Mad Scientist Day - Part 2 (and a Linky Party!)

Mad Scientist Day... What a FUNTASTIC day!!! 

Students rotated to each 2nd grade classroom to perform a science experiment. 

Twenty minutes was spent in each room performing the experiment. The students also wrote their observations and their conclusions in their student books.

Here is our day in pictures.

 

Our AWESOME principal & asst.principal had lab coats made for each of us.

 Isn't that adorable? (And so, so sweet!)

 Here are the 10 experiments we did.

Here is the cover of the books the students carried to each room.

Click on the picture to get your own FREE copy for your kiddos.

What terrific science activities would you like to share with us?  Add your link to the linky below.

 AND... don't forget!!!  A little leprechaun and all his friends will be stopping by Sunday to offer you LOTS of freebies and a chance to win ONE HUNDRED TPT DOLLARS.  Don't forget to become a follower and check back in on Sunday to read all about this exciting event!

 

Ready, Get Set...Let's Go Back!

I sure have enjoyed my time off and I'm sure you all have also.

 

Two weeks is almost up for me, but I've got everything all lined up and prepared for next week.

 

In case you've enjoyed those pajama days just a little too much, here are some ideas to help you get motivated.  You might even find something you can use in your own classroom...

 

In math next week, we are going to be doing some review with a little new learning mixed in...

 

This FREEBIE involves VERY little prep work.  Simply make 5 copies of the numbers page, cut apart, and place in ziploc bags to use at each of the 5 centers.  The other 5 worksheets can be copied and placed in centers.  The same numbers are used with each worksheet.

If your school is like ours, you might need to be careful making copies.  I shrank the pages and put two to a page so I was able to cut my amount of copies in half!

 

We will continue with our daily spiral math reviews for January....which uses NO copies. These are aligned to the Common Core.  For more information on using these spirals, you can see this post here.  In my store, you can find the entire year of spirals or just the month of January.

 

 

 

Fluency in addition and math is another Common Core standard for 2nd grade.  In our classroom, we practice Brain Math every Monday to help the students accomplish the fluency needed.  (No more adding/subtracting on fingers!)  My kiddos LOVE it.  Once again, NO COPIES needed! Click here to read more about it and grab this freebie.  You can find the entire set here. 

 

 

For games in our literacy stations and math stations, we will be using these games found here.

Just print and laminate.  No extra copies needed.

 

 

 

 

In ELA, we will be learning how to conduct research as we learn about polar bears and penguins.  As we work on the FOUR WEEK unit we will use fiction and non-fiction books as we cover many, many standards....31 total!  I have all the essential questions and standards included so posting them will be a breeze.  I wanted to make this month as fun and exciting as possible, and I think this unit will do it!

 

Here is a sample of a couple of day's lesson plans from the included frameworks.  As you can see, copies are pretty much only needed during the research portion of the unit.  Once again, copies are at a minimum for this unit.

 

 

 

I teach in the state of Georgia, so OF COURSE, we're going to be learning about Martin Luther King, Jr.  I'll be pulling out the pages from my good friend Teresa Williams' unit to use in SS.

 

So, now you know what my class will be doing for this month.

 

I would love to read what your class will be doing when you return.

 

Add your post to the linky below, grab this picture and link back so we can all share.  Hopefully, it will help someone else out!

 

 

Also, be sure to check out my good friend Christine over at Sugar and Spice who is celebrating the one-year birthday of her blog.  You might be the lucky winner of her entire store!  You also have the opportunity to receive other prizes including one from me.

 

 

Now, link up and let's hear what great lessons you have planned for the month of January.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Organized for the New Year!

 

Organization...Now there's a problematic situation for probably 99% of teachers.

 

When our day is going 90 to nothing, it is SOOOOOOO hard to keep things organized.  That's one reason I am so excited about my first day back to school.  We get to work in our rooms!  YEAH!!!  I have such a PILE on my bookshelf.  (I did manage to get my desk cleaned off before leaving.)

 

I am known around school for my super organizational skills.  However, those are just in PLANNING organization.  I don't do too well with "stuff." (As my husband can attest to looking at our bedroom right now. Somehow, all the Christmas "stuff" has ended up there! ha!)

 

However, here are some of the organizational ideas I use in my classroom.

 

This is a picture off of Pinterest.  I have a green bucket for sharpened pencils and a red one for broken.  Pencil sharpening is one of my pet PEEVES!!!  Just absolutely drives me bonkers with all of that pencil sharpening!!  Well, not this year!  :-)

I have all of my construction paper separated into hanging files on a bookshelf.  EASY access!  AND, an added benefit is that all of the colors aren't mixed up, so it helps with my OCD!  (hehe)

Another organizational tool I implemented this year was using a pocketchart to show students where to read during their  Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) time.  (Referred to in our room as FROG time - Fun Reading is Our Goal.)  I rotate the students name each Friday afternoon, so on Monday morning, they have a new frog to read with as well as a new place to read for the week.  This has worked FANTASTIC in my room!

At the beginning of the year, I hot glued laminated construction paper to the hallway outside my room.  By adding clothespins, it keeps the students work organized and on display.  (We don't have bulletin boards and nothing, I mean NOTHING will stick to the walls except hot glue!)

On my math focus wall, I have headings in this cutie-patootie font from Mel over at Graphics from the Pond.  Having headings helps to keep my focus wall organized.

 

Which, BTW, is a FREEBIE I have for you.  This unit, contains headings for you to use on your own focus wall.  Grab it here.

I think one of the best ways I keep myself organized in the classroom is using my Curriculum Mapping guide, "At a Glance."  In fact, my co-workers tell me they can't function if they don't have this posted next to their desk and in their lesson plans to help them with their planning.  It's another FREEIBE you can grab in my store.  Is is in Microsoft Word so that you can edit it to meet your needs.  I have mine included as a sample guide.

 

Here are my New Year's Organizational Resolutions:

 

 

 

I purchased 2 of these cute lime green plastic toy chests at Walmart.  I plan on using one for Common Core materials for MATH and the other for LANGUAGE ARTS.  The plan is bouncing around in my head of exactly what I want to do.  I just know that's the idea!  LOL

 I have 3 of these rolling carts.  I plan on completely revamping by making them into a game center with all of my games I've made and purchased.  I use a LOT of games in the classroom for review and I need some new organization of them!



Lastly, to get some of the stacks cleared off that just seem to pile up on my desk, I'm going to put them in one of these drawers. At least it will look a lot neater!

My BLOGGING Goal is to continue posting info you will enjoy reading about with LOTS of pictures!!

What do you do to organize and what do you PLAN to do?

Don't forget to enter to WIN MY STORE (a $350.00 value) and also my BUY 1 GET 2 FREE Sale!!!

Both will continue until the 31st for my BLOGIVERSARY!!! :-)

Who will be "Boo'd?"

As you all know by now, I LOVE making up games.  Here's one we can play with our fellow bloggers. 

 

 

You've probably all played the popular game BOO at school where you leave a ghost on someone's desk or mailbox along with a treat.  Let's do the same by sharing some love from our stores...

Here's how to play.  Choose a fellow blogger that has MORE followers, another that has about the SAME number of followers, and last, someone that has LESS followers.

Highlight their blogs with links to encourage others to check them out.  Don't forget to let your fellow bloggers know that you shared about them. 

Lastly, leave them some love by offering them a goody from your store as their "treat."

Here are my three.  Just click on their button to check out their blogs.

 

 

  I just adore Christi!  She has become such a good bloggy friend AND she has the most adorable items in her TPT store as well as designing AWESOME blogs (like mine!)   She also made the great BOO cards to use to play the game at your school.  Drop by her blog to get this FREEBIE.  See, isn't she FABULOUS???     Christina and I have been in a couple of giveaways together.  She has some very important information in her latest blog postings about CCC in case you're still searching.       Teresa is a great friend whom I have the pleasure of working with on a daily basis.  She's going through a rough time with some serious health problems.  Pop over to her blog and become a follower, check out her store, and leave her some encouragement.   Now it's your turn.  Pass on the BOO to 3 of your favorite blogs, tell us about them, and link up!   Feel free to add your link through Oct. 31st before the ghosts all flee and the turkeys arrive!  :-)

Happy Fall Y'all!!!!

I LOVE the Fall.  I would say it's my favorite season, but I actually have 3 others as well.  God definitely knew what he was doing when he made four seasons.  Just as I'm tired of one, along comes another.  Isn't it awesome??

I couldn't resist having another linky party to showcase all of the great products out there that teachers have been spending time making!

 

I've been super busy with the onset of school.  However, I have managed to add two Fall items to my store. 

 

Decorate your classroom with a fall OWL theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the pictures to view them in my store.

 

 

 I KNOW there are lots more great fall activities out there.  I would LOVE to see what everyone has to offer.  Please link your BLOG post highlighting your fall activities (pictures of activities in your classroom, FREE products and PAID products, etc.) with a link back to my blog post and add your information to the below linky.  If you need help, just ask!  :-)