I AM THE PROUD MOM OF AN ELEPHANT

I AM THE PROUD MOM OF AN ELEPHANT!

Sounds strange doesn't it?  Well, it is true!  My son is now officially an Elephant.  Roll Tide Roll!  I can not believe it.... a freshman in college at the University of Alabama.  You know what that means..... Lots of FOOTBALL watching in this house.  

I am not quite sure when he grew up.  Like many of us I am thinking to myself.... how can you be going to college when I just graduated from there..... and then reality hits you in the face and you realize OMG I am old!   

I could not be more proud.  The move all comes with so many emotions.  People kept asking me if I was sad.  I was very sad, but at the same time, I was more excited than anything else.  All I kept thinking was that we raised our son to follow his dreams and go after what he wants.  How can you go wrong with that?  The sad part was not letting him go, but realizing that when we embarked on our journey down to Alabama things at home would never be the same.  When he comes back, he will be a true adult.  I wish him all the success in the world.  College is such an amazing time.  The adventures and experiences that he is about to have will last him a lifetime.  I can only hope and pray that he continues to be the most amazing son that any parent could ever hope for.    So as  his journey begins, I have gained a new aspect on how quickly life passes by and to enjoy every moment.  

So that has been my summer.... preparing myself for my first born to leave the nest.   As for my other little ones, well, they keep me busy and that is just fine with me.  

Anthony finished up his freshman year of high school and  is having a good time running Cross Country.  

 and

 Ashley continues her journey with gymnastics.  Ashley had such an amazing year winning some of the biggest competitions that she has competed in thus far including trips to Vegas, Boston, and California and then ending her year as Delaware State Champion and also as the Region 7 Regional National Champion.  

I had to get one last picture of the three of them together before George went off to college.

I am sure my mind will be kept busy as I am looking forward to meeting my new little ones in about 2 weeks.  I am so lucky to have the most amazing co-workers and school.  So as for me, I am sure you will be hearing a lot more from me and I am glad to start blogging again!  I have missed everyone so much.  

Donna

Children LOVE the game of I Have...Who has...?

And so do the girls of Freebielicious!

Some of us got together to play a Back to School Edition of this fun game. Be sure to play from the beginning of the game by clicking on the image above.

Did you see Traci from Dragonflies in First clue here?

You got it right if you guessed me! 

 I love my Morning Math Unit.  

Here are some images from my unit:

This unit and my entire store will be on sale Monday and Tuesday for the Teachers pay Teachers 

Back to School Site-wide Sale!

Don't forget to use the promo code: BTS15

Click the image below to shop!

I absolutely love summer because I get to spend time with my family.   It is my favorite time of year.  I also do not like to be cold so I could totally do without winter.  I enjoy watching the snow from inside, but if I have to go out in it, I am not so happy.  Last year, we got the chance to go to California in the middle of the winter and I was so happy.  I think I realize that I could do without the change of seasons!

That should say I need Chip and Joanna so bad to bring a little bit of Texas to my Delaware ranch!  I have NO design ability whatsoever.  It is really sad.  My husband thinks he can do it, but he doesn't ever have the time.  I can't believe it will be almost 2 years and I still have a yellow floor (which might I add, it is the same yellow floor I had at my parents house back in the 70's) and a teal stovetop.  Oh my!  I absolutely love her design style. It is exactly the way I would love to have my house done.  Someday..... someday........

ANYWAY....

Are you ready for your next clue in our game!

Don't forget to guess which FREEBIELICIOUS author the clue is about, THEN click on the image below to find the answer.

Good Luck and have a wonderful beginning of the school year.  

BTS Sale

Whose ready for a sale?

Summer is almost over and it is time to start thinking about all the fun things we will be doing this upcoming year.  To help get you excited, I put my entire store on sale!  I hope this will help you get some of the things on your wishlist! 

A few of my favorite items I like to start the year off with are:

    

    

This packet includes:
Beginning Letter Sounds Sheets: 
Who Let the Letters Loose?
Find the Capital and Lower case letter letters. 
Find the Letters and Numbers. 
Beginning Letter Cut and Glue: 
Super Beginning Sound Vocabulary
Purr...fectly Fast Letters
Letter Cards 
Identifying ABC Upper and Lower Case
Also included are ABC bingo boards 
Roll a Letter 
Glue the Pictures
Say 3 and Remember Me! 
 

    

This includes 93 pages for you to use as Morning Math work or pick and choose and create a Math Journal for your little ones. 

Included:
2 color pages
4 missing number pages
10 pages on the ways to show the numbers 1-10
5 pattern pages
4 graphing pages
34 word problems pages
(some pages have a visual way of showing how to solve the problem as well as a page for your higher level thinking students to complete on their own. Choose the one that best fits the need of your students)
30 pages on how may to make 10
(choose the one that best fits the need of your students)

    

This is a comprehensive and FUN 161 unit that has pieces for small group instruction, whole group instruction and independent literacy centers. There is also a component that can be copied and sent home for parents to help their children with initial sound fluency! The activity boards can be used on a powerpoint or smartboard. You can print them and laminate them for small group instruction (also includes b&w to send home). You can also cut them up and have the children play memory with them. Each activity builds the student's confidence and reinforces consistency with the words and pictures. Activities included are: LIteracy Center Gumball Game, Secret Code, Spelling Activities, Matching, Practice Writing, Cut and Paste, Sentences, Initial Sound Fluency Boards (can also be cut apart and used for picture cards) Elkonin Boxes. So much to choose from. I am so excited about this unit. Your children will love it and it will build a foundation and help them feel successful!

Use the secret code sheet to solve the mystery words. 
There are several recording sheets for your students to enjoy.
Find the number and record the letter that matches. Look at the finished word. What word did you make?
There are several different ways you can match the cups. I loved them all so I included them for you to decide or to play different ways. The students can match the word marshmallows and the picture on the bag of marshmallows to the correct cup OR they can
match the bag of marshmallows with the word on it and the marshmallow with the picture on it to the correct cup. I hope you enjoy both ways.
Black and White and Color versions included.

**THIS IS ALSO IN MY WINTER SUCCESS KIT**

        

This is a great center and small group activity pack. I have included both black and white for all the activities. 158 pages (including both b&w) and 15 activities with a variety of recording sheets that can be used in a variety of different ways to meet the needs of your learners. Activities included are:
Ten Frames
Estimation
Odd and Even
Senses Sheets
Roll a Number
Roll a Shape
Syllables
Pp Handwriting
Identifying P
Roll a Word
Popping Math Write the Room
Sight Words 5 Times
Popcorn Bingo
Learning with Tally Marks
Popcorn Races with Sight Words

        

OR FOR LETTERS:

     

Patterns included are: ABAB, ABC, AAB and ABB. 

ABAB: 10 pages

ABC: 10 pages

AAB: 7 pages

ABB: 8 pages

Also include are bonus pages where the students have the missing pattern piece in the middle or beginning of the pattern and they must figure out which piece it is. There is one extra pattern piece in each answer. This gives provides a bit more of a challenge for the children to figure out which one does not belong.

Pattern Write the Room

There are several different ways to use this activity. I have provided a variety of Write the Room pieces for you to choose from. There are both black and white where you can create your own patterns, or colored ones that already have a pattern created for you. Also included are black and white cards that have the picture patterns on them. You can run them off on colored construction paper or white paper and color them. The children can walk around the room and write the pattern on the recording sheets. I have provided 2 different recording sheets so you can choose which one best fits the needs of your children. If they are unable to write the pattern they can draw the pattern and color it with crayons. 

    

This kit will help you all through the month of October. There are many different recording sheets for the activities to meet the needs of your learners. The activities are engaging and your students will have so much fun they will not even realize they are learning.
Included are:
--Identifying and Writing upper and lower case letters (can also be used for alphabetical order)
--beginning letter sounds
-- letter order
--identifying and matching words to pictures
--segmenting and chunking
--syllables
--cvc words/bingo
--identifying sight words/ roll/spin and read
--identifying short a words/ roll/spin and read 
--sound segmenting
--sight word scramble
The games can be used as they are presented in this unit or you can be as creative as you like to meet your student's needs. All games come in color and black and white.

My Success Kits are great for centers, small group or 

RTI.  Check them out!