Monday Made It

Happy Monday! It's our last Monday with kids-next Monday is a PD day :)

First up, the biggie for the week-my new blog design!

I spent a couple of late nights during the week fixing it up (usually I'll do it on weekends, since I know it takes me awhile getting everything *just so*, but I had to urge to fix it before then!), and I'm loving how it looks!

I went from:

To this! I love how clean and crisp it is.

I've also added some new things I never had before-a scroll to top button and social media buttons! They helped clean up my sidebar a bit :)

My next made it is my math toolkits for next year!

I'll be blogging on how I put them together for next year later in the week-I think they're going to be a great storage solution. Now I need to make some cute labels. :)

I've also started a new wreath for my {home} door. It's not quite done yet, but I'll show you a sneak peek!

Can you guess what my theme is? ;)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Sharing is Caring

I hope y'all are enjoying your week! I'm definitely enjoying sleeping late each day :)

I wanted to share with you an awesome giveaway that is going on.

Have y'all heard of Terri at The Creative Apple?




She makes the most AWESOME math centers-all aligned to the 4th grade CC. (Very helpful!)

Right now, she is holding a giveaway for her Operations and Algebraic Thinking Pack, as well as an accompanying Choice Board. Go over to check it out...there's not much time left!

While you're there, be sure to scroll back through old posts-she has super ideas on Math organization and assessment...as well as much more!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Thankful for My Bloggers

Hi Bloggy Buds!

Well, my report cards are done (they're actually sitting in my printer upstairs at this moment), and I'm almost ready for conferences on Monday.

I'm linking up with Stephanie from for her Thankful for Bloggers Linky Party.

I super thankful for:
Tara was the first blogger I ever found, and she has great ideas and creations.


Kristen has super ideas for reading and writing, as well as organization.(and she has great bloggy and technology tips!)

These three amazing 3rd grade blogs. They all have super creations and great ideas that can be adapted to my 4ths.

... and so many more!

In other news, Walmart gave every teacher in our school a gift card. I went today to pick up some things.

 2 packs of bright colored cardstock
2 packs of white cardstock (for a total of 300...I've already used up 450 pieces, so here's hoping that this will last me a little while!)
Expo Markers- My kids have been complaining that the ones we use during Math Groups  don't work anymore (and they're right), but I didn't have the money to go and get them replaced. Thanks to Walmart, we now have a fresh new class set.

Today's Outfit

 Sweater and Pants: Kohls
Shirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Target

The sweater did come off partway through the day...and my sleeves got pushed up (It is ridiculously hot in my room...even when I have the fans going and a window open). It did help when I had recess duty...it went right back on before I put on my coat :)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

First Year Bliss

Today I'm linking up with The 3am Teacher to share my favorite memory from blogging (even though I've only been doing it for 5 months!).

I think that my favorite part of blogging so far is all the great ideas that I have gotten to better my teaching.

My favorite memory? Showing y'all my blog designs and having y'all vote on which one you liked best. :) The comments I got from showing what I designed were wonderful, and made my day (actually almost every comment I get makes me smile! :)

Today's Outfit:

Shirt & Pants: JC Penny
Tank: Old Navy
Shoes: DSW

Hope you had great Monday!




Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

100? and Inferences

I can't believe that this is my 100th post! It seems like only yesterday I started blogging, when it's been closer to 5 months. Time flies!

This week our comprehension focus was on making inferences.  I made this anchor chart last year with my kids, and thought it was too cute and nicely done to throw away...so I saved it to use this year! Usually I remake charts with each kids, but I saved a couple that turned out too nice. :)

This literacy series is heavy on using graphic organizers with the kids. The one they had this week had a place for the kids to show "In the Text" and "In My Head", put didn't have a place for them to write the inference that they made. So...I made my own!

 (Click to take to Google Drive)

I added a place for the kids to write down the inferences they made using the text clues and their schema. I think that making inferences work better when the kids are trying to figure out the answer to a question, but the series isn't having us teach it that way....but I'm slipping it in when I get the chance!

We also started a writing lesson on Ideas... and taking a BIG moment and whittling  it down to a Snapshot. We weren't able to finish what I had planned because of an assembly...but we did make an anchor chart!

Friday's Outfit

Sweater & Pants: JC Penny
Tank: Old Navy
Shirt: Marshall's
Boots: Endless





Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

What Do You Think?

So, what do you think about my new look?  :) Instead of planning for Wednesday (which I did this morning at school), I decided to have a new design for fall. I started a few times before I found something I really liked.

Sweater: Maurices
Shirt and Tank: Target
Pants: JC Penny
Shoes: I think I got these from Zappos, but I know I looked at them on Endless and at DSW as well.


Tomorrow my kids take the Reading NWEA/MAP test, Wednesday the Math and Thursday we finish the GMRI (Gates) test. I really looking forward to getting the scores so I can start my guided reading groups!

The kids are doing really well with their center rotations, and today I introduced the task cards I made. I made two copies of each, so there would be plenty to go around. They seemed to do a good job with them! We'll see how they do tomorrow :)

Happy Monday!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monday Made It

Happy Monday Peeps!

For my first made it, check out my new background! I changed it in honor of my birthday this weekend :)

Next, I made these cute Letter Puddles!  I originally got the idea from Tara, who has wonderful Word Work post that you should check out. 

New teachers in my district don't have to report back to August 24 (veteran's even later), so I still have a month of summer left. Hopefully, some of that will be taken up with moving and settling into a new apartment (I found a place and put down 1st month, but I haven't signed the lease yet, but the realtor says its coming...however, I thought I was supposed to move in August 1, and I found it over a month ago, so we'll see. They'll be getting another call Tuesday if I haven't heard from them!)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Awards!!

Thank you so much Anne from Creative Happenings for giving me the Liebster Blog Award!!

This award highlights blogs that have less than 200 followers. Here are the rules for it:
1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
2. Thank the giver and link back to them
3. Reveal you top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

5 Bloggers

1.Nicole at Teaching, Stitching, and Parenting

2. Sabra at

3. Kristi at

 

4.  Kelly at An Apple for the Teacher

5. Lauren at

 I've also been given the Versatile Blogger Award from Ms. Walter at . Thank you!

Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:
1. Thank the blogger who gave you the award
2. Include a link to their site
3. Include the award image
4. Give 7 random facts about yourself
5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award (I'll do some new ones...but not 15)
6. When nominating include a link to their site
7. Let other bloggers know they have been nominated

7 Random Facts:

1. I have been living with my parents ever since I got out of college (5 years!), but I am moving into my first apartment at the end of the month!!
2. My sister is adopted and we are friends with her birth family and spend time with them a few times a year.
3. I just received my M.Ed in Reading in May after 4 v-e-r-y long years!
4. I am a book hoarder...romance novels, professional books, children's books....I have a slight problem :)
5. I got a Kindle for Christmas 2010...I love it, but I do switch back and forth between reading it and reading 'real' books.
6. I am not afraid to let my opinions known (I've been having A LOT of fun playing with the poll people that have been calling ;)...and to speak up for my kids.
7. I love Tigger and have a small collection of Tiggers (people keep giving them to me!)

Bloggers

1. Lauren at

2. Sabra at

3.Brittany at 

4. Julie at

5. Laura at

 Thank you again!
Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monday Made It

I'm linking up over with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It. However, I don't have something that I made for my classroom or home...I have something that I made for my blog (which is kind of teachery so it counts!)! Thanks to some online tutorials, Photoshop, and a sale over at Just So Scrappy 2, I have made two new backgrounds for my blog! They both have a summer/watermelon feel, but I am having a hard time deciding which to use. So I ask you, should I use       

A or

 B or

C?

I really like making my own, and I have had a lot of fun creating everything that goes along with it (button, post divider, post icon, favicon) and I bought about 5 kits, so I have a feeling that my blog will get a 'refresh' a lot.

Since I am done with grad school (I just got my Masters of Education in Reading about a month ago) I find I have a lot more time on my hands. Once school is out and I find an apartment, I'm sure most of my time will be filled organizing all of that.

Let me know which one you like better and you'll see the winner in a few weeks! I hope you enjoyed my 'blog' Made it Monday! Go link up with Tara!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn