Back to School... Hey, I Thought You Already Did That?!?!

I am so flippin' excited to be linking up with Christina over at Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge for her Best and Most linky party!  I wasn't actually voted the most or best of anything in high school... I was way too busy working to be doing anything else... work, work, and work some more!  Also... have you heard?  The Back to School sale is starting this weekend over at TpT!  Seems kinda funny to say since my kidlets' first day was August 1st! ;)

Teacher's pet: This is my FREE Donors Choose guide.  I truly believe that every teacher who is able to sign up should give Donors Choose a try.  It has changed my classroom so very much over the last few years.  I also donate to my own projects from time to time... and any money I donate on DC is tax deductible!

Most likely to help your students succeed:  I chose my African American pack.  It is versatile enough to be used all year long... not sure February.  There are reading passages, mini foldable books, comprehension questions, coloring pages, and more!

Best couple:  My 2 Wizard of Oz packs... they really go hand in hand.  The Lions, Tigers, and Bears pack is content heavy.... and the graphtivity is a pack that mixes math, writing, and art all together.  It also makes one FAB bulletin board display when the kidlets are done!

Don't forget to use the code BTS13 to receive up to 28% off during the sale!  I plan on clearing out my wishlist...  I ... can't.... wait!  I hope that y'all are having a great weekend so far... talk to y'all soon!

A Quickie

Hope you all had a GREAT weekend!  They always go by too fast, huh?  One of my readers asked for a Donors Choose quick how-to.  I have done the best I could for right now (sick kidlets at home).  I am putting the document below if you want to download it.  I hope that it is helpful!  If you have ANY questions about Donors Choose... I would love to help you... we could email back and forth or even set up a phone conference.  I am passionate about this non-profit and what it has done for my classroom.  There are enough donors for all of us!

A Quick How To... for Donors Choose  

I have been busy uploading and finishing things for my TpT store all weekend...  won't you stop by and take a peek? Let me know how your adventures with Donors Choose go! 

Donors Choose and It's Almost Fall Y'all

DonorsChoose.org has transformed my classroom.  In my 10 years+ of teaching... it has been one of my greatest discoveries!  In the last 2 years I have had well over $10,000 of materials donated to my classroom.  Some of the more notable funded projects include: iPad, 3 iPod touches, 4 Kindle Fires, 3 Nook Readers, 1 color printer, pencils, paper, math manipulatives, pencil sharpeners, laminator, book binding machine, gardening containers... and MUCH more!  If you haven't given the non-profit a serious look, right now is definitely the time!  Corporate funding is kicking in (think Sonic, Horace Mann, Chevron, Kia, etc) and many private citizens will be looking to donate money for tax purposes as the year closes.  

Check out my past/current projects here! 

It wasn't until a co-worker of mine (she's totally awesome) received her first HUGE box from Lakeshore that I became a believer.  A complete stranger funded her entire project.  We were both so amazed at the random kindness!  Come to find out... it's not that random after all!  There are TONS of people out there looking to support ALL types of projects!   

Here's a picture of my very first DC project materials (September 2010).  I really wanted math manipulatives dealing with money!  It felt like Christmas in September! Since September of 2010... I have had 19 projects funded! {jazz hands}.  What can you dream up?  Anything is possible...  PLEASE let me know if I can help you!  

Anyone else super excited about fall beginning?  South Georgia can be downright sweltering in August/September.  I am so excited about October and all that it brings to our area.  The fair is coming, football is in full swing, Halloween, the pecans will be falling from my trees soon!!!  Yes, I'm a little excited! We are taking our firsties to a local farm in October for their first field trip.  Each child gets to pick a pumpkin... I can't wait to go!  Have you ever been pumpkin picking?

Pumpking Picking freebie... click here