My Teacher Uniform

Do you have a teacher uniform? Now, I don't mean khaki pants and a polo that is mandated by your district, but a select few items that you seem to wear over and over - because I sure do. I'm here today to talk about those favorites that I always seem to gravitate to.

**Fonts by Kimberly Geswein Fonts**

It all starts with a pair of skinny pants. Jeans, black or colored, I like them all. Of course, sometimes I'll throw on some straight or wide leg, but I really like the look and feel of skinny pants, especially if they are super stretchy.

My favorite skinnies for work are the Ultra Skinny Pants from the Gap. They are so stretchy; they are the next best thing to yoga pants.

Via Gap

Before I choose my shirt for the day, I need the perfect long tank/camisole. I wear tanks everyday, even outside of school.

The best tank/tunic I ever had was from Forever 21 the Basic Tunic Cami. I got it during university and only stopped wearing it in the last year or so (because it may or may not be a little bit holey). I love a long tank, and this was perfect and kept its shape much longer than you would think of the price tag (it was CHEAP then and is still cheap now, only a few dollars).

Via Forever 21

Next comes the blouse. I prefer something a little longer and looser, since I am always moving around during the day. The last thing you want is to be erasing something from the SMARTBoard and suddenly feel a breeze across your stomach and lower back.

I love the look of this Factory Printed Teagan Ruffle Popover (what a name - I was going to call it a sleeveless shirt). I have a similar style (including the white with black polka dots) and the fit is amazing.

Via J. Crew Factory

To top it off, I've got to add the cardigan. I am always cold, so sometimes I go for a thicker cardigan, in the warm weeks of June it might be thinner, but without fail, I am almost always layering.

I have a million cardigans but I recently purchased my absolute favorite. It is the Factory Clare Cardian (also from J. Crew Factory) and I already want to purchase it in every color. It fits amazing and is so soft - perfection!

Via J. Crew Factory

Don't forget about the feet. I just love a comfy ballet flat. This is where my wardrobe is lacking. I wear cheap ballet flats, because I haven't found the perfect pair. On my wish list? I would love to try a pair of Tieks. They are so adorable, I just can't seem to justify the $175 price tag . . . yet!

Via Tieks

And finally, the accessories. I need to work on my accessorizing. I wear the same pearl earrings and chain necklace everyday and I'd love to add some bangles. I recently purchased a tortoiseshell which I love, but I might need to add a few more items to my wrist candy!

Via Neiman Marcus

So that's my teacher uniform, what does your's look like?

(I don't know if this post was a good idea, it just makes me want to go shopping!)

Cold Weather Teacher Essentials

Well, it happened. I've been crossing my fingers and hoping that I would not get sick, but I've got the dreaded wintertime cold. The flu has been spreading around since December, so I'm really hoping that I will avoid that. Last week, some teachers had ten students absent - TEN - for the whole week! Those classrooms were peaceful and quiet and I think it's going to be a shock for them to have full classes again.

Since many people are in the middle of cold weather, or just the common cold, I think it's the perfect time to talk about some of my favourite cold weather essentials.

**Snowflake graphics from Melonheadz, fonts from Hello Fonts and Kevin & Amanda**

1. My lips are always chapped and I used to use *every* lip balm, trying to find some solution and I think I've found it - eos.

Via Evolution of Smooth

This lip balm is all natural and full of great stuff, while leaving out all those parabens that you don't need. It's even gluten free! Right now I'm using Summer Fruit - which has lasted forever - but I think it's time I picked up another one - I'm looking at you, Strawberry Sorbet!

2. Besides cold weather items, I think another theme for this post is going to be "items I have spent years trying various brands of, and now may have found great ones." Along with my lips, my hands are always painfully dry and being in the classroom does not help. I think I must wash my hands every five minutes, in addition to all the hand sanitizer I use, so a great hand cream is a must. For years I've tried tons of different brands and there are many that I like and still use occasionally, but when my hands are in need of extra moisture, my absolute go-to-works-like-a-charm brand is Glysomed.

Via Glysomed

I actually was given a small tube of this and left it on my shelf before trying, but once I did, I was hooked. This is the only hand cream that really solves the extra dry skin I experience in the winter. If you have dry hands at all, go get this.

3. When the winter cold and flu season is in full effect, hand sanitizer is a must. This year, I found my new favourite - Bath & Body Works Foaming Mousse Hand Sanitizer.

Via Amazon

I was recently introduced to Bath & Body Works and I'm hooked already. Just before Christmas, I was in there and found this foaming mousse and purchased it on a whim - impulse at the register - but I am so glad I did. As it says, it comes out as a mousse, light as air that absorbs very quickly. Am I the only one who always seems to use too much regular hand sanitizer, which takes too long to absorb, and them I have a gloppy gel mess on my hands? Anyway, this sanitizer is absolutely my favourite I've found (love the Vanilla Bean Noel scent!) but when I just went to the Bath & Body Works website, I could not find any foaming mousse sanitizers. I really hope they didn't discontinue it.

These are only my top three picks for wintertime essentials, what are yours?

You Know You're a Teacher When . . .

Fonts: Kimberly Geswein Fonts & kevinandamanda.com
Graphics: KPM Doodles & Graphics From the Pond

•  . . . you shush people . . . in public . . . without realizing it.
• a simple trip to the grocery store (in yoga pants) results in any number of shy waves, exuberant hellos, and quiet stares from past, present & future students.
• you spent 1% of the summer relaxing in the sun with a book and 99% organizing, stressing, creating & laminating.
• that book you were reading in the sun was a professional development book of some kind.
• in the book store, you head to the children's section first.
• school/office supplies of all kind are exciting.
• you know more than you ever wanted to know about Minecraft, Lalaloopsy & Beyblades.
• weeknights will always be referred to as "school nights."
• the last two weeks in August are the most exciting, nauseating, nerve-wracking & stressful time of the year.
• you will always experience the Back to School, even though you're no longer a student.

How you know when YOU are a teacher?

On a completely unrelated note, I've finished the next two Daily Math sets for First Grade, click the pictures if you're interested:

Each pack contains 40 days of printable math that works to review the Kindergarten Common Core Standards, while transitioning into the First Grade Common Core Standards.

Well, here's to two and a halfish more weeks of summer!

Using Picture Books to Teach Genres

I love picture books for sooo many reasons, but one thing I love to use them for is to introduce topics in the classroom. Almost any topic and in any classroom. There are so many great picture books that teach lessons, introduce cross-curricular subjects, introduce a new topic, etc. During my practicum as a student teacher I ended up using picture books to teach the students about genre. The first picture book I brought out was oohed and aahed (The Lorax to teach story elements) over and I was suddenly relieved as I wasn't sure how picture books would be received in an intermediate classroom.

From there I went through the same formula and I loved it. I would introduce a genre, talk about the different elements/characteristics of the genre, then introduce an excerpt from a novel. As a class we would go over the excerpt, and the students would point out the different clues that told us to what genre the book belonged.

After that first introductory lesson, I would do a read-aloud of a picture book and as a class, would fill out a genre-specific graphic organizer (that I had created before I knew about clipart and fun fonts).

I would then provide students with picture books and have them work with partners to fill out their own graphic organizers.

Since this occurred during a time when the students were doing their own novel studies, this was a perfect way for them to use the information provided to them during these mini-lessons, to figure out the genre of the novel they were reading independently, while providing evidence to support their conclusions of course.

It was always fun to find new picture books to fit the genres I was teaching, introduce the students to new genres, and watch as they tried to figure out the genres of their own books.

I recently updated my Literary Genres Unit, so if you are interested, click on any of the pictures or {HERE} to check it out! I've included informative posters (that can be used as handouts for the students), a suggested book list, tons of graphic organizers (genre specific and generic), story elements & fiction/non-fiction sorts, original short stories for each genre, a genre quiz and full instructions on how I teach the unit.

I have to mention that the suggested picture book list only focusses on picture books and is very brief. I've given a few suggestions for each genre, but must mention that there are so many more fantastic books to be used, I just didn't bother writing them all out.

Let me know how you teach genres in the classroom. Do you have genre-specific books you love to use? Let me know as I always love to hear of more fantastic picture books to add to my collection!

Hall Pass Linky

Well I had planned to join this linky a few days ago and now am finally able to join up. I am linking up with Reagan over at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits (how's that for alliteration) for her Hall Pass link-up.

So without further ado, I will begin:

P is for Product - Well I noticed that some of the other bloggers that already linked up have the same thinking as me. I always finish a product and it is my absolute favorite . . . until I start the next one that is. So I guess at the moment my favorite product is actually an old product that I recently completely updated and re-did - my St. Patrick's Day Pot o' Gold Unit that I blogged about {HERE}.

A is for Area - So since I don't show pictures from the classroom I will just talk about my favorite area in the classroom. I love a good classroom library. Enough said.

S is for Signal - Well usually I use a clapping pattern to get attention but frankly, I'm getting bored of it and am always on the lookout for new attention getting ideas, so I am excited to read through all the other link-ups to hopefully find some new ideas to incorporate into the classroom. To be honest, I've heard of a bunch of other great signal ideas, I just have to take the time to add them into the daily routine, rather than just fall back on the old faithful clapping.

S is for Sanity - Hmmm. This one I really had to think about and I'm not sure I like my answer. I think something that keeps me sane is quiet. So anytime where I get a few quiet minutes to gather my thoughts and prepare me for the next activity is key for my sanity. Quiet doesn't necessarily mean absolute silence, just a bit more of a controlled chaos.

Well there are the answers for my HALL Pass, I'm excited to go read everyone else's answers. 

My First Award!

Well what can I say. I went away for my first weekend this year and I came back to an award for my blog! I have to send a BIG thank you to Tamera at My Heart Belongs in First (who, by the way, is having a BIG giveaway right now) for presenting my little ol' blog with the Liebster Blog Award. This award is presented to new bloggers with less than 200 followers. I must now:

          1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.
          2. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
          3. Present the award to 5 other bloggers who have less than 200 followers and leave them a comment on their blog.

Ok, so I've checked off 1 and 2 on the list, now time for number 3. The five blogs to whom I am presenting the awards are as followed (in no particular order of something):

Go ch-ch-check out these blogs!

http://ccteachfirst.blogspot.ca/

Knuffle Bunny - A Teacher's Tale

"Boys and girls, I have a confession to make. I LOVE books. I LOVE reading." This is what I always tell the students. Part of me says it because it is 100% true, and part of me says it because, well, I want to be a good role model of a reader and inspire the students to love books too. One day I gave this introduction, then read the students this book:

Good old Knuffle Bunny. As I read, I oohed and aahed over the interesting illustrations, and quite a few students joined me. Of course, at the back of the carpet, there were a few wiggly boys who didn't seem to care at all about poor Trixie and her beloved Knuffle Bunny. I ended the reading as I normally do, reminding students that if they want to read about Trixie on their own, they can find in the school library. Well imagine my surprise when a few days later, as I'm helping one wiggly boy zip up his backpack, I see Knuffle Bunny poking out from behind his lunchkit. He had picked it out from the school library all on his own. Maybe he had been listening, despite his wiggliness. It was definitely great to see.

 

P.S. I'm hoping to have my Knuffle Bunny unit up soon to go along with my Pigeon Pack.