Welcome Back...a little late!

The 2012-2013 school year started without a hitch! It feels great to be back in the classroom and I LOVE my new kiddos! I need to get into the swing of things in terms of keeping my blog updated. I also need to get into my TpT store and add some more products! I plan on adding a lot of information on my organization and classroom design, but I'm headed out for dinner. I will write more tomorrow about that and about all of the fun things we've been doing this fall!

Whoa!

Ok, typing this post will probably take me forever. I wish there was some kind of counter that would keep track of how long I was typing and how many times I had to delete mistakes. 

Why, you might ask...?

Well, 6 days after my last post I broke my arm. 

Yup, I welcomed summer with a fractured humerus. 

It was June 24th...a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We (Ben and I) had just finished some renovation work on the upstairs bathroom and decided it was too nice outside to not go out and enjoy it. So, we decided to hop on the motorcycle, the Suzuki Bandit that Ben brought with him when we first got together in '06. We both LOVE being on the motorcycle! We've spent many, many, many days on that bike together, exploring and traveling.

Well....this time wasn't going to be like all the others. 

A corner was misjudged. 

We hit gravel. 

We went DOWN. 

Let me tell you, that split second where I knew I was going to come off the motorcycle and hit pavement was the SCARIEST moment of my life. We slid. I rolled, screaming about my arm. Ben was up and walking seconds after we crashed. 

I however, was not. 

I got to experience my first, and hopefully my last, ambulance ride. I'm talking whole nine yards here: neck brace, backboard, onto the stretcher, into the ambulance, to the ER, cutting me out of my clothing, CT scan, x-ray, pain meds, finally crying for the first time when Ben and I had our first moment alone since we crashed and the realization hit that we had just been in an accident and (for the most part) we were ok. 

This is where spiritual people would say someone was watching over us, and trust me lots of people have said that to me since. I'm doubtful. I would like to thank our gear; our helmets, jackets, gloves, jeans, and sturdy shoes. We rode smart e.v.e.r.y. time we rode. So, as a result, I guess we crashed smart, too. 

So now, the bike is totaled and I've been in one cast or another for 11 days now. I've had follow-up x-rays and my bones have realigned themselves. Now, I just have to wait for them to fuse together. I'm hoping to have quite a bit more function before it's time to head back into my classroom to get ready for the new school year! 

I've been told that I can drive next week, as long as I wait to take my pain pills at night, before bed. That's great because now I can finally start tutoring (which was put on hold for 2 weeks thanks to "the arm") and I'm subbing for 3 days next week in the summer program at school.

*On a happier side note: I was accepted into the grad program at University of New England! I start my first class in September!

End of year, still hard at work...

So, I've been hard at work since school ended last Wednesday... 


Thursday I enjoyed a wonderful brunch with all of my colleagues. LOVE.


Friday I completed the interview search for a new kindergarten team member AND worked in my classroom for 8 HOURS, cleaning and boxing, sorting and tossing....


Now, aside from reallllly needing to get back on track with my usually healthy lifestyle, I just finished creating a new product that's for sale on TeachersPayTeachers! Yes, as I write this, I'm in my workout clothes. That will happen as soon as I finish this post. Honest.

Ok, are you ready?!

Introducing........

the one, the only....

Seasonal Number Recognition Games packet! 

(Is the crowd roaring?? No? Ok. That's cool.)

In this packet, there are 6 different versions of the same game. 'Cause let's face it, if your students can learn the rules and routines to a game, and play that game successfully, you are going to re-purpose the HECK outta that game! And that's just what I did...for you. :o)

The basic game idea is this: 

Teacher places number cards 1-50 (Or choose a smaller or larger set if you'd prefer...because I even give you blank cards for customization. You love me, don't you?)
Call on one-to six students (depending on how long you want the game to be...) to hide the playing cards behind the number cards. For example, if I'm playing "Fun in the Sun," my number cards are suns and the students are hiding beach ball cards.
THEN...you get to call on students to guess numbers where they think those beach balls (or valentines, pumpkin pie slices, rain clouds, etc.) are hidden. If the guess is correct, they keep the card! Yay! If not, turn the number card around so the class knows not to go there again. Or, be diabolical and leave the card and let them keep guessing it...your choice I suppose!
Continue play until all numbers are found...yada yada..so on and so forth.


I'm pretty excited about this new product, in case you can't tell. I can't WAIT to create more. I have so many ideas floating around in my head! 


Ok, now on to that work out!


Love, Amber

Teachers Pay Teachers

Boy, I'm apparently just full of ambition...

Things I've decided to dedicate myself to over the past 5ish months:

• From the Heart Bakery (out of my home-check it out at www.fromtheheartbakery.com)
• Apply to graduate school (University of New England-waiting to hear about my acceptance...yikes!)
• Start a blog (ta-da!)

...and what, might you ask, is my newest initiative??


Start creating and selling products on TeachersPayTeachers!

Warning: Shameless plug to follow....

Check out my store at: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amber-Leslie 

Or click the TpT button that's conveniently located somewhere over there! -------------------------------------------------------------->


It's a good thing summer vacation is only 4 days away because mine is filling up fast!

Yard Sale Finds

What does summer mean to me?

BBQs

Camping

Geocaching

Yard Sales!

Is there anything more exciting than finding classroom items at a yard sale??? Not for this gal!


Our town had its annual community yard sale a few weeks ago and I was able to pick up a few things for the upcoming school year.

I found 2 puzzles. One is about the five senses and the other is about body parts.

I can't believe I found a Melissa and Doug word work set for only $1! What a steal! I love yard sales!


Perhaps the most exciting thing that I bought was actually found in Vermont while I was visiting family...

With a quick fabric change, this will be the Author's Chair in my room next year! 

It will probably also act as my:

Mathematician's Chair 

Reader's Chair

Scientist's Chair

...and any other Chairs I may need!

Well, those are my finds so far. I plan on hitting as many yard sales as possible this summer. I'll share my treasures as I find them!

Well, here it goes...

I have a confession.


I've recently become slightly addicted to reading blogs that were created by other kindergarten teachers...


How did I start this addiction? Well, it stemmed so innocently from my other addiction...Pinterest! Seriously, how did I teach before Pinterest?! 


Since I'm pretty comfortable with most technology, although I'm not IN LOVE with using technology (I like to leave that to my techie husband), I thought I would give this whole blogging thing a try. 


I thought the end of the school year would be the perfect time to get my feet wet and start figuring it all out! Hopefully over the summer I can really get going and I'll be rockin' and rollin' by the start of the school year! 


Wish me luck!