What I've Read - What You Should Be Reading!

I heart reading. I am obsessed with it. I can sit down with a good book for hours on end and love every moment of it.

The best thing that has ever happened to me is my Kindle. And second in line is my subscription to Kindle Unlimited.  I can read tons of books for free, and I get a discount on the books that aren't free. I live for my Kindle!

Because of that I have decided that I want to blog about the books I read- just little tidbits about them to encourage you to pick them up and give them a try!

Up First::  A Tracers Trilogy by Laura Griffin

A group of forensic experts (The Tracers) 

who help homicide detectives solve cold cases.

MYSTERY ♦ SUSPENSE ♦ ROMANCE ♦ ACTION ♦ SCIENCE

Everything you want is found in this trilogy.

Up Next::  The Crossfire Series by Sylvia Day

Gideon and Eva captured my heart far more than Christian and Ana did.  This series knocks 50 Shades out of the park for me and there's a fifth book coming out in the near future! 

I can't wait!

This is an excerpt from Bared to You from the website:

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness…He was beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I’d never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily…Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other’s most private wounds… and desires.The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn’t tear us apart…

Please check these books out!  They are totally worth the read!

How I use Data Folders in my Classroom!

Good afternoon!  Last night I set about creating student data folders that I am going to use this year. Of course, as soon as I asked my husband for help he disappeared until I was done, but somehow I got them all done up pretty quickly.  And it will be well worth the time in the end!

Last year I had my students glue graphs in their interactive notebooks and many times it would fall out, the notebook would get lost, etc.  This year each student will have a data folder that I keep in a crate so they don't get lost!

I got some of the pages that I use in my data folders as a FREEBIE on TpT from Christina Bainbridge's store.  I heart freebies!  I also created two pages for my students to graph their math and science unit test scores on.

Up first is the page that my students will decorate and tape onto the front of their data folder.  It will be fun for them and will keep me from making labels for them!

The first two pages inside the data folder are for my student's Math and Science Unit Test Scores. We take multiple unit tests during the year and they graph their scores here.  Before they color their scores in, I have a conference with each student.  I ask the students what they thought of the test, how they feel about their score, and what they could do better next time.  We go over the problems they got right and the ones they got wrong. Then they color in the column using either green, yellow, or red- based on whether they got mastery, near mastery, or remediation on the test.  (P.S.- Using Mastery Connect makes these testing conferences with my students an absolute breeze...if you haven't heard of it, check it out HERE!)

Last year I really felt like having students graph their own scores made them take ownership over showing what they've learned.  They knew the scores they got on their tests actually meant something, that they weren't just another grade in a grade book.  They got to analyze their answers and see what they did wrong so they could correct it in the future.  Sidenote:: I absolutely do not believe that a test defines a student, but we rely heavily on these tests for many things so my students have to know that they are important.

Next up in the folders is a place for my students to graph their reading level and reading fluency through out the year.  Graphing this gives students a visual on their improvement, and being a visual person myself, I know I would've appreciated this in school!  These graphs also take their levels from being just a letter or a number to something more meaningful to them when they can see it on paper.

Lastly is a Personal Goals sheet.  I plan on doing this with my students every 9 weeks.  I did not do this last year so I'm excited to add it in this year!

This or That?!

Hey! Today I'm linking up with The Tattooed Teacher 

for week 2 of her Assess Me Linky: This or That!

*One of the reasons I totally heart working at my school is that we can wear jeans any day of the week! I am totally a jeans girl!
*Earrings are one of my obsessions.  My friend in college joked about writing a children's book about it.
*Definitely JZ
*I never got into the gold look. When I was growing up it seemed so "old". Now I love it!
*I can't be more than 20 mins from a Walmart or I'd die, so I'm totes a city girl.
*I heart online shopping.
*I normally take showers but I love a good bath.
*I am definitely an open book.  I'll tell you just about anything!
*And I'm definitely a busy bee. I can't stand to sit still- I've always got to be occupied!
*If I try to eat breakfast it makes me feel ill. My tummy can't handle delicious food first thing in the morn!
*I couldn't live without diet pepsi, but sweet tea comes in at a close second.
*I am a total night owl.  Getting up early makes me feel physically ill.
*I enjoy getting done up every once in a while! (even though anyone who has seen me this summer would think otherwise!)
*I love the sound of thunder.
*Flats all the way!
*Road trips are my favorite.
*I have no idea what the next one means...
*Central Air is my BFF.

Thanks for reading! :-)

BTS15 SALE!!!!

Today is a big day! I was finally able to get into my building to begin working this afternoon and its also the TpT Back to School Sale! My entire store is 28%!  And I was able to score some pretty sweet stuff from the sale myself!

Go check it out HERE!  

And my very favorite back to school item is my set of Share Chair Cards!  Perfect for building classroom community, morning meetings, time fillers, end of the day, etc.   

Here are the products I bought today! I'm super excited to use them!!!

Writing Process Posters

Scientific Method Posters

This HUGE writing prompt bundle!

And another HUGE product, this Early Finishers Task Card Set!

What goodies have you picked up at the BTS Sale?!

The GIVEAWAY is almost over!

The Back to School GIVEAWAY I am hosting with 

Alison from Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin' ends tonight at midnight! 

Be sure you go HERE to enter before it's over!  

The winner will be announced tomorrow!

Good Luck!!!

2 for Tuesday!

Today I am linking up with Chalk One Up for the Teacher for her 2 for Tuesday linky!  I have two products that are on sale through Friday morning!

The first is my best selling product, Ordering Fraction Sorting Cards!  

Perfect for centers, small groups, or just a fun game.  

Get them on sale HERE!

 Next is my Adding and Subtracting Decimals Task/Scoot Cards!  Love, love, love these!  

This set has problems in vertical and horizontal orientation, as well as word problems!  

Get them on sale HERE!

Visit my $50 Back to School GIVEAWAY!!!

MMI and a GIVEAWAY!

Happy Monday, bloggy friends! I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It!

My first Monday Made it is a Back to School GIVEAWAY that I am hosting with the wonderful Alison from Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'! If you haven't entered yet go HERE to do so!  You could win a $35 Amazon Gift Card or $15 to Alison's TpT Store!

 My second Made It may seem a little strange, but I made my kitty finally eat! We were thinking we were going to have to take him to the vet because he wasn't eating but at last he did this morning!!!  Last night was our first night with our adorable new kitty. We haven't given him a name yet, but my daughter has come up with some pretty funny options. Her favorite right now is Mutasa, but I'm pretty sure that one isn't going to stick!  Any ideas for names?!

I've been trying to get back into the groove of posting more recipes, as cooking is one of my loves, so here are two recipes that I absolutely adore!  You can follow my Pinterest board and find lots of yummy recipes HERE!

First up is Crockpot Ranch Chicken from Stockpiling Moms

3 ingredients and ridiculously easy to make.  I had it with au gratin potatoes and it was a hit!

And lastly is one of my favorite recipes of all time, Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken and Rice from Southern Plate!  I make this all the time and the little crunch of the corn in it makes it absolutely to die for! And again, very easy to prepare.

Don't forget to enter my Back to School GIVEAWAY!  Have a great Monday!