Awesome Giveaways & New Flipcharts (PDFs)!!!

Hey guys! One of my friends Bridget from Little Lovely Leaders is having a 500 Follower Giveaway! There are OVER 30 items to win!!! Head on over to her blog and check it out!!!

I also have another friend Jeannie who just started her blog The 2nd Grade Surprise! She is also having a giveaway! Please go and check her out! She is a very talented teacher and you will LOVE reading her blog!!! :) 

Now, I have been busy making some flip charts that I want to share with everyone! First, I have a Decimals Flip Chart that introduces decimals through the tenths and hundredths. Here is the preview: 

Just click on the preview above to head over to my TpT Store to check it out! 

I also just created a Multiplication Strategies & Tricks Flip Chart! It is a GREAT way to introduce multiplication facts to your students! It includes lots of great strategies and tricks to use for multiplication facts!!! Here is the preview: 

Just click on either of the photos above to head on over to my TpT Store to check it out!!!

If you do not have ActivInspire or can't use Flip Charts, you can also get these files in a PDF!!! If you would rather get the PDF form, just e-mail me at polkadotsnpencils@yahoo.com and I will send you the file after payment! :) 

Awesome Giveaway!!!

Hey friends!! So, my friend Natalie (a fellow blogger from SC!!!) is having an awesome giveaway that I just happen to be a part of!!! WOO HOO!!! She is having a different giveaway each day! Isn't that awesome?!? Just click on her adorable blog button below to head over and enter! I am giving away a $10 shopping spree to my TpT Store!!! :) Friday is almost here!!! :) 

Homework Woes!

So, how many of you have that same problem every year with kids NOT wanting to do their homework?!? Last year, I used a Homework BINGO chart where the kids got to sign their name in 1 square each time they completed all of their homework. When the chart filled up, I drew 3-4 names, and those students got to go into my prize box! Well, since I looped up with my class this year, they were getting kind of tired of this. Sooo, I decided to try something new! 

One of my colleagues told me about some cards she found in her room called "Homework Express". Thank you Miss Leon! Basically, the kids each get a card that they are responsible for. Each day they complete their homework, they get one punch in the card (using a single hole punch). When they get 10 punches, they get to go into her treat box! I just thought this was a fabulous idea so I decided I had to try it with my 4th graders!! So far, it has been a great success! No one has gotten to go to the treat box yet, but they are super pumped about it! I have had more students bringing in their homework since I started the "Homework Punch" as I am calling it! 

Since this has been going so great for me, I decided I just had to share my "Homework Punch" cards with my friends!! So here it is! All you have to do is click on the picture below to go download it from my TpT Store for FREE!!! I printed mine out on bright, colored card stock, and they turned out looking super cute! I hope another teacher out there will find this as useful as I have! 

I hope everyone had a fabulous Monday! Happy Teaching! :) 

And the WINNER is.......

And the WINNER is.......

Congratulations KATIE S!!!! An e-mail is coming your way! Thank you all for participating and supporting my blogging efforts!!! I hope everyone has had an awesome week! :)

20,000 Page Views GIVEAWAY!!!!

That's right friends! It is time for another giveaway!!! :) YAY!!! Some of my awesome bloggy friends have once again donated some AWESOME prizes! I am one lucky bloggy girl to have such great friends!!! :) Here are the prizes: 

Journey of a Substitute Teacher is giving away any one item from her TpT store!!!

It's Elementary is giving away any one item from her TpT store!!!

A Special Kind of Class is giving away any one item from her TpT store!!!

Teacher Idea Factory is giving away any one item from her TpT store!!!

The Reading Olympians are giving away their Greek and Latin Root Program!!!

Ginger Snaps is giving away any one item from her TpT store!!!

Second Grade Spin is giving away her new School Themed Clipart!!!

I am also giving away a $10 shopping spree to my TpT store AND a $10 Starbucks gift card!!!

WOW!!! Isn't all this stuff AWESOME?!? Now, go and use the Rafflecopter to enter!!! :) 

You guys are awesome, and I can't wait to pick a winner!!! :) 

One last thing to celebrate! I am having a 20% off sale in my TpT Store until Wednesday, September 19 just to celebrate and say THANK YOU to all my followers!! :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

SC Blogger Meet Up!!!

I'm on my way to the SC Blogger Meet Up!! I can't wait to meet some fabulous ladies today!! I will post pictures later!! :) Look for my 20,000 Page View Giveaway in the morning!! I know it is a day late, but better late than never right?!? Happy Saturday friends!!

20,000 Views Giveaway Coming Soon!!!

BIG NEWS!!! Sometime this weekend, I reached 20,000 page views!! WOW!!! So, I have to celebrate with you, my awesome followers!!! My wonderful bloggy friends have once again donated some AWESOME prizes to help me celebrate this milestone!!! My last giveaway was a great event, so I am super excited to do this giveaway too! It should be posted by this coming Saturday! Be on the lookout!!! :) :)

Attention/Silence Signal & Brain Breaks!

Wow! I am pooped after this week of school! I know it has been a good week in my classroom when I am tired on Friday! :) I am wondering how everyone elses school year is going...I would love to hear about your school year so far! Comment below and let me know!

So, as most of you know, I looped up with my class this year from 3rd to 4th!!! I LOVE it!!!! I mean seriously, if you get the chance, you should do it! :) I have kept most of my procedures in place for this year so my students already knew what to expect walking in the doors. However, I have seen some AWESOME stuff on Pinterest and other blogs that makes me want to spice things up a bit! I am looking at finding a simple attention signal to use in my classroom! I always like to give my students a signal to tell them I need their attention! I want something that is fast and wastes little to no instructional time. In the past I have used repeated clapping signals and finger snaps. I have a found a few tools online that I am thinking about to spice things up a bit!!!

I think this "Woodstock Percussion Zenergy Chime" I found on Amazon.com would be an awesome way to get my students attention!!!

I also really like this "No Yell Bell" I found at Learning Resources! How cool is this?!? It plays different sounds to get students' attention!!!

Now, after looking at many different websites and blogs, I do think this "No Yell Bell" really suits me better than the chimes. Don't get me wrong, I love the chimes too!!! BUT, I am a vocal, rambunctious teacher SO I figured this is more my personality! :) What are some quiet signals you guys use?!? I would love to hear about them! :) 

I have also been seeing tons of "Brain Breaks" on Pinterest and on other blogs! I am super interested in this! I think I might just make some myself for my classroom! I would love some input from you guys though! What are some brain breaks that work in your classroom? We do the Wiggle Dance a lot in my classroom. You would think that 4th graders would think this is too "elementary" for them, but my 4th graders LOVE it! They love to wiggle around and laugh! :) I am also working on another giveaway to celebrate almost 20,000 page views!!! How crazy is that?!? I just love blogging and sharing all the fun we have in my classroom! :) Happy Saturday friends!!!

ROOM REVEAL!!!

Ok so here it is!!! My 2012-2013 4th Grade ZEBRA ROOM!!!!

WELCOME to my room!!! 

From the Door

From the Back

From the Back Again

Essential Questions and Homework

Calendar Math & Classroom Expectations

The students' birthdays are written on birthday cakes I got at the Target $1 Spot! 

Word Wall

These are my Hot Pink Zebra Cursive Word Wall Cards!

Our Classroom Library & Crate Seats

I loved making these crate seats! They were so much fun, and my students LOVE them!

Library Again

I am so proud of my library this year! I made my own zebra book bin labels, and I have genre posters in zebra that will go on the bulletin board to the left of the library  in the order that I teach them!

Our Writing Wall

My Writing Process Zebra posters turned out great! I will be putting up my Six Traits Zebra posters as I teach each trait! I will add to the editor's checklist as I teach different editing pieces to my students!

Magnetic Interactive Writing Process Chart

Yes, this is a cookie sheet I bought at Wal-Mart!!! My students will move their class number (each student is assigned a number each year that goes on all their papers) as they go through each step in the writing process! It is a great way to keep your students organized and accountable, and it helps me keep track of where my students are!!! LOVE this!!!

Magnetic Writing Conferences Chart

Yes, this is another cookie sheet from Wal-Mart!!! The students names or numbers are going to go under the day I will conference with them!!!

Our Clock!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my clock! I have actually sent these clock labels to several of my colleagues, and they are using them in their room too!

Magnetic Bathroom Breaks Chart

This is a white board I bought from Wal-Mart. I added some ribbon and my cute signs to make a chart for my students to keep track of their bathroom breaks! Each student in my class gets 2 bathroom breaks in addition to the whole class breaks we take each day. If they need to go to the bathroom, they just raise a number 1 and I nod yes or no! This is a great classroom management tool! Bathroom breaks are no longer an interruption in my classroom!!!

Treasure Chest (Classroom Incentive)

Each time our class gets a compliment from another teacher, the students get a gem in our treasure chest! When they fill the treasure chest up, they get to choose a class party: pajama day, popcorn, ice cream, etc!! This is an idea I got from Ginger at Ginger Snaps last year! We taught on the same team last year, and I just had to steal borrow this cute idea from her!!! :) 

Group Points

I have 4 groups in my classroom this year. When a group is on task or showing respect, they get to move forward 1 spot. When a group gets to 12, they get to choose a group reward: no shoes day, sit on the crates day, change seats for a day, etc!!

Pencil Dispenser and Pencils Cup

This is one of my projects that I was SOO excited about this year!!! I ordered this straw dispenser online this summer! Each day, I have 38 sharpened pencils (2 for each student) in the dispenser. They can get up to 2 pencils each morning. Each afternoon, the students put their pencils back into the pencil cup. I have one student who sharpens pencils each afternoon and fills the dispenser back up with 38 pencils! It has worked GREAT! The students love going to the pencil sharpener each morning, and I don't have to listen to students sharpening pencils each morning when they could be doing their morning work! AH-MAZ-ING!!!!

I am SOO in LOVE with my room this year! I made all the zebra decor and it is for sale in my Tpt and TN stores!! I cut and laminated everything so I can use it again this year! I hope you enjoyed the tour of my classroom!!!

All of my fun ZEBRA classroom decor is available in my TpT and TN stores! Go check it out! :) 

Currently in September!!

Hello friends!!! I cannot believe it is September already! I am linking up with Farley at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade today to do CURRENTLY! :) So here it is!!!

I absolutely LOVE this month's Currently! It is so colorful and FUN! :)

So, I was looking at my classroom library the other day, and I realized I need some new books!!! I have been browsing on Scholastic for the past few days trying to decide which books to buy! I LOVE the smell of new books!!! :) 

Can you believe it is already time to start grading papers again?!? I still can't believe summer is gone. I guess I am in denial, but I seriously need to pick up one of my NEW felt tip pens and get busy! :) 

Now for my favorites!!!

1) MY PAPERMATE FELT TIP PENS!!! 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these pens!!!

They are AH-MAZING and write so smoothly!!! I grabbed mine at the local Wal-Mart, but they sell them at most office supply stores as well! You should really check them out! They are great for grading papers!

2) MY NEW CLASSROOM SETUP!!!

I think this is the first year that I absolutely LOVE my classroom setup! I am also very proud of everything in it because I MADE almost everything! I will be posting later on today (I know you are only supposed to post once a day, but I am too excited to wait) with LOTS of pictures of the new room!!! :)

3) MY NEW IPAD!!!

Every teacher at my school got a new IPAD to use in the classroom this past week! SO STINKING EXCITING!!! I have been playing around with it, and checking out apps all weekend! I LOVE IT! What are some of your favorite apps that you use in your classroom? I would LOVE some feedback!

Ok, now it is your turn! Head on over to Farley's Oh' Boy Fourth Grade and link up! Just remember the rule of 3!!! :)

HAPPY LABOR DAY!!!