Election, Pumpkins, Character Day...A Chance to Win!

Last week we finished up our unit called "We the People!" We used Cara's election unit, which was  GREAT!! If you haven't check it out you totally should!! The kids voted and I won, but Duck came in a close second! ;)

The kids had their own voter registration cards too! They LOVED them! We talked about Reality vs. Fantasy this week as well. It worked out perfect because the kids could see lots of things that were real or fake with all the great books we read: Duck for President, Grace for President, My Teacher for President, and If I were President!

Click here to check out Cara's unit!!!

Last week we also started our pumpkin guessing, which is in preparation for this weeks pumpkin activities! The kids had to guess how much each pumpkin weighed, the height in blocks, how big around, and if it would sink or float. Tomorrow we are going to see who was correct!! 

I had this little station set up all week, so if we had down time or the kids got their work done early they could go back and make their predictions! 

Also last week it was Red Ribbon Week and on Friday it was dress like your favorite character. Sooo here is who I was...

I am going to give the first 3 people who leave a comment and guess who I am correct the following long/short vowel sort! Make sure to leave your email! 

Good luck and happy Sunday!!! 

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Boo'd!

I have been boo'd by Sandy over at:

 

   

So, here are the rules...

1. If you've been boo-ed, copy and paste the above pic and these "rules" into your post.

2. Give a shout out to the blogger who booed you and link back to their site!

3. Share 3-5 October activities, books, products (maybe yours or someone else's) or freebies(s) that you love!

4. Share the Boo love with 5 bloggers-make sure you check this link so that you don't repeat the "Boo"

http://toristeachertips.blogspot.com/2012/10/ive-been-booed-fun-october-linky.html

5. Link up {here} so that others can find you and read about your October ideas! While you are there check out the other great blogs!

 

 

Here are some of my favorite October activities!!!

 

 

This is a place value activity that I made! We are using it this week!

 

Click here!

 

 

This is a freebie with ghost fact family!!!

 

Click here!

 

 

 

These two activities are from Cara at First Grade Parade!

 

Click here!

 

All of the activities that I posted about are FREE!!! I am excited that Halloween is almost here, because that means Thankgiving and Christmas are right around the corner......that means it will SNOW soon! I can't wait to see snow this year! (hopefully!!)

 

Now for my friends that I am going to BOOOO!!!

 

 

      Have a great week!!!

Spooky Place Value Freebie!!!

I have stayed in my p.j.'s the past two days, therefore I have been able to get A LOT done! I am getting ready to finally get out of them and vacuum out my car! Today I made some place value Halloween games because we will be starting place value not this week but the following week. I love teaching place value and I am planning on using these games to help reinforce the skill I teach!

Sorry they are blurry...I saved the small image on google docs instead of the whole page! I am considering taking the plunge and opening at TpT store after Christmas and when I am done with my masters. I am still thinking about it....

Click here to download!

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

What a Week....

My kids were coming off of a 4 day weekend and I thought they would be fine but noooooooo! They were crazy!!! By Friday I finally had them all back to normal, but here's the catch....they have another 4 day weekend next week!!! Every other week in October is a 4 day weekend for the kids!!! What was the calendar committee thinking! ;) We were able to do lots of great stuff even though they were crazy!! First off I wanted to share with you are second grade meeting pictures from Wednesday! I of course decorated the conference room to perfection for all my other second grade friends!!

It was so much fun!! I love getting together and talking about what we are doing in our classrooms!! My teammate will be planning the next one in November so I will share more pictures then! 

This week we talked about character traits! We learned about George Washington and Abe Lincoln. We completed a Venn Diagram of the character traits that they both have! (I forgot to take a picture of it though!)

We read the following books, which were really good because they were bogged down with facts. The kids were able to understand them! 

We also talked about adjectives, which went along just perfect with our character traits. We read the book The Biggest Pumpkin, then wrote adjectives that described a pumpkin!

If you are looking for some GREAT pumpkin ideas check out Cara's pumpkin post at First Grade Parade!

I started teaching my small group regrouping addition with 2-digit. We are going to be doing it whole class next week and I am a little frightened!! I think some of my kids might cry!! Wish me luck! I introduced it by making these quick flip chart sequencing the steps! 

I don't know why it is upside down....silly me I guess! Check out my post here for more information about the flip charts!

Since I was took the time to take pictures, I will also share with you what we are doing this week!! We are sticking with the theme of character traits and we will be talking about Martin Luther King Jr.! 

Again..I guess I turned the phone when I was talking the picture! Sorry!

We will be making this craft that I found on pinterest and made my own templates for. The students will be writing character traits on each square. 

Last but not least they will be making this craft of their own personal character traits that is inspired by Mrs. Cupcakes back to school activity here! I also used a worksheet from What the Teacher Want's post here! Once they were combined they looked like this:

It turned out pretty cute thanks to both of those ladies mentioned above!

Well I am off to sit on my bed alll day and do homework in my p.j.'s! It is raining and gross outside! Have a great weekend!

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

American Symbols, Math Games, and Opinion Writing!

Last week we started our unit on "We the People." First up was to talk about a few of the important American symbols...I would have loved to talk about more, but we had a short week so we only got to three!

We talked about summarizing, therefore we used this little anchor chart to help us write our summaries. When we talked about the Liberty Bell we read " Officer Buckle and Gloria," because I wanted them to realize that we have some freedoms but it is important to follow laws and rules too!

The other book we read was Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who? It has a page about each of the different American symbols!

We made these foldables to go along with our summaries and symbols!

Last week we also had conferences....which I had the time to make these great math games that are Pinterest inspired!

The kids "toss" a dice or marker then add the two numbers together. These green ones are easy! I also made a harder set and then I figured I could also mix the two!

Today we worked on writing opinion pieces. We reread the story "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" The kids then had to decide if the pigeon should or shouldn't drive the bus!! Everyone of my kids said that he shouldn't be allowed! We used this paper to help us before we wrote our piece!

Here is the crafty we made with their writing!!!

This week we also have our 2nd grade get together again! Of course I am getting everything all ready to go! I will show you picture later this week or next week. Happy Monday! 

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]