Learning Resources Giveaway: Part II

Hey friends! I am excited to bring you another giveaway from Learning Resources. But first, let me tell you a little bit about this amazing tool! It is called an Easi-Speak Recorder and it looks like this:

Seriously, this thing is awesome! The kids think it is too because it's a microphone and they all think they are rock starts while they are using it! HAHA If that isn't motivation enough to use it, I don't know what is...

I just recently acquired a new student from Oregon. That's pretty far away from South Carolina and she's totally shy, doesn't know anyone, and I have only heard her speak a couple of times. I needed to benchmark her to put her into a reading group and I didn't want her to feel too uncomfortable or put on the spot so I whipped out this bad boy and asked her to read the story into the device. I instructed her to read the questions from the story printed on the sheet I had given her and answer them orally into the microphone after she read the story. I showed her how it worked (which was short, sweet, and easy as pie!) and then I walked away and left her to it to attend to the rest of the class. She raised her hand when she was finished and played it back for myself later in the day when I was by myself. I was able to assess her fluency and her comprehension, ALL without making her feel overwhelmed, judged, embarrassed, etc..

I often find it difficult to find students who are willing to share their writing aloud with the class, but this is great for your reluctant readers because you just let them step into the hall or in a private part of the room and read it into the recorder without feeling like all eyes are on them. Then, you can embed the sound file into a powerpoint or slideshow with artwork or pictures and enjoy a fun presentation of students oral readings!

You can play it back right then and there or you can upload the file to your computer and listen to it that way. AND it doesn't even need batteries! I hate batteries! All you have to do is plug it into your USB and it charges!

There are so many other ways you could use this, I can't even list them all. All I know is it totally has a special place in my classroom from now on.

For more information on this resource, please visit  this youtube link HERE

You can WIN this amazing resource by doing these four simple things:

1) Follow my blog and leave a comment (WITH YOUR EMAIL) letting me know how you would use this in your classroom.
2) Follow Learning Resources on Facebook.
3) Follow Learning Resources on Pinterest.
4) Follow Learning Resources on Twitter.

Please use the Rafflecopter for your entries to be counted! If you do not see it below, please click Read More. You blog comment will not be counted if you do not enter it into the Rafflecopter!

Rockin' End of Year Unit

Hey everyone! I finally finished my Rockin' End of the Year unit! 




It is available for purchase in my TPT shop right now! Click my button below to go get yourself a copy!
And, I am giving you a couple of freebies from the unit in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week!



Click HERE to download these copies!

And congrats to Sally from Elementary Matters for winning the Hear All Assessment Recorder giveaway!

A new giveaway from Learning Resources will begin tomorrow so check back!

End of the Year

I have survived day 1 of our state testing! It is always so exhausting! I cannot wait until it's over and we can begin the fun end of the year activities!

I was thinking about the end of the year and I thought it would be cool to do a Rock Star themed end of the year unit! Initially I was thinking of a Space theme, but them I realized Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants beat me to the punch!  =)

I literally just started working on it tonight, but here is what I have in store:

Rockin' Memory Book (including the band - your class picture, your groupies - friends, and don't forget the lead singer - your awesome teacher, tour schedule - your year of fun events)
ipod playlist - Favorite songs from this year
How to Rock out the _____ grade writing prompt
Next year, I hope to Rock out ______ grade by writing prompt
Rock Star Classroom Awards (RSCA's) 
Thank You Speech - students thank all of the people who contributed to their success this year
My summer playlist - students list things they wish to do
Word Search
You're a Rock Star note from teacher
Rockin' Writing Portfolio
Guitar Craftivity
Boom Box Venn Diagram

Here is a preview! 


It's not much yet, but stay tuned! HAHA Get it?

I hope to have this finished this weekend, but who knows!?

What do you guys think? Any suggestions? I am still in the brainstorming stages so I welcome suggestions!

Don't forget my TPT sale ends tonight and the Hear All Assessment Recorder giveaway ends tomorrow night!

Teacher Appreciation Sale Finds

I'm linking up with Erica Bohrer's First Grade to see all the neat resources all of you bloggers have snagged during the Teacher Appreciation Sale. Click below to head to her linky!


Here are my fabulous finds!

First, I purchased Abby Mullins' Back to School For Big Kids unit! I am so excited to use this next year!


Next, I found this great summer writing craftivity from the Down Under Teacher that I plan on using next week!


And finally, I bought Amanda Nickerson's Arctic Snow Business: An Avalanche of Nonfiction Fun! This oughtta really spice up our nonfiction text feature unit next year!

Now, go link up so we can all see what you bought!!

Font Background Tutorial

Well, day 1 of state testing is tomorrow and thankfully we have been told we can wear jeans ALL week! I know, it's the little things...

Anyway, recently I have been seeing people add backgrounds and pictures inside of their text like this:
Cool huh!? 

Check out the video to learn how! It is SOOO SUPER easy!


Don't forget about my TN and TPT sales! You can click the buttons in my sidebar to check them out!

Also, don't forget to go enter my Hear All Assessment Recorder giveaway! This thing is so cool!
Click HERE to head over and enter! The giveaway will end on Wednesday!

Make sure you click the read more button if you don't see the Rafflecopter!

And, on top of all this coolness, I have been nominated for the 2012's Most Fascinating Elementary Teacher blog! How cool is that!?
Accelerated Degree Programs

I'll be posting about this again when the voting begins on May 14th and I hope you will all vote for me!