Five For Friday! PLUS $25 Erin Condren Giveaway!

Go grab a popsicle or cold drink.  Kick up your feet and join me.  Wowzers!  It is hard to believe Five for Friday time is here AGAIN!  I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching.   Two weeks in and I am finally settling in summer break mode.  Boy, it takes a few weeks to decompress and get in the summer groove.  Anybody else feel me?

What have I been up to?

1. ERIN CONDREN!!!!  My FIRST EVER fancy teacher planner arrived yesterday.

If you would like to see my first impression and unboxing of this shiny teacher planner (plus more goodies) check out my video below!  

Click HERE to subscribe to my teaching YouTube channel so you can get up to date info on new videos!  

2. $25 erincondren.com GIVEAWAY!!!  

I am loving my new Erin Condren planner and can't wait to share the love.  Lots of ways to enter!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3. See what I have been up to this past week! Mr. Winemaker brought home a GIGANTIC zucchini,  I found a HILARIOUS children's book at TJMax, and I did some serious shopping damage at my favorite stores (White House Black Market, Anthropologie, and Gap).   

                                     

4.  Summer is HEATing up! Mission: save money and keep air conditioner off is underway.  Kitties and I spend the days flopping and lounging around.  

Toooooo hot face!!!!

5. Reading this book.  I hope to incorporate more "gross" science in my curriculum next year.  The grosser the better for 5th graders right?!?  

We have a winner from the $50 TPT giveaway!  Carrie you won!!!!!  I was shocked and super duper excited when I saw your name pop up.  I take this as a sign.  We are OFFICIAL soul teacher interwebs sisters.  Really glad you found my blog, really glad we connected and have a TON in common, and you WON!!!!  Woot Woot!  

New Teacher Survival Guide Series and Tackling Our Storage Units

If you are one of the excited teachers coming on board in 2013/2014 school year, there are a few things that will ensure success. Beginning in this post, I will give some key ideas about how to mentally and emotionally build the foundation to keep you self- assured as you head into the new school year. Here are some key ingredients to ensure a successful start to the school year. Later posts will include more information about each essential ingredient. 

Please let me know if this list was helpful in the comments below.  Stay tuned for more New Teacher Survival Guide Series Posts!

New teaching video where I discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of a teacher's storage unit!



If you like, check out what I have been up to this summer! More video diaries to come soon on my personal YouTube channel Shesparkletv.

Five For Friday With A Freebie Printable!

Happy Friday!  I am linking up with Doodle Bugs for my first Five for Friday Linky Party!  Heeeeerrrrreeee we gooooooo! 

Number One: Sometimes it takes a powerful quote to put it all in perspective.  Way back, in my first year of teaching, the following quote resonated deeply and still inspires me today.  Instead of carrying the quote around on a torn piece of note paper, I decided to jazz it up.  Click on the picture below to download this free printable.  I may make this the back cover of my teaching binder or maybe I will frame it. 

Number Two:  My grandma used to make the most delectable Danish Ebelskivers.  While poking around Costco this week, I discovered an ebelskiver pan for $15!  Mr. Winemaker will attempt to recreate my grandma's breakfast tradition on Saturday.  I adore both the Gwyneth and Daphne Oz cookbook/lifestyle books.  Oh, and my british obsession grows with a quaint little spot of tea cup.  LOVE!  Keepin' it calm.

Number Three:  My entire life I was an only child.  My father had two children from a previous marriage.  They were older and had a falling out with my dad thus we never spoke.  In the back of my mind I always wondered about my half sister and brother.  My father passed away this year after a long struggle with alcoholism.  This week I received a letter in the mail from my half sister hoping to reconnect.  I am excited, nervous, hopeful, and curious about this new journey in front of me.  To be continued....

Number Four:  This card from a sweetie student I LOVE and can't help but reading it over and over.     

Number Five: No TV for me this week.  I love getting caught up and watching my favorite YouTube channels!  Some of my favorites include: It's Judy's Life, Essie Button, Tanya Burr, ToneItUp, Amarixe.  These fabulous ladies talk about makeup, health, and life!  If you want to check any of these channels out just go to the You Tube website and type the names in to the search bar.  Let me know what you think!

Don't forget to enter the $50 TPT giveaway!  Still 6 MORE DAYS LEFT TO ENTER!!!  Click the picture below to be taken straight to the Rafflecopter!  Good Luck! 

My favorite end of the year writing prompt, GIVEAWAY, and NEW Video!

I have recently joined the world of Twitter and Instagram!  Do you tweet and instagram?  I would love to connect with you!  Find me on both with the username: shesparkletv


Don't forget to enter the $50 Teacher Pay Teacher Gift Certificate Giveaway!!!!  There are still 9 days left to enter!   Click on this link to take you straight to Giveaway Central!    Think of all the curriculum a teacher could buy with $50.  Yowza!!!!

Recently, I stopped by Target and did some damage.  I plan on giving my teacher's desk at school a makeover and I must get healthy!  Green juice here I come!!!!    Check out my latest You Tube video: A Target Teaching Haul!

One of my favorite end of the year writing prompts is, 'If you could send Ms. Chako anywhere on vacation where would you send her?'  This writing prompt is loads of fun kinder-5th grade!  I have traveled to Egypt, Mars, Fiji, and this year WATCH OUT!  I am going to MinnesO-da.  Oh boy.  Seriously, you must try this out with your students.  I bind all the pages and turn them in to a nice end of the year keepsake.  On the last day of school I come home, pour a glass of wine, and Mr. Winemaker and I read each of my adventures.  We laugh and reminisce about my fabulous students.  (P.S. Have you read Mr. Winemakers post 'What is it like to date a teacher?'  If not check it out! Let me know what you think!)

This magical land sounds intriguing....

MEAT!  WINGS?!?!? Lots and LOTS of meat will be devoured in Minnesota.  Throw me a bib and a wet wipe it's about to get crazy up in here!  

Mr. Winemaker was even included in some of the pics.  He visits school at least once a year.  He loves getting to know my kiddos since I talk about them so much!  

Thank you for stopping by my blog it means so much!

$50 TPT Giveaway! Classroom Decorating On The Cheap

I have one more day left of school!  Cue the music: Final Countdown by Europe (Arrested Development has been on non-stop in our household lately.  Mr. Winemaker is a big fan and sings this song to pump me up for the end of the year!)  IT"S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!! 

To kick summer off with a bang, I am having a giveaway!  There are lots of ways to enter--just check out the Rafflecopter below.   I love to spread the Teacher Pay Teacher love, and if you are anything like me you are already browsing TPT curriculum for next year. 

Be sure to check out my newest YouTube video (down below) on Colorful Decorating for the Classroom on the Cheap!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Currently, Science Camp Songs, and a Mystery Foldable!

Check out my new video!  I walk through the steps to make a fun mystery book foldable.  Can be adapted for any grade level.  My students loved making tips for the 4th graders coming to fifth grade next year! 

Cheers!  Happy weekend!  Well, I survived the week-long 5th grade science camp.  My bed never felt so cozy and sushi never tasted so great now that I am HOME!   Camp included ticks, spiders, monstrous ants, snakes, hikes, a dodge ball type-game called ga-ga, and much more!

Here are the lyrics to two of my favorite science camp songs!

 Sprinkle Teaching Magic is on Instagram!  Just look me up at:  shesparkletv

I love participating in the #teachertalktuesday