Next year I will be teaching...

OMG is right! 5th will be a new adventure for me! I am scared, nervous, excited, hopeful, and a million other feelings all at the same time! I have never taught higher than 3rd before...so believe me, my feelings are quite real:) But I am confident that I got this...and I will do well. Sure I will make some mistakes, and sure I might be a bit stressed out next year...but I know I will learn, grow, and develop as an educator! 

Here's to 5th grade!

My Dad's a Super Hero

Happy Sunday Friends!
I can't believe I have 12 more days with my students. I am really ready for this year to be over. It's been a long one for sure. 

Last year I looped so I have had most of my kids for 2 years. I thought I would like it...some days I do, but by this time of the year, I am exhausted and they are ready to move on!

Since we end the year before Father's Day, I wanted the kids to make something special their dads. I saw this super cute picture on Pinterest!

I thought it was SOOOO cute! So, I made a little writing activity to go with it:)

I plan on having the kids take their photo this week and getting them developed. The kids will write why their dad is a super hero in their eyes!

Would you like a copy? Just check out my TpT shop and get yourself a copy for free!

Have a great week!

Personal Word Wall {update}

One thing I have wanted to do for a very long time is update my personal word wall unit! 

Many buyers asked if I could add some clip art to each page so their students could recognize the letters. 

Well, I finally added the clip art and I am really happy with out it turned out! Here's a look at one of the pages! 

If you already bought this, please go back and download the updated version. 

Would you like to win a copy? Leave a comment with your email and I will pick a winner tomorrow night! 

Chinese New Year and a Sale

Happy Wednesday friends! I hope you are having an amazing week so far. Today is a quick post about two things I really want to share with you all!

First...have you heard? It's a super Teachers Pay Teachers sale!

I am so ready to shop, plus empty out my wishlist! 

My store is on sale to make it 28% off! Don't forget to use promo code HEROES to get that extra 8%!

This past week was Chinese New Year. My class celebrated by watching this video first.

Then I passed out blank sheep I bought from Pamela Kennedy! Let me tell you...this lady is talented! Best dollar I ever spent! I WILL go back and buy more. My boys and girls who normally scribble did not! They did some of the best work I have ever seen from them. Even my SPED kids worked really hard. It seemed to be super calming for them.

While they were coloring, we listened to some Chinese music!

I am so impressed with my class! My principal took their art and put it in the art gallery up in the office! 

What fun things did you do for Chinese New Year?

Facebook to Communicate {a Bright Idea}

Welcome to another Bright Ideas blog hop:) I am so glad you stopped by. 

Maybe my idea isn't something new, or that "bright" but I have found using Facebook in the classroom has had a HUGE impact on my parent communication! I mean, almost everyone has a Facebook account...right? 

Mrs. Roller's Class

I created a page under my own personal Facebook account. What I really like about this is that I can switch from my personal to my class easily! No logging out and logging in to a different account. When I post on the page, it posts as Mrs. Roller and not Tonya-my personal one. 

What do I use it for?

-quick reminders for events

-requests for certain items. I really love when I say, "We're out of paper towels!" and I have some at the end of the day:)

-pictures of our work

-videos of activities

-shout outs

-homework

-parents can communicate with each other

Parents have commented how they can love they can be "right there" in the classroom as I can post right away at school! They think it's awesome to see daily updates about what's going on! 

Do you use Facebook in the classroom? I'd love to hear how you use it! If you don't use it in the classroom, give it a shot! I think you will be impressed!

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider following me in Instagram, Facebook, and Teachers Pay Teachers!

For more Bright Ideas from other bloggers, please browse through the link up below! 

Have a great Saturday!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Using Padlet in the classroom~a bright idea!

Welcome to another Bright Ideas blog hop!!! 

I am super excited for this one because I use my idea all.the.time!

Have you ever heard of Padlet before? 

If not...you're in luck! This absolutely FREE and easy to use tech tool will be a hit in your classroom and your students will LOVE it. I promise:)

Padlet is one of the easiest ways to collaborate and communicate with your students! 

First create an account. You will have a dashboard that looks like this!

Click on create new padlet. Once you do, you will see what looks like a blank space with a side bar on the right. 

The bottom icon is the modify wall button. Click on that!

Once you click this button you will be able to add your Title, description, and change your portrait. I always find an image that matches my title. 

Next, I would make sure I change the layout of the responses. I recommend grid. I like to see the nice clean and organized boxes. When you choose free form, they get all over the place, often on top of each other. I don't like that.  Can we say, OCD??? 

Then when you are ready, you want to export your Padlet. I choose the embed one, copy it and paste it into my class Weebly website. This makes it super easy for the kids to respond. 

Once you have it embedded, you're all set! 
DONE and DONE:) 
Your students can now respond to your topic! 

Here is an example of one I did just Thursday night! I gave my students an assignment to watch a MLK short video. Then they had to post two things they learned and one question they still had. I used this for my lesson on Friday.  You can check it out HERE on my classroom website!

Once it is posted to your website of choice, all the student has to do is double click somewhere on the blank space and a box will come up. There will be a space for your name and your response!

SO EASY!

 Now it is your turn to try! 

I want to know how YOU will use this in YOUR classroom? Leave a comment on the padlet below:) 

Created with Padlet

If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Instagram, and TeachersPayTeachers

For more bright ideas from some fantastic bloggers, please browse through the link up below!

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

2015 is SO close!~giveaway!

Happy holidays my friends! Like many of you, I am on break and enjoying every minute! This year I get 3 weeks off! It's SO exciting and very much needed! I fully plan on doing the following:

blogging
creating
updating
sleeping
going to the gym
working on quarter 3 plans
catching up with friends and family
organizing my new house
playing with my fur babies
spending evenings with my hubby
going to the pool
going to the beach
and most of all...RELAXING!

My husband and I had our family dinner the other night and that is all we had plans for. The rest of this break is me time....my husband works...A LOT:( It will be nice though to spend time with him when he comes home rather than working in my office!

Since 2015 is right around the corner, I wanted to make something that I could use for 2015!

I wanted to create something that was also not just for 2015, but teachers could use year after year. So...I made calendars with dates and without dates. I also made them with clip art and dates, and with clip art and without dates. All printer friendly black and white!

I really love how they turn out! I like to add text boxes for important classroom information! These calendars can go in their home/school binders!

I would love to give a copy away! Leave your email and tell me how you would use them! I will pick a winner tomorrow afternoon!

Plan on seeing a lot of me over break! I have a ton of catching up to do:)

Happy Holidays!