Another Award? I'm floored!

Antoinette and Emily from 4321...Teach awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award .. how sweet :) Thanks!

 

There are seven rules for this award.

1)  Thank the blogger who nominated you!  Thanks Antoinette and Emily!
2)  Include a link to their site.  See above...

3)  Include the award image in your post.
4)  Give 7 random facts about yourself.

My Random Facts:

1. I own three cats ... not because I'm a crazy cat lady, but because I'm a sucker. I've owned my edlerly cat for 15 years. Almost 2 years ago we found kittens on the playground at school, too young to eat or care for themselves. And enter sucker ... me ... who adopted them because no one else would. 
2. My new favorite passion this summer is gardening. I get so excited to check every day for new veggies :) 
3. I've always wondered what it would be like to be an interior designer instead of a teacher. 
4. If I could live anywhere in the world, I would live somewhere in the Caribbean (as long as my entire family and all of my friends would more there too...)   
5. I'm addicted to Pinterest.
6. I love animal print ... especially ZEBRA!
7. Beginning blogging has been one of the most inspirational things I've done so far in teaching.

5)  Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.

   1. School Supply Junk @ True Confessions of a School Supply Junky 
   2. Kelly @ Fabulous in Fourth
   3. Vicky @ Traditions, Laughter, and Happily Ever After
   4. Jen @ 2nd Grade Glance
   5. Carmela @ The Diary of a Teachaholic
   6. Jenna @ Diving into Learning
   7. Miss 2nd Grade
   8. Amy @ Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons

Ok, seriously I know it says 15, but it took me an hour and a half to get this far? Is this normal??!! I was trying to find bloggers that have not received the award before, and so many of you are SO awesome, that you've received tons of awards. So, I think I'm going to quit. I'm tired and need to sleep!

6)  When nominating, include a link to their site.

7)  Let other bloggers know they've been nominated.

Award and Another Freebie!!

First, I want to say thank you to Stephani at Maestra Biligue for awarding me

 

I'll have to hand this award out to others later as I have a lovely BBQ to get to today. However, before I do, I created another freebie to go along with the daily 5 signs I posted yesterday. These are for CAFE! 

Click on the Image to download them! 

Please know that this product is an unofficial adaptation of the Daily 5 by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser and are in no way endorsed by the 2 sisters. You can visit their website here: 

The 2 Sisters 

If you download it, and can use it in your classroom, please leave me a comment and let me know how you use Daily 5 or CAFE in your room.

75 Follower Giveaway

I am so floored that I have 75 (well 76 now) followers. I wanted to say thank you by offering a freebie. I've really been enjoying our Daily 5 book study, so I wanted to create something to go along with it.

Here are some Daily 5 header signs you can display in your classroom, using graphics from Michelle at the 3AM Teacher (because I'm just obsessed with her work)! There are two sets, one with bird graphics from The Digital Bakeshop, and one without. Each set includes 5 signs, one for each task of the Daily 5. Click on the photo to download each set.

Enjoy! :)

Who Loves Pinterest?

I do, I do!!!!

I really do, a little too much maybe. But, I'm not afraid to admit it.

I love it so much, that I go on pinning frenzies ... and forget what I've pinned.

I'm guilty of pinning it and forgetting it. But, no more. I've decided to be a more responsible pinner. I need to go back through my boards and pins and start trying all of the amazing ideas I've found. Thinking about that this weekend inspired me to branch out in my blogging adventures and start a new blog about it. I've decided to blog about my pinteresting journey.

Here is a link to my first post: It's a Pinteresting Story

I'd love all of my fellow pinterest addicts to check it out and tell me what you think.

ALSO, I realized today I have 75 followers ... 75!! Wow! I'm flattered and stunned.

Because of that, I've decided to work on a freebie for all of you lovely bloggers out there. Be on the lookout this weekend :)

JUMP IN TO LEARNING with The Daily 5 Book Study!!!

Are you ready? Have you started? I hope so!

has begun their Daily 5 book study!! 
It just started yesterday, so if you haven't begun reading yet, there's plenty of time to catch up!
I really connected with the first chapter of Daily 5. The sisters talk about the "traditional" way we approached education, especially discipline. We I began teaching 6 years ago I was SO happy with my discipline chart. I used a pocket chart and die cut machine to make "tickets" for each student. The colors ranged from red to green. Green was, "Good to Go", and those students knew they were doing a good job. The other colors went in a range from yellow (warning), to orange (fill out a think sheet), to pink (loss of recess), to red (call home/office visit). I even had a purple ticket to reinforce positive behavior. Students on green setting a good example could earn a purple card which entitled them to a classroom dollar at the end of the day. Now, what could be better than that? Wasn't it a perfect system. The cards were even numbered to provide a little anonymity, (though after the first month of school the kids knew who was who). But, what if? What if the structural system in place negated the need for such a system? Could it work? Really? ..REALLY?  Has anyone tried this? Does it work in practice? I'd love to hear feedback and experiences!