Currently and Happy New Year Friends!!

This is my first time to ever link up with Farley of Oh' Boy 4th Grade for her monthly party!  So here goes nothing...

I can't believe it is December 31st.  My dad turns 58 today..Happy Birthday Daddy!! 2012 was a very productive year for me but near the end, turned out to be sickly. However, 2012 did finish with a complete surprise!  I can't reveal what is happening right now, but I will in a week or so!  Lets just say I was shocked and excited at the same time!!

I honestly can't wait to see what is in store for my family and me. I just know with God's guidance, 2013 will be a wonderful year!  

Happy New Year blogger friends!!

Friday Freebie

Click Here

We recently had our first snow of the season.  Of course with temperatures right at 32 degrees it only stayed a few hours.  I decided to go ahead a create a Friday freebie.  Enjoy this Snow Day freebie!!

Sick and a two Give-A-Ways

This December has been an extremely sick month for the Carver house.  My son was admitted into the hospital for two days with RSV and both of us now have the flu.  I am so ready for 2013 so hopefully we will have a healthier year!

1st Anniversary Giveaway

As I was looking into the blog world for the first time since the hospital, I found two blog giveaways.  One is a 1st Anniversary blog giveaway over at SOS-Supply. Sue has great ideas for teachers, lesson plans, resources, and tricks!  If you haven't visited her page, make sure you check her blog out!

Now the next blog giveaway is with my friend Stephanie at Sparkling in Third Grade.  She has reached 100 followers.  If you haven't checked her blog out, you need to visit her page as well.  She has great ideas, resources, and tricks for teachers!  She also is a great friend so get to know her too!

100 Followers Giveaway!

Good luck to everyone and Happy Holidays to you too!

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

Teaching, House hunting, and a Wedding...

I feel really bad I haven't blogged in a while.  Time is surely going by quickly!  My sister is getting married December 12th, and I have still so much to do as her matron of honor!  Not only is she getting married but she is shopping for a house as well.  She did find one and it is so cute...fingers crossed for her!  Anyways, I am still waiting for my drop in and that also is very stressful!  But on a happy note, they must be finished by Dec. 14th!  Ha, so I know it's between now and then!  I also finished my Jack Frost unit, so if you haven't seen it please check it out! Speaking of TPT don't forget the Cyber Monday Sale!






I was extremely excited to find out I was nominated by Stephanie at Sparkling in Third Grade for the Liebster Blog Award!

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up and coming bloggers by established bloggers (less than 200 followers), in order to recognize them, let them know that they are appreciated, and to spread the word about new blogs. The rules are: 

• You must post 11 random things about yourself.
• Answer the questions that the nominators set for you.
• Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
• Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.
• No tag back, (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so that I can learn more about you!)

So here goes nothing...

11 Random Things about Amy! 

1.  I love the beach...I married my husband in Navarre, Florida directly on the beach!

2.  I love cheering...I cheered from 3rd grade to my Junior year in high school.  Now I am helping with the cheer club/squad at my school!

3.  I am a big twilight fan...however, I love to sleep so I would wait until the daytime.

4. I loved the holiday that we just had...because I was able to stay in my jammies and have sleep in days with my little boy!  We love to sleep and rest!!

5.  I enjoy being a leader- even though I am not fond of being a presenter for a workshop..lol

6.  I love reading kids stories, especially to my little boy right before bedtime!

7.  I am a true Disney Fan- I love cartoons, movies..and MICKEY MOUSE!

8.  For some reason, I really like pens...not sure why...I will see one and think I have to have that...yes, I get it!

9.  Hate to cook, I would rather go out to eat any day!

10.  I am a HUGE family person, I enjoy being around them all the time!

11. I am a shopaholic! My sister today had to stop by Walgreens and I had to get something!  True Confessions!!  We could have stopped at a gas station- I would have gotten a Coke! haha

and now to answer questions from Stephanie:

1. How long have you been teaching and what grades have you taught? 
   1. (11 years) 4th- two years, 3rd- one year, 2nd- 7 years, and currently 1st
2. What do you usually do on a Friday or Saturday night? If there is a Memphis Basketball game and my husband is not at the fire station, then that...otherwise, I am at home watching Disney Jr. with my little boy
3. What do you like the most about the school that you teach at? My co-workers.  I absolutely love my grade level friends!  We are fun and exciting (never a dull moment)
4. What do you like best about being a teacher? watching the kids gain knowledge!
5. If you hadn't become a teacher, what would you have been and why? I was originally going to become an accountant..love math!
6. What is your best teaching memory? My first year teaching second grade, I had a child who could not read.  After tutoring him after school, he slowly learned.  He won an award "Making the Grade" with the University of Memphis and was acknowledged during half-time at the basketball game!
7. What is your worst teaching memory? My first year of teaching...i slipped on ice in front of my students and while playing a game of kickball, I fell while running really fast.  (glasses fell off, and had grass stains on my pants)
8. Who or what is your inspiration for being a good teacher? I had so many wonderful teachers growing up- I was truly blessed, so I would say just the fact I wanted to be a teacher from when I was a little girl...playing dolls, etc.  May I add they are currently, very smart dolls today! =)
9. Chocolate or fruity? fruity, not fond of chocolate unless cake!
10. In the spirt of cyber Monday, what is your favorite store to shop online? Limited, Old Navy, Target and ebay
11. What blog was your biggest inspiration when you decided to start your blog and why? Christina Bainbridge, I started following her on her class web page, and then she went into the blog world...so i decided to follow!

The blogs I nominate for the Liebster Blog Award are the following:

Ms Hutton's Buttons

Creative Lesson Cafe

Teaching with a Mountain View

A Special Kind of Place

Special Teacher for Special Kids

Sunshine and Stars

Literacy Sundae

Whooo's in Second

Teach Pray Love

Learning with Mrs. Leeby

Live, Laugh, I Love Kindergarten

1. What is your favorite season and why?
2. If you hit the lottery, what would you do and why?
3. How long have you been teaching and what grades have you taught?
4. What do you want for Christmas?
5. Do you believe in fate?
6. Why did you choose teaching as your profession?
7. Do you like the new evaluation process?
8. What do you like the most about the school you teach at?
9. What is your favorite subject to teach?
10. Tables or desk? Which would you rather have in your classroom?
11. What is the most memorable moment in your life so far?

Have a great Cyber Monday!!

Santa Claus is Coming Soon!

I honestly can't believe it is November!  Where is this school year going?  This past week we had Red Ribbon Week at school.  I must say the kids really enjoyed the dress up days, especially when I dressed up as a clown!  

Yes, this is me!

This is our door for the Door Contest!

Here are a few classroom pictures I took yesterday afternoon.  My home away from home!

 If I must say having a promethean board is wonderful!

In this picture I have grouped my kids.  The color stars are for me to be able to call on certain students to complete certain task.  Such as: Red Stars can get the privacy folders and pass them out to their group, Blue Stars collect the papers and put them into the basket.

Even though, we decided to just carve a pumpkin, we had a great time.  Poor daddy was at the station that night!

Well, since I feel Christmas is around the corner, I created a few items today.  Make sure you check them out in my TPT store.  

This one kids will be using a magnifying glass to find the hidden words.
 I used Christmas characters and put little words hidden in the picture.  Kids will love finding these hidden words, especially having to use a magnifying glass to find the hidden words!

This will take you to my store.

Here is the recording sheet for the I Spy packet.

Next, is a Christmas Literacy and Math Packet.  It has a Family project, using the book Santa's New Suit.

My kids absolutely loved listening to this story and then having to create a new suit for Santa.  How the imaginations begin to form!

Click above for the TPT store link

Here is the example of the math facts game.  I used Christmas characters on the game board to make it more exciting!

Also, since Thanksgiving is less than 3 weeks away.  Here is a freebie of my Thanksgiving: Disguise a Turkey Family Project. Just {click here} for your copy.

Whew!  I know it's a lot but I wanted to share everything with you.  Thanks to all my new followers on TPT and my blog! 

As always, Happy Blogging! 

Happy Halloween Eve!!

TPT Store

Happy Halloween Eve everyone!  I am going to give a treat to the first 5 people who make comment about this entry, just let me know in the comment which item you would like from my TPT store.  Don't forget to leave me your email address!  Thanks to everyone who follows me.  Also don't forget about Miss V's Giveaway.  It will last another 8 days!  Everyone be safe tomorrow and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

CHECK THIS OUT!!!

{click above}

Miss. V is having a HUGE giveaway.  Wait, hold on, not just one, or two but FIVE Giveaways!!  Please make sure you check her blog out and enter in these fabulous giveaways!  There are some awesome prizes!  Hope everyone has a great Tuesday!

Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Spooktacular Giveaway! Congrats to Kelly at Owl Inspire You.  She is the big winner of my giveaway!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am super excited, for the first time my husband and I have decided to take our son to a NBA game!  I know he really enjoys watching basketball on television and can't wait to see his reaction tonight to a real live game.  Go Grizzlies!!

Click above for your copy!

Also blogger friends, I am needing your help.  I am wanting to create my newsletters in an editable format.  Here is a preview of a November Newsletter but I am needing the software to create it so people are able to type in the areas.  Please let me know if you know which software I would need to get!  Thanks for helping me in advance!!



Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday!!!

enVision Math and a Freebie

This is my second year to teach using the enVision math series, however, this is my 1st year teaching 1st graders so it's really like teaching it again for the first time.  I really do not care for the assessments they provide with the series, so I have decided to make up my own.  Some multiple choice, fill in the blank, etc.  My kids will be taking Topic 6 test next week and this is the assessment I will be using.  Grab a copy for yourself.

Multiplication Math Facts

I have also created a version of my Addition Bubble Gum Math Facts to Multiplication Bubble Gum Math Facts.  Check it out in my TPT store.


Don't forget about the Spooktacular Giveaway that I am having.  Only one day left to enter, winner will be announced on Saturday!

The Robin's Nest

And Speaking of Giveaways, Lory from Fun for First, has a new fabulous blog called The Robin's Nest and is having a super Etsy giveway! So make sure to take a peek and follow this blog as well!




I hope everyone is having a great week!  Only two more work days!!   =)

Gumball Math & Old MacDonald

I have been very busy today, I was able to finish two items.  My Gumball Math and Old McDonald Sight word game.

Gumball Math

For my Gumball Math, I used basic facts from zero to nine.  I created flash cards, assessment tests for each and a game.  The game is similar to Candyland.  There is also a gumball machine. These are to be printed off for each individual child. Once they pass their test, they are to put a gumball on their chart.  What better way to celebrate than to give them a piece of bubblegum!

Old McDonald Sight Word

For my Old McDonald Sight word game, I used pre-primer to third grade dolch list words.  Your kids will draw a card.  If they can read the word, they get to keep it.  However, there are some thunderstorm clouds in the mix.  If a child draws a cloud card, they are put all cards back at the bottom of the deck.  Also in the mix are animal cards.  If they happen to draw this card, they are to act out the animal and keep the card and draw again!


Don't forget I have a SPOOKTACULAR giveaway happening now, so make sure you enter that.  You might just be the lucky one to win a few items from my TPT store and a $ 25.00 visa gift card.

Best of Luck and enjoy the rest of the day!

Taking Time to Thank!

Just a quick post.  Here is a cute way to thank someone in the education field!  Just attach this to a bag of M&M's!

Click on the pic for your copy!

Night everyone, it's been a long day!

"Nouns" and Blog Giveaways!

We have been studying nouns this week. I decided to make a cute center for my kiddos to use and I must say they loved completing it. I took a look at their completed work only to find my kids know how to sort nouns and use them in a sentence. Here is your Friday Freebie (sorry it's a little late!) I also found there are a ton of blog giveaways ( thanks to Stephanie Ann for posting) along with mine! Check them out...I found so many new blogs and fantastic teachers!

Second Grade Smartypants

Crisscross Applesauce in First

Freebielious

Tales from the Outside Classroom

Mrs. Hoffer's Spot

Fourth Grade Lemonade

Reading Toward the Stars

Freebie

Oh yeah here is your Friday Freebie too!

Hope everyone has a fantastic day!

SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY!!

It has been a long week!  I am so glad it's Friday and I am so excited about my first giveaway! Please share and pin if you are willing!  Thanks and Good Luck to ALL!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you been "BOO'd" lately??

Last year at my school, we played a game around this time of year called "Boo".  I am sure you have all heard about it.  In case you haven't it's where you leave a ghost on someone's desk or mailbox along with a treat.  Let's do the same by sharing love from our stores...

Here's how to play:  Choose a fellow blogger that has MORE followers, another that has about the SAME number of followers, and last someone that has LESS followers.  Highlight their blogs with links to encourage others to check them out.  Don't forget to let your fellow bloggers know that you shared about them.  Lastly, leave them some love by offering them a goody from your store as their "treat".

Here are my three picks: Just click on their name to check out their blogs!!

Deanna has some amazing ideas that are well aligned with CCS in her store.  I have found myself purchasing several thing this month and last month to help me with my drop in evaluations!  If you haven't been to her blog, it worth the stop!

Kristen, at a teeny tiny teacher, also has some amazing ideas in her store.  She has currently linked up with several other bloggers to create a freebie sight called freebie-lious.  This is a sight where you will find the best CCS freebies!! Make sure to visit both sights, they are a must!

Finally, Stephanie Ann, at Sparkling in Third Grade.  She has some amazing ideas for those precious third graders.  She showed me love by following me last winter.  Now, I want you all to help me encourage her by showing her  some love by becoming a follower and just see for yourself how her creative mind works with the CCS!

Now it's your turn to pass on the BOO to 3 of your favorite blogger friends, tell us about them and link up!  For more about this Spooky, Fun, Booing..check out Cynthia, at Welcome to Second Grade Pad!

As always, Happy Blogging or in this case, Happy BOOing!!

Wow, What a colorful day!!

Today I experienced the best walk/run of my life.  It was colorful, fun, and full of laughter with friends and family!  I completed the Color Run with my 2 1/2 year old son!!  If you have never experienced this race, look it up and see if its offered near you...I promise you won't regret it! You get a powdered/chalky color thrown, dumped, etc. on you as you are walking/running.  It reminded me of being in a classroom where about 20 students have dusted the erasers.  You can see this color throwing extravaganza 1/2 mile in front of you.  My son almost crawled out of his stroller as we were approaching the second color station.   Here are the pre and post pictures!  Have a great rest of the weekend and as always, Happy Blogging!!

Praises, Praises!!

Well, today was a very happy day.  My grandfather finally came home from the hospital after being there over 3 months. God is so good!  I was also able to complete another unit called " Life Cycle of a Frog" so make sure to check it out.  Also I created a freebie to go along with it.  Don't forget if you follow my blog, make a comment telling me which item you would like out of my TPT store! As always, Happy Blogging Everyone!!

Having a Break!!

A lot has been going on for the last couple of months.  To sum it all...  I had the opportunity to move down a grade level, which brings me to why I have a totally new blog look.  I am having a wonderful time teaching my new age of students and have been wondering to myself, why did I not try to make the change any sooner!  I absolutely love teaching First graders!!  I am sure you have all been under the pressure with all the new evaluations going on.  I am currently waiting on a drop in, which should take place between now and Thanksgiving break.  I created two new things for my TPT store.  (1) Bubble Gum dolch words and (2) Blooms Questions. Check them out!  I also have two freebie, both are math two digit addition/subtraction with and without regrouping.  So make sure you get these as well.  Also, if you follow my blog, I will let you choose between the blooms or Bubblegum words for free.  Just leave me a comment below.  As always Happy Blogging!!

Mother's Day Idea

I am going to have my students complete a questionnaire about their mom.  Click here to get your copy!

Blooming Bath Giveaway

Ok all blogger friends,  My friend Becca over at Cookie and Claire is having the cutest giveaway.  It's a blooming bath that fits right down into your sink.  Your baby would look so cute getting his/her bath!  I have already entered, so go right on over to her blog and enter too!

Tricky Little Leprechauns!!

Here is a cute idea for St. Patrick's Day week or before..just simply print, laminate, and use as a center.  Just click here! However, if you decide to follow me and make a comment, it's a freebie to you..just put your email address in the comment and I will email it to you!  Happy blogging everyone!!

President's Day

I can't believe February will be here next week...where does the time go? Anyways, here is a free venn diagram for your kiddos. Happy blogging everyone!!

                                                                                       

Have you heard....

Ok blogger friends...have you heard of the give-a-way from Lisa & Beth over at Made in the Shade in Second Grade? It's a give-a-way celebrating their 200+ followers! If you haven't heard or seen anything about this, you may want to check it out. Just click here for more info!! Until next time...happy blogging!

Valentine Sentences

Okay here is one more...this is a Valentine game for your students to reinforce punctuation marks.  Check it out by clicking on cupid. Happy blogging!

Center Bookmarks

I have been using the daily five center bookmarks that I found on Pinterest.  But here recently, I decided to create some bookmarks that would work for math and reading centers.  I wanted a more flexible bookmark so my centers could be different for my students.  Check them out...just click on the graphic above.  Happy Blogging!!

New Year Door..

Thanks to Pinterest...here is a cute example of a New Year's Door.   =)

Snow Globe

This is a very cute idea.  If you have seen the snow globes that other people have been creating...well, I took Christina Bainbridge's idea from her "Winter Action Verbs Project" and made a snow globe scene.  I told my students to pretend they are in a snow globe.  How would you feel, what would you be doing?  Then I took their pictures, sent them to Walgreen's, cut them out, and then had my students glue onto their snow globes...they are hanging outside the classroom.  Yes, I even got in on the fun...take a look!

Classroom Pictures

Here are a few pictures of my classroom.  

I will be taking a few more to add later and give you an overall classroom view.