What is in your CART? Linky

 

Grab the button above and link up!  Share what you have in your cart and are planning to purchase during the SUNDAY SUPER SALE at TpT.  Don't forget the code is SUPER. 

My entire store will be on sale. 

 I have 58 items on my wish list and can't wait to purchase many wonderful things you all have created.  Here is a look at my wish list.

Ice Ice Baby, Giveaway, Award, and Migraine

Only in the South...

6 am ...phone call...school will dismiss at 11:00 due to possible snow, sleet, and ice
9:10 am . . . email . . . school will be dismissing at 9:30
10:00 am . . . heading home!

Yes, we did got some snow, sleet, and ice, but not that much.  Bread, milk, and eggs were on the list for everybody to go to the grocery store and get.  I simply went home!  :)  You could not have paid me to go to the store with all the folks that thought they were going to be snowed or iced in for days.

Giveaway...
I am excited to be helping out in a couple of giveaways this weekend. what i have learned is actually hosting 5 giveaways!  My Presidents Literacy Unit is included in Giveaway 2.

 

 

 

 

Another Giveaway -

I am also participating in a giveaway with iLive2LearniLove2Grow.  I am giving away my Valentine Love Is Literacy Unit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liebster Award -

 

I have been nominated again!  I am so excited! 

 

 

I was nominated by is 1st Grade Fireworks.  Check out her adorable blog.

 

 

 

This is my second nomination for this award. :)  Check out my previous post to learn all about me! 

 

 



Migraine!

A migraine for one week - STINKS!!!  I am so done with it now!  I just wish it would go away!!! 

 

 

 

Presidents and Love Is...

As I watched the 44th President take the oath again today, I began to think about the activities coming in February,  Presidents Day and Valentine's Day.  I am beginning a unit on biographies next week and will focus on Washington and Lincoln to begin.  As the study continue, I am going to let the students select a biography to read. Then we are going to complete a timeline and research paper.  I created some fun literacy activities to use with the presidents in centers during this time. I also have another writing activity early finishers may complete, If I Were President.

I also started thing about planning Valentine activities.  I created Love Is...Valentines Literacy Activities to use in centers too.

Recap of the Week

Wow what a week!  It was full of mClass and Dibels!  Don't you just LOVE assessments?  I mean wouldn't you rather assess students than teach students???!!!???  I know it is important to monitor progress, but really sometimes it seems we progress monitor and assess more than we teach. 

On Wednesday after I finished with assessments, I was rewarded by my efforts by having an observation.  It was all good, but what a way to celebrate.  We were reviewing facts we had learned about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The kids refreshed my memory and told the AP about the wonderful activity we did the day before about diversity.

 

As the students explained, "It doesn't matter what the outside looks like, we are all the same on the inside!"  We cracked open a brown egg and white egg.  The kids talked about this the rest of the week.  :)  Then, we watched a quick MLK video on Brainpop Jr.

 

 



We continued with another wonderful discussion and finished up with Martin's Big Smile from Teacher's Clubhouse. 

 

 

 

During Language Arts time, we had a little yummy FUN with Hot Chocolate.  Since I was trying to multitask and complete assessments and still carry on, I decide to use my Yummy Hot Chocolate Literacy Unit.

 



 



 

We even enjoyed making some Hot Chocolate on Thursday!  I used a crock pot to heat the water.  It worked out perfectly!  Yummy!!!!

 

 

During math, we enjoyed using Hope King's It's Snowing Graphs unit. 

 

 

 

All in all it was a wonderfully FUN week in Second Grade! 

 



Addicted

I am addicted!  I love stalking and reading others blogs.  I am always excited to find out what wonderfully creative things all the teacher bloggers are making and creating for their students.  The fun enrichment activities so many of you are able to create, astonishes me.  My kids are always asking me about the activities we do, because I always give a commercial about the activity before hand.  This is how one of our conversations or commercial might go:

Me:  Guess what?!?!  Today, I have a really cool activity to do. One of my teacher friends shared this with me.  I hope you like the activity is much as her class did.  I saw the pictures when her class was finished, and they were so proud!

Student:  What is it?

Me:  Something really cool.

Student:  Whaaaatttt?

Finally, I share the activity and one of the students always ask what teacher I got it from.  They love for me to tell the the blog names too!  One day we had a long conversation about social media, and how it can be very helpful.  Then, questions came up about what school some of the bloggers work at or where they live.  Needless to say, some of the children were pretty impressed that some of the blogs I stalk are from Australia.  (Yep, how do you code that on the teacher evaluation -global and technology in one conversation! Heee Heee~!!!)

Now I think I have my students addicted to me blogging too!  They ask all the time.  Did you find something fun for us to do?  They really love the 'craftivities'!

So, my addiction of blog stalking made me start thinking...

Is there a 12 step program for Bloggers?

What do you think would be in the 12 steps?
Happy Blogging and Stalking!!!

Stay warm!

The Magical Product Swap!

 

 

I am so excited to be participating in the Magical Product Swap. (Don't you love the cute button by The 3am Teacher.)  When I received an email from Jessica about the product swap I was so eager to meet Tara Ward . . . they all fall down.  What a cute blog she has!  As I stalked her tpt store for a few days to figure out what item I would like (I found so many!), I finally decided on the Hot Cocoa Contractions.

 

 

 

 

 

My kiddos loved this!  Tara did a great job creating this!  We used it with some other Yummy! Hot Chocolate Literacy Activities I created.  We even enjoyed some of our own cocoa!  The students loved working on the Hot Cocoa Contractions during centers throughout the week.  This was a perfect review and reinforcement for the class. 

Make sure you check out Tara's adorable blog...and they all fall down...  It is so cute!  I just love name.  Yep...the tune is stuck in your head too!  :) 

Now I think I might just have to go to Starbucks or Dunkin to get some Hot Cocoa. 

Thanks Jessica for hosting such a YUMMY and Magical Product Swap! 

And thanks to the 3AM Teacher for graphics.

 

Giveaways and Linking Up!

 

Come join the Giveaway! I am giving away my writing unit, How to Have a Snowball Fight. Also you can link up below and share your Winter activities.

 

 

Join my linky by sharing your favorite Winter Activities!  :)

 

To inspire and to be inspired...

 

Happy New Year!  What a great way to start off the year!!!  Don't you think?  I was very excited to be nominated for the Liebster Blog Award from Mrs. Ehle!  She has the cutest kindergarten blog!

 

 

 

As a recipient, I must:
1. Post 11 random things about myself.
2. Answer 11 questions that the nominators ask of me.
3. Create 11 questions for the people I nominate.
4. Choose 11 other blogs with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and link them to my post!

 

So let's get started!

 

11 Random Items about Me!

 

1.  I am a mom of a 17 year-old, beautiful daughter.

 

2.  I love scrap booking!

 

3.  Cooking is something I enjoy, but the dishes is something I prefer to let somebody else take care of when possible!

 

4.  I am extremely picky about food!  I hate ONIONS!

 

5.  Love me some lima beans!

 

6.  Reality TV has become addictive to me.   

 

7.  I have taught 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and reading.

 

8.  Love Aveda products!

 

9.  Dark Chocolate is my favorite type of chocolate.

 

10. Shopping is my all time favorite thing to do.  I would love to be a personal shopper. 

 

11.  This is my 15th year teaching.

 

 

Q and A Time!

1. What is your own education background? I earned my B.A. in Elementary Education from Troy State University.   I have a master's degree in Instructional Technology from Appalachian State University.
2. Do you shop on TPT? If so, what is your favorite product you have found on TPT? YES! I love so many things.  I found new stuff each week!  Love TPT!!!!
3. Where are you from? Where do you live now? I am Army brat.  I was born in Oklahoma and live in North Carolina now.
4. How many students are in your class? What is the average class size in your district? I have 20 second graders in my class this year.  When I taught 5th grade 5 years ago I had 30 students.  I have no clue what my districts average class size is currently...sorry!
5. What is your favorite tool to use in the classroom? I love my Smart board! 
6. How do you handle "show and tell" in your classroom? We don't have show and tell.  But a way we get around it is during Writers Workshop.  If they write about it (publish), then they can share it with the class. 
7. Do you give "rewards" in your classroom? Lots of hugs all the time!  Our students earn good behavior tickets for PBIS.  Each month they use them to shop at our school store.
8. How would you describe your classroom management style? My classroom is organized chaos.  Procedures are established, reviewed, and refocused as needed.  Everybody is working and learning! It just might not be the same thing for each student.   
9. What grades have you taught? 2nd, 4th, 5th, and reading
10. What's the last book you read for pleasure?

11.  What are your hobbies? Shopping, scrap booking, cooking, blogging...

 

 

Nominee Blogs

 

Buggy for Second Grade
 

The Loop
 

Now What, Ms. Lemons?
 

Wild about 2nd Grade
 

The Sweet Life of a Second Grade Teacher
 

The Second Grade Surprise
 

The Creative Chalkboard
 

Teaching with Style
 

Southern Sweetie in Second
 

Second Grade Fun
 

 

CONGRATULATIONS to these wonderful BLOGGERS! 

Nominees remember to do the following:

Be sure to list 11 random facts about yourself, and answer the same specific 11 questions as above, and nominate 11 bloggers. 

 

 

 



 

Snowball Fight Linky!

Who does not enjoy a good SNOWBALL FIGHT?  This got me thinking about what other fun winter things do you do with your students or family.  I thought it would be fun to host a linky to share some stories and/or winter activities that you do. 

My kids love it when we have snow!  Sometimes we get it once a year or maybe twice if we are lucky.  One Valentine's Day, we had a delay because of snow.  After lunch, I had all the kids bundle up and we headed out side.  I had them pack their best snowball.  Then I stood still so they could all throw the snowballs at me.  They loved it!  It is one of the best memories!

With assessments coming, I thought this would be a fun writing activity to do.

Now it is your turn to throw your snowball!  Pack it tight and aim well, and don't forget to link up!

Chinese New Year Fun

Ringing in the Year of the SNAKE!

 

Let the fun begin!

I am really not sure what all we will do for Chinese New Year, but I have started researching some things.  I found a great explanation for the Year of the Snake here.   I also found some more things from tpt.  Here is one that I will be using.  It is a freebie from Life on the Fourth Floor. 

Can you guess what is in the bag???

 

Well over the Christmas break my daughter and I went to PF Chang's for lunch. It was yummy!!!  I asked the manager if I could have some fortune cookies and chop sticks for my students.  :) 

Look at what they gave me!  A bag FULL! 

 

When I started to take photos, I saw this broken cookie, and knew I needed to go ahead and enjoy it. I couldn't give a broken cookie to one of my kiddos.  Check out the fortune!!!

 

 

Oh I almost forgot, this is one of my favorite books for Chinese New Year.  I cant wait to read it to my students. 



What do you have planned for Feb. 11th?