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All About Erica

Funny Story and Thank You For all The B-Day Wishes

First, I want to thank all of you for the birthday wishes!  I am so touched. Sophie, the great hunter! My birthday started off at 2:30 am with my dog, Sophie and a possum!  Sophie has Poochie Bells on the back door that she rings to let me know she has to go outside.  So at 2:30 ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Uncategorized

What I’m Thankful For

I am linking up with one of the sweetest bloggers out there, Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants to tell you what I am thankful for.  She was inspired by my best blogging buddy, Cheryl Saoud's blog, Primary Graffitti.  Cheryl has been a good blogging friend of mine since I ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized

Remembering Molly, Beloved Classroom Pet

Molly, my classroom pet, died on Saturday.  She was 9 1/2 and lived an extremely long and happy life for a guinea pig.  Guinea pigs live to be between 5 and 8 years old.  So, I would say she would be about 105 if she were a person! I knew this day was coming soon and had been ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Pets/Humane Education, Uncategorized

The Hunger Games

Did you know the number one selling unit of all time, on Teachers Pay Teachers, was created around a book called The Hunger Games.  The English major/certified English teacher in me had to check out the book.  I did and I loved it!  For the past three days, my life ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Uncategorized

This and That

Hello, blog buddies.  I am so sorry that I have not posted as much lately.   I have been so busy. First, I want to thank you for all your kind words and support for my post on becoming a published author.  A couple people asked me if I would do ebooks.  I think I will stick ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Free Downloads, Grammar, Uncategorized

Teachers as Published Authors

I have gotten so many emails asking me how I became a published author for Scholastic.  I have one Scholastic teacher resource book that was published in May 2010, 50 Just Right Reading Response Activities.  I have another Scholastic teacher resource book that came out in April 2012, 20 Super ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, My Scholastic Books, Uncategorized

Teaching Blog Addict

Are you addicted to teaching blogs?  If so, check out this great new blog dedicated to Teacher Blog Addicts like myself.  Contact Tamara via email (click {here}) to have your button displayed and to become an author on this great new blog. ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Blogs I Love, Uncategorized

You Know You’re a Teacher When…

Abby is hosting a "You Know You're a Teacher When..." Link Party at The Inspired Apple.  Click to link up! You Know You Teach First Grade When... - "You are a great artist!" is the complement the students give you every time you draw something and it still boosts your ego.- You must remind ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Uncategorized

Ten Things I’ve Learned From Teaching

Jennifer at Rowdy in First is hosting a "Ten Things I've Learned from Teaching" link party.  I have been teaching for 10 years and I think I have learned at least 10 things! 1.  Laminating is therapeutic and thrilling at the same time.  2.  Laminate things yourself or pay to ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Uncategorized

300 Followers!!!

Wow!  I cannot believe I have reached 300 followers!!!  Technically one of them is my mother and the other my sister-in-law - but still 298 people that are not related to me! Wooohoooo!  I feel the love. I would like to thank all of you who follow and have helped and ...

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Filed Under: All About Erica, Uncategorized

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📚 Back-to-school magic starts with the right read- 📚 Back-to-school magic starts with the right read-alouds!
These are my absolute favorite first-week books for building classroom community, easing those first-day jitters, and setting a positive tone from day one.
From Our Class is a Family, All Are Welcome, The Book of Rules, and so many more — these stories never miss.

Which one is a must-read in your classroom? Drop it in the comments and I will send you the links to my follow up activities!

#BackToSchool #ReadAlouds #picturebooks
These play-doh first day gifts are cute and practi These play-doh first day gifts are cute and practical!  The play-doh gives your students something fun to do while you are busy greeting students at the door.  Then once everyone is in, then you can unpack supplies as a class. 

Want the link to the FREE tags and to see what else I do on the first day?  Comment “first day” below and I will DM you the links!

#teacherhack #teacherfreebies #playdoh #teachersfollowteachers #backtoschool
How do you handle this situation? Do you put the How do you handle this situation?  Do you put the new student at the end of the alphabetical list or do you start over with a new one?
I know I am next for a new student (I have 24 kids and everyone else has 25), so I am holding off until the night before the first day.  I wish I could just wait but I like modeling where their bags and mail goes, both of which are set up using numbers.

True story: One year on the first day, I had a no show.  Then I was assigned a new student.  That student fit perfectly in the alphabetical order spot that was left.  I should have played the lottery or something.  What were the odds of that?!

#teacherproblems #teacherhumor #primaryteacher
5 things that are worth the money for your classro 5 things that are worth the money for your classroom!

1. A color printer.  We don’t have color printers at school and this has saved me from having to remember to print something at home. I brought in mine from home and then bought a new one for home. 
2. MacBookAir - This is my personal laptop.  I bring it home on weekends and holidays but for the most part I keep it at school.  I did need approval to get it on our district WiFi, which meant my phone could not also be on the WiFi.  There is a one device per teacher rule.
3. A lay-flat binder for my plan book, dismissal binder, and sub binder.  These save so much space and they are flexible. 
4. A laminator at school and a laminator at home.  It took me many years before I caved and bought another one but again, it saves me from remembering to laminate at home and I can also laminate during snack time and preps. Matte laminating is also worth the splurge.
5. My teacher toolbox! This toolbox has been with me for over 10 years, I just change out the labels to go with my decor theme.  Everything has a place and it keeps my desk organized.

Want the links?  Comment “links” below and I will DM you them. 

#classroommanagement #amazonfinds #classroom #teacherhacks #firstgradeteacher
✨Center time just got so much better! ✨ These 1st ✨Center time just got so much better! ✨
These 1st grade phonics-based literacy centers keep my students engaged, independent, and actually cheering when I say it’s center time. 🙌
Year-long skills that spiral and build (short vowels → digraphs → blends → vowel teams → multisyllabic words and more), primary lined recording sheets, supportive visuals, and activities that are easy to prep once and reuse all year.

Perfect for Science of Reading classrooms, Fundations® users, Daily 5, or anyone who wants structured, decodable practice while you pull small groups.

My students know exactly what to do… and I get to teach without interruptions. Win-win! 📚💛

Comment LINK if you want a full year of ready-to-go phonics centers and a free sample set!
#PhonicsCenters  #LiteracyCenters #FirstGradeTeacher  #Phonics #WordWork ReadingCenters
🌻Sunflower Classroom Decor Room Tour🌻 This was my 🌻Sunflower Classroom Decor Room Tour🌻

This was my room decor before the pastels.  It worked well to incorporate my old farmhouse items (my decor theme before that) and as a bonus it made my Ukrainian students smile (the sunflower is the national flower of the Ukrainian).

Do you want the links?  Comment “sunflower” below. 

#classroomdecor #tptcheckoutmyclassroom #firstgradeteacher
Teacher Tip: Sort and store your printables for th Teacher Tip: Sort and store your printables for the upcoming weeks in a file tray above drawers for the days of the week.  This helps to keep you organized for the weeks ahead.
Save and use leftover colored copies as dividers. This makes them less bulky, than if you had used binder clips.
When you near the end of the week, pull the papers from the tray and sort into the weekday drawers and centers.

Have questions?  Ask them below!

#classroomorganization #classroommanagement #teachertips #teacherhacks
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