GoNoodle Linky Party with Kickin' It in Kindergarten

Hi, friends! Doing a quick linky party with Kickin' it in Kindergarten on GoNoodle. Seriously...GoNoodle is a lifesaver to get some energy out...especially on the frigid Cleveland days we have had (and indoor recess everyday last week!). I almost couldn't contain my excitement when I got the e-mail last week that they added indoor recess activities! I put it on, and away my kids went...and they got their first gold in one of the Olympics races. This.was.a.big.deal. I could hear them screaming down the hall! Oy!

Favorite GoNoodle Brain Break: I really love the Zumba GoNoodles...I think because I danced since age 3 -- and I like to dance with the kids; ya know, get my moves on, haha! But, after the past week of indoor recess everyday, the recess GoNoodles have taken a quick run to first place. 

My Happy Place: The beach. What I wouldn't give to be in a sunny, warm place where winter coats, hats, and gloves are unheard of. This would be my happy place...Aruba. If you have never been, put it on your list:

My Guilty Pleasure: My guilty pleasure has been trying to get to Pure Barre more often (doubling for two things I love -- pilates and ballet mix workout and New Year's Resolution - win-win!). 

And...I can't leave out Prince Farmer. 

Keep Calm and....drink Starbucks. When all else fails, there is a Starbucks at every corner to help get you through the day! My drink of choice? Chai tea latte! YuM!

Have a great week!

Lauren 

Let's Celebrate MLK Jr. Day Literacy && Craftivities Unit giveaway!!

Happy Saturday, friends! I hope you are staying warm...I am snuggled in blankets on blankets as we are only at 7 degrees right now in Cleveland....brrr. With that being said, it made me want to do something to feel warm and happy --- a giveaway for my newest unit: here!

I will pick 2 winners Monday, January 12th. :)

Have a great weekend!
Lauren 




  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holidays Around the World Event...and giveaway!

Can you believe it...I am writing two days in a row!!! I almost don't believe it, either. I wanted to blog about a project my kiddos did before we left for winter break. During the month of December, we learned about Holidays Around the World and used What the Teacher Wants Holidays Around the World Packets to help us on our adventures! I can't tell you how much fun they had....they loved learning about Santa Claus and how other kids celebrated the holiday (and were a bit jealous that some people got presents for more than one day!). 

After we read and discussed the different countries, students got to choose one to do more research on with buddies. They then created their countries flag, props that went along with their country to hang (i.e. France made the Eiffel Tower, Australia made surfboards, etc.), a speech, and a TV commercial using their iPads. Students transformed from first graders into travel agents during our Holidays Around the World Event and shared their information, showed their TV commercials trying to persuade people to come to their country, and their props to their families and other students in the school. Each person that came to visit our event had a plane ticket telling them which country they would stop at first, second, etc. during their 7 stops around the world. After each person completed their travels, they used their iPads or iPhones to scan a QR code on an airplane that the students made during art class, and chose which country persuaded them most to visit for their holiday. The students had such an amazing time and I loved that it used such real-life applications! :)

Here are a few pictures.....(the students put their pictures inside "windows" on the plane....so cute!)

Stay tuned tomorrow...I will be having a give-away of my newest unit: Let's Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Stay Warm!!
Lauren

Let's Celebrate MLK Jr. Day and FREEBIE!!

Hello friends...Lauren here, after what seems to be forever!! Since I last wrote, I officially moved in to my new place (and the decorating is in full force -- so.much.fun) and have been teaching first grade. I can't tell you how much I enjoy it! I promise I will post before-and-after house pictures soon.

One of my New Year goals is to blog more....well here I am and not only that.....I made a product for TPT, just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day right here! Don't forget about this freebie I posted a while ago, too.....here!

What are some of your goals for this year? 

I know this a super quick check-in, but I am trying to stay snuggled under a blanket in this arctic Ohio weather!

Stay warm, friends!

Peek at my week!

I don't know what I'd do without some amazing bloggers and their wonderful products! Moving to a new grade, it has been such a blessing to be able to find such quality products that hit exactly what I am wanting to teach. 

Once I get into the groove of first grade, I hope to create some products, but for now -- these amazing ladies are helping me more than they know. Thanks so much to Amy Lemons, Hope King, Jodi Southard, Abby Mullins, Cara Carroll, Sheila Jane Teaching Freebies, Kristen Smith, and Sarah Kirby. YOU ladies are helping me be on the right track for the first full week of first grade. 

Click here for a peek at my week: Peek at my week

Have a great week :)

....we're back!!!

Oh my word -- it has been forever. Emily and I are starting to loop this year so we are getting excited and ready for a whole new world of teaching...or different grades. Emily will loop up to second and I will be in first grade. I am BEYOND excited. I have never taught first and am excited for the lovable little munchkins! I have been doing a lot of first grade blog reading this summer and can't tell you how appreciative I am for you all! You are lifesavers. I am filling up my TPT cart with lots of stuff right now to help make the year go smoothly.

One of our goals this year is to post more .... seeing as it has been almost a year, I am hoping we are off to a better start already.  :)

I started to organize my classroom and get it shape for the year. I will post a picture of an easy and inexpensive way to brighten up your room (I will post once it is completely done -- hopefully tomorrow!). I am using fun ribbon on my wall as stripes! I attach a cute little bow to it and it has added a lot of "fun!"Can't wait to finish it up.

I also bought a condo this summer and have been renovating. I will try to upload some before and after pictures so you can see the progress.

Until next time .... which will be a lot, lot sooner. Promise! 

Classroom Digs!

Holy Moly! It has been quite a few months since we have been on here! Sorry, dear blog friends, we have missed you! I will start with a couple updates, pictures of my classroom and a freebie!

Well, Emily and I (Lauren) have exciting news -- we are looping partners!! Emily will be in first grade this year and loop up to second next year and I will be in second this year and head down to first next year and loop with my kiddos to second. We are very excited and trying to stay very organized! I am so lucky to be able to work so closely with such a great teacher and share ideas. Secondly, my best friend is getting married this weekend. It will be a big, fat Greek wedding! AND I just put a bid in on a house. Fingers crossed that the inspection goes well tomorrow and then I will sign on the dotted line -- phew a lot has happened in a short amount of time!

Now, here are some pictures of my work in progress classroom (who am I kidding -- it is always a work in progress, ha!). We go back Monday and students start on Wednesday. Let me say -- thank goodness for pinterest, Schoolgirl Style and 2nd Grade Shenanigans as some of my designs were tweaked or came from there! (: I will have to take a better picture of my new bookshelf that my dad made me this summer -- in loveeee!

Reading Area Rock Stars with my new bookshelf! (Thanks, Dad!)

Another view of my reading area

I can focus board and bulletin board for student work (clothes line inspired)

Doorway area (ps. got the cute stick on polka dots from Targets clearance area!)

Word wall and guided area

 

We are no longer able to hang things from the ceiling, so my table numbers are on my chair - easy fix!

 

My window -- had to get my poof balls in some place!

 

Have a great week,

Lauren (: