Linky 2014 Fun and New Year Countdown Freebie!

I am linking up with Blog Hoppin for a New Years 2014 celebration!

Day 1 - Fun and Family
Ever since I got hired as a teacher, I told myself that would give it my all!  From my first day until now, I have always tried to improve and find new ways to make teaching fun for myself and my students. So as you can imagine, I haven't really been doing such a great job with spending time with my family since I'm always pretty much working.

This year I told my husband that it will the year of 'Adventure'  or as my husband would say 'It's Adventure Time!'  

We will try to go out more and get to experience all the wonderful things that I haven't done but have always wanted to do.  Now that we were able to get to see how Hawaii is like, I would like to travel to more places.  

I have always wanted to learn how to snowboard!!  Just thinking about it gives me a rush of excitement, so I hope get to experience that with my hubby this year.  I would love to do date night, family night, and friend's night to get to spend time with everyone that I care for.

And last but not least, Sunny Days in Second Grade had a great idea of doing the 'One Little Word' link.  I love the idea and my OLW is 'happiness.' 

I am truly going to try this year to focus on all the 'good' that has happened in my life.  Sometimes when you experience so many obstacles that are hard to take in, it is so hard to think positive about things.  I think that this little word will help me think more of what I want in life and that is to be happy.  Positive vibes to everyone!:) 

To celebrate the new year, I have a freebie just for you! 

 The students cut and glue the numbers backwards from 10-1.

Click here to download the file...3..2..1..Happy New Year Everyone!!:)

13 in 13 Linky Party

I'm in shock that this year '2013' will be over in 2 days!!  This year has gone by too quick for me, that I've decided to join in the fun and link up with Miss Kindergarten, A Teeny Tiny Teacher, and Dragonflies for an end of the Year Linky Party!  

This is my first time ever linking myself and I'm going to share my most favorite memories during 2013....here I go...;)

{1} In April I got hired at a school closer to home.  I was thrilled and couldn't wait for the new change!  I was filled with both happiness and sadness since I would truly miss my friends at my old school but I'm happy to make new friends at my new school.  

{2} In May I decided to do my own 'Water Day' for the kids.  It was a day filled with lots of fun and let me tell you they were very excited to get the teacher wet and I was soaked from head to toe!

{3} Toward the end of May we were getting ready for our kinder end of the year celebration.  I was blessed with such wonderful parents that year, who wanted to help with getting everything ready for their child's kinder graduation.  We went all out and they all helped make cute caps and gowns for the whole class.  I still miss them all very much but plan to visit my kiddos when I am on my second track break.

{4} In June I decided that it was time for me to learn how to create a blog!  It was hard at first to figure it out but now I can't stop blogging...so I'm very glad that I did.  

{5} In June, I also convinced my husband for us to go to San Diego and celebrate our birthdays there.  Surprisingly we are two days apart and we were able to enjoy a wonderful weekend by the beach, and we went to Sea World for my birthday.  We stood in line for 2 hours just to see the Madagascar Show, lol.  It will be a birthday that we will always remember!

{6} In July, I told my good friend Sweetp that I wanted to do a Bridal Shower for her.  It was so much fun looking for ideas for a Bridal Shower Tea Party.  It was my first time hosting one and doing DIY invitations and decorations.  At that time Pinterest was where I was for ideas!

{7} In August, I opened up my TpT store and let me tell you it was a true accomplishment for me this year!  I never thought that I would have my own spot on TpT, especially since I'm the type of person that worries a lot and over thinks every little thing that I do...but I'm so glad that I pushed myself to do it!

{8} In August my husband and I celebrated our first year wedding anniversary.  We have been together for 10 years, but it was our first year as a married couple and he surprised me with our wedding flowers.  I am so blessed to have him in my life!

{9} The weekend before school started, I lost my dog Rocky (chihuahua) whom I've had for 12 years.  He got out of the backyard and we weren't able to find him anywhere in our neighborhood.  It was a true heart break and I was devastated that he was gone.  It's still a hard topic for me to talk about, but I will always have him in my heart and still hope and pray that one day someone will return him back.

{10} In October we went to Hawaii for the first time!  It was amazing to get to be there for a week and also be part of our friends wedding.  We stayed at the Aulani and let me tell you it was beautiful and a relaxing get away 'honey moon!!'  We had a great time!

{11} On October 26th I adopted 'Canelo!'  I couldn't stop thinking of Rocky and kept going every week to the animal shelters to see if he was there.  When I saw Canelo's post on the Animal Foundation...I just had to meet him.  The funny thing about it, is that the post mentioned that he was a Chihuahua and when we went to see him...he was an Italian Greyhound...but that's okay because I feel in love with him instantly.  I'm very blessed to have him in my life!

{12} In November I finally purchased my very own Silhouette Cameo!  They were having a special holiday bundle and I was able to buy one for myself and I also got one for one of my good friends.  She is coming tomorrow so that we can have a craft day!  Yippy!!  So excited to get to use it!

{13} In December my husband helped me put up all the decorations for Christmas!  I just love, love, love every little thing about the holidays in December and this month truly makes me the most happiest!  I think its because it was my mom's favorite holiday and even though she is not her with us anymore.  I will always remember the wonderful memories that we had with her!

2013 is a year to remember!:)

Roll a Sight Word Game (Editable) and a Freebie!!

I am linking up with Mommy & Me Creations for a Linky Party!  Click on the link to find other wonderful blogs who have joined in the fun!!

I don't know about you but I'm always looking for sight word games for my literacy centers.  

I have used a very simple sight word graph that I made when I was teaching first grade.  I called it the back then 'The Funny Word Graph' because at that time I was introducing the sight words as funny words...yeah I know, very cheesy but it worked at that time.  

Here is a picture of what the graph looked like.  We even, sang a song for the 'Funny Words'...it was more like a chant but it helped my first graders learned the sight words.  

Now in kindergarten I have been using 'Rainbow Words,' and it's a sight word club that I've been using for the past 4 years.

Here is a snap shot of how my kiddos are doing so far with the rainbow words and let me tell you, some are learning them quite fast, which is awesome!:)

So, anywhoo back to the whole sight word games.  My old funny word graph just wasn't cutting it with my kindergarteners, I had to jazz it up and make it to their liking.  These kids love seeing clipart and I tried to make one that we could use every month.  That's where I ended up making the 'Roll a Sight Word Games,' so that we could use it for the whole school year!

I made a few for my kiddos to use for the months of October, November, and December.  Now that I'm on winter break, I was able to make the rest of the 'Roll a Sight Word Games' for the rest of the months. 

I decided to make the file editable for others to use them to their liking.

It's really easy, all you have to do is type the words that you would like for your students to practice in the graph and the cubes.   

I also made cards for those who have the clear pocket dice!  I have a few myself, so I'll probably be using a mix of both.

Let me tell you, I had so much fun making these and couldn't help myself and made a lot!  I want to add more themes, but my puppy Canelo keeps wanting my attention...so I had to take breaks here and there to spend time with him. Here's a pic of him...awww!

He's such a cutie pie, so I took him for a nice walk and he loves to play with his toys...all I hear is the squeeking of his stuffed toys while I'm on the computer, lol.   

You can check out the sight word games at my TpT store.  I feel like I've been talking none stop on this post, so I will end this post with a freebie.  

Click here for the Polar Bear Roll a Sight Word Game!  

Oh and just for fun I've joined up with Jennifer at Simply Kinder on her teaching blog linky party.  It's a great way to find more teaching blogs and resources!

Enjoy, I must go back and spend time with my puppy who is craving all my attention, lol!:)

Mystery Readers and a Freebie!!

Why, hello everyone!!  You would think that because I am on winter break, that I would be enjoying my time away from work....yet here I am thinking and thinking about work at home.  So I've been on the computer, updating a few files for the past few days and oh my, am I lacking in a bit of sleep because of it, lol.

Anywhoo, one of my favorite things that I have enjoyed doing in my classroom is having a 'Mystery Reader!'  Have you heard of it, have you tried it, or would like to try it next year in 2014?  Well if you haven't, let me tell you a bit more about it.  

I learned about it 5 years ago as I was doing what I am doing now...browsing the internet.  It's a fun way to get parent involvement into your classroom and plus it's quite a thrill...well for the students of course.;) Especially for those students who get to find out that the mystery reader is someone that they know! 

Here are a few pictures of some families who volunteered to be a 'Mystery Reader' for our class and I just had to take some snap shots of them in action to put in their child's memory book.

Well of course I had to update some of my files, make it look more cute and add a few more things that I've been wanting to add to it.  I'm planning to send out the parent letter when we return back to school after winter break so that we can begin our 'Mystery Reader' journey, heehee.

Here are a few snap shots of what I've included in my  'Mystery Reader' packet that you can find at my TpT store.  

I made a mystery reader schedule for each month, this will help me keep it organized!

I've made a coloring page for my kindergartners to color and give the mystery reader as a special thank you for stopping by!

Can't wait to print this door poster to put on my door, so that our guest will knock before opening the door to give us some time to get ready!

We have been making a 'Student of the Week' book for all of our friends who have been selected to be the 'Owl of the Week.'  I thought, why not make a book for our 'Mystery Reader' too!  I made two different templates, one that will be super easy for my kiddos to use and an advanced one for those who know how to write.

Of course we have to have a class book!  Can't go wrong with having one!!  We have been trying to make a class book each month to add to our library center.  I think this one will be a big hit!:)

There is much more in the packet, if you are interested please make sure to stop by my TpT store.  I have it on sale and marked down 20% from Dec. 29-Dec. 31st.  I hope you like them as much as I do!  Here is a freebie just for you!  Click here to get the coloring pages.  Enjoy!:)