tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38526288466137651572024-03-06T21:33:45.544-06:00Teacher Kirra:Maestra KirraTeacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-86816406124511775122013-02-09T05:02:00.000-06:002013-02-09T05:02:27.117-06:00Saturday Sayings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://foreverin1st.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXLToAlEx7QDbULGnsqr7-BilOJa8xvX4gf_LXmZhIh3cdhyphenhyphenRVul8thGZtH0fmTbqy51Cm1fim9GHWSng-gwUSMroqIdFShcwVFhIYxx2vyDJTQgFdgUKi-rqTk2EmaeE8H7tUu-0ViA/s320/Screen+shot+2012-04-07+at+9.22.02+AM.png" width="316" /></a></div>
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Today I'm linking up with Tammy from </div>
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<a href="http://foreverin1st.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t438/Tammy_McMorrow/Screenshot2012-03-25at50543PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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for Saturday Sayings.</div>
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You may have seen/ heard this quote before, but I chose it today because it sums up the sentiments that pointed me towards a career in teaching. It is the statement that drives what I do, and I want it to continue underpinning the educational choices I make in the future.</div>
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So, I have to make it clear, I am <i>not </i>one of those I-always-knew-I-was-going-to-be-a-teacher types. In contrast, I had to spend quite a few years soul-searching before I realised that teaching ticked all the boxes for me. It was never in my plan!</div>
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After feeling disenchanted with the system, I left school early at 17. At that stage, I was working at a little country supermarket, making just enough money to fund my weekends. The rest of the time I slept. I was one of <i>those</i> teenagers. After a few months of this, I moved to the capital city to be closer to the action, where I was a promotional model (cigarettes, alcohol, skincare, ice cream, car races), signed people up for Amex cards (I only lasted one day at that one!), then took on a traineeship with an optometrist. </div>
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At 19, after a 6 week trip to Europe, I saw that there was much more in the world to be explored. So, I moved to Alice Springs in Central Australia, where I worked as a (bad) waitress, a hostess at the Casino, then a gaming attendant, before moving across to the adjoining Convention Centre. I started there as a waitress, then got offered an Administration Assistant position, and then eventually moved up to a Banquet Sales Executive role. I thought I was pretty special. <i>My </i>job had 'Executive' in the title, and I was only 21.</div>
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It only took a year or two before the 'shine' of wearing business suits and dealing with big businesses began to wear off. So I arranged leave without pay and took off to India for three months. I had a friend with an uncle who was a Catholic priest, who knew an Indian priest who he put me in touch with. Within three months of my first email to Father Prasad, I was living in a very rural and remote part of India. It was unbelievable. I sat outside each night and watched children skip and dance and jump and play in the church courtyard. We had the only TV in the village, and it was rarely used. This forced people outside to socialise. These people had nothing financially, but it was obvious that they were way richer than me. They had community. They knew each other and they cared about each other. I wanted that. My culture had led me to believe that money was the key, but their culture taught me that life is about relationships.</div>
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Before I went to India, I really thought I could save the world. I thought I could make a difference and do something big to turn things around for them. It was quite confronting to realise that, with 1.1 billion citizens in India (at the time) I simply could not grace each of them with my benevolence. Haha, I really thought I was special :p </div>
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After a time, I realised that grand gestures like I had wanted to make were really overrated anyway. What mattered was how I had been able to touch individual lives. And I hadn't needed to throw my money around to do that. Visiting people who weren't normally visited, smiling at people who were outcast, holding the hands of people considered as 'untouchables'. Small gestures.<br />
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These things certainly did not change the world, but I saw that they had the potential to change something. My aim had been wrong. So instead I decided to change the world for one person, one person at a time. I hope you'll understand if I don't share the exact details of my 'one person' with you, just because it was a very special experience for me that I hold close to my heart.</div>
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After three months, I trundled back home to Australia. One of the first events I organised after returning was an off-site dinner for a large truck manufacturer. It cost $80,000. For one night! I think there were only about 200 people in attendance. The disparity with my Indian experience was enormous. I simply could not continue devoting my life to participating in such a ridiculous waste of money while there were people, friends, over in India who could barely afford to feed and clothe their families. </div>
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So I quit. And began two years of total confusion. I couldn't work out how I could make a measureable difference to anyone. When I went to India, I didn't have anything of value to give. Just my dorky smile :p I wanted to have some sort of expertise to share with the world. I wanted to be of use. </div>
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So I got a job with the Government :p Haha, it wasn't the solution, I just needed to buy time.</div>
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Eventually, I applied for university. Following the idea of changing one person at a time, I almost settled on Psychology as a degree. I considered the super high incidence of depression in the Western Hemisphere, and thought I might be able to use my experiences with teenage depression to help others through it.</div>
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Then I had my epiphany, (less eloquent than the above quote): 'Rather than fix people, I want to try to prevent them from becoming damaged in the first place!' I recognised both the community support networks and the resilience that children possessed in India which had been been lacking in my own childhood, and which I thought may have had the power to prevent my own depression. How could I ensure that children would have a supportive community member in their lives, and healthy self esteem?</div>
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I put down Education as my preference on my university application rather than Psychology, and now I cannot imagine being anything other than a teacher!</div>
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The quote's relevance to my practice today is that it reminds me that what I do is important. Every word that leaves my lips, every casual glance, or sigh, or gesture, has the potential to affirm a child's worthiness or to dismiss them as unworthy. It's not as cruical for kids who have a strong family background, but for those who don't, school can become a place which fills those gaps or makes them bigger.</div>
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I have to remain conscious of this fact, and aim to give my children more affirming moments that raise their self confidence than negative dismissive ones. I see my role as a teacher not only to teach reading and writing and science and maths and arts, but to give each child a solid foundation of self confidence and worthiness on which to build their unique personalities. </div>
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Thanks for reading this far! I know I've gone on a bit :p I'd love to hear your story of how you came into teaching too, especially if you had a roundabout journey like me :)</div>
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Have a great week!</div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-84518221763485379382013-01-08T02:59:00.006-06:002013-01-08T07:39:55.165-06:00Free fonts with Spanish Characters + Ash's Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
My favourite blogger right now is Ash </div>
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<a href="http://thepolishedteacher.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p579/gobstoppersrock/Screenshot2012-12-28at22729PM_zps5320e695.png" /></a></div>
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(formerly Pixie Stix and Teacher Tricks)</div>
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Apart from being cute, talented and very smart, she has added all of the Spanish characters... </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: lime; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>ÁÉÍÓÚ áéíóú Üü Ññ ¡¿</b></span></span></div>
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...to her wonderful fonts! It has been really tough to find fonts with those characters so I was super appreciative when she said she would add them for me. Seriously, she is the best :)</div>
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Click on the fonts here which link to Ash's blog post (for links to the free downloads), </div>
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and don't forget to link back to Ash's blog if you use them in a product!</div>
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Ash is also having a huge giveaway, which ends in about 3 days.</div>
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<a href="http://thepolishedteacher.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/250-follower-giveaway-lets-celebrate.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://i1156.photobucket.com/albums/p579/gobstoppersrock/Slide1-3_zps29a9dc90.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was so grateful for Ash's Spanish-friendly fonts that I've donated a $10 Teachers Notebook gift card to this giveaway! I've also been pretty lucky with winning some other giveaways, so it's about time I give back to the bloggy community :p</div>
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If you haven't yet, head on over and enter now. </div>
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Buena suerte! Good luck!</div>
Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-54700851308111161702012-12-16T01:00:00.000-06:002012-12-16T01:00:07.170-06:00Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-40419260353680709992012-11-27T02:04:00.004-06:002013-02-08T07:05:35.689-06:00Liebster Love<div style="text-align: center;">
Oh my giddy aunt...</div>
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In the past few days I've recevied four Liebster nominations from the following lovely ladies:</div>
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The beautiful Nikki from</div>
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The delightful Bren P. from</div>
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My wonderful Australian buddy, Tania, from</div>
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and awesome Texas teacher, Marcy, from Saddle up for Second Grade.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">The
Liebster Award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have
less than 200 followers. It is to show new bloggers that they are
appreciated and to help spread the word about new blogs. Thanks to everyone who nominated me!</span></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Rules:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">- You must post 11 random things about yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">- Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">- Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">- Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers) and link them in your post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">- No tag back (but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">11 Things About Me:</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> 1. My father is quite anti-education. He is a self made businessman and he thinks his kids should be the same!</span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">2. I fell off my bike when I was 7 and fractured my skull in three places. The doctors thought I would be permanently brain damaged. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">3. The first time I saw friends watching 'The Walking Dead', I thought they were pathetic. Now it is the only TV show that the Mister and I download and watch weekly!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">4. I do not currently own a television.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">5. When I was 21 I decided that I needed to go and 'save the world' and spent 3 months in rural India with a Catholic priest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">6. I was brought up as a Lutheran, spent my teenage and early adulthood not quite knowing what to believe, and was baptised as a Latter Day Saint in 2010.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">7. I won the Student of the Year Award for my state in Grade 11...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">8. ...but I left school before finishing Grade 12.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">9. I used to be a Banquet Sales Executive</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">10. I spent a LOT of money last night on the TpT sales.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">11. I love salsa dancing!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>My 11 Favourite Questions from <span style="font-size: small;">Nicki, Bren P., Tania and Marcy</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"> 1. Do you have any siblings?</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Yes, one older brother. All my family live in the same little town back in Australia.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">2. If you weren't teaching, what would you do instead?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I badly want to be a Neuroscientist! Maybe after 15 years of teaching, I'll make the transition into Cognitive Neuroscience. I am particularly interested in the way the brain learns languages.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">3. Where is the farthest place you have traveled?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, If you look at where Adelaide, South Australia, is on the globe (I was born about an hour from there), Mexico is about smack bang on the opposite site!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">4. Night owl or early bird?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Definitely night owl. Midnight (and beyond) is the blogging hour :P</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">5. How many stamps in your passport?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A few! Let me count... England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Spain, India, Thailand, New Zealand, Mexico, Belize, USA, Costa Rica, Nicaragua. Not counting transit countries of course.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">6. What is your all time favourite book?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">So hard to choose! The one I have read over and over again is a series by an Australian author named John Marsden- Tomorrow, When the War Began. This is the only book that has actually made me cry. I also liked Shantaram because it reminded me of my time in India.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">7. What is your favourite movie?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Again, hard to choose. I like the message in Life is Beautiful. But I like Slumdog Millionaire for the way it captures India.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">8. What made you begin blogging?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Initially I stalked blogs. I didn't consider blogging myself as I didn't think I had anything to contribute. I still haven't commited myself to regular blogging, mainly because of my temperamental internet connection here in Mexico! I want to create a portfolio of my work, and share my ideas and collaborate with other teachers. I have learnt SO MUCH from blogging, and I hope I am able to give back to the community too.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">9. Favourite food</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I love a good Indian curry (no meat though.. bad memories from India!!) but I also love Mexican food like mole. I love chilli.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">10. Who was your favourite teacher when you were a student?</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I had Mr Taylor in Grade 3, 4, and again in Grade 6. I got my love of language from him.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">11. If you could time travel to any place any time, where would you go? </span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well I love history, but which do I love the most? Ooh, I think I would go back to when Cortes and his crew were massacring everyone in Mexico and try and save some of the books that were burnt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Wow, that was hard!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The 11 Blogs I am Nominating:</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://funandeasyfirstgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fun and Easy First Grade</a></span></b></div>
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<a href="http://mathworkshopadventures.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Math Workshop Adventures</span></b></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://1stgradeevents.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Series of First Grade Events </a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">OK, you<b>'</b>ll have to forgive me... I have been searching through my blog list for at least half an hour and everybody has over 200 followers OR has already received the Liebster. I'm sorry! The three that I have chosen are all deserving though, so please go give them some love!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>11 Questions f<span style="font-size: small;">or my Nominees</span></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"> 1. What was your favourite purchase from the TpT sale?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">2. What did you want to be were you little?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">3. If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">4. Favourite quote</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">5. Favourite place in the world</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">6. Where will you be spending Christmas?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">7. Dogs or cats?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">8. If you had to rename yourself, what would you choose?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">9. Favourite subject to teach</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">10. Favourite teaching memory</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">11. Why are you a blogger?</span></i></div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-15406612027139936862012-11-06T03:29:00.002-06:002012-11-06T03:35:43.660-06:00That Winning Feeling! 7 giveaways to get you there :P<div style="text-align: center;">
That Winning Feeling? Yep, I've got it!</div>
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I have won some absolutely fantastic (and generous) prizes from teacher blogger giveaways in the last few weeks, and now it's your turn! It's a good feeling I tell ya, and well worth the time it takes to click, visit and enter :p Plus you'll likely find some brand new blogs to follow. You never can have too many ideas!</div>
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Nicole from <a href="http://onetwothreemathtime.blogspot.com/2012/10/november-giveaway.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">One, Two, Three: Math Time</a> is hosting a November giveaway. Two, actually! There are 40 contributors in total. Here is a link to the first one.</div>
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<a href="http://onetwothreemathtime.blogspot.com/2012/10/november-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0AHjBRD6BcablRdAhpVQkPvdpTm4NJFVpSq_Nh9yBhek9BZlRNUH4nndxgfLibGf0J9xpnXPd6Z1TavM81iSEdKoIzohZZQWEpo5WRYBoGeCy4tTO-WxHmBhMu0CRcJ6St6hHkHFu9E/s400/nov.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It closes in just under 4 days.</div>
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Aimee from <b><a href="http://www.pencilsbooksanddirtylooks.com/2012/11/im-so-excited-to-reach-300-followers.html" target="_blank">Pencils Books and Dirty Looks</a></b> is giving away some of her favourite things in celebration of reaching 300 followers. There are some non-downloadable prizes, so make sure you live somewhere suitable for posting! Sadly, Mexico is not so suitable. But that means more chances for you!</div>
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<a href="http://www.pencilsbooksanddirtylooks.com/2012/11/im-so-excited-to-reach-300-followers.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AgcpRs0jHZ0xOHq_UMHU3TbqjTDSMyY5z3HyREugWetg2S0j9uBJF0JBrugg50en7GTKxldndFeD99CPkMPnMXxIqthyphenhyphen1TyWtpmWvRHrXX5LoFkGhrdd_kAcXHzrmgzN-Wt3psb-ybuk/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You have about 10 days left to enter.</div>
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Jennifer from <b><a href="http://www.liveteachcreate.com/fantastic-fall-ower-giveaway/" target="_blank">Live. Teach. Create.</a></b> is hosting a Fantastic Fall-ower Giveaway. There are four different Rafflecopters for you to enter... can you say spoilt?!</div>
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<img border="0" height="296" src="http://www.liveteachcreate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Fantastic_Fallower_Giveaway_Button.png" width="400" /></div>
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You have less than three days left to enter!</div>
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Sweet Wendy from <b><a href="http://abcprimaryteachingresources.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/huge-200-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Teacher's Toolkit</a></b> is celebrating 200 followers. She has lots of Rafflecopters, and they're grouped into categories, like Winner Choice, Graphics, Pre K-Third, Thanksgiving. </div>
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You are guaranteed to find something that tickles your fancy!</div>
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<a href="http://abcprimaryteachingresources.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/huge-200-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOHVXJqaonjjSkfGnzrWhJavuASeKkq8I1mceGfqegmdWOuUQoNxN6weG6HrHmJon-iPWGkD43Ft_9jlWBYFWoV_8qvWqt_s3xcjMA0ZwR88VG6rzZjIdoph33OFR69uDc110t7QdW2c/s400/giveaway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are just under four days left to get your entries in.</div>
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Mrs S. from<b> <a href="http://peanutgallery19.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-holly-jolly-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Peanut Gallery</a></b> is giving away a bunch of cute Christmas resources. </div>
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Why? Just cos she's lovely. Well, to be accurate, it's also to commemorate the adoption of her cutie pie puppy dog, Holly... what better excuse to share the Christmas joy? That dog is seriously cute!</div>
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<a href="http://peanutgallery19.blogspot.com/2012/11/a-holly-jolly-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj60NLUYXCS3t8BiEP7bDbCdQ4C-kFsOq-Dvd_9TbWCGJYpZGvtqdfF4rxxX0K6Up97N7DH-neBcmivQcFBUFD6Jp5bbOdxQzDjBRHOMAIuiVAPh2v39hhv1e0t1l_SIJVDaF09yn9Fyp7/s400/Slide2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This giveaway ends in roughly ten days.</div>
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Megan from <b><a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/2012/11/500-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">I Teach. What's Your Superpower?</a></b> is having a giveaway to celebrate 500 followers. Yay Megan! There are six different giveaways and they are all full of awesome teachery stuff, plus some pretty girly things :)</div>
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<a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/2012/11/500-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_VRkWm01GvUr4i7EKiHxEH8v6k-p6AqfM1pOdTG1uHofn4YH5Kc3CKs4AaRh7Adx7-pbi3edcwPKvChTKTBbwUgTjYucOZVhA6rFOM9d56ICAiNM_DlRaAFuqqzwSTFGwsf7wV-nVHY/s400/500+Giveaway.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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These Rafflecopters close in just under five days.</div>
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Is that all? </div>
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Well almost! I've heard a rumour that Cindy from <b><a href="http://grannygoestoschool.blogspot.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-gift-cards-give-away-10000.html" target="_blank">Granny Goes to School</a></b> is also hosting a giveaway, one with lots of gift cards! For some reason, the link to her blog is not working, but it came up on my Blogger Feed, so it must be true! I suggest checking back in a day or two if the link isn't live yet ;)</div>
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Good luck!</div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-50099918446056606272012-11-02T02:50:00.000-06:002012-11-02T03:02:09.501-06:00Halloween in Mexico...my first ever! +giveaways<div style="text-align: center;">
Not my first Halloween in Mexico, my FIRST EVER halloween! Typically, we don't celebrate it in Australia, although some folk are trying to bring in it. It definitely wasn't done when I was a kid anyhow!<br />
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So... honestly, I wasn't looking forward to doing it here. I just wasn't. I predicted sugar-crazed children and you know what? That is exactly what I got! Typically Halloween isn't celebrated in Mexico either, but my English school wanted to share a bit of English-speaking culture this year. So I tried my best to bring it!<br />
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Today though, I was totally and utterly knackered, with a killer headache. Is that normal for the day after Halloween? Thank goodness we had a teachers-only marking day today (for the Monday and Tuesday exams), and tomorrow is Dia de Muertos, so I have two days (and a weekend) to recover from three very full on days.<br />
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Are you ready for photos?<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03982.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have six different groups of students, and they all helped with the spiderwebs and creation of bats, spiders and skulls in my classroom. Most groups are teenagers, so they were more than happy to climb onto the tables to help extend the spiderwebs into high places!<br />
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Unfortunately the lighting doesn't really do the webs justice. Anyway, they were all over, and there were bats and spiders dangling from threads.<br />
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Because I wasn't really convinced about the whole Halloween business, I decided that I would find the cheapest and easiest costume. Toilet paper mummy! I had the paper in my bag all ready to go, but then I started making zombie brains (super simple by the way: cornflour, cooked spaghetti, green food colouring and styrofoam 'eye balls')...<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="346" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03978.jpg" title="Teacher Kirra's Zombie Brains" width="400" /></a></div>
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And had a much better idea! Inspired by <i>The Walking Dead</i>, I present you with... Zombie Teacher!<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03985.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
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We had a mountain of candy in my room donated by my wonderful advanced students...<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03994.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But what are those apples for?<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03981.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Well, one of my students brought in a chocolate fountain, which we filled with chamoy instead. Chamoy is a very red sauce that is part chilli, part sour, and a tiny part sweet. Lots of Mexican candy has the same kind of flavour combination (which is very odd for my Australian tastebuds!) Anyway, apples cut into slices taste very yummy dipped in chamoy.<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/Halloween%20Mexican%20Style/DSC03984.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My blood stains? Also chamoy. My costume was totally edible!<br />
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OK, so I admit that I did enjoy myself just a tiny little bit. But mostly it was super hard work! In addition to my room with zombie brains, where the kids had to dig in and fish out the eye balls if they wanted candy, I had a scary movie set up with the data projector in another room for the big kids (English, plus English subtitles, can't miss a learning opportunity!) I do not know what they did in there, but at the end of the party it was the messiest room in the entire complex! They had popcorn and chips, but nothing much else for ammunition. How mysterious.<br />
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Oh, I should also mention that here in Mexico, you put Valentina sauce on popcorn (it's a really common chilli sauce). Is that weird or WHAT?? I ragged on the idea for about a year until I tried it for myself, and you know what? It's not so bad! I actually prefer it that way now :s<br />
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So as you can see, I have been crazy busy with exams and halloween this week, (so no blogging) but I still wanted to share with you some giveaways I've come across:</div>
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Danielle at <b><a href="http://classroom-cupcakes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Cupcakes</a> </b>has a brand spanking new blog and is having a giveaway to celebrate. There's a $25 Lakeshore Gift Card available!<br />
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<a href="http://classroom-cupcakes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8110515614_096c533cfa_o.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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It ends tomorrow.</div>
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Nichole at <b><a href="http://craftofteaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/amazing-100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Craft of Teaching</a></b> is having a 100 Follower Giveaway. There are some great teaching products, plus, if you are the winner you get to choose which $25 Gift Card you would like to have! </div>
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I would choose TpT card, because I have a Wishlist a mile long :p</div>
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<a href="http://craftofteaching.blogspot.com/2012/10/amazing-100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBp8pGwXMOEOhmXyz9d7vruy8egP2-nFcjRw5Rkb0XEuLjxVhV64ngQETSHFPAjKTMCCzFPT6mngA3JW0ifZOVkEb0Mmz0SH4FD7rRv8IvFrRj6Is9HAwBnwUVVRoc6aLidMDjyH6/s320/Giveaway.png" /></a></div>
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It ends on Friday too.<br />
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You've probably heard about Sara's Giveaway already; it's been popping up all over my Blogger newsfeed! If not, make sure you head over to <b><a href="http://missventrella.blogspot.com/2012/10/500-followers-5-giveaways.html" target="_blank">Miss V's Busy Bees</a></b> to enter the five Rafflecopters in celebration of her 500 followers.<br />
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<a href="http://missventrella.blogspot.com/2012/10/500-followers-5-giveaways.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCSQpIRtEzHYPumXg8noy0vztznAYjkATY3jlyrd3lv0qKEmFuFxVCuPauKho9djI8vTu6Jopb2ww1a23c2-xCZN_xprt31BCIeckBk0_fz4aReSLdzcY_xNeosHWEQCgkDv_xIG1Eqk/s400/Miss+V%2527s+Busy+Bees+500+Followers+Button.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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There's still another week before this one closes.<br />
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Tomorrow is Dia de Muertos and I've asked the Mister to take me to the graveyard. No cameras though, as it is disrespectful. No matter, I'll give you the rundown tomorrow in words!<br />
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Hasta manana!<br />
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-7312582721461236352012-10-25T03:49:00.001-05:002012-10-25T03:49:43.959-05:00Gividaway , gividaway, gividaway now!<div style="text-align: center;">
That's Red Hot Chili Peppers, for those of you who remember!<br />
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Anyway, onto the business at hand...<br />
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Nicki from <b><a href="http://mrsthigpenskindergarten.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Thigpen's Kindergarten</a></b> has reached 50 followers! This is a pretty big moment in a young blogger's life, so go show her some support =D<br />
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<a href="http://mrsthigpenskindergarten.blogspot.com/2012/10/50-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVyVJ5v30CtCW6muLyFRRy0HK4jUE-ZJLAiUFTPd_n0RYKT6P3nx9Rosj1co_wQryQxwl07TznYotd1Hg2DJ4Eg5lMilh3F_3qGsgf23jIO5RpSinge7lkhksIGLOJNCSnfbUNnpSXbn4/s320/Slide1.JPG" /></a></div>
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If you haven't seen her TpT store yet, make sure you check it out. She has some super cute products and lost of freebies.</div>
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Erin from <b><a href="http://talesfromroom112.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-200-follower-giveaway-its-big-one.html" target="_blank">Tales From Room 112</a></b> is having a 200 Follower Giveaway with over <b>50 </b>products all for one lucky winner!</div>
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<a href="http://talesfromroom112.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-200-follower-giveaway-its-big-one.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IuLMr3F4ARwiiVuwNaCGOXzbWConcm6njuD7OGPJ1RpgK8DpomdXGnluKnS6t2f6cCCx0gEIYEpWkgllKtK9hEmFtrzP-83qlKG8BAEvTPWAGf3JdYhInJK66dvz3M1Ks1rQh_2CJeM/s320/200+Follower+Giveaway+Button.JPG" /></a></div>
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Entries close next Monday.</div>
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Brooke from <b><a href="http://theintentionalmomma.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-group-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Intentional Momma</a></b> is hosting an October Group Giveaway! There will be two winners of prize packs worth over $75 each.</div>
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<a href="http://theintentionalmomma.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-group-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KPjaVXgxe-Nm57bi5r0peJzmpRqzl95ALHkj0iJg4RbbtgogtUSg7HcJLjG0H4GcRKgDvd8XukzruVM3QHubNYpoOlvCIBDAkNO5ulU9LfHwMAYfsmpCi0js0sulKl2JNVfvu1ulrE8/s320/Giveaway+image.png" /></a></div>
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Entries close in just over four days time.</div>
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Mimi from <b><a href="http://5thgraderocks5thgraderules.blogspot.com/2012/10/finallygiveaway-time.html" target="_blank">5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules</a></b> is having a 400 almost 500 Follower Giveaway. She's giving away a $25 Target Gift Card.</div>
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<a href="http://5thgraderocks5thgraderules.blogspot.com/2012/10/finallygiveaway-time.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/5th%20Grade%20Rocks/btn1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Her giveaway ends on the 31st.</div>
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That's all for now. Good luck!</div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-88729963662563635402012-10-21T23:57:00.000-05:002012-10-22T00:32:52.633-05:00Eight enormous new giveaways... Some of the biggest yet!<div style="text-align: center;">
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That's right, EIGHT. And they are whoppers.<br />
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Antonia from <b><a href="http://msrivas.blogspot.com/2012/10/huge-halloween-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Forkin' 4th</a></b> is hosting a HUGE Halloween Giveaway! It includes a $25 Amazon.com Gift Card plus 19 halloween themed products designed for upper grade students. </div>
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<a href="http://msrivas.blogspot.com/2012/10/huge-halloween-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQW6PKFYLvvy8FNid5oYp5ohU0lAUYrDSi_m7lz7pGv9WbvPyEL-_kSn2FnuNxDu-AV1g5yGOf8x3atZmuQI7uytVNzShnB2mXhzhzgxSUEKCFJSCQQTXtZOA_rBEzQo_jUsIqe6nP-d8r/s640/HalloweenGiveaway-portrait.png" width="392" /></a></div>
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This Rafflecopter closes on October 26th at midnight...spooky!</div>
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I must mention a unit up for grabs in Antonia's giveaway which is already on my wishlist: </div>
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this awesomely cute Dia de Muertos unit from Rachel at <a href="http://mrslambsclass.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Tattooed Teacher</a>. </div>
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(For those of you who noticed, I did not say Dia de <u>los</u> Muertos on purpose.. they look at you funny if you say it that way in Mexico!)</div>
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So, get some Mexikin coltcha indaya! </div>
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(You have to read that with an Australian accent, OK? Indulge me, I am missing my home!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Day-of-the-Dead-Literacy-and-Writing-Craftivities" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_1PApFA4JmPtvO_eemBYgxeCksR_TvllxQMrPvZMVyt_wkPbsIuOC-u9JhrUbIV7I9SMmbuBk7E-Ps-2FOpR8r_bLGoNgjpHOej5vU_6YWBldtWiyMMuRD9crHT3xlwU_KFhGbeYPcllw/s320/day-of-the-dead-RachelLamb.png" /></a></div>
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Next up is my favourite Australian blogger, Tania from <b><a href="http://poultneytania.blogspot.com/2012/10/101-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Mrs Poultney's Ponderings</a>,</b> who is hosting her first Rafflecopter for her 101 Followers Giveaway! Yay Tania!<br />
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<a href="http://poultneytania.blogspot.com/2012/10/101-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1154.photobucket.com/albums/p532/tpoultney/blogbutton_zps0b96f20a.png" width="308" /></a></div>
There are some wonderful Australian bloggers donating prizes too!<br />
This giveaway ends next weekend.<br />
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Tonya from <b><a href="http://tonyastreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tonya's Treats for Teachers</a></b> now has 600 followers, and to celebrate she is having 6 Days of Giveaways! Each Rafflecopter is open for only one day, so make sure you check back for new giveaways throughout the week. Each day, six followers will win two prizes.</div>
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Unfortunately, my internet connection disappeared right as I was about to post this, so you might have missed out on Day One =( </div>
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Here's the direct link for <b><a href="http://tonyastreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/2012/10/600-follower-giveaway-day-2.html" target="_blank">Day 2</a></b>.</div>
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<a href="http://tonyastreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-buiKNUzANW0/UIP84MrhKlI/AAAAAAAAD5g/0x04lMCvdnk/s400/Capture.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Not only that, she is also reducing every item at her <b><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tonyas-Treats-For-Teachers" target="_blank">TpT</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/tlroller" target="_blank">TN </a></b>stores by 20%!</div>
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There are lots of goodies to choose from so stop by and take advantage of the discount =)</div>
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<a href="http://tonyastreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/2012/10/600-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rsZu_j-7gyk/UIP80fi6BzI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/NzFqd18tMgg/s320/s.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Do you know Kevin and Lory from <b><a href="http://kevinandloryrobinson.blogspot.com/2012/10/hip-hooray-etsy-gift-card-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Robin's Nest</a></b>? They're having their first ever Giveaway!<br />
Pop on over for your chance to win a $25 Etsy Gift Certificate!<br />
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<a href="http://kevinandloryrobinson.blogspot.com/2012/10/hip-hooray-etsy-gift-card-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEkPZ0-Z4Y3J-yKsr-5ZaWKkxwlD2BubAxCH6KahLfDM1CY0drUNOKDOcmbyqYy5UmjZwqryoZm74DgkBcMA_EprPHC47kRDGylJpJ6A2bZ1gzJ_2sjid4B2EyEpo-TKxBs8xeTKtI6HY/s400/Giveaway.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This giveaway ends next Sunday night.<br />
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Jeannie from <a href="http://creativelessoncafe.blogspot.com/2012/10/yay-100-followers-giveaway.html" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Creative Lesson Cafe</a> is celebrating 100 blog followers and 300 TpT followers.<br />
The prizes? A $25 Teachers Notebook Gift Certificate, a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Certificate, AND a $20 Starbucks egift Card... who knows what teachers want? Jeannine does!<br />
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<a href="http://creativelessoncafe.blogspot.com/2012/10/yay-100-followers-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdPmjRHY8SWNlBrFr61TP5fQCjOPHXFrl8ALxR5ul63DzfAcMOyBAdZ9l2ffonolneA3T5srPCPLPXn-1l4oRDHnTZDxW_gq1ixmS2VmUQJZ-92JTPJ1eTBufgYjznjxwnE1cxPbOpH4/s400/100+followers.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This giveaway ends in two weeks.<br />
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Corinna from <b><a href="http://officiallyafirstgrader.blogspot.com/2012/10/huge-100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">O 'FISH' ally a First Grader</a></b> is having a huge 100 Follower giveaway. </div>
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I know I bandy around the word 'huge' quite a bit, but this one might just be the biggest giveaway I have ever seen. There are <b>58 </b>products from <b>58 </b>generous teachers, split up into <b>4 </b>regular sized Rafflecopter giveaways! Holy mole!</div>
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<a href="http://officiallyafirstgrader.blogspot.com/2012/10/huge-100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TDDTyjqY7Z9LC3A5prrZtJnO2RS3LblKHMfflnRvgCl836BSKhiHyTQiLv-dbwqaTFvnu_Xdh242IHQpjbwmA0UhGOuJOqORmDM0cSFyBticHj00X8c36xyH51dkHnNEi5WKadIltx8/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-10-19+at+11.51.04+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But then...Hilary from <b><a href="http://rockinteachermaterials.blogspot.com/2012/10/its-time-for-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Rockin' Teacher Materials</a></b> comes along, with a giveaway worth over $170! Maybe this is the biggest? She has just passed the 1000 follower mark, and is giving away the entire swag of products to one lucky winner. </div>
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There are lots of different ways to enter, and loads of new blogs to discover!</div>
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<a href="http://rockinteachermaterials.blogspot.com/2012/10/its-time-for-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/button-30.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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You have until next Saturday to enter.</div>
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Are we done yet? </div>
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No-sir-ee!</div>
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Christi from <b><a href="http://msfultz.blogspot.com/2012/10/fultzbirthdaygiveaway.html" target="_blank">Ms. Fultz's Corner</a></b> is celebrating her 30th birthday with a monster-sized giveaway... there are <b>18</b> Rafflecopters in total! </div>
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One is for a <b>$50</b> Amazon Gift Card! The other giveaways are all split up into content areas. </div>
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Maybe Christi takes the cake for the biggest giveaway ever? </div>
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<a href="http://msfultz.blogspot.com/2012/10/fultzbirthdaygiveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBdRMI49hBtnA3SQ5BMMhd3N07HP0k8AlHZgjyINCZfoc0YrPlb0gRQmpRLda-T5a7UU37_O1Hogd8KX8fxtW5SnnwLq7avumGaPwtIz85JDtFEJ_XbLVzecLbxTq2dD1PtwDjANEWW8/s400/christi-bday-giveaway.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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But be quick because it ends on Thursday!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">BUENA SUERTE!</span></div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-64967203254854516322012-10-20T04:39:00.000-05:002012-10-20T04:44:32.783-05:00What the Acronym? ESL vs EFL etc.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Why are there so many acronyms in <b>ELT </b>(English Language Teaching)?</span></div>
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Yes, a lot of them are due to political correctness rather than a difference in meaning, (we'll get to that in a minute), but in the case of <b>ESL, </b>(English as a Second Language), and <b>EFL, </b>(English as a Foreign Language), there are some very clear distinctions which have implications for teaching and learning.</div>
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Let's start with the situation that is most common for teachers in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK: <b>ESL</b>. </div>
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ESL refers to an environment where the students have a variety of different native languages or <b>L1</b>s (First Languages). This mixture of littlies with no common language can present issues with socio-emotional well being, as the kids may feel anxious about their lack of understanding or frustration with difficulties in making friends and communicating. As teachers, we need to pay special attention to ensure that each child develops a peer group or some sort of social support network. We also need to make sure that their L1 and home culture is valued, and that parents recognise the benefit in maintaining the L1 in the home. (You can look at articles <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403112006.htm" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://bigthink.com/ideas/why-speaking-two-languages-improves-self-control" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html" target="_blank">here</a> which all highlight benefits of bilingualism.)</div>
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ESL teaching is usually not grammar-heavy, but instead often involves teaching via <b>CLIL</b> (<a href="http://www.onestopenglish.com/clil/what-is-clil/" target="_blank">Content and Language Integrated Learning</a>). The aim for ESL learners is usually to obtain native-like fluency, so that they may study in a mainstream classroom and/or go on to pursue university studies and a career in an English speaking country. CLIL is an effective method for achieving this.</div>
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The best thing about ESL teaching is that students have an intrinsic motivation to learn the language. They want to communicate! They want to make friends, they want to watch TV, and they want to tell you all about their weekend =)</div>
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The ESL acronym is less widely used these days because that specific choice of words assumes that the learner is only learning their second language. In reality, a student from the state of <a href="http://www.teluguworld.org/language.html" target="_blank">Andhra Pradesh</a> in India, for example, may speak or understand the mother tongue of their state, (Telugu), the co-official language of the state, (Urdu), as well as the more widely spoken 'national' language, (Hindi), and perhaps even the language of a neighbouring state, (for example, Banjara, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya... the list goes on!). So to call these students 'Second Language Learners' is a little insulting as it doesn't recognise how knowledgeable and experienced the students are in regards to language learning. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">School children in Venkatadri Palem, Andhra Pradesh, India. <br />
Wait a minute... who's that pretty young lady up the back? =)</td></tr>
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To be more politically correct, the acronym <b>EAL,</b> (English as an Additional Language), is used nowadays to describe these learners. </div>
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You may also see <b>ESOL, </b>(English as a Second or Other Language), used to express the same idea.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoDaossrFhcFHaSIsoIJ9USgvLV175PoPJumg1e2fbpkE9VGzDcn-243rHnnB0GIgZenoHv9ZKzm5oCQBxgqojOfo22JziN4eUv4TOaQc290PsnMJ7tRU4RhWnclVLJ9QxvJBKjNDb9E/s1600/ESOL.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoDaossrFhcFHaSIsoIJ9USgvLV175PoPJumg1e2fbpkE9VGzDcn-243rHnnB0GIgZenoHv9ZKzm5oCQBxgqojOfo22JziN4eUv4TOaQc290PsnMJ7tRU4RhWnclVLJ9QxvJBKjNDb9E/s400/ESOL.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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In Australia (and possibly other countries too... I'm not sure!), we have yet <i>another </i>acronym, <b>EAL/D</b>,(English as an Additional Language or Dialect). </div>
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This is because members of Australian Aboriginal communities may speak the native languages of the region, (for example, in <a href="http://www.clc.org.au/articles/info/aboriginal-languages" target="_blank">Central Australia</a> there are three main language families, each of which has a number of dialects), but they may also speak <a href="http://clas.mq.edu.au/voices/aboriginal-english" target="_blank">Aboriginal English</a>, which is a recognised dialect, with similarities to <b>SAE, </b>(Standard Australian English), but with its own grammar structure.<br />
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In the past, English settlers believed that Aboriginal English was a corrupted lower form of English, but today we can see that this is simply not true. It has the same amount of complexities in meaning and usage as the standard form. Depending on the background of the learners, EAL/D teaching could be likened to both ESL and EFL.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://yolngu.net/yolngu.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="363" src="http://yolngu.net/Copy%20of%20Aus_map_covered_text_lined.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://yolngu.net/yolngu.html" target="_blank">Map of Australian Nations from yolngu.net</a></td></tr>
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Now to my area of expertise: <b>EFL</b>.<br />
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We use this term when all of the English learners speak the same native language or <b>L1</b>. Usually, the teacher will be teaching in a non-English speaking country when this happens. In my case, I teach English to Mexicans, who all speak Spanish. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNOgZkYpSb7oZ2REg9WAz1CDVbuyebyE7mBsMgzpcYTelz8o8RcT0kQL_mHeYoJoG9yTxFVAx8kl5eM7nmuUCO52DACOb0-J68uIaq-Ap3I7sLYkNCMaVRKeuZlTZYAeruTJCQGLmfBU/s1600/DSC02982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNOgZkYpSb7oZ2REg9WAz1CDVbuyebyE7mBsMgzpcYTelz8o8RcT0kQL_mHeYoJoG9yTxFVAx8kl5eM7nmuUCO52DACOb0-J68uIaq-Ap3I7sLYkNCMaVRKeuZlTZYAeruTJCQGLmfBU/s400/DSC02982.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh look! Another pretty lady!<br />
In Mexico this time, and looking about 8 years older =)</td></tr>
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The implications for teaching are that the kids are constantly tempted to speak with one another in their native tongue! Usually the institution will forbid the teacher from speaking the L1, which I agree with in most circumstances. The teacher is the main source of fluent English interaction, so it's important to maximise that opportunity in class by engaging in lots of English conversation.</div>
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From a cognitive perspective, however, there are other opportunities which are being missed by adopting a 100% Zero English Approach. There are a lot of cognates in Spanish and English, for example, which we can use to connect to prior knowledge of vocabulary in the L1. Grammar structures are also similar between the two languages, so I find that it can be useful to start with a grammar structure in Spanish and then show how it changes when the same thing is expressed in English. Comparing and contrasting, right? So, when used <i><a href="http://www.luizotaviobarros.com/2010/11/teaching-through-translation.html" target="_blank">effectively</a></i>, I don't think the L1 should be banned in the EFL classroom, and <a href="http://kalinago.blogspot.com/2010/01/l1-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">I'm not alone</a>. Just use it wisely!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUyPg4ZlP8-PZcvIqpRUgl1a_lX98BXzakOUGKkluFzfeb4Wha4J1p0WklNGkDzy_duISVFUUYO7pbAsjYAHMdbw8AF3TtZCdHvaUOhtMUDa7-LxWjDw-yFnBI7mfbHLDPCD0TmNw8n0/s1600/DSC03419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUyPg4ZlP8-PZcvIqpRUgl1a_lX98BXzakOUGKkluFzfeb4Wha4J1p0WklNGkDzy_duISVFUUYO7pbAsjYAHMdbw8AF3TtZCdHvaUOhtMUDa7-LxWjDw-yFnBI7mfbHLDPCD0TmNw8n0/s400/DSC03419.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There she is again... giving out cupcakes. How educational!</td></tr>
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Let's go back to the issue of <b>ELL</b>s (English Language Learners) speaking the L1 in the EFL classroom.<br />
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It's a constant battle for some students! It's excusable for the little ones as they are usually lower level learners with much smaller vocabularies, but it drives me nuts when my advanced level students speak in Spanish. For them, it is not an issue of lack of confidence or vocabulary; it is pure laziness. There are some good <a href="http://www.eltcommunity.com/elt/message/4686#4686" target="_blank">tips</a> floating around the internet about helping to discourage L1 use, but I wanted to show you some additional silly fixes I have been using in my English conversation classes =)<br />
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My first attempt involved the 'Say it it English' cards.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGDVR5W6GimmvUxN817-wSn1hmV8zTDUhuuNcCJBrbwcrgxH9JWSk0yKega_DaPdNRXcyCm7wLj0AK4uu0PhZv__Vg7fCFt_ZsdNDomUC5hL0RXSh58c5UNbLSx9a06b8dJyl4cgBsRI/s1600/DSC03818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGDVR5W6GimmvUxN817-wSn1hmV8zTDUhuuNcCJBrbwcrgxH9JWSk0yKega_DaPdNRXcyCm7wLj0AK4uu0PhZv__Vg7fCFt_ZsdNDomUC5hL0RXSh58c5UNbLSx9a06b8dJyl4cgBsRI/s320/DSC03818.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The basis of the idea was to transfer the responsibility of monitoring language use over to the students. I was so sick of reminding them to 'Say it in English', so I thought a visual reminder mind help. They each have one of the 'Say it in English' cards, and whenever they hear a classmate speaking in Spanish, they just hold up the card to remind them not to.<br />
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Here is what is looks like when the whole class remembers to do it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY2Ge6p9c9ExiwD4Lri5v1W9hwygqOMVrQkmW4hNgAIzoLyHBCUwlgnGEV3tl0k5WiIod5wgjaJavngPwQwne5T2SaJP1gSpiOz3eItwSI7L7MgpfqE5t6LyARwTIx8z9Tp4FRrxU_gA/s1600/DSC03875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkY2Ge6p9c9ExiwD4Lri5v1W9hwygqOMVrQkmW4hNgAIzoLyHBCUwlgnGEV3tl0k5WiIod5wgjaJavngPwQwne5T2SaJP1gSpiOz3eItwSI7L7MgpfqE5t6LyARwTIx8z9Tp4FRrxU_gA/s400/DSC03875.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It worked with one of my classes, but not the other.<br />
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So I racked my brains for another idea... and remembered an idea I had seen on a teacher's blog a week or so prior: Respectacles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMJIBBWquY-lpQUM_9GTjkiKYNIMjlQ6PgeyRNLZo5nNkiLC4apJUNXPZjxg4hdwq5bZ4xCILZydneU3tHzWvX3G8GoWq4OxR4EoMepwADM5ypmysWf4YpRbLkvk56ubtnRmv-mkBTYI/s1600/DSC03817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMJIBBWquY-lpQUM_9GTjkiKYNIMjlQ6PgeyRNLZo5nNkiLC4apJUNXPZjxg4hdwq5bZ4xCILZydneU3tHzWvX3G8GoWq4OxR4EoMepwADM5ypmysWf4YpRbLkvk56ubtnRmv-mkBTYI/s400/DSC03817.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I <i>wish</i> I could remember where I found this idea! Please let me know if it was you!</td></tr>
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The teacher had taken a pair of spectacles and repurposed them as 'Respectacles' (much prettier than mine!). She had used them in a lower grades classroom as a reward for students who demonstrated respect. The little kids loved wearing them. But I teach teenagers! So I used the idea in reverse: disrespect your classmates, (who have paid good money to be in an English speaking class), by speaking Spanish, and you get to wear the Respectacles for 5 minutes =) Before we put the Respectacles into action, we had a little discussion about what constitutes respect in our classroom. In addition to speaking in Spanish, they opted for no name calling and no interrupting when someone else is speaking. Just what I would have chosen!<br />
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I'm pleased to report that this method actually yielded results!<br />
I guess nobody wants to look like a dork =)<br />
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Here is my colleague modeling the Respectacles during a staff meeting.<br />
(He had been acting as a Pronunciation Coach earlier, which explains the P.C. on his shirt!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5nahBKkOdt4iiyGqycjuJF7wHJ78QAZEDNgRqU1WKQlL2aAcSuzSyG3AprpjRPwl4m4thgqVC-7i25wf7ljBji1p3tuVjCq-yhCBW34zK6WTBTUbMl5M6s14QojtchvMJ9DJrzfpzak/s1600/DSC03834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5nahBKkOdt4iiyGqycjuJF7wHJ78QAZEDNgRqU1WKQlL2aAcSuzSyG3AprpjRPwl4m4thgqVC-7i25wf7ljBji1p3tuVjCq-yhCBW34zK6WTBTUbMl5M6s14QojtchvMJ9DJrzfpzak/s400/DSC03834.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So to sum up, there are just two main types of English Language Learner: those who share a native language with their fellow learners, and those who do not. Don't let the acronyms confuse you! And remember to be prepared for different behavioural issues with each group =) </div>
Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-37738588236159250892012-10-18T15:05:00.002-05:002012-10-18T15:05:12.266-05:00Three Thursday Giveaways<div style="text-align: center;">
Yep, we're still on the Giveaway Train! Is there any end to the generosity of teacher bloggers?</div>
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Actually, showcasing giveaways has been a really good way for me to learn the Blogger system. </div>
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I'm starting to feel so confident with it, in fact, that I am now in the process of making my own layout.. woo hoo! I love the lady bugs, but I want to really personalise my blog. </div>
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The most difficult part is choosing! Which colours? Which font? Which pictures?</div>
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While I am making these super-important decisions, take a look at these three new and wonderful giveaways =)</div>
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Kellnell from over at <b><a href="http://owlinspireyou.blogspot.com/2012/10/100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Owl Inspire You</a></b> is having a 100 follower giveaway. There are over $50 of TpT products, plus a $10 Amazon gift certificate</div>
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<a href="http://owlinspireyou.blogspot.com/2012/10/100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPycDW7KduASb6yW84iz-djRj_0ha3J4hTzAT3sX6d9XE8QCSTIoyexL-yE07EvFPBWlKeLXzLSzeKTBtNbpgwYhSC_jMNBFjBPiLco781PmK5yVsIRv_a3aYRQK3AgxLCjyEpLf9huuD/s400/100_follower_giveaway_owlinspireyou.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The lovely Holly from <b><a href="http://crisscrossapplesauceinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-bloggy-birthday-bash-i-smell.html" target="_blank">Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade</a></b> is having a Happy Bloggy Birthday Bash! She has gathered more than 1000 followers in her first year as a teacher blogger, and is celebrating her Bloggy Birthday by giving away her ENTIRE store! </div>
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There are also prizes from other awesome teacher bloggers too =)</div>
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<a href="http://crisscrossapplesauceinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/10/happy-bloggy-birthday-bash-i-smell.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="343" src="http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy8/JumpingJaxDesigns/CrisscrossApplesauceButton-1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And the last one for today is from Andrea at <b><a href="http://readerstars.blogspot.com/2012/10/300-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Reading Toward the Stars</a></b>. She has reached 300 followers! There are 3 Rafflecopters for you to enter here, each with five prizes, including TpT gift certificates, TpT units, books and Stampin' Up products.</div>
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<a href="http://readerstars.blogspot.mx/2012/10/300-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivQXxPt2chOX0CArgZYCkozV03tWrBq5RWz3l5seyfXYW_rNZI96Kj70OcT179ueXFN7MVgMk-nw9PuleKFKLK688C6u57GZgLfvnoJ58hVSCbTiJNtaEvJyp2HWZiBkoPH8p7w6Mqyb0/s400/300+follower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Enjoy! </div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-41773202762551974672012-10-16T01:47:00.002-05:002012-10-16T01:47:52.496-05:00Six Giveaways to Kickstart Your Week<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Monday! </div>
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Heather at <b><a href="http://kickinitwithclass.blogspot.com/2012/10/300-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Kickin' It With Class</a></b> has reached 300 followers and is celebrating with a giveaway consisting of 25 products. Yay for her and yay for us!</div>
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<a href="http://kickinitwithclass.blogspot.mx/2012/10/300-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPS7W2Aeysq3G1MAE8s4RCXQN0lWq6eesT_SWoNfGsfO8KuzbN-C_QNBet45g1EyNJelqizBqTUwcboV6XlmDuXwBWgA6I1hKmM6-WqR0WyLrvdZk1-5Pnw4AgZbi3TB6STgZc4P_uGHo/s320/giveaway.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Kaci from <b><a href="http://mrshoffer.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway.html" target="_blank">Mrs. Hoffer's Kindergarten</a></b> is being joined by 13 other kinder bloggers in her fall giveaway.</div>
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<a href="http://mrshoffer.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wbvgPXZblmU/UHt9KTlbd8I/AAAAAAAACUM/CnSM_-a5grk/giveaway_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="400" /></a></div>
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The #1 prize is this super-cute bag...</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKeHRK959qA/UHt9MqFXzlI/AAAAAAAACUc/CyneQnKkvMs/3218_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKeHRK959qA/UHt9MqFXzlI/AAAAAAAACUc/CyneQnKkvMs/3218_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></div>
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...and I am super jealous because I don't live in the US! Think she will send it to Mexico if I win? The even bigger question: if she did, what are my chances of it actually arriving? :-P</div>
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Katie and Lisen from <b><a href="http://wearesecondgradesmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/10/350-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Second Grade Smarty Pants</a></b> also have a Thirty One bag as one of the prizes on offer for their 350 follower giveaway. There are lots of other goodies too!</div>
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<a href="http://wearesecondgradesmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/10/350-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7LTOCxtemXSlqcT-KKEoW_M-QJHF8vQ_Nmnby0sAce04QP6XtXdeHrKtRZszmjVLCM1KuSuiJCKULtUWMiCX0hFbZYegc5uauJSepBDg4pcSCL7ZMCf4eghb4CnXSMYv3bsrSr9RGX4YO/s400/350+giveaway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Caitlyn from <b><a href="http://fourthgradelemonade.blogspot.com/2012/10/100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Fourth Grade Lemonade</a></b> has reached 100 followers! Yippee! There are lots of prizes from all your bloggy favourites in this giveaway :-)</div>
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<a href="http://fourthgradelemonade.blogspot.com/2012/10/100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdjPxnD1eHZ-xfcgFBMYZDbFQ3VdbPCIhycj31T_6GPsozv9_l36z8r27_zfmUIfqrrv9s4BHnxEVuWEyr0SYOs3lkF4QSjhI4KCGdFwCBuvjd9KRMXadFwBfdiLy8wT9lDOoL_VLxPs/s400/Screen+shot+2012-10-13+at+5.04.11+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The giveaway from Tessa at <a href="http://talesfromoutsidetheclassroom.blogspot.com/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Tales from Outside the Classroom</a> is a ltad more difficult to enter, but well worth the time.</div>
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<a href="http://talesfromoutsidetheclassroom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHYb2AkkIWE3borIywN-Qu8EaBfUAWaxY7s-FH3JH0iQ3VEpJ4qxewZ90uaUkcCcyng0flFRlpbx44Jd-WUphZCjZMngtlDwJLeHVTQpNfp9rkoii_FNB9xwj93rEu6kSky9BRGxQHao/s320/giveaway.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first Rafflecopter is for a Papermonster 12" laminator! Oh how I wish I could enter this! It's so purrrrdy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ-6wfrKexekFrbyjgIun-GLhHjybj90N77nm_llEXaotCE3LvtcJ1uuXhSbyw7PkJzb2Hxo5Dj-QC93t66E-MV6UF2YJaIEfQi9-zoGn-Bc5vuT9sZno57Z6sNH24mS-H3Al9soIf1A/s320/SDC13640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQ-6wfrKexekFrbyjgIun-GLhHjybj90N77nm_llEXaotCE3LvtcJ1uuXhSbyw7PkJzb2Hxo5Dj-QC93t66E-MV6UF2YJaIEfQi9-zoGn-Bc5vuT9sZno57Z6sNH24mS-H3Al9soIf1A/s320/SDC13640.JPG" /></a></div>
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Then, after you've entered that one, there are six, yes SIX, more Rafflecopters to enter! </div>
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I should clarify: the reason I said this giveaway is difficult to enter is because there is not a separate button for following each blog or TpT store. So that means that if you need to go and visit each webpage to check that you are a follower, but you are like me and doing 10 other things at once, it can be easy to forget where you're up to :-/ </div>
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But SIX Rafflecopters people! Worth a little inconvenience I think :-)</div>
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I am ineligible to enter the final giveaway, so that means you have a slightly higher chance of winning! While we're on the topic though, I would be so so SO appreciative (if you ever have a giveaway) if you could split up your giveaways into digital prizes and prizes that require US Postage. Then all of us Australian/ Canadian/ Mexican/ International folk can still be a part of the fun :-D </div>
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I promise if I ever have a giveaway that I will do the same for you ;-)</div>
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Anyway, on to the business at hand! <b><a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tara from 4th Grade Frolics</a></b> is having a 2000 follower celebration. She has TWO THOUSAND followers! Can you imagine? There are two giant packs for two winners to enjoy.</div>
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<a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2012/10/great-big-giveaway-kick-off.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9TdBCYMZ6SQHQv532DDFasweoo4TLMIIKesiwmVoaD5FY6tWdHBmVNgbWrE5horg6eosAJv0ayqj0GuDHwEdc8YeiOYupyODt2N5NmuuIZtFWSz7anq5WLbqJKdSJf1y7On55_alorcU/s400/giveaway_button.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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And that's it for today my lovelies! </div>
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I hope you have a wonderful week and that your critters achieve amazing things!</div>
Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-16618956338121721422012-10-15T13:50:00.002-05:002012-10-15T13:50:11.018-05:00BOO! and a giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
I've just been BOO-ed!</div>
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<a href="http://toristeachertips.blogspot.mx/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtBP14tBLhEAVug27V0A-6Y8nOlvqF-XdUSYldYAYNsch8qvUl-S3LoQZdcQ54LVrZjJweuyDs5HT2T06XWQAV5ZgyQPL4eZJiDkq0kL2DGXJ8-jKxVXtWMKn6MCkwQoK7hxr5glK-m8/s400/boo.jpg" /></a></div>
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I was feeling a bit left out of the blogging circle, so I was super excited when the beautiful Tania from <a href="http://poultneytania.blogspot.com/">Mrs Poultney's Ponderings</a> BOO-ed me last night! Now I feel like a real blogger, YAY :-D</div>
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If you have been living under a rock haven't seen this linky yet, here's how it works.</div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>1. Give a shout out to the blogger who booed you and link back to their site!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>2. Share 3-5 October activities, books, products (yours or someone else), or freebie(s) that you love! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>3. Share the Boo love with 5 bloggers- make sure you check this link to make sure you don't boo someone again:</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i><a href="http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html">http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html</a> </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>And don't forget to tell them that they have been BOOED! </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>4. Link up {<a href="http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html">here</a>} so that others can find you and read about your October ideas! And while you are there... check out the other great blogs!</i></span></div>
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Now, on reading Tania's post a second time, I can see that there are actually more than one of these BOO linky parties, and they each have different instructions, so I will try to cover both! </div>
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Here are Tania's instructions, from <a href="http://2ndgradepad.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/who-will-be-bood.html">2nd Grade Pad</a>:</div>
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<a href="http://2ndgradepad.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/who-will-be-bood.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFwJl_SRYeschuSDnc1FzeWNEMPZbDr-FnPbCZm-LKULy17e6QUZinnPHChRKiFG1y8NqSCm1rQ2-DkdEaQknE5eOWF46WplPEfjuwFlJClgJUH6JAZBvy9LEUuH6xgmFdqPrIWm0b0c/s400/Slide1.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>1. Choose a fellow blogger that has MORE followers, another that has about the SAME number of followers, and last, someone that has LESS followers. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i>2. Highlight their blogs with links to encourage others to check them out. Don't forget to let your fellow bloggers know that you shared about them. </i></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><i> 3. Lastly, leave them some love by offering them a goody from your store as their "treat." </i></span></div>
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Well I don't have any products yet unfortunately, so I can't share them, but I can send you sweet thoughts! Yep, I am just going to make up my own rules! For starters, I will do as the first linky suggests and show you some Halloween/ Dia de los Muertos ideas that I have recently <a href="http://pinterest.com/teacherkirra/">pinned</a>, and if I can, I will BOO the lovely ladies whose ideas I am sharing. Then I'll give a few bonus BOOs too! </div>
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First, because I am in Mexico, some Dia de los Muertos activities from Vera at <a href="http://bedfordloveandteaching.blogspot.com/">Bedford, Love and Teaching. </a> Cute, cute, cute! </div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-de-los-Muertos-Activities"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtmMKUMkWmNE6aIc0IRxsyxdWu2e99UtcdrYzfSDmx3x2pcCArENQAfqjqcJssKxmPPCsO51hypAAIk9_TheCTzkqYzEewXqER_SC_JvNsteCdWWOrPRugONIuHNfqjakVIkttrO0amaE/s320/Slide01.png" /></a> </div>
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This next one is my favourite spooky art activity. Simple, yet very effective. </div>
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It's from Sandra at <a href="http://savvyteachingtips.blogspot.mx/2012/10/is-it-really-mid-october.html">Sandra's Savvy Teaching Tips</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://savvyteachingtips.blogspot.com/2012/10/is-it-really-mid-october.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5m-Wh0GhyphenhyphenAdOuTzwtXiXhJFBRAGtvigiAHR5Up8B9_62_VUer05-ptuR9WhwVtcG2GTK61kYv1i6vyGUMzbeTaS5p18VrUDuw4-a-c1aNIH6frCtwmKLlreriOPs6GX8RQgd0rzyF2U/s400/IMG_6658.JPG" /></a> </div>
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And lastly, an activity I did with my class last week from <a href="http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.com/2012/10/going-batty-free-craftivity.html">A Cupcake for the Teacher</a>. This <a href="http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.com/2012/10/going-batty-free-craftivity.html">Going Batty Craftivity</a> was a hit with the boys! And it was a freebie. You can get it for yourself by clicking on the picture! Teri is one of my favourite bloggers, if you haven't already, you must check her out. </div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/going-batty-free-craftivity"><img border="0" src="http://i1141.photobucket.com/albums/n591/acupcakefortheteacher/batty1.jpg" /></a> </div>
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These are what my some of my critters made (when the rest of the class was absent): </div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03883_zpsb0273dd8.jpg"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03883_zpsb0273dd8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For my bonus BOO, I am BOO-ing a person with less followers than me (just!); Robin from <a href="http://teacherszone.blogspot.com/">It's All Elementary</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4iI5Prc7izCa_KsFcqdkvWT38MN_gegjLrjsSndT3gGCWJ0lpta_UMQwZSXyKajfSo4ixdnSJBG1DqNtU2UEUEtadlIv5AkMdULQutZj7DSWCxSyjt4OVnljv2uEK0V8gpBZIYIJrZQ/s1600/button.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4iI5Prc7izCa_KsFcqdkvWT38MN_gegjLrjsSndT3gGCWJ0lpta_UMQwZSXyKajfSo4ixdnSJBG1DqNtU2UEUEtadlIv5AkMdULQutZj7DSWCxSyjt4OVnljv2uEK0V8gpBZIYIJrZQ/s200/button.png" /></a> </div>
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I've only just found her blog, but she has great ideas so I recommend you check her out! </div>
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For my bonus BOO #2, I am BOO-ing Michele at <a href="http://hensonsfirstgrade.blogspot.mx/2012/10/exciting-news.html#comment-form">1st Grade Hip Hip Hooray</a>. </div>
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There is a giveaway going on over that side of town... </div>
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$25 worth of products from the <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/1st-Grade-Hip-Hip-Hooray/">1st Grade Hip Hip Hooray TpT store</a>! </div>
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To enter, all you need to do is share a story about what's made you smile this week. Easy peasy! </div>
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<a href="http://hensonsfirstgrade.blogspot.com/2012/10/exciting-news.html"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vOb1GKMGko0/T14613p6JgI/AAAAAAAAAI0/e4pDhDiX_1g/s400/Michele_Henson_Header.png" /></a> </div>
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Now that I'm all BOO-ed out, it's time to go to school! Adios!</div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-39886259321163868942012-10-13T23:33:00.002-05:002012-10-16T14:28:04.861-05:00Cinco.. Mas.. Grandes.. Giveaways you don't want to miss!<div style="text-align: center;">
If you're like me, you are not even embarrassed to admit that you're at home on the internet on a Saturday night... </div>
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... in fact you would <i>much rather</i> be skimming the best from Pinterest and entering this weekend's new bloggy giveaways than hanging out at some dingy club with bad 90's music! </div>
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Ahh, they were good times, but I'm not sad to have different priorities in my life these days :-P</div>
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The first giveaway I want to show you comes to us courtesy of Michelle at <b><a href="http://inspiredbykindergarten.blogspot.com/2012/10/blogiversary-and-500-followers-give-away.html" target="_blank">Inspired by Kindergarten</a></b>. She's celebrating two milestones: her blogiversary and 500 followers.</div>
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There are <b>28</b> <b>TpT packets</b>, plus <b>2x $10 TpT gift cards</b></div>
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... oh my goodness, there are so many things on my wishlist right now, $20 might make a little dent!</div>
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<a href="http://inspiredbykindergarten.blogspot.mx/2012/10/blogiversary-and-500-followers-give-away.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RIHTyFv0uWZgrxBThWWzdUiClPaPKGwvXFwqkPrw3LSknY3YEYgmnrdCU77meG2A-9CPAw5ok97Wn31-gT6L44vn33mdJvFdHdrMNuALr2jmo_bcikhu8yBthwbYeyXbF1AjrnF_YDw/s400/button.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Next up is Rikki's giveaway in celebration of 200 followers at <b><a href="http://hive2nd.blogspot.mx/2012/10/200-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Hive</a></b>. In you're in the market for graphics, this is the giveaway for you! Among the contributors are <b>The 3am Teacher, Melonheadz, Ginger Snaps, Teaching in a Small Town</b> and <b>Dots of Fun</b>.</div>
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I would love me some new clip art right now :-P</div>
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<a href="http://hive2nd.blogspot.com/2012/10/200-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtR95XHVDl5RKbVXOeLE6a0dbP9HNWHgx_wWQxxlvSBlzlLz7SWCvylfsiWtnEi4Fb4lLxMx4SoWnshL1QTFXbcv76eYlcbcOegdK3PNWbQhQRgREsk6UcXKNfmVrOYDcRIXGUevbsd99/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Melanie from <b><a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-halloween-giveaway/" target="_blank">Schoolgirl Style</a></b> is hosting The Ultimate Halloween Giveaway, to celebrate a new venture from the gorgeous April at <b><a href="http://amodernteacher.com/" target="_blank">A Modern Teacher</a></b>. April has just started <b><a href="http://classroomcelebrations.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Celebrations</a></b> to help teachers with all the classroom party planning required throughout the year. </div>
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<a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-halloween-giveaway/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/classroom-celebrations.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Melanie is giving away two of April's Halloween Packs, plus some goodies of her own.</div>
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<a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-halloween-giveaway/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Slide1_1_thumb.png" width="154" /></a> <a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-halloween-giveaway/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Slide5_thumb.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-halloween-giveaway/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Slide1_thumb.png" width="154" /></a> <a href="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/2012/10/the-ultimate-halloween-giveaway/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.schoolgirlstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Slide3_thumb.jpg" width="154" /></a></div>
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Next are a pair of bloggers and a blog that I've only just found: Jenna and Halle from <b><a href="http://www.acrossthehallin2nd.blogspot.com/2012/10/its-giveaway-time.html" target="_blank">Across the Hall in 2nd Grade</a></b>. They've reached 200 followers and are splitting their giveaway into 3 different Rafflecopters so you have a greater chance of winning. Aren't they sweet? </div>
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The first Rafflecopter consists of a $25 Target gift card plus six packets from bloggers, the second has a $25 Starbucks (or Dunkin' Donuts; your choice) gift card plus 8 packets from bloggers, and the third has 9 TpT items. These ladies know what a teacher wants!</div>
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<a href="http://www.acrossthehallin2nd.blogspot.com/2012/10/its-giveaway-time.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aDsEe624ro0/UHlykOSfLsI/AAAAAAAABBc/dwdsWiaraOk/Slide5_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" /></a></div>
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Last of all is a giveaway from Katie at <b><a href="http://queenofthefirstgradejungle.blogspot.com/2012/10/no-tricks-all-treat-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Queen of the First Grade Jungle</a></b>. She is hosting a No Tricks, All Treat giveaway. In amongst the prizes are clipart, centres, crafts... a little bit of everything! There will be <b>8 </b>winners, and each winner gets to choose a prize. I like the sound of that! Everything is Halloween-related, naturally :-)</div>
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<a href="http://queenofthefirstgradejungle.blogspot.com/2012/10/no-tricks-all-treat-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgUX-xOYvlNs-7Oh9_P7B79eFrW5Y8M6YVpdJ3PXzQk0eDyMsx3LnVlX3gy3LFl8Ds96Y0vKn9p3gtlTEqRUk1uTrti3-BA4a-NDc7cJ7JQAbZNWDW2UPwceOnaioAY_o5AzLroaQMAOoq/s400/HG.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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There you go! Enjoy your blog hopping!</div>
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Que disfrutes tu.... OK, I admit it, I don't know how to say 'blog hopping' in Spanish :-p</div>
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Adios, maestros!</div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-17297334091455866182012-10-12T16:54:00.005-05:002012-10-12T18:55:33.252-05:00Present Perfect Teaching Activities + 4 new giveaways<div style="text-align: center;">
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Ahhh, Friday. we love you so much!<br />
In addition to your obvious qualities, your arrival signals the beginning of weekly reflection time. Saturday, however, signals lesson planning. So let's not even think about Saturday just yet!</div>
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Anyway, as a dedication to Friday, I'm sharing some ideas for teaching the Present Perfect in English.</div>
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First, a little reminder of what the present perfect looks like:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Subject </i>+ have/has + <i>Past Participle</i></span></b></div>
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And here is an example of the present perfect in use in its simplest form:</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I have eaten.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">She has fallen.</span></b></div>
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We don't normally speak robotically like that though! We usually add <u><i>an object</i></u> or <u><i>a prepositional phrase</i></u>, like:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have eaten <u>cake</u>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>She has fallen <u>down the stairs</u>.</b></span></div>
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We can also add some extra words to give the reader or listener some indication of when the event happened. These words include: 'ever', 'never', 'just', 'already' and 'yet', and they all have their own position within the sentence.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Have you <u>ever</u> eaten cake?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have <u>never</u> eaten cake.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">I have <u>just</u> eaten cake.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have <u>already</u> eaten cake. </b><b>I have eaten cake <u>already</u>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Have you eaten cake <u>yet</u>? </b><b>I haven't eaten cake <u>yet</u>. </b></span></div>
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Firstly, 'e<b>ver</b>' and '<b>never</b>' are not opposites. 'Ever' is used in questions that indicate an infinite time in the past. 'Never' is used in statements to indicate 'not ever', meaning that an action has not occurred at any point in the past. 'Ever' is positioned after 'Have/ Has + <i>Subject</i>', and because the position of the <i>Subject </i>and <i>Verb </i>change in questions, 'never' is positioned after '<i>Subject</i> + have/ has'.</div>
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It's important that the kids recognise that '<b>just</b>' is always positioned after 'have/ has', and that it means that the action happened very recently. In Spanish, you could express this same idea by saying 'acabo de pasar'.</div>
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The word '<b>already'</b> means that something has happened that you were waiting for or expecting to happen. It can appear in two places in an English sentence, but not both at the same time! You could use it after 'have/ has', or at the end of the sentence. In Spanish, you express this idea by using the word 'ya' at the beginning of a sentence.</div>
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Students must also be aware that '<b>yet</b>' is used only with negative sentences and questions, and that it appears at the end of the sentence. In Spanish, you can express this by saying 'ya no' at the beginning of a negative sentence, or 'ya' at the beginning of a question. Because 'ya' is used to express both 'already' and 'yet' it is important that the students understand the difference in usage. </div>
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OK, grammar lesson over! Obviously I didn't explain it like that to the kids. Here are some of the things we did in class:</div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03812_zps476f491e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03812_zps476f491e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After some 'show of hands' style 'Have you ever...?' teacher prompts, and a review of irregular past participles, the kids each created their own question and went about surveying each other. They kept a record of the different answers from boys and girls. They then told me how many squares of coloured paper they needed to represent each gender, and we created this class wall chart. </div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03833_zps606389bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03833_zps606389bb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some of the questions included: </div>
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<i><b>Have you ever ridden a horse? Have you ever seen a dolphin? Have you ever fallen asleep in class? </b></i></div>
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This activity also gave me a chance to reinforce 'never', by narrating findings such as 'The girls have never bought a snake'. They repeated my observations chorally to practice the structure :-)</div>
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I've already blogged about this next display, so sorry for the repeat :-p </div>
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I made a list of all of our focus words in the past participle form and attached them to the wall with Tac. In addition to providing the students with a visual cue during class discussions, I can get them to stand up and move words around (like placing 'already' and 'yet' at the end of the sentence.) We can also remove them and use them to create sentences on the whiteboard.</div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03838_zpsf07c8e31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03838_zpsf07c8e31.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
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Then we made Cooty Catchers to reinforce the difference between 'yet' and 'already' and their positions in a sentence. On the outside we wrote 'have', 'has', 'haven't' and 'hasn't'. </div>
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To play, the kids had to choose one of these words, which the Cooty Catcher Operator would spell out. The choice of affirmative or negative also dictated whether the kids had to form a sentence with 'already' or 'yet'. Then the kids had to choose a past participle. Then they invented sentences.</div>
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Inside the Cooty Catcher were the two possible word orders for the sentences, e.g.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>have/ has + already + <i>Past Participle</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>haven't/ hasn't + <i>Past Participle </i>+ yet</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03882_zps516e5f1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03882_zps516e5f1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Enough grammar! I love it but I know it's not a favourite for everyone :-D</div>
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Now for the giveaways!</div>
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Ash from <b>Pixy Stix and Teacher Tricks </b>is celebrating 100 followers with a big fat giveaway! There are 13 prizes including $15 of graphics from Mel at<a href="http://frompond.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank"> Frogspot From the Pond</a>. I LOVE her graphics! AND she's an Aussie which makes her even better :-P</div>
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<a href="http://pixystixandteachertricks.blogspot.mx/2012/10/100-followers-giveaway-13-prizes-to-win.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UPQnjb8g-osgtwLfuJvEhQhqUGyqpm5t0sVuNpz9soaNC6A55lQmUVX8JHYp3njGYJLTo1whyphenhyphenQ25xRuAs2aiaa015n6tDXGDEJXhjK0jfwz_DMCb1-aFe1Heaf2w1XjKoe5LPcJIQhZx/s320/Ash100Button-01.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Latoya at <b>Flying into First</b> is having a 200 follower giveaway... I swear she just had a 100 follower giveaway only a few days ago?! Clearly, she has an awesome blog which you need to check out if you haven't already. She is doing her giveaway in 2 parts (because it is SO BIG!)</div>
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<a href="http://flyingintofirst.blogspot.mx/2012/10/200-follower-giveaway-part-1.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4jje57g67cltarR8dpFtCoWcQrEAFLQAwP7WWLKSlmHtYW3P9antmpuSLhJiYpoFw_b94TOeMtPfjiwF3wCmLbx1774l3Qlntd_qSDVvs-NQkP7zapAinv2NZwDL2onD8g7M_oPSPNaI/s320/blog+giveaway.jpg" /></a></div>
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Stephanie is a new blogger like me. Her blog is called <b>Sparkling in Third Grade</b>. She is giving away a bunch of her TpT products plus a $25 Nordstrom gift card to celebrate her entry into the blogging world. How sweet is she?? I love her already.</div>
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<a href="http://sparklinginthirdgrade.blogspot.mx/2012/10/since-this-is-new-blog-and-i-dont-know.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6zfx6Im7Psl7rV8gXVW0MuZwYGqN1yXCey2PC9XTW0OjNGdLKAf77zSPJem_Jbk6QILVoZSkEeDU-2ShUHF1Q5kS_IWyrmDiaXaNSAS7hd5WbK4M_kSPkzdQr6m9UHnOl-yS6GVN4Uo/s1600/button.png" /></a></div>
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Krista from <b>Stellar Students</b> is having a giant Spooktacular giveaway. Seriously, it is huge. In addition to TpT goodies, she is also giving away a $25 Ebay gift card, and a super cute Thirty One bag <b>full </b>of Philosophy skincare. You need to hurry with this one though as it ends at midnight on Sunday!</div>
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<a href="http://stellar-students.blogspot.mx/2012/10/its-spooktacular-october-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnk_61pDxZG4dqlhLpYMHw0L02OIqNaAKOKwOUtC2qZ3iRFVf04d4oorM0qPqESrF7XsdjKt8vMiZKA5eeWC_NzJwqfCKEJ6tStYyyCD8TrTdt32PuAx3rAfy0vAwCtAvzX57B2L8pCE/s320/spooktacular+melonheadz+colored(2).png" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Buena suerte como siempre! </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">As always, good luck!</span></b></div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-47395780357419431162012-10-10T15:58:00.002-05:002012-10-10T15:58:50.407-05:00My EFL Word Walls + Two Giveaways<div style="text-align: center;">
Yay!<br />
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Finally, I've taken some pictures, uploaded them to Photobucket, and can now proudly show you my EFL classroom here in Mexico. It is just little, (I have a maximum of 12 students at once) but it is now a whole lot prettier thanks to the inspiration that I've received from all my blog stalking :-p<br />
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In the past year or more that I have worked here, I haven't seen anybody decorate their rooms. It is kind of difficult as we don't receive a big salary, and we don't have a colour printer or anything fancy to utilise (what I would do for a Silhouette!!). So I've used mostly coloured paper that I bought.<br />
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Here are the before pictures:<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03858_zpsbd318d18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03858_zpsbd318d18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03859_zpsb561752e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03859_zpsb561752e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(OK, the truth is that I forgot to take a before picture, so these are photos of my colleague's room, which is almost a mirror image of mine.)<br />
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And here are photos of my now much more colourful room (well, apart from that ugly alphabet frieze!!):<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03862_zpsf48bc37c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03862_zpsf48bc37c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It might not seem like much, but I am super proud of it! I have made Word Walls for each of my classes, based on the vocab we have covered in each unit, which is likely to be shown in the exam. We have exams every quarter for the secondary and adult classes, and after every 2-3 week Unit for the elementary age kids. Here are some close ups:</div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03861_zpsa9f5d6e8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="411" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03861_zpsa9f5d6e8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03810_zps57dfa8ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03810_zps57dfa8ad.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The All Aboard group are my 5th grade kids, and I have reorganised their wall since this original photo so that we can practice the grammar at the same time as vocab:<br />
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<a href="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03838_zpsf07c8e31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s592/TeacherKirra/DSC03838_zpsf07c8e31.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure how to make this picture be portrait rather than landscape :-( I changed it in Photobucket but it doesn't seem to want to keep the change over here :-/ You will just have to tip your head OK!<br />
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In this unit, we were focusing on 'yet', 'already' and 'just', and how they are used with the present perfect. I was careful to put the negatives next to 'yet' for the display, but we always move the 'yet' and stick it after the past participle when we are making example sentences, (which adds a nice kinesthetic component). The words are all attached with Tac so they can be removed for used in class games.<br />
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In future posts I will show you some of the activities that my groups have been doing to reinforce grammar structures. Until then, enjoy some more giveaways!<br />
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Miss Sara, aka <b>Miss Elementary</b>, is celebrating having reached 200 followers! Yay! Go and check out her giveaway here:</div>
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<a href="http://misselementary.blogspot.mx/2012/10/hi-friends-i-hope-everyone-is-enjoying.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0E4dq8P-kmv4q46AoSmS5tgJTN7oiWrfeGUfYqT1zya-lwcpRx-jY8-IWUlmzp4N8DhH_UKsGfZROPD_5lMea0seuPAaqM4iguiME5aTaNY6FJfJZAx9F4gi-6DFu1ndjQV-WBf7n2E/s320/200followergiveawaymisselementary.png" /></a></div>
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I can't enter this next one, as the prizes are not digital and I don't live in the United States *tears* but it's a goody so I don't want you to miss out just because I have to! <b><a href="http://iteachduallanguage.blogspot.mx/2012/10/language-lizard-bilingual-books-giveaway.html" target="_blank">I Teach Dual Language</a></b> is giving away two bilingual books of your choice (and there are over 40 languages to choose from!) from <b><a href="http://blog.languagelizard.com/" target="_blank">Language Lizard</a></b>.</div>
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Buena suerte! Que tenga un buen dia :-)</div>
<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-37057790677504609292012-10-08T22:34:00.002-05:002012-10-08T22:58:57.449-05:00Oh my goodness... what is it with me and giveaways?<div style="text-align: center;">
I think I might have a small addiction! But the good news... I have been winning some of them! I will tell you all about my prizes soon, but first...</div>
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Here are some new giveaways for you.</div>
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Nicole from <b>Lanier's Lions</b> has over 300 followers! Wowee!! She is celebrating with this giveaway, where there are 16 prizes all for one lucky winner!</div>
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<a href="http://lanierlions.blogspot.mx/2012/10/300-followers-giveaway-tpt-sale.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TfukELpBo2M/UHLy7o4nEoI/AAAAAAAAA7E/UjCObH55Qi0/s320/300-Giveaway-Pic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Marie from <b>It's a Jungle Out There</b> is having a giveaway to celebrate 100 followers. There's a Rafflecopter for K-2 and another for 3-5</div>
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<a href="http://www.skippersjungle.blogspot.mx/2012/10/100-follower-giveaway-25-contributors.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAaA2Bz4ebF9g1E-t8u_MvACZxQPQ-9kUqCr1HfePsL1azJgO-q1n95BcA9yzjq5-OfqURlYUMtB8BY0BhLcdYHtGUlM-A5ULH_Z4wRKeJmitj-aLo6rx-AA8OEecq8yfwiaz6sqFJRU/s320/ladfad.005.jpg" /></a></div>
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Kim at <a href="http://teacherkimbo.blogspot.mx/2012/10/four-fantastic-fall-units-giveaway.html" target="_blank">The Adventures of a Kindergarten Teacher</a> and Sam at <a href="http://learningwithahappyheart.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Learning with a Happy Heart </a> are giving away four fantastic fall units, including this one: </div>
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<a href="http://teacherkimbo.blogspot.mx/2012/10/four-fantastic-fall-units-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGv97-iukJqeao_WyY8IZ7hMC_ncAY3vgVGSwCvZWZ322WqMkkJ29vFGH-rFtbQcD2Mi9n8iIxzI7Hre-wWl0vhqt868FCuElUwxOSW1QoBkktQDrrCuPqVrULs_Xx4INBHKADCqo-QKzu/s320/spider+and+bats+unit+preview.jpg" /></a></div>
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Tori from <b>Tori's Teacher Tips</b> is having a giant math giveaway. She is giving away ALL SIX of her math products, plus her Spooktacular Halloween Pack as a bonus! She's such a generous teacher!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVTqdL8LG160dG6WOxcVH37pUFe_-cQ0ha89jxlblVNMZvj4O67ZwEMDDkx_PKQVXSOq_1QlgVxFUqhsPvrmdYEklLG3dMNh3RBmKvbZpeK0VRs4yeChzSi2bVEaAEkRznpF1z-WSpT8/s400/Math+giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVTqdL8LG160dG6WOxcVH37pUFe_-cQ0ha89jxlblVNMZvj4O67ZwEMDDkx_PKQVXSOq_1QlgVxFUqhsPvrmdYEklLG3dMNh3RBmKvbZpeK0VRs4yeChzSi2bVEaAEkRznpF1z-WSpT8/s320/Math+giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Last up, Ms H from <b>The Wise Owl</b> is having a 100 follower giveaway with 3 HUGE bundles up for grabs. The first contains a $25 TpT gift card amongst other goodies, and the second contains a hand picked gift from the super-famous Deanna Jump herself! There are so many prizes in all three bundles... you are going to be a very happy camper if you manage to win any of these!</div>
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<a href="http://wiseowlteacher.blogspot.mx/2012/10/massive-100-follower-rafflecopter.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBL-6V5fqGauRjhurJYBFTmxDEpv4LYOCur6mZdJZRGlpNNErVQUqXktIWL-dspDJXLkXtlgqMRXq9HtcKtnul_daTQwU36xthDv-kimYXcB64VqvwQq_hLiL31d8pRiCZcxd7njUIxSF/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Buena suerte a todos!! Good luck everyone!!</div>
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Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-22304710467735225562012-10-08T14:46:00.003-05:002012-10-08T14:47:44.382-05:00Aussie Blogger Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
My super-talented <i>paisanos </i>(that's Spanish for 'countrymen') back in Australia have put together this new giveaway, with all prizes donated by Aussie bloggers. Go check out their blogs and TpT stores!</div>
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<a href="http://teachmoment.blogspot.mx/2012/10/awesome-aussie-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFvHkk6ryEautCoFFnDiTSzoscdKTINxmuEgo_epppra8Q9bTeB7MpZM6ThxYDLo8yKKijihkZkbSyrp454bim59jChKch22t0yJkNN1pt-4vHcaP0ExaSsWqoagIecBe1wZgXZvcivFQr/s320/awesomeaussie-02.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The beautiful Brooke from Teachable Moments is hosting the giveaway. Go and show her some love!</div>
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<a href="http://teachmoment.blogspot.mx/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj70yhSNZIY3iivWEbuCVr7_7qTUgvj1M9P2vyeIEHy_YM98nPJzADuz3E-QqROBvbEez7Qrw5cLLP-oxZDjBcyuhtmWVJBOwq9NKVO1VsC3QVn8ZCDlOWWH03uh346WPC63ylp6vXdHSpF/s1600/button.png" /></a></div>
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Also, one of my first and friendliest followers, Tania, is donating her fun flower facts, so be sure to check out her her TpT store for the details :)</div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fun-flower-Facts-to-10" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://tcdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbuserhome/Tania-Poultney/719388.jpg" /></a></div>
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My favourite prize, though, is from Mel. I'm sure you've already seen her graphics on TpT products; they are so cute! Well, she's giving away a $10 voucher to her store. If you've been living under a rock (in the pond??) click on the image to see here stuff. She has lots of freebie graphics too.</div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/From-the-Pond" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://tcdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbuserhome/From-The-Pond/226617.jpg" /></a></div>
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Lastly, if YOU are an Aussie blogger, please leave me a comment with your blog address so I can check you out! I love connecting with Aussie bloggers and would love to add you to my Aussie Blogger blogroll (to the left, to the left!)</div>
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Good luck!</div>
<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-69931056055474838442012-10-07T00:54:00.003-05:002012-10-07T01:40:50.511-05:006 More Saturday Night GiveawaysI had to post a link to Cindy's Giveaway before it ended, (left it a bit late... sorry) but here are 6 more giveaways for your weekend... seven in total. Come on lucky seven!<br />
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Like Cindy at Granny Goes to School, Ari at The Science Penguin is also giving away a $25 TpT gift certificate. This giveaway is super easy to enter!<br />
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<a href="http://www.thesciencepenguin.com/2012/09/scary-tpt-gift-card-giveaway-fairy-you.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvppzzgN2Pd0TKe3TQRROWFKUY7q4DO7W82TlClnnyu4yr5w7AgwpjM5BFsE51dtX1i9ntbCYvFK217blDIiPUFMDO_IvrLAhgbvMZHfV-UsvN3R2i5xLdiIT1azy2YXb3xM_0r3dyDQ/s320/octobergiveaway.jpg" /></a></div>
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Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper is giving away a whopping $30 gift card to her Winner #1, and a bunch of awesome teacher goodies to Winners #2 and #3. </div>
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<a href="http://fourthgradeflipper.blogspot.com/2012/10/200-followers-giveaway-and-currently.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimh-Eo_SokfS6TucefMvCiLeXyRmX1kJ0zr0sF8UaN_aKAyx5QjOXBp7AXVBNwP9csEnBw5DUSd2PP75ZpVeCpvUAJ3XRZB4RoCcY6-qDSZ1gPdwI1_q9p8NFDySljoPfExzujsffGVsLt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-10-05+at+9.58.42+PM.png" /></a></div>
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Kelly at First Grade Fairy Tales is offering 2 prizes for her 200 Follower giveaway, and one of them is... yep, a $25 TpT gift certificate! This weekend is just the best for giveaways!</div>
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<a href="http://thefirstgradefairytales.blogspot.com/2012/10/angry-verbs-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqwOQL5_mnEIh3SBcadSt1u7Tx09NzQhCkRDoEt8YU4HHXiRt2Xu4GKAIxwiAEJzxLwjduBLVDgfwZLe98Zh6sb9UP04szoH4Qj2gMEor9PyS_j5168fhEvCyknwAE9CCjdMnh8tShmw/s320/200+Follower+Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sue at SOS Supply is giving away items from her Teachers Notebook store to 3 lucky winners, PLUS, she is having a 50% off sale because, well, just because.</div>
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<a href="http://sos-supply.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-giveaway-and-50-sale-just-because.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HZQQDSJzywk/UHCRTYp2D_I/AAAAAAAABn4/P-IA1amIP6M/s320/just+because.PNG" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NDE2MDQ2NTgzZTJiODBlYjBjZDJiNTc2M2E0OTcxOjI=/" target="_blank">SOS Supply Rafflecopter</a></div>
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<a href="http://sos-supply.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-giveaway-and-50-sale-just-because.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa445/susannepowell/square2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Last but not least are two Rafflecopters from April at The Idea Backpack to celebrate 400 Followers. In <a href="http://ideabackpack.blogspot.com/2012/10/its-400-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Part 1 of the giveaway</a>, there are 10 prizes from some of the cutest bloggers around.</div>
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<a href="http://ideabackpack.blogspot.com/2012/10/its-400-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveUPx6QleZ-U_KYs26cuG0ZydTmWKDDNnGWqRelkqijZZnfwkkRhwkN2x_zaE4D6fnfsAgnNJLSDrbQRUjoTgowJUTO_e_ZQrB6XrafQ7sSz1mrOlSuOYbn7rfUFEF2yuS77EcgfkZvvT/s320/400followergiveawaybutton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://ideabackpack.blogspot.com/2012/10/win-12-more-prizes-for-my-400-follower.html" target="_blank">Part 2 of April's giveaway</a> is even bigger, with 12 prizes on offer. One of them is a blog design from <a href="http://abirdinhanddesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Bird in Hand Blog Design</a>... she is such a talented designer! If you're in the market for a new blog, you have to check her out.</div>
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So there you go! Good luck! </div>
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I've been snapping away at school so I will upload some photos of my little EFL classroom very soon. It's not quite as fancy as other bloggers' (limited resources here in Mexico!) but it is still the prettiest room in the building, even if I do say so myself! Stay tuned...</div>
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<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-20929354389902004652012-10-07T00:13:00.003-05:002012-10-07T00:17:29.511-05:00Granny Goes to School Giveaway..20 mins remaining!To celebrate 100 followers (although she is already up to 175) Cindy at Granny Goes to School is giving away two (yes TWO!) packs, each containing a $25 TpT giftcard plus some other fancy goodies... but HURRY!<br />
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<a href="http://grannygoestoschool.blogspot.mx/2012/09/100-followers-give-away.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3krfv4IoLvE/UGjpp9348AI/AAAAAAAABik/cSVjF5W-MgA/s320/100+followersgiveaway.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJly4zH7sHNd5Ivnfhl3r9OMNhBg4S454XYkD40kz0Omcbtue7zYpVu_ppWOEfII4oe1QprzSVCxEY7hE_BJIXV5BPW6FKprDfXCIcUZzdk-yGSxh2COVeHrNj2IQGWOmgztPYbIv4h3I/s150/grannybutton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJly4zH7sHNd5Ivnfhl3r9OMNhBg4S454XYkD40kz0Omcbtue7zYpVu_ppWOEfII4oe1QprzSVCxEY7hE_BJIXV5BPW6FKprDfXCIcUZzdk-yGSxh2COVeHrNj2IQGWOmgztPYbIv4h3I/s150/grannybutton.png" /></a></div>
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<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-28815546358450619722012-09-30T15:20:00.000-05:002012-09-30T15:21:12.219-05:00TEN more giveaways!I promise I will write a non-giveaway post soon! But really, who has the time with all these awesome giveaways floating around??<br />
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<b>Number One</b> today is from <a href="http://littlelovelyleaders.blogspot.mx/2012/09/500-follower-giveaway_27.html">Little Lovely Leaders</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3lVcu4v6Dl741kObThx5PbsjJF2lLvjOPqRraF4-R_UWlCjxPV8dbfqUB_txaPtB6OV3JTzhz5bXlfSf9cgdvLFSa_S1DoH95EwqUnJqrjUjGnpRCXRR4PYuGKbyMop_dy2lkks5UX34/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-09-30+at+12.49.08+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3lVcu4v6Dl741kObThx5PbsjJF2lLvjOPqRraF4-R_UWlCjxPV8dbfqUB_txaPtB6OV3JTzhz5bXlfSf9cgdvLFSa_S1DoH95EwqUnJqrjUjGnpRCXRR4PYuGKbyMop_dy2lkks5UX34/s400/Screen+Shot+2012-09-30+at+12.49.08+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are over 30 items to win, and the giveaway ends in just over 2 days.<br />
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<b>Number Two</b> comes from <a href="http://funin1stgrade.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/the-self-proclaimed-greatest-500.html">Fun in First Grade</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXeb2LQoJ_W_2iBM2-RED7-o-adhw_xTMV-oFgyMRMpCTyn2wXe5-6qd2UxPLBCyUBrnykmx-3P2H28RcCIcYWIVYvjUbOjfZ8fwNpkjlcaQjlNXy2ZXCtP4AhoW8vxNG4X-aQaCLNz_t/s400/500+Follower+graphic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXeb2LQoJ_W_2iBM2-RED7-o-adhw_xTMV-oFgyMRMpCTyn2wXe5-6qd2UxPLBCyUBrnykmx-3P2H28RcCIcYWIVYvjUbOjfZ8fwNpkjlcaQjlNXy2ZXCtP4AhoW8vxNG4X-aQaCLNz_t/s320/500+Follower+graphic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are six different Rafflecopters with different prizes, and they all close in about 5 days.<br />
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Giveaway <b>Number Three</b> is from <a href="http://creationcastle.blogspot.mx/2012/09/celebrating-literacy-giveaway.html">Creation Castle</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pTZWnQFJyltFeYxgW9iagk2i1mr7dg9oH-bYjkZqQ2r-i0tChsOS-Be3rZcbftYn6tQdRk45QXn5RVPu6_pnqCHbwiRRlzIriPHkdi4OEZQ3KxfYXXTHjuZGfMFRuYRcePlMvDwniJCF/s400/Giveaway.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pTZWnQFJyltFeYxgW9iagk2i1mr7dg9oH-bYjkZqQ2r-i0tChsOS-Be3rZcbftYn6tQdRk45QXn5RVPu6_pnqCHbwiRRlzIriPHkdi4OEZQ3KxfYXXTHjuZGfMFRuYRcePlMvDwniJCF/s320/Giveaway.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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In rememberance of Banned Book Week, Creation Castle is celebrating literacy! There are separate Rafflecopters for Kinder, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, a joint Rafflecopter for 4th and 5th, a 6th-8th Rafflecopter AND a 9th-12th Grade Rafflecopter... are we spoilt or WHAT?! You have about 6 days to enter all of these.</div>
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Next up, Giveaway <b>Number Four </b>is from <a href="http://whathappensinfirstgrade.blogspot.mx/2012/09/huge-100-followers-giveaway.html">What Happens in First Grade</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh44IVLVDUXjps1_-9z9OggLqFBhqdaqlyHCq7fQ-dJFBMGCLqXp7C8uyJ1g_M0ueJFX_ta-F0-uYyt5O4mY-OeP6pY03yinZPKJuOkMrFRjjRvNehIwHBSuK-KhQ13WWhya3y8FozU_w/s640/giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCh44IVLVDUXjps1_-9z9OggLqFBhqdaqlyHCq7fQ-dJFBMGCLqXp7C8uyJ1g_M0ueJFX_ta-F0-uYyt5O4mY-OeP6pY03yinZPKJuOkMrFRjjRvNehIwHBSuK-KhQ13WWhya3y8FozU_w/s320/giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There are 20 extremely generous teacher bloggers donating goods for this one, which ends in about 5 days.</div>
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<b>Number Five</b> is a 100 Follower Celebration from <a href="http://dotsoffun.blogspot.mx/2012/09/its-here-celebrating-100-followers.html">"Dots" of Fun</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF4SOg-WaQL0_4e0at2tUkjuYloQSoYdXKKu2zj4Qik0RDd80g_NnWtMjTNqDg_vHxrxKoZm8lrV8O1ZiVyoyAfTEi9TK30vALGisz1jgOsT5fs24EV-9Nijv6BrLQlWs-dYhuzZCNrMA/s320/100pic3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF4SOg-WaQL0_4e0at2tUkjuYloQSoYdXKKu2zj4Qik0RDd80g_NnWtMjTNqDg_vHxrxKoZm8lrV8O1ZiVyoyAfTEi9TK30vALGisz1jgOsT5fs24EV-9Nijv6BrLQlWs-dYhuzZCNrMA/s320/100pic3.png" /></a></div>
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If you are in the market for some free clipart, then this is the giveaway for you! You have just over a day left to enter this one!</div>
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<b>Numbers Six, Seven and Eight</b> are giveaways from 3 kinder blogs, who are each celebrating 1000 followers.</div>
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Marsha, from <a href="http://www.differentiatedkindergarten.com/2012/09/its-k-tree-o-giveaway.html">A Differentiated Kindergarten</a>, is hosting the Halloween themed giveaway</div>
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Mary, from <a href="http://www.sharingkindergarten.com/2012/09/1000-fallowers-giveaway-from-k-tree-o.html">Sharing Kindergarten</a>, is hosting the Scarecrow themed giveaway</div>
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and Mary, from <a href="http://www.mrsliretteslearningdetectives.com/2012/09/1000-fallower-giveaway.html">Mrs Lirette's Learning Detectives</a> is hosting a Fall Leaves themed giveaway</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVeu4dTMsuJFWPz57zOiPgR4slQB_U1anV1hgE7fu-UFAhUtDEz9k6lMrZRfAZio-QDn1zcVmwzKM_deRnMkIkPZFVrxCsS5891ibvkPF6OSWDiytCnwNLIl251eD3ojWv5-CLzcOC3M/s400/falltreefinal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVeu4dTMsuJFWPz57zOiPgR4slQB_U1anV1hgE7fu-UFAhUtDEz9k6lMrZRfAZio-QDn1zcVmwzKM_deRnMkIkPZFVrxCsS5891ibvkPF6OSWDiytCnwNLIl251eD3ojWv5-CLzcOC3M/s320/falltreefinal.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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These giveaways close in about 6 days.</div>
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Lucky <b>Number Nine</b> is <a href="http://growingfirsties.blogspot.com/2012/09/common-core-personal-narrative-unit.html">Growing Firsties</a>. Lisa is giving away copies of her giant Common Core Personal Narrative Unit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGadfjTw5hm-YgiSkuHXFlSvm9FJaoOJuDjz9U3Rh3N67gc8A4g5megsmZbuCGP2k1F1Eak9Lfltrv02bIdeHQMxIcKuZ6SaE4QBGYfav6n9RYha2qJ8JodH_BvyxAqkjWowIho4Ey8c/s1600/button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGadfjTw5hm-YgiSkuHXFlSvm9FJaoOJuDjz9U3Rh3N67gc8A4g5megsmZbuCGP2k1F1Eak9Lfltrv02bIdeHQMxIcKuZ6SaE4QBGYfav6n9RYha2qJ8JodH_BvyxAqkjWowIho4Ey8c/s1600/button.png" /></a></div>
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That one closes in just over 2 days.</div>
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And finally, <b>Number 10</b>: <a href="http://justwildaboutteaching.blogspot.mx/2012/09/500-follower-giveaway.html">Just Wild About Teaching</a> is hosting a 500 follower giveaway</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRedNyVjMS0VqecQTzKjM4NXxar-oPR5GJx68bm9mJigOBUcgoSOYjad31Nuhg8aGbMM0HKsMxE1gV11YHSBJUPGDPt0Da-k6idhbC0w-kiiu9OwcOOLVUHMT3mPhDU6wfRdHeFFFQdEtv/s320/500+follower+giveaway.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRedNyVjMS0VqecQTzKjM4NXxar-oPR5GJx68bm9mJigOBUcgoSOYjad31Nuhg8aGbMM0HKsMxE1gV11YHSBJUPGDPt0Da-k6idhbC0w-kiiu9OwcOOLVUHMT3mPhDU6wfRdHeFFFQdEtv/s320/500+follower+giveaway.PNG" /></a></div>
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This one ends in less than a day.</div>
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Phew! Entering all of those is going to take a loooooooot of time, time which we should be spending on planning... so I'll make you a deal. I will finish my lessoon plans for the week <i><u>before </u></i>entering any of these, if you do the same! </div>
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<b>...and GOOD LUCK!</b></div>
<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-71468906740731445702012-09-28T15:04:00.001-05:002012-09-30T15:20:41.651-05:005 GIANT giveaways!I LOVE giveaways! I love them even more than freebies, but maybe that is just my competitive nature! :p plus, I have found so many awesome new blogs this way.<br />
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As a bonus, this post has forced me to use a techy skill I have recently learnt thanks to <a href="http://the-gypsy-teacher.blogspot.mx/2012/09/how-do-i-hyperlink-pictures.html">The Gypsy Teacher</a>.<br />
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<b>Number 1</b>: <a href="http://herdingkats.blogspot.com/">Herding Cats in Kindergarten</a> is having a Happy Fall Y'all Giveaway!<br />
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<a href="http://herdingkats.blogspot.mx/2012/09/happy-fall-yall-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+HerdingKatsInKindergarten+(Herding+Kats+in+Kindergarten)" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmz9RvzcG1Lh7_f5BcacICvlC_BAiqklxB4q1X8Boeydw0cxfcZK1wlSw71nAwqy5pa02JsuXictR7gBkZMS1ub9-IjRZXWyXV9ooxng4vh2GCD656O9mIttCi3znEBX90Ms_ywZffOLM/s320/fall+giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This giveaway ends in just over 2 days.<br />
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<b>Number 2:</b> <a href="http://secondgradesugarandspice.blogspot.com.au/">Sugar and Spice</a> is giving away a $25 Tpt gift certificate to celebrate 400 followers!<br />
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<a href="http://secondgradesugarandspice.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/tpt-giveaway-win-25-tpt-gift-certificate.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPXHgKQlvNmpDMFwhjqbd8WCTaL3WYOlGPE1tLP3C0yqzsP46lnaxRcnHUiHHO6jsf_39EW2x65mUzQuBJQv5GirfQTjMXbMZGmny9HqBDUdGmYMo3oXL2KPhJav7XykQHqqjHKH3zwPZh/s320/Giveaway+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This giveaway ends in just over 6 days.<br />
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<b>Number 3:</b> <a href="http://tanyaraedotdotdot.blogspot.com/">Tanya Rae...</a> is hosting a 'Fall is Here' giveaway<br />
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I can't seem to link any of the pictures from her page, sorry :-(<br />
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<a href="http://tanyaraedotdotdot.blogspot.mx/2012/09/is-hosting-giveaway.html">Tanya Rae... is Hosting a Giveaway</a><br />
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This giveaway also ends in roughly 6 days.<br />
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<b>Number 4:</b> <a href="http://primarypossibilities.blogspot.com/">Primary Possibilities</a> is celebrating a whopping 500 followers!!<br />
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I can't link any pictures from this page either!! I'm starting to think that the problem here is me :-D Anyway, here is a hyperlink:<br />
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<a href="http://primarypossibilities.blogspot.com/2012/09/fantabulous-500-follower-flip-out.html">Primary Possibilities Fantabulous 500 Follower Flipout</a><br />
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This one doesn't end for 13 days.<br />
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<b>Number 5:</b> <a href="http://teacherytidbits.blogspot.com/">Teachery Tidbits</a> has been celebrating every day this week! Today is Day 5, but you can still go back and enter the other 4 giveaways too. One of the prizes for today is a $20 Target gift card!<br />
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You only have 8 hours left to enter this one!!<br />
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<b>GOOD LUCK!!</b><br />
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<br />Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-76888203017974923402012-09-28T01:51:00.002-05:002012-09-28T02:31:26.674-05:00Procrastinators and Perfectionism<span style="background-color: white; color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">My first ever follower!! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">I LOVE you </span><a href="http://funforspanishteachers.blogspot.com/" style="text-align: start;">Fun for Spanish Teachers</a><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">I have been trying </span><i style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">not </i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit;">to think about blogging, because right now it is not #1 on my priority list, but gosh darn it, the news of my first follower has got me so excited!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">(What I should be doing right now: preparing a big fat visa application)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have a confession: I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist. It has actually been a big problem for me. Like, life disrupting. When I was at university, I used to get so so anxious about my practice teaching that I would stay up into the early hours of the morning, every night of my practicum, trying to think of the best ever lessons, and still have nothing typed into my lesson plan. I had severe writers block, for fear of committing something to paper that wasn't quite wonderful. The result? I would hastily throw together <i>something</i> at the very last minute which would end up being far less than perfect on account of my sleep deprivation. I would then arrive in the classroom exhausted, which only added to my anxiety. Totally counter-productive.</span><br />
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Even this year, lesson plans have been a problem for me. I am a real live teacher now (albeit a newbie), but I still have to remind myself quite regularly (or have my very supportive husband remind me) that my plans don't have to be perfect. The world will not end if I don't invent some new and wonderful warmer activity. In fact, no one will even notice. No one. There is a point where you have to accept what you have so you can keep moving forwards. The fact that you are even worried about trying to do something good for your students suggests that you are likely a pretty awesome teacher. So let it go. </span><br />
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Blogging is also an imperfect art. You don't need to stress yourself about always writing something that is life changing! Just write. The freebie products you make for TpT? They don't have to be award winning masterpieces. That isn't the point. We are here to share and help each other and learn from each other. Teaching is tough, and we have a lot of pressures put on us from a lot of different sources. Why add more? I know I appreciate the efforts of every blogger that I follow. I have honestly learnt more in the last six months of blog stalking than I did in four years of university. I would never accuse them of not helping me enough! </span><br />
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Now, speaking of perfectionism, any guesses why the visa (to take my husband to Australia) is still sitting on the kitchen table?? :p</span>Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3852628846613765157.post-30340836839909802972012-09-16T01:46:00.000-05:002012-09-28T01:57:02.998-05:00Here We Go...I have finally decided on a blogging template, thanks to the gorgeous <a href="http://leelou-freelayouts.blogspot.com/">LeeLou</a>. Thank you! It fits well with my state of mind at the moment: I love Mexico, but it's time for me to go home.<br />
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I'm a qualified EFL teacher here, where I've been teaching for nearly 2 years, but back in Australia I still have one more year of my bachelor's degree (the FIFTH!!) to finish before anyone will let me in front of a classroom. I want to tie up those loose ends, get my piece of paper, find my 'forever school' and settle down and maybe have some babies. Ha! I never would have imagined me saying that 2 years ago! But Mexico has been good to me, and as well as giving me my teaching confidence, has introduced me to the love of my life. He'll be coming with me, of course :)<br />
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Anyway, I guess I should really explain why I am blogging. I've been wanting to do it for a very long time, but I haven't felt that I've had very much to contribute. My school here in Mexico has a very limited budget so it isn't practical for me to make gorgeous games and activities using colour graphics; we don't even have a colour printer!<br />
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But, I've been inspired by all of the awesome blogs I'm following. I owe a huge debt to <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/">Teachers Pay Teachers</a>, which is how I first discovered the teacher blogging world. I've been following Linky Parties and Giveaways and finding more and more wonderful ideas and freebies from fellow teachers. I am over the moon with how much easier this group of teachers has made my life! I'm still not sure that I have much of value to contribute just at the moment, but I want to begin my blogging journey now so that I am ready for when I do.<br />
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My two areas of specialty are Spanish and EFL/ ESL. So I hope I can help somebody one day!<br />
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That's enough for today. Thanks for reading!Teacher Kirrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803176069903600358noreply@blogger.com3