Friday, March 15, 2013

Happy Bloggy Birthday Giveaway

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Have you ever been so busy that you forgot your OWN birthday? Has it really been a year already?!!! I looked at the calendar and realized, my little slice of bloggy pie indeed, has turned 1 year old! How could I have missed that?!

This past year, I’ve been incredibly blessed to have gotten to know and befriended a number of talented teachers that have truly helped me to “step up my game” as a teacher. Within a year’s time, I went from asking “What is a blog?”, to following some really GREAT ones, to starting one of my own! It took 4 blog designs to finally get to the ONE that captures the essence of my classroom. I started out with 2 fantastic followers, Amanda and Krysti, and am simply amazed that there are REAL people out there willing to join in the fun of teaching firsties with me……to just shy of 500 now!  You ALL totally rock!

You can read one of my very first blog posts here. It’s from the day Krysti and I met Jack Hartmann! Looking back helped me to see how far my posts have come! Ha! By far, my post popular post has been about………click here to read it!

My most popular TPT product has been one that I was completely hesitant to make! It helped me to realize to follow my gut and only include items in my store that I would actually use in my classroom. It takes me FOR.EVVVVVER it seems to complete a product, BUT knowing they’re all items that are kid-tested and approved makes it all worth the while! My personal favorite so far is my little fraction unit. We’ll be pulling that one out next week and I can’t wait! We had a total ball with it last year!

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Soooo, in the spirit of all things bloggy goodness…let’s celebrate with a little giveaway fun, shall we?! Now, BOTH the blog and the FB page are just shy of 500 friends, so let’s see if we can tip those numbers right on over the 500 mark! I’ve come to learn that bloggers like nice round numbers {and surpassing them too}, heheee!
I’ll choose 3 winners sometime Sunday afternoon. My fingers and toes are crossed that the 500 mark will be crossed by then!

Winner #1 will receive a $25.00 gift certificate to TeacherspayTeachers.
 
Winner #2 will receive their choice of any 3 items from my TPT store.
 
Winner # 3 will receive any 1 item of their choice from my TPT store and a custom decorated clipboard created by one of my very first blog followers, Amanda!
 
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Enter to win below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
 
So that EVERYONE feels the birthday love, here’s a little goodie for ya that my students *LOVED*! Do you have dice in dice? If not, go get some! They’re fun and reduce the need for two dice to play math games. It’s always good to mix up the manipulatives a bit!    

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Give each student one di to shake and roll. They look down into the di and use the two “tops” to write an addition sentence, then a related subtraction sentence next to it, using the recording sheet below. Shake, rattle and rolllll!

diceindice addition

Thanks for following along, friends! It’s been a fantastic year!

52 comments:

  1. Happy bloggy birthday! And early congrats on 500 followers because I know you will get there!

    Blogging has helped me step up my game because it's like having a hundred of the best mentor teachers at the palm of my hand every day. I have learned so much that I am confident I am a better teacher as a result!

    thepolishedteacher@gmail.com
    ThePolishedTeacher

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  2. Happy bloggy birthday! I don't have a blog - but all the teacher blogs out there inspire me to set up my own blog (someday!).

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  3. Happy Birthday to you! We are celebrating at our blog too! Come check out our giveaway!
    2crazytexasteachers.blogspot.com

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  4. I have become a better teacher due to blogging. I have found and utilize so many amazing resources that I would not have known about if it weren't for blogging. I have formed friendships with other teachers that have the same passion as I have so building those relationships has helped me tremendously. Having these relationships gives me the confidence that I can be an amazing teacher in the classroom :)

    Heidi
    My (Not So) Elementary Life
    mynotsoelementarylife@yahoo.com

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  5. Blogging has helped me step up my game because I see so many great ideas that I want to do in my classroom and it makes me want to have fantastic ideas to share with everyone.

    ~Diving Into Learning
    divingintolearning@gmail.com

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  6. Since so many bloggers are working "in the core" as I say, blogging has given me so many Common Core ideas to use in my classroom. I honestly don't know what I would do without the creative genius behind so many bloggers!

    faithfulinfirst.blogspot.com

    pinksmyink@gmail.com

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  7. Happy Bloggy Birthday!!! I have gained so much through blogs! New ideas and lots of new friends!! I wouldn't be the teacher I am without this huge network!!

    Ali
    alischepis(at)gmail.com

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  8. I love getting new ideas from blogs and finding new twists on old ideas to give my kiddos a leg up. Happy Bloggy Birthday!

    Casey

    CaseyCanion@aol.com

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  9. Blogging helps me to better help my students and in a creative way!

    lucytumnus@gmail.com
    thelamppostin1stgrademath.blogspot.com

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  10. Happy Blogging Birthday! Blogging has helped me get out of a rut and energize my teaching again!
    ilovekdgt@gmail.com
    Sara
    Polka Dot Kinders

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  11. Happy Blogging Birthday and congrats on reaching 500 followers! Blogging has helped me to reach out to others for help with ideas to make my teaching more meaningful!

    Rae
    Mindful Rambles

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  12. Congrats on 1 year!!!!

    Misty
    Think, Wonder, & Teach

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  13. How has blogging helped you "step up your game"?
    I think it has given me inspiration to create and has given me wonderful ideas to use. It has also given me access to some wonderful teachers and I am proud to call them my bloggy friends. I have learned so much from everybody. Thanks!!

    Melissa
    mizemelissa@gmail.com

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  14. I get all my inspiration and ideas from blogs now! I think following blogs has become my hobby. :) there are so many creative and talented teachers out there. Love how everyone shares.

    Bethmisselhorn@yahoo.com

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  15. Hi Tanya,
    Happy Bloggy Birthday to you!!
    Blogging has helped me step up my game, because every time I was looking for a new or fresh idea I would do a google search and these blogs with pop up sharing these wonderful ideas of what they were doing!! I began stalking certain blogs...I last July I started my own blog...something I said I would never do!! I absolutely loving blogging now and have met so many wonderful bloggy buddies/friends!! I blogged about your giveaway!
    Crystal
    Ms. Jones’ Junction

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  16. I never knew how much blogging would help my teaching. I am able to search for things other teachers have done, get amazing products, receive information on the latest things, stay positive (I think this one is the biggest benefit), and meeting wonderful people.
    ❀Beth Ann❀
    Taming My Flock of Firsties
    tamingmyflockoffirsties@gmail.com

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  17. I seem to take more pictures because of blogging. I also create more things instead of purchasing. Congrats of all your success.

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  18. And my email is vanmeters@vcsc.k12.in.us

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  19. Happy Birthday! I have learned so much from blogging. It is nice to see all of the resources for the new CC standards.
    Stellaluna114@gmail.com

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  20. I love being a follower of blogs! I have learned so much!

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  21. I'm a new follower! Love your ideas!
    sdavis6281@hotmail.com

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  22. I do not have a blog, but since I began following so many wonderful blogs I have gotten so inspired to do more in my classroom. I have found so many good ideas and great freebies and centers and packets on tpt. My kids are learning and having fun. cooney.doublec.laura192@gmail.com

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  23. Happy Bloggy Bday! I am a newbie so EVERYTHING is fantastic! wendy 1stgradefireworks@gmail.com
    1stgradefireworks

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  24. Congratulations on 500! This giveaway is great!
    enchantingelementary@gmail.com
    Laura
    Enchanting Elementary

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  25. Hooray hooray for you! I am so excited for you :) happy bloggy birthday and congrats on the followers! I'm thrilled about this giveaway. Blogging makes me a better teacher for sure! I love getting ideas from so many amazing teachers out there!

    Thanks again!
    Hugs,
    Khrys
    Keepinitkoolinkinderland.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Oops! My email is kool.in.kinderland@gmail.com

      Delete
  26. Blogging has helped me have new ideas to share with my students and fellow teachers. I love getting to see inside other classrooms....it gives me a way to SEE what others are doing! Thanks so much!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. I shared your giveaway on facebook. I am not sure how to let you see the link? My name on facebook is Kelly Beam Brown.

      Delete
  27. Blogging has become a new way of life for me. I just returned to first grade after several years as an ESL teacher. Our district is just beginning Common Core. Blogs and all the amazing, talented people have helped me return to first grade excited are ready to teach each day. Thank you to every blogger out there! I am a new follower ~ Ms. Jones sent me your way. Happy Blog Birthday to you!
    Maria
    First Grade Carousel

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  28. Happy Birthday to you!!! Blogging has changed my life... honestly, I don't know what I would do without you wonderful teachers to bounce off ideas with and have the opportunity to check out amazing resources created by teachers!!

    Thank you SO much for the opportunity to win... an amazing giveaway.. I can't wait until get to 500 :) What a fab. number!

    Laura
    Laura Love to Teach

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  29. You can check out my post about your giveaway here: http://mindfulrambles.blogspot.com/2013/03/100th-post-linky-party-and-new-design.html

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  30. Happy Bloggy Birthday! Blogging has helped me to become a better teacher. Not a day goes by that I'm not stalking your blogs for ideas and motivation. Thanks for an awesome giveaway!
    Carla
    Sewingsassy@yahoo.com

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  31. Congratulations to you! I've learned so much from reading blogs. It has rejuvenated my teaching! ahenry4443ah@gmail.com

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  32. Congratulations! I started blogging almost a year ago too and am close to 500 Followers! Blogging has actually made me think more about what I am teaching and how I execute it. It has also been fun to get new ideas from different teachers and meet new people!

    Thanks for a fun giveaway!
    Andrea
    Reading Toward the Stars
    readerstars@gmail.com

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  33. I have not started a blog for teaching, yet! But I would love to hopefully in the near future! What a wonderful giveaway! veronica.varela@live.com

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  34. I have not started a blog for teaching, yet! I would love to do it in the future. Your blog always gives me great ideas!

    mcreynolds.sarah@gmail.com

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  35. Congratulations! Although I do not have my own blog, I spent many, many hours on your blog and other blogs every day. The willingness of bloggers to share is amazing. I have gotten so many ideas & feel like I personally know the bloggers I follow. I have 100s of blogs on my Google Reader & am worried that I will miss these blogs when Google Reader goes away in July. dbednarsk@yahoo.com

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  36. I have gotten some great ideas and products through blogging. It has helped me become a better teacher!

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  37. I've become a better teacher thanks to blogging - I have SO many more games/ideas to use with my kiddos! :o)

    Cindy
    ccfirstteacher@gmail.com

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  38. Blogging has given me so many new ideas and activities to use with my kids, and being a first year teacher, I'll take all the help I can get!

    Ashley
    arclark2012@gmail.com

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  39. I don't keep a blog but I do follow several. I think it has really helped me greatly as a new teacher. Not only does it help me to see what others are teaching and when it gives me ideas on how to teach things myself. I don't ever begin planning a unit without searching blogs and TPT first! In a way I feel like it is a way of collaborating with others around the country!

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  40. Happy blog birthday to you. I love following all of the wonderful blogs out there. I spend so much time reading everyone else's blog I don't think I would have time to have one of my own.

    Cindy
    cl14mentor@oh.rr.com

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  41. I am a homeschooling Mum from Australia, who follows lots and lots of teacher blogs. You guys constantly inspire me with your fabulous ideas and generosity. Catching up on all your blogs is now a highlight of my day. Thank you all so much. thursdaytook@hotmail.com

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  42. Reading and following blogs has been amazing! I don't know how mnay times I've started a sentence with, "So I was reading this teacher blog and..." I get so many awesome ideas for all of the amazing blog authors out there!!

    Katie
    katiereeder@gmail.com

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  43. Reading and following blogs has become an addiction. I have found so many new ideas that have worked wonderfully in my classroom. Thanks!
    Diane
    dianebode@mediacombb.net

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  44. My family is always says that I am on facebook too much, but what I am really doing is following all my blogs on facebook. It is addictive and time consuming, but it is also great for finding new ideas to use in the classroom. It is also comforting to see and hear that kids all over struggle with the same things! It is not just my kids.

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  45. Congrats and thanks for a great giveaway. I have learned so much from all of the great blogs.

    Yvonnee

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  46. Thanks for the GREAT giveaway! I just joined your awesome blog! I found it by accident and I'm so glad I did. I do have a blog, but to tell you the truth it has been neglected. This is my second year teaching, and last year I didn't start until January, so I have been overwhelmed to say the least. I also have five of my own kids at home, and am going to school to get my masters. However, I do plan to do more, and I am so grateful for all the tips, freebies, and ideas that I get through blog hoppin'! So thank you!

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  47. Sorry - my email is katiebaxsmith@gmail.com
    I love all the different classroom pictures I find through my blogging adventures. :)

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  48. Congrats!! The many teacher blogs I have found have been amazing!! So many great teaching ideas and new activities!! My students love doing them!!

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