My Favorite Things

Jodi at Fun In First is having a linky party. We are listing some of our favorite things. Since it's Oscar Night that will start off my list

1. Award shows---especially the Oscars! I live for this night!

2. Coffee- It's right up there with oxygen

3. My favorite tv shows: Grey's Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory, Friends, and General Hospital (yeah, I know...but I LOVE it!)

4. Post-Its- I am giddy in August when Costco has the 20 pack of post-its!

5. My happy places: Nordstroms and Barnes & Noble

6. Jeans- Do I really need to explain?

Now it's your turn! 

Behavior Management

 I know we're really only halfway through the school year, but I find myself already thinking about what I want to do differently next year. One thing that I want to continue with is my behavior management system. I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I got it from my girlfriend who has two young boys at a private school in Atlanta and this is they system used in their kinder and first grade. In the past I've done green, yellow, and red cards, but it wasn't effective for very long. I've done clipboards, and folder signing, but this is the only thing I've found that works! In this system certain behaviors have different colors. Students receive three warnings and then a card goes into their pocket.

I also have WOW cards for students when they do something really spectacular. Sometimes students get cards just for trying their best, sometimes it's for helping others, etc. (I also tell substitutes to hand out as many as they want) I wanted to keep things really simple, easy, and inexpensive. All of the cards are made from construction paper. WOW cards are index cards with a scratch and sniff sticker. Y'all know how they love the scratch and sniff stickers!

I bought a $7 plastic shoe rack from Target and numbered each pocket. (My students are numbered- makes everything so easy and then you can use them again the next year) Extra cards go in the top pockets. I stamp cards with the date and students have to get it signed by a parent and return it to school. I place the cards in the students file.  Students know exactly why they received a card due to its color. It's great documentation for behavior issues and no parent can say they didn't know those behaviors were going on in school because they had signed the card!

I place the information sheet in the daily binder. Behavior Card Information Sheet

Poetry Website

I came across a great website today and wanted to share the link First Grade Poetry Website
It has poems sorted by month. How great is that?!

Winter Game

 So I grew up in the Northwest so I don't get why all you Texans are wanting the hot weather already! It's 95+ for 10 months- let's enjoy the cold. I saw on the news that other parts of the nation are getting snow and that makes me a bit jealous so I made an Odd and Even Winter Game with a snow theme. I'm hoping it will bring another cold front so that I can continue to wear long sleeves and cute boots! Who's with me?!

Place Value Review Game

 I created a place value game for review with some of my students. It's just a simple match up game, but it's a lot less boring than what our textbook offers. Place Value Match Up

Fabulous in First Giveaway

Be sure to check out Michele Oakes blog at http://fabulousinfirst.blogspot.com for an awesome giveaway! And check out her TPT store too! Great literacy center stuff!

Valentine Gift

One of my parents is super crafty and made me this great banner!

I have an owl theme in my room and pink is my favorite color.  She sells them on Etsy. I have included the link! Whimsy World Designs

Help the Mailman

I had high hopes of doing lots of cute math games with a Valentine's Day theme, but I got sick at the end of the week and lost my oomf. However, I did create a mailman dice game for class. Help the Mailman

Meet the Teacher

My name is Jennifer and this is my fifth year teaching. I have taught first, third, and fourth grade. I love first grade! I work in a small school district that really promotes technology, which is my strong suit. I just started blogging, but I can already tell it's going to be an addiction.


Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                              
A:  I would be a children's book illustrator. I love to draw and incorporate my artistic talents into anything I can in class- especially on the whiteboard!


OR I would be on a Soap Opera. I know, so ridiculous. But I can't get enough of General Hospital! I should just be a character there so I can get the scoop early. 
Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                     
A:  I love to read! And I love to shop--does that count as a hobby? The shoe section of Nordstroms is my happy place. I especially love online shopping. If I ever win the lottery I'll spend it all in one night at Revolve Clothing, Saks, and Nordstroms!                                                                   

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                      
A:  At one point I wanted to be a clown....What was I thinking? But I thought my third grade teacher Mrs. Williams walked on water. After that I wanted to be a teacher.
    
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                   
 A: Queso and chips. I love anything I can dip a cracker or chip into. If only cheese burned fat....

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                        
 A: Spiders and snakes. I HATE spiders. There was a HUMONGOUS spider hanging from my recycle bin in my garage. I saw it just before my hand lifted the lid and I screamed so loud I'm surprised my neighbors didn't call 911.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                                    
 A: Seattle, Washington. Love it there! We vacation there every year. Water, the smell of trees, rain, and mountains. LOVE IT 
                                                          
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                   
A:  Man---I have no idea! I'll have to think on this one.

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                    
A:  Honesty and loyalty. The truth isn't always pretty, but tell it anyway. 

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                         
A: My creativity I think...     

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                                
A:  I would love to have lunch with J.K. Rowling!  I want to pick her brain! 

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

I met my boyfriend at the Phoenix airport. At the time I was living in Texas and he was living in California. He was on the standby list for my flight. We got to talking and he gave me his business card, and here we are five years later...

Super Bowl Sunday

I've spent a good chunk of my day trying to set up my blog. I wish I would have done this on Friday when we had a snow day! I'm so hooked! I just found April Showers Blog Design and she offers online classes to teach you how to design your own blog. After the troubles I had today I may have to sign up for one of her workshops.