TPT Wishlist Linky!

I'm not sure about you, but I'm SUPER excited about the upcoming TPT Cyber Sale!  I've teamed up with some other amazing Teacher Bloggers to create this Wishlist Linky.

This linky showcases the top wishlisted items in my store and if you scroll down, you'll see other bloggers' top wishlisted items as well. These items are the resources that are the most sought-after within each TpT store below. The best news is that they are ALL on sale for the TpT site-wide sale. I hope you find some great deals and are able to share some amazing resources with your students. Happy shopping!

Click any of the images below to check them out in my store!


If you teach Map Skills, this interactive lap book is for you!  Not only is this product the top wishlisted item in my store, it's also one of my best selling.  The lap book is adaptable to many different grade levels and can be customized to fit your needs with plenty of blank spaces for your own notes.



Do you teach STEM or STEAM?  This vibrant poster set is a great addition to your classroom.  I have them hanging on my own classroom door!



I LOVE some interactive notebooks - especially in math.  This easy to use foldable is perfect for introducing modeling the division of fractions, which can be tricky for students.  

So now that you've learned about the most sought after products by Create Love Teach, click the image below to see what people are saying about other great resources!

Gift Card Giveaway!

Hop on over to my Instagram account @createloveteach to enter to win a $10 TPT Gift Card!  Winner announced tomorrow!

Kindergarten Monster STEM!

Are you looking for a fun Halloween STEM Challenge for your Kindergarten students?  Check out my Monster STEM activity over at my TPT store for free here!

Classroom Communication: Bloomz Review

It's like finding the match to the glass slipper in Cinderella - the perfect classroom communication tool.  Some parents don't check email. Some parents prefer text messages.  Some parents like Facebook or Instagram.  What's a girl to do?   Stop by the Virginia is for Teacher's blog to see the answer!

Back to School Instagram Hop!

14 fabulous teachers have teamed up to give away $140 to TPT to celebrate Back to School!  Interested in winning?  Here's how to play!

1) Follow me on IG (or visit my page if you do already! @alicia_broughton
2) Like the post that you see above.
3) Tag 2 teachers that would be interested in winning!
4) Click on the picture to see where to "hop" to next.

This is a loop giveaway so you must follow, like, and comment for everyone in the loop. When you come back to me, you've completed the loop. There are 14 teachers participating in the giveaway, each with a $10 certificate to their store. The giveaway ends Sunday, July 31st at 5pm EST. The winner will be announced after entries have been verified on each page. Best of luck!

CAT: Computer Adaptive Testing

Attention Virginia teachers in grades 3-5!  Are you wondering about the Superintendent's Memo regarding CAT Testing for next Spring?  Stop by the Virginia is for Teacher's blog to check out the latest!

Getting Ready for Next Year While Still Relaxing!

Are you looking for some quick summer ideas to start getting ready for Back to School?  Be sure to stop by the Virginia is for Teacher's Blog to see my suggestions!

Transforming My Classroom into a STEM Lab: Part I

*I have not been compensated in any way for the products mentioned in this post.

Over the past four years, I have transformed my classroom space into a STEM lab that is available for our entire school to use.  Here is a little background information:

• I'm our school's Gifted Resource Teacher.  I don't have a "homeroom" class of my own, but I work with identified Gifted students and their teachers in grades K-5.  Our county has a collaborative teaching model, meaning I push into classrooms to plan and implement lessons with all students.
• I have a full size classroom of my own, but it is accessible to any teacher in our building to utilize.
• I have amazing support from my building administrators and my Gifted Coordinator at the division level. 
• Our county has an Education Foundation that has funded many of the things I'll talk about. Each Spring they ask for teachers to submit proposals for projects and I've been awarded grants three years in a row.
• Other funding has come from Donor's Choose, instructional supply money, and our awesome PTA.

What's in Your Pool Bag? Summer Reading Recommendations for Pedagogy

Are you looking for some professional summer reading recommendations?  Be sure to stop by the Virginia is for Teacher's blog here to see my suggestions for making changes to your pedagogy!

Picture Books to Support STEM Lessons

One of my favorite go-to anticipatory sets (hooks, introductions) is reading a picture book.  Yes... even for my "big" kids! I'm constantly on the hunt for new titles to add to my collection, and I love when they connect directly to curriculum that I teach.

I've recently purchased several picture books that would be great for introductions to any STEM lesson, because they aren't content specific..  Here they are, in no particular order!

Making the Most Out of Task Cards

Hi everyone!  Don't you just LOVE a task card?  Be sure to hop over to the Virginia is for Teachers blog to see how I utilize them in the classroom.  Maybe you'll walk away with a new idea or two!

Earth Day Logic!

Hey y'all!  Are you looking for some higher level thinking activity to celebrate Earth Day for this Friday?  Check out my Earth Day Double Matrix Logic Puzzle on TPT!

Logic puzzles are a great way to teach critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills.  I know my students love them!

Proposed Math Changes for 6th Grade

Hey y'all!  If you're like me, and teach advanced math to fifth graders,  be sure to drop by the Virginia is for Teachers Blog page to check out the latest proposed changes to the Virginia Math 6 standards.  Some of the changes are really exciting!

Top 5 Reasons I Love Planbook.com

*This post is not endorsed by planbook.com in any way.  I just really love the service!

Lesson Plans, circa 2008.  Yikes.

Over the course of my teaching career, I've changed the way that I write my lessons plans many times. I started with paper pencil and an outline of my week that I made on the computer.  I made enough copies for each week of the school year and traveled around with them in a big teacher binder. I liked being able to change plans quickly, but was a pain when I left my plans at home, or at school and I needed them somewhere else.  I also was frustrated when I wanted to use the same lesson from a previous year and had to re-write everything.

Grant Writing Tips and Tricks

Hey everyone!  Did you know that in the past few years I've secured over $10,000 for my classroom in grants and donations? Be sure to head on over to our Virginia is for Teacher's blog to read my latest post on Successful Grant writing!

Click on the image above to take you directly to the post.