MY MEGA GIVEAWAY

To celebrate reaching 2,000 followers, I am thrilled to host a

Some of my favorite bloggers agreed to join the party and YOU could be one of 24 lucky winners!!!!!
Sorry for the super long post but I think you will agree it is worth it!

 Click on each picture to visit these awesome blogs.

 

Isn't that an amazing list? My bloggy friends really are the best! Good Luck!!!!!

I'm not getting sales notifications from TpT anymore since the upgrade. Does anyone know if that is a bug or are they not doing that anymore?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

VersaTiles Starter Set Giveaway

Have you heard of VersaTiles? I had heard of them but never seen them in action. The great people over at ETA hand2mind sent me a 1st grade Reading/Language Arts Starter Set to try. I am using it with an incoming first grader I am tutoring this summer and I am a new fan!

The numbered tiles come in a black case with the letter choices on the bottom. As the student chooses the correct answer, he places the number on the letter choice.

We used this book but the starter kit comes with 8 books at different levels of increasing complexity.  My student is still struggling with some of his letter names and sounds so we did the beginning sound picture match the first day.

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Here is a sample page

Once all the questions are answered the student closes the lid, flips it over and reopens it. The back of the tiles form a design that the student compares to the answer key at the bottom of the page.

As you can see, he got 2 wrong (yellow & blue reversed.) So the student takes those 2 out, flips it back over, and tries again. My student confused the b & d so you here you see him trying the finger trick.

 Here is a better picture of the finger trick. I have them say, "a, b (hold up the left), c, d (hold up the right.) I like this better than the bed thing because they always have their fingers with them!

After he fixes his mistakes, the student flips it back over to check again. This time he got it right!

VersaTiles are perfect to add as a Daily 5 choice or literacy center. These are exactly the kind of skills I want my students practicing and I don't have to make them! Plus I love the manipulative aspect. The boy I tutor is *very active* and he was completely engaged by manipulating the tiles and closing and flipping the case.  The self-checking immediate feedback is also a big plus. I'd highly recommend this product!

There are also different VersaTiles sets focusing on comprehension strategies, vocabulary, children's literature, even math and science! Check out the ETA hand2mind website to learn more.

The terrific people at ETA hand2mind are offering 1 lucky winner a 1st Grade VersaTiles Reading/Language Arts Starter Set! Enter via Rafflecopter until July 13th at midnight.
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Giveaway # 5 Spring Break Giveaway

WooHoo...1 day left...I'm almost there!

As my final gift to you, I am giving away a Luna Interactive Projection Camera from Learning Resources which retails for $199.99!

A few years ago I wanted a document camera so badly that I purchased one myself. There is no doubt I am a better teacher for it.

We use it every morning to go over our Daily Editing Word Problems. Here is a shot of one of my students showing his work under the Luna.

I use Cara's Calendar Companion with my Daily Editing. LOVE!

It came in handy this week when I was explaining how to measure with unifix cubes and I often demonstrate steps in an art project. I'll post more about some of the art we did tomorrow.

The Luna is easy to hook up to your laptop and projector. I don't have an interactive whiteboard (I wish) but I know you can connect to those as well.

Advantages over my current document camera:
1. No lightbulbs to replace.
2. Lighter weight.
3. Mine doesn't take videos!
4. MUCH cheaper! Mine cost over $500!!!

You can learn more about Learning Resources wonderful products by viewing them on YouTube.

Here are three ways to enter to win an Luna Interactive Camera for yourself:
1. Follow this blog AND my TpT store or if you already do, I'd love it if you'd leave feedback on one of my TpT items.
2. Like Learning Resources facebook page.
3. Bonus: Spread the word about my Spring Break 5 days=5 Giveaways on your blog, facebook, twitter, or Pinterest.

The winners to ALL 5 of my giveaways this week will be announced on Sunday, the 8th. You still have time to enter if you missed any of them!

Giveaway #4 Spring Break Countdown

I am over the hump...2 more days...I have a field trip today. I can do it!

Today I am giving away the HearALL Assessment Recorder from Learning Resources. This recorder was created for use in small groups and has 4 omni-directional microphones. It is super easy to use and is loud and clear!

What I like about it:
1. Easy to use.
2. Small and lightweight.
3. Connect to your computer and easily email the recording to a parent or resource teacher or add it to your audio book files for listening to reading like I posted about yesterday.
4. No batteries!!! Charge it by plugging into your computer or I bought a USB hub for all my gadgets.

This obviously can be used during guided reading or book clubs and played back later to gather assessment data but I decided to use it for a slightly different purpose yesterday.

Some of my friends this year have difficulty staying on task and using time appropriately during Daily 5.  I put the HearALL out next to these two to hear how well they were doing during Read With Someone. Were they taking turns reading and checking for understanding or having off-topic conversations? Can we add this recording to our mp3 players?

I have a few friends on behavior contracts. I strategically placed the HearALL to determine if everyone was on task even though I'd be busy with a reading group.

The WHOLE room was quieter because I told them the mics were powerful! :-)

You can learn more about Learning Resources wonderful products by viewing them on YouTube.

Here are three ways to enter to win an HearALL for yourself:
1. Follow this blog AND my TpT store or if you already do, I'd love it if you'd five feedback on one of my TpT items.
2. Like Learning Resources facebook page.
3. Bonus: Spread the word about my Spring Break 5 days=5 Giveaways on your blog, facebook, twitter, or Pinterest.

Did you miss my 3 last days of giveaway? Go back and check them out!
The winners to ALL my giveaways will be announced on Sunday, the 8th.

Giveaway # 3 Spring Break Countdown

2 days down. 3 to go.

Today's giveaway is for an Easi-Speak USB Recorder from Learning Resources.
The microphone design had my students clamoring for their turn to use it!

What I like about this product:
1. Wireless
2. Doesn't require batteries.
3. Easy one button recording.
4. USB built right into the bottom!
5. Instant playback so students can listen to their recording.

Here is an idea I had for how to use this in my room:

My kiddos LOVE to write during Daily 5 and their books are added to our class library. Other students may put them in their book box to read and they are very popular. I think giving young authors equal billing with "real" authors is important. I've recently allowed them to collaborate on books and they are so motivated they ask to work on books whenever there is ANY free time!

I let the author(s) read their book during our sharing time at the end of each round of Daily 5. The problem is there are usually too many authors and some students are disappointed when we run out of time to share everyone's writing.

I just had my DonorsChoose project funded for mp3 players for our listening center. Yipee!
I had a brainstorm to combine these two new techno gadgets!

My students use the Easy-Speak to record themselves reading the book they wrote.

These two collaborated on the book so they decided to take turn reading the pages.

Then I add the mp3 to our audiobook files so their friends can listen to their book!
What better way for students to practice fluency than by reading for the audience they care most about: their peers!

This year, my class loves to write their own versions of books we have read together. This one is based on My Name is Not Isabella. We had the author visit which is an amazing gift for young writers.

 No, David sparked a flurry of No, _____ books. This one has ME as the main character!

You can learn more about Learning Resources wonderful products by viewing them on YouTube.

Three ways to enter to win an Easi-Speak for yourself:
1. Follow this blog AND my TpT store or if you already do, I'd love it if you'd go rate one of my items.
2. Like Learning Resources facebook page.
3. Bonus: Spread the word about my Spring Break 5 days=5 Giveaways on your blog, facebook , twitter or Pinterest!

Click {here} for Day 1 or {here} for Day 2 if you missed my other Spring Break Giveaways!
I will pick the winners for all 5 giveaways on Sunday, the 8th!

Giveaway # 2 Spring Break Countdown

I made it through Monday. 4 more days until break. Ready for your next giveaway?

Today I am giving away a premium membership to VocabularySpelling City.

My students love to go to the computer lab and play the different games with our spelling words. They can also log on and play or take practice tests at home.

Notice the direction page from the talented Erica Bohrer!

I find it helpful for the kids to bring a spelling list so they have more success trying to figure out the words.

My students' favorite game is Letter Fall which is only available with the premium membership.

And look at all these other features of the premium membership.

Would you like to win a premium membership to VocabularySpellingCity?

To enter:
1. Follow this blog AND my TpT store, then leave me one comment with your email. ***
2. For a bonus entry, spread the word about my Spring Break 5 days=5 giveaways on your blog, facebook, twitter, etc.

If you missed giveaway # 1 yesterday click {here} to check it out. I will announce the winners of all 5 giveaways on Sunday. the 18th.

*** I have some newbies contact me yesterday saying they wanted to participate but were unsure about the following and commenting business. Here is a quick tutorial:

1. To follow my TpT store: click on the link and when my store opens click on Follow Me. 

2. Come back here to my blog and follow me by clicking Follow in the very top left corner of your screen OR in my sidebar under Followers click the blue Join this site button.

3. At the end of my post, under my signature, click on comments.

Scroll to the end of the comments and you will see a comment box for you to write in.

Hope that helps!