Giveaway! Expo Markers at The Teaching Thief

The Teaching Thief is having a giveaway of a huge pack of expo markers. I never get to buy those huge packs because of the price... but I always stand there eyeballing them and hoping a pack will just show up from the Expo Fairy... right, sometimes I live in a fantasy world!

Giveway, Blogging in the nick of time, Teacher Blog I Follow

There is a CRAZY COOL multi-giveaway

Mrs Albanese's Class

I just found the blog and am super psyched to check more of it out... stayed tuned for more info... (I had to post this before midnight!)


UPDATED...

Here are some posts I like

Center vs Centre (I wonder how long of reading it before I noticed? Reminds me of the printout that was circulating a few years ago about as long as all the letters are there your brain can read it because do not read letters independently)

Word Posters (I wish we could talk about/celebrate holidays, but in my school we do not for many reasons)

Check out her blog!

Blog Giveaway!

Kelly's Avenue Designs is hosting a blog giveaway.

Since I am in no ways an expert in this realm of blogging and blog design and such, from what I can gather it is a $40 value. She has some items in her gallery, which look so much better than the blogger basics!


Pretty cool if I do say so myself. Check it out!

Blog Hoppin'

Tell us a little something about you...

I am a Kindergarten Teacher, a grad student, a daughter, a sister, a godmother and more!

I am in a graduate program for Special Education and Teaching English Language Learners. I went straight through summers and breaks from 9/09 to 5/11. I had to take the summer off to deal with a medical mystery that ended in surgery and am scheduled to go back in Sept. I don't want to. I forgot what free time was and now I don't want to give it up!!! 1 more year, I can do it!!!

Randomness:
*I love crafting, which I forgot during grad school.
*I live with my parents (see more under "You might not know"
*I have two black cats who drive me bonkers and I am allergic to (I knew that when I got them)
*I am allergic to EVERYTHING it seems like. It actually makes my students more aware of other's allergies and to look out for others.
*I am no good at blogging! I am working on it.
*I am the oldest of 4 kids

How long have you been teaching?

I have been teaching for a paycheck for over 6 years and at the same school for about five years (9/27/11, 5 year anniversary). My first year I taught preschool at a private daycare then took a position as a lead preschool teacher in a classroom with two other teachers at a non-profit agency for at-risk and low-income families. After 9 months there (we are year round) the kindergarten teacher retired, much to my excitement. I always wanted to teach kindergarten!!!!
I have been the lead kindergarten teacher for 4 years and have worked with another teacher for 4.5 years. Together we have gone through over 100 students and three other teachers (oops).



You might not know...

*I had my gallbladder out last month!
*I was engaged but ended a 5-year relationship when he decided he didn't want children. I had to move back in with my parents to manage finances and grad school.
*I have two blogs! Where's My Soda?
*This is my first time linking


What are you looking most forward to this school year?

A fresh start, 20 new students, 3 old (I have pre-kinders if I have open slots) and a new co-teacher. Also, my teacher partner of 4.5 years is having a baby in October!


What do you need to improve?

I want to work on making circle/calendar time more beneficial to the students.
I want to manage my time and commitments better.


What teaching supplies can you *not* live without?

hmmm, notebooks and pencils, dry erase boards

Giveaway & A Teacher Blog I follow

A Place Called Kindergarten

I love the names of other Kinder/teacher blogs and I love seeing what others are doing in their kinder-world

Some of my favorite posts
Where do readers read?
Word Walls
(love the printable environmental print!)
Printable Pencil Grip Assessment

Mrs. Bell does a great job with this site!

A Place Called Kindergarten has a great Seuss giveaway right now with Pink Daisys.

I love Seuss!!!

Pintrest

New addiction!  But better than the GAZILLION bookmarks I have.  These Pintrest People are GENIUS!
I start with a general board, such as "Things I Want to Make" and soon I have to break it up into segments such as "Bambinos" and "Ninos".  I am actually hoping to transfer all my bookmarks to Pintrest, but then I got nervous, what if Pintrest doesn't last????  But seeing how it comes up ALL over the billion blogs I follow, it should be safe...





(I don't want to tell you how many times it took me to get that to work, such a noob I am)

SummerTime

Most of the Kindergarten teachers are getting ready for summer vacation, a few weeks off to recoup from a long year and to dream up big plans for the new one.

Not me!
My school is a year round program, so my students going off to first grade can stay up until the day before first grade starts. The agency I work for then offers afterschool care (sometimes I get to peek in on my old students). Some will leave before then, most are staying right up until Aug 29th.

I do wish we had at least a few days between the new kids come, but as soon as one kid leaves, a new one moves up from a preschool room. It is a big deal to move to my room, very exciting for everyone.

So I am trying to prep for Sept while:
-Still having a full class
-getting a new "co-teacher"
-My right hand gal being 6 months pregnant
-having no access to our playground
-preparing for surgery!

I'm just a wee bit stressed