Quick Post and a Thanksgiving Freebie!

Hey, all!!

Just wanted to throw out a quick post and let you know about my new freebie I put up on my TPT site.  It's a great Thanksgiving-themed bingo game that will be handy to pull out in the coming days.  Head on over to my TPT store and check it out along with some other freebies and a couple of great Thanksgiving activities.

Click here to go to my store.

Happy Tuesday!!
~ Katie

Fall Happiness and a Freebie!

  Oh. My. Goodness.  Today might just be the prettiest day we've had all fall.  My neigbors  have the prettiest tree in front of their house, all yellow and orange with sun just shining on those leaves...beautiful!  And it's Saturday, to boot!  I can't think of anything better...except maybe a FREEBIE!
    I've been working away at a great little Thanksgiving unit full of math and literacy activities and here is a sneak peak of one of the activities.  Its a fun little writing station pack with prompts for lists, how-to's, fictional and informational pieces.  In my classroom, I plan on laminating those babies (obviously!) and hot gluing them to some thanksgiving-y pencils.  Label containers with the types of prompts and print out the cutie pie writing paper that comes along with the packet and I think I might just have my writing station ready to go! 
    The first 3 people who do the following will get this great little unit for FREE!  All you have to do is:
   1.  Follow my blog
   2.  Follow my TPT store
   3.  Follow me on Pinterest
Don't forget to leave a comment below telling me you are a follower and include your e-mail address!
If you aren't one of the lucky ones, click here to see this unit and others in my TPT store!

Now, its time for me to head out of here and get some more work done.  I think I see a trip to Target in my future--gotta get those pencils and decorative containers for my new writing station!

Happy Saturday!!

Click here to go to my TPT store. 

 

~Katie

The Smarties' Pledge

If you ask any of the firsties I've taught over the last few years what I call them, they would respond with a resounding "Smarties!"  At the beginning of each school year we learn this pledge.  We talk about what it means to be a Smartie and how keeping these ideas in mind as we go through our day will help all of us have the best day we can. We say it each and every morning to get our day started and it helps me remember my manners all of us get our minds and attitudes ready for the day.  Here's a super simple copy of what I show my kiddos.  I made a chart with this pledge that hangs on our classroom wall in addition to this copy that goes under my document camera each morning.  As an added bonus, it has lots of great chunks and patterns for discussing.  Since my students know this by heart pretty early on in the year, it definitely lends itself to the occasional phonics lesson, too!  Woop!

Click here to download your copy!

~Katie

And so it Begins...

Hello, Friends!

   Welcome to my home away from home--First Grade!  I am currently in my eighth (!!!) year of teaching.  I've taught in all sorts of grades, schools, and places, but I have finally found my home sweet home.  I *heart* first grade. 
   My background includes a 2 year stint with the INCREDIBLE organization Teach for America.  I spent my first 2 years teaching kindergarten at a wonderful little school in rural Mississippi.  Talk about a learning experience!  I wouldn't trade it for anything.
   After 2 years, I ventured closer to where I grew up and spent a while working at a school  for kiddos with all kinds of special needs.  WOW.  Needless to say, I learned alot there, too--and I loved every minute I spent with those students.
   I spent part of a year teaching middle school English before I finally landed safe and sound in that magical land known as first grade.  Now I spend my days hearing about  brand new baby brothers and sisters, what happened in the latest episode of Spongebob (I'd hate to get behind on the happenings at Bikini Bottom), and, most recently, about "whore-icane" Sandy.  I get to watch their sweet little faces light up when they finally *get* it...whatever it is.  Nothing is better.
   I hope you'll come back to visit from time to time--I'll be sharing lots of happenings in my classroom--the good, the bad, and the ugly.  So sit back, relax, and here we go....

~Katie