My Poor, Poor Kitty

After our elation of Shadow's return wore off, we realized here wound was worse than we thought. 

It was hard to get a picture but it looked like a chunk was missing so we figured it was an open bite and could get infected.


After an hour and $200 spent at the vet, I now have a completely traumatized cat. They had to shave around her wound and clean it out.

After reading about Kristin's problems getting her dog to take his meds we opted for the antibiotic by shot. They had to put a cone on her to keep her from licking her injury.

When we got home, she jumped out of the carrier and completely went nuts! She started running around the halls, bumping into walls and trying to get under beds. The poor thing is so hating that cone! She finally made it under the couch and wouldn't come out all night. She didn't eat and I couldn't give her any pain meds.

I finally coaxed her out this morning with food. I held the bowl to make sure she could get to it.

Before I could try to get any pain meds into her she freaked out again. When she tries to run down the hall I think the cone must knock on the floor and that makes her skittish. She always did freak out at the sound of plastic bags so I'm sure being surrounded by a plastic cone is torture.

Luckily she couldn't make it under my son's bed when she freaked out today and I got her to stay on it (that is the first picture above.) Even though she looks a little uncomfortable with her head off the bed it has to be better than it being wedged under the couch, barely able to move.

I want to give her pain meds (liquid) but she won't open her mouth and I don't want to force it and have her freak out again. Maybe in a little while I can bring the food bowl back and sneak the dropper in her mouth then.  Or I could be a total wimp and wait until my husband comes home and let him try. What do you think? 
Thank goodness we opted for the antibiotic shot so I didn't have to deal with that, too!

There is still time to enter my VersaTiles Giveaway by clicking {HERE}

My missing kitty is home FLASH SALE!

I am so happy that my missing kitty made it home after 2 full weeks! I had just about given up hope.

That is my son Quinn giving Shadow some love.

 She  has a chunk of hair missing by her tail so the poor thing must have had to defend herself. Otherwise she seems okay so I am wondering if someone took care of her. A few months ago she took her collar off and lost it somewhere but I hadn't worried too much because she stopped going out. Looks like I need to get another one ASAP!

To celebrate I am having a FLASH SALE in my TPT store for 24 hours! My good fortune is your good fortune!  And don't forget to enter my VersaTiles Giveaway by clicking {HERE}

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.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Writing Posters Winner

The winner of my new Writing Process Posters 

is Kim Worthey! I sent you an email, Kim. 

If you didn't win, you can grab a set for yourself for only $3 by clicking on the picture above.

Happy Fourth everyone!

Don't you just love Melonheadz clipart?

The Writing Process

I finally got around to updating my Writing Process posters.

I included the traditional 5 steps: Prewrite, Draft, Revise, Edit, and Publish.

However, I also included the variations I use with my 1st graders.  For instance, I think Prewrite is a little confusing for 6 year olds so I broke it into the two parts of Think and Plan. I've found that many kids (and adults) brainstorm but skip the planning and just start writing.

I ask my class to read their story over with their whisper phones (I made them out of PVC.) The kids love to use them and it is a great way for them to realize they left out a word (or two or three...)

I also switched over from traditional editing marks to writing the capital in green crayon and the ending mark in red crayon. The color seemed to help them notice to make the change on their final draft better.

I have students sign up for conferences after they have tried to edit and revise on their own first. I thought I might try to use name magnets or clips on the posters this year.

The students LOVE to share but there is never enough time for everyone. Again, maybe 3 magnets or clips from this poster could be picked at random.

Do you stick with the original 5 or use a variation? Maybe a little mix and match?

Get your own set for $3 in my TpT store by clicking {HERE.} 

Leave me a comment and I'll pick 1 winner tomorrow to email a set to. Your comment can be about this post, telling me you pinned this, that you are now following my TpT store, whatever you'd like.

I'm bummed today because one of our cats, Shadow, has been missing for 1 week now. This happened one other time and she did come home the 2nd week so I am trying to keep my hopes up that someone is taking care of her.