Making progress!

So I was really excited to get back to school and start setting up for this year after having one year of first grade under my belt!! I started buying school supplies as soon as Wal-Mart and Target put them in sale and lets just say I may have gone a little overboard!! I have decided that my prize box will contain fun school supplies instead of happy meal toys!! My goal this year is for the prize box to be one of the incentives instead of THE incentive!! I want to have fun Fridays where students have the opportunity to earn free play centers while I'm completing assessments in leu of earning a tangible item! As I develop a system I will post ideas! Please feel free to share yours!! Back to what I was originally posting about....I was excited to get started but I was a little overwhelmed when I walked in and my room looked like Wacky Wednesday had taken over!!! I decided my first job was to work on my filling system!( really I didn't know where to start) Last year I had kept my personal files separate from the existing files and this left room to add all of the wonderful units I discovered through blogging! Filling papers is a weakness, I would much rather keep all papers in electronics form!! I sorted through all my old files and downsized to one large binder!!!! Before tackling the existing files I decided I would feel more productive with my room back to normal! This job is still underway and would not have been possible without my husband! So here are a few pictures of before I started and some if the progress! Happy Saturday!!

Two Blog Awards, Oh My!

Drum roll please........In less than one week I have been nominate for not ONE but TWO blog awards which is so fun!! I first need to thank Angela from Hippo Hooray for Second Grade for the nomination of......

My acceptance of the nomination includes the following random facts about me:
1.) The movie 27 dresses could have been written about me! I was a bridesmaid 18 times before I married my wonderful husband!(and that wasn't the end of my bridesmaid days)
2.) I started playing the piano when I was six years old and have taught piano lessons off and on since I was 18. (My original major was music education and I graduate with a minor in music)
3.) I grew up a NASCAR fan and was in love with Jeff Gordon, now I enjoy all sports and married a die hard Razorback fan who took me to a football game for our first date and a Cowboy's game for my 29th birthday!. (Only 36 days until the first Razorback Football game and 40 days until the Cowboys play!)

4.) My little sister and I have been asked many times if we are twins! 

5.) My current addiction is flavored tea which began at Starbucks when my mom introduced me to sweet Black Tea/Lemonade!  I also like peach tea and raspberry where ever I can find, including Sonic Happy Hour!
6.) This picture describes one of my moods.......

7.) My favorite day of the school year is the last day we get out for Christmas break because the entire school gets together for a Christmas sing-a-long along with fun choreographed dances  put on by the teachers and administration!

I would like to nominate the following bloggers with this award and you must complete the following:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you

2. Include a link to their blog

3. Include the award image in your post

4. Give seven random facts about yourself

5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award

6. When nominating, include a link to their blog

7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated

Versatile Blog Nominations......

1.)First with Franklin

2.) Hoot for First Grade

3.)The First Grade Derby

4.)Mrs Langley's Class

5.)C is for Cookies, Class, and Crafts

6.)Fun and Learning in First

7.)Spotted in First Grade

8.)Polka Dot Firsties

9.) Fashionably in First Grade

10.) The Bender's Bunch

11.) Spotted Around the School

12.) Leaping into First Grade

13.) The Frizz in First Grade

14.) First Grade with a Cherry on Top

15.) Fun Fantastic First

 Plus one more

16.) Teaching Maddness

Drum roll please..........My second nomination is from Leslie at First Grade in the Kootenays which is one of the most unique titles I have come across in my short span of blogging!! 

All Nominees are encouraged to.....

1. Link back to the person who gave you the award. 

2. Post the award to your blog. 

3. Give the award to at least 5 bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.

The Nominees for Liebster Blog......

1.) A Day in First Grade

2.) Crazy Daze in First Grade

3.) First Grade Jungle Room

4.) Teaching Joys

5.) My Silly Firsties

I hope all of my nominees enjoy their awards as much as I have!! Time to watch the Olympic Ceremonies!!

Mrs. Livers:)

The Count Down Begins....

Today is one month until my new class of first graders arrives! This is my second year to teach first grade after teaching K-1 Community Based Instruction for six years! Last summer I felt very overwhelmed starting a new position, not to mention I married my wonderful husband on June 25th and my little sister married her wonderful husband on Aug 13th! Keep in mind I live in Arkansas, her wedding was in Destin and school started on August 15th! Needless to say it was a whirlwind of a summer! I feel less overwhelmed this year and I am very excited to begin blogging this school year! One of my goals is to list all of the wonderful blogs that were so helpful during my first year of teaching first grade! Today I want to tell you about a give away at finallyinfirst.blogspot.com on decoding strategies to use in the classroom and send home with parents! You can buy a copy through Mrs. Bates TPT store! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jennifer-Bates
She is giving away a free copy if you go to her blog and enter to win through Raffelcopter. I'm blogging from my phone so please excuse not having official links!! I have sooooo much to learn but I'm very excited! Have a fabulous day!!