Hi-ho, Hi-ho...It's Back to School I Go! GIVEAWAY

It's officially over. This morning I got out of bed..and went to work. Goodbye summer. I love ya! But you know what would make me feel better? I'll feel better if I come home and check my blog to see that while YOU were still on the sofa eating bon bons, you signed up for my free back-to-school gift. Because this is my twelfth year returning to teach in an elementary school, I'm giving away twelve of these alphabet units.

Just like my blog on bloglovin' 

and LIKE my facebook page:

Now enter to win. I'll announce the winner Friday night when I end my first week back!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Common Core ELA FREE Back-to-School E-book!

It's here!! The Common Core ELA FREE Back-to-School E-book for Grades K-2 is ready. A sweet southern thank you to Deanna Jump for organizing this awesome resource. GO GET IT NOW! (Be sure to look at page 30. Wink, wink!)

Super School Shopping Saturday...Round 2!

It's Saturday! That means it's time to show us what's in your cart. I know you've been out school shopping...I've seen your instagram photos and I want a closer look at your haul. Remember, here's how it works: Snap some pictures of your back to school finds. Blog about your school supplies. Put the image above on your post and link it back to this blog. Then come back and add your blog to our linky party. 

Wait...there's more! You can link up today and again next Saturday. At that time, the store will close. We'll draw names to select one shopper as the winner! If you win, you'll get to pick an item from each of stores as our thank you for joining.

Now for my Saturday Share:

As you know, I've finished my bundle of Super Smart Writing Prompts. Superhero items seem to be zooming out at me everywhere I go! I found these masks at Michaels. Won't my kids look heroic wearing them as they read their published work?

I also thought the kids would like these superhero stickers on their papers. 

Even though my writing units come with awards, I picked these up because...well...they have superheroes and they were only a buck!

Now here's a favor and a freebie. Take a look at my Super Smart Writing bundle. Leave a comment telling me which of the four units you think you would use the most: Narratives, Informational, Persuasive, or Opinions. One lucky gal who leaves a comment will get the unit of her choice FREE! I'll announce the winner next Saturday.

Super School Shopping Saturday! Linky

Who doesn't like to go shopping with the girlfriends?! This fun linky party gives you a sneaky peeky into everyone else's shopping cart. Here's how it works: Snap some pictures of your back to school finds. Blog about your school supplies. Put the image above on your post and link it back to this blog. Then come back and add your blog to our linky party. 

Wait...there's more! You can link up today and for the next two Saturdays. At that time, the store will close. We'll draw names to select one shopper as the winner! If you win, you'll get to pick an item from each of stores as our thank you for joining.

Hosts are....yours truly: Smart Charts. And...

 

Now here's my Super Saturday share...

I've been working on a series of writing prompts to use with my class this year and it has a superhero theme. If you want to see it in my TPT store, click here:

So when I was at Target the other day, I was super excited to find stickers for my kids writing notebooks:

Wham! Pow! Speech bubbles for a writing bulletin board:

Cupcake toppers for a publishing party:

What's in your cart?

Friday Freebie Facebook Reminder

Friday, already? During the summer, the weeks go by so quickly. Ain't it so?! One good thing about Friday...Freebie Fridays on TBA. Go find something that makes you happy.

Remember that my apple freebie is on Facebook, so click the apple and get it today!

Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum...Rhyming Books Linky

Today's picture book linky is about rhyming books. I'm about to pop just to get this idea posted about the book Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum by Lisa Wheeler. 

This movement and drama idea is actually a repeat of one of my most popular posts from my first blog— ABCs of Reading: Integrating the ARTS with BOOKS to teach COMPREHENSION Strategies.

Just when you need a book to liven things up, along comes a book with ooey-chewy words and an icky-sticky story to get stuck on! In Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum,  a variety of animals get stuck one by one in bubble gum melting in the road. They must survive encounters with a big blue truck and a burly black bear. For this idea, you'll need to visit the dollar store and get a pink, plastic tablecloth. Cut it into a gum-splat shape. (See the photos and the book cover.) After reading the story aloud, I introduced my group to a choral reading of the text. I can’t post the whole chant, but here’s a sneak peak to help you get the idea. (If you drop me an email, I’ll send you the entire choral reading. Just title your message “Bubble Gum” and send to jaynestamp@cox.net.)

Teacher:

Bubble gum, bubble gum,

Chewy-gooey bubble gum,

Icky-sticky bubble gum

Melting in the road.

Group 1:

Along comes a toad...

A fine, fat toad,

A fine, fat, wild

Splat!

Wart-backed toad.

All:

Ew! Yuck! The toad got stuck!

Reading this rhyme is kind of like chewing gum, the more you read, the smoother it gets. For even more fun, try this drama extension. Place the shape on the floor of an open area. Select volunteers to be the toad, shrew, goose, bee, crow, black bear and hen. Ask these students to visualize how the animals would move before and after getting stuck in the mud. Read aloud the story as the students pretend to be stuck in the “gum.” When you read the part where the animals blow the bubble, have the students lift the tablecloth in the air as they would a parachute. “Bubble gum, bubble gum, light and lifty bubble gum!”

The toad and the bad-mood shrew are stuck!

They chewed and they chewed....

Along comes a big-bottomed bear!

  

Sound like fun? I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

In Vegas...NOT

Sunday Smorgasbord

Here's the recipe for my Sunday...Begin with a healthy portion of Highland Hills Baptist worship. The sermon was titled, "Get a Life...It's too short!" I was thankful for the reminder that it is important to do meaningful, purposeful work. Also that my worth is not based on how many facebook, blog, or instagram likes I can get it one day! Can I get an "Amen" on that? We love our blogging, but we gotta keep it in perspective.

Continuing with the recipe...Add in a pinch of puppy love. This adorable foster baby is still available for adoption with Paws and Adopt.

Simmer on what is facing me tomorrow:

Where to begin? Two weeks left of vacation...

Facebook Fan Freebie! Apple Research and Writing

I did it! I did it! I did it! I watched the tutorials, read the directions and...I figured out how to put a fan freebie on my facebook page. Generally I get a "Needs Improvement" for following directions, so I am feeling quite proud of myself. I wanted my freebie to be worth the effort, so I created an A+ apple reading and research writing pack. It has an easy reading page in can-have-are format. Also included are apple tree maps, trace-cut-paste facts, and writing frames. I hope you'll visit my facebook page, click LIKE and pick your apple-licious freebie today! Click here.

Back-to-School Gifts with Linky

Shhhh...I've been working on some back-to-school surprises for my Kindergarten peeps. They are all super sweet, smart ladies. While I'm not tooooo anxious to get back to working every day, I DO miss their jokes and pokes and the good laughs we get from teaching together all year. 

I'm not much of an artist, but I made these for our classrooms. First one for Lisa. She takes care of our online newsletter and teaches the precious friends in the inclusion class. She is calm and kind and perfect for the most special friends.

Then we have Tara. She is our Gone-with-the Wind Southern gal. Also the queen of our kinders with her royal-themed room. She does our ELA lesson plans. Need a laugh or a hug, Tara is your daa-ling. 

Jennifer is our grade-level chair and school TOY...Teacher of the Year. Woot! Woot! She takes care of business and keeps everyone smiling. She is in the tall girls club, so she has to get on her knees to look you in the eyes. But she'll also get down on her knees for you if you need prayer.

So what goodies are you working on? Are you also a gift giver? Will you be giving your fellow teachers or your own children's teachers gifts? Maybe you've just seen some cutie gift ideas on Pinterest that would be perfect for back to school.

How about a blog post about your gift ideas and throw the pass back to Smart Kids with a link and the pic. Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Picture Book Party: Character Education

I've been invited to all kinds of parties...jewelry, cooking supplies (no need for that...Fresh Market does my cooking), monogrammed bags, etc. Here's a party invitation I couldn't resist...First Grade and Fabulous is hosting Picture Book Linky Party #3: Character Education.

When Sophie Gets Angry—Really, Really Angry...
by Molly Bang
Let’s face it...we all get angry. Sometimes we even get really, really angry. Chances are you’ll know when the time is right to share this book with your class. There are just those days when you and your students are tired and grumpy. Begin by showing your group only the cover. 

Infer...How is the girl feeling and how do you know? Invite students to make a similar face. Next have students take a closer look at the first spread. How is Sophie feeling now? How can you tell? Uh-oh. Now how is Sophie feeling? Can you use your experience with the picture clues to infer Sophie’s feelings? Show the next spread. Oh, my. Have students closely examine Sophie’s face and the cat. Even the zig-zag lines are a clue. At this point, you might want to remind your readers that inferring means combining your background knowledge and the clues in the book to infer a character’s feelings. Remind them that their own experiences count as background knowledge. Provide time for students to share similar experiences and feelings they may have had in the past.

Read the story aloud. Discuss the ways that Sophie handles her anger. Which are appropriate and which are inappropriate? Be sure to validate a variety of opinions. Finally, invite students to act out the story as you reread. Now doesn’t that feel better?

Younger students will enjoy this song and drama extension:

What Would Sophie Do?

(sung to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

If you’re angry and you know it, kick and scream.

If you’re angry and you know it, kick and scream.

If you’re angry and you know it,

Smash the world to smithereens.

If you’re angry and you know it, kick and scream.

If you’re angry and you know it, give a roar.

If you’re angry and you know it, give a roar.

If you’re angry and you know it,

Roar “red” more and more.

If you’re angry and you know it, give a roar.

If you’re angry and you know it, run and run.

If you’re angry and you know it, run and run.

If you’re angry and you know it,

Don’t stop until you’re done.

If you’re angry and you know it, run and run.

If you’re angry and you know it, cry and cry.

If you’re angry and you know it, cry and cry.

If you’re angry and you know it,

Find a tree and start to climb.

If you’re angry and you know it, cry and cry.

If you’re calm and you know it, climb back down.

If you’re calm and you know it, climb back down.

If you’re calm and you know it,

Climb back down and walk back home.

If you’re calm and you know it, climb back down.

For an art and writing extension, be sure to visit my other blog   dedicated to book ideas and the arts.