School Year Success with Kristen at Labybug's Teacher Files

This school year truly is flying by! We only have 24 days left and as I look back at the class that I received in August, I think that there are several things to celebrate!

First, this group has shown me a great deal about classroom management. I have been teaching for 11 years and I have a lot of tricks in my bag. But every once in a while, a class comes around and shows you that maybe...just maybe... you need a few more tricks! They have come such a long way and I think that this truly comes from beign consistant and being clear about my expectations. I used a very colorful chart this year, that allowed for opportunities to redeem themselves and their choices (which really worked for this groups of kiddos). If you would like to read more and grab a copy of my chart, click here. I also made sure that their was an accountablility piece that would allow them to reflect on their behavior. You can click here to read more about classroom management during stations click here.

Another great success that I have had this school year is my development of new and fresh ideas for my class. Not only have I found amazing new resources from my blogging friends, I have also challenged myself to create some new and exciting things (and am having a BLAST doing it!) The kiddos are loving it and I feel so filled when the lesson that I have worked so hard to make perfect creates great learning moments! To see a few of the things that I have made, check out my blog or go to my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. That has been an adventure all of its own :)

Every year, around this time, I like to think about what I would like to do differently (or maybe better) that the year before. This summer, I think I am going to reread my Daily Five book and work on way to incorporate the CAFE into my instruction next year....well, that's if I am teaching reading.... or first grade for that matter....hmm, maybe  better wait until a little further in May to make any plans ;)

Classroom Mangagement with Curls and a Smile

I saw this great linky party that Mrs. Randall was having and wanted to join in!

I have a great color chart that I use in my classroom! It has done wonders fro my students and their behavior in the classroom. No matter what you choose to do in your classroom, consistancy is the key. Once students know the expectations and that those expectations will not change, the kiddos will try to reach that expectation. Want to know more and snag a copy of my behavior/color chart?

Click here

Having some trouble with little ones staying engaged in their Daily 5 or Work stations?

Click here

Hope this is helpful and make sure to check in a little later for a ROYAL UPDATE...... :)

A Royal Event...

Once upon a time, there was a very excited teacher who couldn't wait to get to school the next day. She knew that her students were going to have a magical time learning of all the royal tales of far away lands....

Here is a sneak peek of what the week has to bring.......

Check in and see all the adventures my little firsties will be having in the land of Fairy Tales (and find a few freebies along the way)!

Fonts and Clipart Linky Party

 As you all probably know....I {heart} fonts!

So when I saw that

when I see a linky party for one of my favorite things, I had to join in!!

I had a great time (and of course found tons of cute fonts I didn't have) while creating a sqwrol just for you.

What is a sqwrol? It is an awesome tool for keeping and sharing information on one site. I used the website to create a sqwrol for my students that has super fun educational websites (and homework too). It is so much easier for them because they can save the sqwrol as a favorite instead of typing in diffferent websites each time they want to move to a new site. I love searching the site for new ideas and websites for just about anything.

Curious yet?

Check it out! Click on my little friend below :)

And the winner is....

Happy Friday!!

It's finally time to announce a winner! Thank you so much to all of you who entered! You guys are amazing and I can't thank you enough for your support! ( Sorry for the delay...I was having a little trouble with my super cute little pirate pictures)....

And the winner of my Pirate Unit and How I Became a Pirate is...

And the winner of the second Pirate Unit is.....

                                         

Congratulations to both Ms. M and Smiles(n)Second! Please email me at lmorgart@lcisd.org in the next 48 hours to claim your prize!!

Again THANK YOU to everyone that participated....I'll be celebrating again soon! Almost at 200 followers....WOOHOO!

It's Almost Here!!!!!

You have just a few more hours to enter the Pirate's Gold Giveaway that ends tomorrow night! I received the copy of How I Became a Pirate today and I am so thrilled! I can't wait to see who wins....remember, there are several ways to enter. Good luck!!!!!
                                                  Click to enter

                                                       

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday: Needs and Wants

Hi everyone!! My little ones have been learning all about needs and wants and making good choiceswith their money/allowances. Today we read the storyAlexander That Used to Be Rich Last Sunday. The kiddos kept track of the money that Alexander spent and as we were reading..... they were so cute! They kept insisting that Alexander should learn his lesson and that he needed to save his money. They were just so upset with Alexander (and that he "wasted" his money) that when they were able to give him advice.....the room was
SILENT! I had so much fun reading their responses to Alexander and they really enternalized the idea that you should be careful with the decisions that you make with money.....it was a super succesful lesson! So, I wanted to share it with you! :)                                                                                                          

Click to Download

Meet Ms. Morgart on Teaching Blog Addict...and Pirate's Gold Giveaway details

I am so very excited to be a part of something that I think is going to be amazing! It is going to be a great resource with wonderful bloggers and teachers that will provide you with many a fabulous ideas to use in your classroom!

Are you a Teaching Blog Addict?

Come read my posts as a featured member!

Oh! And please don't forget to enter to my giveaway as well! I would love to invite all our new friends at Teaching Blog Addict as well....so I am extending my giveaway until fun day Friday, April 15 at 8pm central time! You guys have been so kind and I am so excited that I am also planning to giveaway a second fabulous product!! WOOHOO!!

Giveaway fun!!

Hope you are having a wonderful Saturday! I just wanted to let you know about another wonderful giveaway! Erica from Erica Bohrer's First Grade and Anna from Crazy For First Grade are having an amazing giveway for three of their spring themed products.....but HURRY because it ends tonight at midnight!

Also, don't forget to pass the word and enter for a chance to win the Pirate's Gold Giveaway on my blog! I really think that you are going to L.O.V.E. the unit and the great book that I will send to the winner! My giveaway will end tomorrow so hurry over to this link to be included in the random generated drawing. Good luck!!

Pirate's Gold Giveaway....Just a couple more days!

Happy, happy FRIDAY!!!!!

I am so glad that it is FRIDAY!!

I need a couple of days to rest and renergize for what will be a very, very busy week next week....

How was your week?

Did you have a wonderful ah-ha moment?

Did you teach something that was just a dream?

I would love to read your comments and share in your joys!!

On another note, please don't forget that I will be using a random generator to select a lucky winner for my Pirate's Gold Unit on Sunday....I am thrilled and can't wait to see who wins!!

Follow the link if you haven't already entered to win and please feel free to blog about the giveaway :)

Click here to enter

Have you entered to win? Pirate Giveaway :)

To celebrate the excitiement of having reached 100+ followers, I am havinf a giveaway for my super fun Pirate's Gold Unit that can be found on TpT for $7....and a fabulous read aloud!! Pass the word along and keep on entering to win! There are FIVE ways that you can enter:
So....here is how you can enter to win....

1. Follow my blog

2. Follow my TpT store

3. Grab my button and use it for your blog

4. Place my blog on your sidebar (MY FAVE!!)

5. Blog about this giveaway and link back to me

 

I am so excited!!

I will announce a winner on Sunday, April 10 at 9PM centeral time. Good luck!!!

100 followers!!!!! Time for a giveaway!!!

First, I must say thank you!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I never imagined just a couple of months ago that I would have over a 100 followers....it is so humbling and I am so grateful. Blogging has been such a wonderful way to connect to other teachers and their wonderful ideas and I am OVER THE MOON that so many people believe in what I do as I go about the business of educating all my sweet little first graders. As a thank you.....time for a giveaway!!

So, are you curious what I might have up my sleeve??

I spent much of my time during Spring Break creating a Pirate Unit that you are going to L.O.V.E!!

Here are just few of the activities you will find:

(There are many sets of cards for the different skills such as sight words, contraction, compund words and abc order.)

Do you love it? Shall I sweeten the deal? To go along with your new unit, I would like to send the lucky winner the book How I Became A Pirate by Melinda Long and Illustrated by David Shannon!!

So....here is how you can enter to win....

1. Follow my blog

2. Follow my TpT store

3. Grab my button and use it for your blog

4. Place my blog on your sidebar (MY FAVE!!)

5. Blog about this giveaway and link back to my blog

You all are A.MAZ.ING. and I can't tell you how much I appreciate each and every one of you!! I hope you are as excited as I am...I will announce a winner on Sunday, April 10 at 9PM centeral time. Good luck!!!