Happy Father's Day and a Few Finds

Happy Father's Day to all of those dad's out there!  Went to church and breakfast with the family and then I'm meeting up with my dad for a movie and bite to eat this afternoon.

I was given a gift card to Books-A-Million at the end of the year so I scoured their clearance section and found a few books.

I remember reading somewhere where it was recommended to start the year out with reading Mother Goose nursery rhymes.  I always have the intention to try it, but then I see all of my Kevin Henkes and back to school books on my shelf and dive into those right away.  Since I'm departmentalizing this year and teaching all of the reading and language arts to close to 75 children throughout the morning, I'm really trying to think of how I want things to work for us....still thinking....  :)  Anyway, when I saw these, I thought I'd pick them up and possibly use them during my reading blocks.  Each book has a very unique plot and is filled with rich language so I know I'll be able to use them...I'm just not sure what direction I want to use them yet.  When I figure it out, I'll post about it!

This week I also went through all of my reading files and organized them (okay...they're almost organized).  Whoa!  That is a job!  I pitched a lot but it was hard!

Since I'll "just" be teaching reading and language arts next year, I feel that I want to hold my students and their families accountable for their reading somehow so, I'm creating some reading logs to use as homework with my kiddos next year.  Just when I decide on one format and create it, I think of a different one.  So I'm just going to keep making them until my brain quits thinking about them and when they're finished I'll be sure to post the whole packet for you to download.  I'm hoping that I can work on them this week and share them with you when they're finished.

I'm also seeking some advice...I think I want to make this blog for my students and parents and create a new blog just for me as a teacher.  I really like this theme and since our school mascot is a pirate I think I want this blog to be the hub of information for my students and parents next year.  So...how much drama would that be for you to perhaps stop following me here (if you wanted to) and start following me elsewhere?  Would I be able to move all of my posts to my new blog?  Maybe it's not even a big deal...if I do it, I just want the transition to be a smooth one for everyone!  :)  Any advice would be appreciated!

Oh!  One more thing I've been meaning to share...have you hear of this app?

GeoQpons

 It's so awesome!  It "stores" coupons for tons of stores....even coupons that you may not receive via email or mail.  You can search for various stores, or you can search by brand.  It also lists the coupons available locally.  Since I live in a smaller city between two larger cities, the app doesn't always list all of the coupons available for every store in my area.  For example, when I click on "Local" Kohl's doesn't appear for some reason (even though there is a Kohl's in my city), but when I click on "Brands", every store imaginable is listed.  You just click on it, show the cashier, they enter the code and viola!  You have saved some dough!  I just wish Lakeshore and Creative Teaching Press was listed!  :)

Have a great day!