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Sunday, March 31, 2013

Let's Get Acquainted Linky

It's time for Latoya's linky again! Head over and link up!


This week's topic--a favorites survey! I typically don't have favorites, so we'll see how this goes.

Favorite Place to Shop
This is a difficult one for me. I'm going to pick two!
Loft is my favorite place to buy work clothes! I always find something I need there.

I love Target for everything! I typically go in there for one thing and come out with ten. And who doesn't love the dollar spot?!


Favorite TV Show
Easy.

I love Friends!!! If I could only watch one show for the rest of my life, it would be Friends.


Favorite Sweet Treat
I love sweets, so this one is tough too. But I love ice cream! If only I could eat it everyday...



Favorite Food
This one is impossible. I love all food! It is actually difficult for me to think of something that I don't like. But if I have to pick a favorite...
(Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?)


Favorite Restaurant
This one is hard too. I'll pick my go-to take out place...
I love Pei Wei! And it always feeds me like 3 meals!



Tomorrow's April?! Not real. How are you tricking your kids for April Fools?


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Synonyms and Antonyms

I need a little break from report cards and classroom inventory. Do any of you have to fill out an inventory? It might be the most obnoxious, tedious thing I have ever done. So I'm taking a quick break to blog!

Recently, our class has been learning about synonyms and antonyms. I found these anchor charts on Pinterest, and I love them!

I only wrote half of the chart, and then the kiddos had to brainstorm a synonym or antonym to go with it.

How adorable is their synonym for old?! I could not stop laughing.


How do you help your kids with synonyms and antonyms?

Monday, March 25, 2013

Let's Get Acquainted Linky

You know I love a good linky party! I'm linking up with Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky.


This week's topic is the noun game! So here are my favorites:


Person
This might be the hardest one. I'm going to pick my sister! She and I are only 14 months apart, and extremely close. She is for sure my best friend!

Isn't she a beautiful bride?!

Her and our wonderful Mom helping me put my room together! And just a few days before her wedding--what a great sister.

We're totally outdoorsy. 


Place
Lately it is probably my couch--there is nothing better than coming home after work, plopping down on the couch, and watching Friends while reading blogs. 


Thing
Last week, I bought myself a new watch--I'm obsessed.

Animal
I would love to be able to put my own dog in this category, but I don't have any. So instead, I spoil and love on these precious angels--my "niece" and "nephew"!

Meet Luda and Mia! Tell me those are not the cutest puppies you have ever seen. I am totally obsessed with them.

Happy Monday! I'm off to work on report cards!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Time

I am officially on Spring Break! Could I BE any more excited?!
(Said in my best Chandler voice).

We worked hard on time last week, and I was surprised at how quickly my kiddos caught on! They never cease to amaze me. Here is a little look at some things we did.

I had seen this hula hoop idea somewhere before (on Pinterest I'm sure), and I thought it was a great simple way to practice! They loved it! It really helped them with making the hour and minute hands the right size, and putting the hour hand between 2 numbers if it was a half hour, which our math series hits hard.


We also played a time matching game! They had so much fun with it and were begging to play it every time they finished their work early. 


By the end of the week, they were time-telling pros! 

Happy Spring Break!

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Let's Get Acquainted Linky

I'm linking up with Mrs. Reed from Flying into First Grade for a super fun linky party! What a great way to get to know other bloggers!


So here are the 3 things I like/like to do that go with my name--Lindy McFarland Cranfill.

L is for limeade. Specifically Sonic's Diet Cherry Limeades. They make everything better. They are essential for long car trips. Today, my kids would rather do anything other than listen to me. So during my plan time, I made a trip to Sonic for a midday pick-me-up. It made me a much happier teacher! Thank goodness my school is only about 2 minutes from a Sonic!


M is for musicals. I love musicals! I have loved musicals since I can remember (thanks Mom!). Many car trips when my sister and I were younger involved a small TV wedged between the front seats so we could watch The Sound of Music. I was also in the school musicals in high school. Now I love going to see musicals and sing show tunes in my car!

C is for cooking. I have loved cooking since I was little. I can't remember not watching and helping my mom cook dinner. Some of my best memories with my grandmother are of her teaching me to cook. I have even been getting cookbooks and kitchen gadgets for Christmas/my birthday since I was in junior high! Maybe dorky--but I'm ok with being a dork!

Head on over to Flying into First Grade to link up and share some fun facts about you!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Measurement and Educents

This week was filled with measurement for my class! Most of my kiddos got it right away, but I had a few that struggled with not leaving gaps between the cubes, paperclips, or whatever they were measuring with. I had one student who would put one block at one end and one block at the other, so everything he measured was 2 blocks! I knew I needed to do something to help them. So we did a little hands feet on activity!



I put two strips of tape across the floor in the hallway, and we used our feet to find out how long out space was! This made much more sense to my struggling kids, since they had to make their heel touch their toes.

Now on to the really exciting stuff! There is a new site, Educents, coming in April that is like Groupon for teachers! You will get deals on things like e-books, software, and more! How did no one think of this before?! Genius. Click here to get signed up! The best part, if you sign up before they launch April 2, you will get $15 to spend!

Friday, March 8, 2013

Five for Friday!

Happy Friday! I could not be more excited that it is Friday. I have been trying to fight off a cold all week, so I'm hoping to finally get rid of it this weekend! Here's hoping! To celebrate Friday, I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!



1. I'm dying for a new blog design! I have been stalking researching other blogs like crazy looking for the best option. I'm wanting something custom, but not outrageously expensive. Any suggestions?! Who designed your blog?

2. Our class spent this week learning all about eating healthy (with the help of Amy Lemon and Kathy Green's unit)! We had such a great time and learned a LOT! They even got to where they would stop teachers in the hallway and tell them good job for eating a healthy snack! They're beyond precious.



3. I ordered a few teacher books last week while Scholastic was having a sale on Common Core books. I've been looking through The Complete Year in Reading and Writing and it's getting me so excited for next year! I already have so many ideas on how to make some things better in our classroom.



4. I have started working on my classroom inventory. We have to fill one out before the end of March, and I can't find the one that the teacher that used to be in my room did. So I'm starting from scratch. Listing EVERYTHING in my room. Overwhelming to say the least. At least I don't have too much stuff collected since it's my first year.

5. I have been getting totally spoiled by the weather in Oklahoma this week! Sunny and 60s! Spring better stay around! This girl is t.i.r.e.d. of winter.


Happy weekend! Only 5 school days until Spring Break!!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Target Dollar Jackpot

I was out of my class today for a district report card meeting. I was apprehensive when I was first asked to be on this committee, but it has been so great! Last week, we had our first meeting, which forced me to take my first day off. I was freaking out--how could I plan for a sub when I still plan some of the things I do day to day!? But it was so good! It was nice to change things up and have a little mid-week break. Anyway, our report card meetings have not only been productive in report card making, but we have had so much fun sharing stories and ideas! Today, one teacher introduced me to XtraMath.


I logged on as soon as I got home, and I am in love. You can set your students to work on different skills (from only addition up to a mix of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). You can also change the amount of time they are given for each question, adding time for the lower ones and taking away time for the higher ones. It is designed to be done daily. I'm not sure we will be able to fit it in daily, but we'll do what we can. It also tracks the progress your kiddos are making! I'm sold!


After my meeting, I stopped by my favorite place--Target. They are so tricky to put that dollar spot right in front. I am that sucker that always stops and looks through everything. Today, I found some c.u.t.e. magazine files. I'm not exactly sure what I am going to use them for, but I'm thinking I might need to reorganize some things in my room. How could I pass on something so cute that's only $1.00?!


The picture makes it look almost green, but it's really gray. I also bought one that's yellow/orange/pink striped and a teal-ish printed one. And by one...I mean about 12 total. Oh well!


Now off to read tons of blogs work on activities for next week! We're learning about St. Patrick's Day next week!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

iPad Apps

I got an iPad for Christmas and I am very sad to say that I have yet to actually use it in my room. I know--what is wrong with me?! To get set up on our wireless, I have to go to our district technology office, which has almost the same hours as the schools do. Super frustrating. I think I'm just going to have to go one day during my plan time.

Anyway...this has not stopped me from collecting all sorts of good apps to use!

Some of my favorites right now...


This one is for behavior management. You have to check it out!



This one is from Lakeshore. It covers so many different skills--syllables, digraphs, rhymes, etc. 

I also visit this site daily. It has a list of apps that are free for the day. That's right--f.r.e.e. It's a gold mine.


What are your favorite iPad apps? How do you use 1 iPad in your room?

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Currently and Oklahoma Bloggers

Is it really already March?! This year is flying by. I can't believe I am almost done with my first year of teaching! Since it is a new month, it is of course time for Farley's currently.



I also discovered this blog by state link up today--so exciting!


How exciting! Now we only have 4 Oklahoma--jump on the blogging train!

Happy weekend!