The Wheels on the Bus & a MeCorder GIVEAWAY!

Is it really the end of July?!? Yes! the wheels on those big yellow busses are gonna start turning round & round before we know it! {insert pAnIc aTtAcK- aughhh!!!} Between working on the big gia-normous mess in my classroom & trying to enjoy the last few weeks of summer with my kiddos, I've also been working on some of my back-to-school centers. "The Wheels on the Bus" includes 8 ready-to-go math & literacy centers and more fun activities! Just click the pic to check it out!

I'm super excited to share this fab*u*lous GIVEAWAY with you..... I am thrilled with the chance to review some of  the new 2012 products by Learning Resources. The "MeCorder-Mini Video Recorder" is a nifty lil gadget that allows students to record themselves. And what kid doesn't love to record themself? It is really easy to use-just plug it into your computer's USB port to charge it up. Oh ya! NO batteries! That is a big plus for me! If you want to save a file, it's that easy also-just plug it back into your computer & save the file. I started thinking about some of the ways that you could use the MeCorder in the classroom:

• to practice sight words
• speech/articulation practice {great for students to see mouth formation}
• to record directions at a center
• assessments
• sentence writing assistant {Many students have difficulty writing a complete sentence because they sometimes forget some of the words in their sentence as they are writing. The MeCorder is very helpful to those students-they can record their sentence and then play it back as many times as needed until they have successfully written the entire sentence.}
• to record messages to send home to parents {I think it would be really cool to record a kiddo that has had a super day saying something like, "Hi Mom & Dad! I did a great job in school today!" All you have to do is plug it right into your computer & attach the file in an email to the parents. Imagine how excited that parent will be when they get a compliment plus a lil video clip of their child! I can't wait to try this!!!!}

If you would like to find out more about the MeCorder Mini Video Recorder, just click HERE!

Giveaway has ended! Thanks to everyone that entered!!!
Alright, now for the part you've been anxiously waiting for...Learning Resources has so generously offered to award a lucky First Grade Fever follower a MeCorder of their own. It possible for you to get 6 entries for this giveaway. {Hurry-when July ends, so does the giveaway-Winner will be announced on August 1st!} Just leave a lil comment saying that you do the following:

• Follow my lil Blog-First Grade Fever - 1 ENTRY
• Follow my TpT Shop - 1 ENTRY
• Follow Learning Resources on Twitter - 1 ENTRY
• Like Learning Resources on Facebook - 1 ENTRY
• Follow Learning Resources on Pinterest- 1 ENTRY
• Follow me on Pinterest- 1 ENTRY

That's 6 chances to win! Be sure to include your email address on each entry-good luck!

Winner of the HearALL Assessment Recorder...

A big CONGRATS to Holly! She is the winner of that awesome lil product from Learning Resources-The HearALL Assessment Recorder! Yeah!!! {She also has a fantastic blog-Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade!}A big thank you goes out to everyone for entering the contest and to LEARNING RESOURCES for hosting this awesome giveaway!!! Be sure to check out all of their great classroom products...I just LOVE their stuff!

Bright Chevron & an AMAZING Giveaway!

Well, here it is... The Bright Chevron Classroom Kit- bright teal, green, pink, yellow & purple chevron backgrounds! Thanks so much for all the great comments & emails on my Bright Dots Classroom Kit & requests for a chevron-themed kit. I've just posted the Bright Chevron Classroom Kit in both Traditional Print and D'Nealian Print. Click the pics below to check it out!

example from Tradition Print version

example from D'Nealian Print version

I promise to post the Freebie Word Wall Words with the chevron background very soon!

Now, for this great giveaway from Learning Resources...Have you seen these handy lil things? The HearALL Assessment Recorder is very similar to the Easi-Speak Microphone except it just sits on the table & it can record several students at once. {Click here to read my post on the Easi-Speak Digital Microphone.} Here's the product description from Learning Resouces:

"Hear way beyond! Authentically assess students’ skills and participation in small groups. Designed with 4 omni-directional microphones to capture clear recordings with dramatically reduced background noise. Play back, download and share files (WAV or MP3) with specialists or parents, or upload to portfolios. Records up to 4 hours of audio from reading groups, learning centers, listening and speaking activities, speech therapy and more!"

I was super excited to be able to try this out during my small groups. It is compact and has 4 separate microphones so it really picks up the kiddos voices. I couldn't believe how clear the playback was. I love how I can play it back so the students can hear themselves. After hearing themselves read on the Hear All, they really paid close attention on the next reading! One kiddo said, "I have to be a super reader now because this thing could make me a star!" What a hoot! Hollywood get ready, here she comes!! I feel like I'm not missing any of the students reading. I can focus on one student while it records the others. {Also, very good at keeping those students focused because they know they are being recorded!} Not only is this useful during guided reading groups, but also is very useful at centers and during partner reading to moniter participation & verbal interactions. Oh my! Almost forgot to tell a BIGGIE....NO BATTERIES folks! Now that is a huge plus! Just connect this handy lil thing to your computer & it charges up! You're good to go for 4 hours!

I am looking forward to having my reading groups record various stories that they will be able to listen to later in our listening center. How excited will they be to hear themselves reading the story!!!
SORRY...THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED.
Now for the part you've all been waiting for...How can you win one of these super products for your classroom??? Well, it's super easy...Just leave a lil comment saying that you do the following:

• Follow my lil Blog-First Grade Fever - 1 ENTRY
• Follow my TpT Shop - 1 ENTRY
• Follow Learning Resources on Twitter - 1 ENTRY
• Like Learning Resources on Facebook - 1 ENTRY
• Follow Learning Resources on Pinterest- 1 ENTRY
• Follow me on Pinterest- 1 ENTRY 

That's 6 chances to win! Be sure to include your email address on each entry. Contest ends Thursday, June 28th-winner will be announced on Friday! Good luck!!! Sorry, contest has ended.

Drumroll please! The Winner is....

 The lucky winner of EASI-SPEAK Digital Microphone from LEARNING RESOURCES is.....

I want to give a super big shout-out to everyone that took part in my lil giveaway! Be on the lookout-I've got another super product from Learning Resources to giveaway coming up very soon! Congrats Melissa K.!

Check out this "Easi-Speak" Giveaway!

Have you seen these little things yet? Well if you haven't, you need to check it out...they are AMAZING! I was super excited when LEARNING RESOURCES asked me to try out their product.

Fun MP3 recorder in the shape of a microphone invites students to talk!

 What is it??? Here's the product description from the Learning Resources website:
Fun-and-easy wireless recorder encourages even reluctant students to speak up! Just one button to record, then simply play back and listen (up to 4 hours of audio). Extended uses across the curriculum—oral language, fluency, phonics, speech therapy, intervention, math facts, podcasts and more. Built-in USB to charge via your computer and download (PC, Mac). Upload student-created files (WAV or MP3) to digital portfolios for authentic assessment, or share with other educators or parents. Integrated speaker offers quality playback for instant self-assessment.

My 8-year old couldn't wait for me to get it out of the box!

Let me just start by asking....What kid doesn't love to get their hands on a microphone? And this EASI-SPEAK USB RECORDER is just the perfect size for little hands. My first graders could not wait for their turn to "read with the microphone"-they did not want to put this nifty little thing down! {I think that it makes them feel like a famous rock star! lol} I was very curious to see how some of my shy/reluctant readers would feel about using the EASI-SPEAK. Amazing!!! Using the microphone actually made some of those kiddos feel a more comfortable reading aloud. I love that I can play it back & really hear how they read. I just hate to keep asking my firsties to read louder when I know that they are uncomfortable doing so....thank you EASI-SPEAK!!!! Problem solved!
And do you have those kiddos that are super readers, but get a little careless? With the EASI-SPEAK, those students seemed to be instantly challenged to sit up tall & show off their best reading. When one little guy listened to himself read he said, "Dang! I used some good expression in my voice!" Too cute! I love how easy it is for them to play back/listen to themselves & self-assess their reading.

Now, as a teacher you know that there are bazillions of products out there that are really cool, but OMigosh are they complicated! Some are not even worth bothering with....not EASI-SPEAK! This has got to be the easiest thing ever to use...(guess that's why they named it "Easi-Speak"! Ha ha!) Seriously, all I did was plug it straight into my USB port on my computer to charge it up. Yep! That's right...NO BATTERIES or CORDS!!! Woo Hoo!

The possiblilities are endless...I'm planning to use this as part of a digital portfolio for my first graders next year. It will be super easy to record a reading sample from each student at the beginning, middle & end of the year. It's great for sharing student progress with parents & other teachers also. Another use... I'm going to use the EASI-SPEAK to record some of our favorite stories for students to listen to at the reading center. They're gonna be so surprised to hear my voice when they put those headphones on!

Want to learn more about this FAB-U-LOUS product?? Just click here-LEARNING RESOURCES EASI-SPEAK USB RECORDER or check out these links also:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LearningResourcesInc
 http://pinterest.com/learninghandson/

 Contest has ended...
Want to WIN one these nifty products for your classroom? Here's the scoop on the GIVEAWAY...
Just leave a lil comment saying that you do the following:

• Follow my lil Blog-First Grade Fever - 1 ENTRY
• Follow my TpT Shop - 1 ENTRY
• Follow Learning Resources on Twitter - 1 ENTRY
• Like Learning Resources on Facebook - 1 ENTRY
• Follow Learning Resources on Pinterest- 1 ENTRY
• BONUS ENTRY: Leave a lil comment telling us that you would love to have the Easi-Speak for your classroom!

That's 6 chances to win! Be sure to include your email address on each entry. Contest end Sunday, June 10th-winner will be announced on Monday! Good luck!!! CONTEST HAS ENDED

Ahhhh...Summertime is HERE!!! & a Giveaway

Oh the sweet smell of summertime...no schedules, no lesson plans, no alarm clocks {well, except for my little guys who seem to wake up earlier in the summer than they do during the school year!} Did you notice, I didn't say "no blogging"? I just can't seem to get enough of this blogging stuff-even if it is summertime! I've made so many wonderful friends through the blogging world that it would be impossible for me to take a summer break from that too! Much love to all my "bloggin' buddies"!!! And speaking of my Bloggin' Buds...a bunch of us have teamed up with the fabulous Katie King from Queen of the First Grade Jungle. She is hosting a SUPER HUGE GIVEAWAY with some Fab-U-Lous prizes.

I will be giving away my "Wild About School" jungle unit {perfect for back-to-school.} Be sure to head on over to Katie's blog to check out the other amazing prizes from Rachelle, Natalie, Michelle, Reagan, Jodi, Hadar & Jena! {Congrats Katie on reaching 1000 followers!}

Well I've been so eager for the summer and... now it's here and I just took a look at my "Summer To-Do" list...AUGH!!!!!!! It is sooooo stinkin' long! How did that happen??? Last year I decided to teach summer school & guess what? Yep, nothing was crossed off of my "2011 Summer To-Do List" so all of those things have been tacked onto my list for this summer! I'm pretty excited to say that we got started on a few of those projects around the house this weekend...and I'm starting to work on some of those unit requests that I've promised to finish up over the summer. I'm also hoping for a little vacation...still searching for the perfect spot though. Any ideas??? What kind of little vacation trips do you have planned for this summer?

And the WINNERS are...

Congratulations to the winners of our Easter Giveaway-Charlotte and Amber! They are the lucky winners of both of these great spring products. Just click on the pics below if you would like to check out these units!


Created by: Katie King-Queen of the First Grade Jungle





By: Christie Berlener-First Grade Fever

Thank you soooo much to everyone for playing along! We love our bloggin' friends!



It's an EASTER GIVEAWAY!

WooHoo! "Hoppy Days" are here! Easter break is finally here & it's time for a GIVEAWAY! Oh, I'm super excited about this one! I'm teamin' up with the fabulous Katie King {aka: Queen of the First Grade Jungle} to giveaway 2 great spring products: "Growin' Things-A Unit on Plants" & "Spring Literacy & Math Centers." Giveaway has ended-Thanks for playing along!

We've made it super easy -this is all you have to do to enter:

Entry #1-FOLLOW our BLOGS

First Grade Fever & Queen of the First Grade Jungle

AND

Entry #2- FOLLOW us on TpT!!!

Click to follow First Grade Fever on TpT!

Click to follow Katie King-Queen of the First Grade Jungle on TpT!

 Okay! It's that easy-Just leave your comments below telling us that you do both!

Two lucky winners will get BOTH products!

Contest ends Easter Sunday at 7pm!!! (central time)

Contest has ended-thanks!

Ready...Set...Get HOPPIN!

Hoppy Easter everyone!

Sharin' the "LOVE" & Presidents Day Fun!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blogging friends! I am soooo excited because a little bit ago I got "the call"....SNOW DAY!!! WooHoo! I'm not gonna lie-I feel like I'm 8 years old again! I can stay up late...sleep in! {Well, until my kids wake me up anyway! lol} Just why do kids wake up earlier on snow days than on school days?

What do you get when you mix the 100th day, Valentine's Day & Tooth Fairies? ..the February Frenzy! OMIgoodness!  almost forgot the presidents! Does anyone else feel like there is a lot to fit into February? Whew! {snow day...snow day...snow day....ahhhhh!}

I've had lots of requests for more non-fiction books, so I put one together for Presidents Day. I just got this lil unit posted yesterday-if you would like to see more, just click on the pic!

And...I'm "sharin' the love" today {to celebrate Valentine's Day!} I'm sharing this lil mini-unit with the first 5 people to give me a lil "Share-the-Love Shout-Out" today! {Don't forget to include your email address so I can send it to ya!} Thanks for the great "Share the Love" shout-outs to all you night owls & early birds! I thought I was the only one that was crazy motivated & blogged during the middle of the night! lol Wish I could share my snow day with everyone too! :)

Happy Valentines Day!!!

It's Time for a Celebration Giveaway!

It's time to celebrate over 300 AmAzInG bloggers!!! You guys are awesome!!! I really REALLY LOVE all of the great connections that are being made through the blogging community. It's just incredible to see how everyone shares ideas and has such a passion for teaching! Yeah for teachers!!! Well, with Halloween behind us, I am super-duper excited to start my owl unit with my firsties. One of my absolute favorite books is "Owl Babies" by Martin Waddell. I have used this book with kiddos in preK all the way up to 2nd grade and....yep! they ALL LoVeD it! Those baby owls are so darn cute, especially that little Bill! I've been working to put together a bunch of owl activities in my new unit & should have this ready by the weekend-just in time for my GIVEAWAY!

Ok, so here's the scoop...
You can have up to 5 chances to win: Sorry, contest has ended. Thanks!

1. follow my blog
2. follow my Teachers Pay Teachers shop
3. follow my Teachers Notebook shop
4. blog about this giveaway (or tell a friend if you don't have a blog)
5. add me to your blogroll

Just leave me a comment for each of these things (include your email please!) and 3 winners will be chosen using the random number generator. Hurry-contest starts now & ends Sunday (Nov 6th) at 12am. Ready...set...GO!!!

And the Winner is...!

Super big thanks to EVERYONE who entered my giveaway!!! I love reading all of your comments! Now it's time to announce the big winner of  "Rhyme Time Word Family Fun!"

 Everybody cross your fingers and toes! Could I have a drumroll please? And the WINNER is.....

Congrats Katie! Hope you and your kiddos enjoy some silly Rhyme Time Fun! Remember, all my products are still on sale thru August 4th at both my shops. Teachers Pay Teachers is also offering an additional 10% off  (just enter the code B 1 T 1 S at checkout!) What a deal!!! Thanks again to all my blogging friends for playing.

Be sure to check back tomorrow... I'm just about finished with my reproducible Word Family book. I'll be posting this must-have as a FREEBIE!!!

                                                   

Celebratin' 100 Followers GIVEAWAY and sale!!!

OMiGoshhhh!!! You guys are soooo awesome! I'm thrilled to have found over 100 AmaZiNg people who share the same passion for teaching! This calls for a CELEBRATION!!!! Everything in my TEACHERS NOTEBOOK shop & TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS store will be on sale until August 4th. Teachers Pay Teachers is also offering an additional 10% off Aug 1st-4th...just enter the code: B 1 T 1 S  at checkout.

Now for the giveaway...RHYME TIME WORD FAMILY FUN!

 Here's how you can win...

1. Follow my blog (if your not already a follower)

2. Follow my Teachers Notebook shop or Teachers Pay Teachers store (or both!)

3. Grab my button & blog about my giveaway (if you have a blog) If you don't have a blog, just tell another teacher about my blog! :)

4. Leave me a comment telling me "I've done it & I'm ready to WIN!" 

That's it - pretty easy! Contest runs from now until Wednesday, August 3rd at 6:00pm Central time. (Sorry contest has ended...Congrats to Katie!) The winner will be announced that evening! Good luck!!!

A Back-to-School Giveaway EVERYONE can Win!

Hey teachin' friends! I'm hosting a giveaway that you just can't beat... Sorry! Contest ended August 1st! Wish I could keep making these but it's time for me to get ready for back to school. Check my blog for lots of other freebies!) I just finished making up these cute back-to-school nameplates and postcard/ poster! I also remade my Goody Bag note that I give to each of my students at Back-to-School night. I wanted something that kinda matched up with my new door canopy/jungle theme, so check it out!!!! I am soooo lovin' the zebra print-can't get enough!!!

This one is the postcard that I will be mailing to my students and I also made it in a larger size for a poster at my door. I will personalize it with your name and grade!

What kiddo wouldn't feel like the king or queen of the jungle with these nameplates on their desk!?!

I fill a colored paper lunch sack with "goodies" from this poem and have it waiting for my students when they come in the room at Back-to-School night. They LOVE it! {who doesn't love a freebie!?!}

Anyway, back to the details of this giveaway...it's really simple, just do these 3 things and YOU ARE A WINNER!!!

1. Become a follower of my blog (if you aren't already).
2. Give a quick mention of this giveaway on your blog (be sure to include a link back my blog).
3. Come back to my blog and leave a comment below telling me you've done both those things and (here's an important part)...tell me what name and grade you would like me to personalize your poster/postcard with and leave your email for me to send you your personalized files.

That's it!!! Pretty simple huh? But you have to hurry cuz I will be offering this giveaway from now only until August 1, 2011. (That's when I can get back into my classroom-sooOOO excited!) So, tell your friends-let's see how many winners we can get in a week!

READY, SET, GO!!!!!!