READ Banner Giveaway Winner

Thanks to everyone who entered the READ banner giveaway and HI! to all of my new followers. :)

And the winner is... drumroll...

Class Full of Special Kinders!

Congratulations! You have 72 hours to respond to this post with your e-mail so that I can contact you! A new winner will be selected at random if this winner does not contact me. Thanks!

:) Andrea

READ Banner Giveaway

Thanks to Jaime from What's the Buzz, I've been a little Etsy-obsessed lately. I saw this banner and knew I had to have it:

Now, that's good news, because it's so cute! But the BEST news is that Johnell from the Bekah Jennings Etsy shop is donating one of these banners and one of YOU can win it! You might also want to check out her shop for other banners. She has many and they are wonderful! (Here is a code to use for free shipping on your first purchase: FIRSTSHIPFREE).

Here's how to enter:

(leave a comment for each item you do to gain entries)

1. Be a follower on my blog

2. Add my blog to your blogroll

RULES: Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. Must be 18 yrs or older. Giveaway ends Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 at 11:59 EST. Rules must be followed. Winner is selected using Random.org and will be emailed/contacted and given 72 hours to respond. In the event of no response, a new winner will be chosen. Blogger is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Prize fulfillment comes directly from participating sponsor. By entering this giveaway, you agree to have read these rules.

 

Good luck!

:) Andrea

Ceiling Tile Art

Did you see Abby's super cute ceiling tile art? I loved it and was going to go to Home Depot, but stopped by JoAnn's first to pick up some other supplies. I was about to leave when I spotted some 16 x 16 canvases on the clearance rack. Two came in a pack for $4.97!!!! They had quite a few left so hopefully your JoAnn's does as well! :)

You can see her ceiling tile (and other great ideas) here!

Andrea

First Day Treat

My niece, Peyton, LOVES Goldfish S'mores. They look like this:

She picks out the marshmallows, but will give you the honey or chocolate graham. One day, she actually let her auntie have all 3. Yum! So now, I buy a bag for her and a bag for me. :) Anyway, I know my first graders would love them, so I made a little first day of school label that I will attach to a baggie filled with these yummy treats! I got the s'mores graphic from cutegraphics.com. :)

And then I thought of another rhyme...I love to come up with songs and rhymes. (There were more for this label, but I won't post them!) Some of them are really bad (as my husband likes to tell me when I try them out on him), but that's okay. The kids like them! :)

:) Andrea

Cute graphics!

If you're looking for cute graphics to use for free, check out mycutegraphics.com. You can't use them commercially, but there are a lot of cute images that you'll love! :)

Andrea

Morris Goes to School

I am trying to get back into school mode. Slowly but surely. I don't go back as soon as some of you, but I know I'll be happier if I get some work done!

   Have you used this book at the beginning of the school year?

It's an oldie, but a goodie. I've used it with both 1st and 2nd graders and they love it! If you are interested, click below to download some activities to use with the book.

Morris Goes to School Activities

I hope you can use them!

:) Andrea

Bug of the Week

Since my classroom is all about ladybugs, instead of "Star" of the Week, I do "Bug" of the Week. I send home the directions, the poster to fill out and a special ladybug stuffed animal to read with in a ladybug backpack the Friday before they are Bug of the Week.
On Monday, I have the children bring in a poster (you can download it below). I usually try to copy it on large paper so that they have more room to write/draw.
On Tuesday, they bring in 5 pictures to share.
On Wednesday, I have their parent write "Did You Knows?" about their child and send them in. They LOVE this!
On Thursday, We make a special poster for our Bug of the Week. I put their picture (8 x 10) on a large piece of construction paper and I write their name under the pic and on top I write Bug of the Week. I try to make it look fancy. Then, all of the children sign it or write something special. At the beginning of 1st, most just write their name. By the end, we had BFFs and I love yous! :)
On Friday, they can bring in something to share with the class.

Each student gets a week and that is the only week they share, unless there is a special occasion. My Bug of the Week is also the person who takes down lunch count, is the line leader and answers the phone if needed - this is a REALLY BIG DEAL and if you try to answer the phone when it is not your week, well let's just say they'll let you know and it has only happened a few times!

This works for us because it doesn't take much time and it gives each of them a chance to share. I found these ideas online and just changed them to work for me.

If you'd like my "Bug of the Week" paper, (I also made a "Star of the Week" because I know that many don't use bugs), you'll find it below.

Bug of the Week

Star of the Week

Enjoy!
:) Andrea