Holy cow. It's been a L...O...N...G time since I last blogged. Like five years long. A lot has happened in the past five years. Steve and I went from working in the same district to new roles in new (separate) districts.

He is currently the Literacy Coordinator and making some major headway for his school district. Steve was recently given a huge shout-out from the International Dyslexia Association Central Ohio and spoke to the Ohio School Board (hour 1/minute 33). Between taking care of his three boys and texting me to brag about his days off...

He's pretty busy.

Me? Well, I have taken a little hiatus from website work, blogging, and social media for the past few years. Landing a new role in a new district was a challenge. Although it is in close proximity to my previous district, they couldn't be more different! After settling into my job, I purchased a house...and quickly jumped into my new roles as a plumber, landscaper, roofer, painter, full-time leaf raker, and wanna-be designer. During my free time, I have also tried to focus on myself...eating better and working out everyday. Blah, blah, blah.

Just recently I realized how much I miss you all and sharing classroom ideas & strategies. So, here I am. Back at it again. Today my goal is to get all of my social media icons back up and working. In the meantime, here are other ways to stalk me in my classroom:

• Facebook 
• Twitter
• Instagram 

Stay warm, friends!

Still Alive!

It's been a few months since I've posted…Nothing but the typical "school has been keeping me busy" excuse! And again, I'm sorry. Now that school is out, I plan on posting some of the things I've created over the past few months and hopefully you will forgive me!

About a month ago, I went to a baby shower for one of my bestest friends (who happens to also be a teacher). In lieu of baby cards, we were asked to help jump-start Baby P's Library with a book. Well, I wasn't ok with just "a book". I decided that I needed to make a "Complete Reading Kit"…making sure that I had a book for each big idea in reading (phonemic awareness, alphabetic principle, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). 

I wrapped each book with a ribbon and used a clip to hold the little card for each book…with a few inside jokes that will make no sense to you! 

Phonemic Awareness

Alphabetic Principle

Fluency

Vocabulary

Comprehension

And the finished product...

Not Sure What To Call This Post

If you've been a frequent visitor of the blog, you might just notice a little change. Well, it's actually a big change! I'm sure you're disappointed that you won't be seeing this mug on the opening screen anymore...

Our designer, Ainsley thought we'd get more followers if we took it off our blog. She's probably right. For those of you who are interested, you can head over to her blog to see her other masterpieces...Or if you are looking for a designer, she's your girl.

Check out her blog!

I haven't been able to post for the past few weeks while she was making changes so this post is going to be rather random! Let's see...

A few weeks ago I made a "Hard Day Survival Kit" for a first-year teacher that I've been mentoring...I pulled some items together that I had {laying around} in my classroom and made something that looked like this:

I took an empty container and placed this card in it, along with a bear, some hand sanitizer, a candle, some M&Ms, and some stickers...I could kick myself for not taking a pic of the basket...But I'll leave you with a printable in case you'd like to pass it along to a colleague who's having a rough day {or week, or month, or year!}

A few days ago I came across quite possible one of the best apps I've ever seen! It's a classroom library organizational app that allows you to keep track of all the books you own by simply scanning the ISBN bar code. Genius! I'm not sure how many times a teacher has come up to me asking me if I had a specific book...My response is usually something like, "Ummm, I'm not sure. What does the cover look like?"

It's also got a neat feature where you can have students "check out" books to take home and it will send them e-mail reminders when it's due. My goal is to have all of my books scanned by spring break, but I'm sure I'll still be working on this over summer vacation!

Speaking of apps, Steve and I are working on creating an app that looks very similar to our Advanced Code Flash Cards. We are about 85% of the way...be sure to check back soon for the finished product.

Last, but not least...Some readers have been asking to see my sub plans for when I'm out. This year has been nice because when I'm out, I don't have to get plans ready. {Huge benefit of not having a regular ed classroom!} So here are my sub plans from last year when I taught first grade. I tried to keep them as simple as possible so that my super-fantastic teammates could fill them out if there was an emergency.  Most of the time I would type everything in and send them to the sub before I was out.

That's it for now. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Target Finds!

As I walked past the "School Supplies" section at Target, I realized this is the first year I won't have to stalk up on crayons, notebooks, glue sticks, pencils, and dollar bin plastic organizational containers...Saving money should make me happy, right? 


Well, apparently the "Dorm Life" section is my new favorite location. I found some {exciting} finds I can't wait to use even though I'm not heading back to college. Although my camera-taking abilities are lacking, hopefully you'll see why I'm so excited.


I found some lights that not only can be plugged into a USB port, but they have letters that can be changed throughout the year. I made mine so that it says, "WE LOVE READING". 

I'm always on the look-out for new tools to help teach comprehension. I'm thinking this dry-erase bubble will be perfect when I introduce making connections and mental images! What's even more exciting...it lights up! Kids will love it.

My schools' Core Values (The Five C's) are going to be prominent fixtures in my classroom. I found these super-cheap black picture frames and I'm quite please with how they turned out!

That's all for now...I'd love to hear any back to school finds you've located! :)

I'm Sorry...

I know, I know! You are probably thinking something along the lines of...

It's been a LONG time since I've posted. I could whip up a list of a bazillion reasons why I've disappeared, but I'll save you time...I hope this cute kitten will make up for my slacking.

Please take this as my sincere apology for a month of nothing. I promise you, Steve and I have been back to work this summer working on the website...and just to prove it to you, here's a pic of him cluttering up my desk.

I finished up the 2011-2012 school year with some {good} news that next year I'll be leaving the classroom and sliding in to a K-2 Reading Intervention position. I'm pretty super-pumped about it...minus the fact that I have about 200 boxes of math manipulatives that I need to find a home for...I figured I throw some downloads at you this summer, seeing is how I'm not sure I'm going to have many in the upcoming school year.


Here's one that my kids always love (and I'm not really sure why?)...I printed a few sets of Domino Sorting Mats on different colored card stock so they could sort dominoes by their odd and even numbers. For struggling mathematicians, it's helpful to have them refer to anchor charts in the classroom!  

Even & Odd Domino Sort Freebie

I'll be back later this week with more! Bible.

Pinning

We're breaking the "Blogger Rules" to post a 2nd time today! My bad. There's a new issue going around with Pinterest because of a line in their terms that says you agree to only pin your OWN images or those images you've been given permission to pin. Teacher bloggers are granting permission through their blogs and the red pin button you know see over on the left side of our page. You can find out more by clicking the button.  

We think Pinterst is a great way to share products, freebies, and ideas. Please feel free to pin directly from our blog 'til your hearts content...But please remember to site the original source! :)

Tag, You're It!

I'm a little behind on this...Kim from The Teacher's Lane, Jessica from Apples and Paper, and Joanna from First Grade Fanatic tagged me a few {weeks} ago...I'm not going to officially tag anyone in this post, but feel free to respond to my questions if you wish! :)


So here are the rules:

1. You must post the rules.

2. Post 12 fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post & then create 12 new questions for the people you tagged.

4. Tag 12 people and link them on your post.

5. Let them know you've tagged them!

Ok, 12 random facts...Let's see here...

1. I know a lot of random facts that will probably get me no where in life, but maybe one day being runner-up on Jeopardy. I can name all of the presidents in order they served, I have the periodic chart of elements memorized, and I know all of my locker combinations from 6-12th grade, including my gym lockers!

2. I love to annoy my co-workers by playing "Would You Rather" and by daring them to do miscellaneous 'things' for my one month's salary.   

3. My real name is Katie. It's not Kate, Katherine, Katelyn, or Katrina. It's just Katie! My mom always wanted to have a girl and name her 'Katie Lynn' but her college friends beat her to it. Three of her friends named their daughters 'Katie Lynn' but each with a different spelling before I was born.

4. I DO NOT like being called 'Kate'.    

5. I don't like even numbers. So is it odd that I'm writing this on #4? My soccer and cross country jerseys always had to be odd numbers and when I go to buy a house, the house number will be a deciding factor!

6. My favorite 80's movie of all time is "Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon". No one understands it...But how could a movie with Rudy Huxtable and El De Barge not be a fav????

7. My friend got me hooked on hot yoga. At first I thought it was redonkulous, but now I look forward to it every Tuesday and Thursday night.  

8. I have a slight obsession with organization.  

9. My teeth were what I'd call a 'hot mess' when I was younger. I had braces three times and I have 4 fake teeth. They are wired together which makes it a pain to floss, but it's kinda funny when I set off the metal detectors at the airport.

10. I love quoting movies. I do it all the time. This also annoys my co-workers.

11. I still kick it old school with VHS. I have some tapes that I just can't seem to get rid of...DVDs just don't do Caddyshack and Christmas Vacation justice!

12. One more...ahhh. Ummm, I'm drawing a blank here. I'll let Steve think of something for #12.   

OK, HERE ARE A FEW QUESTIONS FROM KIM:

1.  How does your school handle report card/interims?
Well, it's nothing fancy or elaborate, we just send them home in an envelope and the parents sign the outside and keep the report cards.

2.  What's your current favorite song? 
Ummm...without question my favorite song is "Missed the Boat" by Modest Mouse! It's been my fav for quite some time. In my opinion, it's their undisputed masterpiece.

3.  Pancakes or French toast? Sausage or bacon? 
I'm picky about some foods! I prefer my pancakes lightly glazed with butter and cinnamon sprinkled on top...with a side order of bacon.

4.  Are you planning a trip for spring break? 

Nope...Saving my vaca for the summer...To my fav place, NYC! 

5.  What's your favorite subject to teach?
This year I am all about teaching comprehension, geometry, and physics.

6. Have you ever had a student teacher? Did you enjoy it?
I am going to give Diana a big shout out here! She was with me last year for her methods classes and I was planning on having her this year for student teaching, but that didn't happen. I was monster sad. She is amaze-balls.

7. What is your school mascot? 
"Sparky" the STEMbot

8. What's your best tip for organizing your time while at school?
I always complete the many {things} at school that I can't take home with me and I get to school before there's a copier/laminator line!

9. Do you wear a lot of jewelry or very little? 

A girl can never have too much bling.

10. What's the last movie you saw in the theater? 

It's been so long I don't even remember????

11. If you could live in a past time era, which one would you choose?
I'm kinda partial to the 80's {even though I already lived in it}. I love me some jelly shoes and slap bracelets.

12. What is your favorite subject to teach?

I think I already answered that????

HERE ARE QUESTIONS FROM JESSICA:

1.If you could meet anyone in the world, living or dead who would it be? 

I'm going to see if Mr. Schottner reads my posts and respond with Ronald Reagan.

2. If you weren’t teaching what would you be doing?

I originally was planning on going to Michigan State to pursue a career in some type of art and design {I wasn't sure at the time}. I often think about it now...

3.What was your favorite thing about school when you were a student? 
Oh well, I was a big nerd. I pretty much loved everything about school until I got to middle school. I did always HEART getting new school supplies and writing my name on them...Organizing all my color-coded binders. 

4. What do you wish you were better at?

I've always wanted to be a procrastinator. I'm jealous when people can work under pressure and not get stressed. 

5. What is your favorite store to shop at? 

Nordstrom, Anthropologie, West Elm, Banana Republic, & Loft.

6. What is two things you need for your dream classroom?

More space and more technology!

7. Where do you want to travel to?

I'd have to say that anywhere NOT in Ohio would be fantastic.

8. Favorite TV show? 

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Everybody Loves Raymond, Law and Order Reruns, Bones, and just about anything on E!

9. What is your least favorite chores? 

Cleaning my bathroom, cleaning my bathroom, and cleaning my bathroom.

10.Would you rather be an actor, singer, or athlete? 

Athlete

11.Who or what inspires you?

I'm usually inspired by things that I'm not yet able to do. 

12.What’s your favorite children’s book? 

"City Dog, Country Frog" by Mo Williems. 


OK, HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS:


1. Would you rather hit every red light for the rest of your life or have a footlong eyelash that you could never pluck?


2. Did you ever own an Ace of Base CD?


3. How do you feel about global warming?


4. What is the best advice you've ever received?


5. What is the best advice you've ever given?


6. You are walking on your way to school. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your principal has told you that if you are late one more time s/he will not sign your paperwork for a continuing contract. What would you do?


7. What is the most unusual think you know how to do?


8. Corey Haim or Corey Feldman?


9. Do you parallel park or drive around the corner?


10. If you had to change your first name, what would it be?


11. What is the most played song on your iPod?


12. Do you drink soda or pop?

Blog Meet Up

I woke up this morning and immediately thought about what I was going to write in this post...but I noticed that Amanda already beat me to it! Amanda's blog was one of the first blogs I began to follow...And one of the reasons why we started one...So it might explain why I felt like I was back in 2nd Grade waiting for the New Kids on the Block to take stage at the Ohio State Fair when I saw my name on her blog! (Yes, I did scan the cover of my cassette tape for this pic!)

  
You see, we had a mini Ohio meet-up yesterday (which was also my very first blogger get-together) and spent the afternoon with Kim from The Teacher Lane, Sarah from Sweet Times in 2nd Grade, and Amanda (who doesn't have a blog, but was in awe of all the technology she incorporates into her kindergarten classroom). I was apprehensive at first, but after 3 hours of talking I feel like I now have 4 new friends and some more blogs to stalk! (I stole this picture from Amanda).

Perhaps now I will go to the meet up this coming weekend in Cincinnati?

We're Back!

It probably seems like we've been hiding...

And although I wish I could have spent the last two weeks laying on my couch...that hasn't been the case! We've been working on a new page on our reading website, ReadingResource.net, which has taken up quite a bit of time.

You see, I have this binder (which pretty much equates to being my Bible) that I've been meaning to sort through. It weighs about 5 pounds and after 8 years of teaching I've decided I don't want to lug it around and I don't want it taking up all the space on my desk...So I'm throwing out the the junk and uploading the good stuff!

Steve & I are creating a page, Reading Worksheets, that will have all of these activities by sound. Hopefully you'll find it a helpful resource! Be sure to keep checking for new updates to this page!

On another note, this Saturday I will be meeting with some bloggers in Ohio. It's my first blog-meeting and I'm pretty excited. You've probably seen some of these names before...but it you haven't, head on over and check out their blogs.

Amanda from One Extra Degree

Kim from The Teacher Lane and It's a Crafty Life

Sarah from Sweet Times in 2nd Grade

Lisa from Stories from Second Grade

Printing & Award

For those of you who are having a tricky time printing our downloads...Make sure after you click on our link, you click the "Download" button in the right-hand corner. It should work! (I tried it on three different computers to make sure!)

DeAnne at First Grade and Fabulous and Jessica at Apples and Paper nominated us with the Versatile Blogger Award! Big, big thanks! I promise I will respond to the award here in a few days. Maybe I'll even get Steve to write the post!