Halloween Freebie

Halloween is one of my favorite "holidays" of the year!  I love to dress up in a silly costume for school and really enjoy seeing the creativity of the students - some of their ideas are incredible. (Last year, we had 5 students come as different Tetris pieces that all fit together!)

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year... smack in the middle of the school week!  I know that my students will have the "Halloween Wiggles" so I like to have some activities that I can do with them to help them focus and get back on track!

Here's a fun freebie for you to use as a writing prompt, poetry prompt, art prompt or simply as classroom decor!  You can download it at my TpT store OR you can download it directly from my blog by clicking the image below. 

I like to display the poster (or project it with a document camera) and have the students use the words or images as prompts for a story or poem.  Perhaps they have to include the purple words in their first paragraph, or put 2 orange words in their first sentence.... Why not write a haiku using a word from each color?? Or write a poem using the images as a starting point? 

Students could also use the poster as an inspiration to create their own "word art" or "subway art". (You can find lots of other examples of "subway art" online.)

I'm sure you can think of even more ways to use the poster!  Please share your ideas... I'd love to hear more!

The full download includes a copy of the poster in color, a copy in black/white and a sheet of b/w pumpkin writing paper!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Addie 

Ultimate Middle Years Giveway and Blog Hop!

Welcome to the "Ultimate Middle Years Giveaway and Blog Hop" designed to highlight a great bunch of Middle School bloggers!  There are over $300 worth of prizes to be won - which is amazing!!!! (Including a shopping spree in my TpT Store!!) Who doesn't love to win prizes??  But, you've got to be quick... the contest only runs from Aug. 25-27th!  Those of you who complete the entire Blog Hop Challenge will receive a HUGE package of "Freebies" from participating teacher bloggers!  Click the image below to find out all the information on the Blog Hop!

I'm a Middle / High-school teacher and I love the Middle Years! There's a little bit of big kid, but a whole lot of little kid still in them... and their energy and enthusiasm is contagious!  Pop by my blog often for lots of freebies and fun ideas to incorporate into your classroom. As part of the Blog Hop, I've donated a $15 shopping spree from my TpT Store!!

I've got the wonderful job of highlighting Elizabeth from Fun in Room B.... (don't you love her blog button?!)  She has lots of great information about teaching math in upper elementary and loves to teach with foldables.  She's also been researching and experimenting with Whole Brain Teaching so be sure to hop over to her blog to see what she's figured out! I'm a little in awe of her blog - she's very crafty and has some great posts highlighting her crafty talents... I only wish I could be so skilled! And... her classroom looks A-MAZING!!! She's posted pics!!

She also sells some fabulous products on TeachersPayTeachers so be sure to check out her store!

  

If you want to start blog hopping check out the links below! There are some fabulous bloggers participating!

Thanks for stopping by!! 

Addie

  

Back To School Sale on TpT!

Who doesn't love a good sale!?  I'm all about getting a good deal... and this is a great weekend for you to stock up on some great products for the school year!  

It's a 2-day sale so be sure to stop by TeachersPayTeachers on Aug. 12-13th for some awesome deals! Don't forget to use the Promo Code BTS12 at checkout!

 

Hope you're all having a fabulous summer!  Or... having a great first few weeks back at school!

I've had a relaxing summer and don't have to go back until Sept. 4th... so I've still got some summer adventures on the horizon!  Weekend away with the hubs this weekend, some lunch dates next week, and the hubs and I are going a big road trip to N. California next weekend.  

Hope you were able to have some fun summer adventures too!

Addie 

Dollar Days Sale on the Lesson Cloud

We're having a huge Back to School Sale on The Lesson Cloud on July 29th & 30th!  Head on over to check out some fabulous products on sale for either $1 or $2!! What a deal!!  Also enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Really Good Stuff!!

You'll find a ton of great sellers have put some of their favorite items on sale for two days only! Everything from K-12 has been linked up so be sure to check it out.

Here's what I have on sale for July 29th -30th only at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

All items are either $1.00 or $2.00!!

Hope you have a fantastic time going Back to School!

Addie

 

Fun Back to School Student Survey

Seems like Back to School is happening so quickly for some of you!! (I've still got 6 glorious weeks left... but don't be jealous... some of you have already been off for two months!!)

I have a love-hate relationship with the first week back to school - it's great to see my fabulous co-workers, catch up with friends, and see students back in my classes. However, it's also a frenzy of paperwork and administrivia that can bog us all down as we try to start off a new school year. 

I currently teach in a high-school (grades 8-12) and my students will cycle through all 8 of their classes in the first two days.  They must feel shell shocked as they sit through 8 classes of expectations and course outlines... so I like to start off things a little differently.  (I usually leave course expectations etc. until the 2nd or 3rd class when things have settled down a bit.)

Here's a survey I've used with my students in the past and they've had a ton of fun with it. Instead of the usual survey questions for Back to School, I've made things a little quirky and different. For example, I've asked students to list the song that got stuck in their heads the most this summer (for me it was "Payphone" by Maroon 5... just goes 'round and 'round my head sometimes!!) Or to list their favorite flavor of ice-cream (Ben & Jerry's Phish Phood - chocolate caramel goodness!).

As an extension idea I ask students to write a paragraph to justify one of their answers to a question of their choice.

Download a FREE copy from my TpT Store or click on the image below to get a copy on Google Docs.  Download includes teacher activity suggestions, survey and writing paper.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Addie

Fishing For Ideas Link Up

I've linked up with some other great bloggers for a fun Fishing For Ideas link up in June (which is very gloomy in my part of the world!). I thought it sounded like a great way to check out some new blogs and grab a few goodies along the way. 

Everyone's doing something a little different, but we're all doing something fun to highlight a freebie, a sale or a new product.  Be sure to check out our Group Pinterest Board to see what's new and exciting... and of course, feel free to check out my Pinterest Boards. (It's sooo much fun isn't it??)

Here's my newest freebie at TpT - I love the graphics I used for the product... all thanks to the 3AM Teacher(she has the cutest graphics and some fabulous freebies too!)

It's a set of "Owl Be Reading" bookmarks to inspire students to keep reading over the summer.  The front has an owl-themed quote and the back of the bookmarks has a space for students to record the books they've read during the summer.  Includes 4 different styles! Click the picture below to get your copy today!

As a special treat I've put my two best selling items  on SALE for 25% off for June 14-20 ONLY!!  Check out my best selling POETRY PACKAGE and MEDIA LITERACY PACKAGE. 

Both on sale for only $4.00 (Reg. $5.49)

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to head over to the other blogs listed below!

Addie

Teacher Appreciation Jackpot - May 6th

A big thank you to everyone who participated in The Teacher Appreciation Jackpot on Sunday, May 6th! What a fun way to check out some new blogs and pick up some freebies!

• PK - Grade 2 - April McNair on A Modern Teacher 

• Grades 3 - 6 - Laura Candler on Corkboard Connections

• Grades 7 - 12 - Adrianne Meldrum on The Tutor House

Here's the link to the product that was part of the Jackpot. It's on SALE until Wednesday, May 8th!!  Click on the image below or HERE to go to my Teachers Pay Teachers store to download it while it's on SALE!

Don't forget that Teachers Pay Teachers is having a TEACHER APPRECIATION SALE too!! I'm offering an additional 20% off at my store!  Use coupon code TAD12 when you checkout!  The sale runs from May 6-8th!

Be sure to check out the other fabulous bloggers who participated!  If you missed it this year... I'm hoping we'll have a similar event next year!

Have fun!!  Happy Blog Hopping!

Addie

Valentine's Day Freebie

Well... love it or hate, Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  Strange things happen in a high-school on Valentine's Day.... and it seems that at some point in the day I find someone in tears. (Usually a girl... upset with a boy, who has quite likely forgotten or didn't understand that he should have done something to mark the occasion.) 

Teen love is so sweet and so hard to understand sometimes.  Today, I had a student tell me that she and her boyfriend had been together almost two years and were sooooo excited to celebrate their anniversary.  Being polite, I asked when their "anniversary" was.  I'm proud to say that I didn't burst out laughing when she said excitedly "Oh... it's October 18th".   Just goes to show it's all about perspective!

Here's a Valentine's Day Freebie to start off the Valentine's Day Season.  A fun writing prompt, poetry starter, art project or just as classroom decor! 

Thanks!
Addie