Tag, Math, and a Freebie

***********WARNING---This is going to be a LONG post********************************

Easter break was great!  Not long enough, but GREAT!!  I enjoyed being home with MY OWN kiddos, and baking in the kitchen (my facebook fans have already seen these pics, but I will share them again).  We made Sugar Cookies (and it's a no roll-no chill recipe---immediate eating lol) and peanut butter eggs--I had help from my kids, but don't they look yummy???  If you're interested, I had a few FB fans who wanted the recipe, so it's on the facebook fan page. :)

 

So, it was a great time at home---but ahh, back to reality (but not much longer until Summer Break--YEE HAW)

Okay---I've been tagged TWICE.  I know y'all are just dying to learn about me and my little quirks!  Okay, stop twisting my arm, I'll share!  Here goes.....

Lacey at Wild About Teaching  asks:

1. What grades have you taught and which was/is your favorite?

      I have taught 1st, 2nd, and 4th grade, and I have to say my heart lies with my firsties!

2. What is your favorite thing to teach?

     I used to think my favorite thing to teach was guided reading/phonics, but I have recently learned that I really enjoy teaching math too! :) 

3. What resource is your favorite and most-used in your classroom?

    I would have to say that as far as a teaching resource book, it would be Math Minutes from Creative Teaching Press.  I really love using those with my kids, and they love them too.

4. How do you start your day? Coffee, Sonic?

     I start my day every morning with a great big smile from my son when I go to wake him up for school (if he's not already up and playing on his computer or DS).  That honestly gets my day going (not to mention the hot shower lol)

5. What was your favorite teacher gift from a student?

     My first year I taught, I had a room mom (that I just LOVED) and she made me a quilted pillow with a school picture on one side, and the pledge of allegiance on the other that her daughter gave me for Christmas.  I still have it and love it!
6. What is your absolute, most memorable moment in your teaching career? 

    That's a good question.  I would like to say something wonderful about how I reached a student, how a light bulb went off, but I'd say it's that I'm finally in a building with a great principal who supports me and notices what I do in my classroom.  It took 9 out of 14 years teaching to get just a pat on the back----but my principal is HONESTLY awesome and supporting of our whole staff!

7. Do you want to be a classroom teacher for the rest of your career or do you have administration aspirations?

      I have no desire to be out of the classroom as an administrator.  I would like to maybe get into tech (just training teachers who struggle with email even), or become a literacy coach.  If it were outside of school--I'd own myself a bakery!

8. What is your one thing in your classroom that you could not live without?

     My students!!!!!

9. Do you have a class pet?  If so, what is it?  If not, what would you have if you did?

     I have about 20 of them----ohh you aren't talking my classroom full of animals ;)  No, no class pet.  If I had one, it would be a rabbit.

10. What are 3 fun facts about you (teacher related or not)?

     Random facts about me:

1) I have the nose of a dog--in that I can smell well (not that I smell--but my nose works well), TOO well, I can smell a cigarette from a mile away (that's just a "little" exaggerated)---sad thing is---it's usually odors I pick up---heaven forbid I smell peanut butter ;)

2) Maybe I've mentioned this before----but I met my husband online (we only lived 40 minutes apart---cool, huh?)

3) I can't believe I'm going to say this---but----I don't read.....shhh! Don't tell anyone.  I read blogs, I read magazines, I read cookbooks, I LOVE children's literature---but if you were to ask me what the last book I read was, I'd have to say---uhm.....Bailey Camps Out (it was a read aloud today after recess)...

So that sums up my questions from Lacey.  You can visit Lacey's cute little blog here:

Next up, we have the questions from Jessica at Confessions of a Primary Teacher.  Jessica asks:

1. What would you do if you couldn't teach?

    I would own a bakery!!!! :)

2. What is your favorite sport and team?

     Hmm, I think for the sake of my husband reading this, I will say Cincinnati Reds, and New England Patriots----but my favorite sport to watch is basketball, but only high school. 

3. What do you do to "get you through a rough day?"
    Stop, count to ten, and realize that it's only one day---and pray!

4.Where would your dream home be?
   Disney World ;)  No, really!!  ;) 

5. What is your favorite thing to do to relax? 
     I like to get in the kitchen and bake, or watch TV with my hubby.  On Friday nights, we catch up on American Idol as a family and pig out on pizza!

6. What is your favorite season and why?
     I love summer---my favorite things to do are swim and vacation...summer's when we get to do that.

7. What is your favorite subject to teach and why?
     I just answered this one up above ;)----but I love reading because I see the most growth with my firsties there.

8. Describe a student who has particularly touched you and tell why.
    I can't pick out just one.  I've been in several school districts, and all those districts have been very rough (family matters, behavior issues, etc.).  I am so glad that when they come to school, they feel they can trust me, talk to me, and I love them.  Sometimes that's more than they get at home. :(

9. Regular Coke, Diet Coke, or Neither?
     Diet Coke of some sort---but I'm trying to give up pop and drink more water (Ugh---how many more days til summer?)

10. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you while teaching?
    Sometimes it's just best to leave somethings "unmentioned" ;)

 You can visit Jessica's blog at the link below to see her adorable blog.

The rules of this are I'm to ask 10 questions to 10 other bloggers, but I'm not real great at doing that :(  But I do hope you stop by and check out the bloggers that Lacey and Jessica tagged and see how they answered their questions! :)

During break, I made a HUGE packet aligned to the Common Core.  I LOVE it!!  I included activities that will cover a variety of first grade skills.  Check out these pictures:

 You can visit my store HERE to check it out.

I will leave you with a simple freebie.  Our spelling pattern this week was ir/er/ur---Really???  I switched the words out (shh! don't tell anyone) and used them with some of those tricky sight words that my kids are still struggling with.  Here's a sight word spelling scramble if you'd like to download.

The words for our list are was (but could be saw), what, said, have, with, of, how (but could be who), has, and they.  These are also considered the "tricky words" for those of you who teach Wilson's.

Have a good evening!!!