0 ROCKIN' RESOURCES - MY FIRST LINKY PARTY

With school coming to a close (or already closed for that matter), many of us are setting our sites on summer fun, personal projects, and family time. However, knowing the crazy teachers that we are, many of us are also thinking about next year.  Summer is the perfect time to work on school and acquire new resources at your own pace.  So, with this said, I figured I would host my very first Linky Party.

This little Linky is called Rockin' Resources: Things I Couldn't Live Without.  I am mainly thinking of the things/resources that you use in your classroom that you live and die by, but it could include other things as well.   I know I am in need of a few more "classroom tools," and who better to ask than my wise bloggy buddies??!!

Here are my TOP 5 "classroom can't live withouts..."

READING IS FUN SIGHT WORD BOOKS
I came across these two years ago and they have made all the difference in my kids' sight word growth.  They are perfect for K-1 classrooms.  Sight words are introduced one at a time and build slowly throughout the series (lots of spiral review).  In addition to completing a phonics reader, I assign a couple of pages a night out of one of these.  I ask my parents to read the assigned pages with their kiddos at least 2-3 times.  Once they are fluent, I assign the next couple of pages.  Click on the picture to visit the Teddy Bear Press Web site.

INTELLI-TUNES
Any of you who visit me on a regular basis know how much I heart Intelli-Tunes!!  If you haven't heard these yet, you are missing out.  Ron Brown's music is standards-based and is perfect for K-3 classrooms.  Not only do the kids love it, but it is classroom music that teachers can actually stomach!  My kids beg for me to play these and I truly believe that their understanding of concepts has been greatly supported by these fun songs.  Click on the picture to visit the Intelli-Tunes Web site.

   

FONTS FOR TEACHERS
I love making my own worksheets and this resource is perfect for it.  Fonts For Teachers allows you to make everything from dotted handwriting practice sheets (print, d'nealian, or script) and perfectly lined paper to custom clock math pages.  Love, love, LOVE this resource.  Click on the picture to visit the DownHill Publishing Web site.  

ART PROJECTS FOR KIDS
This blog offers up mind-blowing art projects for kids.  If you haven't had the opportunity to visit Kathy Barbro's site, put it on your to-do list.  She is an amazing artist and has created tested classroom art projects for grades K-5 and beyond.  Take a moment . . . you'll be glad you did.  Click on the picture to visit Art Projects for Kids!

  

KLEENSLATE WHITE BOARDS
My kids all have the basic individual white boards in their desks.  However, I wanted something a little different to add some spice to the white board group work they do during my center rotation.  SO . . . I purchased a group set of KleenSlate White Boards.  We do a lot of the same work that they do at their desks (spelling and such), but it seems oh-so new to them because these boards are such a novelty.  The buy-in is HUGE and they love working and writing on these!  Click on the picture to visit the KleenSlate Web site.

All right . . . that's my list.  Now it's your turn!  To participate, grab the Linky Party button above and link your post down below.  Don't forget to link back to my site pretty please!  The more the merrier so please spread the word . . . let's get those ideas flowin'!    

http://teacher-idea.blogspot.com/2012/05/rockin-resources-my-first-linky-party.html

Detail: ROCKIN' RESOURCES - MY FIRST LINKY PARTY

0 LINKY REMINDER + SALE + PARENT HELPER FREEBIE

We just got back into town after a night in Sacramento.  Good times for sure, but the hot dog I ate at the River Cats game last night was a less than brilliant idea.  (Thank heavens for the appointment that I have with the nutritionist/diet specialist on Friday!)  Nuff said on this lame post-surgery subject and now it seems that I am WAY off topic :)

Back to business . . . I wanted to remind you that I am hosting my very FIRST linky party.  It's called, "Rockin' Resources: Things I Couldn't Live Without." This linky highlights all of those wonderful things in your classroom that you live and die by.  CLICK ON the linky party button below to check out the great items bloggy friends have shared thus far!  I would love for you to join in the fun as well.  The more the merrier my bloggy friends.  Your ideas and classroom success stories are truly invaluable!  A HUGE thank you to all of you who have joined the party thus far.  It is oh-so scary puttin' yourself out their for the first time and I so appreciate the support :).

On that note, here's another one of my FAVORITE resources that I use daily...

LEXIA LEARNING

This computer program is the bomb-diggity of reading games.  It is all standards-based and the kids love to play it.  This game serves as one of my daily reading center rotations and it hits all of those key phonics, spelling, and basic reading concepts.  Have your school check it out if you can.  It is an invaluable resource at good old Evergreen.  Click on the photo below to visit the Lexia Learning Web site.  For more awesome classroom resources, please visit my linky party page.  

Well . . . enough about my "party."  It's time to spread the love a bit.  I always enjoy my daily visits with my friend Teri over at A Cupcake for the Teacher and I saw that she was hosting a Top Teacher's Memorial Day SALEabration!  I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to join in the fun.  I may be a little late in the game, but everything in my TPT Store is 20% off through tomorrow!  What can I say?  I heart a killer sale :). 

Last, but not least, I have an end of the year FREEBIE for you all who are still laboring away at school.  Next week my kiddos will be writing notes to our classroom parent helpers during one of our reading center rotations.  I made this template up for my teammates and my long-term sub and thought I would share.  These notes will be attached to the parent helper gifts (sill up in the air) and will given out that very last week of school.  

CLICK HERE to snag your parent helper thank you template!
Thank you to Fonts for Peas, KPM Doodles, and Wisteria Design Studio

I am off to spend some time with my husband (it seems that I have forgotten that I even have a spouse this evening - whoops).  I will see you all tomorrow with another "Rockin' Resource" and a giveaway opportunity.  

One FINAL thing.  If forgot to tell you last week.  It's official . . . am teaching first again next year!  And, the even better news is that my teaching bestie will be right there with me once again.  Life is good!  Night friends. 

Detail: LINKY REMINDER + SALE + PARENT HELPER FREEBIE

0 HUGE ROCKIN' RESOURCE GIVEAWAY

I can't believe it . . . I made it to the big TWO-OH-OH.  I am more excited than a kiddo on Christmas morning!  To help celebrate, I am hosting a ROCKIN' RESOURCE giveaway to go with my very first Linky Party.

I will be giving away a collection of all of my favorite classroom resources that were highlighted in my Rockin' Resource Linky Party post.  We're talking a font collection from Fonts for Teachers, 2 CDs of choice from Ron Brown's Intelli-Tunes, sight word readers from Teddy Bear Press, and a few other top secret classroom treats . . . it's the works I tell ya.  

 

There are lots of ways to enter and most are pretty easy.  I know the last thing you all want to do is to have to click on 500 different pages!  Just use the totally awesome Rafflecopter ditty down below to enter.  I hope I figured it out . . . that was a lot of new technology all at once!  I will be selecting a winner next Sunday (June 3rd).

Also, don't forget about my very first Linky Party.  I would jump at the chance to have more of you join in the fun!  Just click on the Rockin' Resources Linky Button above to learn more (you also earn lots of contest/giveaway entries for joining the par-tay)!!

On a final note tonight, I wanted to share another one of my favorite Rockin' Resources with you.  

DOUBLE DICE + MINI CARDS
I love to play math games in my classroom.  For me, it's all about disguising learning as "play" whenever I can.  Regular dice and playing cards are staples in many of the activities I run, but they can get old for some of the kids after a bit. So . . . I spice things up by throwing double dice, 10-sided double dice, or mini cards into the mix.  Click on the photos to find these products online - your students will love them.  

    

Have a great night my special bloggy friends.  Thank you so much for all of your support these past few months.  As a newbie, it was scary jumping into all of this a few months ago.  However, you all have always been right there to lend a helping hand!  You quickly turned the "scary" into excitement!  Thanks again friends.  I am one lucky lady.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Detail: HUGE ROCKIN' RESOURCE GIVEAWAY

0 REMINDERS + RESOURCES + OBSESSIONS

Hey all.  First and foremost, I want to extend a huge thank you to all of you bloggy pals who joined in my very first Linky Party and/or entered my Rockin' Resources Giveaway.  The response has been overwhelming and I can't wait to select a BIG winner this weekend.  

Remember . . . you still have 2 days and 23 hours to enter (per Rafflecopter's cool little countdown ditty).  For those of you who don't know, I am giving away a collection of my favorite resources (Teddy Bear Press sight word books, the Fonts for Teachers font program, 2 Intelli-Tunes CDs, and more). Click on the button below for more details on the giveaway and my very first Linky Party.  I would love to have you join both if you haven't already!!

In light of my Linky and Giveaway, I also wanted to give a little shout out to another one of my favorite classroom resources.

Halfpint/Music CD Skillastics
I know there isn't a lot of spare cash out there right now for districts to be throwing at new things, but I had to chat about this. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these sets and it has changed the way I do PE with my class.  This totally interactive exercise program gets your kiddos up and moving while working on core muscle groups.  It also is the  perfect answer for those overly hot afternoons and rainy days.  The set comes with easy to read exercise cards and corresponding music.  My kids beg me to put on the Frankenstein Walk each and every time I break out the kit.  Click on the photo below for more info.  

Finally tonight, I came across the coolest blog about two days ago.  It's called Living a Wonderful Life and I fell in love with her Linky Party idea.  Bonnie is also hosting her very first Linky and I just had to jump on board.  The title won me over at first read - I Have a Confession . . . This is My Obsession!  I obsess about all sorts of things.  And, this little Linky Party is going to help me air out all of my dirty little secrets right here . . . right now. 

Rue-La-La Flash Sales
Being home on surgery leave has been rough on the pocket book.  Rue La La is the best little flash sale site.  You know . . . designer clothes at discount prices. The safest thing WAS that their sales always start at 8 am and I used to be at  school at this time.  However, now I am home.  My phone lights up with a reminder text at 8:02, my heart races, and I find myself flocking to the computer.  Things sell out fast so you gotta be quick.  Let's just say that being at home has made me a little too "quick."  Thank goodness the UPS boxes come during the day and fit ever so nicely at the bottom of our recycle bin :)

Fantasy Football
Who knew this little Nor Cal gal who loves her shopping also loves her fantasy???  Yup . . . I scream and jump all around the living room come fall/winter Sundays.  And, yes, I am one of those freaks who listens to Fantasy Radio on XM constantly throughout the season.  People often ask me, "Kelley, who is your favorite team."  My sad sack response is that I don't have one.  I follow players.  Pretty dude-like, huh?  My hubby and I are in a league together and we are on opposite teams.  Things can get a little tense watching Red Zone and the side bets are flyin'.  He kicked my booty this year as my team suffered injury after injury this season (it's the truth I tell ya), but I'll nail him this year for sure.  

Pay or Free Fonts
I know many of you are in the same boat with this one.  I totally dork out over fonts.  Pay or free.  It doesn't really matter.  From Kevin & Amanda and 1001 Free Fonts to Miss Tiina Fonts, I can spend hours looking and downloading new types!  Things get really rough when I start to incorporate these fonts into my designs or units.  I will spend FOR-EV-ER fiddling with a font until it is just the right one.  Once I pick one, then it is on to size, style, and overall layout.  Oh yeah . . . fonts are a complete obsession.  

Okay  . . . so I didn't air 'em all out.  I just gave you a little taste via my top three.  A few obsessions still need to stay hidden away under lock and key . . . I gotta stay true to my "Secret Single Behaviors" (i.e. how many times I have to make sure I unplug my curling iron each morning) or you all might think I am totally a loose cannon! 

On an oh-so final note this late night, I wanted to give a special shout out to Jennifer over at First Grade Blue Skies.  I was the winner of her Brag Tag Giveaway!  I can't believe it . . . I never win anything :)  Considering all the great things that have come my way as of late, my luck must be a changin'!  

Night friends.  I'll see you tomorrow.

Detail: REMINDERS + RESOURCES + OBSESSIONS