Gratitude, Shout-Outs and A FREEBIE!

Thank you for all the comments~ I appreciate the support!

I couldn't fall asleep last night. Last time I looked at the clock it was 2:30am and I got up at 6am- so that made for  a lovely first full day with me sweeties!

I just feel a little "sold-out".  I was never given a chance to talk to the parents and admin never said 'ok, let's schedule a meeting and see what we can do."
With the move being made at the parent's request, I feel like they were agreeing with the parents!
I went into the new teacher's room during planning so that she could send home the medical survey I had to fill out on the child. While we were in the there, the child was called up to be dismissed. So she came back from music to get her bag- and when she saw me, she looked terrified! What did they tell her?!? Do you know that mom or dad didn't even come to my room this morning for her to get her things??

ok- pity party is officially over. I have to move on.

I have a few things to share- non of them related to each other- just a few things to share.
1.

These are the "Squirrels in Love" Salt and Pepper Shakers I recd from my Mother in-law  for Christmas.! The oldest son said he is just happy that the holes for the S and P are in their heads and not under their tails!

2. From my Versatile Blogger Award Picks! I have gotten so many great ideas that I have already used, printed, purchased, or have in my cart! My budget for colored ink, laminating pouches, and cardstock had to be increased!!!

 An Open Door
 Buggy for Second
 Buzzing with Ms. B
 First Grade Delight
 Heather's Heart
Hopelessly Devoted to Teaching
Klinger Cafe
 Marvelous Multiagers

 Sub Hub
 Sweet Times in First

3. Laminating-
Rachel from Sub Hub posted about her laminator this week and it made me think of a laminating trick that I have. It spawned from my thriftiness and also because we used to only get 15 ft. of lamination a month. And when I was new, I didn't think about that "empty space" that comes out of the machine when you are laminating odd shaped items. I just ran my stuff through and hoped no one (admin) saw what I was wasting as I walked back to my room with it.

So I started taking sentence strips and index cards with me to the workroom.  If I am laminating poster board or regular shaped stuff, I can usually fit a sentence strip along the side where there is usually empty space. When I have the really odd shaped stuff, I whip out my index cards and start feeding them in there to be rolled in and take up the space!!!

I use the strips with dry erase markers in small group, whole group, and centers. And the index cards  (white and colored) are great for all of those things too! The uses are unlimited. Now that I have a growing stash of them- I am always thinking of  a way to use them.

4. And last but not least-
I used ideas that I have gotten from many teachers and places and border that I got from Tpt (Karen Cox) to make these spelling task cards. I did have some in a spelling center- but they are also great for my volunteers to take out with my sweeties. The little guys like them, because she lets them pick (like "pick a card, any card") and they do the activities together with the word list for the week! Some of them have to be done in the room- but she has a caddy with markers, paper, pencils etc that she takes out with her (See Volunteers without tears post)

I hope you find #3 and/or #4 useful. Would love some nutty chatter if you do- or if you have other ideas about either one of them to add to!

I am working on a giveaway right now- so be sure to check back tomorrow!