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!

Monday Made It - July 13th

  

This has been the summer of MOD PODGE!

Pencil Bins  

I'll be using these for each table/group to keep their pencils. I printed the labels and Mod Podged (is that a verb?) them to the inside so they'll last! The font is KG Second Chances Solid and the pencils and grey pencil bins are from Target's Dollar Spot (my second home).
 

 

 

 

 

Crayon Organizer
LOVE! I was inspired by this post by Going Nutty! with Miss Squirrels. I love how she put contrasting colors in the same drawers so they're easily distinguishable. Her whole supply setup is perfection.

Grab the labels I created HERE  for free! 

 

DIY Calendar
I found calendars, two in a pack, at Target for a $1! Although really cute, they didn't match my color scheme (teal, yellow, grey) so they needed a makeover. Luckily, the border is grey so I just had to remove the top.

 

I cut the days of the week off across the top. Flipped the cut piece, so the white part faced out, and taped to the back. I then used Mod Podge to glue my own design to it. I let them dry and then cut out the visible white parts (step 4) and then applied another coat of sealer. After they dried, I stacked heavy books to flatten the calendar completely (the glue causes the paper to bow a bit as it dries).

 

I love how it turned out! 

 

 

 It's been a crafty summer!

I can't wait to see everyone else's ideas and crafts that linked up!

 
 

 

TPT Seller Challenge Week 3 AND 4!

Head over to my TpT store to download this freebie! Don't forget to leave feedback☺ I am also still having my feedback special! If you leave feedback on any free item, you'll receive any $1 item in my store for free as well. Just email sharpinsecondblog@gmail.com once you've left your feedback!

Here is the flip-book in action:

I followed so many new faces this month! Visit  and follow me on Instagram so that you can follow them too!

I have loved participating in this month long TpT Seller Challenge and getting to talk to so many awesome teachers! Thanks again to the awesome hosts (Sparkling in Second, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Third in Hollywood, and Teach Create Motivate)!

I am super excited to be part of a new Facebook group #secondgradetribe, started by Tara at Teaching in CLE.

If you're a second grade teacher, join us! Collaboration is everything.

TpT Seller Challenge Week 2: Dare to Dream

I'm going to keep this post about my TpT dreams short and sweet! Thanks again to the awesome hosts (Sparkling in Second, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Third in Hollywood, and Teach Create Motivate)!

In general, my overall goal with TPT, my job as a teacher, my life as a mom and a wife is to just keep learning all that I can. I want to stay hungry and always be aiming to better myself. I want to get to a point where I'm super confident in my role as an educator and I know that will come with knowledge and experience.

I'm going into my third year of teaching so I'm still fresh, I'm still green. I want to hold onto that feeling for as long as I can. If I can stay inspired by this amazing profession, then it will show in my work, it will show in my creativity, and it will spill over into what I share on TPT.

Keep dreaming! I will never stop having something to look forward to. I will always be challenging myself even in small ways. I'm thankful to be somewhat part of a community full of dreamers! You guys are inspiring.

TpT Seller Challenge Week 1: Makeover Madness!

Yay! I love a good linky. Kudos to the ladies of Sparkling in Second, Peppy Zesty Teacherista, Third in Hollywood, and Teach Create Motivate for coming up with this great idea!

Week 1 challenges us to makeover a product that needs a facelift. I certainly had one. My Reading Growth Chart is one of the first things I made for my classroom and posted to TpT. I made it in Word! THE HORROR! And it took me forever!!!!!! Live and learn ☺

I've made it more kid friendly/cuter, with better fonts, more colorful (and a b&w option), and added a page for monthly reading goals. I'm much happier with it and I think you will be too! The chart  and goal tracker can be used for K-5th.

I love having my students keep track of any kind of data they can. They are always excited when they move up a reading level! I want to encourage them to keep track of these milestones so they can see the progress they've made. They should also know what they need to work on to reach their goals, hence why I created a goal sheet.

I'm enjoying seeing all of your makeovers already! Can't wait for the next three challenges!

Sailing Into Summer Blog Hop!

I'm excited to participate in a summer-themed blog hop hosted by The Language Arts Classroom and Julie Faulkner! Summer is fast approaching and if you're nuts like me, you're already looking for new ideas for next year. Check out my quick tips below and don't forget to visit all the other blogs at the end of this post!

1 final exam tip/idea

I teach second grade so we don't administer the big state tests to our kids but they do participate in diagnostic testing. I find it helps my kids out if I prepare the parents by sending home a little parent info pack. The gist of it is to notify them of testing, tell them ways they can prep their child, and to give parents the opportunity to write an encouraging note to their child which you can give them before their test. Click {HERE} to get my Testing Info for Parents FREEBIE.  

 

1 (classroom) thing you want to do again next yearI recently blogged about Class Compliments. This is a behavior system I use in my room and plan on using every year! It's simple to implement and easy to maintain. Best of all, the kids love it! Click the picture for a FREEBIE!

1 (classroom) thing you want to change next year

I plan to reboot how I introduce and manage my library. It needs a makeover!  I always say to non-teachers that they'd be surprised how quickly sixteen eight-year-olds can take over! Your classroom library is no exception to this rule. Without a fool proof plan you're at risk of chaos, book boredom, or probably BOTH. I'm obsessed with this post about introducing your library (by The Thinker Builder). He has it dowwwwn.
 

1 gift idea for students 

For my kids last year, I bought cute, mini journals at Michaels. I also gifted them each a mechanical pencil with a flag attached. The flag spelled their name vertically and each letter was a different adjective to describe them. I I was inspired by the below photo that I found on Pinterest (of course). The kids loved this gift because it was personal! I hope it kept them writing over the summer too. This year, to better ensure they don't get writers block, I'll include writing prompts to keep them inspired. 



They were similar to these! (by Adventures of a Student Teacher)

 

Hold on! Summer is coming!!!!!!!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

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!