BACK TO SCHOOL TIME

Back to school has been a busy one for me as always.  My school is busting at the seams and we each have 21 - 22 kids in our classes.  After the class size amendment of 18 for the past 7 years, those 3 -4  extra kids does make a difference.  I think I am somewhat spoiled by it as I remember the days I normally had 25 - 28 and even had 36 one year.  36 Kindergartners how in the world did I do that? Couldn't fathom it now. And that was single handed too no assistant to help.  Guess I was a lot younger and had much more energy in those days. 

My TPT store has had to take a back seat to my back to school prep this past month.  So to boost it up a bit I am throwing a sale. 20% off all my items. The sale begins tomorrow and runs thru Thursday. So please take time to check it out. 

If you are a Kdg, 1st or 2nd teacher, I have lots of centers you can use during your ELA block.  The best part, you just print, cut and laminate them. The very best part - NO PAPERS TO GRADE

So check me out at

www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/The.Panda.Teacher

Here's wishing you the best school start.

Candy

 

The Panda Teacher Update

So far my summer vacation has been busy. I have been working everyday on taking my "tried and true" centers and making them TPT compatible. It has been a very tedious process but, I am proud to say I have now uploaded 22 items and still have many many more to add. I am trying to get the majority of my first grade reading centers uploaded by the beginning of school.  Here in Florida we go back to school the beginning of August so my free time is ticking away fast.  

I am finally accomplishing something I have been encouraged to do for the last five years.  It is that encouragement that keeps me going day to day.  Teachers supporting other teachers is the greatest club to belong to for sure.  

So if you need am alternative to dittos and hate grading stacks of papers, I have an option for you.  Just check my store out at 

www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Panda-Teacher

Here is a sample of the eight literacy centers I use each week.  My bundles include all eight games to print, cut and laminate, plus an option to print flash cards for use in a pocket chart /bulletin board for classroom reference.

Five on Friday

Five on Friday

You are supposed to list the top 5 things going on in your mind at this moment. So here goes

1. Will I ever get all these centers uploaded to TPT?

2. Will others really buy them?

3. Will others think they are as great as my co-workers say they are?

4. Will I ever recoup all the money I have spent on clipart?

5. Will I be a success at this?

So many questions … back to work I go.  My laptop is calling my name. Have a great weekend all.
-Candy
The Panda Teacher

Five on Friday

Five on Friday

You are supposed to list the top 5 things going on in your mind at this moment. So here goes

1. Will I ever get all these centers uploaded to TPT?

2. Will others really buy them?

3. Will others think they are as great as my co-workers say they are?

4. Will I ever recoup all the money I have spent on clipart?

5. Will I be a success at this?

So many questions … back to work I go.  My laptop is calling my name. Have a great weekend all.
-Candy
The Panda Teacher

I FINALLY DID IT!

I FINALLY DID IT!

After talking about it for the last five years I have finally taken the plunge and become a seller instead of just a buyer on Teachers Pay Teachers.  My summer vacation has been spent editing my tried and true centers to meet TPT qualifications and I have taken the plunge and uploaded my freebie along with 6 bundles of centers so far. Check out my Short Vowel Centers. Each contains 8 game/centers to print, cut out and laminate and you are ready to go.  I even included pics of how mine look and showed you how I store my centers in my classroom. Busy working each day and hopefully adding The Long Vowels by the end of the week. So many centers and so little time!

Here's to an old lady learning new tricks for sure.  It just proves you are never too old to learn something new.

Be sure to check me out at www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Panda-Teacher

My Story

I am a teacher completing her 39th year of teaching.  I first started teaching First Grade in 1976. Then after three years moved on to a new school and new grade, kindergarten. I stayed there for 35 years. This past school year I asked to be moved to First Grade for several reasons, I felt it would be easier physically and would give me a chance to expand my center ideas. Boy did it?  I have spent every weekend this school year making new centers.  I hate grading papers and have always sought to use centers to teach skills instead of using dittos. I want my children to love learning and have fun while they are doing it.

For years I have had fellow teachers tell me I needed to sell my centers.  I was introduced to Teacher Pay Teachers by a student intern assigned to me.  After five years of talking about it I am finally taking the plunge and getting ready to share my centers through the TPT website.  I have been spending weeks preparing and hope to start uploading them soon.  Trying to make sure I am following all the rules has been very time consuming, much more than I ever thought.  I am hoping to be in full swing by next school year and hope other teachers will love them as much as I do. 

My future goal is to retire and sit around making centers for other teachers to use.  Here's to a new chapter in life and hopefully one that will be a successful way to supplement my retirement income in the future. Thanks for sharing the adventure!

-Candy

 The Panda Teacher

Here is some pictures of my centers in action.

Five on Friday

This week left me feeling blessed for a variety of reasons.

O N E

 For a surprise birthday celebration from my class

T W O

     For student parents who became friends

T H R E E

    For coworkers who share my love for teaching and wanting the best for the kids that we teach

F O U R

   The patience of a younger coworker who explained EXCEL, POWER POINT, and WORD to me and how to use them to create centers

F I V E

     And last but not least, a daughter who is helping a mother achieve a dream

TGIF and hope y'all have a great week!

-Candy

The Panda Teacher