Scholar's Bowl

This morning I went to the county scholar's bowl. My kids did so awesome! We made it up on the stage and ended up getting 2nd place. I was one proud mama bear!!!!! Made me feel like I was doing "something" right! :)
All of the questions for this scholar's bowl were literature related. There was a ton of questions about nursery rhymes, Disney, etc. There was even one about Eric Carle! I'm beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be more beneficial to teach from stories like that opposed to our adopted reading series?? There was definitely no questions about "The Sleeping Pig" or "The Kite." Those are the previous two stories we have read. I just wonder if the kids learn more or get more from those type of stories opposed to stories from the basal reading books? The workbook activities really aren't that great that go along with the reading series and after we read from that book, do those pages, and then do our Saxon Phonics, it doesn't leave alot of extra time for other reading activities.... we must move on to math, science, and social studies. Anyways... was just wondering what most of you do for your reading???
Happy Saturday blog friends! My Saturday has turned out pretty good so far! My kiddos got 2nd place in the scholar's bowl.... got me an awesome new blog design that I'm in LOVE with...it is almost 50 degrees outside (this is something to be proud of considering we are already out of snow days) and now I have a date with my sweet baby dog Dexter. He is getting a bath!! :)

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New Blog Desgin

So... first of all I must say I'm in LOVE, L-O-V-E, LOVE with my new blog background!!! Did I mention that I'm in LOVE!? And this was all made possible by Kristen Walsky!! She has completely made my day!! Well I'm so in love with it she has probably made my whole weekend and it will flow on into next week and probably even then some! haha  I love her blog First Grade Teaching and found it over Christmas break. I was hooked. She had awesome ideas to share, was very nice, and helpful!! Her great ideas and her blog, along with some other great blogs out there inspired me to jump on this blog wagon! I was seeking out a cutesy background and I was very lucky because Kristen was beginning to get into the blog designing business on the side. I got to be one of her guinea pigs for her class. Boy was I LUCKY!! I can't express how much I appreciate all her hard work and help creating this cutesy background for me! Please visit her new blog design website Teacher Gone Techie to get your new blog design!! She is running a special through February 15th so please go check her out!! She is fantastic and such a great person!! Thanks again Kristen!! :)

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February Family Project

With February just a hop, skip, and a jump around the corner I am already thinking about our next family project! For February I have families create a valentine container to hold the valentine cards at our valentine party. Click the bear below for the note I send home!



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First Grade Funny--- "Grumpy r"

This week in our Saxon Phonics I introduced the combination er and we talked about "bossy r." The kids thought that calling it a bossy r was so funny. Yesterday, one of my kiddos came up and said "Miss Delk, guess what!?" I said what, and she said "my last name has a GRUMPY R in it!" haha Too funny!!!!!! Thought I would share!
We got another snow day today! This is the last one... so from here on out if we miss we have to make up! I will be definitely be doing a sunshine and flip flop dance instead of any snow dances from here on out! Happy Friday everyone!!!

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Pencil Buddies-- Management Tip

Need a new way to assign partners for an activity in class? Use pencils! Simply collect a variety of pencils with different colors or designs. Before the activity, pass out pencils to the class and then ask the kiddos to find the match to their pencil. Wallah! You now have partners for an activity or game! For added fun let them use the pencils for the activity. Collect pencils and save them for the next time you need to give the kids a buddy.

I found this neat idea from the Mailbox and thought I'd share!! Pure genius! ha

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Accessory Swap- Teaching In Heels

Well it looks like today is my last day at home after a LONG break! We missed the whole week before Christmas break for snow. Then was out two weeks for Christmas break. We came back to a staff development day, followed by being in school one full day, dismissing early, going in 2 hours late and then missing 6 straight days for snow and then being out today for MLK day. Needless to say I probably won't know what to do with myself tomorrow when we go back. I sure hope the kiddos are ready to get back in the groove of things and come in with their thinking caps on and aren't hyped up to awfully bad. We shall see!

Since we have been off so much I have spent much of my time glued to my laptop searching the web for ideas to use in my classroom and I have become obsessed with blogs and blogging! Oh my goodness.. Is there a 12 step program out there for bloggers. I've nearly wore a spot on the couch from sitting there in the same spot so much! haha  Well.. not really, but ya know. My internet wasn't working this morning and I nearly was about to freak out because I couldn't check my blog and other blogs.. Now you see why I was wondering about the 12 step program for bloggers! I've got a huge problem on my hands! I did manage to mop the entire house though and work on some planning since my internet was down. But it's back up and running and I'm blogging!

I just found the cutest little blog.....http://teachinginheels.blogspot.com and became a follower. She is having an accessory swap and I am super excited because I want to be apart of this greatness! Check out the details on her site and you will too!!

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Procrastination & Stuff

Well tomorrow is the big day for me to take the School Leadership Praxis Test.. Boy oh boy am I nervous! I bought this e-book study guide when I signed up for the test and I've been attempting to study for weeks now. It might be easier if I had of actually printed off the book.... 195 pages is alot though! Alot of paper and alot of ink. So I've just been attempting to study it from my computer and everytime I do I find myself drifting in another direction. I'm browsing posts on proteacher, checking my email, looking on ebay, blogging, looking at other blogs, you get the point. I'm pretty sure it would have been a good idea to have just took the plunge and printed the stinking 195 page e-book off... not sure that I'm very prepared for my poor test. I can always remember my mama saying to eat chocolate before my tests... something about stimulating the brain. Guess I better start tonight on the chocolate. Well as I sit here with my clipboard  I am attempting to take a practice test. I'm on question 4... decided to stop.. and BLOG! I am so addicted to this blogging business!

Anyways, today was day 6 straight of no school due to snow. I did venture out today.. nothing leisurely though.. had to pay some bills and I got a few things at the store. I bought some blueberries and I'm hoping to make some blueberry pancakes soon..hopefully tonight! :)

We are babysitting... umm, dogsitting for the weekend. My little Dexter is an only child (dog) and he has company for the weekend. Should be pretty interesting...... he has already been stealing treats from the other dog. Pretty brave if you ask me.... the other dog although a house dog is much bigger than little Dexter. But Dexter packs a mean punch and he is all business when it comes to treats.....whether there his treats or not.

I guess its back to the practice test... wish me luck!!

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January Family Project

We will be reading the book "Snowballs" by Lois Ehlert when we return to school from Christmas break. For our January Family Project students will be decorating a snowman using a template.
Click here for copy of snowman template!

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Welcome to my First Grade Blog!!

After being inspired by so many neat blogs by fantastic teachers, I have decided to start my own! I am new to blogging, and don't know much about it! I have alot to learn, but I hope that you will find something interesting or beneficial from this blog! Stay tuned....

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