10% off Olde Westport Spice Company

 Olde Westport Spice & Trading Company is a 33-year-old spice manufacturer that is still going strong. This online company operates a small plant in Goodland, Kansas, and knows a thing or two about spices, seasonings and soups. This family owned and operated company was originally founded in the Kansas City area and has stayed true to its mission of making custom spice blends for main meal dishes and appetizers as well as nearly 20 varieties of dry soups. The products are available online at www.oldewestportspice.com; at food-related craft and trade shows throughout the Midwest; and at gift and gourmet food shops. Olde Westport's spice blends and seasonings include Italian, Cajun, Taco, Fajita, Chili, Jalapeno, Beef Sauce, Salsa, Garlic and many more. All of the products use quality ingredients for a balanced flavor that compliments meats, pastas and vegetables. The company also invented dry soup mixes that are simple and easy to make including Antonio's Minestrone, Country-Style Creamy Potato, Chipotle Black Bean, Creamy Broccoli and Cheese, Kansas City Steak & Ale, Gold Coast Garlic Pasta Alfredo, Mesa Flats Chicken Enchilada, New Orleans Red Bean & Rice, Southwestern Tortilla, White Chili Soup and more. Olde Westport Spice and Trading Co. is owned and operated by Bill and Judy Petersen, who along with their daughter, Ann Myers, also own and run a restaurant (Westport Grill) in Goodland featuring the products. Bill first custom created all of the spices and seasonings in the kitchen of his home. Today the company has a manufacturing facility where Bill still researches and develops new recipes and dishes for future products.

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Birthday card!

My friends from work made an amazing birthday card! It literally took the greatest movies and made them fit me... If anyone is actually interested in this for a friend, family member, or your significant other let me know😄 I love how creative teachers are! 😀❤️

Parts of Speech!

The new Common Core Standards are changing curriculum across the entire state of PA for all subjects.  This is the first time in quite some time English had been taught - I understand and know what you are thinking because I questioned why it was not taught before too.  The only way my school could make it work without completely butchering the school day was to do a 1/2 year English course.  Goal: Shove an entire years worth of English curriculum into 2 9weeks. Me: Challenge accepted! 

Although I understand my scores as a teacher are derived from the PSSA test results from my students and time is so valuable in this course, I'm fine with spending extra time to make learning more meaningful.  We are studying Parts of Speech : Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Verb, Adverb. Who wants to just memorize the facts and answer questions from the book or a worksheet? Not me nor do I like to constantly teach that way! 

This is the beginning of our Parts of Speech phamplet. I had students pick 6 different colors from the construction paper stockpile. They really enjoyed this -who does not like making a rainbow of colors? We then spaced then out evenly length wise, leaving about 1" of the previous color showing.  Next we made sure they were straight (I ran around the entire room checking) and folded it half so the edges met, made a crease, and finally cut! You get two phamplets from 6 pieces of construction paper.  Wa-la done! Just kidding... I had to cut the majority of their papers because it looked like a weedwacker attacked their phamplets or Edward Scissorhands was in my class.  I'm a classy teacher who uses these references a lot... 😂. 

When we finish I'll upload the final product! 

1st day of English activity

If you teach K-12 this is a great little lesson to bring the "Summer brain" back to  "Schooltime brain." You can teach a mini-lesson on parts of speech or whatever you think the students need according to their grade level.

The students can either choose their first or last name --the longer it is the better!  They then draw it out in pencil in bubble letters ; if there are cheerleaders in the room have them help, somehow it's an innate ability to draw letters like this. The nouns, verbs, and adjectives should describe that student and what they are like.  Have fun with it! 

1st letter: Nouns 

2nd letter: Verb

3rd letter: Adjective

Repeat for the rest of the letters! 

Scholatic Book Orders!

One of my favorite things when I was a kid was to get book orders.  Even before I was actually in school my Nana, who taught Kindergarten, would give me the extra order form books.  I loved them!

I have my own class now and my own book orders to hand out.  Because it is the digital age you can now order online!  It is wonderful :)   All you need is an access code! (https://orders.scholastic.com/MYWJC)  If you are super lucky and are from my area - order way and pick up at the school! That is the only drawback of Scholastic ... I wish they would deliver to the parents address instead of sending to the teacher!

Back to school - Printables!

Below are a few items I use when the school year starts - some are made by me and some are made by other amazing teachers! 

3 minute until Dismissal Checklist!                             
I have this placed by my classroom door. Obviously because the clock is near it and the little eyes always watch the clock for the time! I have it in a Word doc so if you want it just comment and I'll post it - you can edit it however you like! It is great for those even more intense "observations" that PA has now ... blah.



Chalkboard Rules poster

This is really cute!  If you know anything about me, well I love chalkboards and they were huge at my wedding.  Without a doubt this would be included in my classroom!

Sadly, "we do lots of tests" is the truth in PA.  When I was in school we had book reports and could make fun presentations and had choices.  Now if it is on the PSSA it has to be taught and nothing else unless you have "free time" which never happens.  I always try to do projects in my reading classes but with the limited resources, time, and strict curriculum guides (Common Core) one has to bow down and get the standards/content done. 



Student Information Sheet
 

This little guy comes in handy!  I found this on the internet a few years ago so I honestly did not make this and wish I knew who the original author was!  I am going to mix it up a bit this year for my new students who move in and add e-mail address to the form.  Many times parents do not fill out the office form out all the way and I grab this doc once it is completed for their use.  Once I use up my supply of these the newest one will be made and posted for you.


Remember, if you want Word Doc/PDFs of the above just respond below and I'll send them out. Happy new school year!