It can be a zoo around here…

Sometimes it seems that my life can be a real zoo. Between everyone coming and going, it does get quite hectic and crazy. Although right, it seems to be the calm before the storm. I am gearing up for IEP season. Time to schedule appointments and begin writing all the amazing things my kiddos have accomplished.

My son started a new job working on the weekends. I am not sure how I feel about this. It seems like just yesterday I brought him home from the NICU. Boy, how time has flown by. One of my favorite sounds is “You’re gonna miss this” by Trace Adkins. I do miss my baby, but he has grown up to be a great “young” adult and am very proud of him.

By popular demand….. A new Zoo unit was posted on TPT.

This 80 page zoo themed unit is filled with 20 different math and literacy activities. Here is a “glimpse” at some of the titles.

• Born to Be Wild
• Lion Tails
• Hungry Hungry Hippos
• Eye of the Tiger
• Cheetah Chant
• Monkey in the Middle
• Elephant Ears

I have a few mini units (10 activities) and a few regular (20+ activities) in the works. I am hoping to have them up by Easter. Many of you have been sending requests and I am trying to fill them. I truly appreciate all the suggestions. You’re all AMAZING!!!! The emails and kind words have been filling my bucket to the brim.

Is there something you would like to see? Just send me a line and let me know. mfresh2@aol.com   

Here is a mini “zoo” freebie pack just for you!!!

                       

Hope you enjoy!!!

Always,

Melissa

So much to do…So little time…

Good Morning my bloggy friends. As I flipped through my calendar yesterday, I was shocked to see we only have 39.5 instructional days left. (Oh My Word, It is flying bye!) There is so much to squeeze in before the end of the year. As you all know, I am a special education teacher so the end of the year means I will be spending a lot of time in front of my computer writing iep’s for next year. I am trying a new approach this year. I am going to try and stay on top of things and get them done without having a mini breakdown. Do any of you get stressed during iep season???

I have finally added my Spring Unit to TPT!! Yea!! I have a few more things in the works and hope to get my next one up by Wednesday evening. I appreciate all of the emails and requests. It does help when I am creating. I try to focus most of the activities around my kinders that I work with as well as some of my firsties, but do try and incorporate other ideas as well.

I am loving my new Spring Spectacular Unit

It is filled with 22 activities. (12 Math and 10 Literacy)

Math Concepts:

Tally Counting
Addition
Time (Digital & Analog)
Money
Odd/Even Numbers
Fractions
Graphing and Analysis
Measurement, plus more…

Literacy Concepts:

Blends
Digraphs
Syllable Counting
Vowel Recognition
Sight Word Recognition
Word Building
Ending Sounds
Rhyming, plus more…

I hope you all enjoy this unit as much as I did creating it!!

Always, Melissa

Have You Heard The News?

One of my favorite gals, Erica Bohrer, has published another book for Scholastic. Oh My Goodness, Oh My Goodness I am so excited for her. I can’t wait for my copy to come in the mail.

Erica is a super sweet gal and her blog Erica Bohrer’s First Grade is simply spectacular. I love her Common Core Aligned Activities and Theme Units.

Her newest book 20 Super Spelling Centers will be released on April 1st!! Click on the picture below to head on over to amazon to pre-order.

Her First Book Just Right Reading Response Activity Sheets for Young Learners  (Published May 2010) Is a great tool for any K-2 Classroom. Click on the picture to head on over to amazon to purchase. Trust me you won’t be disappointed.

I just wanted to give a little shout out to Miss Erica!!!

You rock girl!!!

Always, Melissa

Spring Time….

I am loving this beautiful “spring” weather we are having here in West Virginia. It is so hard to believe we made it through the winter without one snow day. Although, I normally love it when the snowbird flies and we have a delay or cancellation, I will be thoroughly enjoy my spring break coming up soon.

I have been getting so many emails asking about new my units and have had several requests for mini units. I have been working hard to try and fill requests and have several units in the works. Thanks for being patient.
I do have a few items posted with an Easter/Spring Theme from last year

Easter Extravaganza

Hippity Hoppity Measurement

Hippity Hoppity Addition Cards

Someone recently asked me about how I got started with my blog. Well, it was actually a fluke. I was taking an online professional development course working on my Master’s plus hours. One of the course requirements was to start a blog. I had no clue what a blog even was. ( I was not techno savvy and everything I knew, I taught myself.) Luckily, I had a colleague/friend at school who was a computer whiz and she helped me with the initial set up. Thanks Ashley!!!!

I had no clue what to name my blog. I was at home and I thought my name is Mrs. Freshwater… I am taking a class… within seconds Mrs. Freshwater’s Class was born! Not the most creative nor ingenious names but at the time it fit the purpose. (I was Mrs. Freshwater and I was taking a class.)

Thanks for reading and will share more answers to your questions soon. It’s time to head out and enjoy this beautiful weather we are having. Oh my goodness, I love the sunshine!!

Always, Melissa

It’s a “LUCKY” Giveaway!!!!

 

We are having a ..."Lucky" Giveaway!

Top Of the Morning to Ya!

We are having a "lucky" St. Patrick's Day Weekend Giveaway! I am so excited to join 8 other amazing bloggers in this exciting "green" giveaway!

We will choose one lucky winner

on Sunday evening to win the

following amazing

teaching resources!

Winner will be chosen from Sassy in Second!!!!

All you have to do is follow each blog and tpt store!

Leave a note on each blog with your name and contact information.

Mrs. Freshwater's Class Blog and TPT Store

Lory's Page Blog and TPT store

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun Courage Unit

Pink Tiara Cookies for Three Character Unit

Primary Graffiti's Blog and TPT store

Erica Bohrer's Blog and TPT store

Kilburn's Kiddos Blog and TPT store

Sweet Confections' Blog and TPT store

Donna's Spring Pack!

Kinderglynn's Blog and TPT store

Sunny Day's Blog and TPT store

Yvonne Dixon's Blog and TPT store

Thank you for participating

and good luck!

Calling all “Pinterest” lovers!!!!!

Oh My Goodness!!! Oh My Goodness!!! I just discovered pinerly. Thank you Charity Preston from The Organized Classroom Blog! (You’re AMAZING!!)

Pinerly is a new site to help you manage all of those amazing pins and help organize your addiction. When I started pinning last May, I was addicted within the first few weeks. I was constantly staring at my phone and pinning and re-pinning amazing ideas for my home and classroom.

Unfortunately, Pinerly is not open to the public yet… I need ten friends (I am calling on my fabulous bloggy friends to help me out!)

Head on over using this link http://www.pinerly.com/i/1ygK3 and sign up. It’s a 5 second process- Just enter your email.

Thank you my fabulous bloggy friends for helping me out. You guys are WONDERFUL!!!!!

 Shamrock Update

It’s not easy being green…I received an email from a TPT buyer asking me to change my clocks in my Shamrock Math and Literacy Unit. She needed clocks with numbers for her kiddos.

I am attaching them here for you to upload just in case your kiddos may need this style of clocks. These are just the “clock” cards. The recording sheet and directions are in the unit.

P.S. I have a few new units in the works (all popular requests) plus I will be blogging and answering your questions. You guys are simply amazing!!!!! Have a “GREAT” Evening!

Always, Melissa