Do You Know Blue Sky Designs? You Should!

 

I want to give a shoutout to Loren from BlueSky Designs by Mrs T today. She makes some excellent resources for Kindergarten through to Year 5, and has a focus on ELA and Math. Here’s an example of one of her creative resources, perfect for getting shared reading set up for the new school year!

 

You can use this link to grab your copy: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Poems-for-Shared-Reading-Poetry-VALUE-BUNDLE-3255159

 

I also encourage you to take a look at her Facebook page, where she shares lots of valuable tips and ideas for elementary teachers: https://www.facebook.com/blueskydesignsbymrst

She also has a blog that you can read and find out more about her. I think you'll find several things about her that will interest you!

Click the link below to go to her blog.

Mrstmusings

I sure hope you check her out and even click that star and become a follower of hers. I feel secure that you won't regret it!

Scrambled Sentences Encourage Your Students to get Excited About Learning!

One of the activities that my students almost beg to do when our work is done is my scrambled sentences. They come in most seasons or holidays right now. They come in a colored set and a black and white set so you can print them on colored paper instead. 

Click this picture. 

This is the Summer set in color, 

(with an older cover version shown here).

This is the Summer Set in black and white. 

Click this picture.

This is the Fall set in color (with an older cover).

This is the Fall set in black and white.

These pictures show students working on the March set.

 

Below you see the finished sentence. Once they finish it, they read it back to each other, another student, or an adult. Next they mix it all up for the next group to work on. These two students will move to another area to work on a different mixed up sentence. 

If you'd like to see them in my store, just click on the cover pictures above and it will take you right to that section in my store.

If you'd like to be one of the first to see my new products, Click HERE to follow me. I will be giving 50% off my new products for the first 24 hours. So it pays to follow me!

Summer Travels to Mackinac Island

 I love summer. I think most of us do. I love my job of teaching these little minds, but those summer months certainly help to refresh our souls don't they? 

My daughter and her family live in Houston, TX and just arrived here in Michigan for about a month. I love having them here. It's a perk for them too because Texas is having high temps of over 100 degrees. . . and here in Michigan it's been in the high 70's to 80's. A lot more comfortable for them to be outside in this weather. 

We took a vacation to Mackinac Island last week. My grandchildren have never been and I'm excited to show them some of the history or our state. 

Have you ever been to Mackinac Island? Or Mackinaw City? Or driven over the Mackinac Bridge? It's 5 miles long! My dad remembers crossing the water on ferries before the bridge was built in 1957. 

Did you know there is a different spelling for the island and the town? Here's why. . . 

BRITISH INFLUENCE ON MACKINAC ISLAND

The British took control of Fort Michilimackinac in 1761 and 20 years later moved the fort over the ice from the mainland to its current location on Mackinac Island. Over time, Michilimackinac got shortened to Mackinac. The island since has been known as Mackinac Island and the fort as Fort Mackinac.

However, when present-day Mackinaw City was founded in the 1850s, the British changed the spelling of the city to reflect the way the name is pronounced, with a “w” sound at the end.

This trip was dampened a bit by the fires in Canada. On most days we could only see parts of the Mackinaw Bridge. But on the day we went to Mackinac Island, it was a perfectly clear day. 

It's hard to believe. . . but the bridge is truly in the background.

These kiddos were all so brave and rode the zip line at Mystery Spot in 

St. Ignace. It sure looked like fun!

We explored animal skins, skulls, and stuffed animals at

  Mackinaw Mill Creek Saw Mill. 

This was one of our cabins at Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. 

It was a great place for our family to stay. We were right on Lake Huron and could see the bridge and Mackinac Island (on a clear day!)

What are you doing for fun this summer? Any plans to travel? I'd love to hear about them. Share with me in your comments.