Reading Street Review Sheets + Freebies

It's almost that time!!!  My kiddos start back on Thursday.  Our reading series is Reading Street and the first grade curriculum starts with a review unit.  This seems pretty helpful for my firsties, but I do go through it much more quickly than they suggest.  This year, we will be doing the review stuff for the first 2-3 weeks.  Since I'm teaching a combo class this year (1st/2nd) I am planning on also doing a review unit with my second graders.  I'm hoping by easing into things it will give us a chance to learn our Daily 5 schedule and get into a bit of a routine.
I feel like I'm finally starting to be able to wrap my head around how I'm going to teach two grades at the same time.  I actually am getting really excited about it and I think it will be a great experience for my students.  I spent a good amount of time yesterday making some review worksheets that I think my first graders will be able to complete independently while I'm teaching 2nd grade.  I wanted to share them with you (for FREE, of course!).  These do go along with the Kindergarten Reading Street curriculum, but I think it could work for all first graders.  Here is a peak at what is included.

Click here to download them for FREE! Update:  I noticed that I had "circle the letter", when it should have said "circle the word".  I also added the rest of the alphabet letter.  

The downloadable file is corrected.  :)

I also have this powerpoint that I do with the kids during our kindergarten review.  There is a slide for each letter, along with links to websites for extra activities and practice.  I used this with my class last year and my kids loved it!  If you don't have the same fonts on your computer that I used, you might have to adjust things a little.  You should be able to download it here, if you have problems with it, just leave me your email address and I'd be happy to send it you.  

I'm hoping to get a version of this done for second grade, but I'm not sure it will get finished.  The good news is, I have all of my other powerpoint from last year, so I can use those if I have to.  I'm also going to have the kids use our iPad and iPods a lot to review- probably mostly with the SpellingCity app and Teach Me.
Are you ready to go back?  Do you review at the beginning of the year or just dive right in?Pin It

Vaca tomorrow and giveaway reminder!

Leaving on a jet plane.... don't know when I'll be back again...

Actually, I will be back next weekend, but still I'm super excited!  We're heading to Orlando for a week!  My wonderful in-laws have a great time-share at Orange Lake Orlando and we're all going on a vacation together.  Doesn't it look great??

The hubs and I are doing Universal Studios, Clearwater Beach, and a Disney water park with everyone.  The others are filling up the rest of the days with Disney.  We decided that we would lounge by the pool and take it easy on those days (and hopefully get some shopping in).  The crazy thing is Orlando is actually cooler than Illinois right now!  I can't believe I'm heading to Florida to cool off!!  It was 104 here today- and has been for at least a week.... insanity!!!!!
Anyways,  while I'm gone, please keep spreading the word on my Freebie Linky!!!  We have some really great freebies already linked up- don't you want to add yours???
And don't forget- you can win a $20 Amazon gift card.  It's easy to enter- and you get up to 5 chances to win.
Are you taking any vacations this summer?Pin It

100 Freebies Linky Party and Giveaway!

In honor of me reaching 100 followers, I'm putting some FREE things on here today.  These are things that I have made for my own classroom, for one reason or another.  A couple are things that I have posted before, but you may have missed.  Others are things that I haven't posted before.  These are some of my favorite things that I've made.  I hope you like them!  

Dr. Seuss Poster- get it here. 

Think Poster- get it here. 

UPDATE:I have to apologize.  I love to offer things for free on my website, but after reading (closely, this time) I realized that I'm breaking the rules...  I'm a little embarrassed and very apologetic.  To the makers of the graphics I've used and to you.  To sum it up- I can sell things that I make with the graphics, but I can't give them away for free.  Oops.  Whoops.  Sorry.  Really.  
So, here is what I decided to do.  I put several things together into one file for you and I'm only going to charge $2.  Hopefully this okay with you.  I really do apologize.  I would be more than happy to make small changes to any of my files to make them work perfectly for you and your classroom.  Find them here. 

Rock Deskplate- get it here. 

Crayon tub labels- get them here.

Backstage Pass (I plan to blog my plans for these later)- get them here. 

If you've followed me for awhile, you probably know that I'm all about the FREEBIES!  So, I'm hosting... 100 Freebies Linky Party!  I would love for you to join us!  My goal is to have 100 Freebies available for everyone!!!!  
Just choose your favorite freebie that you have made and link up with post with me!  I hope that this is a great way for everyone to get something for nothing! :)

Want to hear the best part about being part of my linky party???? One lucky blogger who linked up for a $20 Amazon gift card!!!  Who couldn't use that??  You can have up to 5 entries- one for following my blog, one for linking up, and three entries for blogging about the 100 Freebies Linky Party!!  So, what are you waiting for- link up now!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Summers Off? and Two FREEBIES!

Do we really have summers off?  When I spend as much time in my classroom (and on the computer at home making things for my classroom) as I have over the past week, I sure don't feel like it!  I mean, I know that I'm very blessed to have the schedule that we have and I'm not complaining, but sometimes I wonder if I'm crazy.  
I've been working on some labels, charts and writing activities at 7home this week.  I also have starting putting together some bulletin boards at school, but I won't be able to finish them up until I get my class list.  
Our school uses Accelerated Reader as part of our reading program.  In my classroom, I don't use AR as a grade, just as an incentive.  This has worked very well as a great motivator for my students in the past.  I have always just used strips of poster board and wrote students names on them and let them put stickers on it.  Every time they passed 3 tests, they got to get a prize from the treasure chest.  Pretty simple and it worked.  For this year, I decided to make it a little cuter and fit with our Rockstar theme.  Here is what I came up with:  

You can download this here for FREE, as always. :)

I plan to print these off on neon colored card stock to make them really pop.  My students keep them in a pocket chart (I have a really cute hot pink one- I know you're jealous! haha) and will cover the stars and music notes with cute glittery stickers when they pass a test.  I still haven't decided how many tests I want them to pass in order to pick from the treasure chest.  Three seemed to be too easy this year, so I'm thinking of upping it to 6... or maybe keep it at three for their first card and making it tougher for each of their following cards.  Hmmmmm... 

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My other freebie today is for our Daily 5 writing station.  I know we probably won't be using these for awhile, but I really want to do this with my students.  One of the options that I want to give them is to write a postcard or letter to a friend.  I plan to review these notes and then deliver them to their friend's mailbox.  I made these postcards for my students to use.  Printing them on card stock will make them seem like a really postcard.  The front was left blank so that students can decorate and design their own postcard.  Enjoy!

Back:

Front:

You can download them here.  :)

What have you been working on this summer?  I would also love to know if anyone has any cheap ideas for Daily 5 book bins?  I'm thinking about buying some cheap, reusable shopping bags.... do you think that would work?

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Classroom Theme

I have never had a classroom theme before, but I decided that I wanted one this year.  I have seen so many super cute, creative ideas from fellow bloggers and thought I need to do that!  After hours of blog stalking and Pinterest searching, I finally settled on my theme.  It is *drumroll please*...... .... ... 1st Grade Rocks!  I am going full out rockstar for this year.  I am so excited about it! Today I spent some time in the Dollar Tree (my all-time favorite classroom store) and Walmart.  It's probably a good thing that the closest Target is an hour away because I would be totally broke all the time.  Anyway, I found some cute things that I am excited to get started on.  I found some great inspiration from Abby's ideas on The Inspired Apple.   I love her idea for the R.O.C.K.S.  binder, so I came up with a cute acronym for my take-home folders.  
I am going to use R.O.C.K.S.T.A.R. Folders (Really Organized Children Keep Stuff Together And Ready).  I made these labels to go with them.  

Isn't this clipart the cutest?  I got it from Digi Web Studio for only $1!  I plan on using it for a lot of my classroom decorations this year.  There are two other kids and a guitar clipart with the set.  If you would like a copy of the folder labels, just go here and grab them!  I plan on printing them at Staples (their printers are just so much better!), then laminating them and attaching them to the folders.  You could also print it on sticker paper and attach it right to the folder.  


While at the Dollar Store and Walmart, I picked up several other goodies that I'm excited to get started playing with- hopefully I will have some good pictures soon.  I have an awesome idea for a bulletin board and I'm hoping I can make the reality look as cool as it does in my head!  Stay tuned!!!!


Do you have a classroom theme?  If so, I would love to hear what you have planned!Pin It

Tomorrow is the Last Day!!! and a favor to ask...

Tomorrow is our last day of school.  I'm going to miss my cute, sweet little kiddos, but I am also so looking forward to this summer!  Our school's last day tradition is to have a picnic day.  Our PTO rents inflatables for the kids to jump on and play in and we always have something brought in for lunch (tomorrow is McDonald's).  There is also an awards ceremony for students.  It is a nice way to end the year.  


So, I told you about the grant I won last week from Peabody Energy.  Now, Peabody Energy is now going to name one individual from each region as Educator of the Year.  That person will win $5,000 from Peabody.  The number of votes in the Facebook poll will comprise one third of the decision.  I need your votes, please!

  

To vote:  *You must vote from a regular computer- they do not have a mobile site.

Go to www.facebook.com/PeabodyEnergyLeaders

You must "Like" their Facebook page.  At the top of their page you will see a red box that says, "Vote here" and click on the vote button that says Illinois/Indiana Region under the photo.  Click on the button next to my name and then click VOTE at the bottom.  It may ask to you Login through Facebook to voting app.  Please click on the "Login through Facebook" button.  If you have successfully voted it will show you my ranking.  If you haven't voted the screen will still look the same and you should check the button by my name and hit VOTE again.  

As a thank you for voting, please visit my TpT account and download my Daily 5 Posters for FREE!  I will leave them as Free until June 1.  Thanks so much! :)

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