The Winner of the Fantastic Fairy Tale Giveaway is...

Congratulations Tammy Daniels!  You will receive an email shortly!
Thank you all for entering and thank you to Brooke Perry at Primary Perspective for allowing me to give one of her fantastic units away!  If you are interested in purchasing her Fairy Tale unit, head over to her TPT store!

Inferring Word Meaning

I just made this and thought I would post it in case anyone else can use it.  Click on the picture to download.

ReadWriteThink

Have you seen the "Student Interactives" available from http://www.readwritethink.org/?  They are free and they look like they will be very useful!  They have a bunch of different interactives available for grades K-12.  I can't wait to see what my kids think of these!


P.S. Don't forget that my giveaway ends tonight at 7pm!  Make sure you enter to win Brooke Perry's fantastic Fairy Tale Unit!

Fantastic Fairy Tale Giveaway!

Wow - I can't believe I have over 300 followers!  I am so grateful for every single one of you, and I LOVE reading all of your blogs too! 

On to the interesting part - the giveaway!

The very talented Brooke Perry from Primary Perspective has agreed to give a copy of her brand-new Fairy Tale Unit to one of my followers!  We will be doing a Fairy Tale unit soon, so I bought a copy last night right after she posted it to TPT.  I am so glad that I did!  It is 48 pages of fun activities that both you and your students will love!

You can have up to 3 chances to win.  Please leave a separate comment for each of these and leave your email address! 
1. Follow Brooke's blog, Primary Perspective, and leave a comment here telling me that you do.
2. Follow my blog and leave a comment telling me that you do.
3. Leave a comment sharing something that you do when teaching Fairy Tales.

The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 10 at 7pm.  Good luck!

Counting Change

Click on the picture to download the PDF!

Number of the Day

When I was working on my degree, one of my 2-week field experiences was in a 2nd grade classroom.  Every morning, the students completed a "Number of the Day" activity (based on the number of days they had been in school) for morning work.  I was completely amazed by the number sense that the students in the class had.  I am planning to keep most of the routines of the class I am taking over in tact (because the teacher seems awesome), but this is one thing I am going to try to implement.
Here is my take on the Number of the Day sheet.  Click on the picture to download the PDF.

Update

I got some very exciting news today - I will be subbing in a 2nd grade classroom at a school I love until the end of the school year! 
Sorry I have not been posting much lately - life has been a little crazy!  I do have several things in the works though - they will be posted as soon as they are finished.   

Farm Repost

Several people have said they are having trouble downloading the farm things I posted last week, so I am going to try posting them again.  If you are still having problems (with this or anything else on my blog), either leave your email address or send me an email at dana_m_baker@yahoo.com and I will send them to you.   Click on the links below to download the files.

Farm Animal Name Cards

Farm Animal Graph

Animal Cards for Graph:

Sheep

Pigs

Horses

Goats

Ducks

Dogs

Cats

Chickens

Cows

Dr. Seuss Set Available from ThistleGirl Designs!

Have you seen the newest set available from ThistleGirl Designs yet???  Soooo cute! 

Blog Makeover

If you are thinking that your blog needs a new look and you really have no clue about blog design yourself, I cannot recommend Kristen from Ladybug Teacher Resources enough!  Not only is she super nice and easy to work with, but she is amazing at what she does (look at my blog for proof!)  Thank you Kristen!!!

Giveaway at What the Teacher Wants!

Rachelle and Natalie have an amazing blog where they share all their wonderful ideas (it's one of my favorites!). Head over to their site (by clicking on their button) for a chance to win a $100 gift card to The Container Store!!!

Down on the Farm!

About a year ago, I was a long-term substitute for a kindergarten class.  I made a few things for a farm unit that I thought I would post in case anyone can use them.

Farm animal word cards (click on the picture to download).  These can be used as part of a farm word wall, can be hole-punched and put on a ring for students to reference, or the words and pictures can be cut apart and used to play a matching/memory game.

 
Farm animal graph (click on the picture to download).

Farm animal cards to go with the graph:      
Sheep
Pig
Horse
Goat
Duck
Dog
Cow
Chicken
Cat

Exciting stuff...

I was so excited to hit 200 followers last week!  Thank you all for following my little blog.  :)  

I am finally finished with my online classes for the Ohio 4th/5th Grade Generalist Endorsement!  I turned in my last assignment late last night.  I am so happy to be finished!  I have to take another Praxis test to officially get the endorsement (I am taking it in about a week-and-a-half) and I will be all set.  Now I can get back to creating things to post on my blog!

Also, thanks to Kristen from Ladybug Teaching Resources and Ladybug's Teacher Files my blog will soon be getting a very much needed makeover!  (Seriously, if you have not checked out her 2 sites yet, GO NOW!) 

Fun Idea for Practicing Spelling Words

I was on Amazon.com earlier today looking for a few birthday presents for my cousins, and I happened to find Melissa and Doug's Travel Hangman.

I think this is really cool because A) you can't lose the letters or person pieces- they are attached to the board and you just flip them over and B) there is a small dry erase board at the bottom.  Sure, you can just use a piece of paper and play hangman, but this will help to reduce the amount of paper used and I think kids would love using it to practice their spelling words.  It is $10.61 on Amazon's site if anyone is interested.

Note: I am not being compensated in any way for this review - I just thought it was neat and wanted to share.  :)  

I *LOVE* Jon Stewart

Check out these clips:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-28-2011/crisis-in-dairyland---angry-curds

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-28-2011/crisis-in-dairyland---message-for-teachers?xrs=share_copy

Jon Stewart is absolutely hilarious and I love that he is trying to bring attention to the insanity that is happening in education right now.  However, it is difficult to listen to people talk so negatively about the teaching profession.  One thing that really bothers me is when people act like they know all about something when they obviously do not have a clue - I feel like many people **think** they know what a teacher's job is like, but really they have idealized what they see as the perks of position (such as summer break) until their version is almost unrecognizable from the truth.  I truly hope that everyone realizes what the effect of these actions will be on the education of our students before they have too much of a negative impact. 

-ow Word Sort

                                   Click on the rainbow to download the pdf!

Division Explorers Game

Click on the picture to download the game!

 

When you click on the picture it takes you to Google Docs.  If you view the file in Google Docs, the colors on the game cards look very strange.  If you go to file and choose download, the PDF version looks normal.  If you have any problems, just let me know and I can email the PDF to you.  

  

Stylish Blogger Award

Thank you Katie from First is a Fairytale, Mrs. Buckley from Diary of a First Grade Teacher, and Stephanie from First Grade Fabulous Fish for my very first blog award!  Thank you Katie, Mrs. Buckley, and Stephanie!!!

 Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

Seven things about me:
1.  My favorite colors are blue and green.
2.  Hi, my name is Dana and I am a chocoholic.     :) 
3.  A long time ago, I imagined myself having three kids, all by the age of 30.  Now that I will be 29 in August of this year (and we do not have any children yet), I am pretty sure that is not going to happen.  :(
4. Even though I am only subbing right now, I have read a bunch of professional development books so that once I finally do find a job I will be ready (some of the titles are below on my Shelfari shelf).
5.  I have a serious Amazon.com addiction (please see #4)   :)
6.  I have a pony.  She is still living at my parent's house.  She was my Christmas present when I was 4 - she is the same age as me.
7.  I pretty much fell on my face in front of the third grade class I was subbing for today.  Literally.  See, I was outside (beautiful weather today!!!) picking them up from recess.  I saw one of the boys at the back of the line run out of line and pick up something (looked like a stick or piece of mulch).  I backed toward the door with the class following me and I was asking him to please leave whatever he picked up outside.  Right as I turned around I reached a low step (yep, I forgot there was a step there).  I pitched forward, unable to catch my balance and landed with my face 2 inches from the concrete step.  The palms of my hands and one of my knees are skinned up for the first time in probably around 20 years.  Yikes.  I got back up right away, told the teacher who had gone in before me that I was ok, and turned around to see twenty-five 3rd graders gaping at me.  Then they all started asking if I was ok and one sweet girl asked me if I needed to go to the nurse.  I was so embarrassed, but I am sure that it could have been worse.  ;)

15 great bloggers who are getting this award next:


Diary of a First Grade Teacher

Fabulous First Grade and Other Shenanigans

Fantastic First

Finally in First

First Grade Teaching

 K: Double Stuffed

Kindergarten Hoppenings

Ladybug's Teacher Files

Love to Reed

Mrs. Lewis' Learning Library

One Extra Degree

Persnickety Pickles

Really Roper

Snippets by Sarah

The First Grade Sweet Life

Shark! 3rd Grade Dolch Sight Word Game

                  Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

I finally had a chance to finish the 3rd grade version of this game.  To download the game, click on the fish!

As I mentioned before, I am working on a division game.  I am not sure how much I will be posting in the next few weeks, because I only have a few weeks left in the quarter (for my 4th/5th Grade Generalist Endorsement) and I have a ton of things to finish up for my classes.  After my classes are over, however, I have a bunch of ideas for things that I cannot wait to make and share!
The weather is finally a little warmer here and almost all of our ice and snow has melted! Hope all of you are enjoying some warmer temperatures also!

P.S.  I am not sure what has happened with Google Docs, but lately I have been having a lot of trouble getting it to do what I want it to do!  It seems like they have made changes within the past month or two.  I think I have seen others mention this also.  Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?

Ladybug Numbers 1-10

I made these for my mom (she teaches preschool).  I thought I would post them in case anyone else can use them.

Click on the first ladybug to download a matching activity.

Click on the second ladybug to download a ladybug number worksheet.

Shark! 2nd Grade Dolch Sight Word Game

                             Click on the picture to download the game!
As soon as time allows, I will make the 3rd grade version of this game.  I am also working on a division game that will be posted as soon as it is finished.  

What's in a Name?

My maiden name is Bohne (like "bone" + "e"), and I was used to it being mispronounced all the time.  When I married my husband, I thought those days were behind me.  Baker is a pretty common, easy-to-say name, right?
Right.
Not for many of the kids I encounter while subbing (usually this happens in K-2).  I always introduce myself in the morning and write my name on the board.  I used to gently correct them if they did not say my name correctly.  Now, I just find myself responding to: Mrs. Bake, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Bakery, Mrs. Bacon, etc.  {Sigh.}   I love working with kids!

And the winner is...

Mrs. Durning!!!
Congrats!
Please send me an email (dana_m_baker@yahoo.com) so I can send you your gift card!  

Thank you all for all of the great advice for my job search!  (I really appreciate it!)

 
Thanks for entering everyone!!!!

1 More Day to Enter My Giveaway for a Chance to Win a $25 Gift Card for CSN Stores!

If you haven't entered yet, click here to go to the post about the giveaway and read about how you can have up to three chances to win!  The giveaway ends Friday night at 9 pm!

Meet the Teacher

Cara, from one of my favorite blogs, The First Grade Parade, is hosting a Linky Party and I thought I would join in on the fun!






My name is Dana and I am 28 years old.  I am the oldest of four kids (all girls!).  I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Justin, for a little over five years, but we have been together for over 11 years.  (My dad and Justin's dad graduated from high school together!  Justin and I did not meet until 7th grade though, and we did not start dating until our senior year of high school.)

I graduated from Miami University in 2005 with a BA in History (yeah...still not completely sure what I was thinking!).  While in college, I taught preschool for two years and LOVED it.  After graduating, I worked as a Systems Analyst for a large insurance company until I realized that I was miserable sitting in a cubicle and I desperately missed working with children.  So, I returned to Miami University and graduated in December 2009 with a BS in Elementary Education.  In Ohio, the ECE degree is for PreK-3rd grade, so I am in the process of taking a few online classes through Ohio University so that I can also be certified to teach 4th and 5th grades (I will finish those in March).  Right now I am working as a substitute teacher and dreaming of the day (hopefully soon) that I have my own classroom.

 We do not have any children yet, but we do have a bunch of spoiled furbabies.  I have a huge soft spot for stray dogs and cats.  We live in a very rural area, so unfortunately a lot of cats are dropped off in our area.  Those that we have not been able to keep we have taken care of until we could get them into a local no-kill shelter.  Rylie was found by someone we know in the middle of a road when she was about 7 weeks old.  Rhonin was adopted when he was about 8 weeks old through a local shelter that does put animals down if they have not been adopted by a certain time.  Two of our cats were found as strays at the same time by a friend of ours and we took them, and the other two showed up at our house at different times (I can't find a good picture of our 4th cat on my computer - I will have to update that later).  

Nemo and Rylie (our lab-mix)

Rhonin (our shepherd mix)

Andie and Darwin Jack

Now for the Q & A

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                             
A:  I always wanted to be a writer, so maybe writing children's books.  I might also still be a Systems Analyst! 

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                    
A:  I have always loved to read - I remember reading Gone With the Wind when I was in 5th grade!  Right now one of my favorite hobbies is creating and finding ideas that I will be able to use in my classroom when I find a job.
I also love scrapbooking, hiking, reading the blogs on my bloglist every day (seriously, it's becoming an addiction!) and spending time with my family and friends.                                                                

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                     
A:  I always said I wanted to be a teacher and I always played school with my three younger sisters.  When I started college, I was kind of dazzled by all of the available majors.  I love to learn and there were so many things I wanted to learn about!  I guess that is why I ended up with a degree in history - I got to learn a little bit about a lot of different things!  Now I am 110% positive that teaching is what I should be doing.  It is definitely a calling - I cannot imagine doing anything else!
   
Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                             
 A: Chuck!  I LOVE watching that show with my hubby!  Dove milk chocolate (ok, all chocolate!), organization "stuff" (cute containers, label makers, office supplies, etc.), Chai Tea Lattes from Starbucks, my Kindle, collecting children's books - my classroom library will be very well stocked! 

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                  
 A: Spiders, tornadoes, losing someone I love

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                              
 A: I like places like Hocking Hills (Eastern Ohio) - you can rent a cabin and hike around in a really beautiful area.  I also love Virginia Beach.  My husband is an engineer and had an internship there in the summer of 2003.  We had a blast!
                                                         
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                   
A:  Follow your heart, life's short - make every day count, and also treat others the way you would like to be treated. 

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                   
A:  honesty, being "real," and approachable/friendly, not taking themselves too seriously

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                        
A: being able to laugh at myself and having the courage to follow my dream   

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                          
A:  My grandparents and my uncle.  All four of my grandparents have passed away now - one of my grandpas died before I was born.  My uncle passed away from pancreatic cancer 4 years ago.  I miss them all very much.

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

I built a tree for my classroom in my capstone class two summers ago!  For our project we just had to create something that we would be able to use in our classrooms.  I decided to go all out with a rainforest theme - I gathered a ton of resources, made some lesson plans, got some puppets and had my hubby help me build a tree.  It would sit against a wall and has a place for a child to sit under it and read - I would have to put in one of those lights that can stick anywhere.  Not sure if I will be allowed to use this or not in the building where I end up getting a job, but it was fun to make!


Now it’s time for YOU to join the party!!!!  Here’s what you need to do:  Write a post titled “Meet The Teacher”.  Start with a brief “biography” and then copy & paste the Q&A {using your answers, of course!}  Copy the web address of your “Meet the Teacher” post and come back here & link up!  It would be GREAT if you could visit at least 3 other teachers…get to know a little bit about your fellow bloggers…and leave a comment!!!!