TARGET

The Target Dollar Spot gets me every time!  Today, just a few days after Christmas, they had Valentine's items out!  I love to buy seasonal pencils for my students.  February may be two months away, but these cute pencils will be gone in a week or two!

I also found these awesome Number Matching games for $1!   

I had been eyeing something like this on Pinterest, but honestly just didn't get around to making them.  I have two students who are unable to count objects correctly.  Both are in the RTI process, with one heading toward Special Ed testing. I have tried different counting activities with them, but the independent practice hasn't been going very well.  I am hoping these counting wheels will help! 

Not far from the Dollar Spot is the water fountain.  Target posts community information there and I was thrilled to see my school mentioned!  We recently had Target volunteers at my school to set up a Learning Garden.  They cleaned up our existing garden area and built several raised vegetable beds.  It not only looks fantastic, but it is a great learning environment for our students!

You never know what you'll find in Target!

BALANCE

Things in First Grade have been busy as ever!  A family member recently asked me if I would prefer to go back up to a higher grade (as I had taught 3rd grade for the previous two years).  My answer was no!  I prefer First Grade over any other grade!  Crazy?  Maybe a little!  First Grade is a very challenging grade to teach!  I am responsible for teaching 8 subjects.  In 3rd grade, I only had to teach 4 subjects, then repeat with a different group of students.  I did enjoy not having to spend as much time planning, but 3rd grade had a tremendous amount of stress related to state testing. First grade has a different kind of stress: Teaching Reading!  I am not only to teach my class of six- and seven-year-olds to read at or above grade level, but also start them on the lifelong path of the love of Reading!  It is an incredible responsibility!  Though it is one I actually enjoy a great deal!

While I am enjoying my Winter Break, I thought I would share my latest Guest Blog post from Math Teacher Tales:

PAN BALANCE

Once school gets started again, I'll share how things are going in Reading!  I've started a new plan with my Small Guided Reading Groups and I love how smoothly things have been going!  I'll be sure to share! 

My New Year's Goal is all about Balance!  Better balance in my classroom, better balance between school and home, etc... I guess working with the pan balances in Math got me thinking!  lol!

I am so glad we have another week of vacation!  I am really enjoying this time of rest and relaxation!