Alphabet FREEBIE!

One of my favorite things to do with my students at the beginning of the year is to create an alphabet line. Obviously, we have one in our classroom - but students don't have one at home to refer to while reading and writing. I LOVE knowing that every child has one and I've had many students and parents comment that they are still hanging up in their bedrooms a year or two later!

For years I always used one that I found in an old teacher resource book, but it wasn't very "cute" and I'm all about "cute!" I decided to create a simple black and white pattern for the students to use to create their own. They can color it however they want, but it is also a good chance for me to start the discussion on how to color neatly and appropriately. Blue apples and a purple sun are fun, but are they real?! 

There are also spaces for the children to make a number line. The numbers are listed and I have the students use small stamps to add the correct number to each box. This is usually one of their first times using stamps in class so I need to go over the procedures and do a lot of modeling beforehand. 

Click here to get a FREE copy!

I hope that you will enjoy these in your classroom! I would love to hear from you. What types of activities do you like to do with your students the first week of school? 

Maybe it's not the next day, but...

I can't believe how long it has been since I have updated my blog. This year is flying by way too quickly. We have 4 new teachers on our grade level and I also have a student teacher this year (Hi Kristina!) so it has been extremely busy and I haven't had a chance to write any entries lately. I always think about it mid-day when something fun and exciting happens... but by the time I get home I am exhausted and forget all about it. 

So... here are some of the forms I had promised in my last post before school started! :) 

First day of school certificate: 

Click HERE to download! 

Transportation Sign-up Sheet

Click HERE to download! 

I hope that you are able to use these in your classroom!

Have a great day! 

- Anna -

Really? 2AM again?

So my beautiful baby girl (I call her Boo since she was born on Halloween) has pretty much always been a great sleeper... until this week. I'm not sure what has been happening, but she is now waking at least 3 times at night. I've been researching it and some experts believe that when children reach a developmental milestone they regress in their sleep habits. She did start crawling last week, so if "they" are correct, that could be it. She is also teething so that could be part of it too. AND she has been eating like crazy - growth spurt? Add it all together and this mommy is tired, yet wide awake at 2AM. 

So, what am I doing? Checking out TPT, TN, Pinterest and of course other teacher blogs. I was thinking about back to school and forms that I need to prepare for my students. I thought I would share some with you here. 

The first is my photo permission form that I send home with all families. I require all families to sign a form granting me permission to use their child's photo throughout the school year as well as on our website. My original form has our class website listed, but I have removed that portion so you can use it for your students. 

Click here for the free form!

Oh... and guess who is up again!? I'll update more forms tomorrow. Thank you for stopping in and visiting my little blog!

- Anna -