New design, Giveaway Winner, AND A New Linky Party

Hi friends! Have you noticed anything new around here lately? I am in LOVE with my brand new design that Megan made! If you're in the market for a fresh new look for your blog, I highly recommend "A Bird in Hand Designs". Not only is this one beautiful, but Megan's prices are reasonable and the turn-around time is super fast!

Please feel free to grab my new button and add it to your blog roll if you do that kind of thing. I'm actually not an owl person OR a fall color person, so this one fits me SO much better!

I also wanted to officially announce the winner of my pencil sharpener giveaway. I promise that I didn't forget about it. It has just been a really long week. I'll explain in more detail tomorrow in the Five for Friday (that I may start today while I actually have some time).

Like my new matching papers I got with the blog design?

I even contacted Sarah already, and her pencil sharpener is in the mail. For those of you who didn't win but still want one, remember that Classroom Friendly Supplies is donating $1 of the sales for EACH PINK SHARPENER to cancer research. It's such a worthy cause to support, PLUS you get an amazing pencil sharpener.

Oh, I'm planning on starting a new monthly linky party for teachers who want to get/stay fit and hold each other accountable.

We'll do this on the THIRD THURSDAY of every month, and I will try to share the topic earlier in the week so you're ready to link up when it's time! The first date will be next Thursday (Sept. 19), and we will share about how we try to eat healthy. This can be what you pack in your lunchbox, a favorite recipe, a meal plan, tips, whatever! I would love to get as many people to link up as possible (my last linky party was a complete flop), so please spread the word if you have other bloggy friends who are trying to stay fit!

Monday Made it + My giveaway ends tonight!

Whew! First week of school and a Monday down, got most of the new students tested for their first running records (mostly high kids), and now I'm able to relax and get ready for my church community group.

I decided that I wanted to participate in Monday Made-It because I HAVE been doing quite a few things recently. Plus I didn't end up putting together my Five for Friday since Steven's needed the computer more than I have and I didn't really take any pictures last week since the first week for me is pretty boring. I'm not going to give long descriptions for these because they're pretty self-explanatory.

I shared about my door decor a few weeks ago here, but now I have the file available for free if you would like to use it in your classroom! Click on the picture above to access it.

I talked about how I was going to paint two of my pieces of furniture that were looking a little shabby a WHILE back. Well, they are completed and now much nicer additions to my classroom, which is looking better than it ever has! This is a view of my reading and writing stations. The two black pieces are the ones I repainted. Then I bought the bins and made the cute black labels to show what levels are in each bin. I think it look SO much cleaner than before!

Sorry the lighting is pretty crappy. I'm using my phone for pictures, and it's on its VERY last leg. As in I'm buying a new phone this weekend after we get paid. Then we'll hopefully have prettier pictures! 

I also created my favorite set of literacy centers that are available in my TPT and TN stores. Who doesn't love Duck Dynasty?

Oh, and a fun personal made-it that my husband and his dad did for Keagan:

Phase 1: Activity board (the light is his favorite)

Phase 2: Chalkboard side to the activity board

Keagan is LOVING this! It's his new favorite toy. Too bad we don't have space at our house to keep one there. At least he has it to play with at his Papaw's.

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Okay, just a few quick reminders before I go:

I've had SO many people enter this giveaway already, but I want to make sure you know that it ends at MIDNIGHT!! If you haven't entered yet, now is the time to do so.

Jivey is also having a giveaway right now, and if you don't win my pencil sharpener, that's one of her 5 prizes! Go check it out. You will love her blog!

And I have surpassed 500 followers (YIPPEE!) due to this pencil sharpener giveaway. I have a little something up my sleeve, but I'm not quite ready to disclose anything yet. We're still in the planning phase (yes, we - I'll disclose that I'm teaming up with someone). Keep your eyes peeled!

Duck Dynasty Centers Complete!

Okay, I know this is technically two posts in one day, but I wanted to make sure you knew that I finally finished my Duck Dynasty themed literacy centers! I'm SO proud of them, mainly because I know that my students are going to eat these up. Since I have mostly boys in my pull-out program, this was especially important to me. Many of the kids I see love to hunt, and even those who don't seem to love the Duck Dynasty guys as much as I do (if not more). I added a mixture of facts about hunting and the show, and then I had a good friend of mine (and avid hunter) check them over to make sure all of my facts were correct since I don't hunt.

As usual, these centers include 4 comprehension-based centers and 4 word-knowledge centers. They are geared toward upper elementary and include some more difficult words than normal. For instance, in this suffix section, there are a few words this time that they will have to manipulate a little to add the correct suffix (offend - offensive), but I want my students to realize that it's not always cut and dry for them!

TN or TPT

Today was our first day, so I'm a little tired and ready to spend some time with my little man. Don't forget to enter my pencil sharpener giveaway that went live early this morning.

Win a PINK pencil sharpener!

I'm so excited to officially announce this! Classroom Friendly Supplies has upped the ante and now carries their amazing sharpener in blue, green, red, black, and PINK!!! When I first got mine a little over a year ago, they only had blue and green, so they're really cranking out the new colors. I KNOW this one is going to sell out quickly, but for now it's still available.

If you buy the PINK sharpener right now, $1 will be given to support cancer research. What's better than buying something awesome AND helping with a noble cause?

Haven't heard about these sharpeners? Click on the picture above to read my personal review.

And even more exciting, I get to give one away (any color) to one of my fabulous followers!! The giveaway runs until midnight next Tuesday, so be sure to enter before then! I made this giveaway really simple, and there's only three things to do for entries. When you like Classroom Friendly Supplies on Facebook, please leave him a comment and let him know I sent you!

****IMPORTANT NOTE: These pencil sharpeners can only be shipped to U.S. Residents. If you happen to live out of the country and win, I will offer winner's choice of THREE items from my store to make up for it. Sorry about that...****

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And may the odds be ever in your favor! Today's my first day of school, so I'm hopefully sleeping peacefully right now in preparation!

Currently September: Turning a New Leaf

September is officially here, which means SO many things. School starts, fall is on it's way, and Farley's newest currently is up! I'm going to jump right in because it's Labor Day and we're going to a cookout in a little while.

Listening: Last year, we decided to cancel DISH, so now we have a grand total of 14 "channels" - 2 or 3 for each of the six local stations (CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, FOX, and CW). Sometimes I'm glad we got rid of it because cable is so expensive and it's not a need, but when the channels keep cutting out, or when I'm home during the day and nothing's on, I miss it. Not a big fan of The Big Valley, but sometimes I luck out and get some fun older shows, like Batman or The Brady Bunch. I've even caught a few episodes of Dennis the Menace!

Loving: My room still isn't 100% finished because I bought a few more items yesterday, but I feel like it looks so much bigger and cleaner. Even Steven commented on how nice it looks this year!

Thinking: Now that I'm not a classroom teacher, the first day of school is actually a nice time. I don't feel like I'm running a marathon and honestly don't have many assignments. I will be going around to test new students and start working in some of the classrooms I will push in to this year, but nothing big yet.

Wanting: I actually reached my weight goal at the very end of the school year (even bought a bikini and felt comfortable in it when we went to Puerto Rico), but I gained about 6 pounds over the summer and am struggling to lose them. It doesn't help that Steven doesn't need to lose any more weight and can't diet with me, but I'm trying.

Needing: We're past the "want" phase. My phone is BARELY hanging on now. We're still on a very tight budget until Steven gets his first full time paycheck September 15, then we're going phone shopping! I kind of still want the iPhone, but we don't want to upgrade our plan and have to pay more, and I don't have $500 out of pocket to spend on a phone. Thinking about trying to get a Samsung Galaxy if I can find it for the right price. Honestly, anything will be better than what I have, though...

Personal Goals: 

1. I've been kind of in a slump in my faith for a little while. I mean, I still was active in church and everything, but my personal relationship with God was struggling. This past week, I dusted off my bible and a devotional book (Unglued), and I'm spending my morning breakfast time reading and praying instead of watching the news.
2. As I said earlier, I need to cut back a few pounds, and I've been doing Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred. It's hard, but I like that it's not as long or crazy as Insanity that I did at the end of the year. Still, I feel like I can get results from it. I trust Jillian!
3. Last year, I spent too much time trying to fit in and be a part of something I'm not. When this school year started, I decided it wasn't worth the frustration. So I'm trying to surround myself with people I truly feel like I can be myself around and accept me as I am. I don't need to be everyone's best friend, and I don't have to have the top of the line everything to feel like I am part of the group. 

Go link up! I will have to read other posts later, but I haven't forgotten about you. Oh, and be sure to check back tomorrow (or at midnight) for something you won't want to miss!

Five for Friday

I can't believe teacher work week is over and that students will actually be back on Tuesday! It doesn't feel like it's quite time yet, even though I know many of you have been back for almost a month now (or at least 2 weeks). I feel like I'm as ready as I need to be with just a few things to work on before I actually start pulling kids in a few weeks.

The past few days, we have been at probably the best professional development I've been required to attend. We had Fred Wolff from Six Traits Live! come and do a workshop on getting the traits started in our classrooms. 

If his name sounds familiar, this book may be why.

I first heard about Six Traits (or 6+1 Writing) a few years ago when I was doing my Master's program, but this was the first time I truly had a chance to learn what it was all about and how to make it happen in my class.

The workshop even inspired my new door decor! I had been browsing Pinterest, but nothing really felt right for me. I saw a few cute doors for if I had a regular classroom, but I wanted something that connected to my being the Reading Specialist. When we were talking about good leads, I finally saw my future door!

I came in this morning and put it together, and now I'm in love with it! So bright and cheerful :-). I think my para will be proud when she comes back on Tuesday. 

This afternoon, I finally got my order in and am SO excited about my new professional book that came with it! 

Maybe you've already read it and I'm behind, but vocabulary is an area where my kids really struggle. I'm making it a big focal point this year, especially with my older students. A girl I met this summer highly recommended this book, so I'm excited to check it out. And of course, I'll share any wonderful insights or tips I find!

Here's my book selection this time around. A little bit for everyone! I spent most of my money this time on different odds and ends I needed around the classroom, like duct tape, construction paper, hanging file racks, folders, and....

...those blue bins that now neatly organizing my books for independent reading! That shelf and the other one behind my stool on the right have FINALLY been painted and returned to the school. I really like how they turned out, and now I just need to make some labels to show what levels each bin holds. The other shelf has larger sections, so I'm thinking of collecting diaper boxes and covering them...maybe even in burlap?

It was a VERY busy week, and this is really only focusing on the past three days. I also had to run a quick PD for each of my grade levels about setting specific goals during reading conferences. Hopefully next week will be a little calmer (yes, I know it's the first week for kids) and I can do a whole post explaining it. For now, I'm going to prop my feet up and relax! It's a THREE DAY WEEKEND!!!

I have a freebie in the midst of my craziness!

Wow, this week has been PACKED with preparing for the beginning of the new year! Even though we had seven workdays this year, I feel like I'm not as ready as I usually am. Maybe I should have come in more over the summer...

I wanted to share a freebie that I put together. If you follow me on Instagram (@dalton_gang), you've already seen this, but click on the picture to take you to the file.

TN or TPT

My room is very small, and I debated having a word wall last year. It ended up that I put one up, but I didn't feel like we used it the way I wanted because of the layout of the room. I started to put it up again this year and decided it wasn't worth my time or the wall space it took up. So I decided to make word collector folders! They're very simple, but cute like I love. I'm just going to have two for each group I meet with, but you could easily print off enough for every individual. These are laminated, and I plan on using dry erase markers throughout the year as we read and find more interesting words!

Right now it's just on TN because I couldn't open the TPT website for some reason. I will add that link as soon as I can get it to work. All I ask is that you please SHARE it with your friends (Pin it!) if you like it and leave feedback!

Now I'm going to prop my feet up and prepare for one more day of running. Fortunately I'll be in my classroom most of the day tomorrow. I haven't even done my door yet!