Mrs. Ehle's Kindergarten Connections

Monday, July 21, 2014

Teachers Be Shoppin'... and another SALE item!

I'm linkin' up with my bloggin' bestie, Elizabeth, from Kickin' It In Kindergarten for an awesome linky party I know YOU can relate to!

Check it out...

Oh yah... You know it's true. If you are a teacher, you have been spending time (perhaps LOTS of time) shopping for your classroom.

It's just unavoidable!

So my smart, smart friend Elizabeth had the brilliant idea of doing a linky party so we can all post the great deals and epic resources we are finding, in hopes of making all of our lives easier! If we share our steals and deals, then we can all save money, be more efficient and of course, have incredibly cute classrooms filled with ingenious materials!

So here is one of my recent purchases...straight from Etsy.com!

It's a student "Write the Room" apron!

LOVE.IT.

I don't know about you, but I have spent a few years watching my "littles" walk around the classroom when at my "Write the Room" center, balancing clipboards, pencils and papers in their tiny hands. It is a meaningful, standards-based activity...but the logistics of balancing all the materials needed was kind of a hot mess for a 5 year old.

So... I when I found these online... I.FELL.IN.LOVE.

I actually bought my first Write-the-Room aprons this spring...but come on! I have to have some cute chevron ones too!!! #styleaddiction

So, I can seriously attest to how perfectly they work in the classroom and how much the kiddos love using them.

I actually call them "tool belts" in my classroom, so the boys feel like they are manly in them too! {I was sure to order some boy-friendly material/patterns too! Just sayin' sometimes boys and "aprons" don't mix. But a "toolbelt"... oh yah!}

Check out a few more of the material options they offer...

If you think you may like to have a few of these babies for your classroom, check out I LOVE TEACHING on Etsy.com!

Just click HERE to visit her store!

Or heck! If you are handy with a sewing machine and you can find the time....make some of your own!

AND...

Speaking of "Write the Room" centers,

I'm putting one of my favorite "Write the Room" TPT products on sale!

It is Christmas in July, you know!

Grab it by clicking on the image above!

Dont' forget to head on over to BLOG HOPPIN' to see what all of my other blogging buddies have on sale today too!

Sunday, July 20, 2014

3rd Annual Teacher/Blogger Vegas Meet-Up... and a Give-Away!!!

EPIC

ep•ic adjective \ˈe-pik\

: very great or large and usually impressive

: extending beyond the usual or ordinary especially in size or scope

: telling a story about a hero or about exciting events or adventures

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Yes!

That is the word I’m choosing to use to describe my week of professional {and personal!} development in Las Vegas this month. I mean, truly, to put the experience into words…

Well… It kinda’ leaves me speechless! So, I’m sticking with EPIC.

Truly, truly EPIC!

The adventures began on Sunday, the 7^th,the moment I got off the plane and met up with my roomie, Elizabeth from Kickin’ It In Kindergarten, and our BLOG HOPPIN’ buddy, Cheryl of PrimaryGraffiti. {Love those girls… AND their blogs! If you don’t already follow them DO IT NOW! You can thank me later.}

(Notice the message... "Vegas roomies forevs...because we like our own beds!" This week is typically like an enormous teacher slumber-party... with up to 6 teacher buddies sharing a hotel room for the week. Just sayin... Elizabeth and I don't mind having our own beds and bathroom.)

#highmaintenance #roomietradition

We checked into our swanky hotel, the Palazzo. (If you are unfamiliar with Vegas, the Palazzo and Venetian are really pretty much the same hotel. Ya’ know like “sista’ hotels.” They are connected and share amenities. BTW… These hotels are far and away THE BEST on the strip!) #staythere

Now, as much as I would LOVE to blog away about every single thing I did that week… I gotta just hit the highlights because I would run out of cyber-space. Just sayin’.

Monday through Thursday, I had the pleasure of enjoying THE BEST professional development sessions on the planet. True Story. SDE (Staff Development for Educators) knows how to plan a conference, my friends. They bring in the most in-demand, knowledgeable, cutting-edge presenters in the field of education. (Tell your principal NOW… you MUST come next year!)

Click above to see what PD opps are coming up!

{Did ya’ know that the National Conferences for “I Teach K,” “I Teach First,” “Differentiated Instruction.” AND “Singapore Math” all happen this same week in Vegas at the Venetian Hotel?} #toogoodtobetrue #bestinthebusinessunderoneroof

Every single day was filled with good food and GREAT friends, as well! Check out some of our pics!

How about that photo bomb?! This is my dear friend, Hope, of Elementary Shenanigans blog (formerly Second Grade Shenanigans). Let me just say, I think all 9 of us tried to "help" her eat that slice... and we still couldn't get it down! If you like your desserts, make sure you put Serendipity on your "must-see" list! And talk about SWEET... this girl embodies the word! She is soooo inspiring. (I'll give you more details about that soon in an upcoming post on student engagement!)

Look at these faces! (I'm sure you know most of these beauties!) I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my blogging buddies! They are the sweetest, smartest… and super-healthiest teachers on the planet right now, thanks to our inspiring friend, Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants. {Need inspiration to get “fit?” You will find it on her new “life blog,” For Blogness Sake!}

I also had the opportunity to meet up with some "old" friends! Love these gals whom I met at previous blogger meet-ups!

(Lcie comes all the way from Germany every year!)

Of course, we didn’t forget where we were! As they say, “When in Vegas…”

{Of course we had to throw in some Blog Lovin’ scavenger hunt fun! Have you started your Instagram collection for the contest?? If not, read more HERE.}

And talk about THROW BACK fun....
We even went and saw NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK in concert!
#rememberingthedays

And… my favorite activity of the week: Pool Side P.D. (Professional Development)

Oh yah! Soaking up the sun… as we share ideas and resources.

#doesntgetbetterthanthis #106andlovingit

Hangin' out with Cara Carroll (First Grade Parade), Erica Bohrer (Erica's EDventures), Elizabeth Hall (Kickin' It in Kindergarten)... and many more friends. (We just couldn't squeeze them in this shot!)

Friday was filled with sessions and socials hosted by none other than… TPT! Gotta’ love Teachers Pay Teachers! That company is changing lives all over the world… touching thousands of students all over the globe and also empowering teachers! Seriously folks, I am a better teacher due to the resources I’ve found on TPT… and I’m both a better educator AND person due to the relationships I’ve built through TPT and blogging. #soblessed

YES! This is me with Paul Edelman, founder of TPT.

#empoweringteachers

And finally,

DRUM ROLL PLEASE……

The AMAZING 3^rd ANNUAL TEACHER/BLOGGER MEET-UP!!!

Our Teacher Blogger Meet-Up was a HUGE success!! It was loud, it was crazy, and it was a completely full house (600+), but that didn't stop us from having an incredibly fun time.

Natalie, from What the Teacher Wants, took over 200 pictures of the event, and there's no way to showcase them all, but here are a few snapshots of the night. Thanks for your photography expertise, Natalie!

It was so fun getting to meet some of our online bloggy friends for the very first time! Plus, we got to meet so many teachers from all over the country - we even had teachers from across the world!!

(Shout out to our friends from Spain and Australia!)

*To see more pictures from the meet-up, visit the

What the Teacher Wants Facebook Fan Page*

Here are the wonderful ladies who made this meet-up possible and helped us line up such amazing sponsors.

Back row: Amanda Nickerson, Kim Adsit, Rachelle Smith, Deedee Wills, Lindsey Erickson, Amy Lemons and Cheryl Saoud

Front Row: Hope King, Cara Carroll, Traci Clausen, Holly Ehle, Deanna Jump, Elizabeth Hall, Erica Bohrer, Michelle Oakes, Natalie Kay and Katie Mense

(Not pictured: Kathleen Pedersen)

Besides meeting such amazing bloggers and teachers, the best part of the meet-up was all of the amazing prizes that were donated from our sponsors!

Here are all of our generous friends who offered prizes for our meet up:

TeachersPayTeachers

Staff Development for Educators

Scentos

Kaeden Books

doTERRA Essential Oils by Natalie Kay

Tiny Dazzles

Lock Smocks

C Jayne Teach

Kinder-Gardening

ESGI

Creative Teaching Press

Kreative in Kinder

Crayola

Erica Bohrer Teaching Resources

Tieks

Linen & Lace

Sit Spots

ImproveElectronics

HueHD

Classroom Friendly Supplies

Kiddo Cubes

Clever School Teacher

Babara Gruener

Studies Weekley

Lakeshore Learning

Go Noodle

Hameray Publishing

Carson Dellosa

Learning Resources

Mixed Bag Designs

Thank you to everyone who came to this event! We appreciate everyone who was able to come and mingle with us. We're already thinking about next year's meet-up, so start saving your money for next year's Vegas meet-up!!

Feeling sad that you couldn't join us this year? Wishing you could win some of these fabulous surprises?

Well... as a special treat, we are giving away two Erin Condren gift cards!! Enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway