Computer Lessons

My computer skills, I know, are limited.  I see all of the things everyone creates on their blogs or from TpT and I want to do the same type of things.  I started buying some clip art, but I still didn't know what to do.


When I bought my MacBook in February, I also purchased a year worth of One on One classes.  I haven't been to any because it was so busy in the spring and I have been stuck without a car, other than the rental, since school was out.  Finally, I decided to take a class.


On Thursday I went to one of the One on One sessions called Personal Projects.  You go to the Apple Store and one employee helps the people in the class with whatever they want.  I didn't really know where this store was because it was in a shopping center that I've never been to.  I found the store pretty quickly.


The class was so worth going to.  I showed the employee what some of you bloggers have done and said, "Is there any way I can do that sort of thing?"  He told me that there is.  I usually use Word, but he suggested that I get Apple's form of Word called Pages.  That's what he knows and likes, so I purchased it.  He showed me a variety of things that were so beneficial.  I finally got out a piece of paper to write some notes realizing I would forget when I got home.  He would bounce back and forth between each person.  There were only two of us there, so I got lots of attention.


I think I'm going to sign up for one a week until school begins.  After that, it will be a little harder to go to because these classes are usually during the day.  Maybe they'll have some on Saturdays.  They have other specific classes that I may take if the time is right.


I just worked on my schedule cards.  Last night I found the perfect background. I wanted polka-dots, but I wanted them colored.  After looking at Cheryl Saod's Celebrating Yummy Birthdays, I noticed there were lots of polka-dots.  It's so perfect!  If I knew how to attach a page here, I would do it so that you can all see it.  I tried, but it didn't work.  I think it's because I don't know how to reduce the size of the document for the blog.  That will be a question to ask next class. I'll go take a photo of a printed page, so that I can show everyone what I made.  

          
  I'm looking forward to printing and cutting all of my schedule cards.  They will look so nice in my new classroom at my new school.


Diane

Data Notebook Giveway from Primary Graffiti

Cheryl at Primary Graffiti is giving away an awesome looking Data Notebook.  She will give two away before the sale on Monday.   Here are the details:

Win it before you can buy it!  I'm prepared to upload my Data Notebook to TpT.  I want to giveaway two copies before the sale on Monday.  

I will randomly select two people to win a copy of my Data Notebook tomorrow evening.  An entry can be made by following my TpT store.  If you decide to post about my Data Notebook, I will give you an additional entry.  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Tonight I will upload a few free documents to share.  With all the excitement today, I'm going to have to post a third time!  My apologies in advance!!  Until then...  Stay Cool!

I'd like to win this, wouldn't you?  I think it would be so helpful since next year is my first year in first grade.  Cheryl is the one who helped me start this blog.  Isn't she wonderful?

Diane

School Shopping

I've been hanging out at my dad's house for the past 3 weeks. At the end of the school year on June 1st, I was rear-ended. This was the same day that I was told by my principal that I was being transferred to another school. I went home after school and planned on returning since I was having a substitute the next day. I needed to get my lessons all ready. It happened on my way back and I never made it to school. It was a good thing that I had the day off, but I spent all day trying to get a rental car. Finally, on July 17th I received the insurance money for my car. It was totalled and I had to replace my car. On Wednesday I bought a used car, a 1999 Toyota Avalon. It seems like it will be a nice car.

I've been doing a lot of school shopping while I've been in Portland. I emptied the rental car and filled the trunk of the new car. I have found lots of good buys over the summer or just things I need like a binder and composition books for each student.

I should be going home in a couple of days. First, we celebrated Dad's birthday last night and I am hosting an (acrylic) stamping party at Dad's house. One of my ways I like to be crafty. I never would have thought that this process after a car accident would have taken so long. I'm glad that I've ended up with a nice car.

Giveaway at First Grade Awesomenesss

Have you seen the giveaway going on from Mrs. Tabb at First Grade Awesomeness? Everyone qualifies who blogs about it. Here's what she says:

I've turned our love of shoes into a fun mini unit that would be great for the first few weeks of school (because most of their shoes are NEW therefore NOT STINKY!) and the best part is that you don't need anything for this unit but shoes!

Check it out!!

There's sorting, classifying, graphing, a SHOE CLUE mystery, and lots of fun activities about shoes!

Because I want to get lucky in Vegas, I'm going to give you some luck too...
I'm going to do this. It'll be free to anyone who blogs about this mini-unit. I don't have enough energy for another giveaway...so if you want it, post it on your blog and tell your friends to snag the limited time freebie, and leave me a comment telling me you've blogged it WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so I can send it to you...for FREE!

This is limited though. I'm going to Vegas and I'll be back Monday. SO you have until Sunday (7/24) to do this giveaway homework. I will send out the units on Monday night!

You have until Sunday night, July 24th, so hurry and blog about it!

Diane

Teacher in Flip Flops Giveaway

Have you seen what Christie at Teaching in Flip Flops is giving away for having 50 followers?These giveaways are new to me, but they look like alot of fun. Here's what she says:

I'm giving away one of these Scentsy Teacher Warmers plus a bar of your favorite scent!!

(Note: If you don't know what Scentsy is, click on the picture and check it out!! They are fabulous scent warmers that plug into the wall and use a lightbulb to scent the room. So safe and AMAZING. I refuse to buy any other scent/smelly things now. I'm addicted!!)

Here's how to win...

1. Follow my blog and leave a comment!

2. Add my blog to your blog roll and leave a comment (with your link)!

3. Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment (with your link)!

4. Add my button to your blog and leave a comment (with your link)!

The giveaway ends Monday, July 18 at 10 p.m. CST.

I will then announce the winner sometime Tuesday!

These Scentsy warmers are wonderful. The candle wax is such a great smell in the house. I don't have this one, but I do have a few and just love them! The giveaway goes until tomorrow evening, so good luck to everyone!

Diane

Dollar Tree Finds

I finally found what I've been looking for! I've been looking for those polka-dot trays that Amanda at One Extra Degree posted recently. I went to 3 Dollar Tree stores and couldn't find any, so I gave up. Then I told a friend who is also a teacher and she found some. I drove over to that store and bought all that they had and went to another store and found more. I have enough for the whole class now. I like Amanda's idea of using them for math stations. I like things with polka-dots. I have some white baskets from Pottery Barn Kids in my classroom with liners that have polka-dots or gingham checks. These will look great in my classroom.

I also found some certificates for birthdays and student of the week. These will be fun to give out to the students. I'd add a picture, but I'm having trouble adding a second picture. It seems to go to the top and moves the word "I" to the top. I know I have a lot to learn about blogging. I have a lot to learn about technology in general.

I hope you other teachers in the blogging world will be patient with me as I learn this new way of communicating. I hope later I'll be able to share some of the things going on in my classroom and even some things you can download. Right now I am in the learning process. I learned about 2 or 3 months ago that teachers have blogs. I have learned so much from everyone.

I found out at the end of the school year that I am being transferred to another school in the district due to budget cuts. I was a third grade teacher for two years, but I am transferring to first grade. I was sent into a panic when I found out the grade. I have only taught first grade once 11 years ago, but that was in a blend of 1st and 2nd graders. I have had my own classroom for 16 years plus I began my career as a substitute for several years. Reading all of your blogs has helped me to learn about first grade. I'm hopeful that I will be ready for those little kiddos.

Diane

Shopping Finds

Just like everyone else, I have been shopping for school supplies. I enjoy shopping for school supplies for the new school year.

Last week I ventured to Lakeshore with my friend, who is also a teacher. Since I'm changing from 3rd grade to 1st grade, I am in need of some new materials. I also had a gift card from my recent birthday that I was so ready to spend especially since their sale just began.

I found this Fractions and Decimals Chart on their sale rack. The price was good and it will be good to help students learn and understand the order of fractions. That was hard for my third graders to understand last year.

Another item that I found was a Science True or False Center. This would be a great activity to use even with first graders. There is a question such as Volcanoes make the Hawaiian Islands. This will lead to a short discussion. It comes with True and False cards so the kids can indicate their vote.

This is only my second post and I'm not sure exactly how to insert pictures. I'll do a little figuring out before I write more since the pictures aren't appearing where I want them.

On the next post I'll tell about some of my finds at Dollar Tree Store and Target.

Diane

Blogging Debut

I discovered TpT and that teachers have blogs about 3 months ago. It has been quite an experience reading and learning from other teachers. I guess now it is time I venture into the blog world. I started this blog because I wanted to be involved in the Postcard Exchange. I also think it will be great fun to write about my teaching adventures and be involved with the blog teaching community.

I have been a teacher for many years. I have spent the last two years teaching third grade. Before that I taught fourth and fifth grades. It has been a long time since I've taught the primary grades. I did teach second grade for several years, but that was at least 9 years ago. Because of budget cuts, this year I will be transferred to a different school and will teach first grade. I panicked when I found out! Reading all of the blogs has helped me to learn what happens in first grade.

This blog will be a great place for me to document my adventures as a first grade teacher. I am leaving a school with very little technology and going to a school with lots of technology. I bought a Mac Book in February, so why not add blogging to my list of new technologies.

I want to say "thank you" to Cheryl at Primary Graffiti who organized and started this blog for me.