How-to Writing + the Owlet

I've been on maternity leave the past week, but still no baby A! I'm sitting at 41 weeks today, just waiting for him to be ready to make his appearance. Since I am told this is common for first pregnancies, I haven't been worrying. Instead, I've been working away on new projects/products that have been on my to-do list. Siting around and taking it easy are two things I am not particularly good at!

I just finished and posted a new product that I am in LOVE with! It's perfect for my English language learners because it involves reading comprehension, writing, and sequencing events using pictures. Really, that's perfect for so many students! I might be a little ahead of myself, but I'm already envisioning using it and my other products with baby A once he's school aged. Ah, the life of a teacher's kid!

I'm loving this format (and excuse to use all of my new clipart!) and brainstorming more ways to use it. I am thinking of making this into a series of sorts, perhaps adding on a fairy tale/traditional tale set. Maybe a set with longer stories/more sequencing for more advanced students? If you have any great ideas, throw them my way! My plan is to create as many items as I can this summer while baby is sleeping.

And speaking of clip art - I hope everyone caught the teacher's appreciation sale on TpT last week! I went a little crazy buying up clip art sets from LittleRed. They make the MOST adorable style of clip art and I am bit obsessed. ;)

In baby news, I purchased an Owlet last week to use once baby A arrives. Like any new mother, I've been hearing horror stories about SIDS online and thought, that's it - I'm splurging and buying the Owlet for my own sanity! I saw that the updated Owlet 2 was released a few months ago, so I chose that one. Has anyone else used it with their little one? Since it never goes on sale, I found the best deal on it through Bed, Bath, and Beyond - free shipping, plus 2% cash back if you have eBates! (psst...If you don't have eBates yet - what are you waiting for? I LOVE getting a payment 4 times a year just from my online shopping habit! It's ridiculously easy to use if you have the app or browser button). And no, the 20% off Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons are not valid on the Owlet - I already tried! :(

                   Not this kind of owlet!

Not this kind of owlet!

THIS kind of Owlet. ;)

**Disclaimer: the links leading to Amazon are affiliate links, which means I may get a small cut**

I'm back!

Time has sure flown! In the two years since I last posted, I've had many changes. I was ready for a change at work and switched to a position as an ELD (English Language Development) specialist last school year, which I love. I work with all grades K-5. I really enjoy challenging myself and trying new things out.

And speaking of trying new things out, I have a REALLY big change coming soon: a new role as mommy! My husband and I are thrilled to be expecting our first child - a boy! - in early May. These sonogram images were from my 7-month appointment and I'm now 8.5 months along. This baby is a true blessing and miracle of science because we went through IVF last year, which was quite a long process, but so very worth it!

We have a head!

We have a head!

And a leg!

And a leg!

Now that I'm 34 weeks, baby is now a butternut squash and boy, do I feel it!

I am now 34 weeks along and baby is as big as a butternut squash!

Since we found out the gender at the 5 month ultrasound, I have been going crazy with baby fever! I've wanted a kiddo for so long and FINALLY it's time for a child of my own! I scoured Pinterest for nursery ideas and spent lots of time creating my dream baby boy nursery. One of my favorite things to do is find ideas I like on Pinterest and find a way to do them cheaper, which I'll share below.

I wanted a peaceful, serene nursery that was not too baby-ish. Something our baby can grow with. I focused more on the neutral colors of gray and white for the accessories and an espresso finish for the furniture.

{Furniture from Million Dollar Baby, ordered from an adorable local boutique

"Silvermist" paint from Sherwin-Williams, I used the Emerald base}

Pinspiration: stacked up ABC blocks and a glass jar full of pacifiers (the jar is empty here, but full now!)

{A-Z bookends and elephant pull toy via Pottery Barn Kids. 

White ceramic owl bank by Mud Pie via Amazon

Light/sound projecting owl by Skip Hop via Amazon

Baskets by Sweet JoJo Designs, similar via Amazon

Swaddling blankets by Aden & Anais via Amazon

Musical lamb by Gund via Amazon

Mini hot-air balloon via Amazon}

Pinspiration: cheap IKEA Mosslanda picture ledges used as bookshelves! 

I stocked up on super cheap board books at the local library's used book sale and cleaned them all up.

Pinspiration: gray glider chair from Pottery Barn. 

My much-cheaper version is by Delta via Target.

{Changing table, mercury lamp, diaper pail, and large basket via Target

Poopoose wiggle-free changing pad via Amazon

"Baby stuff" tote via Home Goods}

Pinspiration: set of 4 animal pictures from Restoration Hardware. 

My version: prints purchased from Etsy and Sondrum frames from IKEA.

{Similar fuzzy white pillow via Amazon

Similar fuzzy white blanket via Amazon

Rolling laundry basket - to get up and down the stairs easier! - via Amazon

Gray & white wool ball garland on crib via Etsy}

 Pinspiration: gray floor pouf from Restoration Hardware.

My version: from Walmart 

Pinspiration: gray and white striped rug via Crate & Barrel. 

Splurged and bought the C&B version because I couldn't find a cheaper version I liked.

{Cloud mobile via PBK, mobile arm purchased separately

Stuffed llama sold out on PBK, similar on Amazon

Stuffed penguin by Aurora via Amazon

Light-projecting stuffed frog prince from Amazon

Crib sheets by The Peanut Shell via Amazon

Owl security blanket by Blankets & Beyond, similar via Amazon}

In addition to all this baby fever, I've spent many hours working on creating more products for my TpT store. I've been focusing a lot on creating Spanish/English bilingual products (with my wonderful hubby as my editor) and even more mini-books about the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) because I found that there was a lack of resources for both on TpT. I previously had only created NGSS materials for 2nd and decided to expand to other grades as well. They are definitely a passion project of mine! I now have 13 mini-books in my NGSS collection, which you can see here.

Some of my new Spanish products:

Some of the new NGSS products I've created for grades 1-5:

All of the topics I have currently created science mini-books for:

* animals

* plants

* matter

* force

* weather

* the Earth

* the Solar System

* dinosaurs

* the human body

* energy

* organisms

* waves

* water

If you have any ideas/requests for more Spanish or science products, message me or leave a comment below!

Just for fun: a picture of my yorkie Chloe at my baby shower (wearing her "I'm going to be a big sister!" shirt from Amazon)

All those guests and games were too much for her!

**Disclaimer: the links leading to Amazon are affiliate links, which means I may get a small cut**

January Activity Book

I'm down to the last weekend of winter break and I don't know about you, but I am NOT ready to return! I started having teacher dreams already. You know the kind... dreaming that I'm walking my kids in the hallway and one of them starts throwing up all over. Yup, just like the dreams I get in August!! ha!

Anyways, my winter break has been wonderful and productive (not so restful, but I'm really bad at just relaxing and being still, it's just not my thing!). I've been going to the gym like crazy - doing Zumba every day, sometimes twice a day! It feels so luxurious to sleep in, then go to Zumba at 10am on a weekday - I could seriously get used to that lifestyle!! Can I just be a stay-at-home dog-mom??

I've also been busy FINALLY finishing up my monthly activity packs. I posted January, February, and March - one a day. *whew* Got them done just in time to use with my class!

January Activity Book:

I was also pretty very excited to find out that my TpT store was briefly featured on the TpT front page!

Thanks to Teacher Laura for the head's up and screenshot!!

 And since it is that time of year, my RESOLUTION for 2014 is to add some diet to my exercise! ha! I've already been really good about hitting the gym 4-5 times a week (which is the main reason why I don't get to blog very much!), but I still eat whatever I want. I'm really impressed by the people who "eat clean" and do meal prep like this every week:

 What a clever idea! Ready-to-go-salad!

Back to School Sale!!

Mark your calendars - TpT's annual back to school sale is *finally* here! I know that I have a HUGE list of goodies in my shopping cart ready to go! 

Everything in my store is 28% off when you use the promo code BTS13!!

I'm also joining in on this super fun "Best and Most" linky from Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge!

In the meantime, I've been working my tail off in my BRAND-NEW classroom this week! I've worked in my room (and planned with my new teammates!) every day since Sunday. I'll do my big classroom reveal next week when it's finally completed (waiting on a big order from Really Good Stuff to come in!) but I've had lots of compliments so far.

Just so you can see what I've been working on lately, before pictures of my new classroom:

I can't wait for my big classroom reveal next week!!

Things I've Been Working On

I must be crazy, but last week I volunteered to go into school for a few days and work with my teammates on mapping out the CCSS for kindergarten (yup, I'm moving back to K this year!) I have the BEST team - because we were the only grade that had all teachers show up!

Mapping out the ELA standards we are hitting hard this year:

We started out with the "I can" statements we want the kiddos to be able to do in June, then worked backwards from there. Breaking it down to the very smallest goals in September, such as: What is a question? What is a statement? How can I ask a question?

That took 2 days, then we had time to do things like this:

I made a kid-friendly writing rubric based on the school district's rubric. It was pretty fun doing the one-star writing, I must admit, hehehe.

Just had to share one of my very favorite things for my classroom:

I bought this from Pottery Barn my 1st year of teaching. It was my big splurge for my classroom and man do I love this thing. It holds TONS of stuff!! I especially love how I can print out cute paper to decorate it! Gotta have chevron! (That's my Chloe in the middle) I love it so much that I just bought another one for my home office after I redecorated it.

I don't know about you, but this describes me oh so well...

so I was SUPER excited to find this amazing frozen yogurt at the Wal-Mart near my house.

It's called Foxy's Pash and is only 80-90 cals and 0-1g of fat per serving (which is a 1/4 of the tub!)

My favorite is the Sneaky pash. It's wildberry flavored fro-yo with chocolate shavings. Tastes JUST like regular ice cream, but fat-free. I'm obsessed!

Aaaaand - a project that I have been working on all summer! More like do a page here and there in between other things, so it's taken me forever to finish! I first got this fun idea in May - so glad I'm finally done!

This Build-a-Story pack has fun worksheets for 20 fairy tales and folktales. 

I'm already starting to work on the 2nd pack!

 

A (late) Five for Friday!

Linking up for Five for Friday again this week (only a date late!) 

#1 - Self-Manager Badges

I've seen these badges used with older kids in a few schools and thought it would be a great idea for an end-of-the-year behavior boost. I whipped these badges up really quickly on my computer and got the lanyards from the school secretary. I chose the kiddos who have been exemplary all year (6 so far) and they get special privileges with these badges. First to pack up, first to recess and specials, and (my fav part), they get to be "scouts" for us in the hallway and during carpet time. They get to watch for good behavior and choose the best listeners to get "super citizen awards". The kids love them and everyone else is motivated to earn a badge too!

#2 - The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Our ELD kiddos put on a play of The Three Billy Goats Gruff for us. It was SO cute. Better believe I took video and lots of photos!

#3 - Spring Writing

I got this idea and acrostic poem template from another blog, but now I can't remember which one!! We put together this "spring words" anchor chart as a class, then taught the kids about acrostic poems. 

#4 - May and June Activities

    

 My May and June Activity Books are done and up on TpT now! I've been letting my kids use them as morning work and as early-finisher work. Debating creating a general Summer Activity Book to send home with the kids at the end of the year.

Linking up with Mrs. Wheeler's monthly mishmash for May. Click on the button for more great May items for your classroom!

#5 - My new favorite store!

We just had a few of these stores open in Portland in the past few years. I finally went in last weekend to have a look and I was in LOVE. Such cute clothes for work and the store is adorable too. I had to take a picture of the fitting room, because I loved how it was decorated, haha. (Couldn't fit the awesome wooden door and crystal chandelier in the picture)