Pass the Torch Linky Party!

Get Ready for Bloggy Olympics!!!

Join The 3AM Teacher, the Reading Olympians, and over 80 SUPREME education bloggers as we take you through a tour of the Reading Olympians Root Study Program!!

I hope you are enjoying your travels through the pass the torch linky! My name is Cindy. I am a Title 1 teacher in Michigan. I work with students in K-4th grade in reading and math. 

I had the pleasure of  working with the Kindergarten Root Study Program! I chose the "adding -s" to words to make it more than one. This has been a feature in several of our books that we have been reading in the LLI Program so I thought it fit perfectly. 

I worked with this lesson 2 days in a row. On day one, I had the kids try to cut out the puzzle pieces. (Epic Fail!)  That didn't work so well. It was to hard for my kinder kids! They just aren't that good with scissors. I went through the whole lesson with them anyways and used the "teacher set" of puzzle pieces. 

Then on day 2, I changed things a bit. I made the same words included in the lesson in power point cut them out and had them ready for the kids to work in their own root booklet. 



We created the words as a group first with the puzzle pieces that I cut out and then the kids worked to make their own booklets. Having them pre-cut worked out soooooooooooooooo much better!

Then if they had time I had them write each of them next to where they glued each word in.

I love the puzzle pieces for teacher/group use or they could also be used as a center in your classroom with a recording sheet! But my kids struggled to cut them out.

Discover the program IN ACTION in more K-6th grade classrooms as you Pass the Torch!! Get ideas, discover the progression of the program, and enter the Raffle for a chance to win ONE of the three prizes listed below!!

First Place Winner : Gold Medal

  Prizes: Complete Reading Olympians Program
            $50.00 Amazon Gift Card
            50% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!

Second Place Winner: Silver Medal

   Prizes: $25.00 Amazon Gift Card
              40% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!

Third Place Winner: Bronze Medal

    Prizes: 30% off Discount Code for a 1-Day shopping spree at The 3AM Teacher's Etsy store!

Pass the Torch!!!
Click the image below to visit the next blog

Kindergarten:



Grade 1 & 2






Grade 3 & 4






Grade 5 & 6


    a Rafflecopter giveaway

Favorite Read Alouds & Linky's Galore!!

Favorite Read Alouds Linky Party!!!

I'm linking up with Teaching Happily Ever After for Favorite Read Alouds Linky Party!

I have so many favorites but I will list just a few!!

    

 

What are your favorite read alouds? 

Grab the button, create a post with your favorite books, then link up to share! Please make sure you link to your specific post so people can easily find it! :) 

If you haven't checked out Rainbows Within Reach, you should!! Debbie has a passion for Children's music, Literacy and Art & Creativity! I have several of products! She is having a Pin-it-to-win-it linky party! Head on over and check it out!

Heidi over at My (Not so) Elementary Life is having a giveaway for a Classroom Decor Pack of your choice. She has some very cute ones. My fav is the Bright Polka Dots!!



Oh, oh, oh Look out for my awesome giveaway coming up at the end of the week! I am ALMOST to 100 followers!!! Yeah!! I'm excited!!

Friday Letters & August Currently!

I linking up with Ashley for Friday's Letters!!

Dear Hubby, Thank you for working 12's this weekend so we can have the extra money to have the leaky pool looked at and fixed!

Dear Nathan, I am sorry that you have to start summer school on Monday, but we have to get you back into a routine for 7th grade!

Dear Resume, Please work your way up to the top of the “yes” list at every district I've applied to thus far. I’m counting on you! (Claire I'm stealing this from you! Very well said!)

Dear Mom, Thank you for being my best friend. I love our daily chats!!

Dear Olympics, Thank you for keeping me up at night watching you! I love gymnastics and swimming!! 

Dear Readers, I love you, your fab!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Love, Cindy

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday!!!! 

Here is what I'm Loving this week.................

I'm loving being back in the classroom. Summer School started this week! 

I'm loving having my son home from camp! He has a blast! It is nice when he goes away for a week but even better when he comes home. 

I'm loving pasta salad! My husband works in a hot nasty car plant so when it is 90+ out he isn't a big fan of hot dinners. One of our fav's is pasta salad. 

• 1-box tri-colored pasta. (cook according to al'dente directions)
• 1- green pepper (diced)
• 1- red pepper (diced)
• 1- orange pepper (diced)
• 1- med. cucumber (diced)
• 1- cup cherry tomatoes
• green onions or red onion to taste
• 1 bottle Newan's Own-Family Recipe Italian Dressing
• 1/2 bottle McCormick's Salad Supreme Seasoning

You can add cheese, pepperoni, or chicken to it as well. 

I'm loving Pinterest! I have found so many great games ect..... for summer school. 

I'm loving Target! They have TONS of great teacher stuff in dollar bins!

I'm loving that I finally hit 50 followers!! Thank's everyone!

Tell me more, tell me more!!! {A Linky Party}

Amy Lemons is having linky parrrrr-tay so we can all share a little about ourselves outside of our teaching world! Since I'm still new to blogging I thought I would share some of my quirks................please no judging my little quirks.

1. I love my family!! Family is the most important thing in my little world. My mom.......is my best friend and I love her dearly! My dad...I miss him with all my heart but we will meet again at the pearly gates! My son.......although he tests my patients every day I love him to the moon and back!  My hubby..... He is my best friend, we have been married for almost 2 years, been together for 5 years but long time friends since 1998. 

2. I love my furbabies.....Dewey(left) & Fletcher(right)! They are both 4 years old. We adopted them about a year apart. We work with a local rescue and foster dogs until they find their forever home. 

 

3. I LOVE coffee!! Dunkin Donuts is my fav!

4. I have a hard time shutting my brain off at night. I can fall asleep right away but there are many nights where I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep. TOO many thoughts going on in my head!

5. I did choir for 5 years through middle school (2) and high school (3). I don't sing for anyone but kids! They are non-judgmental. 

6. I took the 5 year plan on graduating high school. My parents  (Love them dearly) were not very encouraging through school. Neither of them graduated high school or college. 

7. When I started college I was going to be a nurse. I changed my major after having a horrible Anatomy & Physiology 2 Teacher. I am glad I changed into education. It was the best decision!! 

8. My first car was a  1981Chevrolet Chevette!

                                                                      

9. I am a U of M fan!! Go Blue!

                                                                       

10. I hate- ketchup, mayo, & mustard! 

11. I love.................Deadliest Catch!

Social Sunday w/Ashley!

I have decided to hook up with Ashley over at Ashley's Carnival Ride for Social Sunday! This weeks questions are ALL about vacations!

1. What is the best trip you've ever been on? I would have to say Niagara Falls. It was a LONG time ago but it was a great trip! 

View from our hotel room!

My sons favorite part of the trip was the Bird Kingdom. He enjoyed feeding the Lorikeet birds!

2. What is your best idea for a girls weekend trip?

Hmmm I would have to say Wine Tasting in the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan! Two of my fav's are....

&

3. What is your best idea for a couples trip?

I could use the Wineries tours here too. We had a blast with the couple we went with! 4. What is the best vacation on the cheap?
I would have to say camping!! We typically spend 3-4 weeks of our summer camping somewhere in Michigan. 
5. What is the place you most want to visit?
I have two.....
Europe 
Alaska
6. What are your vacation necessities?

I have packing lists for each type of vacation that we take. But here are a few..........

Camera

Memory Cards

Camera Batteries

Tripod/Monopod

Cell Phone

Great books to read!

What do you like to pack? What can you not leave without? 

Where have you been?

Friday Letters!

Love Ashley's Friday Letter's! Head on over and link up!!!

Dear Friday, In many ways you are wonderful, but today I despise you because we had to come home from vacation.

Dear Vacation, Why did you have to end so soon?

Dear Otsego Lake (Gaylord, MI), You are beautiful and we enjoyed our time with you this week. 

Dear Otsego Lake State Park,  I will miss you so. See you again next year, this time for a longer stay!

Dear Husband, Thank you for working your butt off today while I did some running for my mom.

Dear Nathan (son), I am glad you are going to Boy Scout Camp, but I will miss you while you are gone. 

Dear Club Pet Too, Thank you for taking such good care of our fur-babies while we were camping!

Dear Leelanau Peninsula, Thank you for having some amazing wineries! I came home with a new case of wine and I can't wait to drink them all! 

What are you thankful for?

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm hooking up with Jaime over at Little Daisy May for her What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I'm Loving that we are camping! We are at Otsego State Park in Gaylord, MI.

I'm Loving that the HOT weather has finially broke and we can enjoy our camping trip. 

I'm Loving that tomorrow we are going on a Winery Tour/Run  in Traverse City. 

I'm Loving our mini-trip to Petosky to hang on the beach!

I'm Loving The Traverse City Cherry Festival. 

Friday Letters

I am linking up with Ashley over at Adventures of Newlyweds! With something called Friday Letters!

Dear Chrysler Corp, Thank you for giving hubby and I a chance to go out on a date. The DSO Symphony of Brands had TONS of good food and music!

Dear Summer School, How dare you come up so fast upon me. I feel so unprepared!

Dear Mother Nature,  I love you so, except when it's nasty muggy at 7:30 a.m. I will be glad when they weather breaks for camping next week. 

Dear Laundry Fairy, Will you please visit my house soon? My laundry is all washed I just HATE to put it away! 

Dear Swimming Pool, Thank you finally clearing up! You are so clear and inviting now. Please stay that way while we are on vacation.

Dear Dewey & Fletcher (our furbabies), Please forgive us as we drop you off at Daycare for a week. We love you so but we can't take you on every camping trip! 

Dear 4th of July, Thank you for being on Wednesday this year! I gave us two weekends for parties!

Dear Kroger,  Thank you for being so patient and kind as they boy scouts from troop 308 turned in $400 from their bottle and can drive for new tents. 

Dear Caribou Coffee Barista, Thank you for making the best White Chocolate Frappcino's. 

Dear A/C, Why do you work so well downstairs but lousy upstairs? It's a 10 deg difference!

Dear Blog Friends, Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you guys! Have a great weekend!

Do you have any "letters" you'd like to write this week? Let's hear 'em!

International Blog Hop Day! TBA

What being a teacher means to me...........

I started teaching as a 2nd career. All through school I had always wanted to be a teacher but after graduation things didn't work out that way. I had a wonderful job in retail/food-service mgmt. It wasn't until I had my own son that they opportunity came to go to school and get a degree. I started with Early Childhood Education at the Community College level then went on to get my Bachelors in Elementary Education.

To be a teacher takes a special kind of person. We put the needs of our students before our own. We are a mother, father, nurse, friend, psychologist, life coach, book keeper, motivational speaker, manager, tie breaker,secretary and the list goes on............. We spend tons of our own money to make sure that our classrooms are just right for our students. We purchase school supplies so that everyone will have what they need. We put in hours before and after school. We create a love for learning. Nurture their social and emotional development. We are a positive influence in their lives. We create a consistent positive relationship with them guiding them to make the right decisions. 

Back from vacation, currently & More!!!

We we are back from vacation for a few days they we are off again on another camping trip. Our camping trip was great except half way through I got a horrible nasty heat rash and had to stay indoors! It was NOT fun! When we purchased our new to us pop-up camper my only demand was that we had air and it came in handy this past week. When it was upwards of 100 degrees mid week my camper was 85 and cool! My hubby and son enjoyed hanging by the fire and fishing. Nathan went on a massive turtle hunt he was determined to find a friend for our turtle Franklin! He wasn't as lucky as the other kids were :-) I am glad that he was branching out and finding friends at the campground!

Since I started my trek to becoming a teacher I almost completely stopped reading for pleasure. I always had textbooks and professional books to read. Well this summer I made a vow to myself that I was going to read for primarily pleasure. Right before school go out I read the 50 Shade of Grey Trilogy. Easy, controversial read! Over our first camping trip I was able to read 6 more books!!! 

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I'm hooking up with Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade  for the July Currently! 

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The one thing that I have found that I can't live without in the elementary classroom is.............. IXL Math!!! We are fortunate that our district has paid for a district wide license. The kids LOVE it!! 

It is skill specific from Pre-K through 8th Grade and they just added Algebra, and they will soon be adding geometry, trigonometry and other advanced topics.

This works well for all students in our math intervention because we can have them focus on skills at home that they we are working on in our math intervention groups. As teacher we get a weekly update on how much time each of our kids spend working on IXL too. 

Fun in Room 4B is ALSO having a giveaway. She's giving away the best pencil sharpener ever. Literally ever. Check it out!!

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3rd Grade Gridiron is having a awesome giveaway to help with the dreaded summer slide! Head on over and check it out!

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SOS Supply Has hit 100 Followers, Linky & More!!

There is an awesome giveaway over at Susan's Blog! Head on over and enter to win!

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I am finally linking up with Bonnie over at  Living a Wonderful Life. She is hosting her first ever Linky Party!! I have many obsessions lately! She get's excited over certain things things like Carolina Football and her dog!

Here are some things that I am obsessed with............

1. New Fonts!!! I am always on the look out for new fonts!! I have over 1000 on my home computer! 

2. Clip-art! I have been purchasing a ton of clip-art lately so I can use it in the things I make here in my classroom and will be making for my TPT store. 

3. Photography- This has always been important to me but I FINALLY want to learn how to get out of my comfort zone (auto mode) and shoot in manual mode! 

4. Teacher Blogs!! I have been blog-stalking for a long time now and I finally jumped in with 2 feet and started my own!

What are you obsessed with? There has to be something!!

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Hosted by Happy Go Lucky, I Heart Crafty Things,

Joy in the Jumble and Keeping Up With Kristi.

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June Currently, One Lovely Blog Award & Giveaways!

Sorry about the double post today! I can't believe that it's the beginning of the month and time to hook up with Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Today I received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Claire over at Live, Laugh, Love, Teach! 

Thank you very much Claire! 

I look forward to blogging everyday! I have found so many new classroom ideas, lesson ideas and freebies since I started blog stalking. I am grateful that everyone is willing to share their knowledge it has been big help being a new teacher! 

Ok, so here are the rules...

After you are given the "One Lovely Blog" Award:

1. Follow the blog who gave the award to you.

2. Mention that blogger that has given it to you in a blog post .

3. Pass on the award to 15 new blogs.

4. Make a list of the new blogs so others can check them out.

And so, the award goes to.....

1. Kathy @ First Grade a la Carte
2. Every New Beginning 
3. Kathleen @ Growing Kinders
4. Sharon @ Mrs. Winter's Pre-K Paradise
5. Natalie @ Teachery Tidbits
6. Sarah @ Sarah's First Grade Snippets
7. Ruth @ Teacher Park
8. Rachelle & Natalie @ What the Teacher Wants
9. Jennifer @ Empowering Little Learners
10. Beg, Borrow, and Teach!
11. Laura @ Love to Teach
12. Jena @ First Grade with Miss Snowden
13. Miss Klohn@ The Adventures of a 6th Grade Teacher
14. Kimberley @ First In Maine
15. Deb @ Oh My Little Classity Class
16. Miss Jessica @ A Turn to Learn

That was tough!  I hope that everyone I gave the award to doesn't already have it. I looked at all of the sidebars and didn't see the award! Most of the blogs are newer teaching blogs! I enjoy each and every one of them.......I hope you do too!

Here a a wonderful giveaway!

Jessica is giving away her whole TPT store.......head on over and enter for a chance to win!