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!

5 Days=5 Giveaways!!!!

I have been super envious of all of you who have been on Spring Break. I still have to teach 5 full days until mine finally arrives. It will seem like the longest week EVER! To make this countdown more bearable, I will be hosting a GIVEAWAY each day. Yes, you read that right. 5 days=5 giveaways! And these are not small items either my friends!

To start us off with a bang, today I am giving away my most treasured teaching item....

a 13 inch Hot and Cold Laminator from Purple Cow!

It also comes with 50 Hot Pockets to get you started! A $70 value!

 

I love my Purple Cow and use mine to prep all my centers and math games. The school laminator has thin laminate and often ruins my hard work but my Purple Cow laminator has NEVER let me down in 6 years! Comes out perfectly every time!

To enter:
1. Follow this blog AND my TpT store and leave me one comment with your email.
2. For a bonus entry, spread the word about my 5 Days of Giveaways on your blog, facebook page, etc. and leave me another comment.

I will pick all the winners for the giveaways on Sunday, the 8th.


Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see what I am giving away on Day #2!

Mother's Day Gift updated

I updated my Mother's Day Gift Idea for If you Give a Mom a Muffin on TpT today. I posted all about this idea last year so click {here} if you didn't follow me then and want to know what I am talking about.

 I had remembered to take the date off the cover...

..but I forgot the one on the poem for the gift bag. Grrr...

This wouldn't be that hard to fix IF the original wasn't one of the things I lost in the 2 computer deaths I experienced last year. I managed to redo that last page and insert it into the original pdf. Did you know you can delete/insert/move pages in a pdf if you open them with preview?  Best trick ever!

So if you have bought this item previously you will want to go download the new version with no year.