What Keeps Me Afloat?

My girls bloggin over at Owl-ways Be Inspired have come up with a genius idea. They've asked all the other Owl bloggers to share some of the resources that we really depend on in our room. What a great time to share this too, considering there's a big sale on TpT Thursday and Friday. {As if my wish list wasn't already long enough...}




For me, this was easy. I have three things of my own that I've really come to rely on. First are my Monthly Printable Packs. I first started making these a few years ago and they keep evolving. In fact, I've even been slowing changing over the name to Ready, Set, Print! for each month. I just finished the March update which added about 10 new pages, including a bulletin board pattern, title, and printable. I've also been adding Common Core standards to each page as applicable for grades 1-3 to help with planning and documenting. This is one reason why I won't be bundling these packs. I just keep updating and adding more and more, so updating the pack and the bundle as well might just put me over the edge!



These really come in handy for sub plans, early finishers, homework supplements, and morning work. I've been adding some independent research projects, reading comprehension, and complete writing activities. Yup, these are a life saver.
Here are the links to each month: Back to School, October, November, December, January, February, March, April, May, June and July

Next, I'd have to say I'm super in love with the printable companions I've started adding to my monthly writing task cards. I've had these task cards for a really long time, but I wasn't always happy with the results the kids were producing when working on them. I would notice them taking a crazy amount of time to set up the paper leaving little time for the actual writing. So now, they have a printable journal with the topics right inside! They match the task cards, but I honestly haven't been using them since I have the companions. I been choosing about 10 topics from the printable companion, stapling them into little books and using them as a teaching opportunity. We brainstorm together, turn and talk about ideas, model, and then they write and share. I've been careful about mixing up the activities to include all different forms of writing to make it fun and meaningful. I only wish I had done this back in August! 


These are bundled:  The printable companion is NOT in the bundles (yet!) but if you buy the bundle, just email me and I'll send the completed ones to you. Bundle One & Bundle Two.

And finally, number three would have to be my monthly bulletin board banners. There are at least 2 for each month and they can easily be done in class or sent home for a project. No prep is involved and your work display for the month is done in a snap! I have a clothesline across my window where these usually go making a nice bunting, but shooting a picture into the light when they're hung up has been a total disaster, so here's an idea of how they look laid out on my table. They're on tpt HERE.


They're formatted to print on legal, but they come out just fine on letter size. In fact, the ones above are letter sized. Sometimes I cut colored construction paper to size which makes them really pop.

There are some other really amazing products keeping me afloat that are created by incredibly talented girls who I now call my friends. All of their blogs are linked up below where they are all sharing their must-haves. You will not regret hopping around to visit them. Each of us is also throwing a little giveaway, like a little party favor for visiting. Here on my blog, just enter using the Rafflecopter widget below for a free product of your choice from my store.




53 comments

  1. This is an awesome idea. I love all the ideas and creativity of everyone else. Inspires me to do more!

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  2. I would love, love, love to win http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Third-Grade-Common-Core-Weekly-Word-Work-yearlong-pack-797372. It is such an awesome resource.
    Thanks!

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  3. I would have to say the many resources that I find on TPT help keep me afloat. I have found some wonderful resources that I use every year.

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  4. I just discovered your Bulletin Board Banners in this blog post and would LOVE that product to help my display boards stay 'afloat!' Awesome product! If I don't win it I will definitely be picking it up in the sale! :)

    ~Alyssa
    absherallstars.blogspot.com

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  5. I am always looking for inspiration to help my students succeed!!

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  6. I just LOVE those banners! What a fun idea to combine learning and simple decorating. I so admire your hard work and determination to keep revising after you reflect upon your work. Thanks : )

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  7. Brain breaks have been keeping me afloat this year!!!

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  8. I have so many of your products on my wish list. I will I could get them all!

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  9. Thanks for the ggreat ideas!! I keep on adding to my cart!!! WOW!

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  11. TpT resources have been keeping me afloat this year! I especially love Marsha's word families packs!

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  12. Resources for the holidays have kept me afloat: Rachel Lamb's Winter Holidays Powerpoint and Scrapbook and Chinese New Year by Teaching in High Heels are some of my favorites. I went to your shop and wish listed several items including CC assessment packs and those adorable prep free banners. Thank you for the opportunity to win one of these! klewis@umasd.org

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  13. I LOVE your items! You were one of the first bloggers I started reading and I have purchased quite a few of your items already! I could NOT live without your weekly word wizards (which have been updated and renamed I know)! Anyway, keep blogging and making items for those of us who arent quite so creative! Thanks!

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  14. I love the printable companions! What a great way to see a variety of writing center options all together in one bundle.

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  15. Love all of your stuff! I LOVE your CCSS math assessments and Weekly Word Work!

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  16. I have been using your CCSS math assessments and they have really been keeping me on top of what my students know. Thank you for such a great resource!
    -Courtney C.

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  17. TPT products have kept me afloat, especially since we currently don't have a math series that we use!
    lraines78@gmail.com

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  18. Interactive Notebooks keep me afloat! amandalawson4@gmail.com

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  19. I think your banners look great! Can't wait to use them!

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  20. I would love the Grade 2 Common Core Assessment pack ELA or Math to keep me afloat !!!!
    baldwinc@duvalschools.org

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  21. I just added some things to my TPT cart! My daily PowerPoints keep me afloat!
    Amanda.c.archer@gmail.com

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  22. I would be very interested in buying your journal booklets if you ever decide to sell them.
    Thanks for sharing:)
    Connie Anderson
    email: matya105@aol.com

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  23. Would love any of the resources to keep me afloat!

    Brittany
    brmarano@bcps.k12.md.us

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  24. Would absolutely love your EZ Prep See-it Centers bowling and day at the park!
    Erin
    cpieterman@rogers.com

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  25. I LOVE your work. I have just printed your February task cards but haven't been able to use them just yet. But, I can't wait! I LOVE them so much!

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  26. I love all of your products, and am a religious reader of your blog! If I had to pick JUST one product to win .. it would probably be the back-to-school or the October printable-packet... that time of year is one that I need some extra help staying afloat since I also coach and sometimes things sneak up on me!

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  27. Your assessment packs are on the top of my list. LOVE the two I own :)
    Tania
    My Second Sense

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  28. Task cards and Interactive notebooks keep me afloat! You have some many wonderful resources! Thanks for sharing your idea about the banners. Very clever and cute!
    scheinbere@hotmail.com

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  29. I bought your Writing Center Task cards Bundle 1 in January and thanks to the sale, I'm getting your Bundle 2 tonight! Those have been wonderful for my Daily 5 Work on Writing. What keeps me afloat is the fact that a few years ago I discovered the talented teachers on TpT and in the blogging world! Thanks for creating such great products. kmguimond@yahoo.com

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  30. Coffee, bloggers and TpT keep me afloat! They are all lifesavers!

    Karyn
    Kideducator@comcast.net

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  31. TpT keeps me afloat! It makes what I do in class so much more meaningful. I can use ready made things better than things I piece together and gives me more time to make my teaching/planning better.

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  32. Reading (too many!) blogs keeps me afloat...someone always has a great idea that I can use! I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to win something you have created!

    tokyoshoes at hotmail dot com

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  33. Interactive notebooks keep me afloat!! My kiddos have been enjoying Erin' RIN and Mandy's Prefixes and Suffixes.

    tinysmiles34@gmail.com

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  34. I just love all your materials!

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  35. This year Interactive Journals have kept me afloat. Love them!
    mjaquillard@oregoncs.org

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  36. My class this year is keeping me afloat. They are just a fabulous bunch that know how to work hard and at the same time genuinely like each other and get along. (Cue angels singing!)

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  37. I love your printable packs...they are great for independent work

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  38. Following fabulous blogs like this one keep me afloat.
    rockingitin3rd@gmail.com

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  39. After 11 years of teaching Grades 4+, I volunteered to move down to the primary grades!!! My journey with my Grade 2s has been nothing short of amazing <3. That being said, my colleagues and TpT (your wonderful shop included =D ), has saved me from drowning more times than I can count!! Reece's Peanut Butter Cups are my very special lifejacket =D. I am a new, huge fan of yours, so I would be absolutely honoured to win your "Common Core Assessment Pack-Math Grade 2 " for my class...Nicole raves about it <3 <3 <3. Thank you for considering me for this giveaway =). leafsgirl@rogers.com.

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  40. TPT!!! Especially all the wonderful interactive notebooks that are out there now!
    tcellis@whitfield.k12.ga.us

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  41. All these wonderful blogs! And my friends. lisa_sardinha@hotmail.com

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  42. I love using interactive journals! The kids love them, too!

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  43. Quick and easy printables, interactive notebooks and ideas from all of the great blogs out there.

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  44. Quite honestly, awesome bloggers and TpT keep me afloat! Awesome people share so many things!

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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  45. Thanks for sharing. Such neat ideas!

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  46. planbook.com keeps me afloat with all these snow days

    jjn2home@yahoo.com

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  47. I love all your products! Your bulletin board banners would be wonderful addition! lavoldlace@yahoo.com

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  48. TpT resources help to keep me afloat!!!

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  49. Cherry Cole and TPT keep me afloat!

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  50. All amazing bloggers and TpT keep me afloat!!!!!! :))

    jeje_hentz@yahoo.com.br

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  51. Chocolate and caffeine are keeping me afloat this year.

    Littlelori0411@yahoo.com

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