Sunday, July 31, 2016

Best Year Ever Sale and Giveaway!

By now, you've heard the news. It's time for the TpT Back-to-School SALE!! Shout it from the rooftops, because this is the going to be the

I am so excited about this year for so many reasons. Last year, I took some time off from TpT to focus on my new job as our school librarian (Best JOB Ever!). Now, I am ready to go!

The Teachers Pay Teachers "Best Year Ever" Back to School Sale runs Monday, August 1 - Tuesday, August 2. Are you ready? Don't forget to enter the "BestYear" code for additional savings, up to 28% off!

I am hosting my first big giveaway. I know what you all want -- TpT gift cards! (My shopping cart is bursting, too!)  I'm also throwing in your choice of resources from my store, if there's something you can use.

Here's the deal. The more people who enter the giveaway, the bigger the gift card will be, up to $25!!

If up to 50 people enter the giveaway, the winner will receive a $5 TpT gift card.
If up to 100 people enter the giveaway, the winner will receive a $10 TpT gift card.
If up to 200 people enter the giveaway, the winner will receive a $15 TpT gift card.
If up to 400 people enter the giveaway, the winner will receive a $20 TpT gift card.
If up to 1000 people enter the giveaway, the winner will receive a $25 TpT gift card.

That's right! Up to $25!

So...get busy! Enter to win and share the news! The more who enter, the bigger the prize!


The giveaway runs through August 2, so I'll announce the winner on August 3.
Enter Here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Saturday, July 30, 2016

The Grasshoppers in My Stomach are Telling Me It's Time. BTS 2016

You'd think I'd have this Back-to-Thing down. After all, I've been teaching since the age of dinosaurs. Well, maybe not that long, but let's just say that "Internet" wasn't a thing yet when I entered my first classroom.  Despite the number of years, I still get the familiar grasshoppers in my stomach at the thought of back-to-school. (No, not butterflies. These things eat butterflies for lunch.)

It starts (way too early -- July?!  Really?!) when I see the bulging bins of school supplies as I stroll through the aisles of Target. I happily ignore them, of course. I have time.

Then I start getting the emails. When I bother checking school email during the summer, I see lots of spam (does Oriental Trading Company know it's summer break? apparently not), which I happily delete. (Why let it pile up?)  In about the 3rd week of July, it starts to hit. The real emails. In-service schedules.  New protocols. New testing. Joy.

I begin to face the reality then. It's here. And I'm not ready. I haven't spent the summer finishing the inventory in the library or cleaning out the files my office. In fact, I didn't even think about my library.

I spent the first couple of weeks binge watching Haven on Netflix. Then there was the TpT Orlando conference (magical!). And Harry Potter World (so AWESOME)! I spent the next few weeks on the computer, happily revising resources I had created three years ago, putting my knowledge about creating covers and thumbnails to work.  Summer just sort of slipped away.

Suddenly I find myself on my computer, getting ready to plan my year. (OK fine so I'm procrastinating.) What will we accomplish in the library this year?

Of course, I will inspire young children to read! I will introduce them to new people and set them on their paths to all sorts of amazing adventures. Just HOW will I do that, you ask?  I don't know, yet. That part will come.

First, I'm going to sit in the garden with my cup of coffee and enjoy what's left of summer. I can keep the grasshoppers at bay for another day.