Currently... For a Few More Hours!

Ahhhhhhh. February.
The  month with the fewest days... and a month with TWO no-school days.
Best of all, February is a month that just shouts that it is a good idea to eat chocolate!

Graphics by Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah, Surfin' Through Second and Creative Clips... all on TpT!

Each month, I look forward to Farley's Currently link-up. It reminds me to turn the page on my calendar and to check in with the other bloggers who, like me, adore Farley and her plan to keep us connected and "in the know" about each other.

I have to post this one quickly because it is the last day of February--and in a few hours, it will be MARCH! In all honesty, I wrote my Currently in early February, it just never made it to the blog. A short month does have its drawbacks, I guess.

As I read over these items, I am starting to worry a bit. I think my life changes very little from month to month--and it's all documented in a series of Currently postings. I could hop on over to Farley's tomorrow and it will be March. And my Currently could say almost the exact same thing. Especially the part about tardy slips. Anyone else suffering from a barrage of chronically late students?

I've reworked that sentiment above with a positive spin: I have my life so organized, that I don't have to worry about a lot of big changes that disrupt the orderliness. Hmmmmm. That's not particularly true, but it does have a better ring to it. Maybe I will just look for something unique to celebrate in March!

This time I am almost certain that I will be the last entry in Farley's Currently gathering. (If you're in an investigative mood, you can click below to find out--or maybe you just want to read about some friends who were on time for the party!) My goal is to be in the first one hundred for March...

I hope that your February was filled with love and chocolate and lots of good things, and that March will bring you even more wonderfulness!

Announcing a BIG Giveaway at Lessons from the Middle

I am so excited to be participating in an amazing giveaway!  Krystal Mills of Lessons From The Middle is celebrating her FIRST Blog Birthday in a BIG way. 

WOW! Almost a hundred teachers have donated their fabulous products/gift certificates for her celebration. which translates to $500 dollars worth of resources and gift cards to be given away!  

There are prize packages for grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-9 - so there's something for almost everyone.

Be sure to make your way over to Lessons From The Middle before February 11th to enter. When you get there, scroll down and look at all of the different prize packages... You need to use the Rafflecopter to enter to win each package. Since there are several different opportunities to enter, you'll have even MORE opportunities to win. And, of course, when you see my bloggy button, you'll know there's also a chance to win a Starbucks gift card!
 

Just click on the picture to go to Krystal's site and join in. I would love it if a visitor to Finding JOY in Sixth Grade was one of the winners. You know I'll be cheering for you! 

There's a SALE Going On!

It's a great day for a sale! You might even say it's a SUPER day...

You probably already know that there is a sale going on at Teachers Pay Teachers today (and tomorrow, too, for me and many other blogger-sellers). The sale coincides with that big game involving two teams and a football and a copyrighted name. I hope those teams have a super time (heeheehee) and that the commercials and the halftime shows are entertaining. Oh. And the snacks. I want the snacks to be tasty. Like my friend, Teeny Tiny Teacher Kristin, I really like the SNACKS!

I DO love a sale. And "20% or more" is music to  my ears. Currently, there are seventy-eight items in my own cart. I keep trying to whittle it down, but I am not having much success in minimizing my selections. A lot of it is clip art. But there are some really great "other" products in my cart too. I like to think of it as a shopping cart full of hope--I just hope it will help me teach my sixth graders everything they need to know before they take those next steps to middle school.

I do have a TpT store of my own. Right now, my shelves are fully-loaded, absolutely overflowing with products for you to try...

OOPS. Fantasy took over reality for just a minute.

I currently have a grand total of... wait for it... of... THREE  items in the Joy in Sixth Grade Less-Than-Crowded TpT Shop. (Hey! Maybe I should call it a Shoppe to generate some more magic!) I have two math items and  a free Getting to Know You activity which is great for the beginning of the year. 

If you are an upper grade teacher who teaches math, and you find yourself in need of some multiplication fact work for your group, there is a pack of flash card games to give students some extra practice.  You can click on the picture to take a peek. I am surprised each September by how many kids DON'T know their multiplication facts. I made this collection for my bunch this year... I'll let you know how we do!

I DO believe that students should know their math facts. It makes more complicated math work more efficient--and more accurate! Too often students get the wrong answers not because they don't know how to solve a problem, but because their calculations are inaccurate. Yes, I want them to have good math conceptual knowledge. But I also want them to get the "correct" answer. Correct answers in real-life math and science are a must!



To be honest, I just wanted a chance to use the peace sign papers from MyGraffico.com. Those papers just make me happy! (And they remind me of my own year in sixth grade!)

I have also finished my "Currently" for Farley's link up, but I am saving it for tomorrow. I think I love Farley so much, I want my Currently homage to have a page of its own.

But here's the link in case you are in need of some Currently link ups to read while you munch on your super snacks. Click on the bloggy button to get there.

With or without football--either way--I hope you have a great day!