Linky Party

Hello!

I am happy to be participating in Finding JOY in 6th Grade's Linky Party!

This linky party is: What will you do differently?

Even though the school year isn't over, I have been thinking about all of the things I want to do next year that is different from this year. This school year was my first year as a teacher, so therefore there are so many things that I want to do differently.

I need to be more organized! 

I catch myself just making piles and putting things in baskets for me to organize later. 

I need to find ways to organize my files especially. I don't have a storage room, but I do have a 2 drawer filling cabinet. In my garage at home I keep monthly bins where I put things as well, however it is a pain to bring things back and forth.

If you have any suggestions on organization I am all ears! :)

Like I said, as a new teacher I have learned a lot and will be making lots of changes.

I need and want to incorporate more writing, math centers, religion (since we are a religious school) etc. 

I especially want to re-vamp what I have been doing during guided reading.

12 more days left...can't wait!! 

Update

And we finally have butterflies!

Other than having Jimmy the Elf in our classroom this is the next best thing I have done this year!

We will be releasing them on Wednesday.

However the one caterpillar that I had to lay on the bottom of the net, formed into a butterfly, but it formed on its back and its wings didn't form properly... Poor thing can't fly :/ So when we release them we will have to put it on a flower.

I was so excited for my new planner! 

I heard so many good things about Erin Condren's planners, so I had to get one myself.

This year (my first year ever) I began using a lakeshore planner, but then switched to a Microsoft word template. So I will see which I like better next school year. But this planner has so many amazing things inside! And it came nicely wrapped. 

This is a card I made the other day for a teacher friend who will be leaving our school.

I am obsessed with the rose stamp set, The Sweet Life from Paper Trey Ink. 

Let's Get Acquainted Linky Party

I am excited to once again participate in a linky party!

This week's linky party is to meet 2 of my bloggy friends. 

1. Jessica from Aestheically Alluring Beauty Blog

Jessica so happens to be my sister. She is a cosmetology student and is doing very well!

She created a great beauty blog and I am so excited for her!

2. Erica from Erica Bohrer's First Grade

This is my all time favorite teaching blog. I love all of her ideas and products. I just bought her brand new spelling centers book from Scholastic and it is amazing! 

Caterpillars

Summer fever is in full swing!

And because of this, I have been thinking about changing things up in the classroom.

I had asked a first grade teacher at another catholic school about what she does during this time, as ALL of my kids have ants in their pants. She says she still keeps everything the same, but she orders caterpillars and that seems to get them excited and their behavior calms down a bit. 

So I decided to do the same!

I am so excited to introduce you to my new little pets!

(I feel like that I am as excited [possibly more] as my are kids about these little guys)

There are 5 of them and we named them:

Mrs. Silva (after me)

Mr. Silva (after my hubby [who had 1 more vote than me...])

Rocky (after my doggie)

Spiky (because they look spiky)

I can't remember the last one's name...

It has now been about two weeks since we have had them. They are much bigger than they were originally. And today when I came into the classroom they are all hanging in J shapes which means they soon will be creating their chrysalis! I am worried about the one in the middle though...as you can see it is not on the lid where it needs to be. It is hanging on a web that the caterpillars had created...I hope he doesn't fall!

A couple of days ago, we also created the life cycle of butterflies using pasta.

I found this idea off of the amazing pinterest!

Thats all for now!

Earth Day Activitie & The Bookman

We had our Spring Festival this past weekend and as a result we had Monday off.

So on Monday I went to this place called The Bookman. It is located in a wear house is full of donated books, run by volunteers and FREE for teachers! I went for the first time and left with a bag full of books, some big books, and even some donuts that the volunteer gave me! The only thing that is not good is their hours, because they are from Monday--Friday from 7:30am--11:30am, so only on days off or during summer vacation is it possible to go. I will for sure be going back during summer vacation!

I was so excited to do this sweet earth day craft from Miss Kindergarten with my kiddos!

They turned out wonderful!

I should have taken pictures of them before I put them up to show their writing, but I'll have to do that when I take them down.

Another fun earth day activity we did was bring in recyclable items and turn them into litterbugs!

I got this activity from a wonderful packet from First Grader...at Last!. 

My kids had a great time using their imaginations to create bugs out of trash.

And here is a picture of me taking  quick break during recess. 

My grandmother gave me this gorgeous necklace for my wedding anniversary, so sweet!