It's My Birthday and I'll Give Freebies if I Want To!

Today is my birthday and I am in the mood to celebrate! I can't believe that I have aged another year (seriously, spinster-hood is knocking at my door), but I don't care because this past year has been absolutely amazing. I can't even begin to describe the joy and sense of fulfillment that blogging has brought into my life. Since YOU helped make my year wonderful, I thought you deserved some presents too!





Your first present is so super-special, it's time sensitive. Yes, this is a gift that EXPIRES. I know how much you gals (and a few guys) love my Interactive Sight Word Readers, so I made one special in honor of my birthday. I present to you "Here is the Party!" You'll notice that the cover is pink-that's because pink is one of my two favorite colors (I know, big surprise!)

Anyways, this is a gift that is available today only (November 30). Follow the link to grab your freebie, but be sure to get to TpT by midnight because it will change to a priced item after 12:01 on Saturday, December 1.

(Try not to be too upset if you arrive late to the party- the book will only sell for $1 after it becomes a paid item).

My second gift to you is a FOREVER FREEBIE. Let your students experiment with invented spelling with this Party Time labeling sheet. Students will experiment with letters sounds as they record the words "candle", "cupcake", "hat", and "balloon".

Click the above image to download your FREEBIE!


And just in case you missed it...
My  Gift-Wrapped Headband Craftivity is a festive addition to any birthday celebration. It's also FREE to download!

As I've been typing this post, the song It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To is in my head. That was one of my all-time favorite songs growing up. I do NOT want to cry today (but if I do, they will be tears of joy!)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Interactive Sight Word Practice and Christmas Preparations

With Thanksgiving behind us, I am going full steam ahead toward Christmas. I love this time of year - especially in my Kindergarten classroom. We have so much fun decorating, celebrating, performing, and waiting that the suspense continues to build all through the month of December.

Of course, we can't forget about curriculum just because it is holiday season. Sight Word Mastery continues to be a significant focus of my instruction and my kinders have been LOVING the interactive books I created to help them learn their sight words in a hands-on way (and practice reading!)

If you're a Kinder-Craze Facebook Fan, you probably know ALL about my Interactive Sight Word Readers (and may have even scored a few free books along the way. I have gotten a LOT of positive feedback for these little books and am producing new ones as quickly as I can. I thought it was time to fill all of you beloved blog readers in on the Interactive Readers and show you what they're all about.

I made SEVERAL holiday-themed sight word readers that feature a variety of sight words so you can select the ones that fit your current instructional focus. I am in love with my "Do you See Santa?" book and I'm thrilled to introduce you to it.

The practice begins with the cover page - the featured sight word is shows in big clear print for students to color. 

For each page of the booklet, students will cut out and unscramble letters for the featured sight word (this book's sight word is "Do")

The next step is to glue the letters (this is a great opportunity for students to pay attention to the letters and make sure they are not upside down!)

All pages of the book have a predictable sentence that is repeated on each page 

(in this case: "Do you see___?") The last page always has an extra challenge or fun twist in the words. 

All pages - finished and ready to be stapled into a booklet!

The best part...

The best part, all of my Interactive Sight Word Readers sell for only $1 each! You can find these holiday-themed Interactive Sight Word Readers on sale today at Teachers Pay Teachers or Teachers Notebook. 

And because I have a soft-spot for teachers in Catholic and Christian schools, I'm offering my "Who Is With Baby Jesus?" Interactive Sight Word Reader for FREE! Click the image below to download.

One last thing, just because I'm so excited...

My classroom Christmas tree is now decorated! Of course the ornaments and lights match my bright classroom color scheme.

Blogger Tip: Pre-Fill Text of pins from your Blog Posts

I know it has been a while since I shared any Blogger tips, but I promise it has been worth the wait - this is a good one!

Are you a blogger? Do you use Pinterest to share and promote your fabulous blog posts? I bet you do! What many bloggers don't know is that you can pre-fill the text of all pins generated from your site. Let me show you exactly what I mean using this project photo from a previous blog post. 

Before

By default, blogger fills pin descriptions generated from your site with the name of your blog and the title of your blog post. Here is a screenshot of a pin taken from the post before I formatted the image. You can my blog name (Kinder-Craze) and the name of the post in the pin. It's not bad, but the text doesn't convey very much information about the photo.

After

With just a little formatting, the pin text can be pre-filled to contain a description of my own choosing. This new text tells much more about the photo's content.

The Tutorial

Pre-filling the text of pins originating from your blog is so simple (I promise)! I created a short video tutorial to walk you through the process. (The volume is a little on the loud side so turn your speakers down before you begin to play the tutorial).




Happy blogging!

Cyber Monday Savings and a Christmas Freebie!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my wonderful readers and bloggy friends. Have you heard about the AMAZING savings happening at Teachers Pay Teachers on Cyber Monday (and the following Tuesday?)

You can save 28% on ALL of my products this Monday and Tuesday! For complete savings, make sure you enter coupon code CMT12 at checkout.

Not sure what to buy? I have been adding LOTS of goodies to my store these past few weeks, including several cute new Interactive Sight Word Readers to spread some holiday cheer. The best part? They only sell for $1.00 each (you can grab them on sale for 72 cents each!)

Click any of the images to start shopping!

I also made these cute calendar numbers for the month of December 

(on sale for only $1.08 each)!

Of course, big sales are all about BIG SAVINGS! Now is the perfect time to purchase my full set of Through the Year Calendar Numbers (regularly $15) or Dolch Sight Word Bundled Set (Regular $20).

I am so excited about this sale, I just know it is going to be GREAT! Don't forget to enter the code CMT12 at checkout!

Here is a brand new Color-By-Number FREEBIE of mine to help get you in the holiday spirit!

Thanks so much to Michelle from the 3AM Teacher for creating the great sale graphic and sharing her linky!

Giving Thanks to Teachers Giveaway Day 2

Hi all!  Thanks so much to Maria at Kinder-Craze for hosting me today!

We wanted to do something special for you all since it is the time for giving thanks to those we are truly thankful for and since I am thankful every day for my readers and my bloggy friends, I thought a fun giveaway was in order.  :)

We have teamed up with some super fun friends below who have agreed to help - yay!  Make sure to visit each one of these blogs on the date listed below their name to get your freebie and enter for a prize pack valued at about $40, which includes approximately 800 pages!  Wow!

The theme of the day is:  The Designer Dots Theme!  Polka dots are pretty general and therefore many, many, many teachers love them!  They just seem to brighten up any room.  :)

First up:  A freebie!  How about a neat way to ask hallway walkers to be respectful of the fact you are assessing?  Just download the Designer Dots Door Sign, print, and laminate!  Pop on the back side of your door and move to the front right before you pass out a weekly comprehension test or a multiplication timed test.  If nothing else, it might help a couple staff members to gently be reminded to keep it down in the hallway during those times.

Ok - I know many of you want to get entered for this awesome giveaway!  Remember, it is only open for today only!  Ends at 11:59 pm ET so make sure to get entered!

Here are the items up for grabs!  Worth $40 and includes approximately 800 pages (depending on which grade level you choose)!

Get entered below by doing as many or as few items as you would like!  It's up to you, but the more you choose, the more chances you have at winning!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck to all who enter from Kinder-Craze and The Organized Classroom Blog!  See you tomorrow at Kleinspiration for Day 3!  I sincerely do appreciate you all and hope you will enjoy the 8 days of freebies as a token of my appreciation in the Giving Thanks to Teachers Giveaway!

Have a wonderful holiday all!

Fantastic Resource for Math iPad Apps and Websites

I have this really big dream of obtaining iPads for my classroom.

Unfortunately, there are a few obstacles standing in the way of this dream coming true. 

The first problem is that I don't know enough about the wonderful range of educational apps available for iPads. The second issue is money. I can't control the money issue (yet), but I can work to become better educated about using iPads in the classroom. 

Today I took a step toward educating myself and attended a Professional Development conference on the newest iPad apps and websites for teaching mathematics in the K-2 classroom. It was presented by Christina Tondevold and it was A-MAZ-ING. Seriously. 

Here's why: she actually tests out math apps and websites. She started as a classroom teacher and has a passion for quality mathematics instruction. You know how you go into the iTunes app store or find a LONG list of math apps/websites online but you click on them and half of them are garbage? Christina is a woman after my own heart. She doesn't talk about things that are junk or a waste of time. FINALLY, someone to do the classroom tech research for me. 

Anyway, Christina started K-2 Math Apps a blog to share the best websites and apps as she discovers them. Not only that, but the links are organized into separate pages (Counting and Cardinality, Place Value, Spatial Reasoning, just to name a few.) Seriously. You know how much I love organization. She even has a page listing Apps that are great teacher tools. 

Ok, I'll stop gushing. Now that Christina has begun my education on classroom iPad use, I need to devise a new plan for obtaining classroom iPads. (Apparently you have to teach in a public school to join Donors Choose. Sad face.) 

Do any generous benefactors want to donate classroom iPads to a poor Catholic school teacher with a boatload of ambition and a love for shiny gadgets? 

Thanksgiving Color by Number Freebies

My students learned how to read and spell color words a few weeks ago, but we still review these words each day. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I created a cute Color By Number turkey page as extra practice for learning these oh-so-important words.

I love the idea of color by number pages, but I'm not so crazy about the idea of how LONG it takes to color an entire piece of paper. I'm also trying to keep a "green" awareness in my classroom and conserve paper use. This page was created with those classroom issues in mind.

Instead of the "traditional" coloring sheet that consumes a full sheet of paper (and an hour for for some students to color), this 8.5x11" page separates to create 2 half-size coloring sheets. The words and pictures are still appropriately large for young students.

The best part? You can download Color By Number Turkey coloring pages for FREE!

UPDATE!

My Color By Number Turkey page has been such a popular item, I recently created an similar Feast Color By Number page. You can grab this one for FREE too!

Extra Color Word Practice

If you're working on color words in your own classroom and want to provide extra practice for your students, you can purchase my Fruity Colors Interactive Book and Poster Set for only $4.00. It provides great interactive practice for students to manipulate letters and spell each color word and is one of my best-selling items. 

Purchase for $4.00 from Teachers Pay Teachers, Teachers Notebook, or buy direct from the Kinder-Craze Store with your PayPal account!

 

Thanksgiving Card Template Freebie

November is always a crazy month in my classroom. It flies by and is packed with lots of responsibilities and special events: conferences, kindergarten testing, a long weekend break to celebrate Thanksgiving, rehearsing for our class Christmas program.... the list is endless!

We always take time during this very busy month to make Thanksgiving cards for our 7th Grade Buddies. These cute cards are so simple because they feature the traditional handprint turkey, but we glue a few feathers onto the card to give it a little extra flair.

I know how crazy-busy all of YOU are during the month of November too, so I created a simple template for you to use in your own classroom. Simply print on construction paper, trace student hands and let them decorate. It's so simple and the best part is: you can download the template for FREE!

Gobble, Gobble!

Election Day Smiles

Can you believe that Election Day is nearly upon us?

My head is spinning from political commercials, mailings, propaganda, and all of the decisions that need to be made for the good of our country. I have reached the conclusion that life really is better in an elementary school classroom. Things are just so much more SIMPLE. And sweet. And just downright adorable.

Case and point?
This little gem written by a Second Grader at my school.
(Who also happens to be a former kinder of mine.)

Seven years old and spoken like a true politician! 

Don't forget to exercise your right to vote tomorrow. Whether you support the s'mores or the bigger issues, your voice matters.

Cute Calendar Giveaway and FREEBIE

I recently added a SUPER-cute calendar set to the Kinder-Craze Store. This bundle includes 12 complete sets of monthly calendar numbers. Each number set has a bright seasonal picture and coordinating border, along with a simple bold number to show the date. The arrangement of pictures and colors on the cards also display a pattern throughout the month, and each number set features a different pattern.

Number Set Image and Pattern Details:

August: Backpacks in ABCDEF pattern

September: Apples in AB pattern
October: Monsters in ABCD pattern
November: Pilgrim and Indian boys and girls in ABCD pattern
December: Gingerbread boy, girl, and house in ABC pattern
January: Penguins in AB pattern
February: Candy in ABBA pattern
March: Leprechaun boy, girl, and rainbow in ABBC pattern
April: Umbrellas and rainclouds in ABCB pattern
May: Flowers in AABBCC pattern
June: Beach umbrellas in ABB pattern
July: Flip-flops in ABCDE pattern

Price: $15.00 

Click to purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers

Click to purchase on Teachers Notebook

Sample pictures of calendar cards included in the set:

You can win them!

This entire calendar set sells for $15, but Melanie at Schoolgirl Style is giving my Through the Year Calendar Number set away for FREE! Stop by Schoolgirl Style for your chance to enter! Hurry, the winner will be announced on Saturday, November 11.

A Freebie for Everyone

Worried about your odds in the contest? Everyone can grab a great freebie! I created coordinating monthly calendar labels to attach atop your classroom calendar. They are formatted to print on legal size paper and make a bold impression on your calendar board. I mount mine on construction paper then laminate for lasting durability.

Click the image below to download this great FREEBIE!

Another Giveaway

Speaking of giveaways... I am giving away a $100 gift card to Shabby Apple!
 Follow this link for all of the details!

$100 Shabby Apple Giveaway and Savings

I have SUCH an exciting giveaway to share with you - a $100 virtual gift card to Shabby Apple! If you haven't heard of Shabby Apple. you are really missing out! They sell conservative, vintage style clothing- many of which are dresses. I don't know about you, but I love a unique dress that doesn't look like it came from a store at the local mall.

I adore the orange dress in this giveaway picture. 

(It's called "Cider" - how perfect is that dress name?!?)

The best thing about Shabby Apple clothes are the affordable prices (the average price of a dress is about $100). I recently bought a dress from Shabby Apple as well - I went with the Panthera dress. It's a wool blend so I plan to wear it during the fall and winter with a long-sleeved black cotton shirt, black tights, and black heels. I already wore it once to school and was pleased with how comfortable the dress was and how well it moved (two very important qualities for a kindergarten teacher!)

The Giveaway

For this giveaway, you have LOTS of chances to enter. For each item that you complete, leave a separate comment on this blog post with your name and email address. Please also mention which task you completed in your comment.

1. MANDATORY task for entering: visit Shabby Apple and leave a comment to tell me which dress (or item) is your favorite.
2. Become a Kinder-Craze follower via Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs
3. Like Shabby Apple on Facebook 
4. Like Kinder-Craze on Facebook
5. Blog about the giveaway (be sure to give me the link when you comment!)

Update: the contest is now closed.
Congratulations to Lisa! Of 182 responses, she was lucky #40 and is the winner of the $100 gift card.

The Savings

Shabby Apple loves Kinder-Craze so much, they are offering 10% off your purchase for the entire month of November when you use coupon code "kindercraze" at checkout. How great is that?

So... what Shabby Apple dress are you currently obsessed with?