Body Transformation Continued

I posted about two weeks ago and shared with you some before and after pictures after completing 8 days following a fat burning detox system.... well, I am back with even more inches lost.  Take a look at this picture!

All of that in only 3 weeks.  I didn't lose a ton of weight (only about 6 pounds), but I shed a ton of inches and to me, that's all that matters.  I have a higher metabolism, I am gaining muscle and losing the fat!!  If I can help you get healthy and lose weight, leave your email address in the comment section below!

Renting College Textbooks?

Are you in the process of earning a degree?  Do you know anyone else going to college?  Do you have kids in college?

If you answered yes to any of these questions than you need to read this post.  There is a website that allows you to rent college textbooks.  I sure wish I knew about this a year or two ago when I was getting my Master's Degree.  What I love about this, other than saving a ton of money, is that you get to use the book as if it were your own (you can even highlight in it) and then return it when you are done. If you absolutely positively love the book and you want to keep it, you can then purchase it and the cost of renting goes towards the purchase price.  What's even better is that shipping does not cost you a penny either way!  Click on the picture to learn more!

So, what happens if you are reading this too late and you have a ton of textbooks that you just don't use or want?  The website has a new program called Rent Back so you can make your money back and maybe even a little more as your book gets rented out semester after semester!!  How cool is that??

You can click on this picture to learn more.

I sure hope this information can help you in some way!!

Teacher Appreciation Sale

It is that special time of year again..... the day that, for me anyway, usually comes and goes with no appreciation!!  We'll see what happens this year at my new school with elementary students.  However, if I don't receive appreciation at school at least I know that Teacher's Pay Teachers appreciates us!!  They are having a big sale again and if you didn't know about it before, I strongly suggest you fill up your shopping cart early because their site definitely runs slow on sale days!!

You can get 28% off from almost all sellers; myself included!!

If you are looking for ideas, I can suggest a few from my store and share with you some of the feedback that I have received.

My most popular items have got to be my "I Can" Statements to be used with the Common Core.  I have them for math and ELA for most grades K-7.  Click on the picture to see all of them at my store.

Here is some of the feedback I have received:

Amanda McIntyre  (TpT Seller)

I love adding pops of color to my classroom and that's mainly why I chose this one. I love the design. I love how it is in terms students can easily understand. I love how pretty it's going to look on my wall! This was my FIRST purchase as a new 6th grade teacher .:D

michellemurray

I REALLY appreciate these "I CAN" statements. I laminated them and posted them on different colored backgrounds for reading, writing, speaking/listening, and language. They will save me SO much time as I post learning targets and these success criteria daily. Thanks!!

lpetesch

Thank you for taking the time to make these standards cards. It is such a time saver for me!! And they are so cute and colorful. They really catch the eye of the students.

Another product of mine which seems to be a big hit is my fraction bundled set of task cards.  Bundled sets save you a ton of money and with this sale, you will be getting 6 sets for approximately the price of 3!!! (Click on the picture to see it in my store)

Melissape

This is wonderful. The kids in my class are eating these up.

spimentel44

Great activity for partners or groups. Nice word problems as well.

I have also created a lot of backgrounds, borders and frames that are truly unique and different from everything else you have seen.  Click on the pictures below to see all of them in my store (the pictures are only a few examples!)

And now for some feedback:

Cara Taylor  (TpT Seller)

I LOVE your work! You have that eclectic look that's sassy and bright! I'm anticipating your next set of backgrounds...Keep it up girl! Cara ;0) P.S. We both live in MI, too! I'm on the West side of the state, right on Lake Michigan! We're neighbors ;0)

I hope you have an amazing time shopping!!!  My products and feedback are all a part of a fantastic linky party hosted by Christina from Bunting, Books and Bainbridge.  Click on the picture to see what everyone else is recommending!!!

May Currently and Body Transformation!

I am linking up once again with the amazing Farley from Oh' Boy Fourth Grade.  This is by far my favorite linky and I look forward to it each and every month.  If you want to join in on the fun, click on the picture below to see what it's all about.

I am also linking up with Mel's blog From The Pond.  She has just started a new linky party called Re-
Work it Wednesday.  Click on the picture below to learn more (and when you read my Loving.... you will see what I Re-Worked).

Here's my Currently:

Listening:  Spring has finally showed up here in Michigan :)  It sure took it long enough.  My favorite thing to listen to this time of the year is the birds chirping.  It is like a reawakening sound and it just invigorates me.  It is probably my favorite season!

Loving:  I finally decided to put myself first and I am loving the decision I made.  Lindsay from My Life as a Third Grade Teacher introduced me to this fat burning detox and I was not at all convinced that it was going to work, but I figured it was worth a try.  I have done the whole Weight Watchers, Atkins and Nutri-System thing and I have had success..... but not like this!!  Take a look at this picture!!

So, I am definitely loving my new body.  Now please understand, this all took place in 8 days!!!  12 inches in 8 days, what???  I was pretty amazed myself.  And I am starting another 8 day round today, so stay tuned for more pictures. (If you are interested in learning more, please leave me your email address in the comments section and I will give you more details!)

Thinking:  I've got too much money going out right now.  We just put a bathroom in our basement.  Our pool needs a new liner and I think we may have to invest in a new roof this year.... OUCH!!!

Wanting:  Oh this one is easy..... I am wanting the next 5 and a half weeks to go quickly.

Needing:  Summer vacation and a tan!!

Summer Bucket List:  I have 3 teacher books on the back burner and I really want to get them read this summer.  I also am looking forward to two vacations with my family: one to Boyne Mountain and the other to Pennsylvania for a family reunion.  I also want to get a head start on my planning for my second year in 5th grade!

Happy May everyone!!! (The end is in sight)

Online Dictionary for Kids

I attended a wonderful workshop yesterday that focused on background knowledge and vocabulary.  The speaker was Anita Archer and she was wonderful.  She shared some amazing websites that I just had to pass along.

Have you ever had your students look up words in the dictionary only to be confused by the wordage used in the definition??  I know I have.  Many of my students speak English as their second language, so using a dictionary is even more troublesome.  Here are a few of her recommendations:

Merriam Webster's Learners Dictionary

Longman's Dictionary

Heinle's Dictionary

She also recommended the Collins Cobuild Dictionary, but that one, at least for kids, is not online!  And it is quite expensive, but here is the online link if you are interested. (Click on the book)

And one more to help teachers pronounce words they might not know. (It talks to you!!!)  This is available on the internet, but it also is an App for the iPhone and an Android!  Come on, you know we've all been there.  We just take a stab at the word hoping our students don't know it either!!  But that does not help their comprehension.  They really need to hear it correctly.  I just love the name of this site:  it's called Howjsay and can be found by clicking the words below depending on which you would like to view:

                            Website..... iPhone......Android

Do you have any resources similar to this that you have fallen in love with.  Please share if you have them!

Two-Dollar Tuesday

This is going to be a short and simple blog post.  I have not had a chance to do a whole lot in my classroom.  One day a week I am attending reading conferences, which are awesome, by the way.  I will blog more about those later.  Another day each week has me at the Detroit Institute of Arts, which is also great, but I feel like I haven't been doing a whole lot of teaching.

But, I just wanted to share a website with all of you that I discovered last week.  The website is geared towards Mac or iPad owners and they offer certain apps for a discounted price on Tuesdays.  Last week they had a font pack that normally retails for $9.99 on sale for $1.99!!

Here is what's for sale this week:

It normally retails for $19.99 and it's on sale for $1.99!!!  Click HERE or on the picture to take you to the website!!

Enjoy, I hope you find it useful.

And I am linking up with Techie Tuesday:

DIA, Fundraiser, New Bathroom and more

I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for my very FIRST Five For Friday post!!  I can't believe it took me this long to do it, lol.

Number 1:  Last week I told you about our visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts for their Art Discovery program.  Well, we went back again and had an even more amazing time.  Most of my students are Muslim and they took us to the Islamic art room.  You should have seen the wonder and amazement on their faces as they got to see a real in-person look at one of the first Qur'ans ever written.  They even shared some of their traditions and holidays by discussing some of the art.  It was nice to see.

We also got to go back into the studio where they worked on prints:

Number 2:  My newest product is a revision of some poem posters that I made at the beginning of my TPT career.  I love them and they really came in handy and added some pizzazz to my first ever elementary classroom.  However, when I was working with each poem in class, I always created a template for my students to use.  So, I decided to take my posters and the templates and put them together to make a mini-poetry unit.  Click on the picture to check it out!

Number 3:  My blogging buddy Jen from Runde's Room is trying to raise money for a very young man (a second grader) that was just diagnosed with cancer.  This just breaks my heart.  Head on over to her blog to read more about it and to see how you can help.  Click on the picture below to head over there.

Number 4:  I have decided that I have just put too much weight on over the last year.  I came across this 8-day fat burning detox that I just started today.  I am hoping to see great results and I will share them with you when the 8 days are over.  (Wish me luck!)

Number 5:  After living in this house for almost 9 years, the hubby and I decided to finally put a bathroom in our basement.  The room was all set and ready to go with drywall and plumbing, but we just never got around to it.  I am happy to announce that the floors are in and I just finished painting.  The rest of the work should be completed in a day or two and I am so excited.  The only sad thing about all of this is that the basement bathroom is going to be the nicest bathroom in the house.  (That is going to want me to redo the master bathroom.... oh boy!)

before paint

after paint

It's not installed yet, but this is what the vanity looks like!

Thanks for reading until the end.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.