So these interactive notebooks have been everywhere! The blogs are full of them. I haven't gotten around to trying them yet. It's on the to-do list for this year. Now I know where to start! Carson-Dellosa has made a great resource for Interactive Math Notebooks! It has some great features! The pages are perforated so you can easily take them out to copy. Or do you like to take them out and put them in page protectors in a notebook - by topic or as a whole book? Do you file them? I'm trying to get away from files! I don't mind books (well, I LOVE books) but the less paper around the better for me! I'm trying to keep things digital. Any how! Back to the book - It is set up with the 5 domains from common core. There are a few - EASY TO READ!-information pages with some visuals. OK - I teach kindergarten - I have the same attention span some days! LOL It explains interactive notebooks, how to get started, how to organize, plan and manage and even has a grading rubric. T...

Well, I am loving this new Carson-Dellosa Colorful Chalkboard Décor. Here is an official link!   http://ow.ly/QIn2a  This is a really a cute set!  It has a lot in the set too! There is a bday chart, calendar, incentive chart, all-purpose chart (this has one of those cute and popular banners going across the top), calendar pieces and a door label. I LOVE the colors – they are bright but not overpowering. It’s somehow perfect bright! It’s got that nice chalk look too – you know like you colored it in. So here are some of my thoughts about how I will use this – I haven’t started decorating my room yet! AGHHH!!! Well, I’ve been in rearranging and pairing down on furniture. Now it will be time to start decorating! So – the bday chart is pretty obvious. ;-) I’m going to laminate it first so I can write the names and dates on it year after year. I’m planning on adding the kinders pictures to it also. I’m thinking around it – each one by the month. I might use the cu...

I am sooo excited to share the news! I am a Carson-Dellosa Brand Ambassador! This is awesome! They send me products and I get to use and review them! AND…. There may just be a giveaway sometime!   Look at the size of that box!!! You know there is good stuff in there!! Now look at all the good things inside! I’ll be blogging about all them! So stay tuned So I need to tell you about the first product!       Carson Dellosa has done it again! I cannot believe that they read my mind! LOLI have been thinking about a common core checklist book and thinking about how to make one and then they did! SO MUCH EASIER! This is a fairly thin spiral bound book. Love that it can lay flat or be turned in half. (you know what I mean right? Only looking at one side of the book at a time! ) I’m hoping the spiral lasts through the year – that is the only thing with spirals – they can snag!  I was wondering though if it should have 3 hole punches also. Then I ...

Yes, it's late again! Really! I don't like being late! I hate it! It makes my stomach hurt. Sadly, it's becoming my norm though! What can I say? I'm sorry! You'll all forgive me though won't you? It's been crazy! I'm loving the boat theme. We never made it to the beach this summer. :( I'm hoping a weekend away with the hubs after school starts! We are planning on embracing this empty nest stuff! OK - I can't rehash all the stuff that is in there. You can read it and it's self explanatory.  I just wanted to get August up! Thanks for reading! 

Well, here we go again! It's that time  of the week when I am late to the party. Sadly I HATE being late! I cringe, I sweat, I rush to not be late! But somehow - in this blog world- I am late to the link up every week. MAYBE that will change soon when the kids leave for college and we are just two people in the house again. Come on! Let me dream!  OK Chapter 7! Why can't I be Debbie Miller? She is so smart! This is a short and powerful chapter. I kinda wanted it to go on a little more. I sat down in my comfy chair on the deck, had my feet up enjoying the BEAUTIFUL cool evening and then the chapter ended. The thoughts were going through my mind though!  I love Debbie's simple definitions of summative and formative assessments. I know them but love how she put them - that's what I want to tell the student teachers, the parents, and anyone that might ask. :-) You know sooo many people ask about them! The quote from Erma Bombeck is perfect also! How sad wil...

One of these days I will make it on the first of the month! lol Not my All Star that's for sure!  I love LISTENING to the quiet in the neighborhood from my back patio! It is one of my favorite places in  of the house! We got some great new adriondack chairs and a fire pit this summer. :-) The new dining table is coming soon to match too! Can't wait! I will cry when we have to put it all away MONTHS from now!  I do LOVE school! I just LOVE not having a set schedule in the morning! I have gotten better at getting up for school over the years - two kids and working 25 years will do that to a person! lol But oh- to just get up whenever (the kids take care of themselves now!), work out (if I feel like it), eat breakfast on the porch, read the newspaper, read facebook. It's just such a relaxing way to start the day!  I'm THINKING I need to stay home and get some stuff done on that list! haha That is the fun of summer though- spontaneous trips and visits! I...

Oh this just gets better and better! I want Debbie Miller to come to my school  classroom! I want to see her in action! I want to analyze every lesson now! Those questions on page 69! OMG!! Thought provoking! I want to make sure the kids are more engaged and participating in their learning! I love the quote from  Frank Smith says, "We can only learn from activities that are interesting and comprehensible to use; in other words, activities that are satisfying."  I remember reading Frank Smith in college! :) I knew I had a great foundation in education!  The whole computer file folder idea is great! I know I will be making one of those before I go back to school. Yes I'm with you  @ kindersmorgie - it will be laminated!  I also think that is a great way to start the kids thinking about their thinking. That is a perfect first lesson. I need to add more research into the class also. We do some, but not enough. I believe there will be many more schema ...