Cookie Cutter Writing Centers

I have had this pack of cookie cutters that a friend gave me (They were actually part of a #SecondGradeTribe tribe box she sent me! Thanks, Tara!) in my classroom cabinet for a year. I knew I wanted to keep them for something but aside from sugar cookies I had no idea what. Then it randomly dawned on me last week to use them in a seasonal writing center.

 I put the cutters in a bin along with the picture that came with the pack for the kids to use as inspiration. I think it will also be a good idea to label each picture so that the kids can use those words to write their stories. You could also include a Halloween word list. *If you're looking for other Halloween writing ideas click HERE and HERE* 

This is the story we wrote together in a small group, which is how I like to teach most of my center activities

My kids really loved the idea! When I modeled how to trace the inside of the cookie cutter shape and then add details and color, they were literally Ooooing and Ahhhing. It was awesome. They got really creative with their ideas when we were working on a piece together and said I should put a witch in the haunted house window. We wrote the story from her point of view. I was so impressed with their thinking.

 This simple center is so easy to put together and I can't wait to use the same format with all my holiday cookie cutters!

How To Survive a Classroom FULL of Boys

Two things happen everyday in my classroom. Someone gets tackled and someone does a somersault. I have a classroom full of boys. With a 5:10 ratio, us girls are outnumbered. I have seen more blood, sweat and tears this year than any before, and then there's the kids!

If you're living in a world where your students are mostly males, here's a few tips on how to survive your classroom of rowdy, somersaulting, farting (yep), fighting, and often hilarious boys.

1. Come to terms with what your classroom rug really is. Whole group lesson area? No. Independent reading refuge. PFFFFT. Writing island? HAHAHA. NO. It is a gymnastics mat. A Slip 'N Slide. One may even describe it as a trampoline. These are 7 year old boys we are talking about. No surface is safe from a slide into home.

2. Attach a mirror to your whiteboard. You'll need it to see the face-smacking and eraser throwing that's going on behind you while you're making that super cute anchor chart.

3. Give up on having them sit. LET IT GO. Let them stand. Let them stand, Let them staaaaand.
Turn away and slam the door...
On the way you did things last year. For your sanity and there's, just let them stand or kneel or do anything other than sit. They can't. They won't. You'll spend all day asking so you're better off just letting it go, girl.

4. Purchase a whistle. That's all.

5. LAUGH. A lot. At yourself, at the chaos, for the few girls looking to you for guidance on how to survive the deafening cloud of testosterone. Just laugh! Also, don't feed them anything with sugar.

Enjoy your fart-joke free holidays! Unless you're a mom of boys, then just eat chocolate (and wine).

Five For Friday - September 11th

Hello!!

It's been awhile. I must admit. The demands of being a mom to two and a full-time teacher have proven challenge-worthy! Add two sick kids and a cold for me into the mix and I've been pretty much useless (and using way more swear words than usual). But hey, I'm back and I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!

Blogger was being really stubborn about uploading pictures but I was determined to blog so I added my photos through mobile Blogger and that's why they look so blurry :/  Anywho, DISNEY! My daughter turned 4 and we spent the day at Disney World to celebrate. It's convenient being just 3 hours away by car. Merida was the best meet and greet by far. Facial expressions for days!

She's the best!

I. Am. Winning. THE PENCIL WAR. I don't really even know how it happened. My original plan unraveled pretty quickly once I moved EVERYONE'S desks (on day 6) from tables to a U-shape but this quick fix turned out to be perfect. Each child has a library pocket with their name and student number stapled to the wall below the white board. They get three pencils a week, flagged with their student number and an eraser. If they still have all three pencils, sharp or not, by the end of the day on Friday they get a BIG FUZZY! I used industrial strength Velcro to stick these ugly plastic cups to their desks (THEY DON'T MATCH MY COLOR SCHEME *EYE TWITCHES*) and they keep one pencil, their Expo marker, any coupons they earn with their fuzzies, and a pen (not pictured) which I intend for them to use during Writer's Workshop.

We have been practicing place value and all the different ways to write numbers. Some of my friends really have it down and ALL of my friends love using their Expos on their desks.

This is what I came back to when I missed a day due to my little guy having his first fever. That is supposed to be a U shaped arrangement...There was also a crayon throwing war and extensive hallway races while I was away. Yep, we had to have the TALK pretty early on this year. My class is 70% boys and a whole lot of rowdy. It's going to be challenging year but I've got this. Right???? :O

My daughter started VPK and is really starting to like writing. It's so special to see her handwriting develop!

Woo! I forgot how much I loved blogging. Now I will go blogstalk everyone in the linky party. The ush.

Happy Friday!

Currently April 2015

I have to return from maternity leave for the LAST two weeks of school. Should be terrifying! I had a rowdy group this year but the last two weeks of school could turn even the most docile bunch into a barrel of monkeys. To save myself from drowning in the madness, I've been trying to come up with activities and ideas to keep the kids interested those final days of the school year.

 

Last year, another teacher and I joined forces to create a fun couple of days for the kids with our Minute to Win it School Edition. It was a huge hit and I will definitely be preparing for that again this year! What activities do you do the last weeks of school?

 

I'm also loving this linky! Check out what everyone is up to via Oh Boy 4th Grade by clicking the picture. Here's my Currently for the lovely month of April:

 

Have a great holiday weekend!

Sunday Scoop - March 22

I'm linking up with Teaching Trio for The Sunday Scoop in what will be my first linky party!

Here's my 3-2-1:

have to do...
1.  I've started chapters 7-11 of my Math Vocab Matching Center Part 2 to go along with Part 1 (which covers chapters 1-6 of the Go! Math curriculum for second grade). Check out that resource {HERE}.  It includes many essential vocab words students need to know in order to really grasp math concepts! The included words go way beyond the vocab in the text book. You'll see a lot of math words and language that would most likely be on an exam and that are essential to know in order to have effective math talks. Part 2 will have even MORE words. {PART 2 is complete - check it out HERE or save and get the BUNDLE}
2. Nuff said. Ew.
3. The first book is SAH GOOD. I'm half way through the second but I got a little busy having a baby so I put it down for a couple of months. I have missed you, Jamie Fraser.



hope to do...
1. LOTS to do with this resource.  The past couple of years I felt like I was often scurrying to find effective shared reading materials that were relevant to the month or that were aligned with Common Core. So, I'm creating my own. The end.
2. GradeCam looks super interesting and I need to know more. I'm into anything that makes grading tests and inputting data quicker.


happy to do...
1. My three year old starts dance classes on Monday! I can't wait to get her some fancy outfits to go with her fancy (and vintage... it was mine!) dance bag. 

 

Happy Sunday!

Happy International Day of Happiness!

"The pursuit of happiness is serious business." - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
 
I couldn't agree more with you, Ban (can I call you Ban?) and the United Nations, that HAPPINESS is serious bidness.  March 20th, officially deemed International Happiness Day by the United Nations, is a day that recognizes "the relevance of happiness and well-being as universal goals and aspirations in the lives of human beings around the world".  This is a holiday I can really get behind (see also: International Donut Day).  Everyone deserves to be happy!
 
To celebrate International Day of Happiness, or World Happiness Day, you can share a song that makes you happy on "The Worlds Happiest Playlist" by going to www.happysoundslike.com. I'm listening to the stream now and it is GOOD.

I'm very grateful that I have so many things to feel good about. Here's a list of 10 things that make me HAPPY.

1. My dog's tired face
2. The sound of my 3 year-old daughter's voice!
3. Fresh sheets
4. An ice cold can of Coca Cola (extra points if it induces brain freeze!)
5. Having enough things to be happy about to make a list
6. Publix ♥
7. Getting snail mail
8. My son's newborn smile (it may just be gas but who cares) 
9. My husband's special brand of humor
10. fuzzy socks

11. (Because #5 was kinda a freebie) Palm trees with Christmas lights 

It's good, right?

What makes you happy?