What the Teacher Wants!

One Month Until #2016OrlandoMeetup

Today is June 13th, which means that in exactly ONE MONTH we'll be getting ready for our biggest event of the year, the annual Teacher Meet-Up! Here's what you need to know:

Our Teacher Meet-Up is moving to....

Sunny Orlando, Florida! July 13th at 6pm. #2016orlandomeetup

This will be our 5th annual teacher blogger meet up. If you've ever joined us before, you know there will be lots of fun, lots of laughing, and lots of prizes to give away! Thanks to our main sponsor TeachersPayTeachers.

Here's a shot of some of the fabulous teachers who came out last year!

{Check out more pictures from our 2012 and 2013 and 2014 meet ups!}

At last year's meet up we gave away hundreds of prizes and this year will be no exception! We have lots of surprises in store for this meet up, so PLEASE join us!

(A peek at last year's prizes. All donated by our awesome sponsors!)

We had so many other sponsors that helped donate over $55,000 worth of swag, prizes, and goodies! Can you believe that?! I don't know about you, but to us... that's a whole lotta love for teachers!

What you need to know:

*All teachers are invited to this meet-up! You do not need to have a blog to attend this special event!

*You can RSVP on our official Facebook event page: HERE! If you do not have a Facebook account, you can RSVP by commenting on this post.

*Please don't be shy! Every year we have people who are worried about not knowing anyone. This is a great opportunity to say hi to some of your favorite teacher-bloggers, as well as meet new friends and connect with teachers from all over!

*Please download the nametag template HERE.

*The meet up will be held at The Swan and Dolphin Resort, but the actual conference room number will be posted closer to the meet up. Follow ourFacebook event page to get updates on the exact location.

We are super excited for our trip this year and know that this Teacher Meet Up will be the best one yet!!

Here are the meet-up organizers from last year!

Can't wait to see ya'll in sunny Orlando!

Gifts for End of Year

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short. We are still going strong with 3 weeks left of school so I'm just barely putting together my end-of-year gifts for my secretaries, custodians and administrators. I couldn't have gotten through this year without them! If you're out of school, save this for next year. HA! For my students, I'm going with my jump ropes again.

Click the picture to download

Bookroo...I love you!

I'm always on the search for new books for my classroom. I want NEW or UNIQUE titles that I haven't read and more specifically that my students haven't read so much they have it memorized. I love reading them a new story that they've never heard of. It's so fun to create new activities (writing activities, comprehension strategies, etc.) with a fresh, new book in my hands!

Now this is a monthly subscription box that ALL TEACHERS (and parents) will love! You get a monthly subscription of BOOKS! Hello?!?! How fun would it be to get your mail and have 2 new books waiting on your doorstep? It's like getting 2 books for the price of one.
*This post contains affiliate links

It's called Bookroo and you can sign up to get 2 picture books (which is what I did) or 3 board books (if you have little ones at home or teach preschool). I love this company so much that when I saw them on TV-- I reached out to THEM!

My favorite things about Bookroo monthly subscription

*You get 2 hardcover books (and the price of the books always exceeds your subscription price so you are saving money!) or 3 board books depending on what you select.
*The books are wrapped in wrapping paper so it's like your birthday each month
*They read and test the books before sending them out (with 12 different families)
*They don't send you "the classics" because they know you'll have those books
*IF you already have one of the books in your collection, you can take a picture of yourself giving that book to someone else (maybe a student, another teacher, a neighbor) and Bookroo will give you a $5 credit on your account. I can say that I've never even heard of the 2 books they sent me last month and the books are ADORABLE!

USE THE CODE TEACHERWANTS FOR 15% OFF!

Check out Bookroo today!

The Final Countdown!

I have a lot of days left of school. Maybe 25 or something. It sounds like soooo long (yay for year-round school)! A few years ago, I asked some friends of mine if they'd send me some pictures of their students using my This Year Was Out of This World {End of Year Activities}. As I was looking back at posts on our blog, I found these and wanted to share them again!
Thank you to:
Janae {The Sharpened Pencil}
Chassity
Stephanie {Falling into First}

This one is an activity called "Moon Balloon with Memory Book". Stephanie hung her balloons from the ceiling and at the end of the day, one lucky {on task} student gets to pop the balloon! Inside of the balloon is a question about their school year and they answer in their Memory Book!

Great writing samples!

This next one is from the "Moon Pie Taste Test":

What cute bulletin boards!!!

Well, I'm still in school until July 2nd (year round), but I know some of my cute friends around the country are counting down their last days! I hope this one can help you. It's a fun one, for sure. Who doesn't want to have a MOON balloon countdown in their classroom?!?!

I've made a packet that is full of end of the year fun! This alien/space themed packet has lots of fun activities for you and your kiddos to take a walk down memory lane and then get ready for the next year!

Included in this packet:

* This grade was out of this world {writing}

*My teacher is a star {writing}

*Blast off to ___ grade! {writing}

*Blast off to ___ grade questionnaire {writing}

*Blast off craft

*Alien headband craft

*Was this year over the moon? {survey and graph}

* I spy a moon pie! {spelling and/or sight word practice}

*Moon Pie, Moon Walk {poetry walk}

*Moon Pie taste test {graphing}

*Stars bubble map