Wordless Wednesday: Loved. And Laughing.

Join the fun!

Fabulous Feedback (A Teacher Appreciation SALE Linky!)

I am linking up with my sweet friend Christina for a Fabulous Feedback linky party. We're celebrating some of our favorite products and "bucket-filling" feedback to kick off the Teacher Appreciation Sale that starts TOMORROW! There's even a TWIST if you spot your own feedback!

Click Me!

Kudos to the super-talented Beth at Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs for creating our super cute sale graphic! If you are a clip art hoarder collector like me, you definitely need to check out her shop! :)

Let's get started!


First up, Getting Creative with Common and Proper Nouns!

I don't know what it is about grammar, but I love to teach it. Most of it. I decided this year that subordinating conjunctions can take a hike. :) But common and proper nouns? LOVE! I think my favorite part of this packet was the poem I wrote for it. My kids get such a kick out of seeing my name at the bottom of our weekly poems from time to time. I get a kick out of letting them think I'm famous. :)

This WILL...

• Save you prep time!
• Make grammar FUN for your students!
• Help you find different ways to reach your students so they can develop mastery with common and proper nouns.

Click Me!

Next up is my Apply the Adjective collection! I honestly didn't know how this would transfer to other classrooms when I started posting them. I am so glad they are a hit! My kids have been HOUNDING me for a summer/end of the year version and I've finally been able to put one together. I'm so excited to pull it out for them during our remediation stations on Thursday!

I'm also working on versions for Back to School, Fall, Halloween, November, and December! These will be so much fun to use all year long - I know my kids will at least know the difference between a noun and an adjective! HA!

Click to see the latest edition!

Last, but not least, I've dipped my toes into the math waters and guess what... I didn't melt!

I love creating materials that meet the needs of all of my kiddos. This game has definitely been a success! In the mornings lately, we've been alternating math and ELA games for our kids to practice. Pencil and paper morning work doesn't mesh with our remediation schedule - more on that later this week. The kids LOVE this, and I'm excited to tell you that I have an addition version in the works as well for the fall. Hooray!!

Now for the TWIST!

If you spotted your own fabulous feedback in one of these pictures, please email me at thirdgradebookworm@gmail.com with the following:

• your TpT username
• the date you PURCHASED the product where I highlighted YOUR feedback!

Just give me those 2 simple things and I will give YOU any item from my store! You ROCK! 

Make sure you click over to Christina's blog and through the links below to check out more fabulous feedback and to get your wishlists ready! I know I'm doing the same! :) 

It's CURRENTLY Five for Friday time!

HA!

I am a crafty lady!

I get to do 2 things I love in the same post!

and...

Here's my (very late) Currently...

1 = Listening

Tonight, I'm listening to Grey's Anatomy. I am finally all caught up, and I can say is... Alex Kerev is going to kick some @$$!!!!!! I am so excited and depressed about next week's episode all at the same time. I can't wait to see what happens, but I hate season finales!

  

2 = Loving

 

I have nothing but love for my sweet blogger buddies and everyone who donated, tweeted, posted, and gave shout-outs on Facebook for A Place for Peace. Thanks to you, Ruby's parents WILL be able to purchase a headstone for her.

 

You all not only met our $3,500 goal, you exceeded it! When I met with Ruby's mama this week, there were lots of tears. The reality of what she has shared with me really hit home this week. There were entire days she allowed me to have with Ruby that she will never get back. My sweetest memories were hours and days lost with her little girl. It overwhelms me to think of how much she trusted me with Ruby, who was also an only child. 

When I showed her the PayPal balance, we both cried. Not only will Ruby have a headstone, but we will be able to help them pay several bills and fix some things around their house, which was recently broken into. 

Our blogging community is incredible. We rally together to care for our students and each other when any need arises. For me, it is also evidence that God can move mountains when we need Him to. Just in the last week, my blogger buddies have been able to raise money for the Boston Marathon victims, the West, Texas teaching community, students whose families are affected by cancer, and Ruby's place for peace. Your generosity is astounding and I have been singing His praises all week. 

Thank you. 

 3 = Thinking

Need I say more? 14 days of school left! 1 awesome field trip, 1 field day, and 2 half days at the end... That really leaves 11 "real" school days. Right? :) 

4 = Wanting

I need new floors so badly. Being a cat-mama of 4 means that carpet is just not an option. But it also means I get to do some shopping!!

Crazy Cat Bookworm Lady, courtesy of The Library Fox!

Don't you just want to laugh out loud? That is me! With my furry brood! If you want a mini-me, click on over to Crystal's blog! She also drew a "cat-free" version for me in case I'm feeling formal. :)

5 = Needing

I need a mani-pedi. Badly. I'm thinking I might go for some fun summer nail art. This looks so fun! What do you think?

Finally, my summer bucket list!

1. I am really looking forward to getting into an actual gym routine. I'm hoping to run a 5K in the fall, since my spring goal is still waiting to get started. Sads-ville. 

2. I am setting a goal for a book (or more!) each week this summer. Would anyone be interested in joining up for a weekly linky? I'm not expecting everyone to commit to a book a week - but it would be nice to know I wouldn't be lonely!! :)

3. Don't you love traveling with good girlfriends? I am determined to get away with some of my favorite peeps for a few days this summer. I'm a pretty lucky girl. I get to go to work with my best friends every day - and we're not sick of each other... yet! :)

I can't close this post without thanking you all again. You are wonderful, incredible, and generous people. Ruby's parents are even more grateful. Thank you a million times over.

End of the Year FREEBIE!

We only have about 2 weeks left with our kids, and I am having a hard time deciding whether or not I'm excited or sad! This has been a crazy year, but I have grown so much with these kiddos. I am really going to miss their goofy faces every morning. :)

As part of our end of the year festivities, I like to have the kids write a reflection of their "favorites" from third grade. I think next year, I'll start the year with this activity as well so they can compare their answers!

Click Me!

I hope this will be something your kids will enjoy! I've included templates for 1st-5th grade. If there's a grade level you'd like to see me add to the pack, email me at thirdgradebookworm@gmail.com and I'd be more than happy to add it!

What are some of your end of the year traditions?

A Place for Peace Update

First of all, I have to stop and tell you how completely blown away I have been by your sweet words, emails, and donations. To know that other teachers "get" what an important part of my life Ruby was, and how much her parents mean to me brings me to tearful joy. Some of you have even shared your own stories with me. Know that I understand your heartache, your burdens, and that I am carrying you in my prayers.

Thank you does not seem to be enough, but I want you to know how absolutely grateful I am for all of it.

As of tonight, you all have raised...

It is absolutely incredible. Aileen and I are so excited to share this with Ruby's parents in a few days. This will all be a surprise for them. They never asked for our help, but we felt like this was something we needed to do for them.

Which is why I'm leaving the fundraiser open for a few more days, until Tuesday, April 30th (or as soon as the extra funds are raised). The original quote they were given was $3500. We are so close!! I would love to be able to take care of the entire headstone for them. They have absolutely no "extras" right now.

So please, help me spread the word - share the original post on Facebook, Tweet it, email it to your teacher friends, blog about it, whatever! Please!!

Thank you again for all that you have already done. Please understand that all of this is coming from a very grateful heart. I just know that there are 48 more people out there who are willing to donate.

Aileen thanks you, I thank you, and most of all, our sweet Ruby thanks you too.

A Place for Peace Fundraiser (Now CLOSED)

Many of you know that exactly one year ago, I lost my sweet Ruby to a five year battle with Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. My sweet friend Aileen at iTeach was her 4th grade teacher.

Throughout the last few years, Ruby's parents have made us a part of their family. Ruby was an only child, so I consider it a special privilege to be counted as family. We have shared meals, tears, birthday parties, and many prayers. I don't have children of my own, but Ruby left quite a mark on my heart the day she became a part of my classroom. You can read more of our story with Ruby here.

We recently learned that her parents were not able to afford a headstone for her grave. My heart hurts for them as they are struggling to pay off Ruby's medical debts and keep up with their everyday bills. Aileen and I want to help give them the ability to give Ruby a proper "place for peace." I know that it grieves them that her resting place is not complete.

When I reached out to my blogging friends, I was overwhelmed with their willingness to donate towards a fundraiser for Ruby. There have been several moments in the last week that I have found myself in tears over their generosity. So, like my sweet friends Alisha and Ashley, I'm organizing a fundraiser to help Ruby's parents pay for a headstone so that she can have a proper resting place. I also have to take a moment to say a BIG thank you to Ashley for designing Ruby's ribbon. She even created a set of them for free that anyone can use. She is amazing!

Here's how this will work:

1. You donate $20 via the PayPal button at the bottom of this post. 
2. Tell your friends, blog about it, and help spread the word.
3. I will send YOU the bundled files within 72 hours (hopefully faster!) to the email attached to your PayPal account. If you want them sent to a different email address, please note it when you are checking out in the "message" box. You can also email me at thirdgradebookworm@gmail.com
4. After the fundraiser is over, I will give all of the money raised (minus any PayPal fees) to Ruby's parents. They will be able to purchase a headstone for our sweet girl.

The total value of the files donated to this fundraiser is just under $130! Each picture below will show you what individual bloggers and teacher-authors are donating. The button below each picture will take you to their blog or TpT store. Please stop in and show them some love for their generosity!
 

   

 

 

   

   

 

I still can't believe how many sweet friends have pitched in to help.

If you'd like to donate, please remember the following:

• You must donate a minimum of $20 in order for me to send you the bundle of goodies.
• All donations are going through my PayPal account. PayPal has created a code that will tell me you have donated towards A Place for Peace. This helps me to keep all of the fundraiser funds separated and it makes it easier for me to verify your donations. 
• I will use the email provided to me through PayPal to send you your goodies unless you send me a message at the bottom of your transaction or you email me directly at thirdgradebookworm@gmail.com 
• This donation button will be active through May 1st. It may be taken down earlier if we reach our maximum donation.  
• Once you donate, please give me 72 hours to send you the link to your goodies. If it has been longer than 72 hours, please contact me at thirdgradebookworm@gmail.com.  
• Once the fundraiser is over, I will remove the donation button and give all of the funds to Ruby's parents. I promise to let you know how much we raise and pass along any messages from Ruby's parents.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me to give Ruby's parents a gift of peace. Thank you for helping me to give back a little bit of the love they have shared with me in the last few years. No act of kindness is ever wasted.

 ***This fundraiser is now closed. ***

Thank you for your support!

 

I hope you enjoy your goodies, and that they bring cheer to your classroom during the last few weeks of school!