Insert Catchy Title Here... Creativity Has Run It's Course...

Hi, my name's Christie. This is how I feel.

{I obviously have more hair, and no facial hair, but point taken}

I really can only dream of a day when I am a tenured teacher and do not have to remove my things from my classroom and start fresh. It's so overwhelming to stand in a classroom full of stuff. Plus the fact that I may have a slight tendency to resemble one of my students who has attention issues. I finish only parts of things I'm working on then I need to move to other things. I go back and forth leaving all sorts of projects lying around the floor. I have wanted to take pictures for 3 days now, but by the time they're kicking us out for the day I'm so exhausted I can't wait to run to the nearest exit to sit in my car and enjoy... sitting... just that. On top of that, the mister's son is staying with us for the weekend, so I've been trying to enjoy some time here and there with them. I actually took a break today to eat some Olive Garden {insert angels singing here}. I'm so jealous, they went to Bear's training camp today. All kinds of sad and jealous about that one.

I found out today, I tentatively have... wait for it... 24 students. That in itself is the miracle of the day. I could also only dream of the day when I would have less than 30 students. I'm hoping it stays that way, but the ink won't be touching those name tags until next Wednesday morning (which by the way, I think I should start practicing my cursive now, cuz... well... it's a extremely little rusty. I am hoping my FABULOUS aunt finishes my amazing seat sacks. We bought the fabric, but I'm not quite sure how they're going to come out. We shall see! Hopefully they're all kinds of ugh-mazing!! :)

To all of you out there in Bloggy Land, especially anyone who has purchased or downloaded anything from me, I so appreciate your patience. A few short weeks ago, my turn around time I custom orders was maybe hours, now it's turned into days. For the most part everyone has been super understanding... I appreciate it tons and tons and tons!! Hopefully I'll have some time closer to this weekend to sit down and fill most of my current orders! :) I have been looking for a few things lately, so I sat down to create some things for myself. I posted a few in my Teacher's Notebook, and I have a few for you!! I also am still working on what I want my giveaway to be... it may be Friday before I figure it out for sure though. Here are some things for your enjoyment!!

Bases Loaded @Teacher's Notebook

{game to practice adding inflectional endings and making new words}

 

How We Go Home! @Teacher's Notebook

{makes it easier for the teacher to know who goes where}

Before, During, & After Foldable @Google Docs

{printable for readers to keep with them while they read}

3rd Grade Word Wall Words @GoogleDocs

{includes sight, math, science, & social studies words!}

Student Planner @Teacher's Notebook

{easy for students to fill out, zebra themed}

Match Fact Practice Sheet @Google Docs

{perfect for students and you to monitor how much they practice their facts}

Also I must mention I've had tons of requests for things that match the chocolate dots theme, so there are lots of items popping up that match that theme. I've had quite a few questions regarding pocket chart cards for Daily 5. They are posted in the store in 2 forms, a set of just them, and a set that goes with posters that explain what you can do at each activity.

As a side note... I have decided against using these:

I have thought about posting them on Teacher's Notebook, but I'm not sure anyone would want them. If anyone has any interest whatsoever let me know. They are extremely sturdy, made with 2 kinds of cardstock, and the letters are VERY thick chipboard. They are not laminating because of the chipboard. I can take more pictures of them close up or from the side if you are interested! Those letters were crazy expensive to just waste them! 

I've had a few people e-mailing me with ideas for things they have not been able to find out there in teacher land. If there's everything something like this you're looking for, let me know! I'm sure I've thought about making it, or I have it somewhere in my files!! I think it's time for bed for me. I'm stressed and very excited to get back into my room tomorrow. I promise I'll get to pictures and to the giveaway!! Any ideas of things you would want in a giveaway? - aside from a million dollars ;-) 

Games, Games, & More Games...

Can I puh-lease just give a shout out to Jill at Maervelous Multiagers because she knew my W sign was the Cubbies win sign?! I may be slightly obsessed with baseball... and sports in general ❤

Okay so after spending the rest of the day with my brother, who I mentioned earlier, all I have to say is bless all of your hearts that have children. I'm still in my mid-20's so I'm not at that point yet. I have my own baby.. he's 25 pounds, and white with black spots. Oh, he has a wet nose, long tail, and big, floppy ears as well!! I love my 30 kiddos I spend the day with, but I love giving them back at 3:30 and having my peace.

{ohh... heeeey there bloggy friends!}

Anyway, I've been busy turning and twisting through ideas in my little head for miscellaneous things that could be useful around the classroom. Is anyone looking for something specific? I've really been concentrating on making some games that are more 3rd grade specific. I know I've posted some of them, but I'll post all the ones I've made in the past week. All of them are posted on

My Teacher's Notebook:

So here are some of the things I've made. I wish I had my new 3rd grade resources so I could figure out what else I should make. Anyway, once the new computer is all ordered and delivered I'll make some more games that are more primary too!!

{mixing contraction with the words that make them up}
*umm... hello?! this one's free!!!*

 {matching root words with their 're' or 'un' prefixes}

 {go fish style antonym matching game}

{concentration style homophone matching game}

{concentration style synonym matching game}

{war style card game determining if there's a prefix or suffix}

{matching the scoop with the cone to make a compound word}

*another freebie!!!*

So that takes care of that!! Now some of you may have seen these:

But... well... I'm not so sure I love them. So I made these as well. I'm sure I'll probably make 15 more versions before school starts, but for now I'm using these for my word wall.

Word Wall Letter Cards

I also use a binder that I call my Reflection Journal. It has a cover and is full of pages where students draw and write about the unacceptable choices they have made. They usually do this if they move to the 2 bottom colors of the clip chart. It helps them realize why the decision(s) they made weren't the best ones. I usually only have the parents sign them in really bad situations. I also make copies before I send them home and to make sure there is one in the student's file. I remade mine to match my zebra room, I also made 2 polka dot versions, and because I know quite a few of you are doing a cowboy theme... I made one for all of you. Here are a few versions:

Zebra RJ

Dots RJ

Red Dots RJ

Cowboy RJ

My Teacher's Notebook

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!!

So as I mentioned last night I decided to post some games and things on My Teacher's Notebook Shop. I picked this website over TPT because of the reward program. Who doesn't like to get rewarded to shop?!?! For every $1 you spend, you get 5 points. With those points you can get different gift cards for places we all shop like Target, Michaels, etc. I can say that I easily have spent over $100 on TPT in the last year. I also have so many problems with TPT taking forever to load or it won't let me search what I want to. 

Did I convince you enough that you should visit my store? Or sign up for one? :)

Anyway so I'm posting a lot of games I made last year to go with our WTW program for FREE. My bloggy is getting overloaded with things here! It's kinda getting out of control. I'm still going to post the majority of stuff here though, so no worries!! Here's a bowling/matching game I put on there:

I'm also posting some games I'm making now like the ones I listed in the post below this. I am going to have higher 3rd grades so I'm going to need some higher level center games for them to do. I'll be busy creating away today. Hopefully I'll have more posted by tonight.

Visit My Shop!!

Get Your Own Shop!!

Well, I'm off to cuddle and create on the couch with this little guy:

While I avoid this:

Prefixes, Suffixes, Antonyms, Synonyms, & Homophones Galore

Because I'm delirious at this point, and my contacts are foggy so I can barely see the screen, I'll hopefully be listing these at my store in the morning. I plan on continuing to post most of my classroom management stuff on here to download, but some stuff, like a lot of the games I make take so much time I'll probably be posting them on my store. I've chosen to use Teacher's Notebook for 2 reasons:

1. You get rewards for shopping!! Umm... Hello?!? Yes please!! 

2. TPT always gives me problems when I need it most, so I get frustrated.

So anyway, I have a bunch of free things to post on there so my bloggy isn't totally overloaded with tons and tons of stuff, plus I'm posting these games. I'm thinking of also posting them as a "hard copy" version too, where I will print, cut, laminate, make the envelope, and ship them out... Would anyone ever do that? I know I used to be so last minute that's why I loved TPT, but at the same time, there were so many cute things I wanted but I get so lazy I don't want to be laminating and cutting things out. Plus, hello, look at the adorable envelopes. They're my favorite thing I make!! Here are some of the games I made recently:

Prefix & Suffix War

Fishing for Antonyms

Synonyms for Sale

Homophone Concentration

*Disclaimer: I'm half asleep, there's no lighting in here, and yes I used my cell phone camera for these blurry pictures ;-) Like I said I'll post them on Teacher's Notebook by Monday (I think they're updating tomorrow). A lot of people have been asking questions about things I make, how I'm doing things, about me, where I've gotten things... I'll take some time tomorrow to answer these. I'm continuing to be a hermit crab because we're in for a week of disgusting heat this week. I just want 70's and thunderstorms. Is that too much to ask?

❤ Goodnight Loves ❤

Math Games

 I'm a huge fan of anything that doesn't require a lot of cutting, laminating, etc... even though I seemed to be drawn to those kind of projects. Go figure! Anyway I have used these math games for the past 2 years in my classroom for my firsties, and I plan on using them this year in 3rd grade as well. They're so easy. I usually just print out the game directions and laminate them. Then you have 2 choices for the game cards. If you have any sets of playing cards you're not using (BTW there are sets in the Dollar Section @Target) you can use those, otherwise you can print, laminate, and cut the matching zebra cards to go with. It's usually pretty simple. The kiddos are usually pretty good about understanding the directions and playing. Right before summer comes or sometimes before winter break I send a set home with my kids too so they can play and practice at home. Hopefully someone finds these useful like I have the past 2 years!!

Zebra Math Games