May 26, 2012

ROCKIN' RESOURCES - MY FIRST LINKY PARTY

With school coming to a close (or already closed for that matter), many of us are setting our sites on summer fun, personal projects, and family time. However, knowing the crazy teachers that we are, many of us are also thinking about next year.  Summer is the perfect time to work on school and acquire new resources at your own pace.  So, with this said, I figured I would host my very first Linky Party.




This little Linky is called Rockin' Resources: Things I Couldn't Live Without.  I am mainly thinking of the things/resources that you use in your classroom that you live and die by, but it could include other things as well.   I know I am in need of a few more "classroom tools," and who better to ask than my wise bloggy buddies??!!


Here are my TOP 5 "classroom can't live withouts..."


READING IS FUN SIGHT WORD BOOKS
I came across these two years ago and they have made all the difference in my kids' sight word growth.  They are perfect for K-1 classrooms.  Sight words are introduced one at a time and build slowly throughout the series (lots of spiral review).  In addition to completing a phonics reader, I assign a couple of pages a night out of one of these.  I ask my parents to read the assigned pages with their kiddos at least 2-3 times.  Once they are fluent, I assign the next couple of pages.  Click on the picture to visit the Teddy Bear Press Web site.


INTELLI-TUNES
Any of you who visit me on a regular basis know how much I heart Intelli-Tunes!!  If you haven't heard these yet, you are missing out.  Ron Brown's music is standards-based and is perfect for K-3 classrooms.  Not only do the kids love it, but it is classroom music that teachers can actually stomach!  My kids beg for me to play these and I truly believe that their understanding of concepts has been greatly supported by these fun songs.  Click on the picture to visit the Intelli-Tunes Web site.


   


FONTS FOR TEACHERS
I love making my own worksheets and this resource is perfect for it.  Fonts For Teachers allows you to make everything from dotted handwriting practice sheets (print, d'nealian, or script) and perfectly lined paper to custom clock math pages.  Love, love, LOVE this resource.  Click on the picture to visit the DownHill Publishing Web site.  



ART PROJECTS FOR KIDS
This blog offers up mind-blowing art projects for kids.  If you haven't had the opportunity to visit Kathy Barbro's site, put it on your to-do list.  She is an amazing artist and has created tested classroom art projects for grades K-5 and beyond.  Take a moment . . . you'll be glad you did.  Click on the picture to visit Art Projects for Kids!


  


KLEENSLATE WHITE BOARDS
My kids all have the basic individual white boards in their desks.  However, I wanted something a little different to add some spice to the white board group work they do during my center rotation.  SO . . . I purchased a group set of KleenSlate White Boards.  We do a lot of the same work that they do at their desks (spelling and such), but it seems oh-so new to them because these boards are such a novelty.  The buy-in is HUGE and they love working and writing on these!  Click on the picture to visit the KleenSlate Web site.




All right . . . that's my list.  Now it's your turn!  To participate, grab the Linky Party button above and link your post down below.  Don't forget to link back to my site pretty please!  The more the merrier so please spread the word . . . let's get those ideas flowin'!    


54 comments:

  1. Love your selections. I couldn't live without fun fonts either. I linked up! Have a great weekend.

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    1. I heart you Miss Nelson! Thanks for joining ;)

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  2. These are alot of great resources that I have never heard of before. Thanks for posting. And great linky. I will have to see about linky up in the days to come. :)

    :)Heidi
    My (Not So) Elementary Life

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  3. Joined the linky party! How fun :) I need to check out intelli-tunes for next year!!

    Susan
    T.G.I.F. (Thank God it's First Grade!)

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    1. You are fab Susan. Thank you ;). Love your post BTW. Great new resources!!!

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  4. Thanks for hosting! Even though we homeschool, thought I'd share some of our favorites!
    ~Andrea

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    1. So excited that you jumped on board!!!! Love that circular cookie sheet clock. Fantastic idea :). Thanks again and happy weekend!!

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  5. Thanks for sharing! I love the fonts for teachers sounds like something I need to invest in. I love my white boards and would be lost without them too.

    Alana
    Special Teaching in the Middle

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    1. Happy weekend. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment ;)

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  6. I love fonts for teachers!!! And speaking of which, what font did you use for the title of your linky button?? I see it a lot but can't figure it out!

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    1. It's a freebie from Miss Tiina Fonts. I think it's from 2009. Thanks so much for visiting!

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  7. Thanks for hosting this fun linky party! Happy Summer!

    Rebecca
    The Teacher's Chatterbox

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  8. I have never met someone who spells their name the same way as me!! As my mom says...its the Irish way! :) I am your newest follower!

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    1. Any KELLEY is a friend of mine ;). So glad we found each other!!!! I have only run into one other person that spells their name this way. We are a special bunch I tell ya. Thanks so much for joining up :)

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  9. Your blog is so cute.

    I have a HUGE font addiction! One can never have enough of them!

    I linked up my own linky party post I did a while back on the exact same thing. Seems like we're always looking for more great ideas. :D
    ❤Dragonflies in First ❤

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    1. Traci ... So glad u linked up from your linky!!! I dork out over fonts. I especially like the cute or funky ones.

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  10. Kelley,

    I'm excited about every single one of these resources. Thank you! I'm your newest follower.

    Mona
    First Grade Schoolhouse

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    1. So glad you found me. I stumbled across you a few weeks ago ... Your blog is so cute!!

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  11. I like this idea for collecting resources. I was jumping from blog to blog last August trying to find ideas, but without having a set of blogs to just click on. I posted my own and am excited to participate in my first linky party and browse through all the others! Thanks for hosting and posting!

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    1. Thank you so much for joining us! I am following you :)

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  12. I am new to the blogging world. I just wanted to let you know I absolutely love your linky party and all the ideas everyone is sharing!

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    1. Ashley . . . from one newbie to another (I started 03/19), welcome! I am following you :)

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  13. Great idea for a Linky, Kelley! I just linked up!
    :) Dana
    Fun in 1st Grade

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    1. You rock Dana. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to visit me so much :)

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  14. Thanks so much for your sweet comment on my blog, Kelley! :) I've seen your linky party pop up around the web, and I love it. Once I do my classroom order for next year, I plan on linking up! :)
    Lisa
    Stories From Second

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    1. What can I say . . . your stuff is awesome!!! Thanks for poppin' in!

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  15. Those are some great resources! I don't have time right now, but I look forward to looking through everyone's resources later and linking up. This gives me an excuse to play with Pinterest some more and save all these great resources, too.
    April Walker@ The Idea Backpack

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    1. No worries April . . . I am just happy you popped in for a little visit :)

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  16. Wow, so glad I found you (through various other blogs!). I'm a new follower! I love your ideas! I can't wait to read through the others and link up too when I have a min (6 days left for me!). I have a new blog if you have time to stop by I'd love it!
    Tori
    Tori's Teacher Tips

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    1. Thank you for following me! I found you a couple of days ago and snuck on to your google follower board all quiet like . . . hehehe! Link up whenever you have the time. It's open until the end of June :). Good luck these last few days . . . YOU CAN DO IT!

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  17. Your blog is so super cute! So glad we found each other in blog world!I'm your newest follower. I just Linked up and will add a post. I can't wait to check out intelli-tunes! It sounds amazing! 3 more weeks to go (but who is counting):)
    Jaime

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    1. Thanks Jamie. You won't be sorry looking into Intelli-Tunes . . . I promise :) Three more weeks, huh? It will be over before you know it. We've got nine more.

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  18. I am going to have to get those white boards. For some reason kids are obsessed with white boards of any kind. They will LOVE those!!! I have found so many cool products through the links.


    Your newest follower!
    Stephany
    primarypossibilities.blogspot.com

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    1. SO glad to hear. I have learned about so many neat things as well. Thanks for poppin' in. I heart your new transportation form BTW :)

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  19. I need to link up when I get a chance to breathe!!! Love your resource choices!!
    Jennifer
    First Grade Blue SKies

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    1. Thanks Jennifer. No hurry . . . we will be here ;)

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  20. Kelley!!!

    I created a new post to link up to yours (instead of my Staples one)! And CONGRATS on your first linky party being so successful!!! That is amazing!! I haven't had one yet, but I hope that when I do it will be as successful as yours!! Hope you're having a great week!

    Molly
    Lessons with Laughter

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    1. Thanks Molly. When you have a linky, be sure to let me know :)

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  21. Thanks for sharing yours! I love the Art website you linked. I have never been there before and it is definitely one of my new favorites :)


    Chelsey♥

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    1. It is a pretty fantastic site. I get SO much from this one :)

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  22. Great linky! It was really hard to narrow it down to five...now I have 5 things to Google or check out for each of your linkups!

    You Might Be A First Grader...

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    1. Wasn't it?? That's why I cheated and introduced additional ones during each of my "contest reminder" posts :)

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  23. I love Art Projects for Kids! That is such an amazing site, I use tons of her ideas and my teacher friends are always asking where they came from and they are surprised it's all from one site. Thanks for the fun linky party!

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    1. Kathy Barbro rocks! She always makes me look good :) Thanks so much for stopping by.

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  24. Great idea for a link party! Thanks for starting this and thanks for waiting for summer to do it. I think I'm going to lose the better part of a day reading all these. Can't wait!

    Megan
    I Teach. What's Your Super Power?

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  25. Kelley-- This is such a great idea! My class also LOVES those white boards!! I am going to link up later on today. Congratulations on an awesome linky party! I am your newest follower!! Stop by and visit and follow me at http://adayinbcasfirstgrade.blogspot.com/

    Kristen

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  26. Love the Linky idea-just linked up. Look forward to reading the other links.
    Colleen
    Totally Terrific in Texas

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    1. Thanks oh-so much Colleen . . . I LOVED your list and I learned something new. I am SO getting that tape dispenser!!!!

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  27. Check out my new site Lots of Free California Treasures reproducibles.

    https://sites.google.com/site/elementaryworksheets/

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  28. Hi,
    Supplies I can't live without are: my white boards with mini erasures. We use them each day.
    Also 5 staplers, and for adult use only a powerful electric pencil sharpener, and paper cutter.
    Have a great summer!
    1st/2nd grade teacher

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