{FREEBIE} Totally Transformed: Pez Dispensers {Updated}

Last summer I introduced a mini-series on my blog where I took everyday objects and totally transformed them. I really need to get back to this series this year because I absolutely loved it! 

Today I am throwing it back to one of my previously transformed items and adding in a corresponding freebie worksheet for you! Be sure to read all the way to the bottom to grab the freebie.

One of my favorite resources to use in my kindergarten classroom are CVC sliders. They really help isolate each sound and get across the blending action. I use all kinds of sliders but sometimes the paper ones just don't add that wow factor to hook my learners. In order to solve that problem, cue the transformation...

That's right! Pez Dispensers are my favorite way to use CVC sliders in the classroom! I can easily hook my learners by introducing different holiday themes or favorite movie characters.  I'm thinking this year these Minion themed dispensers would be a huge hit after the summer movie success! What little one would not be rushing to complete this center activity if they got to play with these adorable Minions? 

(Source)

These are the easiest to put together and don't require spending a ton of money on ink and lamination. These are perfect for the kinestetic learner and you never have to worry about mixing up any pieces during a center activity. I always ask for Pez Dispenser donations from parents and purchase on after holiday clearance when I can get them for 25 cents or less. Here are the steps on how I made my CVC sliders. 

The words can easily be changed out whenever you want to mix it up. You can ever add the picture to the other side of the slider if you want to make it self correcting. This shows your students how you can make anything from their real lives into a learning experience. However, most of all, it makes learning FUN which is a must in my kindergarten classroom! 

I created this quick little freebie for you all that corresponds with the Pez Dispenser CVC sliders that would be perfect to use as a literacy center, during guided reading, or as a fast finisher drawer. 

To download this freebie, just click on the picture below. 

The kids slide the Pez sliders out one letter at a time and write one letter per box. After blending the sounds together, they illustrate the word in the circle. 

I really hope you find this idea useful as it is a huge fan favorite in my classroom and I know it will be with yours as well! If you do re-create these, I'd love to see how you use them in your classroom! Be sure to tag me on instagram so I can see what you created!

Dolch Word Mini Book Companion Freebie

Sometimes you stumble upon a product that makes your teaching a breeze! This year, I found just that in a FREEBIE no less! 

A huge focus in my classroom this year was on sight word recognition. I am not sure what the benchmark is for your district, but mine is 75 for kindergarten. With so little time to master all those words, one product was a lifesaver! 

All year my students were obsessed with their dolch word mini books created by Sarah from A Sunny Day in First Grade. 

They would constantly review their words and help coach their peers so they could earn their stickers and move up to the next level book. Sarah's product ranges from pre-primer to third grade words so differentiation was a breeze!

I am a big believer in parent collaboration in education so I wanted to send home weekly progress sheets with the students listing words to review. Out of necessity, I created an assessment sheet that corresponds exactly with Sarah's freebie, even down to the clip art!

It was an effortless transition for the parents, and they loved being able to see at a glance what words to practice. By including the date, you can easily see how students are progressing week to week.

After using the product in my classroom all year, I reached out to Sarah asking if I could share my assessment component and she graciously agreed. I just love this teacher collaboration network!

If you are interested in the two products, you can click on the links below to head to our TpT stores. 

Sarah's Dolch Word Mini Book Freebie

My Dolch Word Mini Book Assessent Freebie

Hope they are as useful for you as they were for me!

How Did It Get To Be Currently October?

This whole time passing crazy fast thing has got to stop! It feels like we just started school yesterday and here we are already in the holiday countdown craze! I have been feeling extra reflective lately and I created a little linky party reflecting on my favorites of the previous month. I'd love it if you linked up too! Click the picture below to check it out! 

Farley never disappoints! This October currently is cuter than ever! Here is how my October is starting off so far...Stay tuned for a special treat at the end! 

The first two go hand in hand. Thursday nights are the best! I can thank my IG buddies for getting me hooked on Shonda shows! This new one has totally got me captivated! I think it might be my favorite yet! 

I have never gotten the chance to plan for all these fun themed events but I am having a blast! It makes learning so much more engaging and provides an endless supply of memories! I know the kids will love what I have in store for next week thanks to some amazing teachers! 

Is it just me or has the kid's crazy level been turned up to high power this week? We changed the calendar to October and boom: instant crazy! It's like they can already sense the sugar coursing through their veins! Thank goodness Halloween falls on a Friday this year!

Organization has been my main goal this year. I am determined to have a system in place for everything. If only I had a personal assistant who could do all the dirty work for me and I could just walk in and everything would magically be in its place! There is just not enough time in the day to stay on top of the paperwork and I refuse to stay at school until 7pm every night! 

Finally, here is a little treat for you all. It's a flashback freebie that many of you might not have had a chance to see before. You can enjoy these Halloween ten frame posters than help meet those CCSS! 

Made it in the top 100 on the Currently! Nailed it!

1,000 Follower Giveaway!

Pinch me! I must be dreaming! I never would have imagined 1,000 followers would have been possible when starting this blog of mine. I just wanted to share some fun creations and document my journey of becoming a teacher. Now, I have gained 1,000 new friends and countless ideas to become the best teacher I can be. I truly thank each and every one of you for making my world brighter! 

I have always been a big believer in paying it forward. Whether it be freebies, fonts, or giveaways, I love spreading joy to others. Today, I am here to celebrate 1,000 followers on Bloglovin' with a grand giveaway! There is a first, second and third place prize pack to win. However...the best part? Everyone who enters wins a mystery prize pack! Keep on reading all the way to the bottom of the post to find out more!

 Frames by The 3am Teacher

Fonts by The Polished Teacher (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD)

Here we have the first place prize winner! 7 fantastic teacher resources to make planning a breeze and an amazing Jamberry prize pack to keep your fingers looking fashionable!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Next, we have the second place prize pack. Six wonderful resources to use in the classroom and a sheet of nail wraps to make the job more glamorous! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Then we have the third place prize pack. A winner's choice bundle from three superb ladies so you can get exactly what you need for your classroom! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lastly, we have the mystery prize pack.

Clipart by MyCuteGraphics

 What will be inside? Well you will just have to wait and see! All you have to do to receive the mystery prize pack is leave a comment below with the name you follow my blog under and your e-mail address. Next Sunday, March 23rd, the mystery prize pack will magically show up in your inbox. Easy as that! 

Now what are you waiting for? Get entering to win those prize packs before it is too late! 

Report From The Substitute (Freebie)

I have been doing a lot of subbing lately. I have been subbing in every grade level and at multiple schools. One common thread of all my subbing experiences is the lack of a report to fill out for the teacher. Some schools may have a form to fill out for the office but how soon and how often do those forms truly make it back to the classroom teacher?

Teachers need to know the next morning what happened when the sub was in. Did all the plans get completed? Were there any major behaviors to be aware of? Any parent notes you need to know about? The possibilities are endless.

Sure, a sub might be able to snag a piece of computer paper and jot down a note or two at the end of the day. But what if a form was left behind by the sub with all the important info in one place? It would make teaching so much easier right? As teachers, it's the little things that make a world of difference!

As a substitute, imagine leaving behind a professional looking form with all the notes in one place. It would definitely make a lasting impression and make you more likely to be called back to sub again. That surely is a win win situation for both you and the classroom teacher!

I whipped up this adorable freebie (can easily be printed in black and white) for all the subs and classroom teachers out there. Just click the picture below to download.

It has places to list the children who were really superstars and those who needed extra reminders to get through the day. A section is included for students who were absent and any parent notes received. There is a large section on the lesson plan because it is important to know if the plans were completed or not. There is a section to list the highlights and challenges of the day in further detail. Finally, there is an other notes section. As a sub, this can be a place to leave your contact information.

So subs, take it with you to your next job and really impress the teacher. You classroom teachers, leave a copy for your sub to fill out and you will be sure to have all the information you need from the previous day.

If you have any other forms you would like to see me create as freebies, let me know in the comments below. I would be more than happy to create some for my fabulous followers!

Five for Fluday

Did you see what I did there with the title? Unfortunately, no, this is not a typo (although I wish it was)! I seem to have come down with some sort of flu like symptoms. Being a newbie in the schools apparently has finally caught up with me. I never was sick during student teaching. However, this semester it has all caught up with me. As my brain is clearly foggy, it is no surprise that I am a day late for the Five for Friday party. On the plus side, I am still ahead of that one time I linked up on a Monday. Thanks for hosting a party where I won't have to worry about sharing any germs! 

The Flu! This is how I am feeling about it...

#theresasomeecardforeverything 

#thefluwontkeepmefromblogging

This snow day was my saving grace this week cancelling college classes and the elementary school! 

#snowdaysaremysavinggrace

#buttoomanymakemestircrazy

I started reading Divergent on my day off. Have you read it? I am hooked so far! 

#fillingmyhungergamesvoid

#icouldneverbedauntless

I am kind of addicted to Grey's Anatomy. Thanks Netflix! 

 #fourseasonsin4days

#icouldneverbeasurgeon

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Want two fun freebies to help you celebrate?

#tbtfreebiestyle

#freebiesmakemyhearthappy

Minimal text, lots of photos, and plenty of hashtags make for the perfect combo for a sick blogger! See you next week! Hope you are all staying healthy!

Currently January and a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Happy 2014! Did you stay awake til Midnight? I can't seem to get tired until 1am anymore so I was surely awake. It is a slight problem seeing as I have to be up in the wee hours of the morning for school tomorrow. If you have another week of vacation don't remind me how lucky you are! 

Today I am linking up with the ever fabulous Farley from Oh Boy 4th Grade for the monthly Currently linky party. If you have never linked up, you better head on over. It's the best party in town!

Listening: My favorite part of vacation is watching The Price is Right. I grew up watching this show with my grandma and it brings back so many good memories. I learned I truly have no number sense when it comes to guessing prices however!

Loving: Oh my goodness! Where has Netflix been all my life! Best part: no commercials! This is life changing! If you haven't watched Scandal, go watch it on Netflix. You won't be sorry! Just be sure you have lots of spare time because you won't be able to stop watching!

Thinking: We had Chinese food last night for New Year's Eve and those leftovers are calling my name! Surely a eating healthy resolution can't start today because all that delicious food can't go to waste!

Wanting: There is a huge storm heading to the East Coast. Is it too much to ask for a snow day or two? Who decided it was a good idea to go back on Thursday anyway? Not me that's for sure! I just want to stay in my PJ's and drink hot cocoa watching the snow fall! What are some snow day rituals? Share in the comments below!

Needing: My room is kind of a hot mess. I have this shopping problem and then the bags just keep piling up no matter how fast I put them away. My closet is literally overflowing. I am going on strike on 2014. That just means no shopping because clearly I have no willpower against the Dollar Spot!

Memory: I absolutely loved using the elf on the shelf in the classroom this year. The kids were memorized with the elf! Seeing their eyes open wide every morning was truly a magical experience. If you didn't try the elf on the shelf this year, see if you can find it on clearance and save for next year. Your kids will thank you for it!

If you missed my freebie from earlier this week, click the picture to download it. 

You can hopefully use it when you get back to school to document those resolutions.

Well, I am off to eat some leftovers, watch some Netflix, and pray for a snow day! Have a wonderful day! If you go back tomorrow, I feel your pain!

{FREEBIE} Inching My Way Into The New Year

265 Days

or

8 months and 20 days

(If you prefer to think that way).

That would be the insanely long amount of time that I have neglected to share an academic freebie with you all. Shame on me!

It is a wonder that I made it onto the nice list this Christmas because I for sure would have put myself on the naughty list.

Well this freebie dry spell is not going to last in 2014, I will make sure of that! I am kicking off 2014 a step ahead of time. Today I am offering a new year's resolution freebie that hopefully you can use when you get back from break. 

(Click either image to download)

Feel free to pin this freebie!

This is a freebie used for children to write a resolution and then three steps (inch by inch) they will take to make that resolution a reality. I tried to really carry through that caterpillar theme! Thanks for the adorable clip art Krista!

It was great to be able to express myself creatively again. I have thoroughly missed that outlet! I may have downloaded hundreds of new clip art files today that inspired other ideas for freebies. I can't wait to share more with you all! 

2014 will be my year of giving back to all my fabulous followers. I have big plans to make more resources to share. Most importantly, shared more frequently! Everything I create will be free so if you are not following my blog you are going to miss out!

Hope you are all enjoying your vacation!

It's time for a little #TBT

One of my favorite bloggers, the one and only Cara Carroll from The First Grade Parade, is having a fun linky party. When Cara hosts a linky party, you better believe I am jumping on the chance to link up with her! It's time for a little #TBT

The concept is really simple! Dig back into the blogging archives and re-post an older post to reflect upon. Even though I have been blogging for less than a year, I sure have learned a lot in that short amount of time!

Today, I am sharing a post from December. I have quite a lot more followers now than I did then so I thought I might share a fun detail of my blogging journey that many of you might not even know about! Enjoy!

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Originally posted on December 28th, 2012

In case you are confused by the new name, I decided to start fresh with a new name for the new year. Pixy Stix and Teacher Tricks was the old name. The Polished Teacher is the new name. Out with the old, in with the new!
 

In order to celebrate this change, I have some goodies to share with my fabulous readers!

I have been having too much fun making fonts! They seriously are addicting! If you have an iPad, you need to download iFontmaker ASAP! It is worth every penny!

You can never have too many fonts in your collection, so I thought I would share them with you all! Here are 12 Free Fonts. A dozen goodies just for you! All I ask is that you provide either a:

link to my blog 

thepolishedteacher.blogspot.com

or my blog button 

to your product to give me credit. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Onto the fonts! 

Click on each image to download

Happy New Year Folks! 

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So what about you? Did you know my old blog name was Pixy Stix and Teacher Tricks? You may also notice that all my fonts start with PS. The PS stood for Pixy Stix. So there you go! A random tidbit of info from my early blogging days! I think that The Polished Teacher suits me better so I'm glad I made the switch!

I can only imagine what old post I can find to link up next week! It is going to be a doozy I'm sure of it! However this Throwback Thursday leads up nicely to my 1 year blogiversary so thanks so much Cara for hosting!