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I am a first grade teacher who has rediscovered a love for firsties this year. I have taught pre-k, kindergarten, first grade and even second over the past 16 years. I have been married for 17 years to my wonderful husband and have been blessed with 2 very active boys.

Pre-K Back to School

Pre-K Back to School
Pre-K Back to School

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy
Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy
Pre-K/Kindergarten Literacy

Phonics Games

Phonics Games
Phonics Games
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Calendar Math for Primary Grades

Calendar Math for Primary Grades
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The Resourceful Apple 2016

Obsessions Linky Party

Obsessions Linky Party

11:17 PM
I have a confession...  I have several obsessions!  I have joined the Linky Party over at Living a Wonderful Life. 

                                      

Obsession 1- Organization in my classroom, especially children's literature.  I have the majority of my books organized by theme.  However, this year I started leveling books so my students could read on level during Daily 5.  I am rereading the Daily 5 book AGAIN, and wondering if I need to work on "Good Fit" books a bit more and then keep all the books by theme.  Any thoughts?



Obsession 2- Blog Hopping Stalking.  Let's be honest.  Many hours are spent on the computer searching for ideas and inspiration.  I don't watch tv (except General Hospital-that could be a whole other obsession!) so this is my nightly passtime.  I have finally jumped into blog world and now add that to my list of guilty pleasures. 




Obsession 3- The color red.  From my classroom to my house, to everything in between, I LOVE red!  Brighton jewerly, Brighton pocketbooks, red paint, clothes... You name it, its RED! Looking for a classroom theme other than ladybugs that centers on RED.  Thoughts???


Obsession 4- Diet Coke -especially fountain drinks.  Heaven on Earth:)







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Mrs. Wathen
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Summer Bucket List

Summer Bucket List

7:20 PM
Organization is the theme on my bucket list this summer! I have searched high and low for the best classroom organization tips to make my life just a little bit easier.  I teach pre-k in a portable in a Florida public school and there is only one metal cabinet for storage!  Needless to say, I use my garage and home office to house most of my theme boxes, dramatic play centers, sensory materials, book, games and the list goes on...


I am always looking for organizational tips and tricks and here are a few I found on Pinterest and blogs.

1.  Classroom organization in all classrooms is important, but in pre-k it is essential!  We are changing out manipulatives, centers and themes ALL THE TIME and you must me one step ahead of these kiddos or they will run a muck... Check out these FREE monthly labels HERE.

  Organizing Monthly Materials {Monthly Bin Labels FREEBIE!}:

2. Labeling the classroom in pre-k fosters independence and promotes literacy when the children are taught how to store and return materials using the labels in the classroom.  By using labels with pictures and words, children are able to sort and organize classroom materials. Play to Learn Preschool has fabulous labels for the dramatic play area HERE.

Dramatic Play Kitchen:


3. Picture name tags were a life saver last year! I will be printing the name tags in various sizes once I get my class list this summer. Picture name tags help preschool, pre-k and kindergarten students recognize their own name and their classmates' names easily.  We use them for student name tags, lanyard tags, cubby labels, graphing tags, folder labels and just about anything else you can think of!  You can read more about them HERE.


4 I have been saving water bottle caps for the past year and each summer I make Bottle Cap Names for the students to practice building their names as they learn the letters in their name.  You can read more about it HERE as well as grab a FREE set of Bottle Caps Letter Labels! I print them on different colored card stock so it is easy to keep the names sorted in baggies and not mixed up!


5. The last thing on my summer to do list is reading for professional development. I usually try to make it through two books over the summer.  This year I am going to start with Loose Parts so that I will have time to start collecting some of these things over the summer. I can't wait to learn additional ways to incorporate these things into our day.

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Mrs. Wathen
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Alphabet Songs

Alphabet Songs

4:04 PM
While the boys are out outside playing, I took a mommy moment to hop into blogland and over to  Crisscross Applesauce in first grade.  Holly has a link to a very upbeat, fun letter "a" alphabet song by Have Fun Teaching. 

The Alphabet Songs are a collection of 27 songs that are sure to get the kids singing along.  I was thinking that the Alphabet songs would be a great review at the beginning of first grade, and then I got the BIGGER picture:)  They could also be used throughout first grade as the long vowel sounds are being introduced.  I love it!




So are you raising your hand, like me, shouting, "I WANT ONE, I WANT ONE!"?  There is fabulous news!  If you follow the RULES and BLOG about this great resource, you too can get a FREE copy of the Alphabet songs!  If you don't have a blog, you can share in the fun too as the Alphabet Songs are on sale just for you.  Head on over to Have Fun Teaching to check out the details.  This fabulous offer is good through May 31st. 

Now that is a super Mother's Day gift!


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Mrs. Wathen
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Teacher Appreciation Sale Purchases

Teacher Appreciation Sale Purchases

9:17 PM

Score!  There are so many fabulous bloggers out there and so many of them have amazing packets.  I picked up 3 great units on Sunday with great savings too:)

Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching targets the skills needed with adorable graphics.  I was looking for an and of the year review packet and this one hits the spot! Summer Centers is a great blend of literacy and math centers for the end of the year. 

Summer Centers:

Kacey has another great center just put out called Not Contractions.  The boys LOVE the superheroes and it makes the draw to the center that much STRONGER! 

NOT Contractions Mini Unit : Grammar, Language Activities

And last but not least the Sea Animals Fun Pack by Dawn at First Grade Shenanigans .  We always love to wrap up our year with an ocean unit and the Sea Animal Fun Pack compliments our reading series and gives hands on activities for our math review (Did I say we finished our math series already??).   



Sea Animal Fun Pack Literacy and Math Centers


Tonight is the LAST day of the SALE!  I am linking up with Erica Bohrer's Linky Party.  This is my first linky party so I hope it works... So head on over and plan to be inspired!


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Mrs. Wathen
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Muffins for Mom

Muffins for Mom

9:30 PM
We have been busy working on our Muffins for Mom invitations.  The kids traced, cut and decorated their muffin tops and wrote the details inside the invitations.  They made blueberry, corn, strawberry and even chocolate chip muffins:).  They came out super cute and the firsties said their moms loved them! 



Now we are working on the adorable book called If You Give a Mom a Muffin  by Jenn at http://finallyinfirst.blogspot.com/ and it is available in her TPT store.  My students are loving the opportunity to illustrate the story.  Tomorrow we will be brainstorming ideas to write in our letters to mom at the end of the book. 

We are looking forward to honoring the moms on Friday!  I am crossing my fingers all the projects get done and the details fall into place!


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Mrs. Wathen
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Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week

11:10 AM
Here's me jumping into blog land after many months of blog stalking so many...  I love that so many of you are so creative.  I have to say, creativity is not my strength, but I am very RESOURCEFUL!  I love finding so many new and creative ideas and incorporating them into my classroom to inspire my firsties.  That's what its all about, seeing what works in our own classrooms and for each group of students, and igniting their love of learning.

I am so excited for all of the fabulous deals out there for the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week:)  A-Z Reading is hosting an open house from May 7th-11th to try out their site and a chance to win a FREE membership.  You can check it out at  www.learninga-z.com/special/openhouse2012 .  Teachers Pay Teachers is also having a sale at www.teacherspayteachers.com.  My shopping list is growing ever so quickly.

Here's to a great week, finding inspirational resources and making my blog a reality! 
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Mrs. Wathen
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