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Reading Response Take Home Kit!

Last year I never sent home my classroom library books with my students and it was honestly because I didn't know how to organize that and how to make it purposeful. I wanted a way to send home a book, keep track of it, involve the parents and meet with my students in conferences and... most importantly make it purposeful and not like another boring homework assignment! Well, a few nights ago it suddenly dawned on me! I covered an entire notebook page with ideas for a Reading Response Take Home Kit and now it is here and in my opinion my best prepared unit yet! (this is because I am posting about it before it is even on Tpt... it will be any second now)

So, here it is!
 
I provided this cute cover in the packet. I laminated it so I could re-use it each year.
The cover includes the child's name, teacher name and the conference day so parents never forget! ;)
 
 
In the kit I also included a book log. The teacher fills this out and writes notes if need be. A column for the level of book is also there to keep track of growth. A parent letter is provided explaining everything they need to know.
I also think it is important for parents to have a say in their child's progress so I created and laminated the "Parent Progress Report." Each time their child reads their book they can check a box with a dry erase marker that can be kept in their bag and send it back. It's an easy way to keep communication.
 
 
There is also a mini-book for parents to use if they want to add any additional comments.
Super easy to put together!
 

 
 In the kit there are 24 reading response concepts for students to take home.
At the top of each reading response page there is a small description to explain to parents what they need to help their child do.
 
 
At the bottom of each line there is a parent signature line to confirm that the parents were present when the reading response was completed (for those little sneakers) :)
 
 
The next thing the kids keep in their bag is a concept checklist. When you meet with the students individually you will check (or date) the concept they will be working on. This helps you keep track of the frequent practice of each concept and to identify which ones need more emphasis.
 
I also provided some extra things in here like a conference template for Mon-Fri.
There is cute ones that you can hang on your wall or there is just one you can keep in a binder.
 
Here are the 24 concepts that are covered.
 
 
Beginning, middle, end
story elements
main idea and details
favorite part
main character
my opinion
visualize the story
create a new ending
a funny part
hunting for punctuation
asking and answering questions
making connections to self
making connections to text
predicting events
cause and effect
is it fiction or non-fiction
finding facts
sequencing events
compare and contrast
topic and categories
problem and solution
character and setting
Authors purpose
illustrations
 
If you are interested in this then please take a look at it! I am so excited to use this & I hope it helps you in your classroom too!
 
Click here to check it out!
I have discounted it $1.00 for the next 24 hours!
 
 
 
 Enjoy!!
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200 Follower Giveaway Celebration!!

Well, the celebration has finally begun! It is a tad bit late but that's alright! Giveaways are just fun! Take a look at what you can win by entering! One person will win!
 

Graphics from Melonheadz and font from Cara Carroll.
 







 

 
 
 
 
Good luck! This raffle ends on Sunday!!!
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Owl, Polka Dot Decor!! 60% OFF!!!

I just revamped my owl décor packet. I had completed it earlier in the summer and I just wasn't pleased so I gave it some TLC and I love it and I hope you do too! To celebrate I am marking this sucker 60% off for the next 24 hours! Take a look and grab it if you would like!
Only $3.00 right now!!

Click on the cover page to go to my tpt store to purchase!

(Sorry for the blurr.. I swear everything is very clear... uploading pictures on blogs can sometimes make them look unclear)


 
 


I hope you love it!
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New Pins for you!

Another Friday! Boy, summer is just scooting right on by and pinning is becoming more and more of a hobby because of these parties!
 
I am linking up with Cara for her 'Favorite Pins Friday!'
 
 
Here we goooo!!!
 
Fashion!**
Since, I am revamping this little blog of mine and making into a teaching/teacher fashion blog I have been searching for outfits upon outfits! Here are a few of my favorites!
 
all things katie marie- Adorable blog with great teacher outfits
 
I love the look of all of these outfits! I need to go shopping pronto!
 
Classy teacher outfit-- glad to see flats, instead of trendy heels. Sorry fashion, but I stand all day.
 
I love this outfit because it is so cute and yet so professional. I am going to be looing for something similar to this for meet the teacher night. I love the yellow and black together.
 
Olive pants, White sweater, Black accents. Cute for City Style.
 
I love this outfit too! Her boots and purse are just adorable.
This would be a great Friday outfit! So comphy looking too.
 
 
Next up...
 
*Hair*
 
I just got a hair cut yesterday so this is also on my mind! It was a good 7 months without a trim... I am not a fan of getting my hair trimmed... :)
 
I love the French fishtail braid here. This really would be so quick and easy for a day when you're running late!... aka... me as always! (I swear I'm never late... I just have to rush)
 
 
gonna try this.
 
This would be so easy to do too. Scrunch up your hair. Braid and pull it to the other side! Wahla!
 
Double waterfall braid
 
Now onto the teaching stuff!! :)..
 
I found these attention grabbers about two days ago and I will be printing these and putting them up! Last year I just did the same ones over and over again. I got bored with them so I know the kids for sure did!
 
Attention grabbers for class
 
Another new obsession of mine is math centers. I decided to take the plunge and do math centers with math workshop and guided math this year so I have been creating/buying/research like a mad woman!
 
This resource has cute ideas!
 
Math Centers Galore!
 
Last but not least for teaching this week...
 
Last year I hated when I had kids get partners and there were always, always a few kids left out! Towards the end of the year I learned of clock partners... which is neat but I like to spruce stuff up a bit more than that... and that's when I found this! Ahh... kids are going to love it! I want to B*dazzle theirs! (let them do it of course is what I mean by that)
 
cell phone partners-each child selects 10 names to put on a speed dial number. When you need a partner, teacher calls out a number and they check the speed dial to see who their partner is this time. cute idea
 
And dun dun dunnnnnn... wedding stuff because a girl can dream!
 
I am told this engagement stuff is going to be happening soon from the boy...
 
so... I am really dreaming!
 
Here are some cute ideas I found!
 
Love this photo idea!Pretty :)a bride and her doggotta remember this one :)that might be the cutest thing i've ever seen
 
 
Alright... now, I'll be finished with this obsession we all call pinning!
I have a lot more but I guess I can save them for next week! :)

 
 
 
Also... I am gearing up to have my 200 follower giveaway begin on this Monday! If you want to be a part of it then fill out the form below! I already have seven fabulous ladies who are donating and I would love for you to be a part of it too!!

 
 
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Get your Polka Dot on *Freebie* (Word Wall & Clothes?)

Before we get to your freebie I want to remind you that Living In Yellow is having an awesome deal on one piece of clothing and one accessory! The clothing choices are all about the polka dots!
 Click on the link below to go to her blog! I love her attire and blog! I encourage you to follow!! It is not teaching related but it has everything else we love and her writing is just so engaging!
 
 
And... to keep the polka dots going here is your polka dot word wall freebie!
 
.....................................................
 
I am getting ready to go outside and lay by the pool with a girl friend and if you live in Ohio then you know it has literally stormed for 2 1/2 straight weeks and there has been zero sun shine! So, because I feel so happy about this I want to give a freebie to you all! It'll only be free for a little so grab it while you can!
 
Click on the picture to grab it at my store! Let me know what you think!
 I love feedback!!
 
 
I am definitely linking this post up with Across the Hall in 2nd because these really are two of my favorite things! This word wall looks so cute in my room and I love that blog!
 
Favorite Graphic
Have a fabulous day!!
 
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Who loves clothes?!!??!!

This is going to a quicky little post! I just have to share this blog with you. It is completely non-teaching related but Oh Meee Oh Myy... it is a great read and I know a lot of us love the cute clothes with bright colors and beautiful patterns... well, this blog includes everything we love! (minus the teaching part).

It is called... Living in Yellow.
 
 
She is doing something that just knocks my socks off (yep blogger talk is rubbing off on me)... she is connected with a boutique called, "Miss Chic" and basically what she is doing is choosing one piece of attire and one accessory for us (the public/readers) to purchase for $42.00. The catch for getting the great deal is that we don't know what she is picking out for us! We won't know until it shows up at our door step! I thought it sounded weird too... like your probably thinking right now. But, look at her style and you will have the utmost confidence that she will have  AWESOME attire delivered to your home!
 
Here are a few that she did earlier...
 
Click the picture to see more!
(I hope she doesn't mind that I'm bragging)
 
This month the clothing theme is "polka dots."
 
Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you! I was almost a fashion major so clothes are another obsession of mine!!
Place your order for her clothes before Friday!
I am right now!! Eeeee!! :)
 
You should probably just follower her too because her posts are amazing!
 LOVE reading them!
 
 
 
 
 
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A LONG list of ramblings for ya!!

So.. Are you ready for some randomness because here it comes!
This is basically a scrapbook page... get readyyyy!!!
I feel like such a pointless blogger this summer because nothing in my life is really that organized so here are my ramblings...
Thanks to Fabulous In First Grade for the fun linky!
 


 
We will begin with last week on... Wednesday I believe. The boy took three days off work to spend some time and his 28th birthday with me! We did all kinds of relaxing with our puppies!
 
 
During our relaxing time I was of course taking full advantage of all of the fab. deals on Tpt! I bought so much stuff... it is literally unbelievable how much I bought... I just couldn't resist all of the great stuff! I can't share it all now... but I will at a later date!
 I was printing, laminating and cutting non-stop! Here, I have Dee Dee Will's writing bundle for writing workshop! I took the plunge and bought it for the whole year! I love the idea of vocab cards for the kids to refer to while their writing.



 
I even set up the board for August and September! I haven't copied the papers for the kids yet due to the fact that we don't yet have paper... not to mention I can't make a copy without the copier jamming! Ugh.. teacher problems!! :)

 
Of course I can't just do one thing when I am in the classroom so I worked on other boards, and TRYING to organize my stations!
 
Are there any suggestion on how to do this with very minimal space? I am thinking cardboard book bins and labeling them? How do you do it?

Here is my attempt at organizing...

 
I don't believe this will work...
and it looks SO messy! ha!
 
 
 
I also took another plunge and bought the Guided Math kit from Lesson Plan SOS! I love this and can't wait to begin teaching math in a new way!!
 
 
I made some yummy birthday cake this week for Andrew's birthday! Funfetti!!

 
We also went to a fourth of July cookout and I had to bring a side dish...
I can't cook... So, I kind of freaked out. I search on pinterest for an easy recipe and I found this Apricot Gorgonzola Cheese Dip! I only messed up once!! Yay...! ha

 

 
Here we are heading off to the cookout!


 

 Last but not least... we are packing up and moving to a super duper small town! His job was to work and my job was to take pictures! :) Just kidding!! I helped... a little!
 

 
Here is some of our packing we have done so far... We still have three weeks until moving day but we are both super busy until then!

 
Well, that's a wrap everyone! Thank you for viewing my online scrapbook! This is what happens when I don't link up for the Five for Friday! Bahh!! :)
 
 


 
 
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