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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Olympians

I have had fun doing lots of the activities from my {free} Olympic theme pack in Spanish with my kiddos this week.  I'm sad that the Olympics don't happen every year because I want to use these activities again next year!  {Oh, and because I love the gymnastics}  Anyway, here is the Olympian my kids made using a glyph.  I thought it turned out way cute!


The kids also got WAY into the Gold Medal scavenger hunt.  I thought they might be disappointed that the gold medal at the end was only printed on paper, but they weren't.  They were just so proud and excited to have found it!  I really am loving my group of kids this year;  they are so sweet & eager to learn.  Have you done any new activities this year that you have loved?
Monday, August 27, 2012

I survived!

Today was our first day with kiddos & I survived!  I only have 13 students in my class so far-- a.m.a.z.i.n.g.  I've always had a full class of 22, so today seemed like a breeze.  Our principal always says "Get 'em here, get 'em fed, get 'em home."  Mission accomplished.  If your first day was today, how did it go?
Friday, August 24, 2012

WilLd about 1st grade!

Whew... I've been hard at work over the last few weeks and finally feel like my classroom is complete. Here are a few photos of the finished product:
Thursday, August 23, 2012

Linky Party

I am linking up with Funky First Grade Fun to share my favorite book for building community in my classroom.  Being that I teach dual language, I love to remind my students that we are one big community no matter what language we speak.  It is okay if someone makes a mistake in what they are saying because that happens when learning a new language, and we should support our classmates rather than making fun of them.  I use the book "La Vaca que Decia Oink" to teach this because it is just SO cute.

In this story, there is a cow who says oink and a pig who says moo.  Throughout the story, the pig teaches the cow to say moo and the cow teaches the pig to say oink.  It is the perfect story to use when there are different languages being spoken in your classroom, and really encourages community.  Just like the cow & pig help each other, the students should help each other as they are learning two languages together :).
Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Giveaway & Strep Throat...

Go like my facebook page & enter a giveaway for my classroom organizational pack in English, Spanish, or both!  Who doesn't like free stuff??  I know I am all about the freebies.

By the way-- who gets strep throat the week before school starts?  This girl.  This was totally not in my plans... I'm sure I'll laugh about it later, but today is not the day :(.  T minus 5 days until the chickadees come!
Saturday, August 18, 2012

$1 find & student nametags

I love perusing the dollar section at Target.  I am so excited about what I found today!  I do a student of the day each day, and this person helps me with anything and everything I need.  They call tables to the carpet, pass out materials, hold the door, and many other things.  Our school wide theme this year is personal training/ Olympics based on Jon Gordon's book "Training Camp".  So... these medals are perfect for my student of the day because they tie in with our theme this year :).

On a different note, I am loving how my student name tags turned out.  I purchased the lanyards & badge holders off of Amazon for relatively cheap.  Then, I found these cute name tags at {you guessed it} Target in the dollar section.  I think these will be much more durable than just laminating a name tag & will hopefully last me all year.  Have you found any aMaziNg deals for your classroom lately?

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Word Work Centers

I just uploaded a new product to my TpT store & I am so excited about it!  I use the Daily Five and have been in need of some snazzy new word work centers.  I created five new center ideas that just have to be printed, cut out, laminated, and VoiLa :).  An added bonus is that they are available in both English and Spanish.  I would love for you to check them out & share your feedback.  What word work activities do you use in your classroom?



Oh... and T- 12 days until school starts.  Eeek!!
Saturday, August 11, 2012

Back to School Sale!


Head on over to my TpT store on Sunday & Monday to take advantage of the back to school sale.  You can get up to 28% off my items & many other items on the teachers pay teachers website!  The Classroom Organization Pack would be a great purchase to help you start your school year off with excellent organization in your classroom {it is available in English & Spanish}.  While you are there, grab my Olympic theme pack too.  Why not, it's free :).  T minus 16 days until school starts!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Drumroll please...

And the winner is...

Krista Carlson!  Congratulations!!  Your materials will be emailed shortly.  Thanks to everyone who participated =)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Giveaway & Word Wall Craft

Don't forget to check out the giveaway I mentioned in my previous post.  I will draw for the winner of a "Comprehension Checks During Centers" packet in English, Spanish, or both tomorrow night.  Just comment on my post for a chance to win!

On a different note, I recently created some "cutesy" labels for my word wall.  I purchased some scrapbook paper and stickers at Hobby Lobby.


And here is the finished product!


T minus 20 days until school starts... but who's counting?
Sunday, August 5, 2012

TwiSt & ShOut: Giveaway Time!

It's giveaway time!!  Leave me a comment letting me know what grade you teach and what language(s) you teach in.  I am giving away my Comprehension Checks During Centers pack in English and/ or in Spanish depending on what the winner would like.  I use these fun comprehension assessment tools everyday during centers to help keep the students focused while I am working with a small group.  Included are:

-20 comprehension questions to cut out, laminate, and put on a ring to use with a read independently center
-15 comprehension questions to cut out, glue onto popsicle sticks, and use with a read with a partner center
-6 comprehension questions to cut out, laminate, and paste onto a foam dice to use with a listening center

I used a less beautiful version of these in my classroom last year, and they worked great!  I did wait several months, though, before implementing the read independently questions with my firsties.  This pack can be used in first, second, or third grade classrooms.

I will randomly pick a winner on Wednesday evening & email you your packet.  Ready, Set, Comment!

*If you would like an additional chance to win, you may:
-Like Teaching with a Twist on Facebook & leave a comment there
-Follow my teachers pay teachers store & leave a comment there
-Download my free olympic pack (in English or Spanish), rate it, & leave a comment there

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Starfall Writing Journals

I just received my Starfall writing journals in the mail.  I love these journals for the beginning of the year for my firsties because the lines help them to practice their handwriting.  I have found that my kiddos have had trouble using regular journals at the beginning of the year, which is why I started ordering these.  There is also a big space for them to draw a picture, and you can get them for as little as 79 cents each!



Here is the link to purchase them:

http://order.starfall.org/k/shop2/productDetail.html?rp=teacher&item=NM601&_pid=UBtQFNCLwqIAASfUFEA&_c=0

I have been stocking up on items for my classroom like crazy.  August 27th is right around the corner... ready or not here it comes!!