Product Preview - Editable Back to School Slideshow

Hi there!
Every year I create a new presentation for what my district calls curriculum night. Your district may call it back-to-school night, open house, etc. I like my presentation to match my classroom theme or decor. I thought you might like the same thing! I created an editable version of my back to school slideshow and I plan to create many more themes over the next few weeks.

If you purchase one of these slide shows you'll be able to edit all the text areas. You will be able to duplicate slides if all your information can't fit onto one slide and you'll be able to delete any slides that don't pertain to your classroom. There is also a blank slide for you in case! I have included over 65 slides!! To see a full list of included slide titles, click on the picture below to see the product listing on TpT.

To see a short product demo, click here!

Do you have to create a slideshow for Back to School Night? Comment below to let me know!

Tutorial Time: How to Create a Secure PDF

Hello Friends!!! I have to tell you a secret. When I first started creating things to TpT, I knew that the files had to be secure to protect the clip art and fonts I'd purchased. I thought, if I turned my work (created in PowerPoint) into a PDF, it was secure. Turns out I was wrong. Simply turning the PP presentation into a PDF still allows the users to right click and save images and text. YIKES!!

I did not want to break any TOU of these fabulous artists that I respect so much. So, I had to figure this out. I thought I was going to have to purchase expensive Adobe software in order to secure files. Turns out that's not the case (happy dance)! Below, I am going to list for you the steps needed when using a Mac and PowerPoint. I have Office 2011 but I am thinking it would be pretty similar to other versions? Sorry, I can't help you with a PC. If you try this on a PC, I'd love for you to share your experience in the comments!!! 

Here we go!

File > Print

Pull down PDF menu

Save as PDF > Print

Security Options

Check Require Password > enter a password others won't guess

Select use as .pdf

Okay, now when you open the PDF version you'll see (secured) next to the title. You're all set - ready to upload your file to TpT!

Fabulous Feedback and a Sale!

I am linking up with Christina over at Bunting, Book, and Bainbridge for her Fabulous Feedback Party. We all love hearing nice things about the products we create. Taking the time to leave feedback is so important. It helps us know if our products are the type of high quality teacher materials that we plan for them to be. I know I want all of my products to be of high interest, rigor, and I want them to help you save some of your very important time. If you ever have a problem with a resource you purchase on TpT, please email the seller before leaving feedback. I know we all want you to be happy with your purchase - we are teachers first! 

The first feedback I wanted to highlight comes from The Teacher Garden. She wrote 

"I desperately needed an interactive tools lesson for my 3rd grade class, so I downloaded this product and a couple others so that I could compare and choose the best activity. 

I ended up using this activity because it had all the components I wanted. There are so many science tools, pictures, and definitions included in this activity -- I was thrilled that it covered 90% of the tools listed in my state's standards! The differentiation between the A and the B set was the icing on the cake. Bravo!!" 

  about my Scientific Tools Interactive Notebook Activity.

The next fabulous feedback came from Amy Brown. She wrote, 

"These are perfect for what we are working on right now. I look forward to using them tomorrow. Great resource for students. Clear, colorful and easy to understand. Thank you!!!

about my Ways to Multiply Poster Pack

If you are either of these two ladies, please leave me with a comment and I will send a free product of your choice from my store!

Would you like to win either of these products? Leave a comment below with the name of the product you would prefer and your email, I will pick 2 random numbers tomorrow and send them your way!

If you do not usually leave feedback, please consider starting. It only takes a minute and it earns you credits for money off of future purchases. Score! 

Look at this darling graphic from Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah

Starting today, my whole store will be 20% off. If you shop on May 7th and 8th you can get an additional 10% off, making your items a total of 28% off - fun!! I already have a FULL cart! 

 

My Shopping Spree!

Linking up with Blog Hoppin' to show what I bought yesterday! I have a ton more on my wish list and I bought some other clip art on Etsy!! Here are the goods....

1. Common Core: There's Nothing Alien About Multiplication by Math Coach's Corner

2. Fourth Set of Fry Phrases from Christina Bainbridge

3. Editable Calendar Math for Upper Grades  from Teaching in Room 6

4. Sight Word Uno from Ms. Jessica

5. Comprehension Fans from Runde's Room

6. 100th Day for Big Kids From Ashleigh

7. Colorful Tally Marks from The Hazel Owl

8. Colorful Clothes Pins from Graphics From The Pond

9. Citrus Fraction Circles from Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs

10. Talking the Talk : Showing Point of View from One Extra Degree (not pictured)

I had so much fun shopping and I love to see what ever one else bought (so I can add more stuff to my cart! Head on over to Blog Hoppin' to link up or leave a comment below!!

How About Five for Saturday??

I am linking up again with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday (a day late!) I had all intentions of linking up last night but my little guy had other plans... more on that below!

1. We changed the way we are "doing" spelling this week. We (my team) really want to switch to a a system like the one Beth Newingham talks about here but were feeling too overwhelmed to switch up everything we were doing in the middle of the year. Our compromise? Send home 15 words within a pattern and study the patten all week during word work time. Then, on Friday, give an additional 5 words on the test that fit the pattern to assess if kids are really learning the pattern or just memorizing the words. Next fall we will dive in with the new system! I created a Smart Board file for us to use in class this week and the kids LOVED doing all the activities. More on that below.

2.  We had Keith Graves come visit our school this week. He is an author/illustrator and his books are really funny. He read Chicken Big and Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted To Dance to us and the kids loved them. He spoke a lot about using details in the illustrations to tell the story. Great lesson for beginner writers to encourage more details in their pictures. 

My husband with a former player, Jimmy Buttler (now a Chicago Bulls player)

3. My husband became a head basketball coach this year after being the head assistant for the last 8 years. He was having a rough start to the season, but understood he was getting the team to buy into his system and way of doing things. On Tuesday he had a BIG win against a team that was undefeated in the district at their place. Needless to say, the kids were pumped and the school was excited for them. Lots of fans turned out for the home game last night which they also won, beating their rival, a team they hadn't beat in quite some time! Wish I could have been there to see it, read #5!

4. Extra Recess! My class earned enough compliments to earn extra recess on Friday. I had lots of fun watching them play together as a class without the other 100 third graders being out there at the same time! One of my friends made me giggle. He yelled, "Hey, that was pass inter-furnace!" to another friend who had blocked the pass... um, football vocabulary mini lesson anyone?? (Boo, forgot my camera at school so there is no picture of this one!)

not looking too sick here! 

5. When I went to pick up my little man last night from school, they told me he had not been acting himself and had a yucky looking throat. I called the doctor who said we could come in at 8:10 (kids are normally in bed by 8:15) So, exhausted as I was, we went to the doctor and I am glad we did. He has strep, again. This is his 4th time in 2 months. Planning on calling an ENT on Monday :( 

Here is a preview of some of the activities my kids worked on this week during word work time

This is a smart board file and it was a great to use during daily 5 - I plan to make another one for this week's pattern. We did a think, pair, share together to introduce the pattern and then the word sort as a whole class. All the other activities were completed independently during their rotation. The kids really enjoyed using the smart board for word work! My team loved the poems... a great way to "triple dip" fluency, poetry and word work all in one activity! If you would like a copy, please leave a comment with your email below. I will choose 1 comment randomly and send it your way. If you just can't wait, click here to get in my TpT store!

Head on over to Doodle Bugs to see what everyone else has been up to :) Happy Weekend!!

Subtraction with Regrouping - speed practice!

This post is a little late but I really wanted to share it with you! After teaching one of my least favorite, the most difficult skills - subtraction with regrouping, I found a really fun way to practice the skill. Behold, 3-digit Subtraction Borrowing Powerpoint Game by Christi from Ms. Fultz Corner - (click here to see it in her store)

Each student gets a dry erase board (or you can just use their desktop), a dry erase marker, a sock or tissue to erase with and then you start the powerpoint. Christi has set all the timing up for you so it is super easy to use. I just start the slide show and the kids get busy. When the chime sounds, students know to look up and check their answers.

                    They copy the problem onto their board, solve, and wait for the countdown to begin!

                           Loud clapping and cheering ensue and the next problem appears. Repeat fun!

Here are my three "this product is Ah-mazing" moments.

1. My kids, the same ones who take for.ev.er. to solve problems in their math journals, were racing to write and solve the problems in order to beat the clock. Seriously.

2. Because everything was already typed out - including the answer to each problem, I was TOTALLY free to walk around the room and watch/reteach as they were working. Behavior was a non issue because it was too fast paced to be off task and they were having fun. It was wonderful to go stand over the shoulder of certain friends and watch them work so I could see exactly where things were going wrong and reteach right then. Super powerful.

3. Kids begged (what??) me to practice more problems. sigh, I am in love.

**tip** they kids enjoyed this so much that I decided to make several versions. I just used Christi's original template and changed the numbers/answers and saved as subtraction with regrouping 1, 2, 3, etc... so I have lots of problems to choose from when we get a little extra time. I plan to do the same thing for multiplication in the 3rd quarter and even going back to create some for addition with regrouping for next year or as review. 

Please head on over and check out Ms. Fultz blog for lots of other great ideas!

Currently and Multiplication Bump

I love reading everyone's currently each month and this month is no different. Farley asked us to commit to a Random Act of Kindness (RAK) and I think that is a fabulous idea. I mean, who doesn't love doing something nice for others?

Taylor Swift, am I secretly a 12 -year old girl? I can't help it, I just LOVE her songs!!

Okay, I normally read only in the summer but for whatever reason, I downloaded a free book from Barnes and Noble called Bonded. Well, surprise, surprise, it was really good (not in a Shakespeare kind of way, in a cross between Twilight and 50 Shades way. Wink, wink.)

After reading this one, I read The Mating, then The Keeping, and I just started The Finding. Seriously addicted!

BIG stack of paper starring at me from my teacher bag.... progress report grades are due Friday so I better get on it :(

Wanting to finish one thing without adding 3 more... you can totally relate, right??

Needing to get my happy butt off the couch/computer and start walking. I am up 15 pounds from last Christmas. YIKES. I am not happy with my tight clothes and I refuse. REFUSE to buy more in bigger sizes. 

RAK. I am loving reading all the ideas out there. Since Farley said it need to be random, I picked the first thing that popped into my head. Buying Sonic drinks (because my school puffy heart loves Sonic drinks) for all the amazing women in our front office. I am so blessed to work at a campus where everyone gets along and respects one another. My front office sets the tone of the whole school and they go above and beyond for us everyday. They are like family and I want to spoil them this week as a mini thank you for all they do.

Both signs are VERY true so I think I will print and frame to add to our front office decor! To get your own CUTE posters, head on over to Sweet Blessings, ALL her work is ah-dorable!

If you are still here, I wanted to quickly share with you my latest TpT item. We are getting ready to start multiplication and my kids have been loving bump and scoot this year. Check out my winter themed multiplication bump and scoot pack!

What RAK will you commit to?

Winter Holiday Tips!!

I am so excited about this Winter Holiday Book you can get from TpT! It has over 50 pages of freebies from top bloggers along with teaching tips for the holiday season! Click on the picture above to snag your copy! Many thanks to the super talented Rachel Lynette from Minds in Bloom for putting it all together! I even have a page included in this year's book  - how cool is that??

my page!

This book is specifically for grades 3 -6
but you can click here for the Pre K - K book,
or here for the 1st-2nd book!

Happy Holidays :)

My place value freebie from the Winter Holiday Book