Sunday, September 30, 2012

Columbus Day!

Columbus Day is just around the corner!

I can't wait to use this pack next week! It includes literacy centers with a social studies integration! 

Specifically:
-7 Page Booklet to teach the history of Chris Columbus 
-12 ABC Columbus Cards with recording sheet 
-12 Sequencing Columbus Cards with recording Sheet to find surprise message 
-Columbus word search 
-”If I could sail anywhere” writing activity 
-Columbus Fact/Opinion practice 
-Boat craftivity plus poem

You can find it  HERE!

Now I am off to relax for the rest of my Sunday!




Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Oh the joys of teaching...

We are finally rockin' and rollin' in 2nd grade! It feels like it has taken FOREVER to get this year started, but I can officially say we are settling into a routine. I have such great kids this year who are really into learning! They listen, and remember the things that I say!! It's awesome.

The end of the day is science time. I was kind of dreading this particular experiment because the kiddos are supposed to rotate through 4 stations. Let's just get real for a minute. Getting though 1 normal experiment a day is hard enough, and these people want me to let them rotate through 4!! Needless to say in the past we have never finished them all. Today I decided to let each table have 1 experiment, complete it amongst their group and then teach it to the class. They were awesome! It was AMAZING how well they could get along and model cooperative group work when they were standing in front of their peers. I felt proud.

And at the end of the day I looked around at my messy messy room and was happy. Everywhere you looked learning was taking place in some shape or form and that's nothing to fuss about!


Sunday, September 23, 2012

Hairy Money

Hairy money is an awesome way for students to learn how to count money. It's so awesome I made a "Monster Math" pack all about counting using the Hairy money method!!  I can't wait to use this cuteness with my kiddos! Check it out!!


You can find this pack HERE!

Friday, September 21, 2012

Writing Friendly Letters!

This week we have started to learn about writing friends letters. I think I am doing an excellent job at taking things SLOWLY this year. It really is key! Here is a pirate themed pack to assist in teaching friendly letters! A couple cutie activities as well! More pictures of student examples as well. I am especially excited for the messages in a bottle!! 






Tuesday, September 18, 2012

There is a MOUSE in my HOUSE!

Sounds pretty cute and funny, but when it's a true story I assure you it is not. Either. Came home yesterday and my cat what laying in front of the over. Looking underneath. I figured there must be a bug cricket perhaps, maybe a spider? I go about my day. I see her later checking out the fridge. Hmmm... she still seems interested. Go to bed, wake up, getting ready for school. She is now acting like something is behind a cat bed we keep on the floor. At that point I am curious enough to walk on over and pull it out. I find nothing less than a larger size dark brown mouse who quickly scurries under our nightstand. My husband is already gone for the day so here I am. What to do beside run back into my bathroom jump on the counter and call him. No answer. Call Mom and this always makes me feel a little better. I don't have time to try and attempt to catch the little thing so I have to leave him in my house to run free. Mind you my cat was guarding him when I left. 
So here I am at school not able to think about much more so what should I do? Naturally, scrap my morning plans and tell my kiddos all about the MOUSE that was in my HOUSE. We brainstormed ideas on how he made his way in. THEN we wrote stories all about it. 



They enjoyed being part of my craziness. Update on the mouse, we caught him this evening- he was hiding out under our washing machine. I am pleased to report he has been released back into his natural environment unharmed. Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Halloweenie!

Here is a Halloween-Daily 5 pack! You can get this pack FREE by following my blog.  Leave me a comment (including your e-mail address) telling me that you are a member of my blog! I will e-mail it to you ASAP! This pack includes Writing/Word Work activities +2 craftivities:

Writing Activities Include:
My Spooky Story (First, Next, Then, Last)
Halloween Word List
“Sometimes I go a little Batty” Poem Writing Template OR Adjective Listing
There’s something in the darkness Craftivity

Word Work Activities Include:
12 Halloween Cards/Pictures for ABC Order
ABC Order Sheet
Types of sentences sort +12 cards plus headers +Recording Sheet



Check it out HERE!


Sunday, September 9, 2012

It's an Election Year!

This year is a little different from the rest in the fact that we are in the midst of a Presidential Election! We're always talk about voting and this and that, but this year the students get to experience it first hand. I've already brought it up a little in my classroom and the kiddos seem to know a little of what's going on. I put together a pack that I can't wait to use in my classroom:


This Pack Includes:
Intro. Booklet to presidential elections in America
Vocabulary Sheet-words found in intro. Booklet
Donkey and Elephant Symbols of
political parties craftivity
Book Suggestions about Elections
Election Year Word Search
Interactive Class Election to further understand electoral votes
+ 50 State name cards
Writing center- _____ for President



We had our first semi cold from which put us in the 90's all weekend with much cooler mornings! Something to celebrate everyone! Fall is upon us! My days at school are flying by and I can't wait to see my sweet ones tomorrow. TPRI testing is this week and then we will be rocking and rolling into a typical schedule before we know it! 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Fall Everything Pack!

I decided to finish her up today! You can find this pack HERE!

Fall is probably my favorite time of year. Something about the weather turning crisp and the leaves beginning to change. Just makes me want to spend some time outdoors! I like to bring it into my classroom as much as possible. Celebrate the season! 

AND! I am so excited to share this story with my students:



BOY!

It's the beginning of the school year and it's flying by! I couldn't even think about my 'lil blog last week. I was exhausted! Building back up my stamina for the school year! We have done some really cute activities thus far. To share a couple:

David helped my kiddos review our school rules! They were SO EXCITED to make him, their eyes just lit up!

You can find this activity HERE! I found it on Pinterest, gotta love Pinterest. 

We decorate peanuts for our lockers to keep with our "Peanuts Gang" theme. They kiddos are so creative, I love how they all come out so differently!! 


I am working on a "Fall Pack" which will include several subjects! I can't wait to finish it and post it up!! This week we are reading

 
We are reviewing sequencing throughout the story! At the end of the week we will be doing the Ruby hop!