Tech Tuesday - FREE Apps

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Our tech specialist shared these free apps with us today {April 23, 2013} and I thought you would like to grab them too! :)

First up is StoryToys {one word!} apps. These apps are normally $4.99, but are free right now, so download them TODAY! 

Next up, McGraw-Hill apps! 

Cute read aloud stories, phonics, word work, and more!

Hope your week is off to a great start! We have Open House tonight, so I am off to wipe all the tables one more time!

Have an awesome rest of the week! :)

This and That

Hey y'all! Hope everyone is doing great!

I apologize for my absense in blog land! I am been working on getting my Lollipops and Lemondrops business up and running! :) I am working on an Etsy shop and hope to have everything ready this summer!! :)

Everyone is knee deep in testing preparations in our neck of the woods! I am SO HAPPY that first grade does not particpate in stadardized testing in Alabama. When I taught first grade in Georgia, we did the CRCT....I believe they have changed that in the 5 years since I moved. Georgia peeps, is that right??? 

Do any of you participate in standardized testing in 1st? Or heaven forbid, K????? It makes me shudder! It also makes me shudder to think of my lack of specials during testing, but I would prefer that over testing HANDS DOWN! Are you with me?

Look at this cute testing bulletin board from a 4th grade teacher at my school. So cute for you upper grade friends!

I love the whole mustache craze! Makes me laugh!!! :)

We are also gearing up for a new reading series next year. We are adopting the Wonders series from McGraw Hill. Does anyone have that now?? or is getting it next year?? Would love to hear some feedback from peeps that use it!

Coming soon:

This summer, I have two big goals!

A...1 A {BEACH FRONT AVENUE} - Vanilla Ice, anyone?.. is to create/update my Word Work units so that I have a unit for each and every phonics skill. I have some cute themes and graphics up my sleeve! ;) I love teaching phonics with a theme - makes it a little bit more fun!

B - The other is to host a blog series, complete with linky parties!! I will tell you more about it very soon! :)

Countdown to summer is ON - only 6 weeks left for us! 
Have a super week! :)

Peek at Our Week

Happy Easter, friends! Hope everyone had a wonderful day celebrating our Savior. He is risen!

I just heart the heck out of Spring Break!! It comes at just the right time! We had a fab time at the beach and are all settled in for the remaining 8 weeks of school! Let's do this!!!

Since summer is right around the corner, I came up with a blog series schedule for the summer and I'm super excited about it! I think I may even do a linky! I am secretly scared of them...why do you ask? Well, I am afraid I'll do it wrong and I'm afraid no one will actually link up! HA! So...if I do a linky, please do it, okay? :)

Let's take a quick peek at our week, shall we?

MATH - Measurement

Here is a quick and cute {and free} Math Work Station!

PHONICS - Vowel digraph /oo/

Check out my What a Hoot! {Vowel Digraph /oo/} 

Word Work unit.

WRITING - How To

I am so excited to start with how to! One of my fave things to teach in first grade! We are kicking it off with how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! We make cute flip books during our how to writing unit - more on those in the next post! :)

COMPREHENSION - Retelling

We are smack in the middle of The Wizard of Oz! Can't wait to pick up Abby's unit when we are done! Getting through this chapter book def warrants a little Oz celebration! :)

SCIENCE - Rainforest Habitat

Thank you, Brain Pop, Jr, thank you! LOVE kicking off our units with Annie and Moby! We will learn lots about the layers of the rainforest, learn lots of facts about monkeys, parrots, toucans, snakes, sloths, frogs, and more. Such a fun unit!

Hope you have a happy week! :)

Let's Get Acquainted! :)

Happy Tuesday, friends! It is rainy and gloomy here in Bama today and coupled with the Spring Forward time change, my little firsties are TIRED! It is our last week before Spring Break {SO excited!!} and we are filling our week with some St. Patrick's Day fun!

We will be making Shamrock Shakes with our 4th grade Tech Buddies tomorrow! YUM!

We will making these cute little leprechauns from Cara - circa two years ago! They are still adorable! Click on the link above for patterns - isn't she the best??!! :)

We will be reading all about the old lady who swallowed a clover, too! :)

I was excited to find a linky party to join today! :) 

I needed a little something different in my blog post today! Thank you, Mrs. Reed! 

Sooo...let's get acquainted, shall we?? :)

My initials are KMB. 

K - Hmm! This letter always stumped me when I was growing up, too! You know the first day of school game: My name is Kelli and I am...Krazy. Kooky. Klutzy?? I always just did something with a /c/ sound. And I am going to do it again - ssh! Don't tell! :) CRAFTING! I am loving some crafts these days! I am doing to attempt a burlap bunny door hanger this weekend! So excited!

M- Monograms, hands down! Speaking of my initials!! 
This southern girl loves a good monogram! :) 

B- the BEACH!!! I can't wait to breathe in salt water air next week! Ahhh! AND the Bachelor!  

Have a great week, y'all! :)

Lollipops and Lemondrops :)

Hey y'all! Hope you've had a great week! :)

Tomorrow is our Dr. Seuss birthday party - complete with 
Seuss Juice {source: presh idea from Cara Carroll last year}, 
Thing 1 cupcakes {source: Pinterest} since we are 1st graders, and Truffella trees {source: Pinterest}. 

We are SO taking the Lorax stache pics { source: Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations} too - makes me laugh out loud!! :)

I have a new little Facebook venture: Lollipops and Lemondrops! I am making digital party printables for sweet soirees and heat press tees...you know Southerners are all about monograms and shirts with names all over it!! :) Head over to Facebook to check it out...only 1 like away from an Easter heat press shirt giveaway - and yes, I will ship to y'all outside of Bama if you win!!! :)

 I smile every time I get a like on FB - same as when I get a new follower here on Castles and Crayons! I am so, so, so very blessed by the support of L and L in such a short time - it is a dream come true! :)

Oh and speaking of giveaways -- Roll and Read Fluency Phrases {Beginning Blends} winners are below. The unit will be 20% on TpT tonight and tomorrow! :)

Happy TG-so very close-F!!! :)

Roll and Read {Beginning Blends}

Happy Monday, y'all! 

We are gearing up for a fun filled Dr. Seuss week, 

complete with his birthday party on Friday! :) Pics coming soon! We read my very favorite Dr. Seuss story this morning, Gertrude McFuzz. Gertrude is smarter now and so are my firsties!! :)

The newest Roll and Read has been added to my TpT shop. There were so many requests for this beginning blends set and I thank you so much for being oh so patient!! :)

You can click on the picture below to check it out!

I will also be bundling all of the Roll and Read units into a mega pack zip file coming by the end of the week! It will have all 5 of the Roll and Read units with some savings, of course! :)

{Short Vowels}

{Long Vowels}

{Consonant Digraphs}

{r-controlled Vowels}

{Beginning Blends}

**I will send this unit to five people on Wednesday, February 27.

Just comment below with your email address! 

Hats off to a spectacular Seuss week! :)

Five for Friday

Happy weekend, friends! I am linking up with sweet Kacey at Doodle Bugs Teaching for a little peek at the week in review! 

1. ERIN CONDREN

I am OBSESSED with Erin Condren! Last year I didn't use a planner at all - I decided to the iPhone route. Well - I decided this year to hop back on the paper planner bus and I am SO GLAD I did! Rumor has it she is coming out with a August 2013 - December 2014 planner for us teachers! FAB!

2. MARDI GRAS

Mardi Gras is a big deal here in Alabama...especially in the Mobile area! We ended our Sweet Home Alabama unit with some delicious King Cake .... straight from NOLA! A sweet mom had the cake Fed Exed to us. It was so delicious!!!!

3. BEE MINE, VALENTINE!

Love these precious bumblebees from Teri! I love her crafts and writing prompts!!

4. I CHEWS YOU, VALENTINE!

Teri did it again! LOVE THESE! They make my heart happy!!

5. SMORES VALENTINES FOR MY KIDDOS

I loved these so much last year, I had to do them again!

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!