Monday, June 18, 2012

50 Post Giveaway and Alphabet Water Bottle Fun!

Good Morning Teacher Friends!  As I was laying in bed (at 9:00 this morning soaking in every ounce of that feel good ahhhhhhhhhh summer vacation feeling) I realized that I am a few posts shy of 50 on Sprinkle Teaching Magic!  Why is this a big deal you may ask?  Well...awhile back, before this blog was born,  Mr. Winemaker and I had a conversation about starting blogs over a glass of vino.  Mr. Winemaker was encouraging me to start this blog and gave me some tips.  See, Mr. Winemaker reads a lot of wine blogs and though it may be a different more yummy sort of blog he knows his stuff.  I remember him saying, "To build a blog you need content!  50 posts.  50 posts is when you know you have arrived." I took his tip to heart and here we are!!!!   During this same blog talk with Mr. Winemaker we discussed my fears of follow through with a blog. I have a tendency to get really excited and go pedal to the metal and burn myself out.  We brainstormed ways to work through this and keep my passion and love for blogging a constant steady.  He is such a support! I am glad I jumped in and I am so proud of myself that the 50 post mark is within reach.  I think this calls for a celebration and giveaway don’t you?
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I rounded up some of my favorite blogger books!  You have a chance to win one of these!  Here is some background on the books I have chosen:

Back in 2005, before teacher blogs as we know it even existed, I started following the Nie Nie Dialogues.  At the time my dear friend Shannon and I were Mormon blog obsessed.  Neither of us are Mormon but we found blogs created by Mormon women to be better then Martha Stewart, HGTV, and Food Network combined!  These blogs were filled with recipes, gorgeous photography, how-to-guides for amazing crafts, wholesome family values, and just made (still do) us happy.  My closest friends know I can’t live without my Mormon blogs and teaching blogs … and now the secret is out on Sprinkle Teaching Magic!  You have a chance to win Nie Nie’s first book!

The Pioneer Woman is another blog I have followed forever!  To me she is the blog guru! I drool over her recipes and learn so much from her photography tips.  This giveaway includes her latest cookbook.

Last but not least my home girl Tori Spelling.  I am not ashamed to admit it but I am an avid watcher of Tori and Dean’s reality tv show.  In FACT,  I own the first two seasons of ‘Tori and Dean Inn Love’ on DVD.  Yes, I had to special order them through Amazon!  I LOVE HER!  Last year she came out with a blog ediTorial and a new book!  Mr. Winemaker gave me ‘celebraTORI’ for my birthday this year and it is filled with crafty and party throwing ideas plus gorgeous pictures. 

Now I know these books are not teacher related BUT it is summer and we need some fun summer reading!  This is also my first time using Rafflecopter so I am excited to try it out!  There are lots of ways to enter so be sure to check it out!  The giveaway ends on July 2nd! a Rafflecopter giveaway


Now on to more teaching related photo fun!
I love making homespun signs to hang up on the first day of school.  Here are some examples of my favorite signs!  To make them I use fun wrapping paper and then mount tag board centered to the front.  After I decorate my sign I run it through the laminator to stiffen it up. 
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The first week of school I usually start off with a Chicka Chicka Boom Boom theme.  Parents send in empty bottled water containers and I get them all cleaned up. I buy the foam letters from Michaels and use silver glitter.  Students stuff their bottle with the alphabet and a spoonful of glitter.  We fill the bottles up with water.  Each student receives a laminated card with the alphabet and goes on an I Spy a letter hunt!  We even pull out the Vis A Vis overhead projector pens (remember those?) and as students find letters they check them off their laminated alphabet card.  Love this because we can wipe the check marks off and do it all over again!
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16 comments:

  1. I like your posters. The water bottle alphabet is a cute idea. Enjoy sleeping late!
    Jennifer
    kindertrips

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  2. Love the water bottle idea! Great giveaway, too!
    ~Jen
    Jen's Kinder Kids

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  3. I follow both of your blogs and your pinterest boards! :o)

    Karyn
    A is for Apple B is for Blog
    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  4. I follow your blog!

    Heather (heathernnance@yahoo.com)

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  5. I follow "She Said G Said."

    Heather (heathernnance@yahoo.com)

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  6. And I follow your Pinterest boards.

    Heather (heathernnance@yahoo.com)

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  7. I love Tori and Dean as well! She just seems so genuine and always is working on some project. I didn't even know there was another book out! :)

    NotJustChild'sPlay

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  8. lovely!....and why can't I do this for my 8th graders :) get a few clear gallon jugs, laminate some U.S. symbols and history facts...maybe do another set of bottles for literature themes or language arts concepts?

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  9. I LOVE the water bottle activity...something NEW to try for next year!

    Pam
    pam.kerl@gmail.com

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  10. I LOVE the Animal Tracks ABC Flash cards!

    Pam
    pam.kerl@gmail.com

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  11. I'm finding balance this summer by getting some much needed rest and eating better than I do during the school year!

    Pam
    pam.kerl@gmail.com

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  12. I also follow both of your blogs and your pinterest page...although I did find that I had to go through your pinterest link on your blog...http://pinterest.com/she_shine_said/

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  13. Hi! I nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award and the One Lovely Blog Award. Come on by, pick it up and check out the rules:)

    Tammy
    The Resourceful Apple

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Sheila Chako
Sprinkle Teaching Magic