Back to School Communication Folders

Today is my last day of summer vacation.  Tomorrow it is back to work!  Kicking off the year with a teacher work day and back to school night.  I am overwhelmed with excitement and some anxiety.  I have those feelings of feeling prepped and ready, but not really at the same time.  I am sure you know what I am talking about.  I keep thinking of things I need to do and worry, worry, worry!  I don't think those feeling ever go away no matter how experienced you are.

This year is extra stressful!  We just moved back to Indiana from Korea.  I only have about ten boxes of teaching materials to kick off the year.  Those boxes are essentials only!  It costs a fortune to mail things from Korea.  I think I paid for everything in those boxes three times over just to get them here.  I have no classroom library, no math manipulatives, just essential files and decor.  The rest of my 40 totes will arrive a week and a half after school starts!  STRESS!  I will be getting my room ready while the year has started.  I don't see myself sleeping in the month of August/September.  In addition, we are buying and moving into a house the end of the month and my household goods/furniture/pretty much everything else I own will be arriving in Septemberish...... I am freaking out!

This year is also extra special!  My oldest is starting Kindergarten and she couldn't be more excited.  We had a Mommy & Ashlyn day yesterday and we B2S shopped until we dropped.  It was so fun to have alone time with this peanut.  Now, my youngest is going to be 3 in September.  Don't let that darling little face fool you......TERRIBLE TWOS IN FULL EFFECT!  Wow, she keeps me on my toes.  Love that little sugar bear to pieces!!!!

Now for some B2S talk.  I always use communication folders in my classroom.  This year I made Polka D.O.T. Folders (Daily Organizational Tool) that will go to and from school every day.  I order my folders from Nicky's Folders.

The folders look like this and they are perfect in every way.  There is a clear view pocket in the front and the back for sliding in pages and the inside has a "Return to School" and "Keep at Home" pocket.

I create my papers and slide them into the front and back of the folder.  Here is a picture of the folder I am using this year.

This folder style can be snatched up at my TpT store along with the folder styles I have used in the past.  I absolutely love them and LOVE that they keep me, my students, and my parents so informed and organized!

Here are some examples of my other folders also available in my store:

More Polka D.O.T. styles...

     

              

The S.H.A.R.K Folder above was the first set I ever made and has been very popular at my store.  It was actually the first product I put on TpT and has remained my number one seller.  I used to have a beach theme and have switched to polka dots and chevron, but I do miss these folders.  

If there is anyone else starting up their year in the morning, GOOD LUCK!  For the rest of you with some time to spare....LIVE IT UP!!!!

A Telling Time Freebie

There are so many great deals going on at Teachers Pay Teachers right now!  Lots of Christmas in July sales and even many freebies being given away.  I decided I wanted to get in on the fun and share a freebie with all of you.  My little store has finally reached 200 followers.  I know that isn't a huge number, but I am proud of myself and have a present for all of my fans!

I just downloaded a Time to Get Fit FREEBIE and it would make a perfect addition to your math stations.  Take a look and head on over to my store to grab up your free copy.

Have an amazing Friday blogging friends and terrific teachers!  Big hugs to you and relax as much as possible.  Our little summer extravaganza is about to come to a conclusion!

Las Vegas Review

I longed to go to the Teachers Pay Teachers Conference forever.  I would click on the registration and start to register and then change my mind.  I wasn't sure if my schedule was going to allow me to go because my girls and I had just made a move from South Korea back to Indiana.  Finally, just a few days before the conference I decided I was just going to do it.  I booked that trip and I am so darn happy I did!

For starters, booking at the last minute has its ups and downs.  The down was that my flight cost just a little bit more than I would have liked.  However, I got over that really quick once I got to Vegas.  Oh my heck!  The Palazzo was amazing and they sure spoiled me!  I knew something was up when the guy at the front desk said, "we are going to spoil you tonight."  Well folks, booking at the last minute also has its ups and by ups I mean super, special perks.  I got to spend the night in a king suite?!?!  What the what!?!?!  I walked around that room giggling and laughing like a child.  I have a 2 and 5 year old, so having that suite to myself for awhile was out of this world!

I flew in Thursday night, so I pampered myself in that room and prepped for the big conference day!  That consisted of relaxing in the jacuzzi, laying my clothes out for the morning, and laying in that king sized bed I had all to myself!  It really was so amazing.  I NEVER get alone time and believe me when I say I was soaking it up!

The conference was everything I imagined it to be and more!  The keynote speeches were perfection.  I learned Amy from TpT is just a sweetheart, Paul Edelman is "good people", and Deanna Jump is just so stinkin' adorable!  The sessions were so informative and beneficial.  My sessions were led by Amanda Nickerson at One Extra Degree, Erica Bohrer at Erica's Ed-Ventures, Cara Carroll at First Grade Parade, Hadar at Miss Kindergarten, and Erin Cobb at I'm Lovin' Lit.  I was star struck throughout the day as I constantly saw teacher authors I love and bloggers I adore.  I was so busy chatting and soaking it all in that I truly didn't take many pictures.  Here are the few that I did snap. 

Okay, Deanna Jump is so adorable and sweet in person.  I felt like a giant standing next to her and had to retake the pic after seeing it.  I decided if I bent over a bit I wouldn't look so huge!  I was star struck when I met Amy Lemons.  She has been an all time favorite from the beginning.  I felt silly when I met her because I honestly felt like I said everything wrong.....like telling her "I felt like a stalker" trying to get a pic with her!  Seriously!  Not the right choice of words!  Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants is also a favorite and I was thrilled to see her.  The Fluttering Through First gals were as sweet as could be!  All day was an endless jolt of excitement.  Everywhere I turned I saw my TpT stars!!!!  The gal below from First Grade Centers and More was so much fun!  We kind of adopted each other for the day and had some fun during the last session and happy hour.

I am already thinking about next year!  I can't wait to go again and refuse to miss the opportunity.  If you didn't go this year, you must start planning for next year.  You won't be disappointed!

Teachers Pay Teachers Conference

Okay, so it is Sunday night and I just decided I was going to go to the Teachers Pay Teachers Conference and totally just booked everything last minute!  I am so excited!  So, I am dying to know if you are going?????  Comment below!

So Many New Products

 I have been working on many projects and here are some of my newest.  My Adopt a Pond Pet Unit was a big hit, so I have created an Adopt a Desert Critter Unit with tons of desert information and activities.

I also created some "Crazy Cute" beach themed items, Crazy Cute Behavior Clip Chart and Table Numbers.

Sweet Kiddos Table Numbers.

A couple of organizational and communication products.

Also, some back to school printables.

I have lots of great things in the works, so be watching!

Teacher Appreciation Giveaway!

I am having a giveaway! A very lucky winner will receive a copy of each of my three life science units: All About Animals, Animals at the Zoo, and Adopt a Pond Pet.

All three of these Units are packed full of animal fun! You can check them out at my TpT Store by clicking here. Good luck! These units would be perfect for the end of the year, especially if you are doing field trips to the zoo or walking trips to enjoy nature! Enter below!!! I hope you all have a perfect Teacher Appreciation Week and get showered with love! Also, don't forget about the big TpT sale May 6-7!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Who doesn't love a great read aloud?  We are educators, let's face it, we are all obsessed with children's literature!  I am an addict!  I can't get enough!  I have thousands and I can't stop!  I have a special cart in my room right beside my chart stand and carpet area.  In that cart I hold the ultimate treasures.  The most royal of all my books!  The READ-ALOUDS!

Topping the special read-alouds list is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.  I can't even explain how much I adore this book.  I don't go through a school year without it and I long for the moment I get to read it to my students.  I love watching them devour every word, every event.  For me, their excitement makes me feel like I am reading it for the first time.  Since I love this book so very much, as well as the kiddos,  I had to create some great resources to go with it.  I just completed a 100 slide product full of resources for this book:  Graphic organizers, sequencing mats, writing helpers, books, flapbooks, literacy center activities, guided reading resources, vocabulary cards and activities.  I can't wait to add it to our Edward Tulane experiences in the classroom.

Just a VERY small sample of some of the activities/organizers in this resource pack!

 

I love the idea of this Journey book below!!!!!  The students can write about and add clothes and backgrounds to Edward in order to depict his journey!

                                 

The book has 27 chapters and I have created what you see below for every single chapter.  There is a variety of activities you could do with the vocabulary cards and the worksheet can be used to write definitions or to use the words in a sentence.  There is also room for an illustration.

There is SO MUCH in this product to go along with this story.  I have shared just a small portion of examples.  If you should decide you need this as much as me, you will be so happy with all that is included.  I hope you will click HERE to go check out the product and download the preview.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you had an amazing Easter weekend with your family, church family, and friends.  He has risen!  Have a blessed week!