Just Sayin'...

Moms everywhere should ban together and JUST SAY NO to team sports on Mother's Day.  (And every other holiday!)  I love my son and of course wanted to see him play soccer but really, coaches...why on Mother's Day EVERY year? 

And why oh why didn't I look at the price of the oh-so-ordinary Mother's Day card I bought for my own mother yesterday?  It was 5.99!  Really, Hallmark?  I know, I know...I should have looked before I bought it.  It really looked like an average $2.49 card.  I'm not cheap but...

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day to all of you out there celebrating and to those who aren't mothers but are loved just as much and often viewed as the second mothers of your students, you rock just as much!

Lovely weather day here in NJ.  I hope the weather is just as nice on Memorial Day since we're having a party.  Speaking of Memorial Day, here's a freebie for you.

My Buckets...

I know many of you implement a Bucket Filler program in your classroom.  When I started looking for "buckets" to display last summer, I came up empty until I saw these in Michaels. 

Aren't they bright and cheery?  They are part of Duff's (Ace of Cakes) collection. At the time, I bought them for $2.49...I think.  (Sidenote:  Did you know that Michaels gives a 15% Teacher Discount?  They reinstated the discount late spring last year after a LONG hiatus.)

Ahhh, I digress!

Anyway, I was at Michaels today and saw them on SALE for $1 so I grabbed a few more!   They actually had large ones (think ice bucket size) but they were full of dents. 

Sigh. 

I'm sure I could have found a good use for them!

Little Things Make Me Happy...

For years, my "paper shelf" in my classroom closet has been a disaster. DISASTER.  Sure, it starts off the year neat and tidy but quickly becomes an embarrassing mess.  Now looky at my 9x12 paper!  Why didn't I do this sooner?

I have two crates filled up and they're so, so, so easy to slide out so I can reach in and grab what I need.  No mess!  No flyaway papers.  Yea!  I no longer will have to cringe when a colleague opens my door to get paper. You can see the longer 11x18 paper next to this crate.  That's next! 

Estimating Anyone?

I always have an estimation station going on in my classroom.  I've learned how helpful it is to show kids what five or ten of the object looks like so they can make a better educated guess.  For Read Across America, I decided to move the station outside near the front office and make it a school-wide affair.  What fun!  (We are only a K-1 school!)

The baggie in front showed what "100" looked like.  I usually don't have such large quantities but I figured this was a special occasion! 

To make it easy (and to save time for our kiddos and teachers,) I actually had the teachers names on the recoding sheet so kids could easily circle them..  It looked like this.  (But precut, of, course!)

The winning guess was, I believe 405 or 605...I forget.  But I do remember who won:  a cutie from my class!  She got to take home a huge bag of goldfish covered in Dr. Seuss ribbon and stickers.

It was so much fun that we're thinking of having a school-wide weekly estimation station next year.  Since it's a small school, it should be easy to implement.  Do you have an estimation station?  Do you give out prizes to the winner? I've gone back and forth as to what I should do but have finally decided on letting the kids sign the Bravo Board.  They LOVE it!  I should take a pic and post it here.  I'd love to hear how you implement yours.

Here is a fun song you can sing with your class.  Enjoy!

And the WINNERS are...

Thanks so much to EVERYONE for following me and blogging about my Katharine books.  You left such sweet comments!  I planned on announcing the winner on March 1st but my new teacher portfolio (after teaching almost 25 years Ha!) was due on the 5th and then I had my final observation, etc.  You teachers know how it is!  BUSY!

So, without further delay, the winner of my six-book series is...

http://sweettimesinfirst.blogspot.com/

And I've decided to pull five other names to win ONE book of their choice as well since I made everyone wait!  So, the five winners who can select a book are:

http://firstgradeblueskies.blogspot.com/

http://babyboybecker0710.blogspot.com/

http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.com/

http://firstgradedelight.blogspot.com/

http://smilinginsecondgrade.blogspot.com/


Go to the post to see book descriptions and pick the one you want:

http://firstgradebloomabilities.blogspot.com/2012/02/chapter-book-series-giveaway.html

Send me your snailmail at lisamullarkey@aol.com.

Congrats!

Thanks and Seuss Song

Hi there~

I cannot tell you how excited I've been to "meet" so many of you the past few days.  I know I still need to respond to many posts and I'm working my way down the list to make sure I'm following all of you as well.  May take me a few more days but I'll get there.  (Oh... contest still open until March 1st!)

In the meantime, here's a quickie Seuss song to the tune of Bingo.  Click on it to download. 

Enjoy!

Knock My Socks Off and Give Me That Crown!

Who needs a Grammy or an Academy Award when are bestowed the Liebster Award?

I would like to thank Linda Nelson over at Primary Inspiration, my agent and manager, George Clooney for his never-ending faith in me, and Brad and Angelina and the kids for their love and support along the way.  I wouldn't be where I am without them!

Go check Linda's Blog and grab her new freebie game, Long I Bullseye, to help your students master the long sound and its most common spelling patterns.

Now for the hard part!  I am supposed to award the Liebster to five newish blogs who have less than 200 followers. I ran into a little 63 minute glitch...I could only find FOUR blogs that didn't have the award yet that met the criteria.  Over an hour searching in the wee hours of the morning! The good news is that I have now been introduced to 52 other awesome blogs! So, with a tap on the shoulder of each blogger and a sprinkle of Liebster fairy dust, I present the Liebster to:

1. Kindergarten Teacher, Tara West, over at Little Minds at Work.   Oh, how I admire the energy of those K teachers!  Go grab her freebie at her TpT Store for an Estimation Jar.

2. Check out the oh, so funny blog of first grade teacher, Miss Squirrels at http://goingnuttyinmisssquirrelsfirstgrade.blogspot.com/.   Really, reading her blog at 5am had me laughing out loud...several times! I heart first grade teachers but I double heart FUNNY ones!

3. Kaci Hoffer is a Kindergarten Teacher.  Visit her blog and get to know her!

4. Second grade teacher, Ms. Lies,  over at http://www.love2teach2.blogspot.com/ . She has a cute Lorax freebie posted.

Yea, bloggers!  Don't forget to check out my giveaway in the post below! FREE BOOKS! Have a great day!

Chapter Book Series Giveaway!

Yea!  I was thrilled to come home yesterday and see my author copies from ABDO!!!  In honor of Katharine's release (Set 2), I'm giving away all six books in this set to one lucky winner. How do you enter?

1.Follow me and leave a comment below. 

or

2.If you Blog about the giveaway on your blog or website,  you'll get FIVE extra entries.  (Just tell me in comments!)

A winner will be randomly chosen on March 1. 

A little background:  Katharine the Almost Great (Set 1) was published in January 2009. I stayed home to write for a few years and only returned to teaching this year.  I honestly loved doing author visits at schools but missed teaching WAY TOO MUCH.  Seriously.  I am so glad I'm back in the classroom where I feel I belong!

So, on with the contest!  Who doesn't need more books (GRL M) for their class library?  The characters are third graders but books are appropriate for kids in grades 1-4 and some wee ones also read them!

This one was inspired by a school visit at EJ Patten School in Perth Amboy, NJ. 

In fact, I dedicated it to them!

Katharine thought the school's art auction would be mucho mega fun. But it's no fun when no one bids on her bowl! To make matters worse, Katharine thinks Miss Priss-A-Poo is the secret bidder outbidding her on everything she wants. But when she spies something she really needs, Katharine makes a plan to get it. Will her plan cause more explode-a-rama bidding drama?

Someone's playing a trick on Katharine and Crockett -- a ring-the-doorbell-and-run-away-quick trick. Could it be The Invisible Man? Or is that Vanessa's shadow lurking outside their door? When Katharine thinks she knows who is Ding Dong Ditching them, she decides to get even. But her prank doesn't turn out quite the way she's planned. Can Katharine make things right again without getting zapped?

Katharine has a decision to make--a hairy scary decision! When her idol, movie star Penelope Parks, cuts her hair for charity, lots of Katharine's classmates donate their hair, too. Penelope says it's the only way to show you shine and sparkle on the inside. But Katharine isn't so sure she wants barely-there hair. Does that mean she's not a caring kid?

Katharine thinks writing is boring. Boring with a capital B. No matter how many details and dollar words she adds to her story, it's never enough for Mrs. Bingsley. Katharine wants a Write Stuff Pencil like everyone else. Even Miss Priss-A-Poo has one! Can she whip her story into shape before the Author's Tea and earn one?

Katharine and Crockett hope to make a splash during swim team tryouts. They want to earn a spot on the Stingrays, especially since Vanessa, the Unsinkable Garfinkle, is on the Sharks. When Katharine does a belly flop in front of everyone and gets caught telling an itty-bitty lie, she feels like shark bait. But when the Unsinkable Garfinkle faces her own troubles, will Katharine dive in to help her out?

Everyone's in the Christmas spirit . . . everyone except Mrs. Bingsley and Crockett! Mrs. Bingsley cancels the Secret Santa, doesn't laugh at jokes, and refuses to sing the new version of ''Jingle Bells.'' And Crockett's father has canceled their Christmas plans. Katharine knows they're both down in the dumps. Will her plan to become Santa's Secret Helper succeed and turn this ho hum season into a holly jolly holiday?

Good luck!  All are quick read-alouds with some good character education themes woven throughout!

An Amazing Giveaway for EVERYONE!

To celebrate having 200 followers, Mandy is giving away a FREE item in her TpT store to everyone that leaves her a comment with email address.  How cool is that? Then, from those comments. two lucky people will win a $10 Amazon Gift card and ALL of the items in her TPT store.  WOWZA! Good luck to all!

Helpful App that's FREE!

Do you have any kids that need to work on fluency?  I have six first graders who are working on this now.  Remember the days of having the kids record using cassette tapes?  So glad those days are behind us.  I just got three iPads for our class (yea!) and I immediately downloaded Quick Voice.  So easy to use and their readings can be saved.

Here's another way I've been using this app:

First of all, I feel like I've been living in a Seinfeld episode.  My class sure has its share of low talkers.  Remember that one?  I kid you not.  I am constantly saying, "Use your loud and proud voice."  It's February and it hasn't worked.  Well, this is where Quick Voice is helping!

I recorded all the kids saying, "Hello."  Guess which kids we couldn't hear on tape?  Guess which kids were SHOCKED and then bummed out? Now guess which kids are working on upping their volume?

I'm pretty confident their low-talking days are almost behind them.  And I'll save them from this fate:

That's why I heart Quick Voice!

Dr. Seuss Quotes

I had to take these down from TpT so now you can get them for free by clicking on first picture.  Enjoy!

Linky Party and a Question (HELP!)

Head on over to http://artistryofeducation.blogspot.com/2012/01/groundhog-predictions-linky-party.html to find some freebies for Groundhog's Day.  You may find something perfect for your little ones.

I am used to blogging on LJ.  To read my "friends" over there, I simply pressed a button and they all came up.  Easy peasy, right? I could simply go down the list and read it all in one spot.  For me to read my "followers" list, I seem to need to jump through hoops.   Do I always have to go to my profile to be able to do it?  I am sure there is an easier way here at Blogger. 

So can any of you wise ones tell me the way you do it?  I'm sure it's a no-brainer but my brain is a bit fried these days with portfolios and report cards due soon.

Thanks!

Need A First Grade Job in Utah...

after I win this from HGTV.  Fingers crossed!

Watching the special on HGTV now.
You know what they say: You have to be in it to win it!

My Most Effective "Signal" to Kids...

Happy Sunday!

We all have signals, claps, or little songs to get the attention of our students, don't we?  This year, I have a new one that is so effective, I had to share. It just came out of my mouth one day as I often sing little phrases to the song, "Are You Sleeping?"  (Like, "I am waiting, I am waiting, waiting for you, waiting for you...)

I use it only when I need to check in on an activity/assignment.  Example:  My kids will be working in groups playing a math game.  After 6-8 minutes, I might want to highlight a group's work or share something I saw that impressed me OR simply to stop them instantly and ask them questions or give further instructions.  (Now that we've practiced finding all the odd numbers up to 50, let's take it step further and find them up to 100 or If your partner helped you make your story better, tell us how, etc.  Lame examples, but I haven't had my tea yet!)

Here it is...simple, but oh, so effective!  (Tune: Are You Sleeping)

Me:  Let's chit chat, Let's chit chat...
Them: (making ok sign with hand and moving hand to beat)  A-Okay.  (Then immediately putting hands on heads, no movement with hands since they are firmly planted on head)  A-Okay.

By the second A-Okay sign, the room is silent, no one is writing or talking, etc. and they are all looking at me.

When I use it, they know a short discussion is coming ABOUT the activity/assignment at hand, etc.  It's not used for transitions or anything else. 

It's been a winner for me!  Seriously!  This is fail proof!  My best and most effective yet.

Is there one you can't live without?  Care to share?  I'm all ears...

Happy New Year and Goals

May 2012 be your best yet!  Do you have any resolutions?  I admit, I am terrible at keeping them!  This year, I'm going with monthly resolutions.  Much easier to manage and if I fail, there's always next month.

I'll leave my personal resolutions private but list my professional ones here.

January:

1. Get to school at crack of dawn so I can work without others in building (so I actually work and not gab!) and I'll also leave when school day ends.  My kids need me here! :)

2. Work on upcoming assessments a little each day.  No cramming!  This week, I plan on getting all WAWAs finished as well as sight words.  Then, I'll do running records and scoring.

3. Read a highly recommended professional math book.  As soon as I can remember the name, I'll edit this to include the title.

4. Take down my current outside BB and put my January up by this Friday.  Isn't that always stressful? 

5. Send weekly newsletters home via email in January.

6. Sort and organize math materials.  I stepped into a well-stocked classroom this year and that's about the only area I haven't "made mine" yet.  Labels, reorganize, etc.  Takes oh-so-much time, doesn't it?

7. Make my February packet of poems for TPT.  I've had a few emails already asking if I was making one.  Yep- coming soon!  Also making a mini-unit for my favorite Valentine's Day book ever:  Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch.  Have you read it? 

That's is for January.  How about you?  Care to share?

Martin Luther King Day Free Poem

If you teach first grade, chances are you use a lot of poems! 

A
lot
of
poems!

My kids have poetry binders where we add new poems weekly.  Sometimes, I teach from them since they present a great opportunity to do so.  However, I make sure I give out at least two a week that are just for fun.  No lessons learned, no skills reinforced.  After all, I would hate for kids to associate poems/songs with WORK only and forget about the smiles they bring and the often fun and sometimes quirky language.  "Beating a poem to death" is a surefire way to turn kids off of them for good, huh?  I've been guilty of it in the past!    Gulp!  (But don't tell anybody!)

My students get to take their poetry binders home on Tuesdays to share with their families.  For many of them, it's their favorite part of the week.

Here is a free MLK poem.  Click on the picture to grab it.  Enjoy!

If interested in a Martin Luther King/Ruby Bridges Product, check this out.

Coming Up With A Blog Title...

is almost...ALMOST...as challenging as teaching first grade! My first twenty or so "would-be" titles were taken.  Finally, First Grade Bloomabilities blossomed!  I think it's a perfect fit because I truly believe that the possibilities of children are endless.   Agree?  Sure you do since you're most likely a teacher reading this! I believe in the saying "Bloom where you are planted" and while I loved my time teaching second grade as well as my nine years as a K-5 media specialist, I'm now back in the position I heart most and spent eight years teaching. Yep- my roots are strong and I'm enjoying watching my first graders bloom!