Teachers of Instagram Linky Party!

I just had to join in on the linky party hosted by my sweet friend, Elizabeth, from Kickin' It In Kindergarten.
 
http://kickinitinkindergarten.com/
 
I just started with Instagram this past year.  I don't have that many photos yet, but I love them all - and the rules state that I can only choose 3! YIKES!
 
So here goes....
 

3.  I was fortunate enough to head back to the SDE I Teach K! conference this past July in Las Vegas where I got to hang out with some of my favourite blogging friends (and met a whole bunch more!).
I had tonnes of pictures but this is one that I posted on my Instagram.
Love these ladies and can't wait until July 2014!
 
 
2.  I got this adorable home-made gift from a student on the first day of school (it's a pencil container with highlighters all around it and the message reads "You as my teacher is the highlight of my year!").  I am so fortunate to have such amazing students (and parents!) this year!
Did I ever mention I love my job?
 
 
3.  This past summer we travelled as a group of 17 (yes, 17 people!) to Walt Disney World.  I haven't been there since I was 10 years old!  There really is magic there...my kids were in heaven!  In this picture we were about to have breakfast with the Disney Princesses at Cinderella's castle.
My daughter is the one in pink with the white shoes and that's my little guy (there were 3 kids missing from this photo - yes, we were outnumbered, 8 adults and 9 kids!).
This was definitely a memorable trip!
We spent 5 days at Disney World and a week aboard this Disney Fantasy cruise ship!
 
BEST.TRIP.EVER!!!
 
With all this freezing cold, icy weather we have been having, I sure wish I were there now!
 
Do you follow me on Instagram?
I'd love to share with you more pictures of all of my events and happenings!
Click here to take you to my Instagram page.
 
We would love for you to join the linky party!  Be sure to visit Kickin' It In Kindergarten to link up too!
 
And if you haven't already entered my giveaway for a DJ Inkers CD, be sure to click {here} and do so fast!  The giveaway ends tomorrow night!
 
Happy new year and all the best for 2014!

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Ring in the New Year....with a GIVEAWAY!

Who doesn't love a giveaway?  Well, this is a HUGE one!
Perfect for the new year!
 
As many of you know, I just LOVE DJ Inkers and use their graphics in just about everything I create on TpT.  Over the years, I have collected so many of their CDs and instant downloads that my clip art collection is massive! I love that when you purchase their CD or instant download right from their website, the clip art comes in BOTH color and black and white!
 
Here's a fabulous deal that just came out from DJ Inkers.
 
http://www.djinkers.com/celebratesmile.html
 
You can get this amazing Celebrate with a Smile CD for 40% off until January 1!
This fabulous 'Celebrate with a Smile' CD is filled with over 60 ready-made designer cards for all occasions through the year! Whether it's for birthdays, best wishes, an anniversary or any of the occasions we celebrate, this CD will be an instant favorite in your collection. 
Each card also includes a coordinating 'inside', envelope & embellishments to simply personalize, print & enjoy!  BUY NOW & enjoy 40% off the regular price!!!
  WOW!
Click here to check out this deal!
 
You can view all of DJ Inkers clipart by clicking the picture on the top right hand side of my blog to take you directly to their website.  But be careful....their clip art is addictive!  Get ready to start shopping!
 
To help you ring in the new year, I am giving away ONE lucky winner this DJ Inkers CD!
All you have to do is make sure you follow my Facebook fan page and enter using the Rafflecopter below.
 
Hurry - contest closes January 1, 2014.
 
If you are looking for some fun and already prepped activities for your students the first week back after break, be sure to check out my new
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Happy-New-Year-Ready-To-Use-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-1032354
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Happy-New-Year-Ready-To-Use-Math-and-Literacy-Centers-1032354
 
Just print and go!
It's on sale until tomorrow night!
 
Wishing you all the very best for 2014!
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Look at my new BRIGHT LINKS board!

'Twas the week before Christmas break and....
I got a Bright Links board installed!
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Literacy-and-Math-Centers-419326
 
I have been wanting one for sooooo long...I'm glad it's finally here!
Now to figure out how to use it! LOL!
 
I managed to put up some activities from my Gingerbread Literacy and Math Activities unit.  The kids had so much fun using the "magical" pen (I used that word so that they take care of it!).
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Literacy-and-Math-Centers-419326

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Literacy-and-Math-Centers-419326

Do you have a Bright Links board in your classroom?
What programs do you recommend?
 
I am looking for a way for my students to sign in, like taking attendance, on it come January.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know!
 
On another note, this past weekend we got hit hard with a major ice storm. 
Here is a picture of my street.
 
 
 
Look at my poor tree! And the neighbour's tree!
(They still look like that!  The temperature hasn't gotten above freezing yet!)
 

 
We were without power for nearly 24 hours.  Some houses in the area still have no power!
Let's hope they get it back before Christmas day tomorrow!
 
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!
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Hang in there until Christmas...with a freebie!

3 MORE DAYS!
{I am sooooo ready for Christmas break!}
 
This has been a very long week and, yes, it's only Monday night!  Phew!
We have been working very hard preparing for our Christmas concert coming up this Wednesday afternoon and evening.  The children are such fabulous performers!
 
Today we had fun making chocolate chip cookies for Santa which will go on top of the beautiful plate we painted a couple of weeks back.  Let me tell you, these weren't as easy as they look to make....we burnt the first batch, forgot to double the flour for another batch and nearly ran out of batter! But in the end the cookies came out great!
 

 
This is my DECE making them (she's a much better baker than me, thank goodness!).
 
I don't know about you, but I'd like my week to be as stress-free as possible.  If you are looking for a quick and easy activity to help get you through this week, my Write the Room literacy centers are so much fun and the easiest thing to prep!  And the worksheets are differentiated!
I just posted my newest one, Write the Room - Nativity.
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-the-Room-Literacy-Center-Nativity-1018957
 
Here are a few others that you might be interested in....
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-the-Room-Literacy-Center-Student-Activities-Winter-Theme-154031
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-the-Room-Literacy-Center-Student-Activities-Christmas-Theme-166116
 
I just finished creating Emergent Readers Sight Word Books this weekend - a project I have been working on a long time.  There are 20 books in all, which will definitely grow in the new year! 
My students love to read!  And they are getting really good at it too!
But I have a few groups that are still working on sight words and I wanted to create some simple and easy books for them to practice sight words by reading, writing and highlighting them in the repetitive text.  Can't wait to start this in January!
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Emergent-Readers-Sight-Word-Books-1021991
 
If you click the picture above it will take you to my new product. 
You can download the preview (right from TpT) for a free reader to try with your class. 
 
And for being such great followers of my blog I have decided to include another reader from this huge package that you might want to use this week. It's perfect for Christmas and winter time. 
 Just click on the picture below to get your free copy.
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxagjstn4BviUjdtcDFxdHV2X2s/edit?usp=sharing
 
I would really love your help if you are able to.  I started a project on My Class Needs a few months back.  It isn't fully funded yet and closes in about 2 weeks!  Yikes!
I would really love this fabulous learning carpet for my kiddoes.  There are so many things you can do with it!  If you are able to donate, any and all help is much appreciated!
 
You can click {here} or the picture below to take you to my project.
 
https://myclassneeds.ca/en/project/1209/
 
Thank you so much for your help!
Hang in there....a few more days to go!
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It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas...with a writing FREEBIE!

Our classroom has been turned into Santa's workshop these past couple of weeks.  The students have been busy decorating and preparing our classroom for Christmas.
 
I love this time of year!  Christmas carols playing on the radio, putting up Christmas decorations and, of course, wrapping presents!
 
Here's a look at what we have been up to:
 
 
My fabulous DECE, Mrs. Petrone, got our classroom door all ready for the holidays!
 

 
The students loved making gingerbread people to decorate it.
 
 
We even made the North Pole!
 

 
The students traced each cookie cutter (from the Playdough table) and then used the vocabulary books from the Writing Centre to help them label their work.
 
 
We turned one table into a letter writing area.  The students used blank Christmas cards, envelopes and stickers to write their letters.
 

 
The students turned our Dramatic Centre into Santa's Workshop, complete with a wrapping paper section!
 
 
All of our Kindergarten classes are collecting donations for the Mitten Tree.
Look how it's starting to fill up!
 

 
We had a pottery store come in last week and work with the students to paint a plate for Christmas cookies for Santa.  They all came out so beautiful!
Next week, we will be making cookies!
YUM!
 
 
Since we have been practicing list writing, I made some adorable papers for the Writing Centre. 
You can click on the thumbnail below to download your copy for FREE!
 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxagjstn4BviX2JMWm84Z3lORjg/edit?usp=sharing
 
If you are looking for some fun activities for your students to get you through the last couple of weeks before the holidays, check out these products:
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Literacy-and-Math-Activities-170843
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Literacy-and-Math-Centers-419326

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Mixed-Up-Cookies-CVC-Game-178566
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Mitten-Literacy-and-Math-Fun-440778

Have a wonderful week!

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Cyber Monday {and Tuesday} SALE!

I've already got my shopping cart filled and ready to check out first thing Monday morning for Cyber Monday!
Take advantage of Teachers Pay Teachers' annual Cyber Monday {and Tuesday!} sale to save 28% on my entire store!
Be sure to enter the promo code CYBER at checkout.
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Alessia-Albanese
 
If you are looking for a great literacy centre I just created a new
There are lots of countries represented including USA/Canada, Italy, Sweden, Mexico, and Norway as well as a focus on Christmas, Kwanzaa and Hanukkah celebrated differently worldwide.
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Write-the-Room-Literacy-Centre-Holidays-Around-the-World-1004968
 
This activity is also included in my bundled Write the Room - The Complete Set so if you already own that please go back to My Purchases and re-download it.
 
 
My All Year Long Pocket Chart Fun 1 and 2 are now bundled and are offered at a fabulous price!
If you haven't tried a pocket chart predictable chart activity with your class, click here for a free download and click "preview".
 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-Year-Long-Pocket-Chart-Fun-BUNDLE-927179
 
Be sure to take advantage of this HUGE sale on Monday and Tuesday.  Hop on over to my shop and see what you can use!
Happy shopping!
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