Oh Sunday

Man I wish I had one more day. I just want to lay around all day tomorrow, but nope I will be up at 5:45 getting ready to go see my 23 little friends!! Well there are some exciting things going on in bloggy world!

First Hope King and Babbling Abby are having sales at their TpT. If you have not checked these ladies out you totally need to. I just bought Hope's Cloudy with a Chance Weather Unit and PSA Math Strategies Unit. I bought Abby's Inferencing Unit. I am really excited to use these ladies WONDERFUL units!





Ok so if you haven't been "TAGGED" well then just wait you will be soon! Holly was so sweet to tag me and I had fun tagging other bloggy friends. Beware it does take a while to make the post, but it is super fun reading everyone's responses to your questions. I have learned more about my bloggy friends within the past two days then the last several months!

My master classes are in full swing. I feel like I don't have time to create any great freebies anymore for my blog. I will try to get one posted this week sometime. We are starting some exciting new units. One is our Kansas Unit that goes along with Kansas Day. Yes our state is so AMAZING that we have a WHOLE day to celebrate it. (right Leanne!!) The kids love learning about the state and experiencing new things. I will post some pictures of the activities we do during the week.

Last but not least I want to ask one question and share something exciting....

1. I am keeping to my New Years Resolution to stay healthy....today the girls and I walked 5 miles! And I think we decided to walk again tomorrow. I will let you know how totally sore I am going to be on Tuesday!!! :)

2. My question for my bloggy friends....What does your reading block look like? Do you use guided reading or a basal? Does everyone in your building do the same thing or is everyone on different pages? I am considering changing things up a little in my reading block, but I want to get some new fresh ideas first!

P.S. I am almost to 200 followers and I think a giveaway is in order! I am so close, spread the word and help me reach 200! Have a great rest of your Sunday!!

Tagged....are you next?

The amazing Holly over at Crisscross Applesauce in First has "tagged" me! At first I read her comment and was like what in the world is this, but now I am excited!! I love participating in things like this!

So here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.
3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.
4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.
5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Fun facts:
I have a younger brother.
I married my high school sweetheart!
I broke my left arm 2 times.
I love the snow.
I hate milk!
My dog is my little baby. :)
We went to Kaui on our honeymoon.
I love to shop.
I am missing a small part of my eye lid.
I graduated high school in 2006.
I love making crafts with mg friends.
I had a 4.0 all through college.

Here are the questions I need to answer from Holly:

1. What is your favorite kind of candy?
My favorite candy is Red Vines! They are a oldie but a goodie!
2. What is something you are really uptight about?
I am really uptight about keeping my classroom clean. My kids know that they need to pick
up after themselves or Mrs. Cirrito will be on them! ;)
3. Is your car clean right this very minute?
Yep!!! We had a nice day last week and I cleaned the INSIDE AND OUTSIDE!! I was very proud
of myself!
4. What's your "favorite" household chore?
ZERO!!! Who likes chores?? What kind of question was that Holly! ;)
5. Do you miss Oprah?
I never watched her so I don't miss her.
6. Do you play an instrument?
I do not play any instruments but I love to listen to ALL types of music!
7. What's your favorite piece of technology?
My IPhone is my favorite piece of technology. I totally recommend you get one if you don't
have one! It it totally worth the every penny!
8. Do you have a social life?
It depends on the week and weekend. If I am not too tired from the week then I usually get
together with my family or friends. I almost always make time to craft with one of my best
friends! (We are crafting on Tuesday!!)
9. Are you a phone talker?
No, I am on and off in about 2 minutes tops!
10. Do you text?
I do text. I think it is easier and way faster! I guess that is just because I grew up when
all the texting came about sooooo, welllll, I LOVE IT!
11. What's your favorite piece of furniture in your house?
My bed! (for obvious reasons!)
12. Does anything make you squeamish?
Blood and hospitals. My mom works in a hospital and I cringe every time I go there to visit
her. I am getting squeamish just thinking about it!

Here are the people I have tagged:

1. Jennifer at First Grade Blue Skies
2. Chrissy at Buzzing with Ms. B
3. Mrs. Cupcake at A Cupcake for the Teacher
4. Ms. T at Journey of a Substitute Teacher
5. Rachel at Ms. Rachel's Room
6. Kristen at Ladybug Teacher Files
7. Jessica at Apples and Papers
8. Kristin at A Teeny Tiny Teacher
9. Mrs. Price at Spend a Day in 2nd Grade
10. Hadar at Miss Kindergarten
11. Elisabeth at Twins, Teaching and Tacos
12. Jess at Rambling about Reading

Here are my questions for those tagged:
1. What is your favorite T.V show?
2. Do you have any hobbies?
3. What was your New Years Resolution?
4. Are you a dog or cat person?
5. What is one color that describes you?
6. What type of music is playing in your car right now?
7. Favorite subject or unit to teach?
8. How many siblings do you have?
9. How did you husband propose to you?
10. What is your favorite drink?
11. What is your go-to blog or website for teaching?
12. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?

Whew! That took a while! Well I am off to watch the rest of the X-Games. I have to watch them every year and see all the cute boys! ;)

Teacher Desk, Writers Workshop, and Sunflowers Oh My!

Thanks for all the sweet messages about me feeling better well.....I do! Finally! I did not feel good until yesterday, but thank goodness! I could't take it another day. Well I finally remembered to put my camera back in my purse so I could take some pictures of what we have been doing!

First of all last week I got rid of my teacher desk and I promised some follow-up pictures:

Before

After

Ok, ok, I know some people are probably thinking that is still a desk, but trust me it isn't for me. This is a baby step and I definitely have soo much room, which is all that matters! I have been using the blue storage bins for all my "junk." I also keep all my papers for the week in a colored organizer. It has enough drawers to store papers for actually two weeks!

I have started the Lucy Calkin's writers workshop program. I was not happy with our current writing program that goes along with our reading series. I love Calkin's units and so do my kids. I just gotten started with them so we are almost ready for our author's celebration. Here are a couple of things I have found useful for writers workshop!

I love this moveable whiteboard that my instructional coach let me borrow! I have more than enough room for it now that I got rid of my desk. We also do our mini-lessons sitting together in front of it. Second is something that my super wonderful instructional coach made me:

This helps the kids remember what they can do during writers workshop time and it is totally cute!

Last but not least tomorrow is Kansas Day and of course we celebrated. We made sunflower magnets. They turned out really cute!

I hope everyone has a GREAT Friday and weekend! It is my hubbies birthday so dinner and movies tonight and then tomorrow dinner with the fam.! Should be lots of fun!

Thank you!!!!

I wanted to thank Miss Erika over at



for giving me the favorite follower award!

I try and comment on all my favorite bloggy friends whenever I can. I love all the sweet comments everyone leaves me and I have to share the love back. I also want to thank Miss Holly over at



She is one of my GREAT and AMAZING bloggy friends I have made. She is doing something for me that I am truly grateful for! Thank you again so much Holly!

I was talking to my instructional coach/bff/carpooling buddy this morning on the way to work. I was telling her all the amazing people I have met since I started blogging. I absolutely love the "little" community us teachers have created. It is so great that we are all here to support
each other and share all of our creative ideas. I want to say thank you to all my followers, I know I don't have as many as Kristin, Kristen, Amy, or Abby but I am still very thankful for each and every one of you! Thank you!

Well I am off to bed. I did not feel good at all today. I had a combination of feeling like I was going to pass out and my stomach hurting. My hubby brought me Panera home so I feel a little better, but I am still ready to crash. I am hoping tomorrow morning I wake up feeling GREAT because we have an early release day and PD. Woohoo, that would be no fun sitting through if I don't feel good!

Math Games *Freebies*

I am looking forward to spring, even though we have had a very mild winter here. It is suppose to be in the 50's all week, when usually we have snow on the ground. It has been very nice walking weather so I am not complaining. For those of you who use Everyday Math you know some of the games I have created into centers. My kids love playing the EDM games, so I thought I would make them into centers.

I have created a worksheets that go along with each center. I don't always make my kids fill out the worksheets. I like to give them time to just enjoy playing the games.

Grab them here!!

I know several of you wanted my recipes from my previous post. I have not decide yet if I am going to give them out. We will see, maybe I will be generous for just one day this week. Be on the look out for them! ;)

Award and Awesome Stuff!

Mrs. Lamb created a new award and I totally feel the need to give it out. The award is for your favorite followers....you know bloggy friends that every time you hit the comment button they have made another sweet comment on your blog. I wanted to thank two ladies in particular because they are always so nice and supportive:

The first is Holly over at



and the second is Jennifer over at



These ladies ALWAYS write me comments and I love reading each and every one!

So I have to share some of the crafty things I have been making with one of my best friends! We have found and tested some different homemade cleaning recipes. The first is homemade washing machine detergent. I am using it as we speak and I love it! This jar will last your up to 8 months to a year!! Oh and did I mention it only costs about 15-20 dollars to make!!!

The second is dishwasher soap. This should last for about 4-6 months and again only costs about 15-20 dollars!

We also made some air fresheners, but I have them at school and forgot to take a picture. They work wonders, because my friend's room is connected to the cafeteria vent and it always stinks...well not anymore thanks to our fresheners! She made some eye make-up remover and had some extra so I took it home and I have to say it is amazing. She put hers in a cute bottle, but I just put mine in a cheap container.

Today we are making lemon dust rags. I am really excited to make these and try them out! I will post the picture later after we make them. Let me know if you want the recipes. I would totally trade them for something (maybe something from TpT). :) Have a great Saturday!

Cheerio Arrays and Getting Rid of My Desk.....

Today we worked on making arrays, which is the start of our multiplication and division unit. I decided to spice things up a bit and we used cheerios to make arrays! The kids loove this! They were able to manipulate the cheerios easily.

I first explained what an array is and how it relates to multiplication. I made a few arrays on the board and then I passed out cheerios. I would write the problem (2 by 4)on the board and the kids worked in groups to make they array. I then had the students use the cheerios and transfer the array they made to a worksheet.

Grab it here!!

On to some more pressing news...I think I mean I will I mean I AM getting rid of my desk. Ok I said it! Phew! I am glad I got that out. I have been thinking about it ever since Erika over at The Honey Bunch got rid of hers. I have my desk up against a large table and it takes up so much room. I decided to keep the table (but move it) and get rid of my desk. Today I moved my computer onto the table and actually moved the table. My super awesome janitor said she would move my desk out tomorrow afters school. While I was moving my computer I decided to unplug all the s*** I don't use that is attached to my computer. My lovely tech-guy has a nice big pile to come by and pick up in the morning! Opps sorry!

I didn't leave it all over the floor...I put it in a nice big pile instead! :) Here is a picture of what my "teacher" area looks like after I moved the table and the computer. I will take some more pictures when I get everything organized and my desk out of here! Well off to do busy work I mean homework, sorry typo! Almost TGIF!

Antonyms!!! (Freebie)

Ok, it is going to be short and quick! I promised an antonym and synonym freebie and well....I have one of them for you. I will try and work on the synonym activity tomorrow. Here is the antonym one!!

Click Here!

I am planning on using it as a center and laminating the cards. Well off to watch Gossip Girl on DVR and Tori and Dean later! :)

Addition/Subtraction Review Freebie

So I said I was going to post a freebie for synonyms and antonyms, but I still haven't created one. But I did create a game around something I found in Target's dollar section. I was searching through the dollar section and found little x's and o'x in a package (to my hubby's dismay!). Immediately I was thinking of all the things I could do with these.

I knew exactly what I wanted to create to use them with....addition and subtraction connect four. I made an addition mat that has doubles and then another with just simple addition. One subtraction mat is simple and the second one has subtraction problems that are a little bit harder. I figured this is a great way for all types of learners to review these facts. I made a cover page for the mats in case you would like to make it into a file folder game for centers, which is what I was planning to do.

Click Here!

I am sorry for the blank page in this document. I tried all my little tricks to make it go away and it just wanted to stay! I hope your students enjoy this simple game, inspired by a classic! (Connect Four!)I am so excited to be home tomorrow. I worked on my homework all day today and still have a few things I would like to do.....make washing machine and dishwasher soap with my bestie and of course I have papers to grade. What will you be doing on your extra day off?

Be My Mine Valentine Exchange

Ms. Preppy is having a Valentine Exchange and I am SUPER excited to be apart of it. I missed out on the Christmas exchange. If you are interested click on the button to get the information on how to enter!



I am so excited I don't know if I can wait until Valentine's Day!!!

On a sadder note....I saw on several blogs about Joplin's story. I live in Kansas City and Joplin is only about 4 hours from our house. It was devasting to hear of the destruction that happened last spring from the tornado. Our school district sent down student chairs to an Elementary school at the start of the school year. Some friends in the bloggy world are linking up to help out.



Head on over to Miss Will's and see how you can help. Here is a picture of the destruction:

Everyone have a good weekend! I will probably be posting some type of antonym and synonym activity later. I just haven't quite decided what I wanted to do. :)

Centers and Freebie!

It has been a crazy week! I think I have had a meeting before, after, and during my plan time every day this week! Ugh, no time to start planning next week. I want to thank all of you that wrote such sweet comments about my observation! You ladies are AWESOME! My observation went great! My principal said "it was the best lesson I have seen this year!" I was completely shocked and honored!!!!

Alrighty on to something more important....CENTERS! I have been doing math centers since after break because we are not having our "pioneer time," because our interventions are testing the whole month on January. I actually really enjoy doing centers and want to figure out a way to do them all the time next year. (summer project!!) Well I thought I would show you some pictures of how I organize them.

I organize them using these great containers from Target that my instructional coach/best friend let me use. I have found they are perfect size and easy for the kids to clean up and put away. I usually keep 2-3 games in each basket. That way if a group is done with one game they have something else to do. Here is an example of our money basket:

I have a matching or memory game. The students play it both ways. I also have a game I made with paper plates and money. I wrote different money amounts of the bottom of the plates. One student looks at the plates and makes that amount on the top. The other students have to count the money to figure out what amount is written on the bottom of the plate. This is definitely one of their favorites. I have also been using some great centers and ideas from blogs. I love to find great freebies and I also don't mind paying for good centers. I will be changing them next week so I thought I would make a couple of new games.

One that I made is to review fact families and of course I will share it with you. The students draw dominoes to make fact families. I was planning on printing the dominoes on colored cardstock and laminating them.

Click Here!

How do you run math centers?? Enjoy the freebie!! Two more days until 3 day weekend!!! Woohoo!!

Currently Linky Party

Farley has her Currently Linky Party up for the month of January and she has a giveaway too, because she has reached 1,000 followers! You go girl!

My OWL is present or as I say being present, because I feel like I operate at 100 miles an hour. I don't stop and take time to be in the moment. I have so many things going on at once that I miss the little stuff. I am excited to see everyone's OLW! I love the idea and so did my kids! I hope everyone has a super Monday!!!

Adjective Freebie

I have created a 11 page adjective freebie for you! We talked about adjectives in a previous unit and I was not very happy with the activities our book provided.........so I created some of my own. I know some of you haven't taught adjectives yet so this will be perfect for you, but those of you that have I figure you can put it away until next year. (that's what I am doing!)

The mini unit includes:

1. Poster
2. Cut and paste activity
3. Colorful adjective activity
4. Adjectives about Me project
5. Adjective and Noun center sort
6. Read Aloud Books for Adjectives

Click Here!

Well I am off to go on another 4 mile walk with some of my besties! I hope everyone has a super weekend! Enjoy the freebie!

January Books Linky Party

Mrs. Parker is having a January book Linky Party!



Here are a few of my favorites. When I taught preschool I loved reading Bear Snores On. There are so many great activities you can do with it.

I also love the classic book Owl Moon. My mom would read this to me when I was little. I haven't heard the story in a while. I think that it is going to be my mission this weekend to find the book at Barnes and Nobel.

I want to say thanks again to EVERYONE that entered my giveaway. You are all very sweet and kind. I am so glad I made it through this week. Today was a bit of a struggle; had a parent call me in the middle of our reading core and wouldn't get off the phone for hmmm about 20 MINUTES!!!
I had to send one friend to the office, those of you who read my post yesterday you can guess who that was. (yes video game kid!) Oh and finally my printer STILL doesn't work in my room. I am about to go out and buy one this weekend. I mean come on! A teacher can't do anything without a printer! TGIF bloggy friends!!!