July Currently & a Sale!

Can you believe that it is July!?! I can't!! I'm linking up with Farley and her July Currently.

Listening: I know its shameful, but I watch all of the Real Housewives. I am sure you are rolling your eyes as you read this but...the Real Housewives of New Jersey is a summertime guilty pleasure! Can you keep it our little secret?!

Loving: I am loving that my summer has been so relaxing that I don't really know what day of the week it is. (A little Downton Abbey for ya!)

Thinking: I have the best friend ever! It's true! I can only wish that everyone has a special "Samm-o" in their life to make each day brighter! :)

Wanting: A Michael Kors WHITE purse...which one? Opinions please!!!

Needing: A manicure and pedicure. I think I'll go tomorrow! :)

Tips, tricks or hints: Just be you, because you are fabulous! Don't compare yourself to others. Push yourself to be better!

Well said Mr. Roosevelt!

To wrap things up I just wanted to let you know that I am having a sale in my TPT store tomorrow! Everything is 20% off, including my new Back to School Unit. Take a peek if you are interested. Have a great rest of your weekend! 

Don't forget to go link up!!

Teaching the Five Senses

Today I was getting my book lists ready for the start of the school year. I love using picture books to teach throughout the day! (I am sure there are times that the public library hates me! And times that Scholastic loves me! :) ) I was looking for new books to teach about the five senses and I found a book called Forest Friends' Five Senses. Have you read this book to your class before? I read the book's description and I had to order this book! It seems like a great and entertaining tool to teach the five senses. I just wanted to pass on my "new book find", it is the little things that get me so excited! After I actually read it, I will be sure to let you know what I think!! Do you have any great books that you use to teach the five senses??

If you are looking for other tools to teach the Five Senses, make sure you check out my TPT store for my new unit! Don't forget  Back to School centers and activities are on sale this week!!

Happy Monday! :) 

CRAZY Week ...Time to Make a List (Linky Party)

Oh my time is just flying by! I am starting to get myself ready for school! This has been a CRAZY week...with family in town, working on some school things, doing a few projects around the house, dog sitting and trying to force myself to relax and enjoy the last few days of vacation! I love making lists, any kind of list, but ESPECIALLY To-Do Lists! Who doesn't love crossing things off a To-Do List!?! I have been trying to make a To-Do List, or should I say lists. (One for everything I want to get done at home before school and one for everything I want to do for school at home.) Everytime I start the lists get way too long...and I throw them away! Usually I am super organized and prepared, I just don't know what has gotten into me! So what are your top priorities when getting ready to go back to school? Do you have a To-Do List? I am hosting my FIRST Linky Party! Join up and share your top "To-Do's" for putting your finishing touches on going back to school.

Here is my To- Do List
1. finish decorating/ setting up room
2. desk & cubby labels
3. open house info
4. prepare dismissal tags
5. create, print and laminate behavior pieces
6. organize "Teacher Binders"
7. print scope and sequence calendars
8. copy student portfolios
9. first week lesson plans
10. copy first week materials
11. gather back to school themed books
12. tweek grade book
13. prepare writing folders
14. prepare labels for take home folder
15. back to school letter
16. class supply wish list


The list could go on and on...but that is where I will stop! What is on your list? Link up and let me know!
Today as I was shopping, I thought about how one of the many reasons that I love being  a teacher is 'cause I have never out grow the "Back to School" shopping! Oh yeah!!!! So in the spirit of shopping, I am hosting a sale! Head over to my TPT store and check out some new items and some great "Back to School" items that are on sale! Sale ends Tuesday, August 14th!

Here are some previews of new items that you will find in my TPT store:

Ooo and by the way my mom is loving her surprise cruise to the Caribbean! :) Yay! She deserves it! And luckily Tropical Storm Ernesto left just in time!

Happy Thursday!

New {School} Year Resolutions

I am the kind of person that loves to make goals and work hard to "make it happen". So I love that Amanda at Teaching Madness is having a New {School} Year Resolutions Linky Party! If I tell you my goals then I am really going to have to stick with them! I have a whole bunch of resolutions, so I just chose 4 resolutions for this coming school year to share with you:

#1- Class Website- I currently have a class website that I use to post podcasts and movies of things that we are doing in class, tips for parents, cool websites for kids and post class newsletters on. I always start off strong, and update it frequently but as the school year goes on...well you know!!! I want to keep it updated better throughout the ENTIRE school year! If you want to check out my class website, here is the link: http://palmbeachschooltalk.com/shopej/Ms._Shopes_Class/Home.html

#2- Throw-aholic- I am so bad at throwing stuff away. I am known for saying "Oops, I threw that away!" Perhaps I could get that a bit under control! ;)

#3- Conferencing With Students- I really want to be better at having deliberate and purposeful conferences with my students during reading and writing workshops!

#4- Utilize Volunteers- I am blessed at my school to have parent involvement and support. Last year I really slacked on utilizing parents' help, and I tried to "do it all". I really want to work on being less of a control freak and letting others help!

So now that I have told you all a few of my New {School} Year Resolutions...you are responsible for helping me stick to it! :) I am counting on you!!!

On a side note, I don't know if any of you still have student loans...I do! :( I just found out about this Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program. I don't know if it will be useful for anyone else, but I sure do hope so!

Off to spend more time with my great parents! My mom's big surprise is coming in just a few days...so we have to go shopping!!!! :)

Happy Tuesday!

Two Stars and a Wish

My team is getting together next week to finish our year long scope and sequence for reader's and writer's workshop. I feel like this is a huge task, and it will be great when we complete it! We will have a clear vision for the year and our instruction will be deliberate!

As I started thinking about writing and writer's workshop I thought about my biggest challenge...that being CONFERENCING! I could make lots of excuses for myself, but I'm not going to. I am just going to say I need to do better.

I have been searching for resources that I could use during my conferences to keep it short, simple but meaningful. (Meaningful being the most important part.) I want to really work on having good conversations with my students and giving specific feedback for what I expect in the future.

While searching I came across lots of good resources to use specifically with writing conferences, but I also read a little bit about the concept of "Two Stars and a Wish", and I really liked it! It is something I could use in any subject, and even teach my students to use with one another. The Two Stars are two compliments that you can give, and a Wish is a suggestion for the future. I look forward to trying this out in my classroom! What do you do to give your students specific feedback?

Check out my TPT store to find 2 new Back to School Emergent Readers!

Happy Monday!

Beginning of the School Year

The summer seems to be flying by and before I know it, I will be having First Day Jitters! :) Every year I get so excited to meet my new little friends, and have fun in the first few days getting to know each child individually. The first few weeks are definitely busy, but teaching students the routines and procedures in my classroom is one of my favorite parts! Here are some activities that I like to do in my classroom on the first few days of school. Click on each picture to download your free copy!

On the first day of school I have each student complete a self portrait, write their name, write the date and record their height.Then on the last day of school, I have the students do the same activity. It is so fun for the students to see how they wrote their name, formed their numbers and letters, drew the picture and how much they have grown in just a few short months! 

The balloon activity is a fun ice breaker that allows the students to laugh, move and feel more comfortable standing in front of their new friends. For this activity I print and cut the cards apart. Then I blow up enough balloons for each student to have one balloon. As I am blowing up the balloon I put one card inside each balloon. When it is the students turn they get to try and pop the balloon (which is very amusing) and then have to answer the question that is on the card inside.

As I am going over my routines and procedures at the beginning of the year, I like to be specific with my students on what is appropriate and inappropriate to bring to school. I start off with this little sorting activity that we complete as a class. Together we sort and discuss the different objects and why or why not they should come to school. Then on the reverse side of the paper I have copied an "Answer Key" for the parents giving them a little note for each item.

Teaching students to be responsible is very important to me. So at the beginning of the year we discuss what is expected to be returned daily in their backpack. We role play the students packing their backpack at home, and then illustrate what belongs in their backpack. It amazes me to see how the students feel so proud of themselves after this activity, or the next morning when they enter the classroom and tell me they packed their backpack "ALL BY MYSELF"! I include a short note at the bottom to the parents so that they can have conversations with their child about be prepared for school daily.

Lastly, I try to fit this activity in, if not the first day, somewhere in the first week. This is just a reflective tool for the students to see that they are becoming acclamated to school, making friends and beginning their kindergarten adventure! It is also something I send home as a conversation starter between the child and parents.

These are just a few of the things that I do in my classroom. I would love to hear what you do! Leave a comment or send me an email!

Smiles and happiness,

Julie