Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Hoppily Ever After

I have been spending an obscene amount of time on my couch. I call in TV circuit training...Live with Kelly, The View, The Talk, Ellen....it's all rotting my brain!! Then I have become addicted to Pinterest, oy! Well, today I decided to go visit blogs during Coop's naptime and WOW, I was truly amazed at how many bloggers have decided to post almost everything on Teachers Pay Teachers. I started my blog one year ago and went into it thinking "what a great way to share materials and ideas." To each his own I guess. **(I changed this to red in response to a comment. If you don't feel the need to defend your choices, then don't. I'm not asking anyone to defend their right to post on TPT. I just believe that it is not for me, and I was truly amazed at how many people don't share anymore. I am not discouraging anyone from purchasing units or materials. Furthermore, we all have our stories....I could honestly careless how anyone is using their income....my choice is to share my stuff....your choice is not to...so what? Sorry that you don't appreciate my opinion, but it is just that, my opinion on my blog. I am not asking anyone to defend themselves. I am not bashing anyone.

All right, let me step off my soap box.

I have had such a difficult time creating things. I guess out of the classroom and home with a 7 week old changes ones focus, eh? By the way, Cooper is wonderful! He was having some major tummy troubles, but it looks like we have figured things out, so he isn't spending all his time awake screaming...seriously. You can get your Coop fix here http://thefalliblemommy.blogspot.com/. I posted some of our favorite songs/lyrics there if you're really desperate, lol.

Anywho, I have some things that I started for a little Fairy Tale Fun. Some of it I created a loooong time ago, some of it I created today....none of it has been used in my classroom...here's hoping they aren't all full of mistakes!

If you are looking for Valentine's Day, 100th Day, President's Day, or Community Helpers....look here....
http://kinder-pond.blogspot.com/2011/01/love-hoppens.html
http://kinder-pond.blogspot.com/2011/01/hoppy-100th-day.html
http://kinder-pond.blogspot.com/2011/01/presidents-day.html
http://kinder-pond.blogspot.com/2011/02/these-are-people-in-your-neighborhood.html

As always, I hope you find something you can use. I also hope you will find something that you created to share with someone... :0)

Enjoy!
Shannon


All documents contain fonts that are copyright DJ Inkers. Virtually all documents contain graphics that are copyright DJ Inkers. They are used with permission. Please visit http://www.djinkers.com/, for wonderful clipart and fonts.
Cards to use to ask questions with. These are actually in our Fairy Tale Homework bag.
Story Cards


Little Red Hen Sight Word Scramble Worksheet

Fairy Tale Syllable Sort

Bear to Porridge Ending Sound Picture Match

3 Little Pigs Vowel Matching

Three Little Kitten Picture to Word Match

Castle Counting by 10's Center Cards

Castle Counting by 10's

Fairy Squeeze

Fairy Tale Graphing Worksheet

Three Bears Missing Number Worksheet

Goldilocks Number Matching

These little cards can be used for whatev, but they are intended to be used as practice for patterning. The sheet that follows is a recording sheet. I used these type of cards during my insect unit. I copied the recording sheet on 11x14 paper, I believe.
Fairy Tale Pattern Cards

Fairy Tale Patterns Recording Sheet

29 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing. I pinned this post on my pinterest so more teachers can find your cute ideas. I think little pictures of what each activity looks like would be perfect, but I understand you have your hands full. I hope Cooper feels better.
    Life with Mrs. L
    P.S. I love your blog design. It is perfect for this month. Did you make it?

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  2. Thank you for sharing!!! We started fairy tales this week. I can't wait to get to work tomorrow so I can print your things. Thanks again!

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  3. I stand corrected. Your previews did not show up in my document feeder. Forgive me?
    Life with Mrs. L

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  4. Hi Shannon! I'm glad to hear that Cooper is doing well. :)
    I have never done a fairy tale unit before, but these activities are fabulous! Thank you for sharing! I have bought a couple things from Teachers Pay Teachers too and I do struggle with it. Not because I think the teachers don't deserve credit for their hard work, because they do, but more because everything now seems to be sold in huge unit packets in order to sell them for higher amounts. I have gotten really excited about a purchase and then eventually feel like I spent a ton of money because I am only able to use a couple things from the very large packet. I have said it before, but I will keep saying it because it is true...I will always appreciate your willingness to share your amazing products!! We have never met, but based on the amount of things I use in my classroom that you have shared with me it would look like we have known each other for a long time. Thank you thank you for helping me improve my teaching and continue to inspire my students!
    Kari :)

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  5. Thanks for the freebies Shannon! I agree with you...I started my blog for the very same reason. I love coming to your blog and finding great ideas and I hope you can visit mine and get ideas and freebies too. I am not saying anything bad about people who sell on TpT because I know they spend a lot of time on those things but it should be more about sharing. Thanks!

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  6. Hi Shannon,
    I love your blog and your activities. Thank you so much for all your work! I also follow Kathleen Pederson's blog and love her work (you two are my favorite of all the blogs I follow). I've only bought one thing on TPT. It was okay. Mostly I stick to blogs where I can see descriptions.
    Lynola
    http://pcskindergarten5.blogspot.com/

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  7. Thanks Shannon---absolutely love following your blog and am so thankful for everything you share!

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  8. Thank you for all that you share! What do you use for writing lessons? My school does not have something school wide for writing and is looking for ideas. Check out my blog for this post at http://petersonsprimarypeeps.blogspot.com/

    Thank you for your help
    Michelle

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  9. I have to be honest. As much as I love you sharing for free, I think TPT can be a great way to make extra money for those who need it. As a fellow blogger who has been through infertility treatments yourself, I think you know just how expensive they can be.

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  10. thanks for always posting freebies! I try to post some freebies on my blog as often as I can. I get a lot of emails from people asking me to email such and such activity which I am happy to do so. I struggle with the whole TPT thing, too.

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  11. Hi Shannon,
    I'm glad to hear that Cooper is doing better. Thanks for posting freebies. I started my blog for the same reasons as you. I do, however, have a few items available on TpT, but I try to keep my items small and cheap. I have bought a few items with my earnings (which are minimal!), and I often find that while the large unit initially looks great, I can only use a few items from the whole unit. For that reason, I usually just stick to using freebies from other blogs, and, sadly, fewer teachers are offering them up. I completely understand that many teachers sell on TpT to make some extra cash (Lord knows we have disgusting salaries), but I struggle with the idea of spending $10 for a unit for the same reason.
    I wish my reading program covered fairy tales; these freebies are absolutely adorable, and USEFUL!
    Thanks for sharing!
    LeAnne
    Hangin' with Mrs. Cooper

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  12. Thank you for sharing all your freebies. I love coming to your site and finding all kinds of great ideas!
    Megan
    mhorman@north-cedar.k12.ia.us

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  13. Hi Shannon,

    I sorry to hear that Cooper is struggling a bit. I know from having two babies that cried A LOT when you are doing everything you can to help them, it is hard.

    I am struggling to with the whole TPT thing. I only give freebies at my site but I have bought many packets from others and it is starting to add up. I also started blogging as a way to share with others and sometimes I feel like I am reading advertisements for TPT.

    I love your free ideas...and I am very thankful :)

    Sue
    theverybusykindergaren

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  14. Hey there Shannon! I know I've told you before, but I LOVE what you do and LOVE your philosophy. I am always using your freebies in the classroom (I always link back to you and give you full credit). I have worked in a small Catholic school for 12 years - I have a master's degree and make at least 40% less than my public school partners. Yes, I choose this. But at the same time, it's very difficult to make large purchases. I have 2 things posted on TPT. It took me longer to post than it did to create and share on my blog.
    Anyhoo, THANK YOU for being such a giving teacher/friend to us. I began blogging almost a year ago...for the same exact reason - to share - to get support and ideas - to share with my student's families - not to shop.
    Pelase stop over for a visit AND a giveaway opportunity.
    PS-any new pics of Cooper?
    ❤Tanya
    Ms. Solano's Kindergarten

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  15. Shannon,
    I just wanted to say how grateful I am for all you do. This was my first year teaching Kindergarten and I couldn't have done it without you! Thank you so much for sharing and giving back. You are impacting kids in Washington, Dc too!

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  16. I so appreciate all you do! Your ideas are fabulous, and you are so generous with them. I understand those who want to make a little money off of their ideas. What is driving me crazy recently is that many bloggers are only posting "commercials" for their products. I love seeing what others are doing in their classrooms, I just wish all the postings weren't directing me towards TPT to buy something every single time they post.

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  17. Thanks for all the great freebies! I love your blog. I am so glad things are going great for you now with your little sweetie.

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  18. Thank you for the freebies! I love everything you post!

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  19. Hi Shannon,
    Thanks for ALL that you share! I don't plan on buying anything at the moment, but I tried to look up the lady you mentioned from TPT in case I ever wanted to pay for activities/ideas....I couldn't find her. Is she just listed as Kathleen Pederson or something else?
    I also enjoyed reading your Mommy blog! ;)

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  20. HI Shannon! Glad Cooper is on the mend and you are enjoying your little sweetie! As always, thank you for your generosity. I was able to go back to your Valentine's link and find a couple of new things!
    Thank you!!

    ~ Amy

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  21. Kathleen's blog...http://growingkinders.blogspot.com/

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  22. I just have to say I am a huge fan of your blog. I also blog and create free printables. I have to agree with you about how sad it is that so many are going to TPT. I am always extremely thankful for your printables though. Thank you for all that you do! :)

    Elizabeth from Creative Learning Fun

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  23. I so agree with you. It use to be so easy to look at blogs and find numerous ideas for free, it has come down to what everyone is selling so sad. I love your freebies and used them all the time when I was in kinder.
    Love reading about little Cooper.

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  24. Shannon....
    Thanks for all of your freebies! I love them! I tagged you on my blog because I love your blog so much! If you get time I hope you play! Come over to my blog to see how! I would love to see your answers!!!!

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  25. Shannon,
    Thank you very much for sharing your ideas and not charging! I just don't have the extra money to buy anything from TpT. Plus, are any of the ideas really original... in our field we see and idea and we change it to fit our students.
    Sorry to hear about Cooper. My son had collic and it seemed that gripe water helped him.

    Thanks again!

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  26. Shannon. I first discoverd your blog at the beginning of the school year. I am a first year teacher and loved the ideas and the excitement that radiates from your blog. I love and check your blog weekly. :D I have since decided to start my own blog. I too become frustrated by TPT, but am doing my best to throw some ideas out there and to create and share with others. (just like we learn in kindergaten...to share.) http://sprinklesunshinekinder.blogspot.com/

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  27. Hi Shannon, I so agree with you too. I have bought a few things because I got caught up in the hype and haven't used any of it. I use your stuff in the classroom all the time and my kids love it. You have inspired me to start my own blog and I plan on following your philosophy of sharing my creations and not selling them. I love if you would check it out. It's dogdaysofkindergarten.blogspot.com

    Thanks

    Sharon

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  28. Shannon, I could not agree with you more. I think the whole TPT thing is COMPLETELY out of hand. I find that when I visit blogs I feel as though they are an advertisement for their TPT account and NOT a blog about their classroom. It wouldn’t be so bad if these units were actually worth the money, but they are not. I have bought several units from a few “top sellers” and could not have been more disappointed with what I received. They are definitely not worth the money and I am only able to use a few ideas. So, thank you for all you do and your willingness to SHARE and be generous with your materials. It is very much appreciated.

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  29. I am glad that you said "to each his own" because I totally agree!

    I do sell on TpT, but more importantly in my opinion - I GIVE from TpT! I currently have about 60 items and over half of them are FREE. The little bit of money I have made is nice, but I also enjoy seeing that some of my free products have had hundreds of downloads! To top it all off, I would much rather know the money I am going to spend out of pocket (which I end up doing whether I want to or not!) is going to other teachers rather than big corporations.

    Yes, my blog posts have some TpT stuff in them, but often it's a one-liner at the end of the post. Plus - my blog has 17 of 63 posts with freebies included!

    If you are looking for all freebies, all the time, you should all check out http://www.classroomfreebies.com/ or http://www.classroomfreebiestoo.com/ There you will see many TpT sellers GIVING of their items. :)

    Again, "to each his own".

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