And the Winners Are...

Sorry I didn't get these winners announce earlier. It was my oldest son's first day on the middle school campus. They have 3 half-day orientation days and I think we will need them to practice getting him out the door that early! Also, I spent the day on the interview panel to fill an opening on my team. We had over 100 applicants for 1 position. I feel very lucky to have a job right now and with a staff that I LOVE!  Did I mention we start back this Wednesday?! I can't seem to get my head around that fact yet.

Drumroll please.....
The following 4 lucky winners will receive the bags shown AND their choice of laptop or iPad case!

Friends, email jenn@finallyinfirst with your laptop choice (design and size) and address so the wonderful people at Mixed Bag Designs can mail your goodies! 

Brainstorm!!!

I am on my way out the door to go camping with the Cub Scouts.

Yes, I am bringing my computer and laminator, which sounds awful except I always do so we can play the year-in-review movie and laminate their new whittling chip cards (allows them to use a pocket knife.) However, that cute red bag is filled with teacher stuff which I don't normally bring. I start back Wednesday and am feeling the pressure! Want to win one of those adorable bags? Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

I jumped on here though to share that I had a brainstorm! I have decided I am going to use the fabulous Cara Caroll's amazing Calendar Companion AND my Daily Editing Word Problems to make my teaching super-duper effective!!! Cara has a space to glue in a word problem so I can't wait to try this instead of the usual notebook!

SO....I extended my TPT sale through tomorrow in case you want to go buy both our products and try it, too! Don't forget to use the extra 10% code B1T1S!

Alrighty friends...time to get in the car! How will I survive with out blogs for 2 whole days!?!?!

New Blogs and Last Sale Day

We have been SO busy blog designing that I am seriously behind in my school preparations! Hmmm...will my Cubmaster husband notice if I bring my laminator and a huge stack of teaching materials with me to the annual Pack Family Campout this weekend?  I am SO not kidding.

Anyway, I'd love it if you'd take a peek at our 3 new designs. Also, don't forget that today is the last day to get 30% off in my TPT store! (Remember to enter the code B1T1S.)

Click on the image to go make some new friends.

The first two are teaching blogs. 

Star Student Freebie

Do you have a Star of the Week? The Star Student is my special helper. They do the calendar with me, return the library books, pass out papers, etc. I go alphabetically which is also our student numbers so my students know better than me whose turn is next!

Last year I decided to make my own posters that would be easier to store and cheaper!

 I made 5 posters (each regular copy paper size) : Me, My Family, My Pets, My Favorite Activity,  and When I Grow Up I Want to be a _____.

I assign the posters as the first week's homework and make sure I get one from every student. They can glue on photos or draw pictures. If they don't have any pets I tell them to draw what they wish they had. Then I save them in my filing cabinet until that student is the Star of the Week. After the student shares their posters we put them on a special Star of the Week bulletin board. I have star scrapbook paper already up on the board like frames so all I have to do is quickly add the student's posters and their name tag (I have their names already written on sentence strips.)

If you would like a copy of my posters you can grab them for FREE here. My 20% off sale is still on if you want to stay and shop. Don't forget to use the code B1T1S to get an extra 10% off!

Upper grade teachers: My friend Jessica just posted a great FREE writing activity she uses with her 4th graders using the picture book Giraffes Can't Dance. Click here to visit her store. She also has some great social studies skits and map activities. I sure miss teaching with her! She always came up with great hand-on projects. Now if I can just convince her to start blogging so she can share more with you all.

If you haven't entered my Mixed Bag Designs Giveaway click here to enter.

I go back to work next Wednesday! ACK!

1,000 Followers Giveaway!

I have over 1,000 followers!! That just blows my mind. Thank you all so much!
 
If you have been following my blog for awhile you know that I teach at a super cool environmental science school. We teach our students to be green every day. This year we are working with a terrific company called Mixed Bag Designs to run a reusable bag fundraiser for our school. I'm not talking small, boring bags, these are super stylish and come in every size and shape imaginable! They also have tech gear like iPad and iPhone covers (the black swirl 3GS cover is on my wishlist!)

The wonderful people at Mixed Bag Designs have agreed to give away 4 prize packages worth approximately $100!!

AND each winner will also get to select their own....

13 inch, 15 inch, or iPad 

 Wouldn't it be great to start the school year with a cute new case?

That's not all! Followers of my blog can also get FREE SHIPPING through August 17! Just type in the promo code 'first' at checkout.

Want to learn more about a fundraiser or order a catalog? Send an email to dj@mixedbagdesigns.com.

How Can You Win These Amazing Bags?
Terms: Winners must be a follower of my blog and live in the U.S. or Canada. Please leave a comment for each entry.

1. Like Mixed Bag Designs on Facebook. Tell them I sent you!
2. Like my blog on Facebook.
3. Spread the word by blogging about this giveaway! (Or Facebook /Twitter if you have more followers.)

4. Follow me on Twitter.

5. Visit Mixed Bag Designs and come back and comment on which of the NEW Fall designs you like.

This giveaway will end on Monday, August 8th at noon Pacific time. Good Luck!