Who doesn't love free?

I mean really!! I started using something called Swagbucks- about two years ago! I seriously just changed it so that it was my default search engine and use it whenever I need to search for things. I randomly get free swag bucks every time I search or take a daily poll, use the toolbar, or take a survey!

In December I turned them in and got $15 in Amazon gift cards...there are a TON of other rewards but I LOVE amazon!! Right now I have about 630 SB- I'm saving again for some more g/c's!

Click the button below to get started- I swear it is SUPER easy and you won't regret it- you will be addcited just like I now am! :) Happy Searching!

The Sickies....

Well....I will say this is how I have spent my weekend!



UGH- YUCK! The downside to first graders is the GERMS! I can't remember the last time I had the stomach flu.....well I was reminded yesterday or how HORRID it really is. I missed my sisters college graduation party....got NO laundry done and no cleaning! Plus I have barely even seen my baby girl all weekend :(. Trying to decide if maybe taking a day off tomorrow is a good idea or not?? I gotta up my vitamin intake and hand sanitizer use. I am not getting that again!

Stay Tuned....

I'm having MAJOR trouble with google docs and I am beyond frustrated with it right now so I'm going to go lay down and read on my kindle...

I had a great post- with a domino math game center, juicy words memory game and apple contractions but nooooooo google docs didn't like that idea and is completely messing up my PDF! It only uploads the text and in some weird font! Anyone got any ideas.....

On a good note- it is EXTREMELY beneficial having a husband who specializes in graphic and web design....and is honestly a PRO at photoshop- he is teaching me all the in's and outs and how to navigate this whole new web world :)

SO....I do have a great post - just can't get it to work tonight- will try again on Sunday- as tomorrow completely book and Saturday I have another completely full day.

Blogging addiction

Well my addiction to blogging just expanded! I can now blog from my phone! Although I will still mostly use my laptop so I can upload documents and read other blogs but this is nice to have....


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Egg-O Math

Since we are finishing up our unit on Relating addition and subtraction facts to 20...I pulled out my Egg-O math kits for the kiddos to do during independent activity time after they finish their math page. I took empty egg cartons and wrote numbers inside. For single digits- I only put numbers 0-9....for double digit addition I did double digit numbers.

I put two or three mini pompoms or bingo counters in each carton. The kids shake up the pompoms and open the carton....they add the numbers that the pompoms land on...I put two in for two digit adding and 3 in for adding 3 numbers. I made several sheets for them to write down their addition problems on. (I hope I explained that right)

Single Digit Egg-O Math

Double Digit Egg-O Math Sheet

Adding 3 Eggo-Math Sheet

I also made "money eggs" which is perfect since all the stores have plastic eggs out for Easter. I used another empty egg carton - and 12 Easter eggs...I put fake coins in each egg and numbered them. The kids take an egg and count the money in it...they do this for all 12 eggs....or 18 depending on the size of egg carton they are using....

Money Eggs

Book Giveaway!

WOW!!!- Erica at Erica Bohrer's First Grade is giving away a signed copy of her scholastic book- (ACK sorry I tried to get the picture smaller but photobucket is giving me major problems!)



This book looks SUPER cute and even if I don't win (but I HOPE I DO!) I think I may have to purchase it to use in my classroom!

Check it out!

Lady Liberty and some sweet $1 finds!

In our quest to learn about "Our Country" and American Symbols- we did a quick little writing/project today on the Statue of Liberty. We have already done a writing on the American Flag and the Liberty Bell (no pics of those) - so today I showed a quick video off United Streaming and then we wrote about the Statue of Liberty as a class and then put the art project together. Here's the finished project-...and yes- everything was done with DJ Inkers because I am obsessed!

My Example:

Two of the Kiddos finished project:

Now for the awesome deals I found at Target today- How excited was I to find some super cute file folders and dividers in the $1 section at Target! I couldn't resist- I even found two super cute clipboards.....the hubby wasn't as 'thrilled' as I was but he understands my 'addiction' to buying cute things for my classroom :)

Overall- it was a pretty good day!

Accessory swap! Ooo LaLa!

So one of the fabulous blogs that I follow-The Adventures of Miss Elisabeth- is having an accessory swap- I'm super excited because I L.O.V.E all things accessories!!! Head on over to Elisabeth's blog and join in the fun!

Freebies for now....

well until I decide whether or not I want to use TpT or something else to sell my creations - I am going to just put them on here for free. I am not that comfortable selling things I have made because I don't like purchasing things from other teachers- I'm broke as it is :) So since I LOVE downloading freebies- that's what I am going to offer.

For the past couple of weeks we have been working on Synonyms/Antonyms and contractions. My first graders are having a really hard time w/ both of these concepts. So I created a "Synonym Match" for them to do during free time or as a second activity after they finish their center. My class kept wanting to tell me the opposite for the word instead of the synonym...hopefully this helps.

I'm still new at this whole google docs thing so I also included a link to just directly download the files below the pictures. I want to figure out how to just have a picture and you click to download.....

Synonym Match Game

Contraction Worksheet (I used this for morning work)

Apple Contractions

Listening Centers...

My new obsession is making center time more 'productive' and not just busy work. I mean it's almost an hour out of our instructional day. So....with that said- in my classroom I run 5 centers a week. They kids do one center a day. I have a reading center (which right now is just for reading books and taking A.R. Quizzes), spelling center, writing center, Theme center, and Story of the Week Center.

I was not happy with the story of the week center....I hated having them do an activity for the story we would be reading because on Monday's they hadn't even read the story yet! So- I have now changed it to focus on the comprehension skill of the week that goes with our story. I have been using listening centers for this. I LOVE listening centers- but hate when all they do is listen to a story and there is nothing to go with it.

The past couple of weeks I have been taking a listening center and creating a worksheet (hate that word) an activity to go alone with the story they listen to and the comprehension skill.

We use HM and are on Theme 6. For week 1 we were doing Noting Details - so I pulled the listening center-Giraffes Can't Dance and created this to go with it:

Noting Details Center Full Download

For week 2 (this week for us) We are working on Making Predictions- so I took the story Giggle, Giggle, Quack and came up with this activity:

Predictions Listening Center Full Download

I'm working on one for next week- Slugs in Love (Problem Solving)....

Teacher's Help!

How do I upload documents from google docs to share with all of you??? Someone help me please!! :)

Meet the Teacher....

Time for a party! One of my favorite blogs to read First Grade Parade is having a Linky Party- and since I'm new to the "teaching" blog and need followers I thought I would join in! 

So, on to me! My name is Christine and I teach 1st grade in Southern Cali. This is my 6th year teaching- prior to teaching 1st grade I taught 3rd. 1st grade is where my heart is though! I absolutely LOVE it. The age group, the curriculum and the cute things my students come up with keep me on my toes all day everyday! I am constantly coming up with activities, centers and fun things to keep my 1st graders engaged. I L.O.V.E DJ Inkers - {read: OBSESSED} with anything that has to do with DJ clipart! Anything I can recreate or come up with using it- I will! 

I received my bachelor's degree from Cal Poly Pomona along with my Multiple subject teaching credential in 2005. I then completed my Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration and hold an Administrative credential. I hope to one day get out of the classroom and try my hand at leadership.....but that's all for another day. 

I am married to my wonderful husband-{we met in H.S.}- dated for 7 years and then got married in July of 2006.

Our Wedding Day: 

Some random photos of the Hubby and Me:

Vegas:

We have an English bulldog named Mason-

We also had our first daughter- Lyla McKenna in November of 2009. She is the absolute LIGHT of my (our) life and the reason I get up every morning. No matter how my day goes I cannot wait to get off work to see her smiling face waiting for me. We LOVE being parents {but how could we not when we have this little beauty}-

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                             
A:  I would L.O.V.E to be a Stay at home mom! I want nothing more than to be able to stay home with Lyla and spend every day with her.

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                    
A: Reading- literally! I cannot get enough of books. The hubby gave me a Kindle for Christmas and it is my new best friend. I just finished the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and it was AMAZING!

I also enjoy catching up on my sleep, watching movies with the hubby and playing with Lyla.                                                                

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                     
A:  At first a dentist- then a teacher.
   
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                              
 A: Reality TV....- I love all of the "Real Housewives of....", The City, Real World, True Life, The Bachelor, 19 Kids and Counting, Little People Big World, The Little Couple, Keeping up with the Kardasians, Kourtney and Kholey take Miami, Guilianna and Bill- I could go on and on...I like almost all reality shows!

Ok, Ok, ALL TV- I fill up our DVR - House, Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, 90210. Southland, Friday Night Lights, Bones, Rookie Blue, Oprah, Ellen, 20/20, True Blood, Dexter, and loads more.

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                   
 A: not living life to it's fullest......having regrets. Not enjoying time with my husband and daughter.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                               
 A: Hawaii, Louisiana, Disneyland (OK- not vacation since I live 40 minutes away but still)
                                                         
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                   
A:  Always treat other's the way you want to be treated {my mom}

Be the friend that you want to have.

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                   
A:  honesty and trustworthiness.....as well as compassion.

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                        
A:  My ambition and ability to achieve goals that I set for myself.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                           
A: Jesus- I would love to have just a moment with him.


My MawMaw {mom's mom} and my husband's parents- all three have passed away and I would love the opportunity to just sit and chat with them all! Especially my husband's parents since I did not get the chance to meet them.

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

I HATE cheese!  I mean HATE!! I won't eat it....ever. I order all of my food without it and even my own mom makes thing special for me- if what she is making has cheese in or on it. I take it off pizza, order mexican food with out it and will not eat something if it previously had cheese on it :) 

That's me!