Weekly Summer Link Up: One Item That Means The World To Me

Hi everyone!  I am linking up with Miss Monica at I Heart Grade 3 for one of her weekly summer links ups.  This week the topic is One Item That Means the World to Me.

Being able to choose things that are important in my life isn't hard, but choosing one ITEM that I can't live without, that's challenging.  Even though it's a little difficult, I managed to choose one thing that I knew I couldn't live without....my E-READER!  For those of you who know me, and for those of you who don't, I love to read!  When I'm not hanging out with my family or doing things for school, you can find me huddled up next to my Nook reading away.  I read pretty much anything I can get my hands on, but I really love YA novels, especially Dystopian reads!  

When I was younger I hated reading.  I hated reading because I thought I wasn't good at it and I didn't like being told what to read.  One summer, while staying with my Ami (my grandma), she tasked me with reading for 30 minutes each day.  30 minutes seemed like such a looooong time, but like most challenges I was up for it.  I will never forget the one piece of advice she gave me, "Read what you want.  Don't read something you don't like.  Reading is reading, no matter what you are reading."  

That summer I started reading Archie Comics and my world opened up to the possibilities that literature could provide.  I will never forget those words of encouragement my Ami gave to me that one summer day, so much so, that I still pass it on to my own students.  During our Daily 5 time in class, my students have the opportunity to read independently or with a partner.  During that time they can choose to read whatever they want as long as they are engaged and reading.  I have had students bring in auto classifieds, comic books, scrapbooks (they create their own stories by "reading" the pictures), and more!  

Reading is reading, no matter what you are reading.

Blog Giveaway Winner and Tech Camp 2.0

Y'all--I had such a great blog launch last Friday and I wanted to say thank you to all that visited my blog and entered in the blog giveaway too!  On the day that my blog officially launched my family and I were on a road trip to Phoenix to soak up a little sunshine and lounge by the pool, hence why I've been MIA.  I was still able to contact the winner and I wanted to give her a quick shoutout: Chrissy L!  The Gleam app randomly chose the winner and I am so happy that my first giveaway was a success.  Congrats again Chrissy L and thanks for checking out my blog :).  

I am so excited for next week as I will be attending another summer PD session with some of my favorite techie teachers in my district.  Last summer, one of my 2nd grade teammates and I had the opportunity to attend a technology camp offered by our school district and Apple.  After attending the week long session we were hooked on all things TECH!  We learned different ways to integrate technology into our classrooms that would be meaningful for our students.  Since then, both of us went on to become Apple Vanguard members and are currently pursuing certification to become Apple Vanguard coaches for our school district.

Next week we will have the opportunity to share some of our lighthouse lessons with others across the district and some of us are in the process of creating iTunes U course materials too!  I am going to be snapping some photos and keeping all of you in the loop as we delve into the possibilities that technology allows for educators, our students, and our classrooms.   Stay tuned!  

Blog Launch Giveaway

Yay!  It's finally here!  As you can see I have already starting blogging, but I wanted an official launch date to help me work out all the kinks (which I am still working on by the way).  For those of you who have hopped on over because someone shared the giveaway information, WELCOME!  Please start following my blog by clicking the follow button on the bottomish right column of the blog :)

As you follow my blog I promise to the following:

I promise to blog about the ups and sometimes downs of teaching.
I promise to share all of the really AMAZING things that my students are learning and doing!
                  and....
I promise to be honest.

Now...on to why you're REALLY HERE!  Included in the blog launch giveaway are some of my favorite things to have as a teacher.  I have included a chevron iPad case, because I just got one myself and I LOVE it!  There are two items from Target, which include a $10 gift card and a set of flair pens.  Target is the place to be for teachers and one of my favorite items to purchase from there are the flair pens.  Who doesn't love those awesomely colored pens!?  And last, but certainly not least, is a gorgeous custom cup (yes, you get to pick what it says, the colors, and all that jazz) from my dear friend Stacey's BRAND New shop Dream It Up Designs.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and I hope you continue to check in and see what I'm up to in my classroom!  I hope you are all having an amazing summer and good luck in the giveaway!

Blog Launch Giveaway

Heart Confessions: Summer Linky

I am loving all these summer link ups with my new blogging friends!  As a new blogger I am finding the blogging world a bit intimidating, but have a few veterans who are willing to help me out! One of my new blogger friends is Mrs. Bryant!  She is a NM blogger too and I am really happy that I was able to connect with her.  She started this totally awesome linky called Heart Confessions and I am jumping on the bandwagon to list some of my summer confessions for you :).

Heart Confession #1: I spend way too much time with my nose in my Kindle over the summer :).  Okay, that's kind of a lie...I spend way too much time with my nose in my Kindle ALWAYS!  I love to read! I read pretty much anything and enjoy when others make recommendations too!  I have a HUGE addiction to YA novels and am particularly fond of series such as Hunger Games, The Uglies, and the Maze Runner.  Dystopian Fiction much?  I think so!   

Heart Confession #2: I tend to get a bit obsessive when searching and creating things for my new classroom theme! I love to scavenger at garage sales, thrift stores, and vintage shops when looking for items/materials for my upcoming classroom theme.  I love THEMED CLASSROOMS!  Last year, my classroom was decked out in all things PIRATE.  My husband built an awesome pirate ship reading nook and we covered my reading crates with this amazing pirate fabric.  To me, having a theme in the class makes learning more interesting.  My students love to find stuff themed related too, whether it be picture books, stuffed animals, or rare finds such as PIRATE MAPS :).  Here is a SNEAK PEEK at a fabric swatch that is my inspiration for my new theme.  Any guesses as to what it is?  

Heart Confession #3: I cherish the memories I get to make with my own kiddos over the summer!  During the school year, our lives can be pretty hectic and we sometimes forget to slow down.  Over the summer we can take our time and really appreciate the little things.  I especially love the mornings that both of my kiddos climb into bed and snuggle with me.  We don't have to rush off anywhere and can just hang out!  This is my FAVORITE part of summer!! Spending time reconnecting with my littles and making lasting memories.  

Don't forget to hop on over to Mrs. Bryant's Blog!  Click her FAB button below :). 

My first Linky and Currently

Yay!  I am so excited to link up with Oh Boy Fourth Grade for my first ever LINKY called Currently.   Well, since it is summer I am currently doing a lot, because I have the time :).

Summer lovin:  I am headed for a girl's weekend in Denver for a friend's Bachelorette and I couldn't be more excited for some girl time!  My family is headed to Phoenix to bask in the sunshine and lounge by the pool!  

I hope your summer is off to a great start!  Don't forget to check back in 7 days for my official blog LAUNCH!  

Launch Day Giveaway

Welcome!

Hi everyone and welcome to my NEW blog Patterson in Primary!  I cannot tell you how excited I am to start this new adventure and share my experiences and day to day happenings as a teacher.

Since it is summertime (thank goodness) my first posts will be about summer professional development, classroom prepping (my theme for 2015-2016 is SUPER cute), and even some vacation details.  My blog will officially launch at the end of June, but I wanted to get something started for anyone who happened to come across this blog.

For now.....here are some of my favorites for SUMMER:

Paisley Notebook and Flair Pens (purchased at Target).  I am in LOVE with these!  I bought these as a special treat for my summer PD classes.  Taking notes in a cute notebook with colorful pens is a MUST in summer :).

I just finished a PD class called, Critical Reading Strategies, for 2nd-3rd grade students and the presenters let us use these cute and tiny Lakeshore erasers to erase our work off of this awesome paper called Wizard Paper!  Wizard Paper is AMAZING!  It is like chart paper that clings to any surface and you can use whiteboard markers that just wipe off!  This paper can be used for anchor charts, student collaboration, and more!  I will do a WHOLE blog post devoted to this cool paper once the school year starts.  (Wizard Wall paper not photographed)

And FINALLY my absolute favorite summer treasure is my new Better Life Bag from betterlifebags.com!  It isn't really summer related, but I just got it in and I have been carrying it around everywhere!  They are these cute custom bags that are created by women who are in need of jobs.  Better Life Bags provides the work space and materials so that they can provide for their families.  Please check out the website :).  My Better Life Bag is sitting up against Violet's sand toys at our local park.  

I hope you are having an awesome summer and I can't wait to start blogging on the regular!