A Year Goes By...

Hello, my name is Elizabeth and I'm a certified over-achiever. Nice to meet you.

Well, maybe that's the wrong way to put it.  What I'm trying to say is that I sometimes spread myself too thin.  My momma says I burn the candle at both ends.  It's just what I do.  I always have.

But, as I round the bend on this decade of my life, I'm beginning to analyze things a little more.  Is that my age?  Is it wisdom?  Or, is it that I'm just plain tired.

I'm going with door number 3.

Today is my official "Blogiversay".

 

According to Urban Dictionary, this means, "The yearly anniversary of someones web-log (blog)". 

I've been at this blog-thing for exactly a year today.  I've come a LONG way in the year that we've been together.  I have grown so much professionally and personally over the last year and I'm amazed at the difference this year has made.

Remember Door Number 3?  Well, that door kept me from creating anything lavish to celebrate.  In all honesty, I'm just too tired to try to create something special to celebrate.

Instead, I'm offering a sale at my TPT store from now until Saturday.

And.

I'll give away E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G in my store to someone on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.

All you have to do leave me a comment below telling me how long you've been following this little ol' blog.  I'd love to see how long you've been listening to me ramble.

 

Good luck!

And the Winner Is....

Beth Shavelson!  She wins this rockin' laminator: 

Congrats, Beth!
I've sent you an email!

Thanks everyone for entering.  I'll be back really soon with another giveaway.  I know, I know....it's like I have a giveaway sickness. But this will be the last one for a long time little while.  I've got to have one, though.  My Blog-aversary is coming up on October 25th...plus my 40th birthday is on the November 1st, so I feel like I kinda need to have something special. 
Plus, plus....
I'm close to 1000!  What?

I am most humbly grateful for all of you who read my little ol' piece of the web.  I have enjoyed this adventure more than I even dreamed that I would.  I've "met" so many fabulous friends, collaborated with fantastic teacher bloggers and have truly regained my love of teaching.  Which, by far, is the #1 reason I keep coming back.

Thanks everyone!

See you Sunday night (after my 5K on Saturday...if I survive)!

Boo'd and More :)

Hi everyone,
I had a happy little message in my inbox today from Liliris from Fourth Grade Garden:


I've been Boo'd :)

I love Halloween (probably because my birthday is the next day), so I was happy to play along.

So, I must

 1) Choose a fellow blogger that has more followers, another that has about the same number of followers, and someone that has less followers.

2) Blog about each of them and include this cute linky party icon in your blog.

3) Lastly, leave them love by offering them a goody from your store as their "treat."  (If you have a store)

So, it was hard trying to decide on blogs because a) I love EVERYONE and b) so many people have already been Boo'd. 

So, I went with a few that haven't been Boo'd (at least as far as I can tell).

Here are my three folks I'm Boo'ing. That sounds bad, but you know what I mean, right?

My blog buddy and running partner (even though we live a gazillion miles away from each other):

My sleep over pal, Amber:


And the best cupcake maker ever, Natalie:


Go check out my friends' blogs.  You'll be glad that you did. 

If you haven't entered my giveaway that ends on Thursday click {here} to go enter!  Good luck!

Division Lapbook

We will be starting division this week.  I had so much fun (and the kids, too) putting together all of our foldables for multiplication, that I knew I had to create a division lapbook.  Here's a peek:

My students had a great time learning the concepts of multiplication in this format, that I knew I needed to "do it again".  Their tests, by the way, were awesome!  I'm really beginning to {finally} get a handle on this whole Common Core stuff.  I'm having to think differently.  My students are having to think differently.  And I love it.  {Did I just say I love Common Core?}

If you are interested, they are in my TPT store.  Click {here} or on the pictures above to go there.  

However, I'm going to have a giveaway within my other giveaway if that is OK with you.  I'm going to give away 5 copies to those that comment below telling me what you think about Common Core.  Be honest.  Is there some advice you can give to others reading?  Is there something you'd like for me to try to create? 
Do you have questions?  I will choose 5 people using the random generator thingy-ma-bob on Wednesday night at 8:00 EST.

Yes, I said a giveaway within a giveaway.  If you missed this giveaway I'm having right now...click {here} or on the picture below.

OK, off to the grocery store for my hubby.  He's cooking chicken noodle soup for dinner and needs noodles.  Ummm, yep.  Important.

Have a great week.

950 Followers? {Giveaway}

I'm coming up on my one year mark for blogging soon and I can't believe how much I have grown as a result of this adventure.  I've learned so much by reading other blogs and getting to "chat" with so many other bloggers that I really can't imagine teaching without this resource.  So much has changed in so little time, really.

I had reached a "slump" in my career.  I had gotten comfortable.  Nothing new.  Then, wham! Blogging entered and I got a new jolt shot into my teaching soul.  I'm serious.  I'm sure I am not alone.  In fact, I know I am not alone because several of you have shared with me that you feel the same.

I can't believe that when I say "you" that that number has escalated to 950!  950 followers, really?

As a way of saying "thanks", I'm having a giveaway.  Guess what's up for grabs?

Yes, that happy little laminator that I told you about last week.  See that cute flower on the top?  That's a decal that came with the laminator. Cute, huh?

Enter for your chance to win!  The giveaway ends at 12:01 am next Thursday (October 8th)!  Good luck!

Before you leave...here are the winners of the task cards from yesterday:

Suzy Q, Caitlyn D., and Dee B.!  Congrats, ladies.  You know me well...my favorite singer is:

I'll be emailing you your copy in a second. 

Now, for real.....ready, set, go!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Multiplication and a Giveaway Soon!

We have been plugging along with multiplication.  We have completed most of the foldables in the Multiplication Lapbook that I shared with you last week.

The kiddos are really rocking this unit.  I'm hoping that the test on Friday proves it :)

Tomorrow, I am introducing the task cards that I have created to go in their math tubs next week.  I'll be introducing them in small groups so that next week when they find them in their tubs, they will know exactly what to do.

Here's a look-see:

There are 24 task cards included.  The task cards are written in the "Common Core" gobbledygook wording.  You know, like "Susie is 5 years old.  Her mother is 8 times older than Susie.  How old is Susie's mom?"  Or, "72 is 8 times as many as ________."  The idea is that students not only know their facts, but also how the inverse operation applies. You know, that whole "number sense" concept.  It's so original.

I've also created an assessment sheet to go with it using the same questions on the task cards (just as a back-up if I need a "grade").  These task cards are in my TPT store.  Click {here} to check them out.

However, I will give away 3 copies to the first three people who answer the following question correctly:

Who is my favorite singer?

But before you go.............I'm going to be giving away one of these soon:

Yep, that's the happy little laminator that is becoming my BFF :)

Stay tuned...I'm waiting to reach 950 followers.  What? When did that happen????

OK, wanna win those task cards?

Ready, set, go!
 

Multiplication Lapbook Winners

Congratulations to the Multiplication Lapbook Winners:

Briawna

Anonymous~Barbara P.

Sylvia

Anonymous~Jennifer M.

Amanda

I emailed Briawna and Anonymous~Jennifer M. because I could find emails for you both. 

Anonymous~Barbara P., Sylvia and Amanda, please email me and let me know where to send your win!

If you didn't win head over to TPT to pick up your copy...I just put it on a flash sale for the next 2 days :)

You can get all of that for only $3.20 while it's on sale!

Have a great weekend.  I'm going to go finish up some task cards for next week.  I hope to finish before the weekend is finished. 

Common Core Aligned Multiplication Lapbook (Giveaway)

We started our unit on multiplication last week.  Having started the year by completing almost 2 weeks of reviewing multiplication facts, I thought this would be a breeze.

However, after spending every waking moment reading over the stinkin' lovely Common Core standards, I realized that just knowing the facts weren't enough.

Honestly, I knew that.  Really I did.  But, I figured 4th graders came to me knowing how multiplication works.

Um, wrong.

So, I created this lapbook to help us understand multiplication.  

Common Core Mumbo Jumbo to follow...scroll down if bored.

4th Grade Common Core Standards Addressed:

4.OA.1- Interpret a multiplication equation as a comparison

4.OA.2- Multiply to solve word problems involving multiplicative comparisons

4.OA.4- Find all factor pairs for whole numbers 1-100.

4.NBT.5- Multiply whole numbers

3rd Grade Common Core is addressed, too:

3.OA.1, 3 OA.3, 3 OA.4, 3 OA.5. 3 OA.7, 3 NBT.3 (Basically the same as above...but more).  

I'm having my students create the foldables in their notebooks, though, instead of creating the lapbook.  Also included are some options if you are short on copies (like me).

I'm also working on some task cards for 4.OA.1~Interpreting a multiplication equation as a comparison.  I'm going to use those in my math tubs next week.  

If you are interested in the lapbook, I have it for sale in my TPT store for $4.  

However, (and this is for those of you who scrolled down....hope you figured out where to pick up reading)....

I'm going to give away 5 copies.  I will pick using the random generator on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. EST. 

Here's how you can win:

1) Pin the item

2) Make a comment telling me that you pinned it.

That's it.

On your mark, get set, go!

Oh, and thanks for pinning....much appreciated!

**Update**

Winners have been chosen.  Thanks for pinning!

Monthly Monday Made It~October Edition

Hey all...

Looky what I made:

That's my gloomy Halloween wreath hanging from my mantle.

Now for the hot-mess wreath on my front door (right, Tara?):

So, two home made its...
And here's a kinda made it....I'm making Sarah do this:

Yep, it's time to F.I.N.A.L.L.Y paint my stinkin' kitchen.  It needs to be completed before my birthday (on November 1st) or I'll scream. 

School made its:

Sadly, only one.

I did get a chance to finally use this though:

That's the world's best personal laminator E.V.E.R.  I'm not kidding, either.  I was contacted by My Binding about a month ago to test this laminator.  I wanted to give it a try because the lamintor I had wasn't cutting it.  My old one was OK, but the pages were peeling.  So, when this baby arrived and worked as great as it did~Wowzers!  It's definitely a keeper! 

I made Tara's place value task cards.  I made these full size to use in my small groups and then I also made 8 sets of them two-to-a-page (so that they were 1/2 the size) to go in my math tubs. 

OK, so technically I didn't really make these.  I just put them together.  So, thanks, Tara, for making my Monday-Made-It-For-School-Edition.

I'm actually in the process of making a unit for multiplication, but I keep getting distracted.  I'll post that as soon as I'm finished and we can call that my "Monday Made It" for October. 

Have you been crafty?  Link up with my bloggy bestie, Tara: