Extreme Blog Makeover + Nonfictions Genres (and Quick Giveaway!) + Another Giveaway

Woah that is a long blog post title!

So I've been wanting to update the look of my blog for a while, and I finally did it last night! I created the old design when I first started this blog, and now that I semi- know what I'm doing, I wanted to spice it up a bit! I made a new header and button, added quick links on the side to my TPT store and Pinterest, and added a "Shout Outs"spot. Even though the hippo and fonts were free, the creators still deserve the recognition :) I also added a little ditty about my hippo obsession in the "About Me" tab on top. The only thing that I'm not crazy on is the grassy background. It doesn't really match the green in my header and button, and I'm kind of a perfectionist. I was going to create a background, but I couldn't figure out how to upload it into Blogger. If you know how, help a girl out!

So of course, after I updated, I happened upon this cute hippo...

Isn't she FAB?! Now I'm torn if I should use her instead of my current hippo. Thoughts? Sidenote: I found her on the website www.mycutegraphics.com. I don't know if I've just been living under a rock, or what, but this site is new to me and is AWESOME! Free clip art for teachers! WOO!!!

Moving on... Last week in reading we've been focusing on the nonfiction genres. I've added to my list of genres covered (thanks CCSS!): informational, biography, and autobiography (the classics), and now the list includes: memoir, manual, recipe, and advertisement. I had a heck of a time trying to define the genres in kid language, especially the difference between an autobiography and memoir (no, they're not the same!). In the process of researching for definitions and books to go with each, I made posters for each genre so I wouldn't forget!

This set is available in my TPT store, but tonight's your lucky night because I'm feeling all Christmas-y and want to give TWO away! All you have to do is leave me a comment with your email address and the Christmas song you like the least. I'm listening to Christmas music as I write this, and I want to know if I'm the only one who thinks "The Little Drummer Boy" is dumb. "Pa rum pa rum pum." Really??? Who says that? Leave your comment by 10:00PM central time on Monday December 10th and I'll randomly choose TWO winners!

Oh, and I'm participating in this giveaway:

Go check it out!

CLEARLY this post highlights my self-diagnosed ADD... LOOK, SQUIRREL!! Thanks for hanging with me until the end!

Gotta get ready for the game tonight! GO PACK GO!!!