Where ????

Hey,
Have ya been wondering where I was; did you miss me? Well, school started for me on August 19th and it has been CRAZZZY and HOT. Last two days we have had to take a two hour early release. We do not have air conditioning in the school. It can get over 100 degrees in those classrooms. I was apprehensive about starting back but now that it has been almost two weeks, I am a lot better; did not know where I was going to be or what I was going to be doing. Plus, I just do not like getting up at 6 am--I am not a morning person HAHA. I have completed several games so I need to upload those in a few days. They are cute I must say. Until then--

Toodles,

New Changes to the Blog

Hey there,

I have been learning all kinds of new things thanks to so many tutorials that I found. It has helped me tremendously from changing the header to little things like my signature and the "You Might Like This" section at the bottom of the post. It probably is still not professional looking as I would like but I am getting there from my humble beginnings not too long ago. Still, maybe I do not want it to look too professional because really, would that be me--I don't think so.

This weekend I learned how to add a different background to the blog using Pixlr. This program is hard but with practice it is so bad. I also learned how to do a custom header. I need this because of my logo. This was thanks to Megan at I Teach What's Your Superpower.

Then I found another blog with the help from Michelle at the 3AM Teacher that has helped me center the header, put the "you might like" section, a signature. That site is The Cutest Blog on the Block. They have everything you could image to help you from headers, backgrounds, accessories, and even tutorials. I was just snooping and found the tutorials.

This is my new header by the way.

I still have a lot to learn. I want to add buttons next for facebook and email. I think I am doing okay but it is slow going. I think it is all the codes that you have to know and where to put them.

Toodles,

New Printable: Subtract-a-Duck (Duck Dynasty)

I saw these graphics and had to get them and make something. My husband and I love Duck Dynasty and everybody in the show. I know there are fans out there same as us. So this printable was born.

 Subtract-a-Duck

Here is an example of one of the pages (16 sets of cards in all) and the recording sheet.

It is on sale until the 18th at Teacher's Notebook. So go check it out!!

Toodles,
Melissa

Birthday Posters - Owl Theme

Hey there!

I finally finished this birthday poster printable. Wow, it took me over two weeks to finish. I think I was too picky to get just the right owl to go with the right month plus all the other elements. Here is a closer look.

It is in either shop so you can pick you favorite shop to go to.

Here are a few of the pages. There is, of course, one for each month. There are two more views in the shops-October and July. As you can see the owl is different for each month as well as the frame. You can laminate these and keep them from year to year.

Here are the owls. There is another page to these. Look on TpT for the other set. As you can see the owls have the month and a line where you can put the day. Just write their name somewhere on the owl. You can print as many as you need of these owls for each month.

Here is an example of what it will look like when you use it. Now, I made my poster smaller because any bigger and it would not take it so you can fit more owls on the poster than just three. I made it so you could see what it looked like in use.

Any questions, feedback, or comments just send me an email at mizemelissa@gmail.com

Toodles,
Melissa

Time for School Printable

Hey there!!

I just finished another printable and I must say this one is cute. It is about telling time to the hour and half hour with a back to school theme and apples. I love apples. In fact, my kitchen has apples.

Time for School

With this one I also added the words to the apples so that the children can see what it looks like written in words. These apples are from Ashley Hughes graphics. I just love her stuff especially these apples. This one was time consuming because I had to put the hands on the clocks. Just click on the title and it will take you to the shop for you to look at. Thanks!!

Toodles,

Melissa

Blooming Phoneme Segmentation Printable

Hey there!!
I have made a few printables. One is about phoneme segmentation. This is an important part of learning how to read. Children need to be able to hear each and every sound or phoneme of the written word.

Also, if you use DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills), this is perfect practice for the section on phonemic segmentation.

It includes a fun mat, 26 letters and I have colored coded these by using blue for vowels and red for consonants, and 24 CVC pictures.

Blooming Phoneme Segmentation

This reminds me--our daughter, when she was little had a miniature hamster and she named her DIBELS. When I was coordinator of our Reading program, I used DIBELS on each and every kindergartner. That was about 100 DIBELS twice a year. OUCH!! But I loved it. She would hear me talk about DIBELS and loved the name I guess. 

Anyway, go click on the link. It will take you directly to the shop. 

Toodles,

Melissa

Fifth Grade Common Core Workbook

I am excited to announce the release of the Fifth Grade Common Core Workbook. This workbook includes over 900 pages of Worksheets, Activity Centers, and Posters that teach all the Fifth Grade English Language Arts Common Core Standards and all the Fifth Grade Mathematics Common Core Standards!

This is the sixth one in the series. They have kindergarten through fourth grade. I have them and they are great. They take each standard and then construct an activity or worksheet around that standard. They also have posters to go along with each standard. There is a lot of work that goes into creating one of this wonderful workbooks.

Toodles,
Melissa

New Idea

While redoing the printables, I came upon a realization that maybe some of you think that you need to be right with the child while they are completing the printables to make sure they are getting it right. While that may be true if you are a tutor-these printable are great for that, I have added directions to make them more user friendly for when the children are in centers. I added this to a lot of them--

SELF CHECKING: Put a matching sticker on the backs of the pieces that go together.  When the child is finished, have them turn over the cards to see if the stickers match.

A lot probably already knew this but just in case I added it to the printables and the descriptions. This way the students can be their own teacher. I think they would rather fancy that--don't you??

Also, most of the games can be used for assessment purposes. I think that is a great feature, also.

Toodles,

Melissa

A Printable Overhaul - Part Four

Are you still with me?? Are you still there?? Good!! This is the last one--I think!! For now, anyway. These are the new ones that I added. Fresh off the press so to speak.

I love the last two. A few, like Jot Down Some Subtraction Facts, Find the Missing Block, and Count the Candles are version two of the originals. Baskets, Our Shop, and Which Barn are brand spanking new.

I hope that you loved the redos and the mini introductions of everything. Glad that you stayed.

Toodles,
Melissa

A Printable Overhaul - Part Three

Hey there--still with me?  Good. Here are the free ones. Yes, they are still free but new covers.

 I just love the cover of this one!!

WAIT--there is more!!

Toodles,
Melissa

A Printable Overhaul - Part Two

Glad to have you back!!  Here is part two. These printables got the most overhaul of all--new covers and in some cases new graphics inside. Here is a sneak peak of the new covers. You will have to go to TpT for a look at the insides.

 This one received a complete redo. New graphics for the butterflies.

 This one received a complete redo also. New graphics for the hearts

 New graphics were added.

This one was a complete redo including the fonts and a new name.

 Isn't the bear the cutest???

 Three new mats were added

 New name and new cover!!

 New name, new cover, and new graphics.

  

Still more to come so stay tuned!!

Toodles,

Melissa

A Printable Overhaul

Greetings to all of you,

Early this morning, I upload all of my new printables as well as the new covers to the old ones. It was a major undertaking to say the least. I updated TpT but Teacher's Notebook is down for the moment so when they are back up and running I will do the same over there. As for Etsy, I am just about to close that one. No activity at all so why pay for something that is not working--right?? I really hope this works because I am not selling anything.
Here are some of the ones that were redone only slightly.

 Will be back for more so stay in your seats.

Toodles,
Melissa

More Sweet Summer Linky Party

Here is another Linky Party from my friend, Amy, at 24/7 Teacher. We are in the middle of July and summer is in full swing. Won't be long before the snow flies again so we must get every ounce of summer enjoyment that we can. I start back to school in about 4 weeks. That will come very fast I am afraid. So here is another one of my freebies that is in my shops. Enjoy! Oh, while you are there become a follower and give me some feedback please!!

Summer Sports Match

And for added YUM factor, here is a recipe that I found. Looks divine!!!

Mint Chocolate Cheesecake Popsicles

Another nomination for the Liebster Award

Wow, who knew that I would get nominated twice in one week. That is awesome!!

Well, if it is okay with Carrie over at First Grade with Ms. Dawley, I am going to just answer her questions. Look for the other post of the first award from Amy. Here goes:

11 questions for my nominees:

1. Why did you decide to start blogging? Many reasons--one is that I wanted to start creating my printables and wanted a place to publicize them; two was that, well, everyone else had one, why not me and third eventually, I will have my own class so I wanted a place to interact with my students and their parents. Not to mention getting to meet all kinds of other sweet bloggers.
2. Have you always wanted to be a teacher? No, I started out as an accountant/bookkeeper. I have two other degrees. It was not until my youngest started kindergarten that I got bitten by the bug. Although, I will say I did like pretending to be a teacher when I was younger; just never thought of myself as one.
3. What is your favorite non-teaching website? Hum, not sure about that one. I did like to search for craft websites to get ideas. I like to keep abreast of the Peregrine Falcons in Columbus, Ohio. I like to learn about animals. I don't get much time to do that anymore. Bummer!!
4. Do you have pets, children, or both?  Both How many? I have two human kids and the family has four furry kids. My son is 23 and my daughter will soon be 21. The furry ones are cats-London, Mil-Lee, Skunk, and Dill (short for Dill Pickle). Dill is the baby, he is about 18 weeks now. Boy, I am out of practice and he is trying me crazy with playing and getting into everything. He is driving the girls crazy also. He wants to play and they don't. HA
5. What goals do you have for summer? I am in class. I have three more after this one. I take my Praxis next week and another one for special education the first of August. I hope to be ready to student teach in January. I wanted to get things done that I couldn't get to when I working at school--that is not going so well. I also wanted to get my shops up and going also--that is not well either.
6. What was the year, make, and model of your first car? My first car was a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. I dearly loved that car. I made a trip to the bank every month for two straight years to pay for that car. I bought it as salvaged because it had a dash fire so I built it back from scratch so it was my baby and I paid for it.
7. Have you always taught the grade that you teach now? Well, I not actually placed in my own class yet, but I have taught and helped students from PK all the way through 12th grade. Being a paraprofessional and in special ed you are able to work with all of them. So, I am pretty sure where I want to be and that is in the lower grades. I love kindergarten.
8. What do you like to do when you aren't teaching/grading/lesson planning? I love to create. I love to paint, craft, sew, cross stitch, or collect things.
9. Out of all of the places that you might have lived, which is your favorite? I am from Kentucky. I was born there; London, as a matter of fact. I would like to move back one day. I have lived in Ohio ever since I was 6 years old. Wow, that was 46 years ago. I'm old.
10. What is your must-have accessory for your work outfits? My shoes. I have bad ankles, my feet swell when I am on them and it is hot, I have plantar fasciitis, plus after my son was born, my right leg was clotted from my hip to my toes so it is not good-actually two cut loose and went through my lungs.
11. What has been your least favorite vacation destination?  Why? Well, not been on many vacations so I would say none. All the ones that I have been on I have enjoyed.

Wow, that was intense and long. Sorry, but I evidently had a lot to say. LOL Again, thanks to Carrie for the nomination. Who knows I might get nominated again before the week is over--it is only Wednesday.

Toodles,
Melissa 

The Blog Has Been Nominated

Today, Amy at the 24/7 Teacher nominated me for the Liebster Award! I am honored and humbled! My little blog—WOW!! It has not quite been a year yet (but soon) and just recently have I been posting a lot—about the time I opened a new store. I am so grateful and delighted I could just, well, squeal with joy!!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Liebster Award, it is for new blogs. 
Liebster means “beloved, cute, lovely, dearest and welcome!”

Here are the "rules" for accepting this nomination: 

1. Link back to the blog that nominated you.
2. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 250 followers.
3. Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator.
4. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
5. Create 11 questions for your nominees.
6. Contact your nominees by commenting on their blog or sending them an email to communicate the nomination. 
 

Questions for Nominees! 
1. If you could be any animal what would you be and why? This is hard because I love so many but I would say a cat because I love to sleep and take cat naps (see—cat naps), and play.  

2. Have you read anything lately? If so, what? Tell a little bit about it. Not fairly recent but I did read the Hunger Games trilogy and I would say that I loved it. I had to read the first one to help a student because they were reading it in class and then I just got hooked. I love stories about different worlds or in the future. Maybe science fiction is a better word and this one was it. I even like the girls name, Katniss-see there is cat again.  

3. If you weren't a teacher what would you be? Well, I have two associates degrees in accounting and management so I would probably be a bookkeeper again. Don’t get me wrong, I still love accounting but I had to quit because I was expecting my first child. Then I was a stay-at-home-mom and not until my second one entered kindergarten did I get the teaching bug. I love working with kindergarten and special needs. I am almost done with my classes and will start student teaching soon.  

4. What is your favorite T.V. Show? I usually watch the Food Network, HGTV, Animal Planet,etc.

5. What hobby do you have? When I get time, I love to paint and do crafts. I use to sell my creations at craft shows and art fairs. I miss those times.  

6. What is your favorite store at the mall? I usually don’t get to go to the mall but when I do I go to all the little shops like Hallmark or if they have crafts shop of some kind also, antiques and art shops. 
7. What would be the perfect hours for a school day and why? I think school should start at around 9 until 4. We start at 7:20 and that to me is too early. I think it is better for their bodies and mind to go later.

8. If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Hawaii. I just love the islands and their way of life.  

9. If you could win any prize what would it be? (Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, Pulitzer, Olympic, Nobel Peace Prize or any other) Well, I am not athletic so that is out. I do not sing (well, at church in choir) nor play an instrument so that is out. Maybe an Oscar-I do like to pretend so I could act I suppose.  

10. What is your favorite subject to teach? Why? Phonics and phonemic awareness-I use to be coordinator of a kindergarten volunteer program where we worked with the kindergarten on these skills plus practicing their reading. I loved working with those kids especially one-on-one. I also love special education because they are usually behind and I get to work with them in small group or one-on-one too.

11. What is your dream vacation? I think my dream vacation would be to go on a cruise with my husband, the love of my life.

Eleven Random Things about Me-

1. I love cows. I have figurines and all kind of things in cows. My mother thought it was pigs that I was collecting so I do have pigs.

 2. I can crochet, cross stitch, sew, embroidery, draw, doodle, and anything crafty.

3. I am addicted to pop-especially Diet Mt. Dew

4. I love antiques and old things.

5. I hate house cleaning (especially the bathrooms) and washing dishes.

6. My husband says I have ADD because I can’t stay still in church.

7. I can’t swim but would love to learn how.

8. My daughter is going to college to be a teacher like me and my hope is that we teach at the same school one day-not her idea but mine.

9. I love to collect things like miniature tea sets, thimbles of the places we have been, if I get one of something and there is a set, I have to have the set.

10. I am stubborn but not in a bad way. Don’t tell me I can’t do something because I will do it or bust. That is how my husband can get me to do something I dread doing.

11. I hate writing essays and papers. I have been in school for five years now online and every week it is an essay. I just do not like to write. Although, I will take that over a test any day-hate those too.

Eleven questions to my nominees

1. Do you have any pets?

2. What grade do you teach? Is this your favorite?

3. Are you a night owl or do you go to bed early even in the summer?

4. Which season is your favorite and why?

5. How do you relax?

6. What is something that you wished you had been taught in college about teaching?

7. What is your favorite sweet concoction?

8. If you could be a superhero, which one would it be and why?

9. If you could learn something new, what would it be?

10. Do you have children?

11. What is your biggest pet peeve? 

Here are the blogs I nominated:

A Tender Teacher for Special Needs

Keepin It Crazy with Mrs. Berns

Karmen's Kinders of Room 103

Learning with Mrs. Langley

Literacy Spark  
The Teacher's Desk 6 Blog

Kids Math Teacher

Again, thank you Amy for this gracious nomination. I appreciate it so much!!

Toodles,

Melissa