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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

All Jumbled

I've been on this blogging adventure for about a year now.  I often wonder if it's a journey I should continue to take. I love being able to express myself, and share the freebies that I share with you.  I enjoy chatting with some of you through the FB fan page, and corresponding with you through email, and that makes me SOO happy and I truly do enjoy it!

With that said, do you ever feel you're not up to par?  I'm sure it's a feeling most of us have had at some point in our lives.  It's a feeling that has hit me after seeing some of the great stuff out there---whether it is on blogs, TpT, or Pinterest. 

Goodness, Pinterest.....where on earth do people get the time and/or money to decorate their classrooms? I love my job, and want my students to be comfortable, but some of them have a hard time taking care of things.  For example:

This is my WONDERFUL reading hut...Down to the little burlap like bags on the bottom (to prevent scraping/scratching the floor). I LOVE This. The kids loved this....but one day, I was absent, and one of my kiddos got a hold of it, and pulled all of them off the legs.  Granted, it's an easy fix---but still.  I would hate to know what would happen if I added more things to my room.....believe me, I'd love to have my room all cutesy, but *sigh* 

I admire so many teachers.  This blogging journey has put me in touch with some really great people....people who have changed my teaching lifestyle and have made me a better teacher (I think)......so what was I like before? Ahh, there it goes again...that feeling.....

Anyways, enough of my being all glum.....man I wish I were a glow worm!!

I was going back through some of my old stuff from last year.  I've revamped one of my workstations that I do early in the year. 

There are 8 sentence scrambles that are color coded. I find this makes it easier earlier in the year.



 These are for students to use for recording purposes.  They will unscramble the words and make sentences.  They write the sentence beside the correct picture and then they can color the picture accordingly. I've also broken it down to just 4 sentences, due to time restraints/abilities--you will find this in the download.

 The pictures below are color coded to match the color coded words.  Add a piece of magnetic tape to the colored words.  Tape the recording sheets (seen below) onto a cookie sheet.  Students can arrange the words in order and place them on the lines.  You wouldn't have to use them as a writing activity.  Again, these are broken into smaller pages in the download (4 sentences at a time, instead of the 8).
There are more suggestions and detailed directions in the download.  If you would be so kind as to comment if you grab you a copy, I'd appreciate it.  Thanks for listening to me ramble tonight.


 Click on the image below to grab your **FREEBIE**

38 comments:

  1. Thanks for the freebie!!
    Blessings,

    Jessica Stanford
    Mrs. Stanford's Class
    I hope that you'll join me for my giveaway ♥

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  2. Oh no, say it ain't so! You're thinking of leaving? Of course whether you keep blogging or not is up to you,but I'd be sad to see you go. I enjoy the comraderie (I hope you know what I mean. I don't think I spelled that right.). I hope you'll keep going.
    _Chrissy
    First Grade Found Me

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  3. I totally know what you mean about the kids being a little destructive. It actually hurts my feelings when something gets broken...thanks for the freebie, I can't wait to use it!

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  4. You should definitely stay and blog!! You shouldn't think you're not up to par! Everyone has someone who they THINK is better than they are...but nobody is perfect! We all have different ideas and contributions to this amazing world of teaching and blogging. :) That's what makes teaching blogs so much fun to read!

    Your little rhyme CRACKED me UP! I think I laughed a little too hard when I read it! :D

    Sarah
    Miss A's Kindergarten

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  5. Thanks. I like how you give some suggestions for uses. Those tips help a lot!

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  6. Um DeAnne, you can't stop blogging! We all love you and we'd miss you like crazy!!!! If you don't feel like blogging, take a break. Or blog once a week. We'll still be here :)

    Journey of a Substitute Teacher
    Endless Pinabilitites!

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  7. Don't go...! I like that you broke it into two activities. Eight sentences was too much for my kiddos to start. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. Don't go! I would have never known that you sometimes don't feel up to par. I've just discovered the world of blogging and making rooms cute. I had no idea that teachers decorated their rooms like their homes and even had themes! Thanks for sharing the things that you make.

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  9. Thank you for the freebie! I look forward to reading your blog everyday!!

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  10. Stop all this nonsense talk!! You're amazing!!!
    ❤Teri
    A Cupcake for the Teacher

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  12. *Sorry, major typo in the 1st post & that really bothers me :)

    I totally understand what you mean about the kids being rough on things. My group this year was pretty destructive...you should have seen some of my poor books! Anything cutesy that I buy comes from the dollar store or Target dollar spot so that I don't feel too bad if it gets broken!

    I also think most people have felt like you are at some point (about continuing to blog or not). But I also don't think we are here to judge. We follow for a reason...we like what you do :)

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  13. Thank you for your honesty. I had a lot of things get destroyed or stolen. So for example I'm not sure I would ever have used an iPad or something really expensive in my room. I was sad all my sharpies and markers got stolen and I had two nice hole punches broken. We all do the best we can and make the best of it. Rooms never look like Pinterest at the end of the day anyway

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  14. Thanks so much again for the download!! You come up with such fabulous stuff. I love following you. I think you and so many that blog are helping me and others become better teachers. We are always looking for new ideas and ways to excite the little ones to help them learn.

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  15. Thanks for the freebie! And please keep blogging/creating. I have found some of my favorite stuff on your blog!

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  16. You're not alone...I think we've all been there! Thanks for brightening my day with this awesome freebie! I love using mixed up sentences. Thanks for taking it an extra step with the color coding and coordinating recording sheets...perfect!
    Michelle

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  17. Hey DeAnne! Thanks for the great Freebie! Isn't that Skippyjon Jones the cUtEsT thing ever!?! And yes! I always need a shopping partner {that's 4 hands to carry "treasures" instead of just 2! lol}
    Christie :)
    First Grade Fever

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  18. Thanks for this and all your freebies. I love your blog and get so many great ideas from you.
    Maria

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  19. Thanks for all you share. I think feeling like we can always do more or improve is what makes us good teachers. Keep up the great blog!

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  20. Thank you for the freebie. Through all of the blogs I have learned that there are MANY wonderful teachers out there and your blog is one of the ones I really enjoy reading. I am amazed at all the things people do in their rooms and I feel I pale in comparison but I know I am doing the best I can and giving it my all. You ROCK:)

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  21. Thanks for the great freebie. Love it and your blog. Thanks for all the sharing:-)

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  22. Thanks for sharing. It looks like fun and perfect for my reading students. I will agree with you about what people do to their rooms. I think it looks great but I don't have the time or money to attempt some of them.
    Have a great 4th.
    Megan
    mhorman@north-cedar.k12.ia.us

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  23. You exemplify the fact that the best teachers are life long learners. Thank you!

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  24. Thank you so much for the freebie.
    eeyore2093@yahoo.com

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  25. I think Pinterest is amazing... and beyond my ability (time, money, effort, energy) to do. I would love to create a beautiful classroom of my own with a pretty theme and all of that. But I'm just happy at the end of the day that my classroom is clean. I have had destructive students... some Pinterest ideas are EXPENSIVE, I just can't think of putting that much into my room (and then want to change it because I'm "done" with that them, or sick of it.

    PLEASE stick it out, blog some more, when you feel like it. I love reading your blogs, and catching you on FB. Don't go away, don't be intimidated by other's classrooms. And remember, it's not what the rooms look like, it's the learning being done there.

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  26. I am in the same boat. As I start up my blog and TpT venture, I am getting overwhelmed by all the wonderful things out there.
    Don't be too hard on yourself, you are fantastic! I love your classroom and your reading hut. Adorable! I wish I could get that creative with decor in my room. My school is way too strict with fire-code. Let's be honest, if my room catches fire, it is all going up in flames, not just the 3d decor!

    Cute cute reading space!

    Kristen

    I do, We Do, You Do!

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  27. Hello,

    I'm your newest follower and it would be sad to see you go! One of the best things about pinterest and blogging is that we are all so different. I would never think up some of the things I've seen, but perhaps you wouldn't think up the same things I do. I know that pinterest and teacher blogs have greatly improved my own teaching.

    As for classroom decor, some of that is time, some of it is personality. I'm just not good at decorating--even my home is boring as for as decor goes. But I know that I'm really great at keeping my students engaged and learning fun. I think that's far more important in the overall scheme of things.

    Hang in there! You have over 700 followers. That's something awesome!

    Joell
    Totally Terrific Teaching home of 11 followers! :)

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  28. Thanks for the freebie....I agree - this teacher/blogging world is awesome ---so many great teachers/ideas/ways to improve our teaching and give back to our profession......but that also makes it easy to compare ourselves with everyone else....and start to feel "not up to par". I'm also not into super cutesy room decor - more practicality. That's ok because Deanne we are REAL teachers....and teachers want to see REAL as well.

    And, Deanne - I've also have to re-adjust my priorities lately. I became too consumed with blogging and creating things that I was running a full-time job during my "vacation". I decided to take a step back and relax a little.

    I still love blogging and creating, but it can't come first. I have a family and life is too short! Do what makes you feel good and enjoy what you have built here! :0)

    Jeannie
    <a href="www.kindergartenlifestyle.blogspot.com>Kindergarten Lifestyle</a>

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    Replies
    1. Great advice about taking a break. I often feel so guilty because I spend way too much time on the computer....lots of times even when my husband is home. I'm going to make a change!

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  29. Follow your heart! You know I think you're great and tons of others do too. We'd miss you! Please don't quit because you feel inadequate. You're amazing. But if you decide you need to stop, do what you think is best!

    Tessa <3

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  30. I just found your blog and am LOVING it! I'm a first grade teacher as well and really enjoy your items and your rambling. :) I'm now following you. I just picked up your button also!

    Jen

    www.AdventuresinMrsMartinsRoom.blogspot.com

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  31. I hope you continue to blog! I definitely know how you feel. It seems so silly but it's hard not to feel sub par with all these crazy classrooms. I too teach in a very low income district. What's most important to me is that my students feel safe and valued. Who cares how cute the room is!!!!

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  32. I must tell you that I feel the same way all the time. I see all of these blogs and their classrooms and I feel inadequate ALL of the time. I also feel like I am not giving my students the best because I don't have all of the cute workstations that all of these folks make! Very frustrating. I too have thought that maybe I should not be in the blogging world as well - because of how it makes me feel not up to par and because I spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME on the computer now! SIGH :( I love your freebie - thanks so much - and hang in there!
    Mrs.Egley’sKindergarten

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  33. Hi DeeAnne! I'm your newest follower! Thank you so much for the freebie!! Your concern that you are not up to par lets all of us know that you are. Your heart's desire to be the best for your students is the most important thing about being a teacher. If you didn't care, then you wouldn't be a good teacher!

    Melissa
    Frogs in first grade

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First Grade and Fabulous

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