And the award goes to...

Before I get started with my new teacher series tomorrow, I need to thank those of you who have given me awards lately. Every time I get a message about an award, it just makes me happy. Work has kept me super busy this summer, but I don't want to start my series without a big THANK YOU!

I'm a new teacher. I'm moving grades. I'm terrible at organization. I still have so much to learn. And yet, your comments on this blog and little things like these awards make me feel like a good teacher and make me want to push myself to be a better one- so thank you for giving me confidence that I have something to offer!

I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award or Lovely Blogger Award (again) by these fantastic bloggers:

The Second Grade Superkids
Teachers Don't Steal, They Share!
Lovin' Kindergarten
Surfing to Success
A Passion for Primary
Inspired in Second
Simply Second Grade
Innovate, Relate, and Create
Third Grade's a Charm
Totally Terrific in Texas
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Second Grade Smartypants

I tell ya, it is downright tricky finding new blogs that don't already have these awards- but here are some new blogs that I thought you all should check out! (Hopefully you don't all have the awards already- feel free to accept whichever one you haven't gotten yet! If you have gotten them... well, hopefully the shout-out will get you a few new followers :)

Beyond the Gradebook

Teaching in the Valley

Frogs in First Grade

Today in Second Grade

A Passion for Primary

Third Grade Rock Star

Barnard Island

Alright- the Versatile Blogger Award asks me to tell you 7 random facts about myself. (LOVE this.) But I'm going to tell you 8 things- and let you guess which one is false! Here goes:

1.  I have taken some kind of dance lessons for 15 years.
2.  I've eaten the food they give to monkeys at the zoo.
3.  My husband was impersonating his best friend when we met.
4.  My favorite food is peanut butter pie.
5.  I would love to go to Costa Rica someday and stay in the rainforest.
6.  Someday, I want to be a principal.
7.  I am a partial owner of the Green Bay Packers football team.
8.  I have kissed a stingray.

Which one is false? First person to guess gets to choose the topic of a Scoot game freebie! (Make sure you leave your email with your guess!)

Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner/ answer, and the start of my new teacher series! (So excited!)

Don't forget to spread the word about Hats for Kenton, even if you're not sending something!

Nonsense Words for the Upper Grades

Congratulations to the winner of my giveaway, Angela Victory! Angela, thanks for following, and check your email :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In other news... oops. I completely forgot I was guest blogging yesterday!



If you missed it (like me), go check it out at Buzzing with Ms. B. I posted about how to use nonsense words in the upper grades. Go ahead- read it, so that this post will make a little more sense.

My kids LOVED when we used nonsense words, in part because I took my last name and added "ington." And somehow, when these were not just made-up words, but words from the kingdom of Garwoodington, of which I am queen, it made them so much more fun.

Nonsense words don't have to be "kog" or "lat." Make them grow with the kids to reflect the unknown words that kids will face! Nonsense words are perfect for working on how to read multisyllabic words that combine digraphs, blends, prefixes, suffixes, and more.

Most weeks, I use chart paper to write at least a couple of nonsense words using our phonics pattern of the week, but nonsense words are also a great way to work on context clues and vocabulary skills.

Every once in awhile, I throw in a REAL word, too- and after they sound it out and figure out from context clues what it means, I surprise them by saying it's a real word. They love knowing that they just 'discovered' a new word and didn't even have to look it up!

In this freebie, I've included a short answer page, and then a short story with some comprehension questions and *four* nonsense words. I've even included one real word so you can surprise your class!

Pick up your freebie copy here and write in your own "kingdom" name!

I love using nonsense words because students think they're fun, but I can teach many valuable, authentic skills that ALSO apply to tests! Do any of you do things like this? Would you like to see more?

P.S. -- If you thought the "scubba" in my guest post was the word "cheesy"... you're right! :) Yayyyy!

P.P.S. -- Did you catch my post about Hats for Kenton?



Don't forget to sign up to help us cheer up a boy with leukemia (and his family!). And please help me spread the word on your blog, if you have one!

Hats for Kenton- Help a fellow blogger's family!

One of my favorite things about teacher blogging is that it builds a community. Somehow, even before we meet in person, we get to know each other, support each other, and care about each other.

Well, back when I first started blogging, one of my first followers was Deb from a blog called Oh My Little Classity Class. She would leave sweet comments on my posts when I thought no one was reading.

If you're not a follower of Deb's, you may not know that her beautiful family has been thrown a huge challenge.

Deb's son, Kenton, was just recently diagnosed
with AML Leukemia.

Deb has spent the last few weeks at the hospital alongside her son as he faces treatment, and he was just sent home after finishing the first round of chemo. You can read updates at Team Kenton on Facebook or at the Team Kenton Blog.

Here's where we come in.

Kenton is going through intense cancer treatments right now that are making his hair fall out. Deb posted a few days ago that he was worried what people would think about his hair.
 

I plan on sending Kenton a hat- and I'm hoping you will, too!

From Deb-

"Kenton LOVES country anything - farming, horses, animals, tractors (JOHN DEERE!!). . .he loves baseball and being outside. His favorite color is John Deere Green. He loves to draw and read and spend time with his family."


Here's how you can help:

• Send Kenton a hat. It can be a hat based on the things he likes, a hat you've made, a hat from your area of the country or world, a "cool" hat for a 10-year-old, a goofy hat to make him laugh, or even something else that you think will help him occupy his time in the hospital!

• Send his little sister McKayslin something little, like stickers, jewelry, chapstick, coloring books, etc. As Deb put it, she "didn't realize how much this diagnosis affects the entire family."

• Send letters and cards for the kids AND parents, too!

If you're not able to send something right now, that's okay!

You could still help Kenton or someone like him by giving blood, spreading the word about Hats for Kenton, posting some encouragement and well wishes on the Team Kenton pages, and of course- please keep Kenton and the whole Reynolds family in your thoughts and prayers.

Are you interested in helping? Fill out the Hats for Kenton form here, and please share the cause on your own blog by snagging the graphic below:


<center><a href="http://luckeyfrogslilypad.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/luckeyfrog/hats2.png"/></a></center>

Michelle from The 3AM Teacher was kind enough to design this custom graphic for us- isn't she wonderful?  (Please pop over to thank her, and let me know if my HTML isn't working- first time trying this!)

Thank you SO much for your help. As Deb told me... 

"We are really so blessed by all the love and support we're receiving. I don't know how people get through this without it! Thank you!"

Remember, if you would like to send a package, please fill out the Hats for Kenton form here!

Let's send Kenton and his family a LOT of love! 

4 on the... 7th

I love weekends with family! My husband's family and some of my cousins live in the same area, about 15 minutes away from each other, and I'm spending the weekend with them after stopping to visit my mom and brother on the way. I love living within a few hours of most everyone.

I'm linking up a little late with Ms. M!

 

Here are 4 things I plan on trying out for the first time this year:

  

1. Okay, this one isn't exactly "for the first time," but last year, my students' parents had already been told to label every individual supply with their child's name. This year, pencils at the very least will be community supplies again. It's just so much easier!

2.  In math, I'm bringing back Calendar (which I didn't do this year- I know, I should've!) and adding an Estimation Jar- I love the idea Sarah shared here of sending this home with the winner each week to refill it with something new!

 

3. A variation on CAFE that Kristen of Ladybug's Teacher Files came up with. I think I will lump vocabulary in with text elements, but it is worth it to me to get Response to Text built in to my reading instruction for 3rd grade!

4. Reader Response notebooks for a Reading Workshop style approach. I haven't figured out much about our basal (Storytown) yet, but the more I read about these notebooks, the more insistent I am that I have to give them a try!

Any tips for these things... please let me know! :) I'm excited to be switching to 3rd grade, but to be honest- that's completely new for me, too! I student taught in 2nd, was an interventionist in 2nd, and then taught last year in 2nd- so I'm excited about 3rd, but I have a lot to learn!

I'd love to hear what new things you're trying this year!

Super Linky Day!

It's July, which means I have less than 6 weeks before my first day.

6 WEEKS. 

Is anyone else starting to freak out a little yet?

I don't have to work much this week, since we don't have a camp running again until the 16th. I still have to go in and get a few things done, but I can sleep in and go in for a couple of hours when I want, and spend some other time unpacking my classroom!

Make sure you link up with Farley if you haven't already!

Now, I was going to stop there, but I stopped in school this morning and found this:

My classroom's current state (on a blurry cell phone camera- sorry). Yikes.

But I also checked out the table of giveaway items in the teacher's lounge, and found this:

Yay- nice big cardboard coins for display, AND more counters (which I can always use more of!).

But here's the real gem-

A *set* of Lucy Calkins books for grades 3-5 that are in perfect shape. They look brand new.

I was so excited, I had to link up with Elizabeth from Room in 4B.

 
Coming up next week... 

My series for new teachers. (Any suggestions for topics, let me know!)

Pictures of the new classroom I'm moving into!

Passing on the MANY awards you have given me lately (thank you!!!)

A special project in the works to help a teacher blogger who's going through tough times right now... I can't wait to share it with you and get your help!

If you haven't already, don't forget to enter for my 250 Follower Giveaway for 10 awesome prize.! Even if you've already entered, check out the comments to find some new blogs!

 Have a WONDERFUL weekend! :)

GIVEAWAY TIME!

A few days ago, I found a list of summer blog goals.

200 followers by the end of June.
250 followers by the end of July.

Well, here I am, at the beginning of July, with over 265 followers already. Say what!? (Also, where the heck did June go?)

I had no idea that my lesson plan post, planning template freebie, and lesson plan customization tips would suddenly go crazy on Pinterest, but I am SO GLAD you are all here, and now that I have a break in my summer job, I want to celebrate!

Thank you to my generous donors! Please check out their blogs and products.

From Sara of Smiling in Second Grade...

Writing Journal Prompts
(one a day for the whole year, plus journal paper and monthly journal covers!)

From Mrs. Mc of Buzz Buzz Buzz...

 Time Bingo for Time to the Hour and Half Hour
(don't we ALL need more practice with this?)

 

From Jennifer of Delighted in Second...

Probability Fun with Pets! Math Unit
(how cute is this?)

From Tori of Tori's Teacher Tips...



Word Families Galore!
(This looks so practical- ready to print and go!)



From Mechele of Barrow's Hodgepodge...



Back to School Literacy Centers
(almost 50 pages of adorable centers perfect for the first few weeks of school!)

From Ashley of the Resource Room...

Reading and Language Arts Summer Packet

(So cute and bright!)

From Jackie of Third Grade's a Charm...


Scoot Combo Pack- Place Value Review and Rounding Robots!
(Because, seriously, is there a class in the world that doesn't love Scoot?)

 You can get it at TpT (click above) or at TN (click below).

From Denise at Yearn to Learn...

$5.00 credit towards anything in my store Talbott's Teaching Trove

(also known as Task Card Paradise!)

From Candace at Watkins Way...

Back to School Community Building Activities

(so perfect for while you get to know your kids that first week!)

And from Denise of Sunny Days in Second Grade...


Something I actually use in my classroom EVERY week of the year!
Second Grade Word Wizard and Math Magic (Set 1 of each!)

You could win all of this just as a THANK YOU for being a loyal follower! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One of the Rafflecopter items invites you to leave a ten-word summary of your blog (and a link) below.

Here's my example:

A new third grade teacher who loves science and frogs! 

Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

If you aren't sure how to leave a link in the comments, check out Kristen's terrific tutorial here.

This will help me make sure I've checked out my followers' blogs... but it will also help some of you find new blogs to follow (I hope!)

Happy July!