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Saturday 29 June 2013

That Cat!

I am pleased to let you know that I have uploaded a new item to my TpT store today!  I just love this cat from Mel @ From the Pond and I love how cute this book turned out!  (I am a bit biased though)







This packet includes three files, one file with an A4 or Letter size book and the activities seen in the above pic, a file of little books to print for students to use as a group or individual and a PowerPoint file that can be used on an Interactive Whiteboard for whole group reading (you must use this one in play mode).  
The book uses the high frequency words 'that' and 'can' in large print as well as pictures that support the text, this would be great for beginning Prep or Kinder as well as those kiddos who are still struggling with reading.  

This is the first book in a series I will be producing that will have That Cat as the central character each book will use high frequency words and or blends.  Each packet will contain activities that can be used to extend the reading, practice blends and/or high frequency words as well as a writing activity.  I will try to get one done each week, (my fingers are crossed!)

Click on any of the pics to go to my store.


Monday 24 June 2013

Just claiming my bloglovin...feel free to ignore

Jumping on the bloglovin' bandwagon so if you would like to follow me through bloglovin feel free to click on the blogloving button to follow.  You can still follow through Google Friend Connect if you read your blogs from your blogger dashboard.

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Lunch for a relief teacher

I have just started heading back into the classroom as a relief (or sub) teacher and as many of you know it can be a very last minute call in the morning.  Consider this scenario

It is 7:30 am, the children are eating breakfast, their uniforms are out ready for them to get dressed, their lunchboxes are at the ready packed with nutritious healthy food (most of it anyway, maybe one little treat in there.)  Things are running smoothly...then the phone rings at 7:50, can you come in today? Well of course I can!  Can I be there by 8:30?  Sure!  This is where things usually head downhill because most likey I am stiull in my pyjamas, hair not done drinking coffee.  I run in for a quick shower, order the children to be dressed by the time I am finished (knowing they won't be) and try to make myself look presentable.  We end up out the door with enough time to spare.

What is the thing that gets left out....usually lunch, my lunch.  I have been trying to make a concerted effort to pack a healthy lunch for myself even when I get called in last minute.  It's not always easy though as most mornings like this end up in utter chaos.  So I decided to have a ready to go lunchbox in the cupboard to grab and go.


What do I pack in here, anything non perishable and healthy that will get me through the day.  I always put in my own mug as well as teabags or coffee as I find it easier to have on hand, I also have small UHT milk or I fill a small thermos with fresh milk.  The other items in my lunch bag at the moment are usually a soup (winter here) that can be reheated, crackers and tuna,  dried fruit (cranberries ar my fave at the moment) and then I will usually throw in some fresh fruit as I go out the door or some cheese slices.
This is what is in my lunch bag right now


Apart from the banana and apple which I would grab as I go I have

  • 2 types of soup, one that you reconstitute with hot water (cup-a- soup) and one that can be microwaved (it has the green lid).  I usually find the packet soup easier if you have playground duty.  
  • crackers
  • tuna (mustard flavoured)
  • dried pineapple
  • tiny teddies ( a weakness)
  • my mug and teabags
Now tell me friends will I be hungry, no way.  All of these items will stay fresh in my lunch bag for quite some time.
One thing I would NEVER put in my lunch bag is any nut or nut derived products as you never know if you may end up at a school that is nut free.
There are so many things you could keep in a lunch bag that will not go off or spoil and is healthy so it is easy to grab and go on your way out for those last minute call ins.

Now I know all of my Northern Hemisphere friends would like to see a Summer grab and go lunch bag post and I promise to do one next time but right now I have to go and read with some littles at my kids school.
Feel free to leave a comment telling me what you would put in a grab and go lunch bag.  I am always up for new ideas!

Friday 21 June 2013

1st blog birthday

Hi friends,
In the last week something exciting happened, apart from us finally getting our furniture delivered, our pusscat and 2 naughty dogs arrived......something even more exciting, well for me it was.


I reached my one year blogiversarry, yep it has been just over 1 year since I started this blog journey and I am happy to say that I have loved the way it has evolved and helped me to evolve even further as a teacher. I am in awe of the amount of fantastic, motivated and dedicated teachers that I get to communicate and collaborate with from around the world, some of you have become great friends and I feel so lucky to have this experience in my life.  *Oh dear, starting to sound a bit soppy*
So I am throwing a 20% off sale at my TpT store for the next four days starting on the 22nd June through to 25th June.  Head on over tomorrow for a bargain!


Have a great weekend all!  
Thanks to Shanyn at Coffee, Kids and Compulsive Lists and Mel @ From the Pond for the graphics.


Wednesday 12 June 2013

Fill it Up!

I am happy to have finished this little packet that has been on the back burner for a while.



Just click on the pic to get your copy.  If you would like to see this packet in action, you can check it out here.  

This packet has been sitting on my computer in the unfinished folder for a while now and I am happy to have finished it!  
On a personal note, only 2 more days until we move into our new house and we get our pets back as well, very much looking forward to it.  We are starting to get to that point where we are sick of living out of a suitcase and my kids are starting to get a bit snippety with each other.  
Today I am going in to my kids school as a VOLUNTEER, that's right, free teaching for them, heehee.  No really I am happy to help out those littles that are having trouble with reading, should be fun right!  Hope your week is going well.....time to finish another packet that has been sitting in the unfinished file...

Tuesday 11 June 2013

Mum's and Dad's bundled together

Hi Friends,

Well still here in the hotel waiting for our furniture to arrive and have been working on a number of different products I have started and stopped and started again.  So close to finishing my volume and capacity unit, but in the meantime I have updated my Fathers Day card and gift set and bundled my Mothers Day and Fathers Day packets so you can have both at a reduced price!  Love a bargain!  Click on either pic to go to the bundle.



I am going toleave you with a few pics of Hobart and a little day trip we took on the long weekend

This is looking at Mt Wellington from our hotel.  There will be snow on the mountain when the weather cools down


We are finally near the ocean, and you know how kids just don't seem to feel the cold?  Well his feet were like iceblocks after frolicking in the waves for about half an hour.  This beach is about 5 min from where we will be living.

This is an old convict coal mine about an hour out of Hobart, it is nearly 200 yrs old and has a very dark history but very interesting.


Well I hope you enjoyed this little tour, looking at putting some new products up this week before our furniture arrives on Friday!!!!  Woohoo!


Tuesday 4 June 2013

Our new home

Hi friends!  My family has arrived in Tasmania safe and sound and I finally worked out how to use my mobile as a hotspot so I CAN BLOG while I am here, yay!
Well having said that there is not too much to report, heehee.  Hobart is a beautiful city with lots of history and I do plan on taking some pics to show you my new digs, at the moment we are staying in a hotel until our furniture arrives in a couple of weeks so I feel quite spoiled having someone come and make my bed up everyday, fresh towels....you get the picture.
I plan on using this time to freshen up some of my products, finish some that have been sitting on my computer forever, organise my files and apply for jobs.  My little darlings have started at their new school today and were very excited, they have an ocean view from their classroom windows which they found very exciting as their last school was inland and nowhere near the beach, not much swimming here however unless you have a very thick wetsuit and you don't mind the sharks.
I will leave you with a pic of my first weekend in our new city.....I think I am going to like it :)


Hope you have a great week!