Sundays in the South: Linky, Blog Hop & Reality TV

Before we get down to business, are you as excited as I am about The Bachelorette finale and Big Brother tonight??!  Oh my gosh!  I cannot wait to see Emily and Jef get engaged and live happily ever after!  *Sigh*  Okay, okay, I know that MIGHT not be what happens, but that's my hope!  I wasn't a big fan of his in the beginning but he won me over!  I think it was the date where they just lay on the floor in the middle of that library that got me!  I'm just not buying into Arie.  I mean, I know she likes to kiss him and all, but something about him still has "player" written on it to me!  Or, there could always be something to those Emily and Chris Harrison rumors...oh the possibilities...and we get THREE hours of juiciness tonight!!!!

So, set your DVRs for Big Brother...I know you might think you can just skip tonight since it does come on three nights a week (heaven), but you can't!! TRUST ME...I watch the After Dark show on Showtime and keep up with the live feeds on my BB app (yes, I'm a total DORK) and there is D-R-A-M-A in the house this week!!  You are not going to want to miss it!

****************************************************************I am sooooo excited to join some of these great linkies and blog hops that are going on!  First up, the "Must Have Picture Books" Linky Party at The Teacher Wife.

This is going to be extremely tough...I pretty much think all books are "must haves," but I'll give this a try and attempt to list some books that I don't think will be showing up on all of the other linky lists!

1. Goldie Socks and the Three Libearians is perfect for the beginning of the year!  It helps students understand how to find that "just right book" for them.

2. I could insert ANY Patricia Polacco book here.  I LOVE her books!!  We use them a ton during our memoir unit....Thank You, Mr. Falker, Chicken Sunday, Thunder Cake, and Some Birthday! are probably at the top of my list, but I'm going to showcase one that I don't think is one of her most popular books.  This one is kind of a lengthy read, but the kids love it and get the meaning behind it.  After reading this book (where the townsfolk love their TVs so much they put pictures of them on their mantles and watch them so much that they've forgotten how to read), we talk about how it's okay to watch TV, but we don't want to end up like this town.  Students then work in groups to come up with a class list of 100 things to do instead of watch TV (and it can't involve video games or anything that would use the TV!)  I send that list home with them over the summer and if they highlight at least 20 things from the list they did and return it to me they get a little treat! 

3.  Again, I could insert ANY Robert Munsch book here.  Don't you LOVE him?  We use his texts as a model for using onomatopoeia, humor, and repetition in our writing!  This one in particular always has the students ROLLING on the floor with laughter!  They love his books even more if you visit his website and let them listen to HIM read the books.  While he's a great writer, he's an even BETTER storyteller!!  And, did you know that if your class writes letters to Robert Munsch that he actually writes back AND includes one of his unpublished books that has been changed to include YOUR STUDENTS' NAMES??  How cool is that??

4.  This is by far my favorite version of "Cinderella."  When we do our Fairytale unit, this book really captures the boys' attention!  It still has the main elements of Cinderella, but a lot more action!  

5.  This is one of my favorite books for teaching math - specifically, multiplication.  It provides lots of practice with arrays and groups...and the kids think it's funny!

I hope those are a few new book ideas for you.  It looks like many of the most-beloved picture books have already been showcased in this linky, but there's lots of new ideas, too! Be sure to link up with your favorites!

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I have found sooooo many wonderful new blogs to follow from this newbie blog hop hosted by Janis at Grade Three is the Place for Me, so I knew I had to join in!

1.  What state are you in?

I was born and still reside in the upstate of South Carolina.  

2.  What is your current teaching position?

I am currently a 2nd grade teacher - the best grade EV-AH!

3.  What is your teaching experience?

I have been lucky enough to stay in the same grade throughout my entire teaching career...this will be my 15th year teaching those wonderful 2nd graders! (YIKES!)  I am also a technology instructor for my district so I get to teach TEACHERS a lot, too!

4.   When did you start blogging?

I started blogging in June of this year.  My blog officially went live on June 11 and it has been a wonderful experience!

5.  Share a blogging tip or resource.

Most of the needed tips have already been shared by others in this great blog hop - what a terrific resource!  The question new bloggers email me the most is, "How have you gotten your blog to grow so quickly?"  Really, I'm not sure!  BUT, my tip would be to try to blog often (but not more than once a day...I hear that's an unwritten rule). ;)  BUT, don't blog if you don't have anything to say!  Make sure that each of your posts has content.  Don't just post to advertise products or to promote giveaways.  It's fine to do those things, but that shouldn't be the sole purpose of a post.  If you're writing posts with content, people will WANT to visit your blog!  Also, visit others' blogs and leave comments with your blog link so they can find you and visit you in return.

Best of luck to all my fellow newbie bloggers!  I can't wait to continue finding new blogs to follow! :)
I'm off to get my craft on for some more Monday Made It projects for tomorrow!!!!