“Giftedness is not what you do or how hard you work. It is who you are. You think differently. You experience life intensely. You care about injustice. You seek meaning. You appreciate and strive for the exquisite. You are painfully sensitive. You are extremely complex. You cherish integrity. Your truth-telling has gotten you in trouble. Should 98% of the population find you odd, seek the company of those who love you just the way you are. You are not broken. You do not need to be fixed. You are utterly fascinating. Trust yourself!”

Linda Silverman~Gifted Development Center Denver


Sunday 24 August 2014

The Great Canadian Back To School eBook! eh?

Canadian Back To School Ebook @teachingisagift

Yes, it's that time...I have to admit it.  Back To School is upon us.  Many of my American friends have been back for weeks now, but I am still playing ostrich about having to set up next week and having the kids arrive the following Tuesday.

A group of outstanding Canadian teachers who have stores on Teachers Pay Teachers have joined together to try to ease the transition for all of us. They have published a Back To School eBook full of unique, Canadian FREEBIES, products and teaching tips.  I am proud to be part of such a special group of educators.  Please click on the image above to download the eBook for FREE.  If you are not already a follower of my store, be sure to click on the little green star, so you will receive updates when I upload new freebies and products.

Here's hoping you have the best year ever!

Freebie Fridays





Wednesday 20 August 2014

Back to School, Back To Bargains, Giveaways and Freebies~ OH MY!

Giveaway hosted by The Teacher Studio via http://teachingisagift.blogspot.ca

Today is a big day, a HUGE day, a great day...no it's not Christmas but it just might feel like it.  Great giveaways, freebies and an awesome sale!
My friend Meg over at The Teacher Studio is a fantastic blogger and creator.  Her blog has hit a half million views and to celebrate, Meg is hosting a giveaway all week.  Today, I am honoured to be among some really first rate bloggers and teacher authors who are donating $10 EACH (yes EACH) from their store to Meg's giveaway.  Each day this week Meg will focus on 5 blog posts that are full of great content--one from herself and 4 from her illustrious guests!  The giveaway posted each day will feature $10 of prizes that YOU CHOOSE from each of the featured bloggers plus $10 from Meg's store for $50 worth of prizes each day! Ready to see what content is waiting for you today?  Just click on Meg's giveaway button above!

Can it get better than a giveaway?  Heck yeah! Today is the Back To School Boost sale over at Teacher's Pay Teacher's.  If you are like me and you didn't get everything you wanted, this is a great bonus.  Or, if you didn't know what you wanted, today is the day to grab those essentials for Back To School.  If you are in Ontario like me, we have less than two weeks left!  I can't even go in to set up my classroom until next week, but I sure can buy some great products to get started with a BOOST!  Click on the image below to visit my store (it's been recently made over so be sure to check it out). Be sure to enter code BOOST at checkout to receive a total of 28% off all of the products in my store.  

Back To School One Day Sale on TpT via Teachingisagift.blogspot.ca

Back To School Questions with Post It Notes via Teachingisagift.blogspot.ca

One of my favourite, interactive, teacher and student tested back to school activities has been updated and will be an awesome deal today. While the sale is on, be sure to grab your own copy of Back To School Questions Using Post-It Notes by clicking on the image above.


Schoolapalooza @ http://teachingisagift.blogspot.ca

Can it get any better you say?  Tonight between 8-9 p.m. be sure to stop by A Classy Collaboration to celebrate Schoolapalooza!  You don't want to miss out on the FLASH freebies from some amazing bloggers (including me...and it's a good one I have to tell you!).  Be sure to like and follow my Facebook Page so you will get a reminder later today!




Friday 15 August 2014

Another great blogversary and another awesome giveaway!


Be sure to click on the image above to check out Mrs.O's Knows blog.  She has been hosting a great giveaway all week and today, I am part of it.  It would be great if one of my readers was a big winner!  Here's a sneak peak of who the other wonderful blogger/author's are who are part of today's big giveaway!


Speaking of great giveaways and TpT. Are YOU a follower of my TpT store?  Why do I ask?  Well if you become one this weekend I will enter you for a chance to win any item from my store for FREE.  All you have to do is click on the image below to go to my newly updated store.  I hope you like the makeover!  While there, click on the little green star and become a follower.  Come back here and leave me a comment with your follower number.  That's it!  I will announce a winner on Monday!




Don't forget today is the last day of the BIG blowout giveaway at 2Peas and a Dog.  The prize packs are amazing.  Be sure to stop over at Kristy's blog and enter.




Tuesday 12 August 2014

2Peas and A Dog is Celebrating!



My bloggy buddy Kristy over at 2 Peas & a Dog is hosting a HUGE celebration.  She is celebrating her birthday, her blogversary and back to school.  I am not sure how happy I am to celebrate back to school, but I am happy to help Kristy honour her milestones!

Hop over to Kristy's blog by clicking on the image below and check out all the other awesome giveaways going on!  If you would like to enter to win this awesome package, be sure to enter using the Rafflecopter below.  

I am giving away a copy of one of my newest products "Science Chat".  You can check it out in my TpT store here or by clicking on the image below.









Friday 8 August 2014

Fifth Grade Fanatics Back To School Blog Hop


I shudder to think that back to school is less than a month away...but if you are like me, you probably never stop thinking about school in one way or another.   I am really excited to join in with other amazing 5th grade teachers to offer this Back to School Blog Hop!

I have come to realize that the first days of school are crucial for success throughout the rest of the year.  I like to have a really FUN first week, and let the kids know that I am not the scary, strict person they think I am going to be (well, maybe not AS scary or strict!)

I love to give gifts to my students!  Everyone says I spoil my class.  I would have to say I agree!  Each year I really enjoy creating my Back to School Survival Kit for students.  The faces on the students when they walk into the room and see this special gift always warm my heart!  Many of them cannot believe that they can KEEP the survival kit.


My family knows I start early to collect the materials necessary to create these kits.  I scour dollar stores to find everything I need.  When I am feeling the pinch financially, I put the materials in a cute paper bag.

Other years I have used plastic pencil boxes when I could find them for a good price.  I have seen a lot of them this year for a dollar or less.  Staples here in Canada has some really good quality ones.

This past year I started using pencil pouches.  I love that I can put everything on the list in the pouch and then have the message peeking out from the clear window.  I got mine in a variety of colours from my local Dollar Tree.

You can download my new and improved Back to School Survival Kit for Students by clicking on the image of the printable above.  

You can see more great Back to School tips by clicking on the image below to hop to the next blogger Elementary Teacher Files.




Our group of bloggers has a great pack of goodies to send to one lucky winner to help your year get off with a bang! 


Enter below:




Freebie Fridays





Monday 4 August 2014

Let's CHAT!


Teachingisagift Human Organ Systems Word Wall for Grade 5 Science

Teachingisagift Human Organ Systems Word Wall for Grade 5 Science

Students are expected to be able to use appropriate science and technology vocabulary and use a variety of forms (e.g., oral, written, graphic,multimedia) to communicate with different audiences and for a variety of purposes.  One way to get students reading and writing is the use of word walls.  According to the Ministry of Education for Ontario "A word wall is an ongoing, organized display of key words that provides visual reference for students throughout a unit of study or a term. These words are used continually by teachers and students during a variety of activities. Word walls serve multiple purposes.
Effective word walls: 
- support the teaching of key words and subject-specific
terminology. 
- promote independence in reading and writing by building vocabulary. 
- provide visual clues and reference for language learners
- help students remember connections between words and concepts. 
Building a word wall can be easily integrated into daily activities. Key words and/or terminologies that relate to the lesson or unit of study can be added gradually as they are introduced. A word wall should be organized in a way that is useful to students with additions reflecting the skills or concepts being taught. Often, word walls are organized alphabetically, with words printed on card stock, and 
taped or pinned to the wall/board. Teachers are encouraged to be creative is designing a word wall so that it engages the students and enhances their learning. "

Some possible variations: 
• Using different-coloured card stock helps to distinguish concepts/terms belonging to different units of study 
• A picture or photograph adds further clarification for visual learners or English language learners. 
• Words can be accompanied by their definitions. 
• The back of the word card can be used to display both verbal and visual word associations, graphics, definitions, and characteristics of the word. 
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/studentsuccess/thinkliteracy/files/thinklitwordwalls.pdf

I am pleased to announce that I am creating word walls for all of the Ontario Curriculum Science and Technology topics. My first one is finished and posted.  Just click on the image above to purchase it.  While you are visiting my store be sure to become a follower by clicking on the FOLLOW button.  Keep your eyes open for new grades and topics coming soon!



Another way to get students communicating in math and science is by encouraging "accountable talk" or as I like to call it Math/Science Chat.  Using Math/Science Chat speech bubble starters can get your hesitant students talking about what they are learning in math. Using communication in the classroom to represent, explain, justify, agree, and disagree affects the way students learn mathematics. Math/Science Chat engages students, encourages them to learn more, and allows for the exploration of ideas, strategies, procedures, facts, and more.Encouraging the development and exchange of ideas, Math/Science Chat helps to support a social learning environment for students, creating a community which fosters encouragement, respect, and the exchange of ideas.

To accompany each word wall, I have created a Science Chat which contains the BIG IDEAS for the topic, as well as a series of essential/guiding questions.  You can use these in a variety of ways, including printing them out and creating a display or bulletin board, using them as part of your Interactive Science Notebook, or project them on your Smartboard.  

Teachingisagift Human Organ Systems Science Chat for Grade 5 Science

Teachingisagift Human Organ Systems Science Chat for Grade 5 Science

Teachingisagift Human Organ Systems Science Chat for Grade 5 Science

Math Chat is my BEST SELLER so I have decided to bundle it together with my NEW Science Chat.  You can get both great products for one amazing price!  Just click on any of the images below to learn more.

Teachingisagift Math and Science Chat Bundle

Teachingisagift Science ChatTeachingisagift Math Chat

Don't forget that the big sale starts today at TPT!  You can get up to 28% off all the products listed above!  Just click on the image below to visit my store and don't forget to use code BTS14 at checkout!