New and Revised Products

It has been a while.  Almost a month since my last post.  Today I made a list of all the things I wanted to share with you.  I am hoping to get back into blogging at least twice a week. Grad school starts on Wednesday (my birthday!), so we shall see :)

I am starting my 5th week of school.  I am being observed and 'coached' on a weekly basis.  I am happy to report I am doing well.  Math needed a few changes on my part, but I think I am getting the hang of it.  

I am beginning to feel like I know my students, and that is a great feeling.  Like I said before, everything is different from what I did the last ten years, but I am coping :)  I am happy. Content. Super satisfied with the change.  It is still painful to drive by my old school. I miss my friends.  I am surrounded by amazing people, so I assure you, I am not complaining.  I am just feeling a bit blue.

I updated my student planners for this year.  Go download the new year! Find it HERE.

I created a cursive handwriting alphabet banner.   Find the cursive alphabet banner HERE. 

Then I made a print alphabet banner. Find it HERE. 

Lastly, I finally posted my editable bookmarks Kidlettes edition.  They get their own little post tomorrow. 

I am on my way to writing tomorrow's post.  See you soon.

Speaking and Listening Goals

Having to teach and assess speaking and listening goals (like SL.2.1 and SL.2.3) was hard for me this year. Was I supposed to listen while my students talked to their friends, grade their retelling abilities, or listen while they were arguing disagreeing with each other?

While my class has always been one that collaborates from day one, I still wanted to have a teaching moment about speaking and listening goals. I wanted a teaching tool.  I wanted to have something tangible I could assess too.

I had to teach my kiddos that your speaking voice can change the outcome of what happens.  People are willing to help you if your tone is a nice one.  If you are rude and tell people what to do, well, your friends may not want to do so much for you. 

I still have one friend who has a hard time with his tone, and finding his manners.  I ask him to find his manners in his backpack if he wants to talk to me :) 

While listening to the kids, I realized that they are always talking about their friends.  When you ask them about their weekend, they talk about their friends, so... this came to life!

I have a created a product with discussion cards about friendship. You can find it HERE. 

Let me show you how we did this in our classroom.

We started by making a big circle in the middle of our classroom.  I posted a question about being a nice friend. 

We then had a small group of brave girls who wanted to share what a great discussion looked like.  The rest of us paid close attention to everything they did. 

I gave the kids a small piece of paper (included in my product) where they recorded what they saw. 

After we reviewed what a great conversation looks and sounds like, we divided the class by tables (4 kids per group). They received a friendship card and discuss it agreeing, and respectfully disagreeing while sharing their thoughts.

We tried a few cards and then the kids went back to their now mini circles, to discuss once again,

and record their final thoughts. They used a checklist to check off what they observed during their small group discussions.

While they recorded their final conclusions I snapped a picture of this glorious moment.  Do you see them working together??!!!  A dream come true :) 

Is this something you think you can use?  I am choosing two friends to get this tomorrow.  Help me by pinnning it and leaving your pin and e-mail address.  

Happy discussion time!

Mother's Day Album

Our presents for Mother's Day are done!  Wrapped and ready to go.  I can hardly believe it.
I am a week early...pinch me :)

Check out these beautiful women! We started with a front and back cover using card stock.

 I purchased photo albums from Dollar Tree, tissue paper, and tulle.  

The kids wrote about their moms using a variety of prompts.  

They  illustrated each prompt, cut them out, added them to each album, and told me ALL of their mom's secrets.  I know it all by now :)

I updated my product a bit and it will be on sale for 48 hours :) 

What did you make for your kiddos' moms?

I am choosing two friends to get this. All you have to do it is Pin it to Win it :)  Don't forget to leave your e-mail and your pin... along with your comment.  I love reading your comments!

Money Jars

Counting money could be fun...or painful.  I rather say it is fun because it reviews so many math concepts our students have been practicing since kindergarten (counting by ones using a hundreds chart = counting pennies, or counting/skipping by tens= counting dimes). Once they realize it is not such a brand new concept, they begin to believe it is easy.

When we talk about quarters and combining all the coins...well, I always tell my kids that is the brand new thing they must learn as second graders and that step by step, they will certainly be able to do it.

Counting money is not always easy, and this time, we used 'jars' to learn how to count money.

Check it out HERE :)

We began by exploring coins and looking for ways to describe them.  

After finding out that a few kids did not know their coins, we used these jar to find them. 

I made a quick reference half sheet for them to use when needed. 

Then the counting began...

We used our jars to count one type of coin at a time (only pennies, only nickels, only dimes, only quarters), then two coins (pennies and nickels, pennies and dimes, pennies and quarters...), and lastly three coins (pennies, nickels and dimes...). You get the idea.  I was taking  notes of where they got lots, and then met with them in small groups. 

The kids were told to put their coins on the top of the jar and move each coin while they counted nice and slow (one-to-one correspondence). Touch, count, move...

Once we got to having the four different coins together, they were told to put each coin with their 'relatives'. I told them I like to be with my family so if I was a penny I would like to be with all my penny family members. Then we put them in order from highest value to lowest value. I remembered to emphasize it is not about the coins size, but their values.

I showed them two strategies. On day one, we worked on using the counting up strategy or what you may call number patters.  On day two we worked on counting each family of coins, then using an addition algorithm to get the total.  We practiced both, but they are able to use the one that makes the most sense when it comes down to take any assessments.

We got busy using our money jars. I mainly worked with my kiddos who struggle at this point.  72 jars later and they can count much better than they did before.  

Would you like to check it out?

Find it HERE.

I will send this to two friends who help me pin this (leave your link and e-mail).  Any other secrets you use to help your students count money?

Interactive Animal Research

It. is. done.  O.M.G.  I can't believe it.  It feels like the kids have been working on this forever.  Let's blame the snow days and the 'I need to change this a bit,' I forgot my camera to take good pictures or I watch too much TV instead of working.

The kids really liked it!  I tweaked it a billion times, I added a few things, and by now, I am happy to say it was a success.  We are saving them for conferences, because, well, they are that cool.

Animals are always a big hit when it comes to research. Making it interactive added a nice touch to the entire process.

Interactive Animal Research Project

The kids began by choosing an animal they did not know much about. This way when they reflected on their learning, they realized how much one can learn from other sources.

Two file folders get transformed into an interactive animal project. Kids choose an animal, get books from the library and use all the templates to create a draft.   Then use the interactive templates to complete and glue to their file folders.  If you do not want to use file folders, you can always use construction paper or glue right onto any other interactive notebooks you may have.

Sticky notes, nonfiction text, folders, scissors, glue, crayons and color pencil are the magic ingredients. 

Draft templates and more nonfiction reading included :)

Final animal reports using strong beginnings, details, facts and a closing sentence.  Informational writing at its best. 

How you do teach informational writing?  

It is on sale until Friday HERE. 

200th Post and a New Product on Sale

200 posts...can't hardly believe it. It has been fun sharing things around my classroom with you.  I am ready for 200 more!

I am celebrating by having a sale on my new product. You can also pin it to win it :)

This girl goes back to school Friday.  I have been off since December 20 (don't hate me). Year round schools totally rock.  I enjoyed my Christmas break and then my track out right after that.  The best break of the year for sure.

My kids go back on Thursday of the following week which means I have two workdays and one early release (aka looooong meeting) to survive. The fun is when the kids are there. Meetings are not fun. Ever.

Once the kids return we will have our first big standardized test.  Reading one day, math the next.  Being gone for weeks I know they are going to need to review a few skills and this is how this was born.

Find it HERE. 

I created a product to review:

- asking and answering questions

- retelling fiction and nonfiction text

- letter writing

- comparing and contrasting two texts

- describing characters

- capitalization

- odd/even numbers

- adding and subtracting 2/3 digit numbers

- comparing numbers

- and much more...

39 pages with many ways to review a variety of skills needed this time of the year.

I hope you like it. Get yours here...on sale!

I don't have any pictures, but I will share once I make it back to work and have my babies review, review, and review.  That test is nothing!  We will rock it :) 

Pin it to win it time.  Leave me some love and the link to your pin. I will pick a few of you to try it out :) 

Happy week to all of you.

Disguising Gingerbread Man Cookies

After disguising turkeys, the kids had a great time disguising gingerbread man.  I gave my students roughly two weeks to complete this family project. They really liked it!

I have a few pictures for you.

Find it HERE...maybe for next year :)

Which one do you like?

I may not be a baker... but I can decorate a wall with cute cookies! 

Gingerbread Man in Disguise

If you disguised a turkey... wait until you see what your students can do with gingerbread cookies. I have done this project for years, and now it has turned into a TPT product.

Check it out here.

Two cute examples :)  

There is a writing component to it. This teacher must integrate writing into everything we do. We usually share them during our winter celebration. Parents always love that!

Find it HERE.

I hope you do too :)

T is for Turkey

Busy week. 4 day week. Gobble week. Not so nice e-mail week. But this time, I choose to concentrate on learning, concentrate on cute smiles and little turkeys learning and reviewing reading, writing in math.

I just posted my latest product. My first holiday product. The little turkeys enjoyed the review and the awesome clip art from Krista.

Find it HERE.

Reading, retelling, research, character traits, letter writing, a craft, odd and even numbers, two digit addition (with and without regrouping), number patterns... and more.

Could you use this next week?  Could I ask you to pin it for me?

Leave a comment with your pin and I will pick two awesome winners tomorrow morning. Don't forget to leave your e-mail.

Back to Work I Go with Updated Newsletters

Well, track out has come to an end.  I enjoyed my break with an awesome vacation, spent time with my hubby and became the mommy I wish I could be all the time (for a few days).
I have three workdays and hope to accomplish a lot during that time before the kids return on Monday.

If you remember, I had spent too much time in the boss' office before I tracked out.   I lost sleep over the things that had been happening.
To begin my second quarter on the right foot, I  sent my student's parents a survey on line. I then learned I cannot make everybody happy, but I will continue to do  my best.  Doing my best is all I have control over.
One can always do something better, right?

One item my parents were asking for, were more frequent newsletters. I am supposed to write them by-weekly....well, the surveys says they wanted to be more informed and received them once a week. So, I will try to do just that :)

I sat down, looked at my newsletter and created new templates. The quick project turned into a new product. I really like them!  I hope you do too :)

Find them HERE.

You can find 12 Editable Newsletter Templates: 12 templates in color and 12 templates in black and white.  You can write a one or two page newsletter.  Mine are always two pages as I always include pictures of the kids.

What do you include in your newsletter?  Leave a comment letting me know about your newsletter.  You are welcome to Pin it for an extra chance to win this. Leave me the pin url with your comment.

I will send two of you a copy of my templates.  If you can't wait... they are on sale today and tomorrow in my store.

Back to work I go :)

In this Classroom We...

Setting up all of our your rules and expectations is by far one of the most important things we do every year.

I have spent too much time this week at the principal's office. I have lost sleep. I have reflected. I have vented with friends (thank YOU!) and I have come up with plan A, B, and plan C.
I have yet to find out it where I fell short this year, but creating something that allowed me to review my expectations (for every single one of my students) has made me feel better.

We practice the right way. We practice the wrong way. We wrote what it means to them. We drew what it would looks like.
I put them up (bunting style) so we can review when necessary. I will probably decorate my door with them once everyone has master them.

You must check the drawing on the right hand side. I laughed so hard!

46 posters with star background. Find them HERE.

46 posters with chevron background. Find them HERE.

46 posters with polka dots background. Find them HERE.

Wish me luck. I have one day left before my vacation starts and I would like to stay away from the bosses' office :) 

Good Bye Boring Words. Time to Smile :)

You know THE words, right? Sad, mad, nice... Second grade writers can do better than that! Your students can too :)

My students writing can only get better by addressing some boring words. I had done the 'dead words' around Halloween time, but I could not look at the tombstones year round.  I wanted something I could keep up for a little bit longer.
I began thinking about my vocabulary bulletin board, and this is what happened after getting help from a few friends.

Synonyms are a must when it comes to making your writing come alive. 

My student teacher helped me put them up for you to see.  I wanted to show you more than one word at a time :)

Don't have a bulletin board?  How about using a binder to house your synonym posters? 

In there, you will find...

I did not create 1, but 3!

Chalkboard lovers?  Find it HERE. 

Polka Dot Lovers?  Find it HERE.

Chevron Lovers?  Find it HERE.

Would you super love to win one? Which one is your favorite? 

Pin your favorite. Don't forget your e-mail and your pin link. I will e-mail it to a few friends :)