Back to School Blog Party!!!

Effective Teaching Articles is hosting a party with freebies and prizes EVERYDAY from August 1-5!  You definitely won’t want to miss this!

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Some Little Freebies

Where I live, teachers go back to school on Aug. 11.  School starts on the 22nd.  It will definitely be here before I know it.  I was going through my files to see what I should have done before Meet The Teacher and I thought I’d share these. 

1.  Families are in and out of my classroom during Meet the Teacher, and it can get pretty crowded, (which by the way totally stresses me out!)  I always have a couple of parents who want to discuss and talk about EVERYTHING and I’m AWFUL at cutting a conversation short—you know how it goes.  Anyway….I cut our student information sheet down from 4 pages to on half a page (front & back).  If you copy 2 sided,  the front and back should line up for a half sheet.  If you’d like a copy….Here it is….

Meet the Teacher Student Info

Meet the Teacher Info

I also found these that I made a while ago.  I’ve always been really interested in the whole “touch math” concept.  (I actually even use it myself—SHHH! Don’t tell)  I haven’t used it in my class, but I made these at one point to try it.  Does anyone out there use this method?  What do you think?  Do you have the TouchMath program?

My Touchmath Posters

If you would like to learn more about it, here is their website…TouchMath

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Triple Threat Giveaway

Second Grade Shenanigans has a super cute giveaway AND freebie.  She’s also got a great blog with a lot of really cute and useful information.  Go check it out and follow her blog. 

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

It’s a Good Day!

I not only received my box from Really Good Stuff in the mail today, I also got to FINALLY go into my classroom.  What made it an even better day is when I saw that my tables had been replaced with desks!  WOO HOO!!  I was so tired of those tables….it was really hard to keep supplies, books, & binders organized.  It was a MESS!  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the custodians at my school, they even set up my computer!

This wreath is one of my favorite things.  I made it a couple of years ago with my class and it hangs outside my door.  This is not the best picture of it, but I love it!  I love to read their names on the back and remember each of them when they were in 2nd grade.                       

                                

I love to see what other teachers’ rooms look like, so here’s a peek into mine.  This is what my room looked like when I walked in this morning.  I didn’t do any room “set-up” today, (I’m going to hold off until after registration…I’m afraid of finding out I’m moving to the portable or the “Porto Pod”, which is what I refer to the little village of classrooms for 2nd grade outside the school).  I spent all morning separating and organizing my Math “stuff”.  Thank you Debbie Diller for your FABULOUS ideas. 

                                        

                                     

It’s not a lot, but I have a smartboard, docu cam, a sink, and a big desk.  I also have the second best air in the school.  I love it, and I don’t want to leave.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I’m the only one on the grade level who hasn’t had to move rooms. 

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Contest Crazy!

Yes, today I’m entering just about every linky party and giveaway contest I have run across.  This one is HUGE if you LOVE clip-art. 

Oh’ Boy Fourth Grade is giving away over $800 of clip-art Heaven.

Enter now…it ends Thursday, July 28.

Book Club Giveaway

Check out the Giveaway and the super cute blog over at First Grade Pandamonium.

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Pinterest Linky Party?

I’m in! 

Michelle's Math in the Middle is having a pinterest linky party!  Hurry over and get linked up!

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Just Some Stuff

This year my goal is to GET ORGANIZED!  I am embarrassed even reading this as I type it!  I don’t even have parent communication, lesson plans, birthday calendars, student info, or ways the kiddos get home in one central location.  These things are located in a variety of locations none of which are together.  YIKES!!!!

I know I’m not sharing anything new.  I know there are plenty of more creative documents out there, but I thought I would share in case I can inspire someone or offer you something that was tweeked in just the right way for you, too. 

So…these documents will all be together in my teaching binder.  I may be adding some more stuff as I go along, but here it is so far.

Student Info

I wanted something where I can have ALL of the students’ important information.  (Thinking about this now I should have made an RTI column or I’ll just make a separate RTI page).  “Med” stands for anything like allergy, etc.  “Photo” is if I’m allowed to use the child’s photo on a bulletin board or something like that.  “Text” if the parent doesn’t mind me texting them for things like, “your child forgot their lunch”.  I also wanted something with both parents names and information.

Parent Communication How We Get Home Student Birthdays Staff Celebrations Planning Ahead

Everything else is pretty self-explanatory. 

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

HUGE Giveaway!!!!

Sunny Days in Second Grade is having a  HUGE
It is so big I don’t even have enough space to tell you about all the things you would be missing out on if you don’t enter this giveaway.
Good Luck!!
Together for Our Kids,
Denise

Time Practice

I was looking at a teacher supply catalog and I saw these clock boards and I thought, “That is just what I was looking for all those months ago when we were learning and reviewing time.”  It was something quick and easy where I could call out a time and the students could quickly show me the time in analog or digital.  I love me some Judy Clocks, but there wasn’t a space for them to write the time digitally.  I also love the scratch paper or dry erase board, but waiting for the sweet children to draw a clock would take FOREVER!
Sorry…back to the point of the post.  I wanted some of these clock boards B-A-D and was all ready to shell out the money when I read that they were $19.99 for 5.  Now, I may have 24 or 25 2nd graders in my class next year (Thank you budget cuts).  I want each of my students to have one, so we can do this '”drill” whole group on the semi-spur of the moment.  So, my total would be $100 plus tax—YIKES!  I said, “ I can make these!”, while I thought, “I can make these?”. 
When I get an idea, I have to do it right then.  So, I whipped these up.  I’m pretty proud of them.  I’m going to laminate the clock faces once I’m able to get back into the school (so it’s free laminating), and then I will attach them to the back-to-back on the tongue depressors so one side is digital, the other is analog.    Lookie there, I’ve got my write-on, wipe-off clock paddles.  Click on the link below if you want a copy of the faces.
              Clock Paddles


Together for Our Kids,
Denise

I Love Pinterest! Yes, I Do!…

I love Pinterest!  How ‘bout you?

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pinterest!  Did I mention I love Pinterest?  I found this wonderful bookmarking site, that has consumed much of my time since the first week in June.  Not so much my blog stalking time, but my laundry, kitchen cleaning, closet organizing, sweeping, mopping, bathroom scrubbing time.  It has also kept me awake long into the wee hours of the morning.  There’s so much stuff to see and pin, that you can’t stop.  That next wonderful “picture” might be just the thing I need to make, purchase, or do in my classroom. 

Seriously, if you need something to peruse around…this is IT.  If you need an invite let me know.  Here is a link to my Pinterest account for you to check out! 

My Pinterest Account

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Going to the Beach!

How am I going to make it for 3 days without all the blog stalking I’ve grown accustomed to this summer?  I hope I don’t miss anything too exciting.  Oh, well, maybe it will curb my frustrations of not being able to get into my classroom yet—I have SO many things I’d like to get at to share!  I knew I should have brought some stuff home with me over the summer—Dang it!

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Awesome Giveaway!

Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens is offering a super cute tote…FOR FREE!  Check out her blog for details!

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Top 10 Things About ME! (in no particular order)

I saw that a very good friend did this, so , I can’t be left out!  Here Goes…

10. I have 3 fabulous children.  My daughter just graduated HS and my oldest son is going into Jr. High.  I do A LOT of praying.  My youngest son is still in elementary, so not too much drama yet. 

9.  I teach at the same elementary school I attended.  All 3 of my kiddos go there or have gone there.  I love living in the community where I teach!

8.  I can’t sit still.  (Unfortunately that doesn’t help to motivate me to exercise.)

7.  I’m very funny.  (In real life…not so much on paper).

6.  I have tons of patience for people and especially kids, but no patience for traffic, waiting in lines, or wasting time.  (Which is why I don’t always read my posts before I post them.  Sorry, for all the mistakes.)

5.  I like to have lots of fun at school.  My students said they will miss my singing the most when they go to 3rd grade.  (Anything to keep them interested)

4.  I can do the splits!

3.  I’m not as goofy as I sound as you’re reading this.

2.  I can’t think of anything I’d rather do than teach.

1.  I LOVE to be outside.  Even in this Texas HEAT!

If you haven’t already done this…Head on over to Go Fourth! With Mrs. Owens and link up!

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Marzano….

Most of you probably do a lot of Marzano’s High Yield Instruction Strategies everyday in the classroom.  Last year my reading group really needed a lot of work with non-fiction texts… we did KWL charts A LOT.  I would just have the kids them draw the chart in their writing spiral….not very exciting.  So, you can imagine how excited I was when I stumbled across the Education Journey blog and read the post “So What's In Our Desk?” only to find this awesome idea of a KWL journal.  Ashleigh has her 3rd grade students do a KWL not just before reading, but also when they begin each unit in Science and Social Studies.  I think it is so neat that they will have a journal of all the great stuff they have learned in 2nd grade.  When I first started doing the KWL with the class I had to do quite a bit of modeling, but they started to get the hang of it and did quite well.  I loved this idea so much that I whipped up a template that I will be using in my class this year.  If you’re interested click here for the chart , and click here for the journal cover.  I added the lines because my 2nd graders REALLY need them.

Here are some pictures of the document. 

        

Hope you can use.  If you like the idea head on over to Education Journey where you will find lots more Super Cool ideas!

Together for our kids,

Denise

An Awesome Giveaway

Head on over to My Second Grade Journal!  She is giving away a wonderful making words unit!  I WANT one and I know you will, too!  Hurry, hurry, hurry!  It ends today. 

Denise

Add a Little “Fluff”

I’m not sure how much longer I can wait.  After reading and learning about Math Stations, and getting a theme together for my classroom, I am ready to get in there and start organizing and decorating. 

I put together this Musical Hundreds Chart that will go along with my “This Class Rocks” theme.  Thank you to Scrappin Doodles for the super cute clipart that just dressed this chart right up.  WOW!  The fluff added some fun, don’t you think?

       Musical Hundreds Chart

Together for Our Kids,

Denise

Freebie Linky Party?

Woo Hoo!  I’m in!  Just Add Clipart is hosting a Linky Party.  To join in on the fun, all you need to do is share something you’ve created.  Hmmmm….well, I’m new to this blogging, so I’m just learning how to download, upload, share, so, I think I’m going to share this little sheet,  Write Around the Room.  It is an activity that has the kiddos going around the room searching out words  and then using them in their own sentences.  I like to have a number of letter per word minimum which helps with differentiating and also the sweet little children who would only be writing words like “I”, “it”, “is”…you know the ones.  I hope you can use this and keep your fingers crossed that I linked up to this party correctly.  LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!! 

PS-I’ve also done it where they can only use words from the Science or Math wall.  It really helps with vocabulary. 

Write Around the Room

Denise