My Doctor and Me ABC

Dr. Stephanie Cox contacted me earlier this month and wanted to share a book she had written with me.  She thought maybe I could use it in my class and that my students would benefit from it.  I was immediately drawn to the cute illustrations on the cover and knew that ABCs were something my Kindergarteners would benefit from, so I told her I would absolutely love to see and review it!

This book is available through the Kindle App and also in a print version you can order through Amazon.com.  

I loved the book, y'all! Each letter has a term related to the doctor's office and an explanation for it.  Every page has words that rhyme.  

This book could be used during your Community Helpers unit, during your Alphabet Unit, or to locate rhyming words.  I have used my iPad under my document camera in the classroom and that way the students can see the words and the pictures while you read it aloud to them. 

Not only is this book great for all of those things, but also if a child was scared of or had not been to the doctor, this would be a great way to explain to them the ins and outs of the doctor's office.

I would totally recommend it!  Swing by Amazon and grab a copy for your classroom!  Thanks Dr. Cox for sharing this amazing book with me!

Cooking up a Great Year

I'm super excited to be teaming up with 24 other bloggers this week to bring you back to school activities and awesome recipes! So get ready to find lots of fun activities and new recipes to start your school year off right! 

If you're like me, when school starts, things are BUSY! I'm always looking for something I can cook in my Crockpot that will get my family several meals (dinners and leftovers) but most importantly provides us with something reasonably healthy and a hot meal!  This is one of our favorites!  

Meatball Subs:

Start with these meatballs from Sam's Club. (I'm sure you can get another kind somewhere else, but these are our favorites!)

Throw them on the Crockpot  I don't measure them...I just throw them in.

Throw in 2 jars of sauce!  This is the kind I use. It's low sodium....and we're all about that!

Cook on low all day.  Ignore the sides of my Crockpot...but this is what they look like when they are done.

Next you need some buns.  These are the kind we use.  It's hard to find a healthy bun really, but these aren't too bad.

Put your meatballs in the bun.  The serving size is 4, but you could use more or less.  I add a little extra sauce.

Add some cheese to the top.

Stick in the Toaster oven and toast until its melted.  We keep it classy and eat on paper plates in our house. 

And that's how you make a meatball sub friends! I had some fruit with this because that was plenty of calories.  We also boil noodles so we can have spaghetti with leftover meatballs.  This is perfect for lunches! We just recently started eating gluten free ones. 

Seriously, it tastes the same...but don't overcook it! 

Now for some activities that are meatball related! 

This is a book we all know and love, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs! 

If you don't have the book, here's a read aloud. It's kind of long though!

There's also some fun songs!

All of those go nicely with my freebie for this fun hop:

This freebie sampler gives you a few handouts to practice uppercase and lowercase letters as well as beginning sounds with your students all with a fun Spaghetti and Meatballs theme!  Let your students listen to the story and sing the fun songs and use these as a follow up.  

If you want more fun activities to complete with your students using this theme, grab this pack:

It includes fun games and worksheets to practice beginning of the year skills! 

Now, it's time for a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

But that's not all! There are lots of other awesome blogs to read, freebies to grab, and recipes to look at.  Click the chef's hat to go to your next top.  Happy Hopping!! 

Meet the Teacher Linky

It's my last week of Summer! I'm a little depressed! I'm trying to do some fun stuff this week, so I decided to link up with Falling into First for her Meet the Teacher Linky :) I have been so fortunate to meet some amazing Bloggers since I started blogging and selling on TpT and I love reading about my "friends!"  So....here's a little about me! 

My name is Kourtney Payton.  I am 31 years old and I'm a teacher, a mommy, a wife and a blogger!  This is my 10th year teaching and my 9th year teaching Kindergarten! I can't wait to meet my newest group of Kindergarten Friends! 

I married this jewel, Steve, 9 years ago and couldn't be happier!! When you meet a man that takes you to Target to look at the Dollar Spot on a date or sends you texts of school supplies when he's at the grocery store...you have a keeper girls.  He has helped me set up 2 classrooms, stapled up plenty of things to my walls, overhauled hand me down bookshelves and I can't explain what an awesome daddy he is! 

These are my babies! Kevin and Elijah :)  They drive me bananas all the time, but I sure love my boys.  They keep life interesting and remind me why I love being a mama! 

These are my furbabies Garfield and Pumpkin! I love them to pieces and they love to snuggle with me (and each other!)

 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Flair Pens, Monograms, Polka Dots, Zumba, Sh'Bam, Group Fitness in General, Laughing, Nick at Nite, Vera Bradley, Satellite Radio, Being Organized, Tervis Tumblers, Chocolate

 IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

When I was little I wanted to be a doctor.  I'm definitely not cut out for that, but sometimes I think I could be a nurse!  I also used to work in banking and though I didn't have a passion for that, I was pretty good at that job :) 

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Kind, Loving, Sensitive 

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

"I am never busy...said no teacher EVER!!"
 

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

How about Channing Tatum? Whew, he's a hottie! 

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

 Crazy with Kids

 Q:YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

 Definitely Teleportation. Getting out of the house with two kids is impossible.  I'm here to tell you if my oldest didn't help me in the morning, I'd never make it to school on time! 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"If you can dream it, you can do it!" 

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

 "Don't Stop Believing" - Journey - Seriously who doesn't love the 80's or Journey? I'd have the crowd singing right along with me! 

  

 Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

I'm definitely a night owl.  This summer I have been up all night working on Teachers Pay Teachers stuff, watching Full House, Friends and who knows what else.  I am in for a serious shocker next week!    

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

My Chicka Chicka Boom Boom pack was the first centers pack I ever created! It always gets me excited about the beginning of the year! :) 

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 

My husband I got married 6 months after we started dating.  Sometimes when you know, you know!  We've been happily married for 9 years and never looked back! :) 

Alright, it's your turn to head over and link up and let us know about you! Leave a comment if you do so I can come read about you!

Back-To-School Curriculum Blowout Sale - 48 Hours!

I am so excited to announce that Educents.com is bringing back their HUGE back-to-school blowout sale and I am going to be featured in one of the curriculum bundles! From August 13-14 (Wednesday - Thursday), they are bringing back all of their favorite and most popular bundles for INSTANT download at up to 77% OFF! There is something for everyone and it is their BIGGEST sale of the year!

Take a peak into what is on sale! Tell your friends, because there is something for everyone who teaches children in PreK-8th grade!

You can find my pack right here in the:

Management, Decor & Organization Bundle - 76% OFF

You'll find my Word Wall Headers and Sight Word Cards in this pack!  This is the perfect time to scoop up these up and print/laminate them to get ready for the school year.  When you introduce the sight words to your students, you'll have them handy to put up.  Your students writing will improve with this awesome resource available for them!

Already have that bundle?  Here are some other bundles you may be able to use! 

Preschool - Kinder Full-Year Curriculum Bundle - 72% OFF

Kindergarten Full-Year Curriculum Bundle - 75% OFF

K-2 The Write Stuff ELA Bundle - 68% OFF

First Grade Literacy Bundle - 74% OFF

School Year Curriculum Bundle (Grades 2-3) - 74% OFF

Poetry Curriculum & Activities Bundle (Grades 2-6) - 75% OFF

Don't Miss It!

Markdown Monday - August 11-15

It's time to link up with Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations for Markdown Monday! For me, it's the last Markdown Monday until I go back to school! Next Monday I will be sitting in an in service...excuse me while I have a panic attack! Where did the summer go?! 

For today's Markdown, I chose something I know you will need at the beginning of the year and at 50% off....who could pass it up? 

This Fall Centers Bundle includes two of my best selling units, which will be perfect for the beginning of the year! At 50% off, you'll be getting two units for $6.50, so it's like getting one for free! This deal will only last until Friday, August 15th, so don't miss it! 

Want to check out the other deals? Head over to Kelly and Kim's Kindergarten Kreations to see what other deals you can scoop up!