Tips for Ending the school year and TPT Giftcard Giveaway!

Welcome back my friends!

Today I am joining some other great bloggers to bring you some tips of things we do to end our school year :) 

In my opinion, awards are a big deal! I have worked in two different schools where awards were handled differently. At one school, teachers were a 100% responsible for the awards. This would take place in each classroom on the last week of school. At another school, awards in a classroom was just optional because the school did an award ceremony for everyone.

Regardless of the case, I believe that awards can be the best way to reward your students to show them how much they mean to you and how important they were in the classroom. I personally don't see awards as "I have to have one for each" type of thing. There is honestly something good and positive we all can find in our students. On a particular year, this is a true story, I had to create a "elepehants never forget" award for one of my students. You might think it is funny, but I kid you NOT when I tell you she was the ONLY ONE in class who would remember all the extra activities or the crazy day schedules. She would always tell me "Mrs. Nicolau aren't we supposed to go??" There were times that she really saved me from being too late or even missing something! We all know we tend to get carried away with other things! Don't you agree??
You might think she was a low student and probably she was paying more attention to leave the classroom. She was not! She was an excelent student, too! However, even if she was struggling academically, she saved me many times by reminding me of the time. Wouldn't you like to reward this student or let her know how grateful you are for being the way she was? ABSOLUTELY!!


I would like to share with you how I used the awards in my class.  I didn't have a specific theme in my classroom, so I created The Rock Star Student Award. I gave this type of award to ALL of my students along with a goody bag. Oh boy! I'm telling y'all, they all loved their award and goody bag so much! Some of them even showed me the next school year they still had some of the goodies from there (I moved up with them to third grade). 

These are pictures of my goody bags :) Each bag had a card (click HERE if you would like to download it from my Google Docs. They come in color and B/W with a boy and girl version), two erasers (a guitar and a pick) from Geddes (they are not available anymore there, but you can find them on amazon), a pair of glasses that are called "shutted shades" (purchased at a craft store - Hobby Lobby), and a glowing in the dark bracelet (purchased at Dollar Tree).

This is a picture of the award that everyone got in my class, along with the goody bag. I had a girl and boy version, so I also made bags for boys and girls (same goodies, just different colors and cards).

Hope you like these as much as I did when I made them for my kids :) 
I have created a Free Sample of some awards, these are general awards and have no theme. The Free Sample comes with three awards, in both color and B/W versions. These only come in English, so I'm sorry, but I never had the time to create the whole thing in Spanish.My classroom theme was just animal prints so I didn't really want anything specific.
This sample is found on the preview of the product, so you will see the cost of the product and won't see the free sample by itself. 
All you have to do it's download the preview and you will find the 3 free awards: Smile (boy version, the girl version is in the paid product), hard worker, and perfect attendance. Would you like to download this sample? Just click HERE  
The rock star award is part of my paid product. If you would like the paid product, please click HERE.

I also have a second set of awards! On this set, the theme was all about Jungle stuff!! These awards are different from the first, not only because it has an actual theme, but also because it is editable; all you need is Power Point. I have included instructions when you click on the editable section. Editable means you can type your name and the student's name. Please be aware that "editable" means typing names only, I can't make the titles or the clipart editable due to the illustrators' copyright. Just in case you forget, I have included that information on the product :) Like I said, it is based on a jungle theme, so most of all (if not all) has jungle illustrations :) I have this free sample available in both ENGLISH and SPANISH

Thank you for stopping by today!! I hope you have found this post helpful and it motivates you to do a huge celebration in your classroom with some awards! :)

Before I say goodbye, remember we are having an AWESOME GIVEAWAY! Please enter on the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $50 TPT giftcard! All you need to do is visit the rest of my friends' blog posts and figure out the secret code! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

These are my other friends' blog posts! Please visit each of them! They have awesome ideas on how to finish the shcool year as well! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Need some games for INSIDE RECESS??!

Hello everyone and welcome back! I wanted to share with y'all a unit that has been created for those rainy and testing days (I know, both are coming up!!!) We all get tired of having inside recess with a movie or "Free time" inside our classroom. PLUS during testing time, there is no recess at all! So poor babies need some kind of activities that does not required for them to be sitting watching to a screen (maybe they don't mind that at all, but after a while mine used to get soo bored!).

Before I continue, I wanted to remind my old and good TPT followers!!! Back when I created this product, I was giving hints on my posts about a surprise for y'all!
I sent them all an email on TPT (which TPT reviews and approves within 48 hours) with the links of this product in both languages! I checked the number of followers before clicking "send" and the last follower was 554... Soooo if you have been following me around that number (now I am on 2,100 followers), you probably have it in your TPT inbox, so check it out!! :)
I have been very thankful to my followers and I wanted to express it by sending you that freebie!
You will see on my TPT a Freebie product that says TPT Followers Freebie #1, please leave me any questions or comments. Maybe you would like to give me your feedback about what you received, so please feel free!!! :)
If you did not get to follow me on time to receive this huge Freebie, do not worry! I am planning on continue with these surprises, just make sure you click on "Follow Me"!! :) The more I get to hit at least a half milestone, I get inspire :) (hint, hint)...

I have created a FREE Sample, so if you DID NOT get the email, here is a feebie for you.. I wouldn't leave you empty handed! If you DID get the email on TPT, you might want to download this Freebie from my Store :) Click HERE to take you to my product.

Now, here is what the product contains (what my followers up to 554 received in their TPT inbox for free).

1. The unit starts with some colorful puzzles. I gave a sheet with instructions on how to storage them and how to color code them to avoid students mixing them up (we all know that always happens in centers!)

2. Guess What game board has clues of items that students need to guess, this only has the answer key and does not have a word bank. I thought it would be "too easy" since this is similar to the Criss-Cross activity. 

3. Word Search and Criss-Cross puzzles with word banks :)

4. Domino game

5. Rain, Rain, Go Away Bingo version:

6. Last, but not least; I created a Writing activity for those students that just would write at any time and would love to do a "Rainy Day" Craft!

If you would like to purchase this unit or would like to see more about it, click on the links below to take you to my TPT store. 

Click HERE to take you to the ENGLISH unit

Click HERE to take you to the SPANISH unit

Thank you for stopping by my blog! Hope you are doing just fine, I know the last months of school are the hardest! Good luck everyone who is testing as well! :)

Read Across America Day!!! Theme Unit WITH a Freeeebieeeeeee :)

Hello all my friends and welcome back!
This past week has been amazing and so heartwarming! Thank you to all my followers and all my friends who have join me on this awesome celebration! I have seen so many entries and so many messages with a "thank you" and congratulations! Thank you ALL so very much!!

I am very happy to write this blog post! I get very excited on these upcoming days! There is no secret I enjoy celebrating and I JUST LOVE Read Across America Day! I have so much fun reading and doing activities with my students about THAT cat and other characters! :)

First of all, I wanted to share with you an oldie, but a goodie activity I did with my students before. Because we are not allowed to create anything relate to Seuss (or anything like that) and put it up on a selling website, I decided to make something with the products they provide at their own website! I got the patterns from Seussville on this link: http://www.seussville.com/Educators/educatorClassroomResources.php?id=printables#6 

They have tons of different sheets and activities you can use :) I used the "Elephant Ears" sheet from there. The face of the elephant I just kinda drew it at that moment, but again, because we can't create anything to share, I don't even think I saved it (so sorry!). To make the dust speck, I got a bunch of green pipe cleaners and some sparkly pom-poms. My students colored the elephant and they cut and paste true/false statements based on the book. I think they would have came up better if we only used gray construction paper, but I really wanted them to do some coloring and make these on their own, instead of just cutting and gluing. Here is a picture of what they looked like! I was really happy how they turned out :)

I also want to share with you what might be a good activity for this upcoming days for those little ones and maybe up to 3rd grade if you are still working on rhyming :)

I have a UNIT SAMPLE for FREE! I have a memory game for rhyming words. This game can be played by 2 or more students (independently) or you can even use it during small groups (if that's a skill you are working on with them). I can think about a whole class demonstration as well if it's needed. Nevertheless, I think this simple and yet fun game can be a good fit for your class! :)
Here are some pictures on how the game goes.

This Freebie comes in both English or Spanish. If you get a chance to download it, I hope you come back to leave me your feedback! :)

Click HERE to download the English Rhyming Freebie.

Click HERE to download the Spanish Rhyming Freebie.

After I created a sample, I knew I had to do a whole THEME UNIT. So, here is my unit with different centers for both Math and ELA or SLAR.
Both of the packets (Spanish and English) contains the following centers:
[1] Nouns vs. Verbs: instructions, 20 cards, answer key and activity sheet to give as an independent activity or use as an assessment.
[2] ABC order, 15 cards, instructions, answer key, and sheet to record their work.
[3] Writing Craftivity: Write about your favorite birthday and create a fun birthday cake!

Math:
[1] Fishy Probability: Mini cards to laminate and cut, instructions, Probability sheets, and Probability answer sheet.
[2] I knew it was true: addition and subtraction cards (with regrouping and without regrouping), instructions, 20 cards, answer key, and activity sheet to give as an independent activity or use as an assessment.
[3] Hooray for Arrays!: 20 cards (10 sets), instructions, and recording sheet to show work or use as an assessment.

Click HERE to see and purchase the English Unit.

Click HERE to see and purchase the Spanish Unit.

Alright friends! This is all I got for you today! I am off to finish a NEW Reading Response Booklet... it's pretty cool!! So stay tuned!

Remember I am on BlogLovin' and if you would like to get my posts through email so you don't miss the fun, you can sign up on "follow me by email" (click HERE for instructions)!

Texas/Wild West unit Y'all! :)

My friends this is just a quick post to remind you about my unit called "Welcome to Texas and the Wild West Y'all!"!
I live in Texas, so one of our Social Studies TEKS are to teach about the symbols and our State. So I wanted to have a small Social Studies unit. However, I also know that not all grade levels go in depth for some of these activities and that the Rodeo is a BIG DEAL here in Texas. Soooo I decided to combine Social Studies, ELA/SLAR, and Math in a whole unit! :) That means, if you are not from Texas, but you would love to have a fun and interactive theme unit about the Wild West, this unit is also for you!!! As usual, the unit comes in English and Spanish.
Here is a preview of what the English and Spanish versions look like! Just remember that both version are exactly the same! The only difference is the language used :)

Click on ENGL or SPAN to read more details on the product

To give you a little peek of the unit, I created a FREE SAMPLE. On this Sample I included BOTH the English and Spanish versions :) On this sample, I included a mini booklet to use after a Rodeo field trip and a colored puzzle for the Texas Pledge. Both Social Studies and Wild West theme included!
Here is a preview of what this freebie looks like!

Click HERE to download your FREE SAMPLE

Well my friends, that's all I got for you! I hope my post has been useful to you and that you can try any or all of these activities with your class!

Have an awesome weekend! I'm planning on posting something for Valentine's in a few days! So stay tuned!!! :D

Looking for a Solar System Unit? Look HERE!!!

Hello friends and Happy New Year!
I have been very absent on my blog for the couple of months, so I am so sorry about that. First it was the hectic life of a mommy of two and then it was our long 3-week trip to Virginia to stay with family during the holidays! How was your break? I hope everyone had a restful break and that you are all charged for these upcoming weeks!
I would like to share with you my Solary System Unit. I have to be honest with y'all, I LOVE LOVE LOVE to teach about the solar system! I was always disappointed in second grade when we just taught about the moon. So when I was told I was moving up with my second graders to third grade, I was very happy and nervous. However, everything turned into more excitement when I found out that I was going to be teaching Math and Science. The solar system has always been something that amazed me and it made giggle (nerd!!)
So with all that said, this is a very special and close to my heart unit. I used a lot of these activities in my classroom. The focus on this unit is the solar system, but if you don't teach it, check out the activities for Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, and the Alien writing... those might be fun to do for other subjects! :)

REMEMBER that most of my products (if not all), come in both English and Spanish. So this is not an exception :) Both English and Spanish units contain the following activities:

1.Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride posters for both beginning or high levels (poster designed for

teacher).

2.Neil Armstrong and Sally Ride foldables for both beginning or high levels.

3.Planets tri-foldable with labels: Planets, outer vs. inner planets, and planets’ characteristics

(including links to find information).

4.Information posters for each planet.

5. Foldable to write information about each planet.

6.Vocabulary matching cards, including fill in the blank cards to keep in their interactive journal.

7.If I was an astronaut (both boy and girl) coloring foldable.

8.Word search sheet for both beginning or high levels.

9.Cross word puzzle.

10.Alien writing craftivity based on a chosen planet.

Here is a peek of what comes in it. This is a preview of the English Unit, please know that the Spanish version looks exactly the same. The only difference is the language used :)
Click ENGLISH or SPANISH to take you to my product in TPT.

To give you a little taste of the unit, I created a FREE SAMPLE, which is a matching card game with a simple fact about the planet. It also includes black and white cards to fill in the blank. Students can keep these cards in their interactive Science journal.
Click ENGLISH SAMPLE or SPANISH SAMPLE to take you to my FREE product in TPT.

Remember I am on BlogLovin' and if you would like to get my posts through email so you don't miss the fun, you can sign up on "follow me by email" (click HERE for instructions)!

Have a great and restful weekend my friends! I am trying to settle back in so I can work on my next unfinished unit! I am excited so stay tuned with more news!! :)

New Unit - Complete Sentences with a Free Sample!

Hello everyone and welcome back!!!
Today I want to share the AWESOME NEWS (at least for me)!!! I have finished a small unit, YAYYY!!!!! I am very happy and I feel very accomplished that I finished this unit on time and by the date I wamted to finish it!!
Sooooooo I would like to share with you what I have created, and of course, I will not leave you empty handed.. I have a FREE SAMPLE to go with it!!

DRUMS PLEASEEEEE!!! (LOL OK, MAYBE NOT)
This is a peek of what the unit contains. I just created one for English, because the one in Spanish is THE WHOLE SAME THING, except for the language :) This is a perfect unit to do during these weeks! Just the beginning of school these babies need some reinforcement! :) If you would like to check it out click on English or Spanish.

This unit contains the following:
1. Foldable to sort sentences.
2. Sorting sentences between complete vs incomplete.
3. Game board to identify complete and incomplete sentences.
4. Identify complete and incomplete sentences using a cloth pin.
5. Scramble sentences.
6. Subject and predicate puzzle to create complete sentences.
7. Answer questions with complete sentences.
8. Mr. Pencil craft to go along with writing topics OR preview sorting activity (from #2)

As I mentioned, I wouldn't leave you hanging! So I created a FREE SAMPLE for you to take a look and see maybe you would like to purchase the whole unit :)
This freebie contains two posters with a definition of a complete and incomplete sentences. PLUS an activity for students to keep in their ELA/SLAR interactive notebook. It comes with sentences for them to cut and sort between complete and incomplete sentences :)
Click HERE to download it!

Now, I was thinking I have not done any giveaway for a long time! Since this is a new unit, why not?! Head over my FACEBOOK PAGE to enter for a chance to win a copy of this unit! 3 simple steps: like my post, share it, and tag a friend! :) I will announce the winner by tomorrow night (Sunday Sept 18th)!

This is it for me my friends! I am very pumped for my new unit and how I am meeting my goals so far! Please check back with me next week because I have more freebies (oldies, but goodies!)

Remember I am on BlogLovin' and if you would like to get my posts through email so you don't miss the fun, you can sign up on "follow me by email" (click HERE for instructions)!

Alphabet Interactive Bulletin Board and Syllables in Spanish

Alphabet Units, great to start using from the beginning of the school Year

This might not be for the first week of school, but it sure is great to start building your alphabet bulletin board! I want to share with y'all the Alphabet Interactive Unit I have in my store. I created an English and a Spanish version. The pictures are in Spanish, but know that I have this unit in English as well. All the letters are to be placed on your bulletin board in the classroom (so students can see them daily and it can work as a visual for them). I pinned mine with thumbtacks so I put them up and take them down anytime.

I then pull down whichever letter we will need to work with my small groups. Each illustration has Velcro on the back so it can stick to it while working and for them to stay while it was hung on the board. I would go over the sound and each vocabulary word with my students. As we repeat the sounds and words, I then would let my students place it as they say the phrase, e.g. "A es de astronauta" (A is for astronaut). They LOVEEEEDD this part, I don't know if it was the whole velcro thing or the fact that they felt they could do it on their own :)

Finally, I created this booklet for them to put together. I didn't staple my sample, but you could staple them to make sure the pages stay together. You could use this as a Friday review of the letter learned, small group review, or even homework.

I created a FREE SAMPLE in Spanish if you would like to give it a try :) Please click HERE for the Spanish Free Sample.

I also have a FREE SAMPLE for English :) Please click HERE to take you to the English free sample.

I really hope you love it so much that you want to purchase the packet! If you would like to see it or purchase it click on English or Spanish.

A good friend of mine, asked me last year if I had something for syllables in Spanish and I didn't have anything back then... so it made me think we all need to either teach or review those fun syllables at some point in the school year. I remember when I was teaching 2nd grade, that was something I would review at the beginning of the school year and longer for those little babies who needed it as an intervention during RTI... So I made this product for both low and high levels...
I created one unit per syllable. Meaning I have one unit all for 2 syllables, 3 syllables, and one unit for both 4 & 5 syllables! I also created my first bundle! So if you would like to save some money, don't buy them individually, buy the bundle! :)

So here are some pictures to show you what I included!

1. All units include a section for puzzles! The low level has a picture that you put on top of another, and the high level includes the syllables to place in the blank space.

2. All units also include a booklet to make :) You can always storage this booklet in your interactive notebook (or journal like we used to call it a couple years ago). The low level has the syllables so they can cut and paste to make the word. The high level has blocks where they can write the syllables to make the word. Both levels have a sentence to complete to determine how many syllables the word has.

3. Last but not least, all units have cutting and paste squares to determine how many syllables the word has. These have been designed to put in their interactive notebooks. However, you can always staple them and make them mini-mini booklets :)

Would you like to taste the water before purchasing it? I though you'd never ask! ;)
This Sample it's a little long, JUST BECAUSE I decided to place a sample for all syllables (2-4 syllables) in it. I didn't think separating them by syllables would do any good!
Click HERE to download the Free Sample! :)

If you really liked the sample (which I really hope you did), please leave me some feedback! :) Hopefully you liked it so much that you want to purchase the units!

Click HERE to take you to the 2 syllable unit product

Click HERE to take you to the 3 syllable unit product

Click HERE to take you to the 4 & 5 syllable unit product

Now, what about if you need them all??? No problem, I have your back!!! :) I created a BUNDLE for all these three units, in that way you can save money! Each unit is $3.00, so that'll make $9.00 total if you buy each of them.. HOWEVER, if you buy the bundle, it costs $6.00! You are saving $3!!! That's a great DEAL!!! :)
Click HERE to take you to the BUNDLE

If you have BlogLovin', follow me! so you don't miss the fun and latest posts!!! :) Click on the picture below to take you to my BlogLovin' page :)

Thank you for stopping by and have a great 1st week back to work and a great upcoming school year! I'll be working on some new units with Free Samples and thinking about a giveaway for you lovely teachers!!! So stay tuned!!! :)