New Year....and Past,Present, and Future

We have been working on our Holiday's Around the World Unit. This is probably one of my favorite things to teach all year, because the kids make such great connections between all the different countries we study! I will be showing off some of the things we have been doing later this week. We are using Rachelle's Unit!

I wanted to share a new unit I have at my TpT store for the New Year!!!

This unit was created to review some of the essential skills that were taught in the first two quarters of second grade. It also includes some fun New Year’s activities to help get the kids back in the groove of school. 

Included in this unit:
-Even or Odd Three Digit Numbers
-Regrouping or Not Regrouping with addition
-2-D and 3-D Shape Sort
-Rounding Three Digit Numbers
-New Year’s Book List
-Sequencing
-Summarizing Guide
Text to Self Connections
-Writing Activity
-New Year's Resolution Craft

Click Here to check it out! 

I am also working on a unit I will be using when we get back in January! It will be about Past, Present, and Future...transportation, inventions, and historical events! I am planning this unit for the whole month of January to cover A LOT of our social studies standards!

In this unit the students will understand:

How inventions have affected our lives?

How our lives have changed over time?

How are lives will change in the future?

Through these big ideas students will explore different inventors and how their inventions have changed the way we live. They will look at the history of transportation. Students will understand how simple machines have played a roll in past and future inventions. They will also look at how our country has changed and what some of the important landmarks are. Lastly students will analyze how Pioneer families lived compared to their own family. 

I am SUPER excited about this unit because I feel like these standards are some of the harder ones to teach in second grade! I will let you know as soon as I am done with it and have it posted! 

Happy Saturday!

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

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*]

Student Valentines and Lil Helper Part 2!

Ok, ok, I know Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but I just now finished my student's Valentines. I used the idea off Lindsey's blog, The Teacher's Wife and they turned out REALLY cute! I think the kids are going to love them because they are not traditional at all and they glow duh!

Oh and by the way I did NOT have a snow day! No Kansas schools got the day off, but plenty of Missouri schools did. For those that don't understand what I mean when I talk about Missouri and Kansas I really talk like they are one state, because the major cities in both states are so close together. Such a rip off, but I guess on the flip side I got some more instruction in! :)

I have to leave you with my lil helper picture tonight. He of course wanted a glow stick to play out in the snow in! I hope everyone had a SUPER Monday!

Valentine Gift and a Helper!

I received my Valentine gift from the Bloggy Gift Exchange! It is from the fabulous Tammy at



Here is what she got me...

I LOVE this cup! I will be using it on Monday!

Super cute mirror for my purse! Love!

Cute things for my classroom!

This is what is left of the gummy bears, OPPS! I already ate them all! :) Thanks so much Tammy! You are such a sweetie!

Here is what we are doing next week, oh and did I say it is only a 3 day week because we have conferences on Thursday and we are off Friday and Monday! Wooooooohooooo! I am totally excited!

First: We will be starting our new writing unit, Small Moments. I found this poster of Pinterest and I had to make it! Here is how it turned out:

Turned out cute right??

Also we will be doing Babblin Abby's Snowy Day Inferencing Unit! If you have not checked this out at her TpT you should! It is totally worth the money and I know my kids are going to love it!

So I saved the best for last, my little helper! He had to help me take the pictures and wanted to be apart of my blog.............

I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! It is super cold here so I won't be able to walk, but I will get to stay inside and snuggle up to my lil helper!

You know you are a "REAL" teacher when...

All you get for Christmas is stuff that deals with teaching and school! :) It seems like every year around the holiday time I just need a million things for school. So what better way to get them all you ask... ask Santa for them! Here are some of the few things I got for school/teaching!

Dry erase makers, who doesn't need them this time of year. All of mine are dried up and in the trash can!

I can't write with anything else now! I loooove my sharpie pens! If you haven't tried them I would highly recommend you do.

The next two things were more of a want then a need, but they will still go to good use!

A new bag to carry all my "junk" as my husband says!

And a new watch so we can be on time. Us teachers always are aware of the the time! I think it has become embedded in my brain to look at the clock ever 15 minutes.

Santa was definitely good to me this year! This is only my fourth day off from school and I am still in exhaustion mode, so I think I am going to stay in my sweats all day and lounge. I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Survey Survey Survey!

I have seen this survey on several blogs and I had to fill it out! So here goes...

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I prefer to wrap! It was a tradition for me to help my mom wrap presents when I was younger! But of course I did not wrap any presents from Santa! :)

2. Real tree or artificial?
Growing up we always had a real tree, but I think that it is part of the reason we all have allergies now! My husband and I have an artificial tree now. It is very much hassle free!

3. When do you put up the tree?
Usually the weekend before Thanksgiving! I like to have my tree up for Thanksgiving, because it puts people in the holiday mood when they come over!

4. When do you take the tree down?
It depends on whenever I have time. Sometimes I get it done before we come back from break, but other years It is a couple of weeks after.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Yuck, yuck, and more yuck!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
A silver bell. My parents had read us Polar Express and then Santa brought my brother and I both a silver bell. I totally still have it!

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
I do not have a nativity scene. My parents have one that I adore, but I haven't ever found one that I love and was worth buying.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
All the boys in our family! They are all so picky and particular!

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom! She is my best friend and I know she will like anything that I get her.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
MAIL.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I have gotten some pretty *special* things from Secret Santa people at work. I won't mention what it was, but all I got to say is that is was *special*.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Elf of course! SANTA!!!!!!! I KNOW HIM!!!!! :)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
As soon as possible! I do not mess around with Christmas shopping!

14. Ever recycled a present?
No, who would ever do that??? ;)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
My mom's seven layered jello! Yes people SEVEN layers! It takes her all day to make, but it is totally worth it!

16. Clear lights or colored lights on a tree?
Clear lights. I have all white, silver, and gold ornaments on my tree. Colored would look a little tacky with them.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Anything for N sync's Christmas CD.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?
We stay home. Most of our family is here in town! I would love to travel one year and go somewhere warm to celebrate the holidays!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Hmmmm only if I sing the song!

20. Angel or star on top of the tree?
Neither! I have a bow on the top of all of my trees.

21. Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas Eve with my hubby, but Christmas morning with my family.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The shopping lines! That is why I start Christmas shopping in the summer!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?
Every year growing up my parents would give me a Disney Princess ornament to go on my small tree in my room. My mom has saved them all and I hope to one day give them to my daughter!

24. What do you want for Christmas?
A new watch! I rely on that thing so much at school! And all my watches have to coordinate with my outfits duh!


I hope everyone has a great Christmas!

Holidays Around the World

We have been learning about Holidays Around the World, like I said before and here are some pictures of what we have been doing!

This is a project that we did when we talked about Italy! I read the students the Legend of Old Befana and they loved it! They couldn't believe that a "witch" delivers kids presents, they all thought I had the wrong holiday.

When we talked about Mexico we made poinsettia wreathes. Many of my students have seen these types of flowers at the store, so they were able to make good connections. I told them that it is a tradition in my family that my dad gives my mom a poinsettia plant each year around the holiday time.

Here are our stockings for England. The students thought it was funny that children in England left out real stockings, not like the ones we buy at the store. And they of course loved the story I read to them about Boxing Day. They were fascinated!

This is on my "bulletin board" out in the hall and yes I have glass doors and not a real bulletin board. I made a map of the world and have been putting up a picture and small write-up after we talk about a country. The students can then visualize all the places we have been talking about.

Alrighty I know Erika asked me to share my "corny" song and hand motions that I teach my kids for digraphs and blends! I promise Erika I will take pictures of my kids this week doing it and put it on my blog so be on the look out! Well...I have training tomorrow so it should be a mellow day.

Holiday Freebie

The bagels were a success! My students were very excited and since we have last lunch (12:25!!!), they were happy with the morning snack! I think they are expecting something tomorrow too, oops I think I started a bad habit!

Any who...Here is a holiday writing freebie I create! I have been using Rachelle's Around the World Unit on her Tpt store from What Teacher's want. (her blog)It is amazing by the way! I am planning on using this writing activity when we get to America next week! And yes I have school next week, until Thursday! Ugh! I can't believe it either! Oh well what can you do...

Click Here

I have an early release day tomorrow (woohoo PD) and then training on Thursday! This week is flying by so I guess going to school next week will be ok.......NOT! :)

Food for Thought

It has almost been a week of no posting! I have been so busy and I have had no time to post!
So...
Today we were reading a story from our student readers about a bakery and people that make bagels. I started talking about bagels and I realized that half of my students were giving me a blank stare. So I finally asked, who has ever had a bagel. I think like 5 HANDS went up! I was completely SHOCKED! They haven't had bagels, what world are they living in! Then I realized buying loafed bread is cheaper and lasts longer. I decided on my way home from school I was going to stop and get some bagels! Tomorrow morning I am going to see some of my students eat a bagel for the first time! I am actually kind of excited to share this with them, I know that sounds corny! Last year we made s'mores for our end of the year camping project and many kids were eating s'mores for the first time. Earlier that year we had a root beer float party and some of the kids didn't even know what they were. YIKES! I just don't realize all of the things my students haven't ever experienced! I think that is part of the reason I love teaching where I do. I enjoying giving my students these small experiences that they might not ever have. I guess that is what this time of year is all about, giving back!

P.S. I will let you know how they like the bagels! Oh and I promise to post more than once this week and show off some of the fun things we have been doing in our room.

Addition, Addition, and More Addition

This week we have been working on Regrouping with Addition. I got some GREAT ideas for Amy Lemon's blog. Here is what we did. (it is slightly modified from Amy's ideas!)

This is what we started off with on Monday. The students got very familiar with the steps that need to be done to regroup! Here is what the inside says:

A little tip if you do this, make the booklets ahead of time. I really saved valuable teaching time by doing this! Today and tomorrow we are working on solving some regrouping and non-regrouping problems. After the kids are done they sort them in a mini folder booklet.

These next pictures are activities we are doing during our "Pioneer Time," which is when we split the kids up in small groups between the grade level teachers and the interventionists. My group has finished working on 4 digit addition and we are reviewing subtraction regrouping. These activities I am using during centers and small group instruction.

If you would like the link to some of these activities go to Mrs. Lemon's blog. They are under addition and subtraction. My kids have LOVED working together and trying new things!

2 more days until Friday! Woohoo!

Holiday Stories to Share

One of my favorite holiday stories is the Grinch! I definitely think it is a classic and of course I love the two movies. It reminds the kids of the true meaning of Christmas and hopefully inspires them to give back.

The Polar Express is another one of my favorites. When my brother and I were little my mother read us the story and that year Santa brought us both a silver bell. I still have mine and I put it on our Christmas tree to remember that special year!

My last favorite book is Snowmen at Christmas. My mom looooves snowmen and it has definitely rubbed off on me! She has bought me and herself every snowmen book she can find. I have a whole shelf in my room devoted to snowman books. This is one of my favorite ones! It give you warm fuzzes inside when you read it!

As you can tell I can't wait for the holidays! I enjoy all the twinkle lights at night and all the love that is in the air! And of course decorating my house head to toe in Christmas decorations. (my husband just loves it! ) Well I am off to watch my FAVORITE show ever..........
Tori and Dean! I just can't get enough of how cute Tori is and how sweet their family is!

Steals and Deals

Ok.... so I said I wasn't going to blog during the holiday break, but of course I couldn't resist. My husband and I just got back from our first round of BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING! We were able to get some great gifts for our families! I am very excited to see them open them on Christmas. Later I think I am going to hit up some of the craft stores in town for some stuff I can use in my classroom!

Freebie:

I created a writing prompt for the kids to do on Monday. They will be able to write what their favorite part of Thanksgiving break was.

Click Here

Well... I am going to go and rest before we go out shopping again! I also might look at some of the AWESOME lessons on TpT that are on sale!

What I am Thankful For...

Linky Party over at What the Teacher Wants!

Here are the things I am most thankful for:

1. I am thankful for all my students! They all mean the world to me and they keep me going everyday!

2. I am thankful for my family! My husband keeps me smiling everyday! My mother is my best friend and she means the world to me. My father supports me and helps me get through the hard times. My brother allows me to be goofy and keeps me young! And of course I am thankful for my four-legged baby, Bentley!

3. I am thankful for the following blogs:

Mrs Lemon's Blog! She provides great freebies!
Denise gives her reader great ideas and she is very creative
I go to Abby's blog to find great ideas I can use in my classroom

4. I am thankful for Starbucks Passion Fruit Tea!! Yum, it is one of my favorite guilty pleasures!

5. I am most thankful for being able to do something I love each day and having such a great family and group of friends that support and love me!