300, AWARDS, & FREEBIE FUN

OMG, I stepped away from the computer {kinda} for a couple of days and my little blog was set on fire! It was just a little over a week ago that I celebrated having reached 200 fab followers…….and now that little number has grown to over 300!  Welcome!  Thanks for joining in the fun! Sit back! Relax…can I get you anything? Lol…
It’s really nice to have you! I hadn’t imagined reaching 300 so quickly, but am thrilled to have done so! I appreciate each and every one of you! Well, the goodies are going to be a little simpler this Giveaway go around, but just as heartfelt.

                   
If you click the pic above you can grab the labels that I will be using this year to organize my teacher binders. I ran across a sweet article on Teachhub.com that suggested teachers organize themselves using a simple system that includes 3 binders.  You can read it by clicking here.  These are the 3 little cuties that will be traveling the halls to meetings with me this year.

Avery makes full page labels for your printer that these could easily be printed on and stuck to the front of a binder or if the ones with clear front pockets appeal to you….just print them out and slide them in. You’ll find labels for 3 binders:  Teacher Info, Student Info and Substitute Info with spine labels as well. 
Now…..I’ve received a couple of compliments and awards that I must say thank you for.  You can click the awards link to get a peek at them! I apologize if I missed anyone…please email me if I do and I will most certainly correct the oversight.
From Kimberlee at TwoFulbrightHugs, Amy Grout at Adventures in Teaching and Tori at Tori’s Teacher Tips I was awarded The Versatile Blogger award that I had not received before.
I was complimented with The Lovely Blog Award by Tarita at Papers, Pencils and Books, Oh My!
                                                  
Now there are a few rules to follow when receiving this award.
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you. Check! :)
2. Include a link to their site. Please check them out- they’re super!  Check!
3. Include the award image in your post. Check! :)
4. Give 7 random facts about yourself. *See below
5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award. (You take care of that part…see below;-)
6. When nominating, include a link to their site.
7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated. (Again, see below;-)
Now for the 7 random facts about myself:

1.  I LOVE all things pink and green, swirly…pretty and girly.
2.  My attention span matches that of my students….SQUIRREL!
3.  I enjoy reading to learn, but not so much for entertainment.
4.  I keep my hair cut short because I don’t like the way it feels touching my skin!
5.  My shoe size is 9 1/2 and I LOVE SHOES!!!!
6.  I can’t help but to sing along when I hear Chip Skylark’s song Shiny Teeth and Me!
7.  I LOVE fruits, veggies…not so much! VOILA!

Thanks, again ladies! They’re now lovingly tucked away on my awards page and I thank each of you for complimenting my little blog.  You’re the best! As a part of the 300 followers Hooorah, if you’re here.  Grab one for your self! I think YOU ROCK!
AND last, but not least….I just added a collection of literacy activities to my TPT and TN stores. I’d LOVE to share them with you! Comment below with one idea that you  usually incorporate to begin a new school year.  I’ll come back in the morning and use the random number generator to choose 3 friends to win it. Morning being around noon{ish} that is, after all it is summer! 

That’s it!  Sweet, simple and I get to share a little of what I love with my new friends!  Thanks for stopping by!  Best of luck to you!
…..and bring on 400! Even if it’s next week……I’ve got a little something up my sleeve! :-)

GRINNING & GRATEFUL

I was so surprised to check my email and find this little beauty!  I've been nominated for the Most Fascinating Blog Award!!!  I'm still pinching myself....REALLY, me?  I'm just happy knowing that there are actually REAL people out there enjoying my little slice of bloggy pie! I'm not sure how blogging could get any better, but it keeps doing just that!

Voting will open beginning on May 14th - May 21st.   Mark your calendars.  While I know there are many really great blogs out there, I'd love it if you would consider casting a vote my little newbie. Thanks for stopping by!  Come back soon and often...I'm so glad you're here!  Have a terrific Tuesday!

Happy Easter & a Thank you give~away!!!

Having began the day in the midst of the most awesome Resurrection Day service I’ve ever attended, I feel GREAT! I am renewed and grateful for the opportunity to have connected with all of you! One of the most profound things that I learned today is that people often mistake a blessing for being something tangible that can be seen or held.  Blessings in the purest sense of the word =  “opportunities”.  When I started this blog just a few short weeks ago, I wondered if there would even be anyone that would want to hear anything I had to say….NOW, I’m excited to be counted in the midst of some of the most talented teachers on the planet! This blog has been a blessing and as it continues to mature and grow……I hope it will be a blessing to you too! So, let’s have some fun with all the new opportunities to come!  This is a picture of me on the way to church this morning! These are probably the biggest pair of sunglasses I could possibly find and they give me a little giggle when I wear them, BUT I love them! Do they remind you of anything???? Hahahaaaa!!!

                                                                                                                                                          

It’s so ironic that I posted previously about my love for literacy and my last two new products have been all about math! Can I just say that I LOVE teaching, lol! Teaching firsties is like having a room full of little caterpillars that you get to see change and grow into beautiful butterflies! It’s simply amazing how much they grow in just one year.  While upper grades have the intense stress of preparing for the days of standardized testing, we “foundation builders” get to have fun with our kiddos in engaging ways to set the foundation for all things learning…it’s a real challenge, but is so worth it. To that end, I have a newbie that I’ve just added to my TPT and Teacher’s Notebook catalogs. 

It includes activities that are a fun take on fractions that my kiddos and I have really enjoyed.  There is a full color example of a book we made to illustrate equal amounts and a quick to assemble mini-book to inspire writing in math! And speaking of making math fun….I received another wonderful surprise today from Scipi over at Go Figure with Scipi!  It’s the Calculating Heart Award! Thanks so much!

To receive this award, each recipient agrees to:

1. Thank the person who bestowed this award in a short blog article that includes a link back to the blog of the person who gave the award.
2. Become a follower of the presenter’s blog.
3. Choose three new blogs that meet the above criteria to receive this award.
4. Post their blog sites and write a short explanation of why each blog was chosen.
5. Leave a comment about this award on their blog site, and then become a new follower.
6. Visit Go Figure With Scipi and grab the award under Blog Accolades, and place it on your blog.

My three recipients are listed below as numbers 4, 5, and 6:

1. Zombie Math Teacher Don't you love the title of this blog? Anyway, Mandy teaches 7th grade math, and I love her posting on state mandated testing. She claims it is for good and not evil; so, to know why she believes this, head on over to blog for an interesting reading.
2. Love 2 Teach 2 is a brand new blog by Kim who teaches second grade in the great state of Kansas - where I live! She has a wonderful article (Feb. 25th) on how she taught perimeter and area to her students using the tiled hall floor. Now there is a hands-on (feet-on in this case) approach!
3. For the Love of Teaching Math is a unique blog in that Andrea uses unusual and very funny clipart to get your attention. So far, my favorite posting on her blog is the one on Pi Day which is March 14th. For those of you who aren't mathematicians, it has nothing to do with cooking!
4. Math Coach’s Corner is wonderful blog that presents math in a clear way that makes it enjoyable.
5. Mrs. T’s First Grade Class for her inspiring illustration of tens and ones using the hundred chart.
6. 2 Crazy Texas Teachers for creating fun materials to keep kiddos engaged in math!

As these three people pass on the Calculating Heart Award :

1) The next three chosen will copy and paste the above list of the three honorees before adding three new ones to the bottom, making a total of six.

2) When the next person receives this award, they will delete the top three blogs on the list, and add three additional ones to the bottom of the list.

3) There should always be six exceptional blogs listed.

4) Be sure to visit all six blogs on the list and become a new follower of each one.

I had set a goal for my blog to reach 100 members before the close of the school year…..well, guess what! …….with 38 days left {{who’s counting:-)}}…I’m almost there! …..only 4 more to go! Soooooooooooooooooooo, in the spirit of celebrating math….if you’ve liked what you’ve seen so far…tell a friend to come and join in the fun too!

Leave a comment with your email and the name and email of the friend you told about A+Firsties. If you refer lucky follower number 100 that joins my blog…I will gladly email YOU & your bloggy buddy my latest little creation for your classroom!  I hope all of you had just as happy of an Easter as I had.  Blessings to you and have a great week!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

A great BIG thank you to Ashley over at First Grade Smart Cookies for the Lovely Blog Award!

The rules for accepting this award are to:

1. Link back to the blogger who gave you the award.
2. Pass the award on to 15 other lovely bloggers.
3. Follow the person who sent it to you

As it is getting late, I will gladly fulfill this obligation tomorrow...!  Good night, all....Happy teaching! Thanks again, Ashley! I appreciate your noticing my blog!

Awww.....and a thank you freebie!

I've been awarded the Liebster Blog Award from Shannon at Tickled to Teach. Thanks so much!

What it's all about...

The Liebster Award is awarded to blogs with less than 200 followers. The award is passed along from blogger to blogger and highlights up and coming blogs. Liebe is the word for love in Germany, which is where the award originated.

Guidelines to accepting the award:

Thank your Liebster Blog Award presenter on your blog. Link back to the blogger who presented the award to you. Copy and paste the blog award on your blog. Present the Liebster Blog Award to blogs of 200 followers or less who you feel deserve to be noticed. Let them know they have been chosen by leaving a comment at their blog.

And....as a thank you, here's a smallish thing or two!  Happy teaching and blessings to you!