Do You Instagram?

I'm an instagram addict. Why I didn't think of joining instagram as a blog sooner is beyond me. Once I heard more and more people talking about it, I knew I had to get on board.

Instagram is addicting and a great way to share info from your classroom, snippets of what your students are doing, or even previews of items you have created!

I finally created a separate account from my personal one just for teaching stuff. If you're looking for me, my username is @creatingteaching 

You can now see a clickable link to a webpage view of my instagram account under the get connected header to the right. 

Instagram is a cell phone app available for iphone and android.

Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants and Michelle from Apples & ABCs are starting a hashtag tuesday to bring more teachers on instagram together!

On Tuesday, you'll post a picture on instagram and include the hastag, #teachertalktuesday 

The way a hastag works is like a search engine. It becomes a phrase you can click on. Once clicked on you will see ALL of the pictures that have that same hashtag.

I'm really excited for this to start! Make sure you join instagram or remember to search the hashtag #teachertalktuesday to find great "teacher instagrammers"

Five for Friday- {on a Saturday, but don't tell on me!}

As soon as all of the things I had committed to doing on Friday were done, I crashed. I slept for 12 hours. I was so busy this past week between work full time and taking 2 grad classes that I was getting like 4 hours of sleep a night.

[note to self: never take 2 grad classes during spring semester as a special education teacher. ever.]

Okay, I will end my pitty party here, and share my Five for Friday with you!

[1.] I have been dying for these critter bracelets at Target. I don't live near a Target and they were sold out online. On Monday I had to go to a PD that was close to a Target. I just {had} to stop in after the PD was over and look what I found!! They have more than just these 3, but these were my favorites. I took a lot of will power to walk into target and only go to the jewelry section then back out. Okay, well I did go to the dollar spot too. 

[2.] This was how my morning started.On either Tuesday or Wednesday, I can't remember honestly. The first thing I did was go to set my coffee down. The lid came off and coffee was all over my desk. RIGHT before the kids came in. I had to take everything off of the desk. At least it's nice and clean now..

[3.] Look what we got! All teachers got a Dell Latitude 10. Which is awesome because all we have right now is just a desktop. We can take these home AND we now have wireless in our building. I'm excited, I just don't know how the darn thing works! Anyone have one of these?! How do I close my apps?! (yes, it's that bad.)

[4.] I bought one these cup blender things. No, I didn't get the Magic Bullet. It was $50 and this one was $20. I figured I would get my $20 bucks worth of it before it died. It's perfect for making my protein shakes after a workout! No messy blender to clean, just the same cup you drink out of! 

[5.] Origami Owl. Have you heard of these? I had heard of them for the first time like 2 weeks before I was invited to a party. I really couldn't decide if I liked it. I like the idea, but wasn't sold. After seeing them in person I decided I had to have one. I can't wait for it to come in. I struggled not being able to see exactly what it would look like since they didn't have the charms I wanted there, but I think I'll love it. 

Head over to Doodle Bugs to link up for Five for Friday, or to check out everyone's posts!

Dinosaur Roar Unit--Updated!

My Dinosaur Roar unit is my #3 best selling item! I can't believe it! It's one of the first items I created (or well created early on) and I have learned so much since then. This unit just needed to be revamped!

I have added 5 additional activities, updated the graphics on a few of the existing ones, and aligned the whole thing with teaching strategies gold and kindergarten common core. [some activities do not align to ccs] 

If you've already purchased this unit you are going to get a great deal! You can now download the update for free!

If you want to add this unit to your collection you can purchase for $6 on either TpT or TN.

Here's what is included:

1. Dinosaur Vocabulary Cards
2. Dinosaur Fact Posters
3. Dinosaur Writing Prompt
4. Positional Term Activity
5. Dinosaur Memory & Patterns
6. Leaf Counting
7. Trace & Write Cards
8. Number Practice
9. Dinosaur Action Cards
10. Dinosaur Fine Motor Cards
11. Dinosaur Songs/Chants
12. Additional Activities Ideas List

[click here to purchase on TpT]

[click here to purchase on TN]

You can read my original post on the unit {here} and see how I made a volcano for my classroom {here}

Helping Teachers in West Texas

We all endured a very challenging week. It felt like one thing after the next in the news. For some of us things hit a little closer to home. A blogging friend, Crystal at Kreative in Kinder only lives about 30 minutes outside of West Texas.

She immediately found herself on the phone trying to get in touch with her family in West Texas. Everyone was alright, but everyone was helping. And now Crystal wants to help the teachers in West Texas too.

Crystal has launched a huge fundraiser to raise money for the teachers. For a minimum donation of $25 you get some AMAZING units and activities by AMAZING teacher bloggers. The combined value for these units is $140.00. Your $25 donation will benefit the teachers of West Texas and you'll get all of these amazing units!

Go to Crystals blog to donate and see what all is included!

My First Five for Friday

I always read TONS of Five for Friday posts, but I don't know why I have never linked up! Today we are changing things! Here is my first link up for Five for Friday!

[1. ] My new car came in! So excited!

[2.] Completed my mentoring program! whoop whoop! Bring on the continuing license!

[3.] Ordered a personal copy of Boardmaker-- (thanks for the sale Mayer-Johnson!) Can't wait to have the time AT HOME to create! 

[4.] Working on planning an "I love You" lesson/activity

[5.] Attempted "double necklaces" today. I think I like it. (thank you pinterest!) 

Have you ever checked out Five for Friday? Head over to Doodles Bugs Teaching to join the party!

Tax Break Sale & My First COMMON CORE Aligned Unit

This unit was a total accident. I wasn't even planning on creating it, but as I was writing lesson plans for the past 2 weeks, I started creating activities I needed as I thought of them for planning. Well, before I knew it, I had almost a whole unit. I added some additional activities to it and voila!

This is the largest unit I have! It includes 17 activities and I have attempted to align the activities with Kindergarten Common Core as well. (Teaching Strategies Gold Objectives are also still included)

This is the first time I have aligned to Common Core and seeing as though I teach pre-school and don't use CC, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let me know if you find any mistakes.

Not every activity aligns to common core-- i.e. the color identifying ones, etc.

Here's is what you will get in this awesome unit:

1. Vocabulary Cards

2. Petal Counting

3. Color Pom-Pom Matching

4. Color Word Identifying

5. "Planting a Rainbow" Activity Cards

6. Alphabet Memory

7. Trace & Write Parts of a Flower

8. Playdough Counting Mats

9. Roll & Draw Flowers

10. Fine Motor Practice

11. Flower Sorting

12. Rain Drop Size Sort

13. Roll & Draw Raindrops

14. Raindrop Action Cards

15. Umbrella Color Memory

16. Living vs. Non-Living Sort

17. Dramatic Play Flower Shop

Check out the previews below:

{click here to purchase on TpT}

{click here to purchase on TN}

Tomorrow only, save 15% on this unit with a Tax Break Sale! [at both stores!]

Buzzing Word Wall Cards, Birthday Board, & Sub Binder!

I had a request for some bumblebee themed word wall cards and sub binder. I went ahead and made a matching birthday bulletin board set as well.

If you have a bumble bee theme in your classroom then you need these! I was so exciting when Glitter Meets Glue posted this bumblebee clip art. I was having such a hard time finding the perfect graphics.

You can download the items of your choice by clicking the links below the pictures. OR you can download all 3 files in a combined pack for only $4 {if you buy them individually it will cost you $5}

{click here to purchase on TpT}

{click here to purchase on TN}

{click here to purchase on TpT}

{click here to purchase on TN}

{click here to purchase on TpT}

{click here to purchase on TN}

OR, purchase the bundled pack and save $1!

{click here to purchase on TpT}

{click here to purchase on TN}

Remember, I always take requests for themes :)

APRIL Currently & Autism Awareness Month

Can I just tell yall how excited I am that it's April? {Despite my jam packed calendar}

It's finally starting to feel like Spring here--woo hoo! It's in the 60s today and I got a nice Spring manicure to go along with it!

It's been a couple of months since I've linked up with Farley for the currently. Life has just been in the way. But this time I'm on spring break and am excited I have time to link up!

I love this quote by Dr. Seuss. I just read it and think, "you're right! I can do whatever I choose to do. If I'm not happy, I need to be the change that I want!" and to me that feels very empowering. 

I also wanted to share with you something for autism awareness month. I'm sure most of you know that April is autism awareness month. April 2nd is light it up blue for autism. My school year this year has certainly had its ups and downs for me personally, but I wouldn't change it for the world. My heart has grown so much for these amazing students that I work with. Each child with autism is so unique and they are truly amazing kids. They make you laugh. They make you cry. But even on their most trying days, I still love them. 

There are tons of ways to show your support for autism awareness and I would like to share with you a fundraiser by Stella & Dot Jewelry.

20% of the proceeds from these jewelry pieces will be donated to the HollyRod Foundation that helps provide support for those with autism and their families.

The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was order a spirit bracelet.

The link I gave you connects you to my stylist, but if you are interested, feel free to order through your own if you have one :)

While you're here--make sure you follow my blog! There's a 1,000 follower giveaway in the works!