Meet the Teacher {Linky}

Hey, y'all!  I'm Stacy and this is my bloggy home... that's me up there in the picture!  I am linking up with Stephanie over at Falling Into First for a super fun Meet the Teacher Linky!  I love reading about bloggers and finding comparisons between our lives.  I teach 1st grade, but have also taught 2nd, 4th, and a few months of 5th (long story).  This is my 13th year of teaching.. .nearing closer to 1/2 way to retirement!  Woot!  I have 2 small humans who call me mom and have been married (to the same man) for 12 years.  

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

coffee.  quiet.  pedicures.  planners.  the beach.  flip flops.  washi tape.  creative release.  Stitch Fix.  bread.  cheese.  pepsi.  sleep.  Excedrin.  Anthropologie.  blue jeans.  Ulta.  The Walking Dead.  oh, and coffee.

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

a stay at home mom.  advertising.  event planner.  personal shopper.  secretary.
purchaser.  OPI nail polish name giver.  barista.

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

introverted.  creative.  sarcastic

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

"A surprise faculty meeting... SWEET!"

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

Oprah.  JFK.  Mark Wahlberg {don't judge}.  Eminem.  Ellen Degeneres.

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

Not a Statistic

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 I would love to be invisible.  I think this is part of being an introvert.  Not sure if I would use it for good or evil... but the idea of disappearing sometimes would be awesome.  

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

 I believe that our background and circumstances may have influenced who were are, but we are responsible for we become.- Unknown

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

Ice, Ice Baby... does that count?  Or maybe Baby Got Back?  Oh, or Shoop!  Do you see a pattern here?  

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

I don't know that I'm either of those... but I can rock 11am-9pm like nobody's business!  

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 
I am an Army brat and spent 8 years of my childhood in Germany.  I loved it and would love to live overseas with my kiddos so they could share some of those experiences!  

I hope you learned something new about me...  If you want to be even more connected, you can find me on FB at Funky Fresh Firsties or on Instagram for daily doses of goofiness!  Be sure to head back to Falling Into First to learn more about other bloggers ... or for the chance to link up yourself!   OH, and be sure to enter my Stitch Fix giveaway... $50 giveaway ending soon!  Talk to y'all soon! 

Back To School YouTube Par-tay + a Huge Giveaway

Friends!I am SERIOUSLY excited (and a little bit nervous) about this post. You see, my blogging friends and I at the Primary Chalkboard wanted to do something BIG for back to school for you.BIG I'm talking, BIG.  We decided to throw a par-tay.

Here is a hint.  YES.   It is a YouTube Partaaaaay!

We are here sharing lots of tips -- organizational, DIY, helpful ideas-- lots of things you can do RIGHT NOW to make your back to school a little easier!  AND .....We are having a huge giveaway!

Would anyone like a....$100 Amazon Gift Card

or

a $100 TeachersPayTeachers Gift Card

or

a fabulous Michael Kors bag (you know, the one you want but can't justify spending the money for)?  

I thought so.  So what do you need to do?

Did you see that?  You can EVEN gain EXTRA entries in the giveaway by watching our videos and entering our SECRET WORDS into the Rafflecopter (but I know you were going to do that anyway, so... 2 birds, 1 stone).  We will be linking up 5-6 new videos every day this week... so you can come back, watch, and enter every day!


My tip is a quick one about organizing your desktop...  my desktop was a HOT mess last year and I finally figured out a way to make my OCD happy!  Be sure to listen out for my code word :)

And don't forget to head over to the Primary Chalkboard to watch more tip clips and gain more entries to the giveaway!

Good luck, peeps... talk to y'all soon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anchors Away... Oh, and Wizards, Too

Hello, peeps... hoping your Monday has been great so far.  I realized earlier that I hadn't blogged about my newest word wall headers.  I think I've decided to go for a nautical theme next year... so I made these to go up on the wall:

This part of the year... when summer just starts is when my brain starts going crazy... thinking, planning, plotting, list making...  trying to get my ducks in a row for the next go round!  :)  The other word wall headers that I made are a "wizard" theme... I think they turned out super cute.  I can picture the older grades {3-5} loving these.

All of my word wall headers are 4" circles... jut print, laminate, cut out, and hang!  Easy, peasy!  What is your theme for next year?  To check out either ... just click on the pictures to head to my store.  I have about I have 13 different word wall header sets with all different kinds of themes... you can see them all HERE!  Hope your weekend was great... and that your week will be even better!

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!

OMG... The Primary Chalkboard is LIVE

I am so very excited to announce the launch of a new collaborate effort with some of my bloggy besties.  Today is the launch of the Primary Chalkboard!!!  We are a collaborative blog focusing on first and second grade... and man on man... do we have some exciting things up our sleeves!

Are you looking for a quick print resource?  This eBook has 20 quick print sheets for the first few months to ease your transition back to school.  Seriously... open the eBook and all you have to do is click PRINT.  OH... and it's FREE {what... what!!!}

While you're there tomorrow... be sure to enter our giveaway.  We're giving away gift certificates to TpT and also to Erin Condren!  You'll also be able to find each one of the Chalkies and read each one of our BLISSFUL Back to School tips!

I hope that you are having a great Wednesday so far... but let's be real... how many more days until Friday?!?!  Oh... and I also started a FB page for Funky Fresh Firsties.  I've been blogging for a year and not sure why it took me so long to do it {promise I don't have commitment issues}... You can find me easily by clicking HERE!!!  One more thing... in other fabulous news... I have decided to do laser hair removal on my entire body!  Bwahaha... just joking!  Although I did start the process on my underarms!  I am so pumped that soon... very soon... I will never need to shave AGAIN!  Also... they put you in a cool, quiet room where there are no children... that was an added bonus and I didn't even have to pay extra for that!!!  Have you ever done anything like that for yourself?  OK... really... go check out the Primary Chalkboard and let me know what you think!!!  Talk to y'all soon!!!

Home Sweet Home (errrr....Classroom)

Captain's log: the teachers here have survived 7 days of school.  There are 173 days of school left until summer break 2014 {that's approx 1,384 work hours).  There may be secret countdown calendars strategically placed around school to keep the teachers motivated!

Seriously... I am done with the first 7 days.  This is my 12th time doing back to school... so I can say with confidence... there ain't NO kind of tired like BACK TO SCHOOL tired.  Well, maybe except 1st trimester preggers tired... that can also kick your patootie.  I didn't have to change classrooms this year and when I left in May I felt really cocky good about back to school.  When I went back on July 25th... I was wondering what the heck I had been thinking in May.  I had SO stinkin' much to do before school started!  {sigh}  Lucky for me the hubs knows the drill.  He came home early almost everyday so that I could stay late in my room or go over the weekend(s).  He brought dallies (sp?) from work to help move bookcases and helped me put some of my IKEA purchases together.  Isn't it weird that no matter how many hours you put in... it still doesn't ever feel "finished"?!?!?  I didn't decorate with a specific theme this year, but I did try to go with a certain color scheme of sorts.  I realized that I had a lot of tealish blue and lime green in my room... then I found this picture and my brain EXPLODED!!!

So... armed with a picture, Pinterest, and a penchant for drama {but Eddie... I HAVE to go to IKEA or my classroom will suck!!!!!)... I set out on my mission!  I would like to apologize in advance for the long post, but I tried to capture all my favorite pieces and parts.  Hope you enjoy!!!

Easy enough... this is the burlap anchor hanging on my classroom door!  A very sweet co-worker (my school mom of sorts) made this for me the week that Frances was supposed to be born.  We aren't allowed to have biblical verses, etc. in our rooms... but this cross is a visual representation of my favorite verse! {Hebrews 6:19}  I go in and out of that door so often... what a comfort!

Also outside of my classroom door is my No Peanuts sign.  I downloaded it from The First Grade Parade, laminated it, then bordered it with chevron to make it more noticeable to any peeps coming in!  One of my little dudes has a SEVERE peanut allergy and I should be wearing a cape... because I am vigilant here people!!!

As soon as you come in...  I have a bulletin board that spans the whole entire wall.  I broke it into three pieces visually by doing red, black in middle, and red on the right!  The first one is our What's Goin' On board...where I post a calendar, breakfast/lunch menus, study guides for each one of my reading groups, invitations to community events, etc.

My numbered book boxes sit on top of the shelf.  Underneath the shelf is where the kiddos hang their book bags.  I found that I needed to be in charge of that space... otherwise it because a catch all for my stuff and all their stuff, too!

Here are the hooks under the bookshelf.  I used my Silhouette to cut numbers out of polka dot contact paper to number the hooks.  The first day of school I had like 3 girls all bring pink Hello Kitty book bags.  You get where I'm going with this?!?!  Yes, HUGE tears... "She STOLE my book bag!!!"  Problem solved.  Voila!

Here's a pic before I numbered the hooks.  Their nametags were hanging there during open house.  I bought the clear nametags and lanyards from Office Max and use my leftover pieces of chevron border inside.  Whenever I put up bulletin boards I always end up with crazy size pieces left over... so this was a definite WIN!!!

I think I may have an issue with numbering things that I haven't noticed until typing this post!  Hmmmmmm, making a mental note...  stop numbering ALL the things!  OK...  their desks obviously have nameplates, but I also used the polka dot contact paper to stick their student numbers on, too!  I tried this with black first and it didn't look that great!

Here's my behavior chart system for this school year.  I am using my nifty numbered magnets from Tea and Coffee.

Everyone starts on purple and tries to move towards the top... and down is obviously not where they want to go.  I found it HERE for free if you are looking for something colorful and new in your room!  My firsties are LOVING it so far!!!

Here is my computer table.  I have 4 computers in the back.  There is a lamp and picture on top.  Their login cards are also stored in the base of the lamp for when the poor things forget their login info again and again {and again}.  I scored the sweet computer backgrounds from Reagan Tunstall and you can find them HERE in tons of nifty colors!

Different view of same area...  our daily schedule hangs on left.  Spelling words are usually in the red pocket chart.  Our clock {obviously) and nifty punctuation posters.

Area back by sinks and back door.  I have always had this vinyl poster hanging, but this year I bordered it with chevron and I'm in LOVE!  Also the My First Day of 1st Grade frame that I made last year hanging/waiting patiently for the first day!!!

Front of classroom.  I have a giant whiteboard that stretches almost the length of my classroom.  The SMART Board is in the middle and then I have a right board and a left board to write on.  This side is where I sit for whole group on carpet, etc.  I post my I Can statements onto the laminated scrapbook paper.  My 2 large galvanized tubs hold pillows and clipboards.  This is also where my behavior system (the superheros from above) is housed... I just took this picture before I had it laminated and attached!

 Close up of the galvanized tub.  I had thought about spray painting them, but I ran out of summer!  Who do I need to talk to about making summer longer?

Bought 2 area rugs from Lowe's.  We have always had carpet, but they replaced it with tile this summer.  The thought of not having a soft surface somewhere made my skin CRAWL!  This was an inexpensive way to warm the room up some... and I can vouch for it's comfy-ness!  I may have taken a nap on this carpet {ahem}.

Covered the back of those nasty bookcases with contact paper and border.  I have used that contact paper for so many things it's unbelievable.  At only $3ish... what a great purchase!!!  I found mine at Wal-Mart {boo...hiss} near the college kids stuff that they put out every August.

Full disclosure is OK, right?  Because even though the other areas were starting to take shape... this is what it looked like behind the bookcases on the day of Open House.  My friend Tara and I moved all this stuff to my car so that it wouldn't look like my room should be on an classroom episode of Hoarders!  Yep... sometimes it's nice to see what someone elses's mess looks like... am I right... or am I right?

OK... on to Open House and then I'm gonna call this post a WIN.  Our open house was on Tuesday evening and school started on Thursday... so it was nice to know that I still had some time to rearrange, fix, unpack all this junk from my car, etc.  Here's the last part of my post:

Message for parents... on my UBER cool easel from IKEA.  It was only like $10-$15ish!  I kinda love it!!!  I wonder if it would look weird if I had maybe like 10 more of them?

Every year I lay out EXACTLY what supplies they will need.  I also take a picture and include the picture on the supply list.  This year I had my open house go in stations... and it was much easier to deal with all the traffic. I bought THIS PACK from Tunstall's Tidbits.  It was a life saver fo' sho'!!!  I had 4 stations (1-check in and get folders, 2-supplies, 3-transportation, and 4-meet the teacher and get treats!)

So... last stop for parents and kiddos was the treat table.  I had bags of Goldfish for the kidlets and individual bags of popcorn for the grown ups!  I think the parents were more excited about treats {purely an observation}.   O-fish-ally in 1st grade printable by First Grade Blue Skies.  Thanks for popping in by Magill's Mathletes!
I always print business card magnets from Vistaprint.. but this year I actually had plenty leftover from previous years and I didn't have to order... woohoo!!!

Our grade also handed out first grade website cards with QR codes.  Our principal was impressed!  Open house ended at 6 that night... and I don't even remember the drive home!

I hope that you are enjoying your weekend and that it will go by SUPER slowly.  I'm off to a family cook-out for some R&R.  Talk to y'all soon!!!

Vinyl ALL the Things!!!

I did it!  I bought a Silhouette Portrait!  2 months ago.  It sat in the box for awhile... a standoff of sorts.  I finally had this machine that I had coveted for years.  I may have entered every.  damn.  giveaway in the hopes of winning one.  {ahem}...  They have an amazing teacher discount by the way... you just send them a copy of your teaching license and VOILA!  Ok... back to the story.  So... the machine sat in the box for awhile... I was very overwhelmed with all the magical things that it could do... that I didn't know where to even start!  I finally opened that baby up in July and practiced cutting out letters on some scrapbook paper.  I think that I squealed with delight the first time it started cutting!  Once I got into back-to-school mode... I decided to upgrade my status to VINYL!!!  ...and let me just say that acceptance of your problem is the first step...  I am loving me some vinyl.  I am secretly thinking of all the different surfaces in my classroom that could use some sprucing up!  Well, maybe that's not a secret anymore.  Check out what I've done so far:

I vinyled (?) the corner of my desk with my Melonhead... and I'm kinda in love with it!!!

I made vinyl letters for the white board... that way all I have to do is write the date everyday...  it looks so crisp on the white!!!

More black vinyl on my white board... this is the area where I hang my I Can statements.  The best part about the Silhouette machines is that you can cut out letters using ANY font that you have on your computer!!!  (and I have a lot of favorite fonts)

I bought polka dot contact paper at Wal-Mart to cover the back of my bookshelves... and I had some left over.  Hmmmm, wonder if I could use the contact paper like vinyl with the same results.  I tried it and it totally WORKS... and it's a LOT cheaper!  I have a galvanized tub for my pillows (thank you Goodwill for pillows) and a galvanized tub for my clipboards.

I was so excited to get our class pet.  I did a grant through Petco and went to pick up Lulu the guinea pig last week.  I decorated her cage using white vinyl and a uber-cute guinea pig pic by Melonheadz!!!  Within about 5 minutes of having Lulu at our house, I had a severe allergic reaction... so no class guinea pig for us!  Lulu is now back with her family at Petco!  I will blog more about that later! {I know you can't wait!!}.

I have taken a TON of pictures while I've been working in my classroom.... but it will have to wait for another blog post.  Tomorrow is our 3rd day of school... and I need to hit the hay soon!  I hope that you guys have had a great weekend... talk to y'all soon!