7 habits

So I definitely been learning a lot through subbing. I've seen some very organized teachers and some not. I'm glad to be picking up some great ideas. Mainly they have been calling me for K, but I've done up to 6th grade. I remember why I like the little ones so much, because there is always something to do. I feel like I just sit and watch them work. I'd rather be moving around working with the kids.

Also, a few of the schools have been doing Leader in Me training. They incorporate the book: 7 Habits of a Happy Kid. Has anyone else done this in their school? From what I understand it teaches the ids to be more self sufficient and make their own choices. I just got the book in and am looking forward to reading it.

A year without a class= A year of craftiness/Currently

So no job this year, but I am subbing. I am getting to know the schools in the area and find out which ones I would like to be in the future. It has been easy, I'm not used to having the free time. So I have found that I am starting to make new things for my future classroom. Especially since I got a new sewing/embroidery machine for my birthday. I'm also linking up with Tara at 4th grade frolics. Here is what I have done so far:

I redid my crate seats, they were looking a bit dingy from last year. I can't seem to find a picture though.  This time I decided to go with one color and number them. I used some of my old thirty one fabric swatches to create the numbers. I think I will either paint the crates or get some new ones. Has anyone tried painting them before?

Then, thanks to Jennifer at First Grade Blues Skies, I got my idea for my next project. She took a pocket chart and dyed it black. I though why not have something different so I set out to create my own. Here is the first one: It is about 22" and has five different pockets.

Then I decided to do another one for my friend that loved the one I made. Here is how it turned out: It's 18" and has 7 pockets. I have had fun making them and am going to try different styles. Update: I have opened an etsy store. Check it out by clicking on the chart below:

Here are a few non-classroom things I made:

Love my new monogram shirt! Love using my old swatches.

Some necklaces,

and a new fall burlap wreath,

Later today my husband is going to help me build a craft table so I have a place for sewing, etc. The desk already has the computer and my laminator. I hope it turns out!

I saw this in one of the classrooms I went in, love how Mrs. Fuller put the bandaids on the heart!

And of course, first day at one of the schools, a bee decided it would be a great day to sting me. The other teachers sent a student to take me to the nurse so I could get an icepack, lol.

I hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of their school  year!

I also am linking with Farley and her Currently: Click on the link to head there.

I am looking at this year as  a learning year. I am going to get to experience many different classes and grade levels. Here's to hoping I learn a lot. I am going to love having some extra time though!

(Thanks Samantha! I don't know what happened when I posted my currently. I went back and did it again :))

August Currently

Well it's that time again to link up with Farley and her Currently.



I love spotify! I always find new songs and artists.

Loving: I have been working hard this summer to lose some weight and so far successful. I hope to continue.

Thinking: I have a list of projects that I want to do, I"m finding so many great things on Pinterest!

Wanting: I am trying to put all my papers in page protectors and organize them by theme/standard. It's taking some time but I'll be glad when it's done!

Needing: A job. Moving to a new place is not so fun, if not I hope to be able to sub and get my foot in the door.

My must haves: 1. My bag, I love I can carry all the things I need. 2. For morning work at the beginning of the year I would have my Kinders practice writing their name/writing for their morning work. They have them in the target dollar spot right now! 3. My teacher toolbox. It helped me keep organized last year. I could always find the office supply I needed without searching!

I use the Cindy Tote:

Here is my toolbox:



Now it's time for you to link up!

Giveaway winners and look who I met!

Thankful to all the entries in the giveaway!  And the winners are.....Drumroll please.....

Congrats to Michelle J for winning the $10 TPT Gift Certificate 

and 

Michelle S for winning the Thirty One Bag!

In other news, last week I attended the Northeast Alabama Early Childhood Conference and met some Amazing teachers!

First was Shari Sloane from Kidscount1234! She is an amazing women. If you haven't checked out her songs, you need to! She has amazing ideas!

I also got to meet the wonderful Deanna Jump! She has so many great ideas that she shared with us! I loved hearing her ideas! If you have not checked out her blog, go now!

I came away with so many new ideas, I can't wait to get some new things going for the new year! Now just to get a classroom for this year :)

New Blog Design and Giveaway!

I have the cutest new blog design thanks to Erin at Creating and Designing! I absolutely love the Wizard of Oz and it inspired my blog name :) Make sure you check it out!!

In celebration of my new design I will be hosting a giveaway!

You can win one of two prizes.

A $10 gift certificate to:

or this Thirty One Organizing Utility Tote:

Here are the ways to enter:

1. Follow me on Bloglovin
2. Leave a Blog Post comment.  What is one thing that you recommend for any classroom?
3. Follow me on TPT.
4. Be a Google follower
5. Share this giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Year in Review Part 3

Are you tired of my long posts yet? lol. Here are some more random pictures of things that I have done. Like I said I'm not sure what happened when I transferred computers.

For easter I gave all the kids juice bunnies and carrots made of goldfish for their snack.

I loved seeing how much the kids grew in their writing so I made a special board to post. Even some of my kids that struggled to get even the first sound on paper were able to write a full sentence! By the end  I only had two that were still struggling.  

Side Trip: My hubby's dad got married and we got to see Kenny live! Love him!!

 Here is me and my hubby!

We were able to get some chick eggs and got one to hatch. I think something was wrong with the incubator because out of 5 we only got 1 :( I've never had the issue with this type of incubator at my last school. Any suggestions. I also used my husbands GoPro to take pictures of the chick hatching. It took a picture every 30 seconds. He then put it into a video. You can check out the video on YouTube by clicking the picture

 The kids named him Chico. Here is after two days.

 This is Chico about a week and a half later. He grew a ton!

We did Mother's day cards and potted plants. I just got a kick out of this one :)

Earth Day Activity. I can't remember where I got the I heart Earth from. If you know whose it is please let me k now so I can give credit!

One of our last units was ocean. After learning about the animals they chose their favorite and wrote about it. This again comes from a Cupcake for the teacher. Click any of the pictures

End of the Year Door. On Each pedal of the flower, the kids wrote the title of a book they were able to read and then decorated it. I should have gotten a picture of one close up.

We did the balloon pop at the end of the year. They loved to see what the fun activity for the day was going to be. We read outside and played minute to win it...

We wrote sentences and drew a matching picture with chalk. We also did math problems outside with chalk.

So proud of my kinder! We had free time and one of my sweet girls wrote this note and picture for me!

And a little bit of last random. My husband told me he tried to water my ferns and a bird flew at him, well I looked inside and found some eggs. After about a week here is what I found!

My year in review Part 2

Now to continue the year. 

This year we had a reading fair and all Kindergarten classes had to participate. We read the book as a class then talked about the elements of the book. Then I asked some of my higher students to write things down and paint the poster board. They loved doing it! 

100th Day of School! This was the door as you walked in. You can see some of the posters they made.

One station the students made a portrait of themselves using construction/wallpaper.

They built a structure with 100 blocks. (This was a little challenging for some groups because they each wanted to do their own thing, I had to get them to work together.)

We used Mrs. Lee's 100 day activities! Check out her post here. The boys made the pizza

and the girls made the gumball machine!

Then I paired up the students and they made icecream cones by counting by 10 to 100!

We hunted for 100 kiss. I first saw this idea on Kindergarten Hoppenings. We ended up only finding 98 but I had a few extra just in case. I ended up finding the last two when I packed up the room. Somehow they had fallen underneath the furniture.  They couldn't wait to eat some of the kisses! And next to it, my assistant had each group predict where 100 steps would take them and then they counted to 100 as they walked.

Here are some of the 10oth day posters. This little girl was so proud. Her dad said she worried him so much she just wanted it to be perfect!

And since they were good. I let them put 100 post-its on me at the end of the day. I accidently used the cheaper ones, so they didn't stick as well. They still had fun though!

Near our school we had this awesome place called Healthworks. They came to the school and taught the students all about nutrition, being active and how the body works. They are so good with the kids. I know with the last school they went there, but it was awesome they came to the school.  I wish I had a picture, but unfortunately I didn't get a picture of me being the toilet as they talked about how food moves through your body.  If you are ever near Tupelo, MS, I highly recommend you to go! Check it out by clicking on  the picture.

One of the kids favorite stations was when we got to bowl. We added and subtracted to 10s. It took them a minute to catch on, but they caught on quick.

Here is my Valentine's theme door. On the side hearts I had the kids about something they love.  

Then my zoo door. Again for some reason I didn't have it with all the pictures.  I combined all the kids name with an animals name, then the kids colored the animal and attached their head.  E.G Tashguin, Brebra etc... 

For Dental Health month we talked about teeth then created a tooth/toothbrush and wrote about how we can keep them clean. This activity came from a Cupcake for the Teacher ( I love all her craftivities!) Check it out by clicking the picture

We celebrated Dr. Suess' Birthday in Style. Here is me and my bestie, Mrs. Simpson!

Since I was the cat I figured it was only appropriate that my kiddos were my "things" They each made their hats for "make a hat day"

We also had a sunglasses day

I found these fun ones at party city. I loved that they were light enough I could actually wear them.

We dressed crazy

We made Oobleck on crazy sock day!

One day we rotated through the classrooms. I choose to read There's a Wocket in My Pocket. Then the students split into two different groups. One made Wockets for their pockets and the other group put Wockets with words on the in the pocket that they rhymed with.

 Last we made Yertle the Turtles after reading the book. They wrote about why they thought Yertle was a good king or not.  We then wrote about the book as a class. The writing idea came from Fun-in-First.

My year to be continued....

I appreciate everyone who is taking the time to get this far!