Currently...

It's Farley's Currently party!  I love these :)

Here's mine:

So, be sure to link up and leave me some comments!! :)

Blog Meet Up

I went to a blogger meet-up on Saturday in Cincinnati hosted by the lovelies Abby and Michelle.  Thank you both for a fun day!  We were greeted with a cute apple name tag and apple cookie lollipop.  Now I know why my Kinders get so excited about lollipops!

They hosted it at the ever-tasty Cheesecake Factory.  My friend, Hilary, came with me and we split some chocolate and caramel cheesecake- Oh-My-Gosh- I could have eaten the whole entire cake.  But, then I wouldn’t have been able to walk out the door..........

Hilary and I, and our new found friend Cathy hopped over to The Container Store... because we all know that store is teacher HEAVEN!  It was hard to exercise restraint with that store, but rest assured, I’ll be back for another visit!!

Such a fun day!  Thanks again, Michelle and Abby, for a fun afternoon!

Anyway, here are the amazing bloggers that came that day!  Be sure to check them out and leave them (and me!) some blogger-lovin’ comments!  (And don't forget to follow me while you are here!)

Cathy from Sunshine and Happiness in First Grade

Hilary from Our Art Sanctuary

Megan from Mrs. Wheeler’s First Grade Tidbits

Bonnie from Blooming Kindergartners

Katie from Queen of the First Grade Jungle

Claire from Special Speckled Eggs

Lisa from Stories From Second

Amber from Farmer Five Follies

Michelle from Fabulous in First (A host of the event!!! Thanks Michelle!)

Chelsea from Blooming into First

LaNesha from Another Day in First Grade First Grade Awesomeness

Jonelle from A Place Called Kindergarten

Amy from Literacy and Laughter

Dana from Love 2 Learn and Share

Stacy from Off 2 Kindergarten

Jennifer from Huff Kinder Blog

Amanda from One Extra Degree

Katie from Two Can Do It  and   Reading Resource

Ashley from Teaching Happily Ever After

Jodi from Fun In First

Ashley from Teaching in the Net

April from Mrs. J. Fabulous First Grade

Abby from The Inspired Apple (Another event planner, thanks Abby!)

Rebecca from Darlin’ In First

Shannon from Langston’s Learners

Jennifer from Far Out First Graders

Erika from Rausch’s Readers

Lisa from Made in the Shade in Second Grade

Whew- that was a LOT of people.  I think there were about 50 people there.  When I talked to Abby, she was expecting it to be a small, cozy get –together like TX or CA meet-ups.  It just looks like us mid-westerners are blog-crazy!!!

Blog Friends:  If your link doesn't work, please let me know!! :)  I hope this helps everyone when finding our friends we met this weekend!

Fast Facts

So in our new Common Core Standards, it says that Kinders should be able to add and subtract fluently within 5.  So, I've gone back to the tried and true method of fast facts.  Fast facts, when I was growing up, were a sheet of math facts and you had 2 minutes to complete as many facts as you could.

I've always had to teach addition and subtraction, but never had to have them master FACTS- just the idea.  So, I've searched the internet for fast fact sheets for Kinder.  I've come up empty handed, so I thought- I'll make my own!

The standard says to add and subtract within 5 (the answer is 5 or less) or 10 in the 3rd and 4th quarter.  I can find Fast Facts that are +1s, +2s, +3s, but never within 5 or 10.  Am I making any sense?  I feel like it's a lot of "Who's On First, What's on Second..."

ANYWAY :)  Here's what I made.

For Fast Facts +0 (within 5) click HERE.

 For Fast Facts +1 (within 5) Click HERE

They are meant to be copied and then cut in 2, so the child gets a 1/2 sheet of paper.

Once my kids complete a Fast Fact, they get a sticker on the "Master Mathematician" chart.  They are super excited about it.

They first have to master addition and subtraction within 5... and then a jumble of addition and subtraction facts... once all that is mastered, then I get out the addition and subtraction within 10 fast facts. 

I have the whole set, if you are interested, leave me your e-mail address and I'll send them your way.  It was too much to put on the blog :)

I wanted to put cute little graphics on my fast facts, but I'm so intimidated by all the copyright laws... anyone want to clue me in on which graphics are easiest to share without the CP {Copyright Police} coming after you???  Which graphics do you use?  I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some Lettering Delights, but they are copyright protected- no sharing!  :)

Don't forget to leave me some comments!  (and I wouldn't be mad at you if you followed me!)

Bloggy Meet Up in Cincinnati on Feb 4!  Babbling Abby and Michelle from Fabulous in First are hosting.

Tagged. ;)

Not facebook tagged- not old school freeze tag- not pinterest tagged, it's BLOG TAG! :)

I was tagged twice, so I've got 2 sets of questions to answer... here goes! :)

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 10 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Fun Facts about me:
 1.  I'm training for a half marathon- the hardest thing I've done so far in my life!
2.  I live within 10 minutes of both my parents and my in-laws.  I'm blessed to have all of my family so close!
3.  I used to be a cheerleader, tennis player, and swimmer.  Now, I play tennis and run :)
4.  I'm starting my life as a parent with a school aged child next year- Wade will be old enough for preschool and it terrifies me!!!
5.  I'm a reality TV junkie.
6.  I have a photography biz on the side :)
7.  I teach at a Catholic School.  
8.  I recently did an addition on my house- you can check it out at my personal blog: To the Moon and Back
9.  I live in Indiana, and we are so excited to be hosting SuperBowl!!!!!!!!
10.  I can't wait to go to the blogger meet up on Saturday!!!
11.  I collect Willow Tree figurines.
12.  I drive fast.... probably too fast...


Staci from Going Nutty asked me these questions:

1. When was the last time you talked to your high school sweetheart? hmm... at my 10 yr class reunion over the summer.

2. What is the most important quality in your lovey- dovey? he's so funny! and he's a good daddy.  Can I list 2??

3. Do you believe in love at first sight? Has it ever happened to you? yes- I only dated my husband for 6 months before he proposed!  When you know... you just know! 

4. Where is the most romantic place you have gone for a date? Hubs took me to his family pond and proposed- that was romatical :)

5. Does your sweetie support you in the blogging world? (The Mr thinks it's silly).  um- he knows I have a personal blog and likes it- not sure he knows about the teaching one :)

6. If you could plan a getaway with your honey, where would you go? We'd go to Alaska.  Ben wants to see the northern lights.

7. What is one word that best describes you both as a couple? happy:)

8. How long have you been with your honey-bunny? 5 yrs this coming October.

9. What is the best present you have ever received for Valentine's Day? a card- Hubs is a good writer :)

10. What is best present you have given to someone for Valentine's Day? I got Ben (husband) a NY Jets watch.  He (and I) love the NY Jets!

11. Where was your first date? oh gosh- I have a HORRIBLE memory!!  Husband could tell you EVERY LAST DETAIL!  what I wore, he wore, what we ate, etc.  All I remember is I asked him to take me to PetSmart to get a dog bed for my new dog while we were in the city.  HAHA!!!  and he did!!!!

12. Why don't you show ME some love and add me to your Blog Roll!?!?!?!? <3 Smooches!! You know I would, Staci, but I don't have a blogroll and I don't know how to make one.  I just mastered the button- so maybe I'll figure out the blogroll next!!! :)

Bonnie from Living a Wonderful Life  asked me these questions:

1. What state do you live in? Indiana!  Yeah Super Bowl 2012!
   
   
2. Do you collect anything? I collect Willow Tree figurines :)
   
   
3. What is your favorite color? GREEEEEEEEEN!!!!!
4. Do you do anything work related on the weekend? um, I'm a teacher, that's a big YES!!!!
   
   
5. What is your favorite food? Italian- anything Italian!  pizza, spaghetti, alfredo, yum!
   
   
6. How long is your commute to work? 25 minutes :)  I like to listen to books on CD to pass the time away! :)
   
   
7. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money? My husband would want to buy the land below our hill by our house and turn it into a horse ranch.
   
   
8. How do you spend your time when you're relaxing? reading- I joined a book club and we are reading MIDWIVES... great book... so far!
9. How many weddings have you been in? um, I'm gonna guess about 14.
10. What is your favorite place you've visited? Gatlinburg, TN.  Our honeymoon, and it was just really a cozy place to stay.
11. If you weren't a teacher, what would you be? It was a toss-up between teacher and nurse, so I'm gonna go with nurse.
12. Kids...do you have any?  How many do you have/want? I have 2:  Wade and Henry.  I want 2 more: Caroline and Clare.  (see how I have my whole life mapped out... haha, I'm not sure what I would do if I had another boy.  Maybe a Matthew?)
    
    
    and now my questions:
    
    
    1.  What blog are you stalking right now?
    2.  What are your plans for Valentine's Day?
    3.  What did you get for Christmas?
    4.  What is your favorite App?
    5.  What's your favorite TV show?
    6.  What do you eat for breakfast?
    7.  Do you have any nicknames?
    8.  What is your favorite time of the school day?
    9.  Do you have a balanced school calendar?  Year round school?  Traditional Calendar?
    10.  Mac or PC?
    11.  What's your favorite number?
    12.  Who are you rooting for in the presidential election?
    
    
    And here's who I'm tagging:
    
    
    Mrs. Bell from A Place Called Kindergarten
    Tammy from Forever in 1st
    Emily from A Cricus of Learning
    Abby from The Inspired Apple
    Reagan from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits
    Beth from Living Life Intentionally
    Mor from A Teacher's Treasure
    Krissy from Mrs. Miner's Monkey Business
    Heather from Heather's Heart
    Kate from Kate's Kindergarten
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    There you have it... now you are IT! :)
    
    
    

Button, Button, Who's got a Button?

ME!!!  I can't believe it actually worked!  Notice...over there... to the right... yeah!  My button!

Thanks to Beth and Living Life Intentionally for her awesome how-to-make-a-button post!

I did it :)


If you need to make a button of your own- check out the link above and give it a shot. 


And also- sign up for the Good Old Giveaway over at Funky in First.  You can sign up to win $30 in prizes!  I did! :)

What's NOT wrong!

In the teaching profession, we are filled with ups and downs.  Today, I want to focus on the UPS! (and no, not the men in brown uniforms...).

So, I found Mrs. Davis' Carried Away in Kindergarten linky party "What's NOT wrong Wednesday"

So, here's how it works... list 5 things that are NOT wrong with your life- the perfect recipe to have a positive outlook!!

Here's my 5:

1. PreSchool is NOT wrong.  We are taking Wade, my oldest son, to PreSchool open house tonight.  I'm so over-the-moon-excited for him, but I am also very, VERY nervous.

2.  Classroom Tidy Time is NOT wrong- at the end of every day, we do a classroom tidy time and clean up anything that was misplaced or needs thrown out.  Perk for me?  It's nice and tidy when they leave my room!

3.  Pretending to not know an answer to something a child asks is NOT wrong- it teaches them how to problem solve and think about things in different ways.  (I never leave them stranded for answers... I just pretend I don't know and lead them in a direction of where to look.)

4.  Glitter is NOT wrong- I looove glitter- it just makes things so much prettier!  Yes, it's messy, but it's so NOT wrong!! :)

5. Random Acts of Kindess are NOT wrong.  I challenge my Kinders to see the good in people and to be the good for people.  If I see them being kind or respectful they get to find a star.  (See my post on Finding a Star HERE!)

So, there you have it- 5 things that are NOT wrong today, and oh, so right!
Thanks, Mrs. Davis for such a positive linky party!

Name Tags

I really do not like name plates.  My kids always pick at the tape and they end up looking pretty messy.  Sometimes I just don't use them... but I think it's important for kids (at this age) to see their name.  The more exposure, the better they are.  It also helps with letter formation, they get to see how their name is printed properly. 

Anyway, here's my solution...  Name STICKS.  I asked my local Wal-Mart if they would donate 20 paint sticks.  My kids painted them whatever color they wanted to paint them...

And then I used a black sharpie to write their names on them.  No taping, no picking, no peeling, no hassel.

I DID have to set a few guidelines down first...
- no hitting
- no slapping
- no tapping

But, it does give the kids a "fidget" to use if they are getting antsy.  They can hold and squeeze their name stick as long as it's not disrupting a neighbor.

So, there you have it- my way of solving the annoying peeling name plates.
And, my kids are doing a pretty good job of managing their name sticks.

You could even take them with you to library.  The kids could put their stick in the spot where a book was if they want to look at the book- that way they know where the book goes if they don't want the book afterall. 

So- what do you do for labeling your students' desks??