Theme Thursday

I do not know how many of you wonderful teachers out there are like me when it comes to having a THEME- they make my world go round!   I love for everything to tie together in the classroom.  The FBU girls have shared a few classroom themes, and we have a lot more coming your way this summer as you get ready to set up for the new school year.

Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel, is one of my favorite authors!  I am sure many of you read these books to your class throughout the year.  No matter what grade you may teacher, Dr. Seuss can work for you.  Here are some ideas for a Seuss themed classroom.

Door Decoration by Ms. Allison 

Ms. Allison's window-super cute!

Great Reading Bulletin Board

Seussical Word Wall by Mrs. Adock at Grade 2.0

Seuss themed class rule-can be found at your local school supply shop

Seussical Cute student share chair or would be  great for the reading center

I LOVE THIS!!

There are so many things you can do with a Seussical  theme for your classroom!  If you have a Dr. Seuss themed classroom, please let us know!  We would love to see what you did with the theme! 

Giveaway Winner! ***UPDATE

Hello, party people!  We have a winner for the STARS & STRIPES Party Collection Giveaway...

Congratulations, Bethany!  Be on the lookout for your prize in your inbox! :)

Don't forget, if you still want to purchase the STARS & STRIPES Collection at the discount price ($5), you can do that until tomorrow (June 30) at midnight (EST) by entering the coupon code "500FBU".

***UPDATE***

Ok, I must be totally losing it because I announced a winner a whole day early!?!  

So, if you still want to enter our giveaway HERE, we will pick a second winner tonight!  So sorry!

What I'm LOVING Wednesdays

There is just something about the 4th of July that I just ABSOLUTELY love! It may have something to do with the fact that my anniversary is not too far behind!! So, one thing I'm loving today-- is the 4th of July weekend is not too far away!!

Here is a little preview of last years 4th of July weekend! 

Take a look at this bad boy I'm fixing on Saturday! I'm so excited!!

{This picture is a clickable link to the recipe} 

I'm actually using a Pampered Chef recipe that I've posted before called Kiwi Dessert Cups, but I'm not using green food coloring or kiwis--instead I'm using blueberries and going for the flag look! 

Another thing I'm loving is the fact that I'm almost finished with my Ed.S.! Only one more class---completely finished on July 23rd {insert hallelujah chorus here}

I also just got my hair cut and colored today and I love it! 

Thanks Courtney!

{FBU Ladies Night!!}

The FBU ladies all went out last night and watched Soul Surfer. Despite the fact that there were sharks involved, it was an incredibly inspiring movie! It really made me think of how blessed I am and how I should not let little things bother me. Bethany the girl in the movie was attacked by a shark while surfing and had the best attitude. She kept her head up and continued to kept her faith. She was a true inspiration to thousands of young people. If you have not seen this movie- I suggest you plan on renting it when it comes to DVD!! 

Happy Wednesday Friends!

500 Followers Giveaway!!!

Ok, so technically, we are PAST 500 followers, but to celebrate this AMAZING number of lovely people who follow Frogs, Bees, & Under the Seas, we would like to have a fun giveaway (and a sale)...just in time for the 4th of July!!!  


Is there anyone out there having a party, picnic, or get-together for the 4th?  If you said, "yes," then you are going to need some fun party goods to make your celebration extra festive!  One lucky reader will win my entire STARS AND STRIPES Printable Party Collection (from Moo Moo's & Tutus Designs)!  

Included in this collection are the following files...

• 2" Circle Tags
• Flat Food Tags 
• Tent Food Tags ***Both food tags are pre-formatted with a text box.
• Banner
• Straw Flags
• Sparkler Wraps
• Napkin Rings

{HERE'S HOW TO ENTER}:

(1) Head on over to Moo Moo's & Tutus etsy shop, come back here, and leave us a comment telling us your favorite item in the shop.

(2) Become a follower of the Moo Moo's & Tutus blog.  Come back here & leave a comment letting us know that you did!

(3) Become a follower and facebook fan of Frogs, Bees, & Under the Seas, or tell us that you already are!

***The more times you comment, the more chances you have to win!

The giveaway will be open until Thursday, June 30 at 5:00 pm (EST).  The winner will be announced  Thursday evening.  

If you do not win, but are still interested in the STARS AND STRIPES collection, for our blog readers ONLY, you can have it for 50% off, making it only $5.00 by entering the coupon code "500FBU" at checkout!  This offer is only good until Friday {7-1-11} because my shop will be closed July 2-7.  

BEST OF LUCK!!!

Making a Year Monday!

Though it is summer vacation for many of us, we, teachers, are constantly thinking and preparing for the next school year.  We all have those "to do" list that we want to accomplish before school starts back.  One thing I do at the beginning of every year is try to get organized.  There is so much to get rid of and so many new things to create a home for in your classroom.  I am always scoping out the storage containers around town and online trying to find what I need and at the best price.  Here are a few of my favorite places to look for storage for my classroom-

The dollar section and the college dorm room storage 



LOVE my dollar tree finds!  Not always a large amount of color choices, but definitely worth looking through!

LOVE this store!  So much to choose from!

I am getting my students' book boxes from here.  Set of 5 for $1.99



You can normally find really good deals on storage here!  



Walmart is my least favorite place to visit, because it is always soooo busy.  But they do have good deals on the college dorm storage and normally it cute designs and colors.

Let me know where you shop for your classroom storage needs!  Have a Marvelous Monday, friends!

Shout Out Saturday {Little Miss Kindergarten}

Hey, Cutie Pies!  I know many of you have already stalked visited Miss Kindergarten, but if you haven't, please go today!  Little Miss Kindergarten, otherwise known as Hadar, has the most creative ideas for her classroom!   She and the FBU Girls share a love of fonts and bargain shopping too (hello Target)!  Take a look at some of the awesome ideas I got from this amazing blog!

her super cute classroom

DIY chalkboard CVC word trays

DIY highlighter sticks

sticker organization

So, what are you waiting for...go on...take a little trip to visit Miss Kindergarten! You won't be disappointed! 

Fiesta Friday-Celebrate Summer!

The first official day of summer was this week!  Summer is all about parties for my family!  I found this super cute Picnic Parade Party on the Hostess With the Mostess blog!  This would be a super cute  summer neighborhood party or even a summer birthday party!  I love the picnic theme with the ants!

Food Table

I love these watermelon pops!

Jump on over the the Hostess with the Mostess and check out more pictures for this super cute summer party idea!

Our very one Frog Princess has a picnic themed party set in her Moo Moo and Tutus etsy shop! Be sure to check it out!

Classroom Themes {Ocean}

Dive on into my ocean friends....

This is where my students enjoy reading & they love every minute of sitting inside this pool!

These are my student desks. I use those very cool blue supply caddies (I purchased at Really Good Stuff) and as you can see I use portfolio folders that are laminated and have magnets on them for unfinished work and homework and I call them "Fish Nets." I also have little round circle magnets that can be found at your nearest walmart or craft store to display work or hang up work that needs drying and we call these "Fish Hooks."

Squirt your worries!!

This is my assistant's desk. I feel that it is VERY important to give my assistant a place to put their things and a place where they feel is "theirs." I have had several assistants and they always tell me that they appreciate their own space. 

This is where my kids put their Dolphin Notebooks. I spent my entire summer before my 1st year teaching searching for the "perfect" notebook storage bin, but could not find one that was affordable. My very talented dad built this one for me and it has lasted 4 years so far and I believe it will last me many more!! 

Happy Thursday!

What I Love Wednesday

I can't believe it's Wednesday already...where is the summer going?  *sigh*  


Anyway, there are so many fun summer activity ideas floating around in my head right now!  I hope I get to all of them with Noah this summer!  To help me get my ideas organized, I'm going to use this ultra cute Summer Bucket List at Tatertots & Jello via Positively Splendid.  It even comes with FREE printables...how awesome is that?

One activity (actually on my agenda for this week) is to make a Rainbow I Spy Book from Delia Creates!  Delia took several collage pictures of her sons' toys.  Then, she pulled a few toys aside to take individual pictures of what they were supposed to "spy."  Then, printed them as 4x6 pictures, slid them into an el-cheapo photo album, and voila...a book to keep kids happy and busy on long car rides, church, and wherever you need a quiet activity!  

And, lastly for today, I was told by several incredibly smart ladies that I needed to buy Noah the Leap Frog Letter Factory DVD so that he could learn letter sounds. Weeeelllllll...I took their advice and bought it! I have to say that I was skeptical.  Being a Kindergarten teacher, I thought that no DVD could actually teach the letter sounds!  My review of this DVD???  It is TOTALLY AWESOME!!!  We have had the DVD for 2 weeks and Noah (age 3) now knows ALL of his sounds!  A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!!  I'm so excited because now I can start with sight words and blending sounds in the fall!  So, if you have a Preschooler at home or teach Pre-K, this video is for you!  Check it out!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, friends!

Teaching Trends Tuesday

Technology is a growing tool in our 21st century classrooms.  Maximizing technology in the classroom isn't always an easy task.  I thought I would share a program with you that our school purchased a couple years ago.  It is call Education City, and I LOVE IT!  It can be used on interactive boards and student computers.  It aligns with standards (even COMMON CORE) and has printable worksheets to go along with the skills.  This is a great whole group/small group activity or an independent work station.  You can purchase reading, math, and science.  They also offer English Language Learner support and activities.  Our school got pre-k through 5th grade reading, math, and science.  I can use some of the pre-k activities during the first few weeks of school, kindergarten for the middle of the year, and then use the first grade toward the end of the school year. You can create "cities" that have skills to match different learners' needs. My higher students can work above grade level without other students knowing, as well as, my low students can work on a lower level without anyone knowing!  You can track students activity to see how they are doing.   New games are added weekly!  Check it out!  You can get a free trial!  Awesome characters, very user friendly, and engaging activities!

Click the picture below and check it out!

Make a Year Monday {Management}

I hope I'm not the only one that has a problem with this, but at the beginning of the and up until around Christmas my kids are crazy tattle tellers! So after looking around Really Good Stuff I found the most amazing tool to use for my kids. Tattling Turtle Kit- I did not really like the idea of having a turtle in my ocean themed classroom so I used this idea and made into.....Squirt your Worries. I just use a basket and put squirt (from Nemo) inside with a set of note cards attached by a binder ring, along with a pencil and the kids can come a long and write all their problems down for Squirt. THEY LOVE DOING THIS! I am including my little sign for you just incase you want to make your own little version. 
Click the picture to download the freebie file. 

Seriously, this was the best thing for me and it has cut down on tattling COMPLETELY. I do not deal with it. At the end of the day I usually try to go over and look at the book just to see what the children are writing and to check out their handwriting.