Friday, July 13, 2012

Just call me Alice...

...or "How I went from browsing to blogging in just six days." 

I felt a lot like Alice this week falling down the rabbit hole.  Here's the story:

First some background:

I'm spending my summer vacation mapping out my school year in preparation for September (it's actually more fun than it sounds).  One of my goals is to find more time for science and social studies.  Reading and math are the main events in first grade and everything else becomes secondary, even more so now that we're moving toward the new Common Core Standards.

So the easiest way to infuse more science and social studies into the curriculum is to capitalize on the stories in our reading series, Harcourt Trophies.  With titles like Ants, Fish are Fish, and Busy Buzzy Bees, it's clear I'll be spending a lot of time on living things. 

One thing led to another:
source

On Sunday, I scoured the Internet for a science journal my firsties could use to observe the ant farm and betta fish I'll bring to school.

On Monday, I gave up and made science journals for ants and betta fish myself.

On Tuesday, I created a seller's account on Teachers Pay Teachers. (I'd just spent 24 and a half hours wrangling with text boxes, why not make a few bucks, right?).

On Wednesday, I decided my first science journals sucked and learned how to make the cute kind people might actually buy (this took another 24 and a half hours).

On Thursday, I discovered people who sell those really cute products on Teachers Pay Teachers usually have really cute blogs to promote them (Hello Designer Blogs, my name is Alice).   

On Friday, I learned that if you build it, they won't necessarily come- not without some sort of incentive to get them there. Which leads me to....

The Giveaway:




I'm giving away a $5 donation to one follower's Donors Choose project, and I'll be sure to use any match codes that are available.  To enter, you must follow my blog with Google Friend Connect (the blue button on the right).  Then, leave a comment with your Donors Choose link and your email address. 

For an extra entry, you can also follow my Teachers Pay Teachers store.  Please leave a separate comment for your extra entry, again with a link to your Donors Choose project. And yeah, I realize I haven't actually uploaded any cute products into my TPT store (that's tomorrow's learning curve), but think of it as getting in on the ground floor- this way, you won't miss anything! 

I'll use Random.org to pick a winner August 1st.

In the meantime, be sure to check back often!  I'm blogging about those cute science journals I made next.

P.S.


My name isn't really Alice, and as of today I have no plans to reveal it.  But like everything else, that decision is subject to change in the next 24 and a half hours.




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32 comments:

  1. I just followed your blog!

    Www.donorschoose.org/mrsfarhat

    ReplyDelete
  2. Just started following your tpt store...good luck

    Www.donorschoose.org/mrsfarhat
    Kinder106.mf@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, I follow your blog and TPT page.
    www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/139073
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just started following your blog!

    www.donorschoose.org/mweipert
    meredith.weipert@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am also following you on TPT!

    www.donorschoose.org/mweipert
    meredith.weipert@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am following your blog, very cute! http://www.donorschoose.org/courtney.beckstead

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am now a follower! Congratulations on joining the blogging world! :)

    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/creating-financially-literate-students/815141/?verify=1224317400&challengeid=36148

    ~Stephanie
    Teaching in Room 6

    ReplyDelete
  8. Now following :) I hope I win! http://www.donorschoose.org/project/big-book-literacy-station/811296/?verify=1015182702&challengeid=169712

    ReplyDelete
  9. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY!
    damonqualls@yahoo.com

    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/distinguished-gentlemen-blaze-through/816995/?verify=197205270&challengeid=60952

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love your sense of humor, Alice! ;) I am your newest follower.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Snarky in the City doesn't sound like the right message to send for a teaching blog, so I'll try to reign it in (most of the time).

      Delete
  11. I am following your blog
    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/motivate-praise-understand/818028/?verify=234508575&challengeid=55552
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am following your TPT store. suzmini@hotmail.com
    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/motivate-praise-understand/818028/?verify=234508575&challengeid=55552
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi!

    I just found your blog thru a TPT post and I'm so glad I did. I'm also a first grade teacher, so I look forward to reading about your first grade experiences. What a wonderful sense of humor! I'm your newest follower.

    Mona
    First Grade Schoolhouse

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi there! Following your blog. vcheryle@yahoo.com http://www.donorschoose.org/project/help-us-make-writing-wondrous/796989/

    ReplyDelete
  15. http://www.donorschoose.org/mrs.janes

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am following your blog... http://www.donorschoose.org/project/help-me-regulate-my-senses/807104/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So, of course, I can't follow directions. Didn't see that it said to leave our email address (or I just forgot).. Enough said, my email is milymooc29@gmail.com

      Delete
  17. I am also following your TPT store... mily29

    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/help-me-regulate-my-senses/807104/

    Good luck on your new adventure! =D

    ReplyDelete
  18. HI, I am following your blog!
    http://www.donorschoose.org/mrs.cappelli
    cappelli53@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm following you on TPT!
    http://www.donorschoose.org/mrs.cappelli
    cappelli53@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. i'm following your blog! adinatm(at)aol.com
    https://secure.donorschoose.org/teacher/teacher.html

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hi! I've follwed your blog and connected to you with Google. The link to my project is: http://www.donorschoose.org/project/helping-us-become-beautiful/798817/
    ~ Pattie

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm following you on TPT. My project link is: http://www.donorschoose.org/project/helping-us-become-beautiful/798817/

    ReplyDelete
  23. Alice,
    Thanks for supporting Donors choose. Here's the link to my 1st project http://www.donorschoose.org/project/starting-on-the-write-track/817956/.
    Sasha

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just started following you at TPT too http://www.donorschoose.org/project/starting-on-the-write-track/817956/

    ReplyDelete
  25. following your blog

    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/lions-and-bulls-and-bears-oh-my/817439/

    stampingholly@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. following you tpt store

    http://www.donorschoose.org/project/lions-and-bulls-and-bears-oh-my/817439/

    stampingholly@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hello!

    Thanks for your tips.


    -Ms. Piazza
    http://www.donorschoose.org/mspiazza

    ReplyDelete
  28. http://www.donorschoose.org/project/my-students-need-materials/811850/?verify=-2080841475&challengeid=217165

    ReplyDelete
  29. I just followed your blog through GFC! My name is Caitlyn Delaney.

    My email is caitpre(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I also follow you on TpT.

    -Caitlyn (caitpre(at)yahoo(dot)com

    my donors choose projects: www.donorschoose.org/ms.pre

    my own TpT store: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Pres-Printables

    ReplyDelete