I'm still here!! :D

Hello Friends!!! Wow, I am a horrible blogger! I guess it is just because I'm very new to this... but it is really hard to find time to sit down and keep my blog updated amidst a busy schedule of work, school, parenting, cooking, etc. I GREATLY admire those ladies out there that are consistently blogging and posting great products (that I use ALL the time!).
      With that said, I recently downloaded a few great products on R-controlled vowels and decided to create a little coordinating independent activity for my kiddos to do during phonics centers to practice the -ar combination. I have to give a shout out to The Inspired Apple for her amazing "Learning with Pirate Mark" packet from TPT! My kiddos love Pirate Mark :) and I found a super cute song online at KidsKnowIt that fits well with the theme too! After planning for my week and going through all the super cute activities out there, I got a small surge of energy to create a last minute independent activity (with the help of the ScrappinDoodles adorable pirate graphics :) to go along with our Pirate Argh! unit and would like to share it with all of you for FREE! (especially since it has been a while since my last post!)
The file consists of a treaasure map and word cards. I ran one copy of the treasure map for each of my students and printed the word cards on cardstock, which I also laminated to save for next year's batch of firsties!  I placed a pocket chart at the center and placed the labels at the top. My kiddos worked together to read and sort words into their correct side (words with -ar and words without -ar). Once they finished, they could use the pocket chart to write words onto the record sheet to complete the treasure map. My more advanced kiddos were given an extension on the back of the treasure map to create sentences using all the words that they recorded. This is how I utilized the activity, but please feel free to use it as you choose :D I hope ya'll enjoy!
 Thanks for keeping faith in me and following me while my blogging/creating skills develop!

Dr. Seuss :)

       At school this week, we are hosting our annual Literacy Night and Fall Festival. Our inspiration this year is The Lorax! {love it} Not only that, but in Journey's this week we are reading about Dr. Seuss- how perfect :) Therefore, my only choice for weekly theme was all things Dr. Seuss! Now, I wanted to be sure I didn't take all the Seussical fun out of Dr. Seuss' birthday in March, so I am limiting myself to only 3 stories this week... The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and of course, The Lorax. We will also be watching the newest The Lorax movie! In March, to celebrate his birthday, I plan to revisit The Cat in the Hat and then read The Cat in the Hat Comes Back and extend them with a venn diagram comparing/contrasting the two stories. I will also use Horton Hatches the Egg {and show the movie of course!} and the many other silly stories that Dr. Seuss published!

       Now, I usually go searching the seas of pinterest, my favorite teacher blogs, and Pinterest for activities and ideas to use with each unit I plan, BUT, it is my goal to become a CREATIONARY force in this digital world of teaching that I love and emulate the wonderfully comprehensive theme packs that some of my favorite sellers create and publish. However, I haven't quite managed the balancing act of creating/teaching/mothering/etc. to be able to really go all out just yet. I have quite a few random things I have made here and there that are in need of being put together. So, although I plan to create additional activities...HERE it is!... my FIRST official post of something of my own design! {YAY} It is a pack of graphic organizers and writing prompts that I plan to use with our Dr. Seuss unit this week. Please leave me feedback/ideas/revisions that you feel could make this product better! I am still learning all the ins and outs so go easy on me :D

Here are a few samples from the pack {there are 7 included in the download}

ENJOY!

I {heart} Halloween!

I just LOVE holidays! This time of year is wonderful, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas... especially when you have kids to share it with! My daughter is seriously my mini-me! She makes the holiday season even more wonderful with her excitement and enthusiasm :D She was so excited to begin decorating the house with all things spooky! So... here is one of my many Pinterest inspired creations, a tulle Halloween wreath! As you will quickly come to learn, I am pretty much obsessed with Pinterest! And believe me, when you think to yourself "not as much as I am" you are undoubtedly mistaken. The first thing I do when I wake up? Pin! Lunch? Browse pins. Conference? yup, pin! and before I go to bed (much to my love's annoyance:) PIN!  This was such an easy project, just tulle, some knick knacks from Micheal's floral section and a dollar store felt web placemat glued to the background. I have since made a few more for friends with minor variations on the colors and patterning but all in all it was a hit! I am pretty sure I will be making one of these for every holiday to come! Taking orders! hehe :P

And the adventure begins!

Wow! I am just in love with the fabulous design that Alicia from Dreamlike Magic has given my blog :) My thanks go out to her and her beautiful creativity and talent! This is very exciting for me to begin this new path in my life. I have always been an ambitious individual from my bachelor's degree to my master's and now I find that I am setting my sights on a new goal... being a blogger/creator of teacher products and sharing my teaching career and life with those that find the same passion and joy in all things beautiful and fun. I am feeling like one lucky lady... now to just figure out how to manage/edit this blog and add my things! haha Maybe I should go buy "Blogging for Dummies" since I hadn't really thought this part through before getting started!
P.S. Thank you to all those that have expressed interest in my new adventure and began following me... I promise, I won't let you down!