Enter to win 100 dollars from TPT!

Who loves a giveaway?  

I sure do!  

Enter for your chance to win a $100 dollar gift card to TPT!  Whoop Whoop!  The giveaway ends September 13th and is open worldwide.

a Rafflecopter giveaway This is a monthly contest hosted by An Apple for the Teacher (Kelly Malloy).  If you don't win this month, come back in October for another chance to win!  Best of luck!

If you are a teacher blogger or TPT seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these, click here.  This is a great way to help your business grow and join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

$100 TPT Giveaway

Wow....what an exciting opportunity!!  Enter for your chance to win a $100 dollar gift to TPT.  Whoop Whoop!  This giveaway ends May 13th and is open worldwide.

This is a monthly contest hosted by An Apple fo the Teacher (Kelly Malloy).  Soooo.....if you don't win this month, make sure you come back in June! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you are a teacher blogger or Teachers Pay Teachers seller who wants to particpate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media? Click here to find out how you can join oru totally awesome group of bloggers!

Giveaway!!

Happy weekend after Thanksgiving everyone!  I do hope you all enjoyed your holiday--and that it was filled with quality family time and delicious food!

I think I am still in a food coma....haha! BUT....the sad exciting part is that we will have leftovers for days! 

Now...as if November couldn't get any better....TPT is having a Cyber Monday Sale on November 27th and 28th.

This starts tomorrow people!!  

So stock up your carts today so you can get a 25% discount tomorrow! :) 

Want to know something even sweeter? There are lots of TPT sellers giving away gift cards, and I happen to be one of them!  Click here to enter!

Also....be sure to stalk on some other TPT sellers (Facebook, twitter, instagram, blogs, etc.) because there lots of opportunities out there!

Best of luck and happy shopping!! 

Giveaway and a TPT sale!!!

I have two REALLY EXCITING things to share......

FIRST.....enter below for a chance to win a $10 TPT gift card!  Whoop Whoop!!!

You only have one week to enter, and you can't win if you don't try!  So....get your entries in before December 5th!!  I mean....who wouldn't want to win 10 dollars to TPT???

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Second.....TPT is having a Cyber Monday Sale!  Wahoooo!!!

The sale runs two days, starting tomorrow (November 28 and 29)!  Buyers can salve up to 28% by using code CYBER2016 at checkout!

Best of luck for the contest and happy shopping!!

If I were you, I would get those shopping carts loaded now.......

Springing into Learning

Welcome spring!!  Why not celebrate warmer weather (and lets be real--how close spring break is) with a fun blog hop!

Recently my students had fun creating their own Spring Digraph Gardens!  We needed to bring a little sunshine and warm weather into our classroom, and we had just finished up studying digraphs-- so assembling these personal gardens were a no-brainier!

Your students can make their very own Spring Digraph Gardens too!  Click here to download this freebie, and follow the directions below!

Materials Needed:

•       spring garden templates (click here to get the freebie)

•       scissors

•       markers, crayons or colored pencils

•       blue construction paper 12 x 18

•       green construction paper 9 x 12 (for grass)

•       glue

•       digraph word list (for students that need help generating words)

Directions:

1. With a dark marker or crayon, students will write a digraph (i.e. wh, th, ch, etc.) in the center of the butterfly and flowers.

2. With a dark maker or crayon, students will write words that contain the digraph they just wrote.  These words will go on the wings and petals of the flowers.

•    Encourage students to think outside the box—two syllable words, digraphs at the end, etc.

3. Students will decorate their flowers and butterflies.

4. Students will cut out the completed flowers and butterflies.

5. Glue butterflies and flowers to a piece of blue 12 X 18 construction paper.

6. To make the “crinkly” grass, cut a 9 X 12 green paper in half.  Make vertical cuts  on each of the halves, but not all the way through the halves.

7. Crinkle the just-cut fringes with fingers to make grass look 3d.

8. Glue grass on top of flower stems on the blue 12 X 18 paper.

9. Allow glue to dry.

10. Hang the spring digraph gardens so all can see!!

I hope your kiddos have fun creating their gardens!  AND....the gardens don't have to be limited to digraphs--really the possibilities are endless.  You could do prefixes, suffixes, root words, story maps, math fact families, etc.

Don't forget to check out the other freebies and spring ideas!

An InLinkz Link-up

Lucky to be a Teacher Giveaway

It is here!  The Lucky to be a Teacher giveaway is here!

Countless Smart Cookies, many other sellers and bloggers are celebrating why we are lucky to be teachers.  In this day in age it is very easy for teachers to focus on all of the negativity surrounding education...so why not take a moment to focus on the positive!

I am lucky to be a teacher because I am able to see the impact I make on the lives of others. :) I love that I am able to see students grow and learn!

Why are you lucky to be a teacher?

To celebrate our luck, Countless Smart Cookies is hosting a giveaway.  Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best of luck!  Make sure you visit Countless Smart Cookies blog for more prize packs and more chances to win. :)

A HUGE giveaway is coming! :)

I am lucky to be apart of  Countless Smart Cookies  Lucky to be a Teacher Giveaway, which starts THIS THURSDAY March 3rd!

Starting Thursday, don't forget to check Countless Smart Cookies blog, or you can check back here for your chance to enter for some fabulous prizes.

The contest runs from Thursday, March 3 to Monday, March 7th.

Make sure you don't miss out!

Winners!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Makeover Celebration.  I think it was a great celebration! :)

I really wish I could give prizes to everyone who entered......

But, I can't. :)

Anyway....I am happy to announce my two winners!  A BIG congrats to Erika R. and Melissa J!!!

I will be contacting both of you by email!

Again...thanks to everyone who entered!  Love and hugs to you all!

I'm still having my Makeover Celebration giveaway......

BUT....I also wanted to tell you about another giveaway! The Langauge Arts Classroom and Julie Faulkner have teamed up with TONS (over 100!!) of secondary (middle and high school) sellers for a giveaway contest.

Hop on over to their blogs for your chance to win any of the 7 price packs (I personally donated an item to the secondary math pack)! You can get to the contest by clicking here.  The contest runs from August 2nd to August 8th! 

Man you guys can win lots this month (EXCITING!)

P.S. Don't forget TPT is having their HUGE site-wide sale August 3-4!

Makeover Celebration Giveaway! Win a Target or Starbucks Gift Card

Have you guys noticed my new look?????

My little ol' blog got a much needed makeover!!!!!  Isn't it so SUPER DUPER RIDICULOUSLY CUTE!!!!!!

I wish I could take credit for the design, but the fabulous ladies over at Blogs Fit for a Queen did the design and install. I highly recommend working with these two wonderful women if you are in the market for blog design, logo, TPT banner, etc! They are patient, diligent, incredibly talented and reasonably priced.

My new look needed to be revealed with a bang.....thus I am having a giveaway!  Woot Woot!!!

This reveal needed to be extra special because not only did my blog get a makeover, but I have changed my name on TPT from Katie Orr to Mind Sparks, AND I started a Facebook fan page!

The contest runs from July 30th to August 5th!

To enter use the rafflecopter below for your chance to win a $15 Starbucks or Target gift card!  Please note there are two pages to the rafflecopter.....the Target gift card is page one, and the Starbucks gift card is page 2! :)

You can't win if you don't enter......so get to clicking, and best of luck!  Winner will be announced Thursday, August 6th!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

And.....as if this little ol' contest isn't enough....I am excited to announce that TPT is having its big back to school sale!!!

Soooo.....starting August 3rd (that's Monday folks....) through August 4th ALL products in my TPT store will be on sale!  There will also be a ton of other products on sale....so get your wishlists ready now!

That's a lot of great news in one post.....a chance to win a gift card AND a sale!

Giveaway from The Techie Teacher

Happy Sunday friends!

Just a quick little post to let you know about a giveaway happening over at The Techie Teacher's blog. :)

She is giving away a "mystery box" of teacher goodies.  How fun is that?!?  

If you have time......hop on over and enter and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Winner Announced & Meet the Teacher Blogger

This post is twofold. :)  Which means....twice as great as a normal blog post!

First....I am excited to announce the winner of the Starbucks Thanks-A-Latte giveaway!!  It's sad the giveaway has to come to an end...but exciting that the winner gets a pretty sweet prize!!

Drumrolll please.........

The winner is: Susan Fletcher!  Susan, if you are reading this...I have sent you an email :)  Congrats on your winnings!!

Now for the second part of the blog post....I am participating in the Meet Teacher Blogger linky party hosted by Falling Into First. :)  If you haven't visited her blog....it is uber cute.....soooooo....basically you should visit it!

Anyway....the whole point of this linky party is to get to know the blogger behind the blog. Often times we read awesome posts by awesome bloggers....but we don't really know much about them.  Welp....this linky changes all that.  So.....now you will get to know me :)

Let's see......I am a 29 year old teacher, wife, golfer, gardener and  rustic-antique loving crafter. :)  This year will be my 8th year in education.  I spent 5 years teaching in a fourth grade classroom....and then slid right into an interventionist roll for 5th and 6th graders.  This will be my third year as an interventionist...and I. LOVE. IT!

This guy above is pretty much my favorite.....we have been married for almost three years!  He's a teacher too....AND....we work at the same school.  Not many people get to be with their best friend at work AND at home!  :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

Ice----I flipping love ICE. COLD. Drinks!!  What else.......mechanical pencils, flip flops (I hate when my feet have to be in real shoes!), Tervis tumblers, dangly earrings, Yankee candles, fall weather, sports, sports watching, laughing, talking, exercising and Pinterest!

 If you weren't a teacher, what would you want to be?

That’s a tough one…..because for as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be a teacher.  I suppose if I had to choose another career….I would want to be a radio DJ or a newscaster.  I love talking……and with those jobs…you get to talk A.LOT!

Three little words that describe you.

Outgoing. Motivated. Positive.

Finish the sentence, "________,  said no teacher ever!!"

“Gosh I am sick of these snow days”……..said no teacher ever!

Q: It's your birthday and you can invite anyone {dead or alive} to the party. Who are you inviting?

I would invite my great-grandma….we called her Nanny.  She was the sweetest lady you could ever meet….and I can’t wait to meet up with her in Heaven!    

Oh and I would also invite the entire cast of Golden Girls….but they would have to stay in character for the luncheon….that way I can pretend like I am on the show!  Man…I love that show!

Q: If someone wrote a book about your life, what would be the title?

 She Never Met a Stranger 

 Q:You get to pick one superpower. What is it?

 To heal. When someone is in pain…I wish I could take it away with the snap of my fingers. J  Wouldn't that be awesome!

Q: What's your favorite quote or saying?

"Keep looking up, that’s the secret to life."  Snoopy

Q: If you had to sing one song on american idol, what would it be? 

“Fat Bottomed Girls” by Queen……I seriously love that song…..plus it would help that I know all the words. 

 Q: Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Well…..I don’t think I am either one really.  I like to get up and get going….but the time for me to “get going” is usually around 9am.  Is that a morning person?  I go to sleep around 10-11pm….so I don’t think that is really a night owl?  I really have no idea what I am?!?!

Q: What's your favorite resource that you've created in your tpt shop?

My favorite item is my paragraph frames…..because I use them All.The.Time.  They are super easy to use….literally print them and give them to kids to boos their writing!

  

Q: Share something we might not know about you! 

I am happy (I think) to report that I have stopped drinking diet pop.  I used to be OBSESSED…..like 2-3 cans a day OBSESSED, but after the urging of my husband and athletic trainer……..I quit my addiction.  It’s been three months since I have had a sip…..

Back to school SALEabration (and a Starbucks giveaway!!)

I have two really exciting things to share (well my blog title kinda blew the surprise part....)

Anyway......my two exciting things are:

1. TPT is having its annual Back to School (BTS) Sale!

This cute graphic was made by More Than Math by Mo!  Thanks!!

I prefer to call the B2S Sale...a SALEabration.....because most sellers on TPT participate, and a discount on awesome teaching products is a great way to kick off a new school year!  I (and many other sellers) have set the products in my ENTIRE store for 20% off, and not only that....but......If you enter the promo code BTS14, you get an additional 10% off!!!  That is 30% off folks!!!! Yay!!!

TPT sales are great for cleaning out your wishlists and buying bundles......so shop away my dear teachers!!  Below are some of the bundles I have in my store.....and, like I said....now is a great time to buy them!

Now for my second exciting bit of news.......

2. I am hosting a giveaway for a $15 Starbucks Gift Card!

I am hosting this giveaway for several reasons.  First, I have made it to 400 followers on TPT and I wanted to say Thanks A-Latte (haha...get it....I crack myself up......?!?) to all my fabulous followers.

Secondly, I wanted to ESPRESSO my gratitude (haha...did it again.....) to my blog followers!  I am up to 245 blog buddies....and I am hoping to get to 250!!

Thirdly....school is starting for most of us....and, frankly, who doesn't need an extra shot of caffeine to get them going at the beginning of school?

So......thank you TPT and Mind Sparks followers......love you all and best of luck winning the gift card! :)

Enter the contest below! :)  The giveaway starts tonight at midnight and runs until August 16th!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway and Sale-----Happy Teacher's Appreciation Week!!!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of the amazing educators out there!  I pray that each and every one of you feel the love this week, because gosh darn it----YOU DESERVE IT!!!

To show my gratitude I joined up with TPT and put my entire store on sale!!  The TpT  Teachers Sale will run from May 6th (that is tomorrow!!) until May 7th!! Just so you know.......I have heard the bulk of sellers are participating in this sale....so it is a great time to stock up on some of your wishlist items!! 

Additionally, I am participating in a GREAT giveaway hosted by Teaching in Blue Jeans.

Amy, the sweetheart she is, wanted to put together a giveaway in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week....and a boy did she get a lot of participation.  Over 100 sellers have donated items!  That's how much teachers love other teachers!!!! 

I donated my best selling item---Persuasive Writing O.R.E.O---so enter for your chance to win!!!  The giveaway runs from Monday (today) until Sunday night.  Best of luck!!!

Favorite Things Giveaway

A big shout out to Rosie at Rosie's Rambles and Jessica at Joy in the Journey for reaching some personal milestones on TPT and their blogs!!

NOW.....theses ladies are so kind......that they wanted to host a giveaway to celebrate their success.  They enlisted the help of some of their blogging buddies and created some fabulous prize packs for language arts and math!! Check them out.....impressive, right?

BUT....this is a big' ol party...and their giveaway prizes don't stop there!  These two fabulous ladies also wanted to give away a box of their favorite things.  That's right---a box---delivered to your door---with great prizes!  Yes!

So if you have a chance, click and type your way on over to either of their blogs for a chance to win some great prizes.  The contest runs from February 1st until February 7th at midnight!!

Don't be late for the party.....you won't want to miss out on these fab gifts!!  Whoop whoop!!

 ~Katie

One more thing.......if you head on over to Magic Mistakes and Mayhem....Mrs. Storey is having a giveaway for her birthday.  Check it out if you have a chance!!

Giveaway Alert...

Alright, you caught me....Laura's giveaway at her Differentiation Station Creations isn't actually happening today or tomorrow....BUT it is starting on Monday, January 13th.

I thought I would advertise early and give all of you fabulous bloggers a heads up.  So....on Monday hop on over to her blog and enter to win one (or all three) of her prize packs!!

She is giving away 2 prize packs with grades Prek-2 goodies, and 1 prize pack with educational goodness from grades 3-5 and clip art!

You can't win if you don't enter...... (at least this is what I tell myself when I play the lottery......still waiting for my million...ha!)

Have a great rest of your weekend!!

~Katie

I'm so Thankful Blog Hop and Giveaway (Stop 23)!!

We are celebrating all that we are thankful for and that includes teachers!  We want to show all of you how much we appreciate you.  Teachers do so much and this is our time to give back and say thank you!  Thank you for following!  Thank you for participating!  Thank you for collaborating!  Thank you for sharing!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Join us by hopping through each blog and gathering lots of Thanksgiving and autumn freebies.  In each freebie you will find a picture of a pie with a word on it. That word will tell you something that teacher is thankful for.  Record all of the words on your recording sheet and follow each blog along the way so that you can enter the amazing giveaway at the end!

You may start anywhere along the hop, but if you would like to start at the beginning you may go here.  This is also where you will go in the end, for the giveaway!!

You have made it to blog stop number 23!!

The freebie I am giving away is called Favorite Things About Fall Craftivity!  It is a pretty great activity to have your students do during my favorite time of the year!  In this download your students will complete a "Thankful Leaf" by sectioning off a large maple leaf and labeling each section with reasons why they love Autumn.  Students then color in their leaf and use a graphic organizer to write a complete paragraph describing their "Thankful Leaf."

Now hop over to the next stop on your journey: S.O.L Train's Blog!