What's Working Wednesday

We're back with What's Working Wednesday. Brandi and I have decided it is time to get this back in full swing! But we are doing things a little bit differently this time! We are making this a monthly link up. Want to post once? That's fine. Want to post 3 times? That's fine too! You can link up anytime you post a What's Working Wednesday. I am going to try to post a new one each week but will keep the same link tool on each post so you can just add your links. AND as a bonus we are having a giveaway (you will find the rafflecopter at the bottom of this post). All you have to do is link up with a post that shares something- ANYTHING- that is working in your classroom and follow our blogs. Easy as pie! Even if what is working is something simple. We LOVE to hear other teachers' ideas on what is working in their class.

So what is working in my class? These little beauties...

Yep Smart Beads ladies and gents. I saw this idea on pinterest umpteen million years ago and decided over summer to make some. I even have the label as a freebie in my TpT store. The kids LOVE them. I also have brain sprinkles. Here is how I use them in my class:

First of all- the kids NEVER know when I will give them out. They are VERY randomly given. Sometimes I give them for asking higher order questions. (Well, anytime a student asks a higher order question I give them because it is very rare for my kids to think outside the box.) If I ask a question and no one seems to know, the student who finally gets it right gets smart beads. If students notice something or figure something out that I haven't taught- smart beads. Correct a teacher mistake- you better believe they get smart beads. And believe me they are ALWAYS looking for my mistakes.

Once students get beads they get to wear them all day. BUT the best part for the kids around them to feel included. SOMEONE gets to sprinkle the Brain Sprinkles on the smart bead earner. It is literally some old sprinkles in a container and hot glued closed. The kids LOVE to be the one to sprinkle the smarty! They cheer for each other. It is great for building classroom community too. And the kids really want to earn them so they are always trying to be on their toes and answer the challenging questions (challenging- not hard- nothing is hard in our class).

At the end of the day the students who earned smart beads turn them in to get a note home for their parents. I found these notes here and printed a bunch before school started. I also write the date, the child's name, my name, and WHAT they did to earn beads. I make the student remind me what they did (sometimes it is because I actually forgot, but mostly it is so they know what to say when they get home) and put it on their note.

So what is working for you? Link up with a post or a tip for other teachers. And if you do, don't forget to enter the rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

No Jokin'- it's April

Can you believe it is already April?! That means just about 6 weeks left of school for us. And just 3 more weeks to prepare for THE TEST. At this point, we are just reviewing for the test and trying to get comfortable with test style questions. But enough about that... it is time for something fun. Farley's Currently Link Up! These are some of my favorite things to do!

Listening- I love Pandora. I pick some of my favorite singers, make stations, then shuffle them.

Loving- My observations for the year are OVER. It is a HUGE stress relief knowing those are done. Last semester they were so far behind that I had to wait until this semester to have my FIRST semester observation. So I have had 3 in the past 3 months. But they are done and I am happy.

Thinking- well, my last observation was Thursday and I really want to see the scores. I think the lesson went really great but I won't feel comfortable until I SEE the scores. Even though my principal was smiling through the observation, I still want the scores.

Wanting- I ordered some guided reading books from Amazon last night. I should have one by Wednesday and the other was shipped from someone selling it used so hopefully that will come in the next week. I WILL do better at guided reading next year. If you have any suggestions, ideas, blog posts, resources, that you LOVE that help with guided reading, leave a comment please :)

Needing- we have TCAP/Math/Science night on Thursday. We each have to come up with a math or science activity that kids can do. I decided to be practical and show something they can do at home. I am using Hope King's Math Centers and choosing one activity to present and model. Simple and can be done at home, without buying anything. Thank's Hope for these amazing centers!

Advice- Only compare yourself to YOURSELF. I know it is hard to not compare yourself to other teachers, other bloggers, other TpT sellers, whatever the case may be. But as long as you are being a better you TODAY than you were YESTERDAY then that is all that matters. Just work on yourself and don't worry about anyone else.

Make sure you link up with Farley for this fun!

And please vote on the poll on the right! I really want your input!

Favorites...

It's time for Latoya's Weekly Link Up... I seriously am loving this. It gives me something different to blog about, makes sure I blog at least once a week since I am currently drained, and lets me get to know other fabulous bloggers. This week's topic is favorites...

Favorite Place to Shop

Hmm... well I love Target. I can't ever go in there for JUST what I need. I always come out with more.

Favorite TV Show

Good grief I don't have just one. And I watch mindless TV. Trash TV even. Here are some favorites:

Add to this list all kinds of reality tv..Biggest Loser, Big Brother, etc.

Favorite Sweet Treat

I think this one depends on my mood. I don't really have a favorite. I love frozen yogurt lately (ya know the kind that doesn't end up being healthy for you because you loaded up with the toppings).

Favorite Food

Hmm I love Buffalo pizza and wings (yes folks, there is a HUGE difference in the pizza you get in Buffalo and the pizza you get anywhere else). 

Favorite Restaurant

I think my current favorite is Huey's. I love their food and it is not insanely expensive. 

Now that you know a little more about me, link up with Mrs. Reed by clicking the linky button at the top so we can all get to know more about you. :)

PS--- check out the poll on the top of my sidebar on the right. Make sure you make a selection or two because once I get up to 300 followers I have a little fun up my sleeve :)

Looking for me?

You can find me over atChristina's Amazing Blogfor a guest post on the juggling act we call teaching and life. Christina is one of my favorite bloggers and I have been a fan of hers since before I even discovered TpT. And now I have the pleasure of posting over there. And if you go check it out, there is a little freebie for you :) (There should be a picture of my colorful lesson plans in the post but I have no idea what happened that it disappeared.)

You can also find one of my products in a giveaway over atThink, Wonder, Teach. Misty also has some other giveaways going on from previous days. Be sure to check those out too.

I hope to return to blogging more regularly this week.

My First Five for Friday including some fun Spring Cleaning

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs for my first ever Five for Friday, where you share five random things about your week. I don't have a lot of pictures to share but I do have some randomness.

1. My observations for the year are O-V-E-R over! I had my final announced visit on Wednesday and my final unannounced on Thursday. My announced was amazing and I scored mostly all 5's from someone who is a stickler for the rubric. I was really proud of myself. I have no idea what my scores are from Thursday yet but that's ok. My principal seemed happy with the lesson. Thank heavens for some AMAZING friends for helping me out (you know who you lovely ladies are).

2. I didn't post this last week but last Tuesday on my way to work I was in a wreck....with a parked car. Yep ridiculous I know. The sun was so bright and just in that perfect spot that I could not see a thing. By the time I tried slowing down it was too late. Here are some pics of my car. (Mind you, up until this point my almost 7 year old car barely had any dents in it!) I am getting it back (hopefully- as long as it looks good) today! Scratch that... it wasn't ready. But here are some pics of the damage.

The damage I caused

YIKES! what it looked like once they took all the broken parts off!

And back to looking good.... I just couldn't take it today because something didn't sound right

3. Have you seen this blog design?! Christi did a fantastic job! I am in LOVE with this design. It is more than I could have ever imagined that it would be. If you want to revamp your entire blog or just some bits and pieces, I highly suggest going to her.

4. My daughter has learned how to do the Braves chop. We took her to two games last year when she was 1 and we are taking her to two this year too. She has been obsessed with watching the video of her chopping last year, and now does it all the time. It is hysterical. Check out the video.

5. It is spring cleaning time. And I do not mean cleaning your house. Because well, I hate cleaning. And I certainly am not going to bore you with Clorox and Windex. No no...this spring cleaning is MUCH MORE FUN. It is time to clean out your TpT Wishlist! Lots of bloggers/sellers are participating in this fun spring cleaning sale. I am marking my items 15% off for the weekend. And am hopefully going to clear out some things from my own out of control wish list.

Image from the lovely Krista

Get to know me & enter an AMAZING Giveaway!

I have to say I am LOVING Mrs. Reed's Let's Get Acquainted Linky! It is a nice get to know your fellow bloggers linkup. So if you haven't joined up yet, I highly recommend it. 

So without further ado, here is this week's topic... 

The Noun Game

Simply name your favorite person, place, thing, and animal 

Person

Really... I certainly can't pick just one...so I am sorry Latoya but I am breaking the rules. Tim and Payton are obviously my favorites ever. But really, everyone in my family is. I am a family person and really couldn't pick just one. So I am going to change it to favorite BLOG person. And that is my BBFF Jenn. I swear talking to her gets me through some days. Thanks for being so stellar Jenn!

Place

Well if this isn't obvious, I am not sure what to tell you, DISNEY!

Thing

Books. And pens. I love to read (and so I could say my nook is my favorite thing too since it contains half my books). And what can I say, I have a pen obsession. I just bought the Bic Crystal bold pens today. I LOVE them!

Animal

My dog Roscoe. He isn't smart but he is sure cute and I love him. Outside of pets, my favorite wild animals are bottlenose dolphins and killer whales. 

Now, I know I mentioned a stellar giveaway. Have you heard of Greg at Kindergarten Smorgasboard? If not, hurry and go follow him. He is hilarious! And really creative too! But I don't need to brag on him because you will love him as soon as you "meet" him too. He is having a HUGE celebration right now. He has reached over 1000 blog followers!!! There are 5 different giveaways going on with all different grade levels. On top of TONS of other prizes in each giveaway, you can enter to win a prize from my store too. Go check it out here. 

Seriously if this button doesn't make you want to get over there and check him out, idk what will!

Well that is all for me for tonight friends. I have to get some sleep and prepare for a big week of observations, test prep, guest blogging, etc, etc, etc..you know how it is!

PS Stay tuned... in a couple weeks I will have a brand spanking new blog design! And no more having to delete my signature because I can't figure out what on earth I did to it!!

Lie revealed...winners revealed

Last weekend I linked up with Mrs. Reed and shared 2 truths and a lie. It is time to reveal the truths and the lie... 

1. My husband and I met online- This was the lie. We didn't meet online. We met when we were both pledging fraternity and sorority in college. We both ended up depledging and never saw each other again. Until about 3 months later we randomly found each other on myspace and started talking again. So NO we didn't meet online, we just reconnected online. Here is a picture from when we were dating...

2. In the span of 5 weeks, I once spent 3 of them in Disney. Yep I did. In early 2009 my husband and I planned our honeymoon to Jamaica. And so when an amazing deal came out for summer my best friend and I booked a trip to go down to Disney for a week for my bachelorette celebration. (This trip was scheduled for about 3 weeks before my wedding.) Then my husband and I decided that the deal was so good we could spend 2 weeks in Disney for less than our 5 days in Jamaica (and we do LOVE Disney). So we canceled our Jamaica plans and booked two amazing weeks in Disney. So I went for a week in the first week of June and then we went for two weeks starting June 29. It was the most amazing time ever!

Two pics from our bachelorette trip...

And some pics from our amazing honeymoon...

We were in the parade at the Animal Kingdom. It was AMAZING

3. I am terrified of birds and all living things that fly. This is as serious as ever. I run if a bird is close, and if a bird is in my path, I walk another way. Or if I am with someone I make them go first so the bird flies away. My students bring ladybugs to show me, and I make them go away. TERRIFIED. NO JOKE! Obviously I have no pictures here because I won't ever be close enough to take one. 

So, I said that I would pick a winner to receive a product of their choice from the people who guessed correctly. 4 people guessed correctly so I put 1-4 in random.org and the number chosen was 1. So congratulations Karyn! Email me at thirdgradetidbitsATgmailDOTcom to let me know what item you would like!

Now, I have another set of winners to announce! Jenn and my giveaway has ended and rafflecopter has chosen two winners to receive our four products!! Lisa M and Susan S you will be hearing from each of us soon! (Jenn is currently in the process of moving, so she will try to get in touch soon!)

Thank you to everyone who entered and welcome to all my new followers! I am 44 people away from 300 followers and that is just amazing to me! I have something pretty fun planned for when I get there!