iPhone apps, Blog Design, Etc.

I absolutely LOVE my iPhone!  My sweet son, Gregory, got it for me on my birthday 2 years ago.  He even added me to his plan and pays for it! Isn't he a doll!

I don't know what I did without it! I am amazed at all the apps available and so when I saw on FB that Hope at 2nd Grade Shenanigans was hosting a linky party for iPhone apps (she just joined the crowd!), I had to link up!

Isn't this button just the cutest thing!!

Well, for my app I'm going to recommend a teacher tool that I use all the time - Groovy Grader.

I am forever misplacing my easy grader and this app does exactly the same thing!  And, best of all it is FREE!

Now, if you don't have to give grades, here is another app that might be useful to you - Common Core Standards.  That's right!  You can download the standards right to your iPhone or iPad and have them with you ALL the time!  Just what you wanted!!!  You can get the standards for K-12 with one app or K-6 with another.  And, they're both FREE!

On to blog design - I've been craving a new design for my blog!  As I'm wandering around visiting all the beautiful designs in Blogland, I'd like something that is lighter, more airy, and a bit more school themed.  I'm  a pastel kinda girl!  So, when I saw that Christi at Ms. Fultz' Corner and Design by Christi is giving away a blog makeover, I'm so signing up!!  If you have any suggestions for me, leave a comment!  

Okay, now it's etc. time which of course is GIVEAWAYS!!!  

Hey, this is so worth it!!  I won 2 Hot Dot sets and a Hot Dot pen at Denise's Yearn to Learn Giveaway!

Courtney at Swimming Into Second us celebrating 1000 followers with 10 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS!

and

I have tried to win one of these Easi-Speak Digital Microphones from Learning Resources in so many giveaways this summer!!  Next chance is at Teaching with Love & Laughter in Lori's giveaway!

Almost the weekend!

Must Have Picture Books!

I'm excited to join my first linky party for:

over at The Teacher Wife!  This is such an awesome linky because who doesn't need more books!  I already have well over 2000 but who's counting???  I love when my new students walk in the first day and spy the books filling the shelves over their mailboxes.  Then, their eyes catch sight of the room library.  But by far my favorite part is when, for some reason, I open one set of the cupboard doors over the cubbies and they catch a glimpse of the shelves of more books hidden there!  Eyes get huge and whispers start--she's got even more in THERE!  Love it!

So, with that many it's hard to decide but here are some of my favorites:

Kiddos are fascinated by the pictures in Steve Jenkins book Actual Size because true to the title all the animal parts included are the actual size.  Awesome fold-out pages!

Helen Lester is one of my favorite authors for the classroom!  She sure knows kids and Hooway for Wodney Wat is one of her best!  I love the story of poor, bullied Rodney, who can't pronounce the "r" sound, but becomes a hero when he defeats the new classroom bully!  A great story for BTS!  

Another fav for kiddos is David McPhail!  For beginning readers, you can't beat Edward and the Pirates! Edward is a voracious reader and teaches the illiterate pirates a thing or two about reading when they visit him one night!

A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue  by Julia Cook gives kiddos the tools to determine what is tattling and what is telling.  Josh doesn't have any friends because of his tattling until he gets a visit from the Tattle Prince and learns the "rules."  Kids love MYOB-Mind Your Own Beeswax!

and 

Maybe it's the 23 days of 90 degree or over temps that made me think of this book!  Stranger in the Woods is one of my all time favorites!!!  The pictures are outstanding and the first pages describing the snow are beautifully written!  The story is written from the animals point of view about the "stranger" and you can have a blast with the animal sounds.  Carl Sams II and Jean Stoick based the story on actual experiences they had with forest animals.

That's my 5!  I hope I chose some new titles for you to think about the next time you're in the book store or shopping online!

No post would be complete without the summer's latest and greatest giveaways, so here goes!

Simply Kinder is giving away a $25 gift certificate to TpT!

Lory at Fun for First is giving away amazing prizes with her bloggie friends!

Win 6 items of your choice from Ms. Fiorini's Stadium store and a $25 gift certificate!

Fabulous in First is having an I Love CTP! giveaway and you could win the above set!

 
 Nicole at Rowdy in Room 300 is celebrating 500 followers and will custom make one of these adorable burlap signs for 2 winners!

Miss I's Class has soooo many prizes in her giveaway!  Check it out!

Good Luck!