closet (where that door leads) with shelving for more craft stuff and school supplies.  I used to be on several scrapbook design teams and probably have enough craft supplies to open a store.  



A few more photos....





Another photo of the cart from Sams.



I picked up this bookcase from Target along with a lot of these chevron storage boxes.   I used to have a big cabinet here but like this open storage better.  (More craft stuff in the boxes on top of the bookcase). 

Now, on to my next project......decluttering my bedroom (I'm a little scared of my closet....it is amazing how much stuff you can put in a closet!).

Do you have any fun home projects going on this summer?

Four Types Of Sentences Charts

Today I attended a great ELA Common Core training.  One of our presenters said that we should use the correct terminology when talking about the four types of sentences with our first grade students.  I usually refer to sentences as "asking sentences or telling sentences" or a question or sentence that uses an exclamation mark, etc.  I always think its a good idea to expose the students to correct terms and LOVE to hear their little voices use such big words.  I came home with a list of things to do from my training and making charts for declarative, imperative, exclamatory and interrogative sentences was on it.  Here's what I came up with:




Don't forget to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!  Here are some of my new and best selling products - click on the photos to get more info!


My Original Writing Center - My best selling product!
CVC Clip The Sounds

Print Your Own Teacher Subway ArtPerfect for Gifts! 
Don't Get "Frozen" -  A Sight Words Card Game

Read It, Build It, Write ItAll 220 Dolch Sight Words Included

The "Blue Cat" Daily Five Posters

Reader's Toolbox of Reading Strategies

Marzano (Kid-Friendly) Rating Scales


Polka Dot Behavior Clip Chart with Daily/Weekly
Behavior Reports and Punch Cards
Chevron Behavior Clip Chart with Daily/WeeklyBehavior Reports and Punch Cards


Word Family HousesCVC and CCVC Words Included
The Ultimate Writing Center:  Chevron


Sight Words Superhero:  Everything You Need to Motivate and Reward Sight Word Recognition


Sight Words Superhero Add-On Pack:  130 Pages of Sight Word Games and Activities!


Mighty Minions Sight Words Card Game
Mighty Minions Read It, Build It, Write It


Author's Purpose Anchor Charts


Letter AND Sound Picture Mats
Interactive Word Wall Books

The Scientific Method Posters and Activities

Awesome Adjectives with "The Blue Cat"


Check out these MONEY SAVING BUNDLES:







And, don't forget to follow my store to get a free kit each month!!!  Past "Follower Freebies" include"


Click here to see how to get free kits each month:  Mrs. Gilchrist's Follower Freebies