This is why we do what we do.....

I can't believe how very busy I have been these last couple of weeks. I promise to post soon but I just had to share this with everyone. I love watching the Oscars..the dresses, the glamour, the WONDERFUL movies! This year, the show ended with a rendition of one of my all time favorite songs.....Somewhere Over the Rainbow from the Wizard of Oz.

It brought tears to my eyes.... they are AMAZING! 

When things are a little hectic and aren't quit going my way, its moments like this one that remind me of every child's amazing potential and humbles me to know that I have the honor of being a teacher!

Using what they already know to conquer counting MONEY

This week I spent time teaching my little first graders how to count money. Now, as most of you know, this is not as easy as it sounds! They are wonderful at skip counting but seem to struggle when applying it to counting coins. So, I started thinking....they are really, really good at skip counting and have become experts on using a number line to do just about everything....so why not combine what they know to tackle what they are not so sure about! Necessity is the mother of invention....and that's where I got the idea for this money counting mat. The kiddos loved it and so did I! I will be adding this to a mini unit that I am working on but I wanted to share it with you guys. These will need to be printed on legal size paper. Let me know what you think...I love suggestions :)

This one as the number already written for them.

 

This one is open response so that they can write the numbers themselves.

SALE.... and thoughts on my profile pic :)

Happy Saturday!

I am throwing a sale in my TpT store in honor of President's Day! There are four featured items that will be 15% off! Come by and check it out...become a follower and let me know what you think about my products. I really appreciate it!!

Random thought of the day.....I posted a profile pic. I looked and looked for a picture that I would like and the one that ends up on the blog is one where my hair is straight!! LOL...I promise that I have super curly hair....no....seriously! It takes me 2 hours to look as though I woke up with straight hair! Irony....gotta love it!

Another great giveaway at Erica's Blog

Erica Borher, author of Just Right Reading Response Activity Sheets for Young Readers, is giving away a second copy of her book. How exciting!! Check out her blog to enter....

Giveaway at Fabulous in First!!

You guys have got to go by and check out Michelle's giveaway at Fabulous in First!! She is giving away a copy of EVERYTHING in her Teachers Pay Teachers shop....all you have to do is:

1. Become a follower of her blog.
2. Become a follower of her Teachers pay Teachers store.

3. Blog about this giveaway.  

Good luck...Michelle's giveaway ends on Friday at 8pm!

One more winner!!

I had such an AWESOME response to my giveway that I have decided to give away one last copy of my sight words game Love Struck!! Thank you so much for your interest and I can't wait to share more ideas with you!! Using random.org, the winner is.... iteachk!!! Congratulations and Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!!

And the winners are....

Thank you so much for all of you that participated! I hope that you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!! Congratulations to Mrs. Saoud, absees 123s and Ms. Patton!! I will email you your new sight word game to enjoy....congrats again! Winners were chosen using a random generator on random.org. Please make sure that I have your emails and ENJOY!!

Hurrry Over....Giveaway ends at 9pm!!

Hurry on over and join in the fun of my first giveaway!! I am so excited to see show wins!!

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY...just in time for Valentine's day!!

It's time for a giveway!! I am so excited about doing this because I have seen so many great giveways in the last few days...and Valentine's Day is tomorrow and I have a great treat to share!  I am going to giveaway 3 copies of my Valentine's Day sight word game Love Struck  from my TpT store!

All you have to do is:

1. Follow my blog

2. Follow my TpT

3. Post my giveway on your blog

Each one will be an entry and please make sure to include your email so that I can send you your prize if you are the big winner! I use a random generator to find the winners and will post it tonight at 9pm. Good luck everyone!! I hope that you are as excited as I am!!

Ms. Patton's Patch Giveaway

Oh my! Have you been by Ms. Patton's Patch? She has a great blog and is having a giveway for scrapbooking materials from Creative Memories. You'll love her ideas and the giveway is just wonderful!!

President's Day

This is always a fun time to teach! The kiddos love learning about other people and are naturally intrigued by what they did during their lifetime. As I visited my favorite blogs, I came across a Venn diagram and tree map that is TOTALLY fantastic for teaching about our country's presidents. Check out Swamp Frog First Graders for that wonderful resource! Thank you Heidi! I LOVE IT!


I have also posted a product at my  TpT store. In this product you will receive a bubble map for both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, a graphing activity and a reflection page for their graph (all for only $2.50). Hope you like it!

Literacy Stations

My kiddos love literacy stations! They enjoy working independently and with a partner and adore all the wonderful ideas I have collected (so many sensational blogs....I can't help myself!!). However, there are times when little friends can't contain their excitement and energy and become a distraction to others that are trying to stay on task. I have been guiding my students to make better choices and one of the things I like to do with them is have them fill out a behavior report. The kiddos reflect on their behavior (while sitting out during one rotation as a consequence) and work on the report. Then we take a minute or two to discuss what happened, what would have been a better choice and what they will do during their next opportunity at stations. Then we both sign the bottom, just like a like a real contract :) and the student goes back to stations. This has worked with a few of my students who need a little more support than the others.

What do you do to keep literacy stations running smoothly? I would love to hear all your FABULOUS ideas!!

My Human Body Mini Book

I am so excited about all that is blog related that I have started on a few little things. This little cutie is an abbreviated mini version of the book I made for my class that is in my TpT store. I am new to all this so hopefully the post will work...cross your fingers! Oh and please let me know what you think :)

Click to Download

Meet Ms. Morgart

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                             
A:  I love anything that has to do with Broadway!! I would love to be on the stage...I also went to College witht the intent to become a doctor. I love to learn about the human body.

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                    
A:  Spending time with my family and friends, reading, photography, watching Glee (yes, I admit it, I am a total GLEEK) and blogging (my newest hobby!)                                            

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                     
A: I wanted to be a doctor and the President of the United States....yes... both...

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                  
 A: Speciality cupcakes, Starbucks, diet coke and Glee

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                                   
 A: Somewhere exciting!! A place where I know I will have fun AND learn new things! I love to travel and wish I could do it more often.
                                                          
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                   
A:  Find strength in yourself . You are capable of great things if you are willing to try.

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                   
A:  Honesty, compassion and kindness towards others.

Q: If you could choose one of your personality traits to pass down to your kids, what would it be?                                                                                                        
A: My calm determination.

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                               
A:  Barack Obama and his family....most definitely! A more realistic person maybe Debbie Diller so I could ask her lots of questions about things I can do for my classroom :)...and some of my very successful and wonderful blogging teacher friends to share school and blogging tips!!

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

After many weeks of wondering what to name my blog, it finally hit me! One of the things that has always made me so unique is my wonderfully curly, curly hair! And the smile....well, that comes from the fact that I have the BEST family ever and from what I get to do everyday...TEACH! I have a million reasons to smile...so TAH DAH!! Curls and a Smile was born.....

I am a font freak...lol! I love to collect fonts and use them in everything that I can imagine! I also enjoy collecting pens and well, anything that can be purchased at an office supply store. I have become a total blog junkie and LOVE gathering ideas from so many talented teachers. My students love it and my team is enjoying all the new and fresh ideas that have come from my new found hobby :)

Welcome!!

I finally did it!! I have a blog!! 

There are so many talented teachers out thier in blogland and I was so inspired that I decided I would join them in sharing some of  my ideas from all my years of teaching (11 years -all in first grade). I am so excited and can't wait to give back to so many teachers that have given me so much!!