The 3 Branches of Government in 3D!!

Hey guys! Sorry I have been MIA lately! I have been SOO busy!!! I have missed blogging!!! 

I have a SUPER FUN craft today for you to make up for my absence! We recently studied the government and how it was structured after the Revolutionary War. I have always liked teaching the 3 branches of government, but this year it was way more fun for my students this year! Take a look at the FUN craft my students made to help them remember the jobs of each branch of our US government!

It was super fun and super easy!! We took brown lunch bags I purchased at my local Wal-Mart, and the students wrote US Government on the front. These are the "tree trunks". Then, each student cut out 3 green cloud looking pieces from construction paper to be the "leaves" or "branches". I teach 4th grade, so my students had to write a description of each branch of government (1 per piece-Judicial, Executive, Legislative). If you are not sure your students can handle taking the notes, then you could definitely type them up and have the students cut them out and glue them to their "branches/leaves". :) They glued their "branches" to their bags and VUALA!! You have a 3D graphic organizer! My kids LOVED this craft! Next year, I think I am going to do one branch of government per day and give my students some type of souvenir to put in their bag to help them remember that branch! 

I hope some of you can use this in your classroom! :) 

Also, tomorrow is the SUPER SALE over at TpT! My store will be 20% off with an extra 8% off from TpT! Just use the code SUPER at checkout! :) 

(Thanks Ashley Hughes for the ADORABLE button!!)

Just click on the button above to head on over to my store to shop! :) 

HAPPY WEEKEND friends! It feels GOOD to be back!! :) 

Fancy Free in 4th - Product Swap!!

Yay! It is that time again!! Jessica Stanford from Mrs. Stanford's Class is hosting the amazing Product Swap again! This time, I am paired up with the amazing Layla from Fancy Free in 4th!! She has one amazing blogger that you should definitely check out!! She is a 4th grade teacher from Southern California, and she shares lots of great information and fun teaching ideas on her blog!!!

So, today, I am going to tell you about one of Layla's awesome products! It is called A Homonym a Day, and I love it!! I promise you will too! :) 

First, she has some awesome posters that describe homographs and homophones. They are so easy to understand and look great hanging in the classroom!!

Next, their is a great graphic organizer that shows students how homographs and homophones are both homonyms! It is an easy way for students to understand this concept, and it is super awesome! :) 

Also included are some graphic organizers that help students differentiate between different homophones and homographs! 102 to be exact! :) 

Here are some pictures of some that we are starting in my classroom! :) 

Please head on over to Layla's awesome blog Fancy Free in 4th!

iPad mini, Kindle Fire HD, or Nook HD?!?

Check this out! Head on over to Teacher's Notebook to enter to win your choice of an iPad mini, a Kindle Fire HD, or a Nook HD!!! How sweet is that?!? Just click the picture below to go enter!! :) 

Quietest Pencil Sharpener....

As a teacher, I know that sometimes the loud hum of a pencil sharpener can drive you crazy! Can I get an AMEN? Well, I was sent this little bad boy this past summer, and I LOVE IT!!! I was asked to review this sharpener on my blog, and so I am going to be COMPLETELY honest with you! First, let me show you some pictures of this adorable pencil sharpener!

Look how cute it is!! It also comes in red, black, and green!!

It is very small and attaches to the counter so easily!!

Here I am using the sharpener to give you another view of it!!

I was very pleased with how well the shavings STAY IN the little tray! I hate pulling the tray out of pencil sharpeners and the shavings going everywhere!! The shavings stay in this tray friends!! :) 

Isn't it cute?!? Guys, I am being serious when I tell you, I love this pencil sharpener! It is so easy for my students to use, and it is so quiet. I don't mind at all letting my students sharpen their pencils because I can't hear it! :) To prove how quiet it is, here is a little video my niece took of me sharpening a pencil. 

Now do you believe me?!? :) 

Go check out this amazing pencil sharpener friends! Just click the picture below! You will not be disappointed!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS!!!

Here are my 2 resolutions for 2013!!

1) Personal: I want to start eating healthier and be more active! I am not going to set any weight loss goals this year like I have in the past!! I just want to be healthier!! :) 

2) Blogging: I want to blog at least 2 times each week!! 

What are your resolutions for 2013?? 

Link up with The Teacher's Cauldron by clicking on the picture above! :)