Tuesday, November 25, 2014

We've been busy!!!






The holidays are a busy time of year...at home and at school!  My 2nd graders have been creating some Thanksgiving themed activities.  Now that break has started, we will be moving on to Christmas activities.

During my search for activities, I came across the most adorable stand up turkey by Whimsy Workshop Teaching!  My kids enjoyed creating their turkeys.  They will look adorable on their Thanksgiving tables this Thursday.  We also created our hand prints on a turkey poem.  My students have been making these hand print poems for many years.  I laminate them so parents can save them from year to year and hang them on their refrigerators.  I have had parents come back, years later, and tell me that they still have these turkey hand prints as a keepsake.  Lastly, we disguised some turkeys!  Some of my students really got creative with this one!  Melissa Dailey created an adorable product that includes examples of disguised turkeys!  A lot of fun and something I will use year after year.

To see the products these activities came from just click the links below.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Hedgehog Bakes a Cake

My 2nd graders have been reading the story Hedgehog Bakes a Cake.  Today, we made Hedgehog cakes in our classroom.  I have been making these cakes in my classroom for many years and they are always a big hit! 

These cakes can be used for any story that includes a cake. When I taught kindergarten, my students made the same cakes for the story Bunny Cakes.  

Let me know how these cakes work for your students.  If you have a different story to use please let me know!  I'd love to hear your ideas and even see some photos!    















Saturday, November 22, 2014

Back to School Freebie! Do Not Disturb Folders!

Hi all!  Here is a Back to School Freebie just for you!

Here are the directions to create 'Do Not Disturb' folders for your classroom! Enjoy!

1) Print the pages you need.  I have included each one in color and in black and white.

 2) You will need two file folders.  They can be any color!
 3) A glue stick, two folders, and one printable is needed for one set.
 4) Glue the two folders together by overlapping them.
 5) Glue the printable on the backside center.

 6) Laminate for durability.
 7) Make one for each child in your class.
I have a class set of 25 made.  You never know how many kids you will have from year to year and a set of 25 has always been plenty for my classroom.  A class set stores beautifully upright in a tub.  If laminated, they will last for years.  I use them during tests and for students who need some quiet, private time while they are working.



Sunday, November 2, 2014

November Currently!


Listening
I listen to TV shows ALL THE TIME!!!  I am so busy creating products, pinning, working on facebook and Instagram that I don't have time to watch TV.  I only have time to listen.  I am currently listening to Bones!  I have seen, or should I say listened to, every single episode since day one.

Loving
I love my dog.  His name is Logan and he brings our family a lot of fun and joy!  Here we are together!


Thinking
I have tons and tons of work to do!  I have a long list of ideas for products, but I can't ever seem to catch up!  I am constantly working on something!  I love it, but I wish I could work faster.

Wanting
I want more time off...like a longer weekend.  There is so much I want to accomplish!

Needing
I need to exercise more.  At one point in my life, I walked every single day.  I really want to do that again.  I really NEED to do that again!  My health needs it.

Reading
I used to read every single night before bed.  Then, TpT came along.  I rarely read for fun now.  But that's ok, I love, love, love what I do!!!  I am reading The Phantom Tollbooth to my 2nd graders.  Awesome book!  I never read it as a child, so I am enjoying reading it out loud to my kids!

Want to see other's November Currently posts?  Click here to participate in the link up or check them out!



Saturday, November 1, 2014

Halloween Fun!

We had so much fun during Halloween week!  My class used Proud to be Primary's Halloween Fun Pack!  It was loaded with wonderful activities!  So many, that I couldn't even get to everything I wanted to do!  I love that!!!  Lots and lots of great choices!!!  Here are some photos of my kiddos doing some of the great activities.

At the bottom, you will see photos of my kids working on Halloween math task cards, which are a freebie in my store.  Click here to grab it!  Halloween is fun, but exhausting!  Next, comes Thanksgiving! Stay tuned for some awesome Thanksgiving products and ideas!










Friday, October 31, 2014

Brilliant!!!

Love this idea!!!  An upside down gingerbread man made into a reindeer!!!

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Love this!!!

I love this product I purchased from Shayla Blaschko!  My favorite part of this product is the little book.  I have it ready to go for my kids.  Check it out!

Silly Pumpkin Faces!

Each year, I have my students make silly pumpkin faces!  I think I have made these with my students, without fail, for 15 years!  

Here is what you need:
A copy of a pumpkin for each child
Assorted magazines
Scissors
Glue
Crayons

Have students color and cut out their pumpkins.  Use old magazines to find eyes, a nose, and a mouth to glue on your pumpkin.  Some students get creative!  Instead of using actual pictures of eyes I have seen students use pictures of flowers or candy.  Have fun!


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Helping My Students With Math!

One of my favorite finds at The Dollar Store are these little colored glass gem stones.  (If you google it, that's what they are called.)  I found bags of these on the isle that contains the house decorating items.  These glass stones are used in vases and glass containers for decoration and to hold fake flowers.  But I love using them in my classroom!  They come in different sizes and colors and are also available at craft stores.

Just recently, my students were comparing numbers.  I have a large 100s chart on the wall for my kids to use as a reference, but one particular child was still struggling.  For him I provided a personal 100s chart and some colored gem stones.  He could place the stones on the numbers he was comparing and could easily see which one was greater.  Worked perfectly and he loved it!  Of course, these discs come in handy for other math activities as well.  In addition, I have used them during our reading group activities.  My students love to place them on top of words in their readers to highlight.  They are great because the kids can still see the words.  Since they come in different colors I can tell my students to use green to find short a words, blue for short o, etc...  They really come in handy!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

October Currently

It's October!  I can't believe how time flies!  My favorite time of this year is eating those yummy roasted pumpkin seeds!

I have linked up with Farley for the October Currently!  



Are you looking for a treat?  This weekend, October 4th and 5th, I will be participating in a Facebook Free-For-All!  To get your treat, come out and grab your freebies including mine!  Below is a picture to give you a taste of my freebie!  Click here to go to the map to get started! Enjoy!