Big News, people!

It's official! I have a TPT store!

It is fully stocked [with one item!]

SO, in celebration--> You can get a bonus entry in my giveaway by following my TPT store! Let's get that followers number above 0! This probably sounds SO lame to the people who have stores and sell stuff and make actual money from it. Hopefully I'll get there!

My giveaway that is going on is for $25 to Teachers Pay Teachers! I know I'd love to win that, so hopefully you do, too! GO ENTER! There are less than 15 entries right now. I'm no mathematician [welll, kinda], but your odds are pretty good, right!?

Sorry I'm hopping all over the place in this post!

Back to my freebie! The item I just posted is a set of task cards for third graders to practice multiplication and division skills. Each card hits on a different skill or application of a skill. I would SUPER DOOPER appreciate it if you lovely followers of mine could go take a look at it, even if you don't plan on using it. Just because it's my first document, I'd really benefit from feedback about the description, the document itself, etc. I know we are all crazy busy, but if you have a sec I'd totally appreciate it!!

The freebie includes 10 cards and a recording sheet.

a preview of one of ten cards

***ANOTHER QUESTION: How do you make the cute little graphics so that people can kind of preview your freebie. Ya know, with like tiny images of the pages?

So to summarize this post [oh learning focused strategies, how you've taken over my life!]
1. Check out my freebie at my TPT store by clicking HERE!
2. Enter my give away by clicking HERE. It ends on Sunday!
3. Earn a bonus entry by following my TPT store & commenting about it!

Two Posts in a Day.. Sorry, but....

I am furious!

My hometown and surrounding area news announced yesterday that they are closing 49 Catholic school after the end of this school year. 44 elementary schools + 5 high schools = FORTY NINE SCHOOLS.

I understand that money is involved, and I won't pretend that I am fully educated on this subject. However, I just don't get it. My heart breaks for the thousands of students who are being uprooted. For the parents who will have to drive an hour to the next closest Catholic school to bring their children. In some cases, schools with highly successful academics, sports, programs, etc. are being closed, while schools without these programs, or even gyms, remain open. What? Again, I really don't know. If you have the answers, speak up!

What about the students? Class sizes at the other schools will be through the roof. The schools that I've visited don't have extra space for new classrooms to accomodate new classrooms/homerooms.
What about the teachers? So many lost jobs, when it is already close to impossible to find one.
What about the families? Will they be forced to public school their kids if their personal circumstances don't allow a switch for next year?

[[[I'll add that I have been public schooled since first grade, so this doesn't affect me directly. My dad's elementary school and high school were both on the closed list.]]]

END OF RANT! Sorry, I needed to vent to a crowd who will at least possibly kind of maybe feel my frustration!

Link up with Farley for her January currently! There's a giveaway tied into this one!

& don't forget to enter my giveaway for 25 bucks to TpT!

A VERY EXCITING POST! [GIVEAWAY below!]

Hey guys. It's Sunday. Whomppp whompppp. Anyone watch SNL with Rachel Dratch as Debbie Downer. Seriously gets me every time. That, and anything with Kristen Wiig. [why are there two "i" in her last name?] I wish SNL was still funny.

OH GOODNESS. This is not starting off very exciting!

I bring you two things, my faithful friends!

1. A freebie!
2. My 50 follower GIVEAWAY!

Let's go back to number one, my freebie. Do any of you use the Making Meaning program in your classroom? In my classroom, we use it as a supplement. It basically teaches skills through trade book read alouds and a response book. [which is why I use it as a supplement] This is only my first year using it, and I'm no expert, but I do LOVE the literature.

Which brings me to my freebie. We just finished up inferences about a character and how a character can change in a story.

The text used is Julius: Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes. I LOVE him, and I LOVE Lilly! So I whipped up a graphic organizer to go along with the text to extend it a bit. Then, the students needed to write a response to the text using the graphic organizer. Anyway, no clue if you can use it or not. But I made it, so I'll share!

Julius Go

QUESTION: IS THIS THE BEST WAY TO SHARE FREEBIES? IF NOT, WILL SOMEONE LET ME KNOW! I DON'T WANT MY MORE USEFUL FREEBIES TO BE A PAIN TO GET TO IN THE FUTURE!

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Onto my second reason for posting! Maybe I should have made this into its own post, but oh well. So I was thinking about what kind of giveaway to do. I decided on...

$25 to Teachers Pay Teachers

And here is why: ::gasp:: I've never made a purchase from TPT, and if I won a giveaway for it, it would totally give me a jump start. So, if you're out there and haven't purchased anything from there either, here's your chance to get started! And even if you're a regular on TpT [as the hipsters call it], 25 bucks is useful, right?

Here's how to enter!

1. Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you follow my blog! [include your email/blog link!]
2. Blog about my giveaway & leave a comment that you did just that! [include your email/blog link!]

You saw the beginnings of a numbered list, and thought there'd be multiple ways to enter, right? Nope, just those two! Feel free to just follow me, just blog about the giveaway, both, or neither. I'm not the pushy type!

***Giveaway ends on Sunday [January 15th] at 5pm!***

[this is because the Ravens will be playing and the boyfriend won't be around to entertain me. perfect opportunity to choose a winner using the random number thingy!]

I'm being honest, I know I'm not the blogger that puts out the most freebies, or leaves the most comments, or uses the most wit, but I TRULY appreciate the 57 [at time of print] of you that follow my blog, leave encouraging comments, etc. They have kept me going through this rough year!

AwarrddzZzZzZ

I'm feeling antsy. Can't bring myself to go to bed, even though its approaching 11pm.

Cranky Meg tomorrow.
Extra large coffee Meg tomorrow.

On another note, I had a random 2 hour delay today. Trust me, Garfield here isn't complaining. [side bar-- the BF calls me this because I love lasagna and sleep, and I hate Mondays. I assume it's a term of endearment.] There was seriously a dusting of snow on the ground when I crawled out of bed to answer my phone & look out the window. I mean, I know I live about a half an hour north of where I teach, but I can't imagine it being much worse there. Anyway, I showered, got ready, & went to school at regular time to be productive. Haha, yeah right. I rolled over and reset the alarm. [Reminder: Garfield] Got to work later on and the parking lot was full. I guess most of my colleagues were feeling ambitious. I justify this by staying at work later than most every day!

I'm WAY off track here! I NEED to respond to the awards I've been given. I need to express that this has been a great week for me in the world that is blogging. I've surpassed 50 follows & received my first awards! At first, I was all "whatevvvv" about having followers. But recently, I've been so flattered that people are following me. I hope that in the future [near future, I have a few 3 day weekends coming up], that I can post materials that I've been making. I hope that others can benefit from my materials like I benefit from theirs. Oh shucks, I'm getting all sentimental. Let's get on with it!

1. Show your appreciation to the blogger who nominated you by linking back to their blog.

I was given this award by Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher and Chrissy at Buzzing with Ms. B! Click their blog names to venture over. Just from reading their blogs, I feel like I know them! I feel like Amber and I have similar personalities/teaching styles. And Chrissy makes me laugh with every post. Thanks for being great, ladies!

2. Nominate five baby blogs of 200 followers or less by posting a comment on their blog.

I know this award made its way around blog world. I noticed a ton of people receiving it when I first started [when I had like 3 followers, which were probably following me by accident]. So if my nominees have already gotten it & responded to it, you won't hurt my feelings if you don't post it, scouts honor! [& Some of you might have a little more than 200 followers. I guess all the blogs I follow are very popular already!] If you haven't already, check them out!

Fabulous in Fourth

3. Post the award on your blog.

It's up there fool.

4. Encourage others to check out these blogs.

I'm too tired to encourage. Look at those cutie pie buttons/blog names How can you resist!

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PHEW. Maybe this was a little ambitious for an 11pm post. But I tread on!

Next, I was given this...

1. Thank the person who presented the award to you and link back to them.

Thank you SO much Elisabeth at Twins, Teaching, and Tacos. Now, I don't have twins, but I love teaching and tacos. It was actually taco day at lunch. I give a fist pump when the announcements say the following lunch  items: tacos, cheese sticks, and broccoli and cheese soup. And now my kids fist pump with me. Even if they don't like these food items. Haha, whatever I can do to foster the excitement. Or act like an idiot. Anyway, go check her out! I love reading her blog!


2. Tell seven things about yourself.


            1. Naming [insert number here] things about myself brings me back to my sorority days. I poured my heart and soul into Zeta Tau Alpha while in college. It taught me so much, and I miss everything that goes along with it. I'd like to join an alumna chapter once I get settled somewhere!
            2. I'm an animal foster mom! I'm a huge advocate for adopting, spaying/neutering, etc. If I didn't work with kids, I'd want to work with animals.
            3. I am one of two teachers in my building who is not married. & my other one is in a LTR on the way to a ring. Yeah, I feel very behind on life experience!
            4. My sink is dripping right now. The outlet in my bathroom doesn't work. I hate living in an apartment and having to call maintenance. Because I'd probably screw it up more trying to fix these things myself.
            5. I've been hardcore craving pizza lately. Not good. Because I need to work on my beach bod. Becauseee.....
            6. I'm going to Jamaica over spring break with the boyfriend! Stoked!
            7. I'm struggling to decide what to get my masters degree in. I've wanted to be a guidance counselor my whole life. But with so many cuts going on, many counseling jobs are hanging in the balance. I hate for that to change my decision, but hey, broke chick has to be practical!

3. Pass this on to 15 newly discovered blogs and let them know they've received the award.

Same goes with the last award. If you've received it, no need to repost & such! & I don't know if these are new blogs, but they are faves to me! And sorry I crossed out the 15. I'm getting tired & don't know if I'll make it that far! Plus, so many people have already gotten it! Sorry-- I'm a rule breaker.

Juice Boxes and Crayolas




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Okay. Longest. Post. Ever. I'll comment to all of you chickadees tomorrow bestowing these awards upon you. Aaaandd, now its midnight. Tomorrow morning isn't going to be pretty. Night!

UGH.

The title says it all.

At least tomorrow is already Thursday.

I hit 50 followers! Giveaway [& an actual post] coming soon.

But let's be honest, my kids have sucked the life out of me the past two days.

So, will you take a raincheck?

See you this weekend!