31 bag giveaway!

I love 31 and the bags you can get from them! I have a really nice lunch box from this company already! Of course this is a company like Tupperware where you need to know someone who sells or is having a party to order.
To win a really cool bag from 31- Go 4th with Mrs. Owens is having a giveaway!




Good luck! I know I am hoping to win this one! Love this company!

If you like Facebook, you'll Love Google Circles!

Google Circles is the new "Facebook"- I guess you could say. It is only in a testing phase and only "so many" people are going to be able to test this. I was lucky to be invited by Erin at Kleinspiration and want to extend and invitation out there to any of my followers who would like to be a part of this.

The only think I ask is that you be a follower of my blog, and comment to this post with your e-mail address stating you are a follower! :)

The Book Whisperer- Chapter 3

Loving this book! It is really making me think of how I want to "arrange" my reading block to accommodate self selected reading. I loved the part where she mentions WHEN reading should occur- and classroom interruptions is one of them. I am not sure why I never thought of this, but it makes perfect sense. An adult walks in my room and needs something, and the kids just get out a book and read! I plan to try it out this coming school year. Of course, I like when she stated that kids should just read when they finish an assignment early. There are always early finishers! I sometimes let my kids write in their writing journals as well when they are done.

Loved this quote:
"Resolve to edge in a little reading every day, if it is but a single sentence. If you gain fifteen minutes a day, it will make itself felt at the end of the year." - Horace Mann

In this chapter, Donalyn discusses how students do not need a specific PLACE or ENVIRONMENT to read. I find this so true. I see other teachers responded on other blogs about how they have restrictions on these "no boundaries" and I agree- I do too. I will not let a student sit under either of my two desks. This spells trouble to me. I also don't let them in any area I cannot specifically see them or near anything they might take- as I have had thieves in the past.

I cannot wait to put more of a focus on self selected and independent reading!

The Book Whisperer- Surveys

I love the idea of giving an interest survey at the beginning of the school year! I really want to tap into my kids" interests this coming school year in hopes to engage them more in reading. I was going to make a survey more "first grade friendly" but Brenda at Primary Inspired made a perfect one- so why reinvent the wheel- right?  :)  You have to check it out!

I already read Chapter 3- thinking it was next! So I guess I am ahead- look forward to discussing Chapter 3 with everyone!

Fonts Linky Party!

Finally in First is hosting a linky party for FONTS! I love fonts and will post a few of my favorites. I believe most of them are from Kevin and Amanda - so swing over and check those out as well. If you can't find one on that page try doing a google search- I am sure you will find it :)  Enjoy!

A little birdy giveaway!

A Little Kinder Told Me So is having a give-away! Hop on over to her page to check it out!!! There is a Target gift card in there!!  :)

Think Tank

Happy 4th of July! Here is a freebie I made last night! My room is ocean themed and I wanted a sign for my "time out area"- just to make it "labeled", I thought I would share it with everyone.

Think Tank


This is my first time attempting to use google docs on my blog. Let me know if it does not work!