Kevin O'Malley Author Visit!

It has been over a week since my last blog post!  I'm pretty sure I've been going through withdrawls!  I know we ALL are going through the hectic end-of-year craziness, but to top that off, my computer was sick AND my blogger account was sick!  (I kept getting CRAZY error codes, and I couldn't even read anyone elses pages, much less post to my own page!)

So now that everything seeeeems to be up and working (fingers crossed), let me give you a quick, fun, short Sunday night post!  On Friday, the wonderful author Kevin O'Malley visited our school.  He is so inspiring and SO funny to listen to.  He talked with our students a little bit, then created a "fractured" fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk with them!  He even let them share their ideas for bits and pieces of the story.  Very cute and very patient!  We ended up with "Jackie and the Highrise"!  While Kevin O'Malley was creating and telling the creative story, he was drawing, too!  (So very talented!)

Here are a few fun pictures I thought I'd share with you!

He was SO full of energy and acted SO happy to be there, that our students (and all the teachers) couldn't help but to love him!  I couldn't even imagine "performing" like he did 4 times in a day...I'd be EXHAUSTED!!!

At the end, he had a quick Q&A, and let a few kiddos ask him some questions.  (Then our class snuck in a group picture!  But shhh....don't tell anyone!!!) 

Best part you ask?  Well it was definitely when he drew our class a custom, signed picture of a HIPPO (our class "theme")!  My students pretty much went bonkers when he walked into our room during math with the picture on a big piece of chart paper.  (Okay, I'll admit...I was a little bonkers, too!)  I wish I would have snapped a picture of that for you all to see, but maybe tomorrow I can post the picture!  I'm so excited to have it, and I've been debating all weekend, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to get it framed this week!  (because honestly...how many teachers can say they own a hippo drawn by Kevin O'Malley?!?)  :)

Hope everyone's had a great week!  Looking forward to Monday...now that I'm back on and can read everyone's posts, I see the countdown has begun...only 14 more days for me!!!  Tick, tock, tick, tock... (but I'm not overjoyed just yet...still have to get through all the insane "end-of-year chores" up at school....plus I'll miss all my chillens....but goodness me, I'm ready for the SUMMER!!!)

HAPPY SUNDAY!!!  Have a wonderful evening!  :)

Teacher Jackpot FREEBIE & and BIG SALE!

**UPDATE:  The Jackpot ended last night (Sunday) at midnight!  Don't be sad, though!  You can still swing by my TpT and TN stores for some FABULOUS Sales!  :)

Thanks to everyone who participated!

Well the time has finally arrived!  I know you're probably all SO excited (yes, I am too!!!) for the HUGE Teacher Appreciation Jackpot! 

(If you haven't been reading, here's a quick recap: This Sunday, May 6, over 130 TpT Sellers (including myself) will be showing our appreciation for our fellow teachers in a BIG way!!! We've all agreed to give away one of our TeachersPayTeachers products for FREE on Sunday only! Each free gift will be valued at between $3 and $8, so the total jackpot amount is estimated to be over $500! Woo-Hoo!!!  The three "categories" have been separated into: K - Grade 2 - April McNair on A Modern Teacher,  Grades 3 - 6 - Laura Candler on Corkboard Connections,  & Grades 7 - 12 - Adrianne Meldrum on The Tutor House)

So, are you ready to see my contribution?!?  It is my Natural Disasters and Natural Hazards Pack! (normally $5!)

Click on over to TpT to download it for FREE until midnight Sunday!  (And I'd love for you to leave me some feedback, too!  It'd really be the cherry on top of this already FABULOUS day!)

Ready for some MORE great news?!  My TpT Store will also be a part of the BIG Teacher Appreciation Sale going on from May 6-8!  Take 20% off my store, then use the code "TAD12" to get an EXTRA 10% off on top of that! 

Here are just a few of my items that will be on sale.  I'd love for you to jump over to my store to take a look!  (I know I'll be scooping up LOTS of fantastic goodies over the next few days!)

Still in need of some items to use for Mother's Day?  Click on over to take a look at these:

Thanks for following my blog, and thanks for being an AWESOME and DEDICATED teacher! All of us sellers over at TpT appreciate your commitment to your students and your dedication as an educator!  Hope you check out the list below of all the wonderful and generous teachers that also are participating in this event-- I know we'll all be getting some great resources over the next 24 hours!    :)

New Spelling Pattern Balloons!

A few days ago, I was doing my normal rounds of blog stalking (yes, I'll just come right out and admit it...after all, it's the truth...), when I read Krista's post over at Second Grade Superkids.  She was practicing "r controlled vowels" with cute flower "craftivities"-- where the "ir", "er", and "ur" went on the stems, and the petals were the words that included those spelling patterns!

I used to do very similar activities in the beginning of the year in my classroom (and even commented to Krista that I don't quite remember why I stopped!)  We put our "chunk" in the center of the flowers, though.  It was always so fun, and my kiddos loved it so much! 

Anyways, her whole blog post spurred my mind to remember that I also created a similar "craftivity" to practice spelling patterns-- but instead of flowers, I made my students balloons to write their words on!  Then we'd "tie" them together with the new spelling pattern on the fake paper bow!  Sooooo, you know me...I just HAD to go find my file, spruce it up, and share it with you guys!  Here's a quick "sneak peak" at my new Spelling Pattern Balloons!

AND, you know me (again!), I want to GIVEAWAY 2 FREE copies!!! So, here's the deal:
- The first 2 followers to leave me a comment below, completely answering this question (and following the directions!) will get this activity for FREE!!!

- Leave me a comment telling me what spelling pattern, "chunk", or rule your class was working on this week.  Then, tell me 5 words that could go inside of the spelling balloons!  Finally, tell me your email, and I will send you the activity for FREE if you're one of the first 2 to follow all the directions!!! :)  Easy as pie!

Hope everyone's had a great week!  I can't wait for this weekend, so I can rest, relax, and snag me some great freebies on Sunday!  (And some great deals during the TpT Teacher Appreciation Sale, too!)  Don't forget to stop back by to see all the great details about the Teacher Appreciation Jackpot, this Sunday, May 6!  I know you're probably just as excited as I am!!!  :)

Teacher Appreciation Jackpot!!!

**UPDATE:  The Jackpot ended last night (Sunday) at midnight.  Don't worry, though!  I'm still having my sale on both my TpT and TN sites!  Swing on by to pick up some fun goodies at a GREAT price!  :)

Well the time has finally arrived! I know you're probably all SO excited (yes, I am too!!!) for the HUGE Teacher Appreciation Jackpot!

(If you haven't been reading, here's a quick recap: This Sunday, May 6, over 130 TpT Sellers (including myself) will be showing our appreciation for our fellow teachers in a BIG way!!! We've all agreed to give away one of our TeachersPayTeachers products for FREE on Sunday only! Each free gift will be valued at between $3 and $8, so the total jackpot amount is estimated to be over $500!Woo-Hoo!!! The three "categories" have been separated into: K - Grade 2 - April McNair on A Modern Teacher, Grades 3 - 6 - Laura Candler on Corkboard Connections, & Grades 7 - 12 - Adrianne Meldrum on The Tutor House)

So, are you ready to see my contribution?!? It is my Natural Disasters and Natural Hazards Pack! (normally $5!)

Click on over to TpT to download it for FREE until midnight Sunday! (And I'd love for you to leave me some feedback, too! It'd really be the cherry on top of this already FABULOUS day!)

Ready for some MORE great news?! My TpT Store will also be a part of the BIG Teacher Appreciation Sale going on from May 6-8! Take 20% off my store, then use the code "TAD12" to get an EXTRA 10% off on top of that!

Thanks for following my blog, and thanks for being an AWESOME and DEDICATED teacher! All of us sellers over at TpT appreciate your commitment to your students and your dedication as an educator! Hope you check out the list below of all the wonderful and generous teachers that also are participating in this event-- I know we'll all be getting some great resources over the next 24 hours! :)

Ready for a WINNER?!?

Congrats to Rachel, the new owner of a 1 year membership to GregTangMath.com!  Rachel, I will be emailing you later this evening with details!  :)

Thanks to everyone who participated!  I hope you actually played, and I hope you really enjoyed it!  (I have to admit, Kakooma is one of my all time favorite math games!)

Hope everyone's having a great week.  I know mine has been very very very busy-- so much so that I can't believe it's only Tuesday!  (It definitely feels like it should AT LEAST be Wednesday!)  Don't you agree?!  :)