"WORLD DOWNS SYNDROME DAY" TOMORROW

I really wanted to get this posted earlier, but didn't get a free moment 'til now!!! Tomorrow is "WORLD DOWNS SYNDROME DAY!" Wear blue & yellow to honor & increase awareness! 

I have 3 children in my classroom with Downs Syndrome, so we are celebrating! I sent home notes today asking the parents to send their students in blue & yellow tomorrow, I made these ribbons below for my students to wear, and one mother is bringing in yellow & blue cupcakes for after lunch! I also informed the staff and asked them all to wear blue & yellow! 

This picture is horrible I know!! I have got to get a better camera! But they really are bright & cute! AND simple! I also whipped these up SUPER SUPER fast.... (it's past bedtime) for others and staff that may forget to wear blue & yellow! 

You can snag these for free {here}!


The adorable flower frame came from "Amazing Classroom!"

WINNERS & GIVEAWAY DO's & DONT's

And the winners are............

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations!!!! A special "CONGRATS" goes out to Lori R. who won 3 of the 7 giveaways! Now hows that happen?? You are one lucky gal Lori! That's awesome! You know I have yet to win a blog giveaway and have probably entered more than 50.

As teachers, we like to take all things and turn them into learning experiences and reflect on those experiences. Well, for this being my very first giveaway, here are some things that I learned!

1-Rafflecopter is so easy to use!! If you haven't used it, don't fret when you do! It's simple.

2-More entries most definitely increase your chances! Lori had more entries than anyone. But there were also a couple of winners that only had 1-2 entries as well.....so. 

3-You may want to allow only one entry for those required to follow your blog or like your FB page, because once they follow your blog or like your page that first time, then they don't have to fulfill any requirements to enter again, or everyday during your giveaway.

4-When doing multiple giveaways, separate them rather than give numerous prizes to one person. I am glad I did this, because I found with my giveaway that some people were interested in only 
3 or 4 of the seven items and only entered those. This makes me feel good to know people are getting what they will use. I often see giveaways where one winner gets items on various grade levels and in a wide range of themes and topics. I can only imagine that this one winner probably only makes use of some of those items and could care less about the others. Plus, I always say, "Why not share the wealth?" Right? 

5-Don't allow your contributors to enter or win. It's like several teachers hosting a giveaway at school, and several of those teachers win. It wouldn't seem right. 

6-Have a plan for how your contributors are going to send their prize. Will they send it to you? Or will they send it directly to the winner? I forgot to do this. 

7-Make a folder of your contributor's email addresses so you can easily find them, contact them, and collaborate with them during the giveaway.

With that said, I can't leave without a big shout out 

to my giveaway contributors:

Mo's getting ready to host her 100 follower giveaway, so be sure to visit her blog for updates!

Camp We Wanna Learn Alot! 

She has some awesome Easter activities going right now!

Kimberly Ann is a talented designer! You have to check out her TpT store!


Irene is having a glasses giveaway right now and is announcing something very exciting on the first day of spring, this Wednesday! Wonder what it will be??

Danielle always has fabulous class photos and teaching ideas on her blog!

Kim loves giving away freebies!!! And is very creative!

And while you're hopping around be sure to check out my brand new TEACHER'S NOTEBOOK SHOP!! Yes, I opened my first shop Saturday and already sold two items!!!! Woohoo..... two items! I was beside myself! I only have a few items in my shop now, but I will continue to grow it weekly! 

I chose TN over TpT because the profit was a little higher and I have just always liked it better. I like the look of their site and it is very user friendly. However, I do notice that TpT definitely over rules TN as far as the stores I see on blogs. If you'd be so kind, I'd be interested in hearing your comments as to why or even why you do not (if that's the case) prefer TpT over TN! 

Have a great week! Four more days until spring break for me!!!

Bloomin' Blogger & Last Day to Enter!

It's time for "Bloomin' Blogger Sundays" again!

Today's tip is going to be short and simple, because it's been a 
l-o-n-g and busy day, but so unproductive.......figure that? and I have lesson plans still and an IEP revision to do. 

Since I'm going sweet and simple, I'll give you TWO tips. 

Tip 1: www.blogamation.com  
Have you been wondering where everyone gets the falling  shamrocks, hearts, and snow on their blogs?? I sure did and I found it thanks to Donna at "First Grade Enigmas." Blogamation is where to find it. The site is hosted by "The Cutest Blog on the Block." When you first arrive, you will feel like you are at the wrong place......just click on "categories" and you will find what you need.  

Tip 2: Add your email link to your blog. 
I just discovered how to do this myself, thanks to Cathe over at "Just Something I Made." You can go {here} to access the direct page of how to add your email link as well as obtain email buttons. She isn't a teacher, but she has some great things to offer on her blog. If you like the email button I have, you can get it free from "Designs by RS" {here}.  

*I can't find the actual post at this moment, but Charity over at "The Organized Classroom" and "Classroom Freebies" discusses how important it is to have an email link on your blog. One reason she mentions is that when companies scope blogs to offer them product promotions or the opportunity to do product reviews on their items.....they will pass your blog on if they cannot easily locate an email link. If you go {here} you might be able to locate the post. If not, you're sure to find something useful. Charity is most definitely a blog guru and the "go to" for blogging info. 


Don't forget my 100 follower Lucky 7 Giveaway ends tonight at midnight (Pacific time). Lots of great TpT items and clipart will be given away to 7 different winners!!!!! Easy entry {here}!!!

And for a post that was supposed to be sweet and simple, it's getting rather lengthy, isn't it? But I'm dying to share one more thing before I go and can't believe I was able to hold it in til the end of this post................

I opened my first shop up today at "Teacher's Notebook." I'm so excited! I only have 8 items posted right now......3 are freebies, but it's a start! Check out my awesome "TN" shop widget on my sidebar! I just love it everytime I see it! This was actually a long term goal for me, because some of you know I am new to design, but my husband talked me into it and encouraged me. So on a WHIM.......I did it! I still have a few more things to upload so keep checking! Plus I'm hoping to set a goal to make at least one item each week!!!

Happy Sunday All!!!

LOCKDOWN TODAY & EASTER FREEBIE

Quite a frightening moment at school today!!! Went into our first ever LOCKDOWN! 

At first, we thought it was a drill, but soon found it was for real! I don't have all the details, but apparently a mother and father were arguing and the father threatened to come to the school and shoot his kids/or either shoot to take his kids and headed to our school with a loaded gun and his car was found abandoned less than a block from the school! 

There are lots of stories going around. Luckily the cops got wind and placed our school in immediate Lockdown. It was scary! We went into lockdown at 2:15 and at 2:50, 25 minutes before normal dismissal, we were instructed to hurriedly begin escorting our students to the buses and within minutes the buses were loaded and leaving! 

Staff remained in a lockdown until around 3:45, when we were told that he was in custody!! When I left school, I saw the abandoned car and police were searching it! Very scary, and yet another wake up call of how easily something like the Connecticut incidence can happen at anyone's school. Even at a little rural school like mine of only 300 students. Since the Connecticut shooting I have kept my classroom doors locked at all times and have had a couple of people insinuate that I was being silly......well today, I was glad my doors were locked and don't feel silly about it one bit. Not to mention, my self-contained classroom is the only classroom located within the office building where visitors enter. You have to walk through the office and by my room to enter the locked campus. You bet my doors are staying locked!!! I am just thankful everyone is safe and that it didn't escalate into something more! Maybe I'll get more details on Monday! 

Now for your Friday Freebie! Now that St. Patty's Day has pretty much come and gone as far as the classroom goes, I made a little counting Easter freebie for you! I don't do too much in my room for Easter, because we are always on Spring Break that week before and always return the day after Easter! But I couldn't resist making something with the cute little "Bunny Numbers" I got at "From the Pond." 

Freebie {here}! If you like the font I used......I made that too, and you can get that from {this} post for FREE too! 

And here's the St. Patty's Day project we had just finished up today when the lockdown took place. 

I'm really working on that New Year's resolution of mine to take more pics of my classroom activities. That's class pics two posts in a row!! 

And even though St. Patty's Day may have come and gone in our classrooms, you still have a chance to win my Lucky 7 Giveaway that ends this Sunday on St. Patty's Day!! Lots of goodies from some great bloggers and there will be 7 winners!!! 

Enter {here}! Good luck!

Magazine Debut, Math Trick, Linky & Giveaway

I cannot tell a lie.........I played hookie from school today. We'll not really! I came down with the flu Monday night and had to take a sick day yesterday. Then, yesterday after school my sub called me and asked if I needed another day and would need him today. How could I resist that?? I was still feeling pretty crappy when he called and was unsure if I'd be able to make it today. I'm glad I took him up on the offer cause I am still feeling yucky today! But apparently I haven't been feeling so bad, because I've been playing around with my blog all day and finding some really good stuff!! 

My first great find was Charity Preston's new digital magazine, "The Organized Classroom." There's a new issue every month. Every issue contains tips and tricks for organizing your classroom, organizing challenges, and stories and suggestions from fellow teachers. This month's edition includes themed book lists for the month, top pinterest boards, recipe of the month, and shopping with the click of your mouse! Her magazine debuted this month and guess what?????
This month's edition is FREE!!! Check it out!

Then, from there I stumbled over to................

..............where I discovered this awesome multiplication stick trick! Even if you don't teach multiplication, you have got to check this guy out......he's too funny! 

My school has been placing a large focus on "NUMBER TALKS" this year in the classroom and during our professional developments, so I can't wait to share it with my administrator and the rest of the staff!

Then, I read on Charity's blog, how important it is to have a link to your email on your blog...........
so whata ya know...............
next I found myself searching for how to do this! And wah-la......
now I have an email link on my blog!

Then, I added the "Back to Top" arrow you see in the lower right  corner, 

THEN, I added a "Special Ed Blogs" page link and since I was on a roll at this point.............I added 
the "inlinkz" gadget for sped teachers to easily link their blogs to the page. 

So attention special educators!!! Be sure to link up your blog there before you take off!

If anyone's interested in adding any of these gadgets to your blog, send me a comment and I'll feature it on my upcoming "Bloomin Blogger Sundays."

I also added a page for my weekly "Bloomin Blogger Sundays" tutorials, so you can easily find them in one place!!!

And that's not it! I've been seeing the "Blogs by State" button on everyone's blog and have been dying to add this.......so
I did that too!!! You can get yours by visiting "Fifth in the Middle." 

It's really neat to see where everyone is from. Seems most bloggers are from back east and there are very few in Nevada! But I'm happy to meet up with three others "SO FAR" in Nevada. 

I also found this wonderful blog today............




And she's hosting her first ever linky party!!! And it's ongoing with new topics every week!! This week the theme is sharing 3 things you like or would like to that begin with your 3 initials!! The only rule is that you visit the 2 blogs before yours!!

My initials are TMB! So mine are pretty obvious and easy!!! Although the "M" took a little more thinking!

T is for T-e-a-c-h-i-n-g!!! I like teaching! Then, there's always TpT and Teacher's Notebook! T is just an easy one for me!

M is for mashed potatoes!!!! I can eat mashed potatoes and gravy any 'ole time! Just give me a big bowl....who cares about the entree?

B is for B-l-o-g-g-i-n-g!! I like blogging! B is even easier!

If I've managed to keep you on my blog this long, then you'll be happy you did!!! Because I'm hosting a GIVEAWAY and there's still 4 days left to enter! 

Hop over {here} to enter!! 

And if you haven't snagged up your $15 gift certificate from Educents, do it soon because on March 15th, they are reducing it to only $10!!!

Happy hump day!!!