Let the Color-Coding Begin

As I begin to wrap my head around how I want to organize my "stuff" for the new job, I know this much is true:  it will all be color-coded!  That shouldn't surprise you one bit!  Head on over to TPT to grab this simple freebie!  

Following Our Hearts

I have news.  BIG news.  BIG, EXCITING NEWS! Since you've obviously read every single post I've ever written, you know that my hubs is in the AF and we move every 2-3 years, which makes me an expert classroom packer-upper.  Seriously.  I should have a special badge.  We were stationed in Colorado Springs, CO from June 2011-July 2013.  We arrived in SC July 2013.  Ready for the news?!  We are making our LAST big move...back to Colorado!   In an effort to reduce their forces, the AF offered a voluntary separation opportunity, and we took it.  It was a big decision to give up his job security, but in our hearts, we know we belong in CO.  I will be able to find a forever home at a school!  I arrived a few days ago so that I can get a new job at the start of the school year.  My father super hero flew out to SC to help me drive and pull the trailer classroom on wheels...all 3,100 pounds!  My hubs will follow in December when he transfers from Active Duty to the Reserves.

To celebrate, I created a little FREEBIE for y'all!  You can print the full page size, frame it, and add some decor to your classroom.  Or, print one of the smaller card versions and write a sweet note for a co-worker at the beginning of the year!

This teacher is off to find a job!

Love My Peeps

It's Freebie Friday and I've got a sweet and simple freebie for MY peeps just in time for Easter.  In this post, I mentioned how much I LOVE the Peep clipart freebie from Krista Wallden, so I whipped up an easy printable to show all of my peeps some love!

Use these cards to tell YOUR peeps how "hoppy" they make you!  They'd be great for students, co-workers, and friends!  I'm attaching mine to some baked goods and using them as the tags, but you could just write a sweet note and leave it at that.  All you have to do is print and cut.  No curvy cuts, folding, or fuss!

I showed them to my hubs the other night while I was writing out my messages.  He didn't laugh.  So then I showed him again because clearly he didn't get it.  Why else would he have not laughed?  The second time he laughed.  Smart man.  I know all of you appreciate my humor!

Ready to hunt down your free copy?  Hop on over to my TPT store to put this FREEBIE in your basket!  Show some love and leave some feedback!

Thanks to TBA for hosting Freebie Friday.  If you've never visited, go check it out!  There are so many great freebies out there to take advantage of!

GIVEAWAY: Fraction Game Bundle

Oh, fractions.  How I love and loathe thee all at the same time.  I think fractions lend themselves to lots of engaging hands-on activities and they are so applicable to real life.  On the other hand, it can be tough for such young minds to wrap their little brains around the concept and REALLY GET IT.  Sure we can teach them "rules" about bigger and smaller numbers on top or on bottom, but if they GET it, they don't need those rules.

I thought about saying that finishing my fraction game bundle felt like giving birth, but then I decided that might not sit well with readers that have actually given birth...to a baby.  So instead, I'll just say that I'm finally done!  Another one bites the dust!  To celebrate, how about a GIVEAWAY?

The giveaway begins today and a winner will be announced Sunday, March 30th in the morning!  If you'd like to take a closer look, head over to TPT to see the preview!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

A Free Gold Nugget for YOU!

It just wouldn't be very nice of me to tell you all about my homework routine and not share any of my resources with you.  So I share.  For free.  My last two novels posts were all about my homework routine.  If you read them, and you're interested in giving this system a try, then you have just hit the jackpot.  You know organization has a special place in my heart, so I reworked my files just a bit so that I can share them with you.  

OMGracious.  EVERY.PAGE.IS.EDITABLE.  You read that correctly.  FREE AND EDITABLE.  Woot!  Shout it from the roof tops!   Hop on over to grab this FREEBIE.  

This is a PowerPoint file so that you can completely customize it.  You'll need a little knowledge of PP, but nothing too extreme.  You might want to insert/delete/resize rows or columns, change font, and replace some text. I put notes under each slide to explain and offer tips.

Two fabulous artists granted me permission to use their graphics in an "unsecured" document.  The polka dot background is part of a FREEBIE from Mrs. Mac's TPT store.  I encourage you to download the freebie and leave her feedback.  The black and white stitched frames are part of a FREEBIE from Jena Hudson's TPT store.  Go download and tell her thanks!

I know this system isn't for everyone, and that's ok with me.  I just wanted to share the resources I have just in case you want to give it a try! 

What are you waiting for?  Go download and create your own homework binder! 

You're Invited to the PARTY!

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!  If you aren't already following I'm Lovin' Lit, there has never been a better time than NOW. She is doing multiple giveaways every day through March 14h to thank her followers and celebrate her blog birthday!  Oh, did I mention that I donated a Winner's Choice that will debut in her giveaway soon? As if this wasn't sweet enough, she is doing a freebie each day on TPT.  So far, there has been a background set, a decorative ribbon set, and a frame set that ALL match! Coordinating FREEBIES? Yes, please, and thank you!  What are you waiting for?  Congratulations, Erin!

TPT Cover Text that POPS!

I know it's Sunday afternoon, and unfinished lesson plans are looming, but sharing about cute snazzy text is way more fun!  I had another palm hitting forehead DUH moment.  Most of you smarty pants probably already know this, but I'm going to share for those few souls out there that don't know this simple easy secret! 

We all know that cover pages are really important for TPT products.  We all also know that cute fonts are a huge part of that!  But did you know you can make cute fonts even snazzier?  Before I share my DUH and quick how-to, look at these 2 photos of a cover page for a product I'm working on, and see if you can spot the one and only difference!  

Yep.  The outline of the title text is the only thing that's different, and boy, what a difference it makes!  I was admiring the cover page of an item I purchased during THE.BIG.SALE, and found myself all gaga-eyed over the text.  What pretty outlines the text had!  After doing a bit of searching on the internet with no success, it finally hit me that I can do that with the fonts I already have.  

1 word:  WordArt.  (This feels more like two words....)

2 more words:  Well, DUH.

Here's a quick how-to for PowerPoint!

Insert WordArt instead of Text Box

A box will appear with Your Text Here.  Type what you want.

Here's where you make it snazzy.  Change the font type to what you want.  Then work with the fill and line, and the weight of the line!  So much better!

Well, DUH.  For those of you that were un-aware like me, GO make SNAZZY text NOW!  Happy Sunday!

Five for Friday: I Want Your Input

My current edition of Five for Friday, hosted by Doodle Bugs, offers you two freebies and asks you for some Master's Degree advice!  After coming off of your TPT MEGA SALE high, I'm hoping you'll snuggle up with your computer and read my FIVE!

  I HAVE to head over to TPT this afternoon to snag the items I placed in my cart while they are on MEGA sale.  Don't forget to enter the coupon code TPT3 at check-out to get the extra 10% off.  I'm offering that advice for you, but it's more of a reminder for myself so I don't forget!  For those of you just starting out on the sales journey, keep your chin up!  I'm still very new to it compared to ALL of the top sellers, but I know there are days that I become overwhelmed when I see someone has thousands of TPT followers.  Will I ever get there?  Who cares.  I've learned to celebrate MY milestones and achievements and you should do the same!

This one is just for you!  If you didn't have a chance to grab my February Facebook Freebie, have no fear!  I decided to leave my older freebies up (and more importantly, I figured out how), instead of replacing them.  So, head on over and get your copy for free!  I'd love for you to share my FB page too!

 I'm seriously considering finally getting my Master's. I don't think I ever want to be a Principal or VP.   I'm leaning towards Curriculum and Instruction with a Literacy focus. But I also really love teaching math and science.  Do you have yours? Thoughts?  Online? I've taught for 8 years, we don't have kids, and I'm organized, but is working and going to school hellacious? 

 There might be something big on the horizon for my hubs, Kona Bear, and me.  Just in case my mother-in-law reads this, I'll clear it up by saying it has nothing to do with grand babies for her.  Positive karma is welcomed!

 For being a sport and making through all 5, here's another one just for you!  While you're grabbing my February Facebook Fan Freebie, grab my St. Patrick's Day one too!  I love me some freebies and I know you do too!

Happy weekend!  After all of the fabulous sales, I'm sure we will all be spending some time creating new products with the adorable clip art we snagged and cutting out freshly laminated games!

Icky Sticky Germ-Fighting Freebie

OMGerms!  We've probably all been there.  You know that moment when you're in the office and one of the secretaries super heroes points to one of your classroom passes because one of your "tinies" left it in the office during one of their "emergencies".  All you can think to yourself is, "I AM NOT touching that thing!"  I've tried lots of hall pass systems.  Meh.    

Then I found THIS PIN.  Well, duh.  Mega face palm.  It was love at first sight! Where has this been all of my teaching life?  My kiddos don't have to carry it, they don't have to set it down in the restroom (barfo) and then forget to bring it back, it doesn't dangle from a ribbon around their neck so they can play with it….

I went to my local super store and purchased some inexpensive badge holders and clips.  It was a small investment with a huge payoff.  Check it out!

You're in love, right?  Well, since it's just about Valentine's Day, and you are all so lovely, I'm sharing this editable file with you.  I expect chocolate and roses in return. 

I printed them on card stock, laminated, and put them into the badge holders.  D-O-N-E.  To help me keep track of where kiddos are, I have small bottles of sanitizer that are color-coded that they put on their desk while they are out of the room and conveniently use when they return.  Mine have different color pumps, but you could decorate the outside with Washi tape, ribbon, etc.  This is a quick way for me to figure out where they are by just looking at their desk.  

Head over to my TPT store and grab this sweet freebie!  Don't forget to leave feedback!

It's Raining Money

Last weekend at my favorite local coffee shop, I noticed that the kid in front of me in line paid with Square.  I guess I can relate.  Kind of.  Not really. When I was their age, I was digging in my pocket hoping for a few more pennies so that I would have enough money to pay for my Slurpee.  If only Square was part of CCSS…

Moving on.  I LOVE when we work on coins!  Kids like to get their recently sanitized hands on all that play money and you can see the dollar signs in their eyes!  However, each year I'm always amazed at how many kiddos don't already know which coin is which.  Maybe they are all using Square.  Right.  I said I was moving on.

I put together some resources for my kiddos that match our class anchor charts and a foldable where they had to cut & paste the information into the correct spot.  I decided to use the foldable to check for understanding of coin names and values.  Want a copy for free?  Leave me a comment with one of your favorite teacher tips for your coin unit and I'll email you this product for FREE….zero pennies!  Don't forget to include your email address!  Take a peek!  I also included half page for those of us using interactive math journals!  

Don't forget to enter my RaffleCopter Facebook Giveaway!