Schoolapalooza and A Class*y Cruise!

There's so much going on all around the blogosphere it's hard to keep up, but it sure is exciting!

The gals over at A Class*y Collaboration are partying along with everyone else. And just one party, but TWO! That's right...

The first is a chance to link up your classroom reveal posts and photos. I must say that these are always my favourite post of the whole year. I love to see how other people organize their rooms, how they adapt the ideas they find from other people and all the beautiful things they have created for their rooms and students.

Click on the image above to head on over to

 A Class*y Collaboration to link up your own posts 

and check out the ideas of others. 

I'm in a unique situation this year as I am currently pregnant and will only be returning to school for 9 days total. I am planning to link up with some pictures from last year's classroom as well as my plans for how to start a class that I will only occupy for 9 days! It's going to be difficult that's for sure.

Any helpful hints or suggestions you have would be great!

The second event going on over at A Class*y Collaboration is Schoolapalooza! That's a mouthful!

Each day a couple of bloggers will be highlighted and exclusive freebies will be offered at A Class*y Collaboration and their teaching blogs. Be sure to check back everyday to pick up your freebies!

My freebies will be part of my Back to School Teacher Binder Series.

I will be back tomorrow with more freebies for your Teacher Binder right here at Thinking of Teaching. Then when my turn comes around on A Class*y Collaboration there will be two exclusive freebies from my series available over there! 

Back to School, Thirty-One and the Perfect School Bag Link Up

I've been reading all sorts of Back to School posts and seeing tonnes of Instagram pics...oh dear, not already! Here in Ontario we don't go back to school until September 3rd and this year since I am pregnant I might not be going back at all. However, that's not stopping me from planning, and pinning and getting lots of ideas....for September 2014.

One of the first things I did is host an online Thirty-One party for my friends and family because Thirty-One is now in Canada! Oh my goodness I have been waiting FOREVER to be able to order everything from Thirty-One! Ever since I first saw their products on a number of teacher blogs I knew I wanted it...all.  

I learned that Thirty-One was in Canada from Teaching is a Gift when she hosted a Thirty-One giveaway awhile back.

Through her blog I found Jen Bellinger who is not only a teacher but a Thirty-One consultant here in Ontario. I urge ALL Canadian teachers to get in touch with her, get a catalogue and get ordering!

Here's her contact info:
Jen Bellinger
Website: https://www.mythirtyone.ca/JenBellinger/
Email:  jens31canada@gmail.com

Meanwhile, Lessons from the Middle is having a super fun Thirty-One giveaway on her Facebook page. 

The party is tonight from 9pm to 10pm on her Facebook page so set an alarm and don't forget to stop by. 

In celebration of Back to School I'm hosting a linky party!

I want to know what your teacher bag looks like. Is it big, huge, multiple bags? Lots of pockets, one big pit? Do you have a separate lunch bag? What do you keep in your bag? Share it all. 

I'll be back soon with some picture of my own bag...my new Thirty-One bag that is, and perhaps some bags from the past. 

Chapter 10- Building Mathematical Comprehension

This is chapter I have been looking forward to the MOST!

I really tried to implement Guided Math in my classroom this past year and while it worked for awhile, I found it difficult to keep up as I was teaching a new grade for the first time. 

Next year though!!!!

<div class="Primary Inspired" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 200px;"> <a href="http://primaryinspired.blogspot.com/p/guided-math-book-study.html"> <img src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m605/primaryinspired/9bcea6c1-e4bb-4cd5-9b02-8e175843492e.jpg" /> </a> </div> </a> Here are the final hosts of our fabulous book study! Thanks to everyone who participated.
Adventures in Room 129
Learning in Progress get the InLinkz code

Must Have Mondays- Water Bottle Edition

Hello all! I am back from my wonderful two weeks at the cottage which means I can start to catch up on the Building Mathematical Comprehension Bookstudy...I am dreadfully behind! I can post more frequently! I can make more freebies! And I can read more of your blogs!

All good stuff.

I am jumping in with Sabra from Teaching with a Touch of Twang this week and her Must Have Monday linky party. 

One of my must haves for school is a good water bottle. I drink A LOT of water during the day so I need one that can stand up to that and won't empty too fast. On the other hand I don't want it to be so heavy that I can even lift it either. This past school year I was in a portable, which means I had access to water only during my prep periods or recess. If I had been in the building, I would have had water in my room. Sigh.

There are a few things I have come to realize that I don't like in a water bottle ...

1. I refuse to drink out of a plastic, throwaway bottle. They cause way too much damage to the world. Reusable only, and if I forget mine then it's a mug or glass for me.

2. I don't like having to unscrew the lid to drink. I know it takes very little effort but I want to drink with one hand. So that means these types don't work for me, but they might work for you. 

Photo via Amazon

Photo via Amazon

3. I don't like drinking out of metal bottles. I think I can taste the metal, but maybe I'm crazy? I do like the sleek look of the above bottles and it seems like they wouldn't leak all over my bag.

Photo via Amazon

4. No spouts please! You could drink this with one hand but I hate feeling like I am always in the middle of a soccer game.

Photo via Amazon

Okay, so what do I like?

I like to be able to drink with one hand. I want a bottle that doesn't leak all over my bag. No metal.

My water bottle of choice is.... a Contigo Autoseal bottle.

They come in a wide variety of colours and options.

Insulated- double wall 18 ounces

24 ounces- my personal choice!

They even have them in kids!

All Contigo photos via Amazon.

I will drink 3 full 24 oz Contigos of water a day while I am at school. I love that I can grab it with one hand, unseal the spout and drink away. I can throw it in my bag, or if you get the one with the attached carabiner it'll clip to your bag and it'll never spill or leak.

They even make coffee cups!

Photo via Amazon

(Yes, I know it's metal...somehow a metal cup for my coffee doesn't bother me the way it does for water! I weird. I've learned to live with it)

I purchased my Contigo cups all at Costco where they usually come in a variety pack (2-3 cups/bottles) for a very good price. And a wide range of colours. They are also available on Amazon...just click on the pictures of above.

Should any of the other water bottles pictured interest you, click on those pictures to connect to Amazon as well.

What's your Must Have??

Facebook Fangate

The lovely ladies of A Class*y Collaboration are at it again!

Head on over to our Facebook page, "like" us on Facebook for your chance to pick up an exclusive Facebook Fan freebie! 

Chapter 9- Building Mathematical Comprehension

Monitoring Mathematical Comprehension

<div class="Primary Inspired" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 200px;"> <a href="http://primaryinspired.blogspot.com/p/guided-math-book-study.html"> <img src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m605/primaryinspired/9bcea6c1-e4bb-4cd5-9b02-8e175843492e.jpg" /> </a> </div> </a> I think this is going to be one of the most important chapters in the book. Now that we've learned all about teaching using literacy strategies in Math...how do we make sure our students are getting it?
This chapter's hosts are...
Primary Inspired

Toad-ally Exceptional Learners

get the InLinkz code

Pin It to Win It!

Brenda from Primary Inspiration and our new blog, A Class *y Collaboration has a fun giveaway going on called Pin-It-to-Win-It as part of our Building Mathematical Comprehension Book Study!

Click on this link to find out how you can Pin-It-to-Win-It! 

Building Mathematical Comprehension- Chapter 8

This chapter is all about synthesizing....hmmm! Sounds deep. 

<div class="Primary Inspired" style="margin: 0 auto; width: 200px;"> <a href="http://primaryinspired.blogspot.com/p/guided-math-book-study.html"> <img src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m605/primaryinspired/9bcea6c1-e4bb-4cd5-9b02-8e175843492e.jpg" /> </a> </div> </a> Here are this chapter's hosts. Don't forget to show them some comment love!
Second Grade is Out of This World

Pam's Place

get the InLinkz code

Follower Freebie Pack

Have you gone over to check out A Class*y Collaboration yet? 

 

I sure hope so, but if not you are in luck. Starting today, July 16th and running until July 30th, all of our current and soon-to-be followers will receive an amazing Freebie Pack for followers only!!

It's very simple. All you need to do is go to A Class*y Collaboration, become a follower using Bloglovin- (it's awesome) and then fill in the Rafflecopter with your email address to get your copy of the Followers Only Freebie Pack!!!

How amazing is that? 

But it gets better!! One lucky follower will also win a $50 gift card to Target, TpT or Amazon. 

Make sure you're a follower today. 

Want to catch up on all the posts for the Building Mathematical Comprehension book study? 

Don't want to scroll through a whole bunch of posts?

Do I have a solution for you!

At the top of my home page you will see a link to "Professional Reading (Summer Book Series). Just CLICK on this title to find the links for ALL 10 chapters of the Building Mathematical Comprehension Book Study in one place!