I did a little shopping...

I am too tired to compose something educational, so I'll link up with Blog Hoppin' and show you all that I bought during the TpT sale! I think I went overboard. Allow me to introduce myself. Hello, my name is Sara, and I'm addicted to clip art.

I'm writing a unit on maps, globes and community helpers, so I couldn't resist these guys from Melonheadz...

I am addicted to Krista's clip art!

So many possibilities for these ones!

and Ashley's too!

I'm using these for my "fancy words" wall!

and these are just plain adorable! :)

Look at these cute things from Sarah Cooley!

I already got my baking sheet hung up and my brownies laminated! Can't wait to use this- we need all of the behavior management we can get now that it's May ;)

This one is from Christie at First Grade Fever!

Click these talented ladies' names to visit their TpT stores!

I feel like this week has been nuts, but I have been snapping lots of pictures and I hope to have a "real" post for you this weekend :) We're off to the zoo tomorrow!

Teacher Appreciation Sale and THANK YOU

Hi everyone! I'm just in from a cookout to conclude our very busy weekend. Still a bit frosty in these parts for cooking outside!

First, I wanted to thank everyone who donated to my fundraiser for Martin Richard's family. We raised $540! Thank you to the fabulous bloggers who donated their products to this great cause :) I can't wait to send all of that money over the the foundation!

Second, I'm linking up with Learning with Mrs. Leeby. Many fellow TpTers are teaming up for this amazing teacher appreciation sale! I am too - all of my products will be 28% off May 7-8. Stock up for next year (or finish off this year!) Working on non-fiction? Grab my posters and Woodland Animals unit! The pictures below will take you to specific products in my TpT shop. I know that I will be emptying out my wish list this week! :)

Have a great week :)

Five for Friday!

1. Since the common core came into existence and our new district assessment for ELA is based on informational writing, I wrote a unit on Woodland Animals and began adding more informational writing into my writers workshop time. Here's a peek at what that looks like in my room! I am so, so happy with their work!
If you're interested in this unit, it's available here :)

Using the "Jot" iPad app for labeling and diagrams. If you haven't tried this app, it is awesome! Especially for K-1 :)

Some first grade informational writing about moose!

Can/Have/Are and labeling/diagrams

My anchor chart- this is our district determined anchor chart that we use for our informational writing assessment.

The texts I use for this unit.

2. 

 This is by far my favorite activity to use when teaching students about inferences. I got it from Abby at the Inspired Apple last year. Love! Click the link to grab yours! The stuff the kids have to say is so funny - if you haven't done this activity, do it for a laugh!

3.

We are installing a stone patio AND residing our house all at the same time right now. Can you say crazy?! 

4. Can we discuss the fact that we are going to the zoo next Friday to see a birds of prey show? I am TERRIFIED of birds. TERRIFIED. I googled the show to see what it's all about and found photos. OMG. Well kids, Mrs. G.'s just gonna step out for a few... 

5. My Martin Richard Fundraiser will end SUNDAY. So far we have raised over $500 for Martin's family! YAY! Let's keep it going! Read more here. Click the "donate" button to make your $15 donation and receive nearly $80 in awesome products from fabulous bloggers and TpTers! 

Donate your $15 below!

How do you do class placement?

Today is the worst day of the whole professional learning time calendar- CLASS PLACEMENT. It's when we all sit in the library with sticky notes in hand and fight talk about which kid should be with with teacher, who needs to be with who, who needs to be separated from who, etc. etc. etc. I found this year to be especially frustrating because I have a large load of children on IEPs, and those kids are always placed first - therefore, the rest of our kiddos have to be moved in around them. Which is okay, I get why those kids go in first, but it can be challenging to move the rest of the kids in around them. So anyway, it was crazy. I'm also feeling emotionally attached to my class this year, particularly because I looped with a few of them from K to 1, AND I'm leaving my school and moving to another school in my district next year. So my question is, how do you do placement? Do teachers get most of the say? Does your principal make the lists? Are you allowed to put teachers' names on the lists or do you do a blind list without knowing who the kids are going to? Every school I've been at does it different, but it's always equally stressful.

So I'm late to the party, but I'm new to the Instagram craze! Find me- sgio8808. I only have one photo so far :)

I am still working on my fundraiser for Martin Richards! Thank you to those who have donated already. For those of you still looking to make a donation, there's still time! A donation of $15 gets you nearly $80 in TpT products from some fabulous bloggers/TpT-ers! And, all of the money goes to a wonderful cause.

Read about my fundraiser here.

Donate below!