FREEBIE Friday!!

Hey Ya'll!! It's FRI-YAY!! And there is no better way to kick off the weekend with a few fun, FREE, things!

1.)
I love, love, LOVE to give just little things to people to let them know how appreciative I am of them and what they do! It does not have to be something big at all...it could be something small, slap a cute tag on it, and VOILA!  It's the thought that counts, right!?  Well the beginning of the new school year is right around the corner & you might be looking for something cute and inexpensive to give a teammate, an administrator, or maybe even your child's teacher...well I have just the perfect thing for you!  You could buy a pack of pens {my FAVE are the Paper Mate Flair pens} and add THIS TAG!  I have made it editable so you can make the necessary changes for you and yours :) Here is an example of what I did for my sweet teammates for our upcoming team meeting!

2.)
As I mentioned before the new school year is quickly approaching and I don't know about you but I am always looking for new ways to keep myself organized!  One thing that I have struggled with in the past is keeping all the work my kiddos turn in, in an organized manner.  I used to just have them turn in their work to the "turn in basket" and that's that...well NOT ANYMORE!  Here is my new system.. I picked up this super CUTE file folder expandable box from Target...BONUS: it's dotted and looks like Dalmatian spots like our mascot-SCORE!
So, I number my kiddos-it is just easier for me.  With that being said, I numbered the file folder tabs inside, placed one of my turn in signs on the front, and during the first week of school I will teach my firsties how to find their numbered folder and put their paper inside.  This will help me keep their papers in ABC order and the handle on top will help me to just take it on home, grade/check the contents, and then return it to them the next day!  Take a look at mine :)

*click on the picture to take you directly to my TPT shop*

AND 3.)  

I posted last time about my FREE sight word BINGO templates and graphs {scroll down to the last post for a download and read} so now I am going to share another idea for sight words.  You are probably already doing this but it may just be a different way to store your ideas...

These sight word chant cards by the fabulous Cara Carroll are so fun and adorable!  You can download them for FREE HERE!  After downloading, cut them out, laminate them and then..ADD THEM TO A CHEER BOX!  That's right, A CHEER BOX!  I sent my husband to the grocery store to get a Cheer laundry detergent box, I emptied out the contents, and it is now the new home for my sight word cheers/chants!  The kiddos will love coming to pick a cheer out of the box when it is time for word work and practice!  

I hope you enjoyed this kind of post...I plan to keep them up!! :) ALSO, I have gotten a couple suggestions from followers about posts they would like to see on the blog--THANK YOU!  I love getting requests and will honor them as best as I can...keep sending them my way!! 

Have a great weekend ya'll!! 

Sight Word FUN!

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINES!!  I hope you all had a FABULOUS weekend! We had one of those weekends where you never want it to end.  Hubby took a vacation day Friday and planned a whole family day of FUN!  We took Luke to the zoo for the first time and he LOVED it!  When it came time to leave he decided to run away and "hide" behind a table & chairs...I mean look at this face {and that farmers tan LOL}!!

We continued our day with other fun activities to spoil our little angel baby and make memories as a little family of 3.  The weekend was just WONDERFUL!
But now it is back to reality and school is just around the corner and I kind of can't believe it!! It has been such a busy & exciting summer with a very active toddler and all the responsibilities that come with opening a new school!

As I am preparing back to school lesson plans I want to ensure that I am spending that first week focusing on setting expectations, practicing procedures, and building relationships...I think that is so important and it will definitely pay off later in the year :)

As a fun way to end our first week back to school our first graders will be doing some sight word practice with the Kindergarten sight words.  We thought this would be a fun way to have blend academics and fun on a Friday of a long week :)

This SIGHT WORD BINGO I made is an *editable* version for you to use with any sight words that correspond with your grade level. You can put your own words in the boxes OR {what I plan to do} post the sight words to choose from and have the littles choose their own words they want and write them into the boxes and that creates so many different boards!  If you want you could even laminate them or put them in a page protector and the kiddos can write the words with a dry erase marker so you can use these over and over again throughout the year and years to come!!

*click the picture for MORE*

BUT...THE FUN AND LEARNING DOESN'T STOP THERE!!  Continue the sight word fun by then using the EDITABLE graphing pages that are provided HERE too!!  These words are the district Kindergarten words we are reviewing and adding to our word wall but you can change them to whatever words you are working with!!  I made several different pages so you can differentiate if needed OR {what I plan to do} give each child at the table group a different graph and allow them to work independently.  Then, since they each have a different graph, they can share their findings with each other and it will be new information to everyone :) This allows them the opportunity to practice sharing and to use their academic language.

*click the picture for MORE*

I look forward to sharing more fun back to school items with you guys as the new school year approaches!! :)  Have a great day!!!

TARGET. Enough said.

YA'LL!
Is it just me or does Target purposefully pin point teachers and reel them in by that gosh darn DOLLAR SPOT!!! I purposefully go in, tell myself "Kelly, you don't need a basket because you are getting ONE THING!"  Then...*dun, dun, dun* I walk by the dollar spot.  Ok, ok, I'll just look.  Then this happens....*insert walk of shame back to the cart area*....and if I must confess this isn't even all of it...this was in a matter of MINUTES!!  I'm ashamed...so, so ashamed!! Sorry hubs!!

BUT these lovely items make for a GREAT blog post to share some ideas on how to use these goodies so they don't just get stuffed in a drawer or in that "special place"...

1.) These ADORABLE aprons...

I do star of the week in my class and I do my best to spoil that boy/girl all week long because they have earned it!  But I am always looking for more ways to show them off--insert these beauties!! The new and improved "STAR OF THE WEEK APRONS."  These are $3.00 each in the dollar spot at Target and I thought how fun would it be if that child got to wear one of these all day long each day of the week and they can have all sorts of stuff in the pockets since they are the teachers helper all week long. They could hold pencils, hand sanitizer, etc. the possibilities are endless.  But just a plain ol' apron isn't that glamorous so I made THESE cute little tags to go on the front (PTL for the glue gun).  I just printed them out, laminated them, hot glued them on the front, and VOILA-you are ready to go!! I can't wait to use these in the fall!

2.) These PRECIOUS baggies...

I mean these have stations written all over them!! I plan to put these in my literacy stations to hold a variety of different supplies.  I'm thinking in one group it will house letter tiles, in another group it will hold magnetic letters, I mean really you could do so many things with these.  In math stations these could hold all sorts of manipulatives...cubes, place value blocks, tiles, etc. Organization is key in stations, but CUTE organization is a BONUS!! **AND they are only $1.00 in the dollar spot at Target!!! I bought all they had in stock at my Target--sorry friends!!

3.) These chalkboard blocks...

These blocks are PERFECT for differentiation!! During math stations I am always looking for blank dice so I can write in my own numbers so I am able to target the needs of my students best, and these are perfect for that.  Grab a chalk pen, write in your different numbers, and there ya go!  Or you could use them in word work.  You could write letters or blends, a child rolls the dice, and has to write words that go along with it.  I am really excited about these because not only are they functional for the classroom but they are cute!!  TEN blocks for only $3.00 at the Target dollar spot!!

4.) These SUPER cute storage bins...

How cute are these collapsible storage bins?!?!  My Target carried several different colors in the infamous chevron print and I decided on the neutral grey.  These could be used obviously for cute storage, or book buckets around your room, but for me I thought I would use mine as a new Book Doctor bucket.  I made a quick little tag, added some hot glue, and slapped it on there and there we go!! These storage bins are $5 at Target but they really are worth it...they are sturdy and good quality for only five bucks! 

Email or comment on here, instagram, or Facebook with items you have got at Target and how you use them!! I am always looking for new and creative ideas :)

Happy Hump Day Ya'll!! 

I'm BACK!!!

Hi, Hi, HIIIII!!!!!!!

I’m back, I’m back, I’m BAAAACCCKKKK!!!  I could scream it from the roof tops, ya’ll!!

I took a much needed break from creating and writing to be with my little guy and cherish every moment with him over the last 12ish months and it was AH-MAZING!

Thank you so much to my sweet followers you sent me messages or e-mails to check on me…I am alive and well and ready to jump back in to blogging and creating again!! And what better way to show you how excited I am to be back then with a GIVEAWAY!!!  Thats right, ya’ll, a give away!!  Any comment, message, or e-mail I receive will count and your name will be entered into a drawing for a $5.00 credit towards anything in my TPT store.  If you don’t see anything in there right now that you could use, no worries—you can save it, no expiration date!!! :) The giveaway contest will end Sunday, July 2nd so don't forget to get your name in the mix!!! :)  Once the winner has been drawn I will notify you and you will receive your credit!!

SO to continue with the exciting news I want to fill you in on the top 3 things that have happened over my little blogging hiatus… 

#1) MY SON!!  It is still so surreal sometimes to think that I am a MOM to a precious little boy!!  Luke Patrick is 14 months now and a BUNDLE OF FUN!  I know a lot of people love the newborn stage but not me, I LOVE this stage!  Luke doesn't just walk everywhere, he RUNS!  He has a smile that lights up an entire room.  He has the best baby giggle that is like music to my mommy ears.  He is a blessing from God and I am so glad he is MINE!  I mean, ya’ll, look how cute he is on the train ride with his mama (PS-don't mind my conductor hat)!!!! 

#2) WE MOVED!!  This was a need for our little family.  My husband’s commute had just gotten to be way too much (up to 2 hours ONE way-no thanks) and with the new addition he wasn’t spending time at home with us, but rather in the car, in traffic, not moving traffic.  So, we listed the house, packed up our things, and waited…and waited…and waited.  You know, keeping a house clean for showings with a baby, that never ever wanted to be put down might I add, two dogs, and a traveling hubby is seriously a full time job.  Eventually though, the cutest couple bought our house.  It made me happy to know how excited they were to start their next chapter in our home…!  But nowwww where do we go!?!? *drum roll please…*  THE IN-LAWS!!!  I know, I know….my husband, my baby, me, two dogs, and our stuff moving in to Nana & Poppy’s house-wow!  While some are thinking “nope, no way, couldn’t do it” it really wasn’t bad.  They were so gracious to allow us to stay their for FOUR MONTHS and totally invade their space with bottles, baby food, high chair, shedding dogs, and so much more.  But after 4 long months of searching for our forever home…WE FOUND IT!  And then the angels sang!! :)

Last but not least #3) I GOT A NEW JOB!!!!  With our move meant a new school district which also meant fear and anxiety for me.  I worked for my last principal for the last 5 years, she hired me right out of college and took me with her to open a new school and she was my fearless leader and now I have to start over-cue the tears! BUT I am so excited and proud to share that this coming school year (2016-2017) I will have the opportunity to open another brand new school as the first grade team leader. YAY!!  Also, this school is not just an ordinary school but it is one that is beyond special already…this elementary school is named after a fallen firefighter that was killed in the line of duty.  I am so proud to be working in honor of this amazing woman and look forward to building a legacy in her name. 

OK!   I think that’s all-whew!  Man, I missed you guys!! Don’t forget to comment on here, Facebook or Instagram (keluselton) or shoot me an email at keluselton@gmail.com to get your name entered into the GIVEAWAY!!!!  OH!  And be on the lookout for some new goodies coming soon in my TPT shop…I am catching up on lost time over here :)