I am linking up with Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera with Saturday Snapshots.  Unofficially, this was my last week of summer vacation.  Monday is the day we are allowed to get into our classrooms and as I moved classrooms AGAIN, I am sure I will be unpacking ALL week!  Teachers here officially go back on August 12th.






Today marks Day 4 with my Back to School Wishlist Sale.  I am joining Tamara from Mrs. Russell's Room and the gang with out top wishlisted items in our store and passing the savings onto you!


Today's deal is extra sweet because you can pick it up for only $1.00!  I can't even get a Diet Coke for $1.00!  Today's featured product is Reading and Spelling Patterns-Rainy Day Long A Game.


My kids love routine and I love being able to teach as they work independently (Ha!) so I have made this game similar to my others.  Just like , "Bang!", the cards are put in the middle of the group.  The children take turns picking a card and reading it to the group.  If the child get it correct, he/she keep the card.  If not, it goes back to the middle discard pile.  The player with the most cards wins...but watch out for the "Bang!" cards:)  You might lose a turn, get to pick again or even lose all your cards!  the kids love this twist on the game:)

So head on over and check it out and get 20% off the price for TODAY only!

Woot Woot!  I just found out this week I am getting an intern for back to school.  I am super excited and nervous just like the kids!  Yes, this is my first intern in my 18 years of teaching.  (Yes, I am old!)  Anywho, I have always held back because some might say I am a little very OCD!  However, I am excited to share what I do as well as learn from her:)  I think it is also an amazing opportunity for the children as well.  So wish me luck and say a prayer!


I am also joining Tamara again for the Back to School Wishlist Sale.  Today is the third most wishlisted item in my store.  Did you see that?  Yes, the 50% off!  That totally warms my heart as it is my new baby.


The Wonders Supplemental Unit  {grade 1-Unit 1} is a make it easy with little prep for the teachers. Everything you need to send home as well as classroom flashcards, essential questions, worksheets and center activities is included. Print and go!


Above is a sample of what you can print from week 1.  The weeks are set up in a similar fashion. Unit one includes 5 weeks.


I KNOW many are not using Wonders in their schools.  Above is a sample of games that can be used in any classroom.  The order of the phonics skills are pulled from Wonders, BUT the skills are FIRST GRADE PHONICS skills!

And... because I am posting so late today, I will keep this unit on sale for 2 days!  So you can pick up Wonders Supplemental {grade 1- Unit 1} for $3.00 until midnight on Saturday! Woot Woot!

I am still watching my most wishlisted items and I have to say Wonders Supplemental Unit {Grade 1-Unit 2} is catching up to the top 5!  So head on over, check them out and come on back tomorrow for my 4th most wishlisted item.  I wonder what it will be:)

As much as I LOVE Currently, this month is bittersweet as it signifies the end of summer vacation and the beginning of a brand new group of firsties!

I can't believe summer vacation is quickly coming to a close! I have been diving into our new reading curriculum.  Our county has adopted Wonders by McGraw Hill.  This week I have been working on Wonders-A Supplemental Unit {Grade 1- Unit 2}and it is finished.  This endeavor has been my baby as it is making me aware of what exactly is in the Wonders Curriculum as it relates to Common Core Standards.


Wonders Supplemental Unit {Grade 1- Unit 2} is a follow up to Wonders Supplemental Unit {Grade 1- Unit 1}.  You can check out the preview below so see what one week includes. Each unit includes 5 weeks.


The units include the essential question, a take home page with spelling, sight words and vocabulary for review, spelling and sight words cards, a spelling list for the word work center, vocabulary cards and worksheet and a phonics game to compliment the spelling pattern for each week.

Even if you are not using Wonders, this unit includes 5 spelling pattern/phonics games that can be used in any first grade class.



I am also linking up with Tamara again for The Back to School Wishlist Sale- Day 2.  The next TOP 5 item in my TpT store is Reading and Spelling Patterns Part 2 {Long Vowel Games}.  It is 20% off today only!


The reading and spelling pattern games are set up similar to "BANG!".  The students take turns picking a card and reading the word.  If they get it right, they keep it, if not, it goes back in the pile.  the "bang" comes in with the fun bonus cards!


Oh, I almost forgot!  If you have stayed with me all the way to the end, as always I will be giving away 2 copies of Wonders Supplemental Unit {Grade 1-Unit 2} to the first 2 people who leave a comment telling we product they could use from my store along with their email address. :)

I am so excited to join  in The Back to School Wish List Sale with this group of talented bloggers !  It amazes me that I have been blogging for a year and on TpT for less time than that!


A huge THANK YOU goes out to my bloggy friend Tamara Russell at Mrs. Russell's Room for organizing this sale.  Tamara is an amazing teacher who has embraced Common Core in her classroom and teaching practice.
One of my first products is still one of my best sellers and in the top 5 for wishlisted items in my store!  It was one of those items that was made out of a need in my classroom and stayed a favorite of the kids for the ENTIRE year!  You can click on the picture below to head on over to pick up this goodie today only for 20% off !


Thanks for stopping by.  Remember to visit tomorrow to check out Day 2 of my wishlist sale!

It amazes me that in the mist of budget cuts, common core, testing and increased accountability, good teachers continue to build community in our rooms and teach with rigor.

Creating a classroom community is my number one priority beginning on the first day of school.  Children need to feel love, accepted and safe everyday at school.  Until last year, I had an internal struggle with a class behavior system.  I had used a clip chart and colored cards in the past, but knew in my heart they were not for me.  (**There are things I likes and dislike about them and there are children who benefit from them; it was a personal choice.)

Then I read A Teeny Tiny Teacher's post about Gold Tags.  This is the most amazing, simplest classroom behavior management system I have found:)  I love it because anyone can easily adapt it and make it their own.   In a nutshell, students can earn gold tags and even lose them (GASP!) for good and bad choices, work, quiet line and the list goes on.  The one thing that stayed with me as a teacher and a parent was when a mom said to me it was so nice not to see a red box colored in daily for her child's "bad" behavior.  She said she knows her child was "challenging", and they are working on that, but there are lots of good qualities that she has felt in the past were overlooked.

Kristen has them trade their gold tags in on Friday for centers.  I am using Our Best Behavior Prize Pass Catalog from First Grade Fever.  This is a FREEBIE folks so head on over to her blog and check it out!!


My favorite community building activities this summer are from Michelle at Run! Miss Nelson's Got the Camera.  I {heart} her Happy Notes!  You can check them out on TpT HERE.



My second love  slight obsession is Michelle's Behavior Beads.  They can be used for good behavior, homework, reading incentives, math facts and the list goes on!  I have to say my new favorite is her Primary Beads.  You should head over to her store and check out all the different sets.




So what are you doing to build kids up?  I would love to hear about it:)

There are probably as many ways to teach phonics as there are colors in the world!  Each teacher has his/her own philosophy, style, background and county mandates that mold how he/she teaches phonics.  No way is the best way and I have learned that  VARIETY in my instruction is what is best for my students and I.  So I am joining Melissa over at First Grade Smiles with her How to Teach Phonics Linky!


I have to say that I am NOT a worksheet teacher.  I structure my teaching with the gradual release model of I do- we do- you do.  There is whole group instruction, small group instruction and lots of independent practice.  Children learn by doing.  However, this said, there is a time for worksheets.  Some of my students have said they LOVE worksheets!  This is a huge reminder to me that all children learn differently and have different likes and dislikes.  My job is to make it all come together:)

Here are some pictures from my Daily 5 Word Work Centers that include skills and activities that have been introduced whole group, practiced in small group and then added to the Word Work Center for independent practice.




One of my go to's this year for our new reading series is Wonders:  A Supplemental Unit {Grade One-Unit 1.  It includes 5 games like the ones above for each week.  Short vowels a, i and o and well as blends with l, r and s are included.  I love that I will be ready to go for the first month.  Even if you are not using wonders- the unit is worth the purchase for the five phonics games.