SIGHT WORD FUN + PEN PALS + SHABBY

Hello all!  I am finally back with a jam-packed post today.  This one is a little all over the board, but a little potpourri keeps it interesting, right??!! I haveeverything from sight words and centers to shopping!  

If you are anything like me, blog stalking hunting has most likely taken over much of your online time as school inches closer and closer.  I have found countless ideas, projects, and activities from oodles of amazing educators that I can't wait to try this year.  One of these gems comes from Tessa over at Tales From Outside the classroom . . . and I just have to share :)

  

I am all about "America's Favorite Pastime" (GO Giants), so as soon as I saw this pack pop up on Tessa's bloggy-blog while I was out hunting, I just had to check it out.  I am always looking for new ways to teach sight word fluency and as soon as I clicked open this packet, I knew I had hit a "home run" in the center department.  Tessa's small group game takes sight word instruction to a whole new level.  How, you ask??  Well, it's not just about sight words.  It's all about sight word phrases.  Now that's what I call fluency practice at its finest!  

The coolest part about the whole thing is that it has a baseball theme.  I see my kidlets absolutely loving this.  

Here's how the game rolls . . . 

1. Students take turns drawing cards.  When they are able to read the phrase fluently, they keep the card.  
2. If a BALL card is drawn, they get to go again.  
3. If a STRIKE card is plucked, they loose their turn. 
4. If the STRIKE OUT card is pulled, the game is over and everyone counts their cards and the person with the most cards wins. 

Simple.  Fun.  Brilliant.  And, with baseball playoffs headed our way . . . this will be such a perfect center addition come September/October.  

Tessa is offering Fry Sight Word Phrase Baseball Game - Set 1  for free on her blog (CLICK HERE).   If ya like what you see, pop on over to her TPT Shop and pick up additional phrase sets (I did)!  Wait . . . I still haven't given you the best news.  It just so happens that it's Tessa's birthday today and she is running a sale.  Man, great timing Dolling.  What an unexpected treat :)

  

Alright, now on to Pen Pals.  Oh my WORD.  I have been workin' like a dog to get these done.  So far we have had 295 teachers from all over the US (and overseas too) jump on board.  I have matched the majority of entries up and am working to get out emails.  So, keep watching those inboxes.  They are coming . . . slowly but surely . . . they are coming :)  I am having trouble matching up a few.  So I am going to use my blog to do an all call!  Below you will find a short list of matches that I am desperately searching for.  If you are game to take one of these groups on shoot me an email as soon as possible (kelleydolling@gmail.com).  Or, if you know of someone who might be interested, would ya let them know? Many thanks!!

• Are there any 3rd grade teachers at a Christian School looking for a match? I need ya to be somewhere close to 20 students.  This teacher lives in CA.  
• I have a pre-K class from DC signed up.  The teacher said they have a dynamite program and are looking for a Kinder crew to take them on. Your class size should be between 12-18 to make this work smoothly.   
• Are there any Kinder or 1st grade teachers out there interested in hooking up with a class of moderate 4th grade SDC students.  They live in CA? 
• Overseas!  Are you interested?  I didn't want to assign teachers an international pal without asking.  

If you haven't jumped on board with the Pen Pal Pair Up, you have until 08/12 to fill out my online form.  Click on the button to learn more! **If you have any notes in regards to your pairing, please indicate them in the class size column on the form and be sure to double check that email :)

Finally today, let's chat about B2S shopping shall we??!!  Yikes.  I have been rockin' it in the school supply department.  Just check out the damage I did at Wally World on Monday.  

And as teachers all know, one trip ain't gonna cut it.  I am off to Target today (swoon) as well as the local teacher store.  However, all this talk about shopping for my classroom has left me feeling a little left out.  So, I am finally cashing in that wonderful prize I won from The Teacher Wife - a $75 Shabby Apple gift card.  

I hoard gift cards and store credits like a crazy person!  I want to make sure I pick just the right treat for myself I guess :)  But, hoard no more . . . it's time to cash in!  Just take a look at the back to school dresses I just put in my shopping cart (stripes and dots . . . my two faves)!

If you haven't checked out Shabby Apple and all it has to offer treat yourself to a little Back to School look-see :)  See you tomorrow friends.  Thanks for visiting me today.