Busier than ever but STILL here!

Time sure flies when you're having fun! I forgot what being in a new grade level was like...silly me! Even though I've taught first grade before, it's been 6 years and a lot has changed. I know I've said it before but I am LOVIN' being back in first grade again.

I haven't had much time to blog (shame on me). Even my blog stalking has toned down some (yikes!) But I have been finding some great ideas and shopping on Teachers Pay Teachers when I can. I found some great things just last night that I can't wait to use. If you haven't checked out the Glyph Girls, I highly recommend doing so.

Here's a few of the adorable items I purchased and am excited to make with my class:

The Lucky Winner is...

Lisa!!

Lisa will get a super cute ButtonIt necklace of her choice. Yay Lisa!

Thanks for entering and I'm happy that you're going to be sporting a super cute necklace soon!

Button It Necklace Giveaway

There's still time to enter to win a fabulous necklace from ButtonIt! Don't miss out on your chance to enter. :) The giveaway will end tomorrow (Thursday) 11:59 p.m. I'm wearing my necklace right now! :)

Happy Monday! It's my first giveaway!!

I'm in such a good mood that I thought I'd host my first giveaway!! Have you heard of ButtonIt?! I found this site from a friend of mine after she showed me the most adorable necklace she bought. When I saw hers, I HAD to have one of my own. Here's what I got...

Take a look at the site and see all the amazing little necklaces that you could choose from. The winner will get to choose a necklace of her choice (up to $25 value).

Here's how to enter--

1. Become a follower of WILD About First Grade
2. Blog about this giveaway

*Leave a comment letting me know how you entered the giveaway.

Giveaway will end Thursday, September 15th at 11:59 PST. Winner will be announced Friday, September 16th. GOOD LUCK!!!

More classroom pics

Here's a few more pictures from my classroom. Better late than never! hee!hee!

Daily 5 bulletin board

Clip Chart and when the kids' clothespins get covered in jewels they get moved to the wonderfully WILD behavior wall for all to see.

One of many wonderful ideas I got from Pinterest (not exactly sure who created it first but I love it!!) This was before student pictures were taken.

View of the front of my room

Meeting area/Calendar-Math Wall

View from the front looking to the back of the room.

Totally and utterly horrible...

blogger!! Yep, that's me. I can't believe how much going to back to school has overwhelmed me! Going back to first grade after teaching 2nd for so long has been a big adjustment. I LOVE first grade but man, am I tired!!! Learning a new math program and reading program has been a day to day thing for me. I'm jealous of my friends who do lesson plans for the week. For now, I'm on a day to day planning schedule until I find my flow again.

I have a wonderful group of students...27 in all! I'm lucky enough to have my son in my class. It has been so nice to share our day together. I enjoy getting to see him with his friends and learn new things. Having him in my class makes me want to do my best, every day! Also, seeing what everyone else is doing by reading their blogs, sharing ideas, getting some great advice, etc. has inspired me to make this a wonderful year. Thanks to everyone who has a blog, reads my blog, and supports us teachers!!!

Classroom Craziness

For the past week and a half I have been in my new classroom, unpacking from the move and I'm exhausted! Can someone please tell my custodian to stop delivering boxes of curriculum to my room?! Every time I unpacked some boxes, he came with more! YIKES!! I finally got everything unpacked and put away today. I have some pictures to share (the whole back wall of my classroom). More pictures will come when my paper piles disappear. :)

This is the entrance to my room. I have a jungle/animal print theme.

My welcome bulletin board. I'm going to take each student's picture standing in front of the bulletin board.

My calendar area.

I use the clip chart management system. When the kids get to "Outstanding", they earn a jewel on their clothespin. When their clothespin is full of jewels, their clothespin will hang on this wall and the kids will be given a new clothespin.

Need a laugh?

I've loved reading other teachers Top 10 Lists of heading back to school and thought I'd share something I found. This is from the current First for Women magazine and it's from the parent's perspective of kids going back to school.

7 signs you can't wait until school starts:

1. You heard someone singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and blurted out, "Hallelujah!"

2. The kids' lunches have been packed for two weeks.

3. Your 6-year-old has already outgrown the new shoes you bought him for his first day.

4. You called your child's future teacher at her beach house to schedule a parent-teacher
conference.

5. For family game night, all you'll agree to play is Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?

6. During dinner you make your kids raise their hand before speaking.

7. The cashier at Staples knows you by first, last and middle name.

I'm sending out an S.O.S!!

I've been absent from the blog world but doesn't mean I haven't been busy. My living room and garage look as if a tornado swept through with all the school stuff that's been collecting! I've been buying up a storm! I've been to Target, Michaels, Wal-Mart, Dollar Store, Lakeshore, and Jo-Ann's to name a few...sh! don't tell my husband! Been trying to hide some new purchases but I'm running out of places to do it. I can't get into my classroom until Monday but I can't wait! My family will love me once they can walk freely around the living room once again. :) I'll be posting some pictures of things I've made for the classroom soon.

Who doesn't LOVE shoes?!

Mrs. Tabb at Just Another Day in...First Grade has created a fun unit all about shoes! What's even better is she is giving away this unit for free!! Stop by her blog to see this cute unit and see how it can be yours. :)

Obsessed with Vistaprint!

I found out about Vistaprint five years ago when my husband ordered business cards from them. I've been hooked ever since! I thought I'd share a few of my favorite things from Vistaprint. Some inspired from recent blog stalking and others on my own. I just discovered tonight that if you "like" Vistaprint on Facebook then you get a 50% discount on your order! Soooo, I couldn't resist one more order. I've linked up with Nancy at The Apple Basket Teacher to share my obsession. :)

mouse pad

business card

note card

postcard

business card magnet

business card magnet

note pad

sticky notes

business cards

sticky notes

Huge Giveaway at Ladybug's Teacher Files!!!

To celebrate her 1000+ followers, Kristen at Ladybug's Teacher Files is having an amazing giveaway that you don't want to miss! Kristen is extremely talented at what she does. She made my cute blog template! :)

Here are the prizes:

1. First name drawn (Grand Prize): A Mix and Match Template from Ladybug Teaching Resources, INCLUDING any offered extras. What is a Mix and Match Template? It is a new type of template that offers a great deal of choice and customization. Read (actually, watch) all about it here: Mix and Match Templates

2. Next 3 names drawn: Your choice of a Premade Template, INCLUDING any offered extras. You can see all Premade Templates here (there are two new ones!): Premade Templates

My most recent Target finds

Living so close to Target (about 1 mile away) can be a blessing and a curse! It's not unusual for me to visit at least 3 times a week, sometimes more! All trips are completely and totally necessary...*wink* wink*. So after reading and seeing all the fabulous finds from fellow teacher bloggers, I just HAD to get to Target! Here's a few things I got:

After seeing many of the Teacher Tipster's videos with all his amazing & creative ideas, I picked these up to make my own "Fame Frames". 3 for $2.50

Mini dry erase markers and erasers!! Love the little markers for little first grade hands. 3 for $1.00!! These same pens found in the office supply section are almost $4. What a steal!

Saw these pencil pouches...had.to.have.them! I WILL find a use for them. :)

Puzzles in the Dollar Spot too! Love the real pics used.

Lined dry erase boards...$1.00!! I have my own fancy ones but these will be great!

Another find, thanks again to the Teacher Tipster! He uses these for writing ideas. So cool! The kids will LOVE this!

Pringles? Yes, I bought them just for the container; which makes my kids so happy! Using the containers to make "Tower of Power" games as seen on teachertipster.com

Sentence strip dry erase boards! 2 in a pack for $1.00!! yay!!

My Target didn't have any cool pocket charts or table pocket chart stands which I would love to get my hands on!! Guess I'll need to keep visiting my favorite store until I see them. :)

Kristen over at Ladybug's Teacher Files is hosting a Classroom Shopping Linky Party.
Go check it out!