Winners (and weekly weigh-ins)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who recently became a follower of our blog and entered our contest! It was so exciting to see those numbers grow! We are trying to go through all your fabulous comments and visit your blogs too, but it will take some time with so many. :-)

Now for what you all are waiting for...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aimee - You should be receiving an e-mail with the MPM gift certificate shortly!


Jennifer - We sent you an e-mail requesting your snail mail address so we can mail you the sharpener!

Congratulations, ladies!


On, to the weigh-ins...


Kristi's Weigh-In -

I have continued to go to the YMCA with my husband when he gets off of work.  We go about every day and I will either do a Zumba class or do the elliptical machine.  Both my husband and I have changed our eating habits at home and started to eat a small snack in between meals (which I really haven't done before because I was scared that I would gain more) but was willing to try it because a lot of people believe in it.  Honestly, I am amazed how it keeps my hunger under control by just having a small snack in between each of my meals.  So today, I lost another pound and another 1/2 inch like Crystal-YEAH!  I still have 3 more pounds to go to get to my goal, so will keep working at it. 



Crystal's Weigh-In:

I have this thing with my heart rate (so does my sister)...as in it does not go up like a normal person. In fact every time I have it checked at the doctor's office, they ask me, "Is your heart rate always so low?" Even when I had surgery a couple of years ago, the nurse was amazed. "We don't have you very excited now do we?" she asked. Ha ha! No, not even the idea of having surgery can make my heart race apparently.

One day at the YMCA I had been running on the treadmill a good 1 1/2 miles and still was not in my "zone." The trainer brought a lady to the machine next to me to have her try it out. Within a couple minutes, the trainer said, "Good! This is your target zone."

WHAT? Are you kidding me?

She was walking people!

I had been running a good 12 or 15 minutes and NOTHING!

All this to say, it takes alot to get my heart rate up. P90X doesn't do it, so as I work out with hubby when I finish an exercise and am waiting on the next one, I am doing some sort of cardio (jumping jacks, high knees, tires, etc.) to attempt to feel winded. My husband who apparently has a normal heart rate is huffing and puffing just from the normal routine and needs all the breaks he can get. :-)

That being said, we did Cardio-X all week and I lost another pound and 1/2 inch. I'll take it! I am now at the weight that I sort of plateaued at last time which has me a little worried. Click here if you don't know what I'm talking about.  However, I feel great so if this is my body's happy place*, I'm okay with that.

*Love this term...check out Paige's post about it here.

Cardio-X seemed a bit easy this morning... My heart is probably getting used to it and won't go up anymore. Anyone else out there weird like me?

Have a blessed day!

Kristi and Crystal

CALENDAR TIME

I am getting ready to go to my eye doctor appointment.  I am a little embarrassed to say that I haven't been to the eye doctor for about 18 years-YIKES!  You would think that I would have went a couple of years ago when I renewed my drivers license.  You see, I went in and tried to take the eye test that they give you when renewing your license.  I was confident sure I would do well.  I read off a lot of stuff and looked over at the lady who was looking at me with sympathy as she said, "Honey, there aren't any numbers in there.  You are going to have to try again and you have to pass with at least one eye."  GULP!!  I did pass with one eye, but knew then that I probably should go to the eye doctor.  But I held off and now finally believe I better go and will probably end up with some glasses or something.  At least I know to guess only letters this time and no numbers LOL!

OK, school question for today:  What do you do for your calendar time?  In the past, we have spent a good 20 min. a day on calendar and the kids absolutely love it!  We are afraid that this year, we may not have enough time to get it all in because of doing more tier time for MTSS.  So, wondering what all of you do for your calendar time and how do you fit it in? 
Kristi

A Read to Someone Funny - Daily 5 Chapter 5

"Teachers have no control over which students walk into their classes, what goes on outside school, or other external factors, but teachers can control how they react to those things that happen."

Hopkins (2002) page 60

I think this is one of the reasons the Daily 5 structure appeals to me. I have a very diverse group in my class each year. We are a Title I school because we have low income housing in our district, but our school is also located in a booming area of town where new houses are going up. So I have some kids who are getting LOADS of support at home and some who are getting LITTLE or NO support. Then there are those families that are just TOO BUSY to have their children practice reading at home. I can't control any of that, but I can provide students with ample practice time in the classroom.

Funny story about Read to Someone... Remember I have not done Daily 5 before, but last year I had one student who was really struggling with her AR tests. I talked with her and we decided that she needed to read her books to a buddy before taking a test so she would check with me and I would give her the okay to find a buddy.

One time two students (who did not have permission) had paired up and were reading to each other and doing a great job at it! Now I did have to tell them that they needed to check with me first, but it was neat to see that they were capable of doing this with no modeling or training.

Makes me think that introducing Read to Someone with modeling and practice is going to work great and I know the kids will enjoy it!

Last year on Fridays we would do what I called partner reading with our basal stories and the kids loved it. They each read the story and then they would read it together. Voice level was definitely an issue, but that was with the whole class doing it at the same time. I had two little sweeties that just had the LOUDEST voices - not on purpose - it was the way they always talked. They did not make a good pair! Ha ha!

I love the check for understanding part because it makes the kiddos more accountable to listen to their buddy. I also like the "Coaching or Time?" lesson because first graders have such a hard time understanding that. This lesson really breaks it down for the kids which will be helpful. I'm hoping someone has a great Coaching Sheet (maybe a bookmark) freebie for this!

Listen to Reading - I have already decided that during this time, students will listen to our basal story and then do some of the activities online provided by our reading series. I'm excited about this because last year I used this as a choice when done with work, but not all kids had the opportunity to do it (slower or off-task workers kept them from getting to choices). I only have two student computers so I will have to check out laptops every day to make it work (ugh!) but it will be worth it!

Thanks to our wonderful first grade hostess...

Oh, and LAST CHANCE to enter to win $25 to MPM School Supplies or the BEST Pencil Sharpener Ever (or so we've heard -- ours are on the way - YIPPEE!).

Graphic by The 3AM Teacher http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com/
Font by Graphics From the Pond http://frompond.blogspot.com/

You might have noticed that we are well over 50 followers now! In fact, we're over 100! Woohoo! Stay tuned for how we plan to celebrate 100+!

Have a wonderful day!

Crystal

Go to Chapter SIX

Tuesday Made-It Project-Glad it's done!

Here is my Tuesday Made It project-we have a rental house and our tennants just moved out because they purchased their own home.  We have another couple ready to move in, but my husband and I thought we would do just a couple of quick time consuming projects before they moved in.  We really didn't think it would take too long but it took us a lot longer than we thought.  With my husband working - he could only help when he was off.  So, I feel like I've actually lived at our rental for the last week.  Anyways, we decided to tile both the kitchen and bathroom floors.  Then the other very time consuming project was the bathtub.  The bathtub is probably 100 years old and is very nasty.  A couple of years ago, we decided we needed to do something about our bathtub because is was just as old and nasty.  BUT, when we priced new ones and realized how much it would cost to replace etc., we were looking at at least $3000.00-NO WAY!  So, I got on the internet (which can be dangerous for me at times because I get ideas this way).  I saw that in Rome, a lot of their bathtubs are tiled.  So, I thought what a great idea and not as expensive.  So I went and looked at tile and found what I was going to use.  WOW, what an experience!  I had no idea of what I was doing, but I had it in my head that I was going to do it.  So after 3 days of almost nonstop work and frustration, I finished it and thought it looked pretty neat.  Believe me, I was very nervous during the whole process and was thinking, "What was I thinking and how am I going to fix this if it doesn't turn out."  Needless to say, I finished it and we get compliments on it all the time.  Check it out.

So, since the rental house had a bathtub that was like our old one, I decided to do the same thing.  Although, I had forgotten my experience with ours and how time consuming and frustrating it can get.  Parts of it are still drying as you can see in the picture. The best part about this is that we didn't have to spend $3000.00 or even close to that amount.   Anyways, finally it is done and here it is:

Here is the kitchen floor (just basic tile, but it is done-YEAH!)

OK, on to school.  Here is what I have been thinking about recently-LESSON PLANS!  I feel like I spend a lot of time on lesson plans.  So, I'm wondering how you do your plans.  I do mine on the computer but feel like it still takes a lot of time to do.  Just curious on how you organize yours and have you found any time saving ways to get them done?  Can't wait to hear your thoughts on this. 

Kristi

Monday Made-It - So Cool!

Well, I think so anyway!!! Ha ha! I hope it is okay that I am starting with my HOME Made-It because that is what I am most excited about. I made this artwork which now hangs in my dining room above my buffet (in a place that has been bare for 2 years because I could never find what I wanted). I'm a little very indecisive when it comes to decorating! Plus we have stucco walls - my husband was a plasterer for 10 years and we do not put holes in the wall until we are SURE that is where we want it. LOL!

He is now a mechanic an automotive technician (that is what he prefers to be called because he actually went to school and got a degree and everything :-)) which makes him most handy to have around...construction and cars...we're covered! :-)

It was kind of hard to photograph because of the glare...

This project was inspired by this PIN although I'm horrible about following directions - and I'm a teacher, gasp! - and just sort of went for it. We had some OSB around the house, so hubby cut it down to 12 x 12 pieces for me and I painted them black. Then I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out the scrapbook paper and modge podged it on there and over the top because I didn't want it to look like paper.

The original pin did not use modge podge (found this out after when I was getting nervous about them not being flat and decided I should read the directions - Ha ha). Anyway, they flattened as they dried and I'm thrilled with the results! If you try it, I would recommend just using a tape runner on the edges of paper to adhere to wood and modge podge on top and sides...the ones I did like that seemed to work better.

I also made Monterey Chicken which is a new family favorite. Hubby even said he could eat it again the next night and he hates having the same thing twice in a row - no leftovers for him. I did follow the directions on this because of an incident not long ago where I saw a pin and thought they had wrapped chicken in bacon and grilled it...needless to say, that did not go well. Lesson learned! Anyway, get the Monetrey Chicken recipe here.

Okay, on to school. I did not make anything too exciting, but I'm happy with them. The laminator at school is broken and I'm getting antsy to get all my things laminated...here they are.

Inspired by this PIN from First Grade Blue Skies.

Inspired by this PIN from Smitten with First and some google searching to use as examples to come up with my own...

Okay, get linked up with Tara for your Monday Made-It - can't wait to check them out!!!

Have a blessed day!

Crystal

P.S. I can't believe I almost forgot to remind you about our 50 followers giveaway! Click here to enter to win $25 to MPM School Supplies or The Quietest Pencil Sharpener Ever! :-)

50 Followers Giveaway - Hooray!!!!

Graphic by The 3AM Teacher http://the3amteacher.blogspot.com/
Font by Graphics From the Pond http://frompond.blogspot.com/

It's finally here and time to CELEBRATE! And we mean CELEBRATE! We've come up with a great 50  72 followers giveaway. There will be TWO lucky winners. One winner will receive a $25 gift card to MPM School Supplies (the store everyone has been blogging about) and one winner will receive the pencil sharpener everyone has been talking about!

Yeah! We're so excited and hope you are too!

The giveaway starts today and ends next Thursday, July 12th. We will announce the winners on July 13th!

You can have up to 15 entries to win so get started!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kristi Says:

I FINALLY made it back from Colorado.  Let's just say that I was supposed to arrive at 9:38 pm and I didn't make it until around 4 am.  There were delays from the weather and then when it finally cleared and our plane came in, the pilot had worked too many shifts and they had to find a new pilot.  I was grateful that they found another pilot who would stay awake and get me back safely, but I was definitely ready to get out of the airport and home. 

WEIGH IN-I'm getting closer-yeah!  I have lost a total of 8 pounds so far.  My goal is 5 more pounds to get where I want to be.  Hope it goes quickly, but I'm sure that it will take forever! 

Crystal Says:

Not much to report for my weigh-in. I actually stayed exactly the same! Better than going up, I suppose, and with the holiday I guess I can be okay with that! I'm getting nervous to reach my goal by August 1st...5.6 more pounds to go...

Don't forget to enter our giveaway!  Have a great day! 

Kristi and Crystal

Modeling, Book Boxes - D5, Chapter 4 and a FREEBIE Linky!

Our hosts for the week:






           

I love this quote from page 45:

Just adding more time and space for independent reading is not enough. I'm advocating a carefully designed, structured reading program that includes demonstrating, teaching, guiding, monitoring, evaluating, and goal setting along with voluntary reading of books students choose...

~Regie Routman