Hello? Plus a Freebie

Hello?

Is anyone still out there, I'm sheepishly wondering?

It's been awhile since I have last posted, or even had the chance to peruse my favorite blogs. 

This year hasn't gotten off to the smoothest start.  Besides the new evaluation system that I mentioned several posts ago, we have brand new language arts and social studies series.  Since this is also the second year using our math series, I am having to spend a lot of extra time figuring out what I am doing!

I am starting to get into my groove, so I am going to really try to post much more often!

Thanks to those of you who stopped by.  As a thanks, I have an ABC order activity for you.  I am using this in my ABC Word Study Station.  I laminated each piece and put magnet tape on the back.  Enjoy!

CLICK HERE to get your own FREE copy!

The font and graphics are courtesy of D.J. Inkers.

Happy Sunday!

Verbs: They're What We Do!

We are going to be working on verbs this week.  Action words.  What we do.

Can we pause for a minute?  Why do some language arts programs call nouns "naming words" and verbs "action words"?  Exclusively?  Shouldn't we be teaching the children the "real" names for the parts of speech?  I can understand using the terms interchangeably so they are exposed to both.  But ONLY calling verbs action words?  I can imagine that there will be some upper level teachers who will be pretty mad at me, but I digress.

I have created a charades-like game for verbs.  The children pick a card and then act out the words on the card...without talking.  This should be interesting! 

I have twenty-four verb cards.  I will NOT do them all in one day.  I will do four or five a day as part of our grammar study.  This file also contains a culminating activity where the students have verbs in a word box and they have to match them with action pictures.  They will also choose one of the verbs in the word box and use it to write a sentence.

If this is something that you might be interested in, CLICK HERE to go to my TPT store.

But, I have something up my sleeve for a few of you.  Because it is Sunday, and sometimes we just need something special to get our week started, the first three friends who leave a comment will get this verb pack for FREE!  Just please leave me your e-mail!

Happy Sunday!

Celebrations

We have made it through the thirteenth day of school.  That is a good reason to celebrate!  Here are a couple of things I am REALLY happy about.

 We are starting to get more into the routines of first grade life, which makes the school day so much smoother.

I've started Daily Five and it is going strong.  The kiddos are up to reading five minutes silently and they moan and groan when it's time to stop.  What teacher wouldn't like that?!

My Monarch caterpillar is still crunching and munching.  It is a running joke in our pod that I can't keep a caterpillar alive.  Every year something happens.  I am pleased to announce that our little guy is nice and healthy.

College football has started again!  YIPPEE!

I have worked on decorating my house for fall...please don't judge.  I just couldn't wait another day!

Finally, I have created and finished some Owl Themed Work Station posters.  CLICK HERE if you would like to check them out!

I know it is early into the school year, but what celebrations do you have?

Happy Monday!