Jamberry Cash & Carry

Excited for Kindergarten!

I'm so excited to teach Kindergarten next year.  My mind has been racing since I was told I get too!  It was so fun helping last week with Kinder Screening and seeing the new little ones so eager to be here!  BIG change from 5th grade.

Most of the Kinders I screens recognized their alphabet but as with every class you find those that need more practice.  Last night I was looking in Really Good Stuff and saw Letter cards for Concentration...I didn't like the ones they had so I decided to make my own!

 

Click HERE for product

I love the Monster Graphics from TpT!  I am printing out today and laminating so I can start preparing for the upcoming school year in August.  My mind is flooded with ideas and want to do so much.  My husband reminded me of the story of the "Tortoise and the Hare" and that you don't always have to finish fast, it's the consistency that will have you finish well!  He is so smart!

I'd love to hear your ideas on how you could and can use alphabet cards in the classroom. 

Show NOT Tell!!!

What a great idea to incorporate ELA standards into your Show and Tell time!  Instead of students telling about their item have them create questions and present in front of the class!!  I have created a simple packet to help you easily incorporate this into your classroom!  Visit my teacher stores to purchase for only $1.00!

Click HERE to get product

Fight For A Cure For CANCER!

Cancer is the dreaded C word!  It has been involved in too many lives that I care about and I want to give back and help the fight!  I am a Jamberry Nails Consultant and am raising fund for the month of May to donate to the Relay For Life and join you in helping me support this fight! 

I am donating 10% of all sales to Relay for Life!  I offer buy 3 get 1 FREE!  All wraps are directly shipped to you so no matter where you are you are able to support the fight!  Visit my website at www.littleapplenails.jamberrynails.net

Visit and Like my Facebook page HERE

Please pass along my blog and I will be pinning to Pinterest as well!!

0-5 Number Recognition Packet

Just finished a fun number recognition packet for the numbers of 0-5.  I will be working on the second half of the number but would love some feedback on this product!

This product can be used with Bingo Markers/Colored Labels or crayons!

Click HERE to get this product

My First Kindergarten Center!

I got the great news that I get to finally teach KINDERGARTEN!!  In my excitement I have started thinking about centers I can have for my students!  I want to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom at the beginning of the year to review letters:)  I had found a letter match idea online and decided to create my own.  You can grab it over at:

Click HERE to get letter match

I can't wait to get started on more!!!

Science ~ Environments Unit

Our district uses the FOSS kits, which I do love because everything is right there HOWEVER....when we have an hour of science and one investigation lasts over a long period where you have to only observe this become problematic.  I decided to incorporate cell structure and plant adaptations into the unit so we can cover more material and not sit and twidle our thumbs for an hour!  We will be doing an investigation on water tolerance and you can extend this into plant adaptations.  I choose the desert and to start this learning off I plan to show them the Magic School Bus - Gets All Dried Up.  I created a video worksheet so they have a purpose to WATCH the video and then a two-side worksheet to complete after as an introductory lesson.  I love the Magic School Bus and even my 5th graders do as well!!  You can swing by my teacher store to grab this set of materials for $1.50.

Click HERE to purchase!

Excited About My Jams!!

Teachers you will love these!  They are durable and reasonably priced! I was able to do my nails and my daughter's nails with only 6 wraps!!  That was only $3.75!  For a mommy on the go and on a budget these were great! My daughter LOVES them and I have been getting compliments where ever I go!  So, worth the investment.  Contact me at littleapplenails@gmail.com and/or visit my website to order at www.littleapplenails.jamberry.net.  Mother's Day is just around the corner and these would be an awesome gift!:)

Fun Scoot Game Created for LCM/GCF

I have been seeing the game SCOOT on Pinterest and the internet so I did some reading.  It sounds like a fun game that holds all students accountable and engaged.  I created a Scoot game for practicing least common multiple and greatest common factor.  Our state testing is slowly creeping up and knocking on our door!! EEEK!  This week was review for this standard with a short quiz coming next Monday.  We will be playing the Spring Scoot LCM/GCF on Monday to review for the quiz on Tuesday.

The first two pictures are of my new scoot game I made and the third is a student sample of their homework from last night. I can't wait to try the game with the students!  My students LOVE being able to move and I love that they can get what they want and learn at the same time!  I am thinking of creating my first "pack" to sell at my teacher's stores with this unit!!  Kinda excited!!!  Let me know what you think by commenting below.

Click HERE to get this Scoot game!

Currently In April

Wow, FINALLY April is here!  I have been patiently waiting for Farley to post up Currently In April!  I had so much fun participating in March!  It's such a great way to see all the amazing bloggers out there and networking strings too!  If you haven went and read Farley you are missing out.  She is a hoot!!

Listening to my space heater!  Yes it's April I know, but I live in Kansas and I'm COLD!!  I'm always cold!  It will be 100 degrees out and I'm the one in a sweatshirt!!
Loving the renewed faith I have in our Lord Jesus Christ.  As I've grown I have really had to learn to lean on my faith to get me through some tough and hard times.  Each year I am humbled by how Jesus suffered to save us from our sins.
Thinking I really need more energy!!  Anyone have ideas??!!! I am a wife and mother to two awesome kids, full-time elementary teacher and part-time adjunct instructor for a college.  Besides the obvious of giving up the part-time job, what are some things you do do rev up your energy?
Wanting a iPod Touch!  I have an iPhone but I already have too much stuff on it and need, ok this is how I justify getting one, an iPod Touch for my music!!
Needing to clean my teacher desk.  I'm the one that is an organized mess...but I really need to clean because I'm starting to feel overwhelmed...this might help with the energy level eh?
Advice for blogging or teacher store...don't be afraid!!  I let me fear of failure hold me back and now for some reason I just jumped on it and am loving it!! 

I LOVE Kagan!!!

If you aren't using Kagan structures in your classroom YOU SHOULD BE!!  They rock!  My kids love doing the structures and they are so easy to implement in the classroom.  If you are looking for some related materials that you don't want to create yourself, boy I've helped you out lol:)  I have just created a Find Someone Who LCM/GCF worksheet to review this topic.  How do you use??  Pass out a worksheet to each student, give them some time to mingle with their peers looking for someone who can do a problem on their worksheet, and come together at the end to check!

Visit either of my teacher stores on the right side of the page to get this great resource for only $1.00!!! 

Needing To Know How to Insert Your Signature To A Word Document???

How To Insert A Signature To A Word Document

How many times now are you seeing that businesses want all electronic documents for hiring new employees?  I am seeing this becoming more and more prominent in the workforce.  So I went and did some digging on the internet and found that you can use your nifty smartphone to take a picture and insert the picture to your document and save as a PDF!

I personally have an iPhone 4 and use the app Scan Pages to take a picture, scan and export to my email as a JPEG file.  I open my email, save my JPEG to my computer so that it is accessible to insert into my document.  I currently use Microsoft Word 2010 to do most of my word processing documents.  Below are the steps from start to finish!

1.       Take a picture using your smartphone of you written signature.

2.       Import your picture to your computer (use an app such as Scan Pages to scan for a cleaner image and export to email.)

3.       Have your document open, such as a business letter and using the INSERT tab in either Microsoft Word 2007/2010 click on the PICTURE ICON and browse for the image of your signature.  Click INSERT.

4.       You will need to change the Text Wrapping so that you are able to position your signature where you need it on your document.  With the image selected click on the pink FORMAT tab at the top on the Ribbon.  Click TEXT WRAP and choose BEHIND TEXT.  You are now able to move your signature freely about the document and reposition it.  Size as needed using the sizing handles.

5.       Do a SAVE AS and choose PDF in the Save as type drop box. 

6.       Now you are ready to submit your document with your signature electronically.

Jamberry Nails! - Calling All Teacher Fingers!

I am so excited to spread the news about this awesome nail company!  I am a busy wife, mother, daughter and teacher and hardly EVER have time to go to the salon to take care of nails, but LOVE to have them done.  I found Jamberry Nails!!!  You can get fabulous nail art, polish look to even a french tip set with Jamberry Nails.  Did I mention it was much cheaper than scheduling time at the salon??? Just $15 mani/pedi Jamberry nails sheet-fingers last 2wks, toes 6wks...so worth the fun!!  Even Katy Perry uses this company for her awesome nail art!  The company has been featured on the Today Show as well!  Come and order some today!  Just click on my Jamberry Nails Logo on the right side of the page!!!  Don't wait to have beautiful nails!  Come like my Facebook page and book either a home or online party and earn a free sheet!!!

Download the Spring/Summer Catalog HERE!! 

and come join my Facebook page HERE!!

 

Back And A New Product!

Wow! Spring Break went super fast for me.  I enjoyed spending time with my family and kiddos!  Even held my first freezer party where two friends and I made enough freezer meals to allow each of us to take home 10 meals for only 100.00 a family!  Not bad I say, not bad!

My class is starting a novel study reading "Freedom's Fire" by J.P. Trent.  Set during the Revolutionary War, this story fits in perfectly with our Social Studies Standards.  There is however as always unknown vocabulary.  I have created "Monster Vocabulary" a graphic organizer that allows for vocabulary collection and then students choose three of the words to become proficient at by listing the three terms, rewriting the sentence in context and finally looking up the definition of the word as it is used in the context sentence. 

 

Click HERE to get worksheet

Visit either of my teacher stores to the right for this second great resource!!!

Spring Break Sale!!

Click here for the SALE!

Come and enjoy a 10% sale at my Teacher's Notebook Store to celebrate Spring Break!  I would appreciate any feedback and ratings!  Enjoy your break!

Trip Calculator

I am working on developing our family budget and I was trying to figure out how much per day I spend driving back and forth to work.  I found MY TRIP CALCULATOR and it's awesome! This isn't really school related but I just had to share because this is such a helpful tool to those you need to know how much they are spending so they can create their budget accordingly!

Currently For the Month of March

There are days when I get over whatever fear I have and decide to jump in and try something that I am not normally comfortable with......so SURPRISE I am jumping in to create a monthly "Currently..." on my blog. I don't always feel like I am that interesting or think people really listen to what I have to say, so I am always surprised to hear. "So and So saw that you were doing this or that on Facebook!"

I thought it would be interesting to start this section on my blog to see what others or "Currently" doing or thinking.  Thanks to "Oh' Boy 4th Grade.." for the super cute template and idea to launch this on my blog!  I really like the idea of the like, love, hate too!  I know they are to only be one word but I was having a hard time thinking .... call it testing brain failure!

The month of March always brings the stress of the beginning of our state testing and the itch for warmer weather with the long awaited week break that we call SPRING BREAK!

Like: I like taking hot baths to relax and enjoy some mommy alone time.  I two wonderful small children that I adore, but even us mommies need a break.
Love: I love love helping others.  I think that brings me more joy than anything.  Being able to help, listen, support and bring a smile to someone's face fills my heart with excitement. That is why I started this blog, probably like most others, to share and help!
Hate: I hate state testing with a passion.  I am a strong believer that one or two tests does not always accurately reflect the proficiency of a student.  I wish we somehow could focus on student growth because I have had so many student make immense gains in my classroom, but still not quite reach proficiency in an area.  The state tests have also created testing anxiety in our elementary schools because we stress so much how important these tests are.  I prefer to look at the individual child as a whole and think about what they need to be successful.  This is my soap box and I could go on and on like so many other teachers.

The other big thing that I am "currently" doing is working on developing this blog.  I have tried to at least do three days a week for posting and creating products that I am or have used in my classroom.  I had a family blog that I had created to keep all family updated with what our lives have brought, but with the increase usage of Facebook, that blog has become obsolete.   Yeah for Facebook right!  I was scared to put my thoughts and ideas out because there is always someone who will judge right?  I have looked past that and have changed that negative thought into "Who can I help?"  With that thought the starting didn't seem so complicated.

I have also opened two teacher stores (you can visit them using the buttons to the right).  This has sparked my creative brain again and this in itself is bringing back some joy into teaching.  We get so bogged down by the politics and the HAVE to's that we forget why we started sometimes.

I'd love for you to check out my products/leave comments here/leave feedback or even ask questions so that I can help!  Like I said this is a brand new journey for me and it has brought unexpected pleasure to my life:)

~The Little Apple Teacher

Do You Have a Fun Math Game?

Come link up in my Fun Math Game Linky Party to share your math game idea to use in the classroom!