The Joys of Power Point, my New Favorite Game and Scaredy Squirrel!

Good afternoon everybody!

I am excited to announce that I have recently fallen in love.... TWICE! Once with Power Point and then a second time with I have who has!!

1- POWER POINT!!! It was about time I realized Power Point is for more than presentations! Up until recently, I was using Word to create all of my documents. And it took forever!!! After seeing a few TPT sellers write that they were using PP I figured I would give it a try. And boy am I happy I did! Creating stuff is so much faster and there are some great features that Word doesn't have. So I'm hooked! :) And if you check out Amy Lemons blog, she has two video tutorials that are really helpful!! Thanks AMY!!

2- I have who has!! As I'd mentionned in an earlier post, I've only recently found out about this game. I've been  playing with my students for the last two weeks and we are all in love with this game!! My students get really excited (in a good way ;) when we play! We try to beat our time everytime (that's a lot of times!;) and when we do, the kids feel so proud! It is so cute! So far, we've played I have who has for time and for contractions.
If you would like a copy of my I have who has for contractions, click here!

Now I would like to introduce you to an other love of mine... just not a new one ;)

SCAREDY SQUIRREL!!!

Scaredy Squirrel is a character created by Canadian author Mélanie Watt. He is the most amazing character ever! The series follow the adventures of little Scaredy, an extremely fearful squirrel. Scaredy is both funny and charming and the books have a sarcastic tone you are sure to love. I simply am obsessed LOVE Scaredy Squirrel and so do my kids! My kids are in grade 6 and they love story time with Scaredy! As you know, my kids are second language learners so these books were not originally made for grade 6 kids (even though they really enjoy it!) so your younger kiddos would probably really like him!

My favorite book is Scaredy Squirrel at Night:

 I would love to know if you know Scaredy Squirrel!! And if you don't I highly recommend you grab a copy of one of the books.... and let me know what you think!! :)

Last but not least, I have a word wall question.... Do you guys use word walls in your classroom? If so, do you have word walls for themes or do you work by teaching new words with patterns?
I've always done with patterns... but I was curious! I love the idea of have thematic word walls.... but I also feel like learning words with similar patterns is amazing! Or maybe you have a word wall for the words of the week that they need to study and then a second wall for a theme? I would love your input!!

Until next time,

Father's Day Freebie!

Good evening everyone!!

Woohooo!!! I'm halfway to 100! I'm at 52 followers! Yay!!! Thanks everyone :)

End of years are so exhausting! So many things to do and think of! I'm so scared of forgetting something :s As you know, I teach grade 6 so I also have to plan graduation activities, do a yearbook and we are going on a trip! But the kids make it all worth it so it's all good :)

I made a little Father's Day writing prompt and I wanted to give it away as a freebie! It's a cute My Dad, My Hero writing activity. My dad has always been my hero (hehe!) and when the kiddos are young, isn't it what they all say?! Their dad is the strongest, the best, the funniest... :) their hero!!

So click on the image to download it with Google Docs :)

Hope you like it! And I'm still quite new so hopefully I've mastered Google Docs and you will be able to dowload the file :)

Until next time,

Contractions FREEBIE!

Good morning fellow bloggers!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend :) For Canadian bloggers, hope you are enjoying this great long weekend!!! I know I am! 

I woke up really early this morning (thank you singing birds :p) and decided to make a fun I have, who has? game. (BTW, I've never played I have, who has?.... I've only recently found out about it through TPT.... but I'm really excited to try it!! Have you ever played? Am I the only teacher in the world who didn't know about this game? ;) 

My students have a hard time with contractions and I wanted to find a fun way of reviewing them without being too grammar-ish. So I decided to do a game! And we all know the great reaction we get when we tell our kids we will play a GAME!! (Even if it's grammar oriented.... the teacher said we're gonna play a GAME!!)

So here it is:

Click here to download this FREEBIE! If you do, I would really appreciate feedback!! :) Thanks!

I would also like to thank all of my new followers! I'm almost at 50! yay! :)

Until next time,

                                                      

Award!

Happy Friday!!

Just a quick post (since my computer has frozen multiple times :p) about the One Lovely Blog Award!

I have found 15 great new blogs to which I have given the award!

Once you've received the award you must:

1- Follow the blog who passed on the award to you

2- Mention the blogger who has given it to you in a blog post
3- Pass on the award to 15 new blogs

Be sure to check them out! :)

Congratulations on your cute blogs and keep up the good work!

The Ramblings of a 5th Grade Teacher http://ramblingsofafifthgradeteacher.blogspot.ca/
A Crafty Teacher http://acraftyteacher.blogspot.ca/

Adventures of Ms Smith http://adventuresofmssmith.blogspot.ca/

Circus of Learning http://circusoflearning.blogspot.ca/
Classroom Capers http://msbsclassroomcapers.blogspot.ca/
Enchanted Tales of Elementary Schoolhttp://enchantedtalesofelementaryschool.blogspot.ca/
5th Grade Wonders http://fifthgradewonders.blogspot.ca/
Fumbling Through Fifth Grade http://fumblingthrufifth.blogspot.ca/
Mr B's Beach Brains http://mrbsbeachbrains.blogspot.ca/
Simpson's Superstars http://simpsonssuperstars.blogspot.ca 
Teach it Today http://teachittoday.blogspot.ca 
Mrs. Stanford's Class http://mrsstanfordsclass.blogspot.ca
Dirty Hands and Lesson Plans http://dirtyhandslessonplans.blogspot.ca
Keeping it Captivating http://keepingitcaptivating.blogspot.ca/
Tonya's Treats for Teachers http://tonyastreatsforteachers.blogspot.com

Be sure to check out these great new blogs!!

Have a good weekend everybody!

Until next time,

Under the Sea with Synonyms SALE and Blog Award!

Hey everybody!

Hope you have had a great week so far! Mine has been good but really hectic! This is why I haven't posted all week. I also need to catch up on my blog stalking :) fun!!! :)

I have just finished a little unit on synonyms: Under the Sea with Synonyms! {Go Fish}.
Once again, thanks to Scrappin Doodles, it looks super cute! :) It is a great tool to use in centers if you wish to review synonyms. It could also be a fun game for those last few weeks of school!

Here is what is included:

-48 seashells (playing cards)
-Instructions for the game (for 2 players)
-2 recording sheets for the synonyms
-Diving for Synonyms: Students must find synonyms for the given words. (with answer key)
-Synonyms mini-poster for your classroom

Under the Sea with Synonyms! {Go Fish} is available at my TPT store for only {$2.00} But if you hurry up, you can get it for 20% off!!!! It'll be on sale all evening :) and will return to its regular price tomorrow.
Let me know what you think!! And please leave feedback if you purchase it :) 

Now, for my Blog Award!!! I am so excited about this! My bloggy friend Mrs C. over at Just Wild About Teaching has awarded me the One Lovely Blog Award!

Thanks a bunch!! I've have just started blogging and already I am addicted! I never knew that I would love the blogging world so much! I have found so many great resources and ideas I am so thankful for all of the wonderful bloggers I have discovered out there!

Now I have to pass this award on to 15 new blogs! I will definitely be on the look out for great new teacher bloggers! Should you have any suggestions, please let me know! Thanks :)

Until next time,

My Summer Bucket List

Hi!!

Teri, Hadar and April are hosting a great linky party that I just had to join!

There are so many things I wish to accomplish this summer! 2 months can be very long (I probably won't be saying this when I have kids ;) so I need to keep busy!

So here goes:

[ 1 ]

Start planning my wedding :) My fiancé and I have been engaged since February :)  We still haven't decided on a date but I need to start planning so that I am ready when the time comes!! Maybe I can start by finding and trying out this beautiful gown ;) oh thank you Vera Wang!!

[thecinderellaproject.blogspot.ca]

[2]

Go shopping in New York with my boyfriend! (and spend half my time at Abercrombie & Fitch :) Oh how I love New York! I haven't been in a few years and I am sooooo excited to go back!

[walkinnewyork.blogspot.ca] 

[3]

Go to the beach with my boyfriend, my parents and my brother! Nothing says summer vacation like a few days by the beach :)

[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/]

[4]

Bake Georgetown Cupcake looking cupcakes! And then feed my boyfriend and whole family with them so that there are none left for me! Or maybe just one or two ;) Why you ask? Because of [1] and [3] ;)

[http://www.georgetowncupcake.com]

[5]

Finally making shakers for my classroom! I love this idea and I've been wanting to make my own but never found the time. 

[sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.ca]

[6]

Make penant banners for my classroom. I don't know that I have the talent to make them as amazing as these... but I'll definitely try!! (very very hard!)

[http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com]

And finally...

[7]

Create, create, create!!!!

And I also want my boyfriend to make me cubby holes for my classroom that I want to paint purple :)

Oh yes! I also want to go jogging! At least 3 to 4 times a week :)

So there it is! Now that it's online, I will have a constant reminder of what I want to accomplish over the summer so it will be good motivation for the things that might be harder to get motivated for.... (hello jogging!)

What do you have planned for summer vacation?

Until next time,

Mother's Day Craft FREEBIE!

Good afternoon fellow teachers!

With mother's day right around the corner, you are probably all in the process of having your kids write cards and  make gifts for mothers and grand-mothers. If you are still looking for something to do for the occasion, here's a cute cupcake your kids can make. It can double as a card or any other idea that you can think of. Moms often love to bake and I figured a cupcake was a cute idea!

Here 's what mine looks like:

If you want, you could choose to not have your kids put the I heart mom letters and have them right a little message instead.

And of course, I'm giving you the templates for free!! :)

Click here to download the cupcake top + letters template.
Click here to download the cupcake liner template.

I am doing this with my kiddos tomorrow but my colleague has done it today and they look super cute!! I took colored paper but she took cardstock. Both seem to work well. However, her cardstock had really flashy colors, almost neon, and it looked amazing!! Very springy!!

If you do choose to download the cupcake, I would love to hear from you ;)

Until next time,

End of Year Activities and a big Thank You!

Hello blogger friends!

This is going to be a quick post but yet a very important one! ;)

First of all, I want to say a BIG HUGE THANK YOU to all of the teachers who participated in the Teacher Appreciation Jackpot yesterday!!!! WOW! It felt like Christmas!!! I haven't gotten around to opening all of the amazing units I got but I will do this this week. Everything looked so awesome! So thank you thank you thank you!

Next, I want to give a shout out to the wonderful Sandra from Classroom Companion! Thank you for mentionning me on your blog! You are the best! Please visit her wonderful blog!! Be sure to download her adorable compound word  freebie :)

And finally, I have just finished an End of Year Activities Booklet!

A great end of year activities pack that can be used for any grade level!

Includes many worksheets:
-an information sheet for the school year
-5 adjectives to describe the year
-''my favorite activity'' writing workshop
-my favorite outing
-a drawing of my favorite outing
-''during my summer break'' writing workshop
-a drawing of me during my summer break
-''find a student'' who game
-word search
-my top 5 memories of the year
-5 things I've learned this year
-a letter to my teacher
-summer vacation countdown (mini-poster for your classroom)
-2 gift tags for decorating students' end of year gifts

With fresh summer fruit graphics this unit is a perfect ending to a great school year!
The activities can de done in centers, as group work or independently.
It is sure to keep your kids busy and motivated during those last few weeks!

You can get yourself a copy at my TPT store for only $2! But until tomorrow it's 20% off! So hurry up!!!
If you buy it, I would LOVE to get feedback!!! Thanks!

Until next time,

Mother's Day Freebie and a Sale!

Hi everyone!

It's Friday!! Yay! To make your Friday even better, here is a great post that should make you smile :) (hopefully!)

First, I made a cute word search for Mother's Day that I want to share with all of you! This is my first time using Google Docs so hopefully this works! You can download this freebie by clicking here or on the image below. Hope you like it!

Next, Teacher Appreciation Week is on its way! Yay for teachers! To celebrate, I'm having a sale at my TPT store :) From May 6-8 all my items will be 20% off :) PLUS, TPT is offering an extra 10% off each item you purchase! What a great time to purchase my Reading Circles I was telling you about :) This is a great sale your are NOT going to want to miss! I'm also very excited about it as there are a few items I wish to purchase for myself (and my kids!)  :)

Have a great weekend everyone!
Until next time,

Cute ideas for organizing!

Hello blogger friends!

Am I the only one or does any one else out there have what I like to call Teacher-Goggles Syndrome?
Let me explain... ;)
Every shop I walk in to, I walk in wth my teacher goggles! I'm always looking at items and thinking... ''How could I use this cute (insert name of the product here) in my classroom?'' It happens at grocery stores, clothing stores, cosmetics stores...everywhere! These are not stores where we would think to buy supplies for the classroom.... but oh! the treasures we'll find! :)

One store that seems to offer many items that can double as classroom stuff is the amazing Bath and Body Works! They have the cutest gift bags and gift 'buckets' ever! I use them for organizing things in my classroom which is great... but mostly... I love them because they just look so cute!
Here an example of two gift bags I bought last year. They don't have it at the store anymore but this gives you an idea of what they could look like.

This size is great for storing pens and pencils or even your toothbrush/toothpaste!

This other one is a little bucket which I bought a few weeks ago so I'm sure it's still available. Isn't it the cutest bucket ever?

Now you're probably wondering why I have clothes pins in there...!
This is a system I use with my students to get them to speak only in English. As you may have read in an earlier post, I am an ESL teacher so my students' first language is French. Every day, they receive 2 pins, for a total of 10 each week. Every time a student hears another student speak French, the first student can steal a pin from the one who spoke French and keep it. On Fridays, I do a draw and each pin is worth one coupon. It works really well! (Thank you Jasmine for this great idea!) This could easily be adapted for behavior  :) As for the draw, the prizes vary. (candies, no homework pass, no quiz pass --- a fan favourite!)

Also, I have created my blog button!! Take a look :)

Until next time,

Reading Circles

Hey everyone!

I am SO excited because I have my first four official followers!!! :) Thanks girls :) Ah the joys of being a first time blogger!

So here is my first official teaching post!
I decided to talk to you about Reading Circles. I used them for the very first time in my class last week.... and I absolutely LOVED it! Not only did I love it... but my students actually said: ''This is fun! When are we doing it again?'' Let me tell you that in grade 6, you don't often hear excitement about reading activities, so this one is definitely a keeper!
I wanted to let you in on how I use them in my classroom.... So here goes:

I choose 6 different books, one for each team of four students. I decided to go with Robert Munsch books just because they are so amazing and my kids love reading them. They are also quite easy to understand and therefore it is easier for them to the work afterwards.

The 6 books I chose were:

-Makeup Mess (All the girls wanted this one!)
-The Sandcastle Contest
-Mud Puddle
-I'm So Embarrassed!
-Mmm, Cookies!
-Just One Goal! (and of course, all the boys wanted this one!)
I randomly distributed the books (one copy per team).
Then, I gave each student a Reading Circles booklet.

There is a total of 6 jobs for these Reading Circles.
-Discussion Leader
-Character Master
-Word Detective
-Summary Specialist
-Artist
-Read-a-Loud

Teams decide together who does what. The person who does the Read-a-Loud is also the Artist. Therefore, this person has something to do once the book is read. If your students are in groups of 4, then there is one job no one does. They just have to remember to leave aside a different job next time. If your students are in groups of 5, then 6 jobs will work just fine.
I cut out the job descriptions and glued them on colored paper. That way, they can leave the card corresponding to their job on their desk. When I am walking around, it's easier for me to know who is doing what. Also, if they need a reminder of what their tasks are, they can just look at the little card!

Once everyone has an assigned role, they are ready to go! The Read-a-Loud reads the book while the others listen to the story. When the reading part is finished, the students fill out the sheets for their job. When one person is finished, he or she can help the other students complete their work.

I will keep the 6 books I chose and do a rotation. That way, all of the teams will be able to read the 6 books I presented. Each time we do a Reading Circle, students have to do a diffenrent job, in order to complete their booklet!

If you wish to grab yourself a copy of my Reading Circles Booklet, head on over to my TpT store. It's only $1.50 :) If you do, let me know if your students like it as much as mine!

Until next time,