Five for "Teacher Appreciation" Friday!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week my peeps!! 

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for her fabulous Five for Friday Weekly Linky Party.  Yay! What a fun week to share 5 random things!

Teacher Appreciation Week was amazing!  I have the best PTA!  They are thoughtful throughout the year, but they ALWAYS out do themselves during this special week. 

Not only do I have the best PTA, I have the best room mom.  She's amazing!  This is what I came to work to on Monday morning.  My class knows me so well.  Two of my most favorite things .... sports and tech stuff!  Perfection!

 I had to include a picture of my coworker's "Sweet as Can Be" door as well.  Adorable!

 Flowers! Supplies! Treats! Food!  I was completely spoiled this week.  Yummy cupcakes, new gel pens, post-its, colored paper, wipes, my favorite Mr. Sketch Smelly markers, and a fresh flower lei!!! So sweet!

Favorite Day!  Today was favorite day where my students brought in all my favorites.  They gave me this beautiful basket filled with gift cards to my favorite stores and goodies.  Beautiful!!

 Mother's Day is right around the corner!  My students have been busy, busy, busy these past few weeks.

First, they made a Mother's Day card.  This can be found in my TPT store ... Sweet as Lemonade: Mother's Day Crafty Card. 

 After the cards were made, I recorded my students' voices reading their cards aloud.  Vocaroo is an amazing website that lets you create a QR code linked to an audio recording.  My students' voices sound so sweet sharing special thoughts and memories about their moms.  Adorable!!!

Then, my students created a watercolor drawing of a lemonade stand.  These came out super cute!  I took pictures of my students holding a mason jar filled with lemonade.  I cut and glued their picture on their artwork.  I also glued their audio recording QR code in their cards and on the back of their artwork.

Finally, I updated one of my first products this week ... Parts of Speech Mini Posters & Sorting Game.  To celebrate the end of Teacher Appreciation Week, this newly revised product will be FREE in my TPT store ALL day today (Friday, May 9).  Enjoy my teacher friends!!!

Even though we have the hardest job in the world, we have the best job.  I appreciate all of you.  You inspire and challenge me.  I love our blogging world.  It keeps me current and passionate about what I do.  Happy Happy Happy Teacher Appreciation! I hope your week was as GREAT as mine!

Fondly,

Christmas Crafts & Gifts!!

Merry "Craft" Christmas!! I'm linking up with Cynthia over at 2nd Grade Pad for a Christmas Craft Linky Party.

My side tables and student desks' have been filled with tissue paper, glue, paint, glitter, and trinkets.  Messy, but fun!! I do love the holiday decorations in my classroom.

Here's a decorated glass jar my students made as a gift for their parents and/or family.  You can put a tealight candle in it.  Last year, I had my students write little notes telling why they loved their family.  They put the notes inside the jar.  Click here to read more about this from a previous post.

Supplies:

* liquid starch

* tissue paper (small cut squares)

* paint brushes

* black die-cut holiday shapes

Next, here's a holiday candle directed draw.  I love the colors!! It's easy ... and when you mix them with some paper poinsettias, the room is filled with holiday cheer!!

Be sure to check out the linky party at 2nd Grade Pad for more craft ideas to get you through the next few weeks!!

Cheers,

Happy Fall!!!

I'm so excited to start my blog!! Yay! This is my first blog!! I can't wait to share my ideas with others.  I get so many great ideas from other teacher blogs.  I'm always so impressed with the creative and clever ideas out there!

Even though summer is my favorite season, October is one of my favorite months.  I love the colors, decorations, and art projects I do with my students.  I love going to Lombardi Ranch, a family owned ranch in my hometown, to get pumpkins and the BEST corn on the cob ever!!!

The entrance to Scarecrow Alley at Lombardi Ranch

  One of my favorite art projects during this time of year is my Frankenstein Art.  This art is based on the book Frankie Stein.  It's a cute story!!

I love doing directed draws!! They always come out great.  Even though I give the students step by step directions, all finished products come out differently and are SO unique.  Here's the basic template and a few AWESOME student samples.  Feel free to use it in your classrooms.

My students loved making these and were so proud of themselves!! Enjoy!