How to get statistics for your Instagram account... A MUST HAVE!

IG is my thing! My go to for everything teaching related. Classroom decor, classroom management ideas, crafts etc. I use the hashtag #teachersfollowteachers. The ideas people post there are AAHHHH-mazing. So many wonderful ideas floating around. 

IG is real. Real people posting REAL pictures about their life.It is the best and easiest way to connect with real teachers from around the world. 

Check out and follow my IG by clicking {here}.

For those of us that use IG to promote your products, did you know there was a website to analyze your IG data? You can do some serious optimizing using this website.

Iconosquare is the ultimate website for everything IG. See who your new followers are, who unfollowed you, the % of followers that commented and liked your posts. It also tells you when the optimum time to post is. Head on over there right now and sign up. It is FREE!!!

Let me know what you think! Leave some love in the comments section.

DIY Picture Frame Transformation...and a freebie for everyone!

I've been creating this week! Perfect for Made it Monday with 4th Grade Frolics.

How cute is this little frame? Can you believe that this was once an ugly and boring black frame? It was hiding in the back of my closet. There was a set of 5. All different sizes. I painted all of them with left over spray paint from the bins (see below). I also had left over glitter tape from a project I did earlier this year. I added the tape and the cute little owl (my classroom theme is owls) and BAM, cuteness!!!

I'll let you all know later what I'm using these frames for.

I showcased these bins last week. They were plain white. BORING! I used purple spray paint last week to transform some of the bins. 

I wanted them to pop a little more. I bought some green spray paint and painted some more bins. The green was just what I was looking for. I love how bright they are. 

I added glitter duct tape and chalkboard stickers and BAM! Fabulous!!!

Freebie time! Head to my store and download my newest product.... Give 'em Bragging Rights!

Brag Tags are totally in this year and a wonderful classroom management tool. Check them out!

Share your story...

I'm proud co-host of Share Your Story Saturday Link-Up.

The host of this wonderful party is,

Becky at Tales of Beauty for Ashes

This Linky Party is all about you. What is your favorite blog post from the week? Link up your blog below. 

But first, here is my favorite blog post from this week:

5 Fun and Frugal ways to keep your little ones active!

Becky will choose a few favorites to highlight next week during our Share your Story Blog Hop.

 

Becky at Tales of Beauty for Ashes (host)

Please send Becky an email at talesofbeautyforashes at gmail if you would like to cohost!

I have some awesome co-hosts this week, please stop by and say hello to them:

Heather at It's a Long Story (cohost)

Alecia at Learning to Walk (cohost)

Mary at A Classroom Full of Smiles (cohost)

Susan at MomLoves2Read (cohost)

Terri at Life with the Grothes (cohost)

Jenna at Called Home (cohost)

Joyice at Raising Boys Homeschool (cohost)

Please take a few moments to visit a few blogs and leave a comment letting them know you stopped by!

 

Happy 4th of July! 5 for Friday!

Oh yea! It is Friday. Not only Friday, but 4th of July. Happy Birthday America.

I've linked with Doodle Bugs Teaching. Love this linky party!

My baby is growing up!!!

Her 2nd birthday is just around the corner.

Here are some pics of her photo shoot. 

The super talented Kristen, from Planet Mommyhood and Pregnant and Barefoot, shot the pictures. She did an amazing job. Especially considering my child gave one smile the whole time and cried. If you want a laugh, encouragement, or advice, click the links and check out her pages.

Are you afraid that your kids are losing much of what they were taught during the school year? I've come up with 5 easy and frugal ways to keep their minds engaged in learning all summer long. Click {here}.

And I'm ending it at 2 because it is summer and a holiday. 

Follow my blog and leave a comment below telling me your favorite holiday and why (and your email). I'll pick a random winner on Sunday. The winner can pick one thing from my store! So I know you are entering the mini contest, start your comment with BOOM BOOM BOOM.

5 Fun and Frugal ways to keep your little ones active!

I get it, it is Summer. The season of being able to do nothing and just take it easy.

Not so fast!

Our little bundles of joy have turned into beautiful children that require our help as they learn new things everyday. Yes, I said everyday. Children need to continue learning outside of school. Their minds need to be engaged and encouraged. Two months is a LOOOONG time. A child often will lose much of what they learned that school year during the Summer downtime. Don't let that happen. 

If you have a little one like me, these two months are vital!

I'm going to share some frugal, easy, and fun ways to keep your kids' brains active and full of knowledge.

1. Almost every backyard has a pool of some type of the summer. Integrate math and science into your pool fun. Have your kiddos estimate the temperature of the water. Then take a thermometer and take the temperature.  Discuss different ways to make the water colder or hotter. Then do it. Bring the pool into the shade or poor ice cubes into it. Bring the pool into the sun or add warm water. Retake the temperature.

2. Bake up a storm! Baking includes fractions and elapsed time. Perfect for enhancing your child's math skills. 

Click {here} to get the recipe for these scrumptious cookies.

3. Everyone goes to the beach (whether lake or ocean) over the summer. This is the PERFECT time to study wild life. Bring a notepad and a camera with you. Have the kids write down their observations of marine life, bugs, and birds. Include the animals' physical features, movements, sounds, etc. Discuss what type habitat each animal might live in. Take quick snap shots of the wild life. 

4. Take those wonderful snapshots and edit them with FREE picture editing software. Easily overlay with text. Have your kids come up with adorable captions for pictures. Turn those captions into writing prompts. Your kids should be able to create wonderful fictional stories using their picture's caption. 

5. Bring your little ones to a park or just go for a walk. Explore different textures of the grass, leaves, trees, etc. Talk with your children about the textures. Compare the textures to other items in nature. 

I'd love to see some of your kids enjoying summer using these suggestions! Follow me on IG and use the hashtag #summersmiles.

Photo Credits to Kristen. She is an inspiration to me! Her talent is special and I am blessed to call her family.
Check her out on Facebook:
Pregnant and Barefoot

On IG:
Planet Mommyhood

On the internet:
Planet Mommyhood

On YouTube:
Planet Mommyhood

July Currently with Oh Boy 4th Grade

Oh how I love this linky!

Two Products 50% off...Today Only!

I've linked up with The Teaching Tribune for Two for Tuesday. You are in for a treat! Today only, I'm marking two product 50% off.

First up, my latest product. I'm in love with this one! It is exactly what you need the first week of school. Integrate technology with the use of QR codes. Included (optional) for almost every activity. Establish independence with my engaging centers. Decorate your classroom with the adorable craftivity. This is a win win product! Click {here} to grab it at 50% off.

Next up, another goodie that you want to start the year off right. Perfect for building classroom community and encouraging your little ones to read. Whether you use AR or Reading Counts, this is perfect for your classroom. Every time a student reaches a milestone, award them a certificate to let them know how proud you are! Check out this amazing product {here}.

Both of these products can be yours for only $3.50 TOTAL!  

Check out some amazing recipes and crafts for the classroom....click {here}.

If You Take a Mouse To School...Centers, QR Codes, Phonics, Vocabulary, and Craftivity

Are you getting ready for the new school year? I totally am. I've been preparing since before school let out! LOL. 

Do you need the perfect book to start the school year off right? 

If You Take a Mouse To School engages little ones with a comical little mouse.

The story helps introduce cause and effect. The story is also great for introducing sequencing. This book has it all. 

I've created a product that has it all. 

This pack includes vocabulary, cause and effect printable, sequencing printable, 2 centers, phonics, craftivity, and QR codes (optional) for almost every activity. 

Great book! Great product! 

Wanna here a little secret? This product is 50% off TODAY ONLY (Tuesday). Click {here} to purchase your copy right now!