PA Teacher Blogger Meet-Up, Great Sites and a Freebie!

This past week, I met some wonderful teacher bloggers. What started as a tentative lunch date plan with a friend quickly turned into a PA blogger meet-up with 9 people! This past Wed., we met at a restaurant, located on the Susquehanna River in Harrisburg, PA.  We had such a great time! I can't wait till the next meet-up!!! Will you be joining us? Roll call...

(L-R):

Andrew from Mr. First Grade (Andrew's awesome wife is right next to him-she's a middle school teacher)
Autumn from First Grade Teacher Lady (4th from left)
Jess and Kheila from Two Friends in First (Jess is 3rd one from left/Kheila is right in the middle)

Wendy from Read With Me ABC

Jen from That First Grade Blog
Nick from Sweet Rhyme - Pure Reason (his wife is next to him...she's a guidance counselor)

For a little treat for myself to celebrate nearly a year of blogging, I decided to change my blog design. My friend, Wendy, told me about Designs by Christi. For a minimal charge, I was able to change my blog design in the time it took me to go grocery shopping (literally). Christi and I sent a few emails back and forth, and it was done! And, if you knew just how much time I spent yesterday trying to learn how to make and then put a blog button (and grab box) on my blog, you'd really know how much I truly appreciate the simplicity of this blog design switch. And, the best part is that the price includes a mighty cute button!!! By the way, if you figured out how to make a blog button, and you want to put it on your blog (with a grab box), you have to check out Grab My Button Code Generator. It's free, and once I FINALLY found this site (late, late last night), I was able to do the whole grab my button thing with ease! But, now I have a new design with a cute new button that I didn't have to bother with. Sometimes I want to scream while learning all there is about blogging I love to blog!

I'm including a little freebie for you for reading this novel. Sometimes I just have diarrhea of the mouth...tonight seems like one of those nights (yeah for you). Just read to the end, and you can grab it. 
Anyway, some of us PA bloggers are hosting a Back-To-School Blog Hop on July 31st. You don't want to miss it! There will be lots of back-to-school freebies! Put this right on your calendar (and say a little prayer that my scheduled post goes live when it should)!

To get your freebie for reading this gigantic post, just click on the image below. It will take you to my TPT store, and you'll be able to download it for free. Currently, I use Words Their Way as the main approach to spelling. This spelling test sheet is simple, yet useful. 

Nonfiction Reading Response Packet Finally Posted!

Yeah! I'm Finally Done with My Nonfiction Reading Response Packet!!!!

After 4 months of working on it when I had time (between raising 3 young boys, teaching, keeping the house semi-clean and sharing our computer with my hubby), it's FINALLY done!!! I finished it about 2 hours ago. This is a huge packet (almost 40 pages) that includes a wide variety of nonfiction reading responses to be used all year in grades 1-3. They cover just about every Common Core Standard for Reading Information. Also included are several parent tip sheets that can be sent home to communicate with parents about the reading skills being taught in the classroom/ways to help their children. I use these responses in my first grade classroom, and my students have had a lot of success. In celebration of me finishing this project before I turned completely gray, I've included 2 responses as a FREEBIE. Just click below. 

Today, my husband took my older boys on a camping/fishing trip, so I had some time with just the baby. We had a great time, and I don't think the house was ever this quiet...that is until I screamed when I saw mouse droppings all over our Easter decorations. I had time (yes 2 days before Easter) to go down to the basement and get some decorations out. When I looked on the Easter shelf I just about died (GROSS)!!! I have to go back down there to get the laundry, and I am SCARED!!!! I also yelled at our inside/outside cat for not doing his job. He's always killing animals outside, why not kill them inside??? Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! Never a dull moment.

Happy Easter!!!