What's Your Favorite Back to School Activity!?

Totally excited about joining Jodi!!

I could tell you how I love to send the students on a gingerbread man hunt throughout the school so that they can learn the different areas of the school and the teachers.  I could also tell you how I stamp the inside of their hand with a heart at the end of the day to remind them of the kissing hand, but I think you all know those activities.

So....

I've chose my Sight Word Packets! Although it may not be a 'get to know you' mushy gushy activity, it's a great one to start on day one!

{pin it}

Associated Products: 

Mastery Bundle: Kit for an Entire Year (Everything below in 1 Kit)

All Sets Combined
Pre-Primer
Primer
First
Second
Third
The Sight Word Race
Sight Word Games and Flash Cards
Last year when I taught K, I started with pre primer and made it to the end of the year in third grade sight words. The students showed large improvements in their reading also! I've copied the words back to back for homework/bellwork each day, but this year I think I'm going to bind the books so that they have a 'dictionary' of words. That way they are also learning the skill of alphabetized words :)

As you can see there are quite a few standards that they work on for each sheet. This is why I think these activities are great to start the first day of school. The parents and I love to tract their progression in these activities through the year!

{pin it}

You Might Be a Teacher If...

I'm joining the adorable Tanya in her newest linky!!

You Might Be a Teacher If... your purse is stuffed full of these rather than $$$....

 You Might Be a Teacher If... ideas like this make your heart skip a beat...

**Check Back Wednesday to see a TON of amazing TPT products from over 100 teachers!!**

You Might Be a Teacher If... you can't even sleep on a flight because you're planning...

You Might Be a Teacher If...the DonorsChoose website is your homepage :)

You Might Be a Teacher If... Skippyjon Jones is the reason you visited Kohls...

You Might Be a Teacher If... this is the first font you create for your TpT store...

You Might Be a Teacher If... this is your dream to have...

You Might Be a Teacher If... a trip to target looks like this...

 this...

 this...

this... 

 this....

 and this...

 You Might Be a Teacher If... a paper transformed from this to that is a hidden joy in your life!

 You Might Be a Teacher If... new technology like this makes you giggle like a schoolgirl!

 You Might Be a Teacher If... your smile is this big because laminating at lakeshore is only .29 cents!!

 You Might Be a Teacher If... you see tablecloths 1/2 off and you have 1,000,001 ways that you know you can use it!

Last but not least...

You Might Be a Teacher If... this quote makes your day!

Remind101: Part Deux

Y'all loved Remind101 so much that I created a video tutorial for you :)

My Hard Work from 30,000 Feet!

Hello everyone!! I'm so excited to share what I've been working on! I have a few sneak peeks for you and something fun at the end :) so make sure to stay hehe

I've been working on a new EDITABLE classroom decor pack! I'm also looking into using the same style, but changing the papers so give me a few color schemes/backgrounds that you would be interested in purchasing.

 

The kit includes:
welcome banner
welcome pennant
table numbers
supply labels
environmental print
calendar
word wall
number posters

and the best part ever??? 

EVERYTHING is editable!!! 

I've attached a separate power point file that is completely editable! So you can add anything you need to!

{pin it to win it}

For a short time I will be offering this product for 1/2 off!

{check it out}

Now for the fun! I am offering one free, but you'll have to work for it :)

This is how it will work... All you need to do is tell your friends and followers to head this way and comment under this post that you sent them (if they're not a follower I'd love to have them)! Make sure that you tell them to leave a comment of some sort with your name or I won't be able to tally it up!! So don't forget to blog, FB, Pinterest, and twitter your hearts out to bring your friends together to win you a great prize!

Ready, Set, GO! 

*race ends tomorrow morning (when I wake up)* 

Good Luck :)

Tell me more, tell me more!!! {A Linky Party}

I know, I know, I'm late on this one but here it is :)
I'm linking up with Amy Lemons over at Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons

The ABCs of me:

A- Age: 27.

B-Bed size: Queen, but we should have a California King, because poor hubs doesn't fit. Did I ever mention he's a foot taller than me?

C-Chore you hate: Dishes or Trash.... I choose both! Anything else I don't really mind.

D-Dogs:  My wittle Zoey!!

E-Essential to start your day: 2,349 alarms and 2,348 snoozes! I really stink at waking up!

F-Favorite color: Hot pink! but I love the pink, purple, blue, green mix... by looking at my closet you would think it's white, black and red ;)

G-Gold or silver: white gold!

H-Height: 5'2" I was the same height in 5th grade! I was the tallest girl in my class!!

I-Instruments you play: clarinet. 5th-12th. Marching and concert :)

J-Job title: First grade teacher.

K-kids: none yet! I've always wanted 4, but it's all in God's hands!

L-Live: Northeastern Ohio. I'd love to move to the country!

M-My mom's name: Laurie <3

N- Nicknames: Jess, Jessie, MS2 (as in Mrs. Stanford 2)

according to students and parents??

Mrs. Stafford, Mrs. Stanfer, Mrs. Standford, Mrs. Stepferd, Mrs. Stanfork, Mrs. Stanfer... you get the point....

O-Overnight hospital stay: Only for my grandmother.

P-Pet peeves: When people are rude for no reason at all. 

Q-Quote from a movie: "Did we just become best friends??" "YUUUUUP!"

R-Right/lefty: Righty!

S- Siblings: Younger sister. She's even shorter than I am at 4'11"

T-Time you wake up: 6:30ish.... but we don't get out of school until 4:30 ick!

U-Underwear: Looooooove VS freebie cards :)

V-Veggies you dislike: not sure I have one... hmmmm......

W-What makes you run late: My hair! (it's crazy I swear!) or the days my husband doesn't have to go to work!

X-X-rays you've had: Teeth

Y-Yummy food you make: Chicken Paprikash mmm mmmm

Z-Zoo animal: Fossa!! Although a Fossa looks like it's related to a cat... I just found out in Houston that they are related to the mongoose. Well whatever they are, they are absolutely adorable!! Especially at this age!

Alright, alright, enough about me! Let's hear about you! Make sure to join up!!! (if you haven't already.... I know I'm late due to my trip!)

Now this is just plain obsession....

Alright, some of you may have noticed that I haven't been around as much this last week... Well with our anniversary and all we took a trip to Houston.

Man I love it there! My husband made the trip a complete surprise with many surprises around each corner. I love the feeling of being spontaneous. I am such a planning control freak that it's nice to feel free every once and a while.

Well last night we were supposed to head home, but they overbooked out flight. So $800 in Delta dollars, a hotel, and food vouchers later we are currently flying home now.

Yep you read that right... CURRENTLY!

Did I mention they bumped us to first class and I'm TpTing and blogging online as we speak?!

and the mr you ask??

playing angry birds of course! 

He'd usually sleep, but you can't sleep sleep through first class :)

*TpT outage OVER* Buy 2, Get 1 Free + 20% off Everything!! Merry Christmas in July :)

*Due to TpT being down for most of the day yesterday... I'm offering the same deal today!

Everyone that knows me, knows that I am all about a good celebration! That is why I am here to tell you 

MERRRRRRRRRRRRY CHRISTMAS in July! 

{click to see all who are celebrating}

In addition to 20% off everything in my store, I am also offering a buy 2, get 1 FREE of equal or lesser value of course :) What a great way to stock up before the school year right??? All you have to do is email me after your purchase Jessica.Stanford@me.com :) It's that simple!

Hope you enjoy your really HOT and DRY Christmas!!


Don't forget to check out:

April's

and

Melissa's Amazing Giveaway!

Rockin' Resources Part Deux!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Kelley over at Teacher Idea Factory??? She's amaaaaaazing and gave me a reason to once again be a rule breaker and post twice in a day! Well I mean it's my anniversary so my first post wasn't educational... that means it's okay! lol

Exhibit uno:

Lakeshorelearning.com 's Instant Learning Centers

They are amaaaaaaazing!!! Let me just tell you I own the math, science and BOTH ELA sets and my students never bore of them! They are standards based centers that are easy as 1-2-3 and did I mention EVERYTHING is already created and supplied for you? You have to check them out!

Exhibit dos:

Signing Time Classroom Edition

Have you ever tried signing in your classroom!? You'd be amazed at how quickly your students learn it and LOVE IT! My students will beg to watch signing time rather than having recess! They use signs throughout our classroom, the school, and their homes. I believe I've also seen a large improvement in behavior since I've implemented it!

Exhibit tres:

Abilitations Disc O Sit

If you are an avid reader you will know I am obsessed with finding fun and out of the box ways to keep my students moving. These discs or wobble chairs as I like to call them are a great way to let your kids have motion while sitting on the carpet. They can also be set on a chair if needed. They LOOOOOOVE these! What a great sensory tool!

Exhibit quatro:

Chair Sacks

You may be thinking... Mrs. Stanford, but you have ball chairs! I actually have a few regular chairs in my classroom around my centers that are paper/book based. This way I can use chair sacks for easy storage of the materials that each student should use in that center/workstation for that day. It's such an easy way to differentiate! I number my chair sacks around the room and each student knows what number to rotate to for their level of work :)

Thanks again Kelley for being and amazing host and for giving us this greeeeat opportunity!

If you like what you see why not follow me?? <3

The Best 2 Years of My Life :)

Two years ago I married the man of my dreams! They always say that time flies when you are having fun and that is totally true! I can not believe that it has already been two years. I can still picture that day like it was yesterday. I remember sitting in my dining room as the girls were getting ready... I remember thinking to myself "Is it normal to be this calm only a few short hours before walking down the aisle?"
I can remember looking at myself in the mirror as I did my makeup.
I can remember pinching myself to make sure it was real.
I can still smell my bouquet.
I can still feel my father take me by the hand.
I can still hear the congregation awe as I walked down the aisle.
I can still hear my husband and me recite our vows.
I can still feel the smile as I walked out of the church.
I can still feel the butterflies in my stomach as we danced our first dance.
I can still feel the love that surrounded me that day.
I wish I could live that day over and over again, but when you marry the one that God has created just for you those memories are renewed each and every day. I am still thankful that he stole my heart and I in return took his last name!


I am in love with the lyrics in this song! It is almost like they wrote this song just for us <3


and for a couple of country lovers... this was our first song :)

Now to celebrate!
In honor of our anniversary I am throwing a 20% off sale at my TpT store!

Have you heard of engagewiththepage.com?

Hey y'all! After my short 5 seconds of fame the other day on studio 5's morning show, I have looked closer at the other items that were spotlighted. One of my favorites was Engage With the Page's DiscoverLit Kits!

The company packages children's stories with activities that pair for their learning. These kits are wonderful to have at home! Below you will find what the website says about "How to Get SMART" 

As you can see the Lit Kit's help students focus on phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, vocab, and writing while using discovery techniques throughout the kit.

These kits spark a fire in my educator brain and I wonder if I could supply my students with these to take home for "homework". How fun would that be???

I hope you'll check out their website and fall in love just like I did!

Mrs. Stanford's Class on TV??

I'm so excited! A fabulous woman just told me that my TpT products were just featured on TV! Thanks Susie Q I would have never known that I had a tiny glimpse of fame on Studio 5's Stopping the Summer Slide segment in Salt Lake City!

Come check out the video!!  
{min 3:30}

I'd also love for you to check out my new video product summaries and I would looooooove for you to repin them if you'd like!
{Behavior and Positive Reinforcement System}
{Sight Word Practice Packets}
{Sight Word Games}
{Sight Word Race}
{Predictable Sentence Journal}
{Home Reading Logs}
{Monkey Madness}
{Plant Book}
{Planner}
{Conference Reminders}

Freebies:
{Book Report}
{Counting Numbers Font}
{Reading Bookmark}
{Workstation Signs}

And don't forget to can add things to your carts and wish lists because if you purchase and then comment you can earn free items!

Friends Abroad and Playdough Fun!

Hello Lovelies! I am so excited to share a friend's blog with you. She is currently over seas and sharing her story of her trip to Uganda, while she works with many amazing children and families. If you are interested in joining her on her journey check it out here:

In other news, I have been working hard on my TpT store for those of us that will be returning to school shortly! My latest creation is something that my kinders used daily and now my first graders are going to have to expand on. 

 Playdough cards for letters and numbers help students learn correct letter formation and give them a way to release some tactile energy :)

 I have created all capital letters on one side and lowercase on the other. This makes it easy to use a paper cutter to cut the entire stack, laminate, and either bind or clasp together. The letters are hollow for the students to form playdough within. I have also added the structural shapes that the students will need to create to piece the letters together.

My student's loved the letters so much that I have created corresponding number cards!

{check out my video pin} 

Don't forget to add your favorite items to your wishlist or maybe even your cart ;)