Monday Made It

Where did my summer go? I can not believe that I will be going back in less than 15 days. YIKES it went by way too fast. I'm usually great about Monday Made Its but not this summer unless you count photographs. My summer has consisted of family beach sessions most nights. I'm not complaining because photography allows me to be creative. My husband loves it too because I'm not taking over the dinning room table with crafts. HA! 


Today I'm joining Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It! I can't wait to see the other ideas because I actually have a few free days this week.

My first Monday Made It were these " The Buzz about Me" bags that I will be passing out at orientation. I love this first homework assignment that I assign for my first graders. It's a fun way to get to know my students. I usually have about 5 students share each day during the first week of school. The bags were only .62 cents at Target so I just had to snag them up. To download this free tag click here.

I have never really had classroom jobs because I pick one student helper for the day instead. Last year I started using bee bucks. I got to the point where I wanted to pass out bee bucks for little jobs around the classroom. This year I'm going to try classroom jobs. Do you have them? Like them or Hate them? I hope it won't be too much to manage. 

Aren't these bee bucks adorable? You can find my bee job chart and bee bucks right here. They will be free for Monday only.

This is a free product I made years ago. I just added some real life examples underneath. 

Do your students have to track their learning on a progression scale or self assessment tool? This is currently how I will be having my students rate themselves with various standards and skills. It's also a free download here. The sticks have my free insta-sticks that I use  in many different ways in my classroom. They are great for calling on students, labeling cubbies, check-in magnets, AR trackers. etc.

My last Monday Made It I designed and ordered from Paper Concierge. I love that when I get to the bottom of the notepad I usually find a 40 % off coupon. I love fun notepads. How about you?

I've missed this fun linky. Thanks again Tara for hosting such a great linky.

Destination Vacation

Life is about making memories, not diamonds.-Chris Riotta

Have you seen this article in your newsfeed about spending money on experiences instead of things? It's been my philosophy the past 8 years of marriage. Instead of swapping gifts for holidays,we usually invest our money on trips. There was a long period of time that I didn't fly so I found my favorite spots to drive. Recently, I've put my fear of flying and now I'm scouting out my next vacation spot. Alison from Rockin' and Lovin' Learning and I want to know your spots.

Where do you LOVE to vacation?  
and I would like to know if you 

are you willing to give up your secret spot?

Let's Talk!

Gosh, this is hard so I'm going to name my top 3 spots in no particular order.

I guess I will start with Asheville, North Carolina. We have been vacationing here for the past 8 years. My husband and I go up for Fall Break and then the week of Thanksgiving because it happens to be our anniversary. We love sleeping with the windows open and building a fire. It even snowed a few times which was a treat for us. In Florida we NEVER see snow. Have you been to this funky little town in the Blue Ridge Mountains? They have the best weather, food scene, music/arts, and tons of beautiful landscapes.

Must See: The Biltmore Estate , BlueRidge Parkway, Grove Park Inn Gingerbread Contest

Must Eat: Biscuit Head, Limones, French Broad Chocolate Lounge

My next vacation spot is Malibu, California.  When we are here we do hit Los Angeles for the sight seeing but return to the peaceful scene in Malibu. Once again I love the weather. 75 degrees in Summer is HEAVEN for me.  I'm used to temperatures past 100 with tons of humidity. 

Must See: Santa Monica Pier, Rodeo Drive, Third Street Promenade 

Must Eat: Cafe Habana, Nobu, SunLife Organics

My last spot is the Disney Fantasy. I finally convinced Randy to go on a cruise with me. He was hesitate because he doesn't like  crowds. He deals with a lot of tourist so when he vacations he wants it somewhere quiet. Guess what? He LOVED it. You can relax and not worry about a thing. The Adult Only section is where we hung out the entire time. Great place to relax. They also have the best gym and spa. I *might* have taken a nap in the heated lounge chairs daily. We loved everything about the Fantasy. Great rooms, great entertainment, great food, great spa! I'm already trying to book one for the fall. 

Must See: Aladdin Play,  Fireworks, Rainforest Spa heated lounge chairs

Must Eat: Palo ( Try the konk kooler from Castaway Cay)

This linky will be open until August 10th...one month.

#destinationvacation

An InLinkz Link-up

Chocolate Milk, Por Favor! Book Tour and Giveaway

My favorite part of the day in first grade happens to be right after lunch.  After lunch, I love to incorporate stories that empower students to live life with positive character traits. Childhood can be tough and children face many challenges. To help me make a difference in the life of my students, I choose books from Maria Dismondy.  Maria Dismondy is a #1 best-selling children's book author, former teacher, and highly sought-after speaker. Why do I LOVE Maria so much? Well, what's not to love? She's absolutely precious. Maria has a passion for spreading an anti-bullying message and making a difference in her writing, blogging and charity work. She shares fabulous tips, simple lessons, crafts, and books to use when working with children. Have you checked out her resources lately? She continues to add great resources for educators and families on her website and blog.  I am so happy that I was able to get a copy of her latest book, Chocolate Milk, Por Favor, to review AND giveaway a signed copy to a lucky reader.

Maria Dismondy is an award-winning author, specializing in

books about challenges children face. A topic close to her heart,

Maria’s own childhood experience inspired her first book, Spaghetti

in a Hot Dog Bun. Maria’s dedication to empowering children with

courage and confidence has reached new heights, touching the

hearts and hands of children the world over. Grounded in her belief

that all children deserve a voice, Maria’s latest book, Chocolate

Milk, Por Favor, drives home the important message of celebrating

diversity with kindness, inclusion and empathy. As a sought-after

speaker, Maria spreads her message by presenting at schools and

conferences across the country. She holds degrees in education

and child development. Maria lives in southeastern Michigan with

her husband, Dave, and their three book-loving children.

You have to get your hands on a copy of this story. It's perfect for teaching students about diversity and acceptance. This book is about kindness, friendship and inclusion. It's a story where children celebrate the diversity among their classmates.  I can not wait to share with the other teachers at our school. Would you like to win your own copy? Leave a comment or share a resource on how you celebrate diversity in your classroom. Winners will be announced on Friday!

“Strength lies in differences, not in similarities” 

― Stephen R. Covey

Johnny is a big fan of school but that all changes when the new kid, Gabe arrives. Gabe doesn't speak any English, and that doesn't stop Johnny from going out of his way to be unkind.

But what will Johnny do when Gabe starts to make new friends? Will he join in the fun of making a new friend or turn the other way? Johnny realizes a powerful message in this story where student differences are celebrated. Read to find out how chocolate milk plays a major role in the discovery of the real universal language. 

The tour continues so be sure to visit The Organized Classroom Blog tomorrow for more!