Primary Punchbowl Launch and Blog Hop!

Happy Sunday, everyone!
Today is SUCH a super exciting day and I cannot wait to share it with you all! :) I've written on here a few times about the blogging angels who have come into my life during the past 10 months. Honestly, they have all changed me in some way even in the short time I have known them... and online, at that! These ladies invigorate me when I'm spent, inspire me when in a rut, lift me up when I'm feeling down, and keep me smiling from ear to ear.

A few months ago, we started talking about collaborating on more projects -- how would we do that being that we are spread out all across the country? Well, we have decided to launch a collaborative blog! I know!!!! Crazy, right?! There were just so many ideas floating around and we had already collaborated on giveaways, book studies, and more... so why not? It seemed like a pretty logical (but oh-so-exciting) next step!!

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We Love Teachers TPT Sale!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of you incredible teachers! I hope that you are being spoiled by your students and school community as much as I already have been! Every single one of you deserves the utmost recognition.

Thank you for your tireless efforts!

To celebrate teachers this week, head on over to Teachers Pay Teachers tomorrow and Wednesday to take advantage of their special We Love Teachers sale!  Don't forget to use the coupon code "thankyou" to receive 28% off EVERYTHING in my store (and many others!)

I would like to take a moment to highlight my hottest item!

The Grade 1 Dolch Print & Go Assessment and Practice Pack outlines a year-long High Frequency Word protocol to ensure student success. It includes a monthly test, weekly quizzes and assignments to be completed weekly! This pack is ultra flexible and can be used in any number of ways. The activities, including rainbow writing and sight word graphing, can are engaging and provide numerous interactions with new words! Normally $6, this pack will be only $4.30!

Don't worry, I've got additional packs for the following levels:

Pre-Primer

Primer

Grade 1

Grade 2

Grade 3

I've also got a bundled set -- a complete steal at only $15.84!

But wait... there's MORE! (Haha! Do I sound like an infomercial or what?!)

Because this sale is all about celebrating you...

ANYONE who purchases my Dolch bundle will receive my End of Year Memory Book FOR FREE!! All you have to do is email me! (Mrs.LoConte@gmail.com) Make sure to include your full name!

Oh, mannnnn I know that I'm excited to knock off some of my wishlist items!

I can't wait to see what everyone gets!! :)

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Currently: May!

It's MAYYYYYYYYYY which can only mean one thing! Time to link up with Farley for Currently!! I actually drafted much of this on Friday morning before school and then I got caught up on about a million different things! Gah! So, I'm not posting until now... ehhh... it happens!
Anyway, click HERE to join in the fun!! :)

Listening: One Republic's Dreaming Out Loud album. I swear they are one of my favorite bands. I love just soaking them in while I work!
Loving: Avengers: Age of Ultron is in theaters today! Normally, I would have seen it at midnight, but the Hubster and I have about 76234857 commitments this weekend and need to be well rested. So 7:00pm tonight, it is!! :)
Thinking: About my birthday blog-a-bration! Is that a word? A thing? I don't know, but there's 1 week until my birthday and I've got some plans for my blog, my instagram account, and my TpT followers! So, follow all accounts to stay in the loop! :)
Wanting: To be outside in this BEAUTIFUL weather! I love being a May baby because it's just so sunny and calm, and truly lovely! 
Needing: To get myself organized for all of the testing that begins on Monday! Get this! We've got 10 school days (one is a half day) to test students in the following:

• 1-on-1 Sight Word Evaluation
• 1-on-1 AIMSweb (18 testing minutes per child)
• STAR Early Reading (15 minutes per child on computer)
• STAR Math (15 minutes per child on computer)

So, basically... no instruction? Ok, thanks... that's helpful. I don't envy you upper-grade teachers in the least, but to start so much testing so young... is just horrifying to me!

Summer yes, hope, dream: Let's keep this simple...

• Yes: We're moving into our new school this summer.
• Hope: To buy and move into our first home.
• Dream: Of getting pregnant

There are oh, so many things on the horizon at the moment and I couldn't be more excited about each and every one of them. Stay tuned for some special Teacher Appreciation goodies and my birthday blog-a-bration!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram to stay up-to-date!

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Birthday Fun & Follower Freebies!!

I am so excited! Why, you ask?! Well, in just 10 days, I will be celebrating my birthday! In honor of this occasion, I will be offering up some special freebies across multiple platforms, plus some store discounts! So make sure that you follow me here, on TpT, and on Instagram to be part of the fun!

Also, if, by some miracle, I hit 100 followers on here OR on TpT BEFORE my birthday, there will be a GIVEAWAY!! :)

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Currently March

Once again, I'm linking up with Farley for Currently! Join in the fun at her blog, Oh Boy, 4th Grade!

Listening: One Republic is one of my favorites. I can listen to them in the background and get work done, they're great to drive to... I just love One Republic! Dreaming Out Loud is my favorite album of theirs, and I've got it running on repeat right now.

Loving: It snowed last night. Again. We got about 7 inches. They have closed school for much less, but I think that the timing worked out really well so we don't have to miss another day of school. Instead, we got a 2-hour delay. 2-hour delays are my favorite way to handle the snow. No one has to rush to get into work, you still get to see the kids... and we get some work time. I do my best to come to school normal time for delays. Normal for me is still over an hour before the kids show up, so I get tons of work done! And since these days are so rare, I like to treat myself a little... So, this morning... it was a bagel and S'mores Hot Chocolate from Dunkin Donuts. YUM! So warm and toasty and comforting :)

Thinking: Yesterday, I posted 2 new products to my TpT Store. I feel like I'm on a roll, so I need to stay on top of it! Another reason why I showed up to work so early this morning! Click on the images to check them out in my store!

This set includes:

192 different CVC Trace and Write Cards divided into 6 different sections:

32 Full Word Trace
32 Initial Sound Practice
32 Final Sound Practice
32 Medial Sound Practice
32 Rime Practice
32 Full Word Decode

Laminate and use these cards in small groups, literacy centers, as an early finisher activity, or any number of ways!

This set includes:
Practice pages covering all Dolch Pre Primer words.
Use for morning work, homework, in a center, or however else you see fit!

Wanting: Last night, I saw a post about How to Keep Teaching When Your Personal Life is Falling Apart. Let me say this... my personal life is not falling apart, but... we all know that we occasionally find ourselves in those moments where it starts raining, then pouring, then dumping piles of snow, then ice, then repeat. Those days when all you want to do is pull the covers up higher over your head and hide from the world. Well, 2015 has started off in just that way. Lots going on, lots of heartbreak, lots of added stress. It happens. Such is life. I am firm believer that God does not give us more than we can handle and that without these moments, we cannot truly appreciate all the good that we have in our lives. So here it is... I'm trying not to think of it as a breaking point. I'm trying to look at it is an opportunity to change some habits, to cut some ties... to become an even better me.

Needing: As I said, I posted 2 products to TpT yesterday, but what I didn't mention are the 7, YES!! 7 packs that I have started and been bouncing around on. I really need to just finish them up ASAP!

Spring Break Plans: We don't have Spring Break until the 3rd week in April, but I am planning on working the whole time. Whether it be working on the house, working on finding a new house, catching up on school work, or making things for TpT, I will be working. I know that it sounds boring, but it is what it is these days!

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New Blog Design!! (and a GIVEAWAY!!)

I am so, so happy to finally launch my brand new blog design! I was hesitant to jump to a paid design, but set a TpT goal and decided that if I met it before year's end, I would go for it! Well, on December 14th, I met my first  sales goal!! For the past couple of weeks, I have been working with the ever-so-lovely Jana at Little Web Writing Hood to develop everything you see here!
She was so patient with me and my bazillion and a half questions and ideas and her prices are super affordable!
Seriously, if you're in the market for a new design... check out her page HERE or her Etsy store HERE!
Also, in honor of my brand new design, I'd like to give away a copy of my Dolch Print & Go Assessment and Practice Pack! This pack includes approximately 350 pages of word lists, parent letters, flash cards, and student printables that may be used for morning work, centers, homework, in small groups! This pack spans Pre-Primer - Grade 3 Dolch words allowing for differentiation galore!

 Enter below!

If you're not interested in the whole pack right now, check out the individual packs!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Working On It Wednesday!!

Good evening, one and all! I was so excited after the TPT Cyber Sale last night, that I jumped right on creating!! Below are a few things that I am working on!!

My kiddos and I are working on different phonics generalizations. We are currently introducing one generalization a day, then will circle back and spend about a week on each one in more depth. My kiddos love trying to work out which words are real and which are nonsense, so I am working to put together some new activities for them to use and will post to TPT as soon as it's done!

Last year, as a Kindergarten teacher, I swore up and down that I would start using Math Journals with my kiddos. We never really got around to it. Now, in 1st grade, we're into December and I have been doing a daily quick math prompt that I put on the board, have them copy, then complete. I would really like to pull something together that I can print for them to maximize our time and help them get directly to the problem-solving! I have already blogged about how busy this month is, so it would be awfully ambitious to think I could have my December prompts completed anytime soon, so I will start with a set of prompts for January. Keep an eye out for the full set! What types of problems would you like to see the kiddos solving in the January pack? Comment below! :)

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Show Us What You Bought!

Yay! I am so re-energized now after checking off SO MANY wishlisted items during the TPT Cyber Monday/Tuesday Sale!! Now, I'm linking up with Bloghoppin' to show off my purchases!!

I can't wait to hop around and see what the rest of you have purchased!!

SHHHHH!!!! Don't tell my husband how much I spent!! ;)

I started out by getting some new clipart. I'm relatively new at making products and I think that it is finally time to up my game! Enough of living off of freebies! (though, there are some pretty awesome ones out there!) Time to go all in! So, I grabbed a handful of packs fro Creative Clips. Ugh!! I am OBSESSED!! Even with all that bought, I probably have at least another 10-15 packs sitting wish listed! ...who am I kidding, I'll probably go back tonight and buy them!

I am so unbelievably excited about this CVC bundle! I have just started cycling back with my kiddos to short vowel sounds and I think that this bundle will be a HUGE help in creating high quality packs with my kiddos in mind. I am honestly always searching for CVC work online -- why not just use these images and make it?! This will definitely be a major boost in the materials I am able to provide my kiddos!

I have been eyeing these bad boys for a bit. My school hasn't wholly committed to Fry or Dolch words and has, instead, been using a sort of hybrid list. BUT... these Star Wars Fry Phrases are just so engaging and I KNOW my boys are going to love them!! My husband is more than a little obsessed (the first major gift I ever got him was a film quality replica light saber!) and he asked that I print a second copy for home for when we have kids. Seriously?! ...Slow the roll, buddy! :)

I have been wanting to take on interactive reading journals for quite some time now. I have tried to get my grade partners to collaborate with me on setting them up, but no one seems to be biting quite yet. I am so glad to have found this pack to use a jump-off! I can't wait to see how my kiddos take to the journals! (Any recommendations for starting out?!)

Join the link up to share what you picked up during the sale! And click on any of the images above to purchase! :)

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December Currently!

Once again, I am linking up with Farley for my December Currently!

Listening -- My husband came across the Jersey Boys Christmas album last year and we are absolutely OBSESSED! I love Christmas music as it is, but this is just such an upbeat album! It will get anyone in the spirit!

Loving  -- Christmastime is by FAVORITE time! My in-laws laugh every year at how excited I get... and how sad I am to see it go! My husband and I have already finished Christmas shopping and even put up our tree last night! Decorating will come later this week! Can't wait to post pictures! :)

Thinking -- lesson plans, sub plans for my upcoming absence, Christmas cookie baking, gift wrapping, student support referrals, copies galore, assessment packs... and that is only the tip of the iceberg! This time of year is never short on things to get done!!

Wanting -- This long weekend was lovely ... and oh, so relaxing! But I slacked BIG TIME! I hardly got ANYthing done for work! I have so much to do and I need to be productive on my prep. Also, I'm hoping for my kiddos to hold off on their December wackiness for a little bit. ...hey, a girl can dream, can't she?!

Needing -- This year has been NOTHING. BUT. ASSESSMENT. I have sight words, nonsense words, addition to 10, subtraction to 5, narrative elements, writing prompt... GAH! SO MUCH! It really saddens me how much we assess these kids.

Giving -- A Christmas writing freebie! Click HERE to download! It includes 3 different prompts on seasonal stationary. Pretty please leave feedback! :)

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Let's Talk About Books and a FREEBIE!

And now for one of my favorite linky parties of the summer... Thanks to Mrs. Jump for hosting!!

This week, I am highlighting a book that I have JUST discovered by one of my favorite Children's Book authors, Chris Raschka! First, let's talk about Mr. Raschka for a moment! He is the author who brought some serious favorites including Yo! Yes?, A Blushful Hippopotamus, and many others. Chris' books are special because they do a spectacular job at conveying particular feelings using vivid illustrations and simple, kid-friendly text. This year, I was extraordinarily lucky to receive a $100 grant for a local library book sale. While purging their Children's Book section, I came across...

Charlie Parker Played be bop!

I had never heard of this book before, but I LOVED John Coltrane's Giant Steps so I snatched it up. As many of you know, our school is currently under a MAJOR arts grant and anything that we can do to more fully integrate the arts is a thumbs up! I tossed the book in the stack with all of the others and just this weekend got around to looking through it.

What I found exceeded my expectations!

Each page offered engaging illustrations. Full of color, line, and expression, they hit on many different points. I cannot wait to use this book as a mentor text with my firsties!

Throughout the year in Kindergarten, we worked diligently on developing stamina for writing and strategies for editing and revising. This year, we will be delving into Author's Craft! This book will be a great kick-off to onomatopoeia as it will allow the kiddos to put an image to each sound.  

I have created a small set of graphic organizers that the kids can use before or after reading the book. Before Reading: Use the pages to imagine what each word could mean and stand for. See if their representation in the book matches your own! After Reading: Create alternative meanings or representations for each sound word -- OR -- use the images given to There is also a space where students are able to create their own word to use in their writing. Feel free to let me know other ways you would use this book/activity! And check out the activity in my TPT Store HERE! (FREEBIE! FREEBIE! FREEBIE!) Also, check out my Sight Word Assessment Pack -- Currently one sale for... 100% OFF! This is a FLASH FREEBIE and will be free for 24 HOURS ONLY. PLEASE, I only ask that if you download the pack, you leave a quick review. Thank you so much!! You can read about the pack HERE!

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New TPT Seller!

I have been on hiatus for quite some time, but I am getting back in the habit!! I am so excited to unveil some blog changes/updates and to officially open my TPT store!!

In the meantime, anyone looking to open their own TPT store, follow the link below!! What I love about TPT is that it is a thriving community of creative and passionate thinkers. Join this community and share what you have to offer!

Join TPT!

xoxo Tiffany

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