Time Change

I hate time change!  Daylight Savings Time is actually my favorite of the two, but I sure do wish they would just choose a time and leave it alone.  One of my friends on facebook said it best:  "Only the government would believe you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket."  Yep, that sounds about right.  I do love that I will have more daylight hours in the afternoons when I get home from work.  In fact, I always say I'm kind of like a bear.  I go into hibernation mode in the winter and many days you will find me in my jammies by 6 o'clock.  I have much more energy once daylight savings time arrives.  After supper, you can usually find me outside doing something until dark (if it's warm enough that is).  We plan on getting our little garden area plowed this week.  Next week, is the time (for our area) to plant potatoes!  How many of you raise your own garden?

Well, I finally got my picture of the broom standing outside my door.  After showing the teachers, it is now in my classroom (behind my desk where it's a little more protected) and has been standing most of the week.  No matter what the reason behind the theory of it, it's still fun to show your students. 

I've been working hard all week on my newest unit for TPT.  If I do say so myself, it's my most visually appealing unit so far.  I'm really proud of it.  If you need literacy stations for this coming up week, hop on over here and purchase it.  It includes 5 beautiful, colorful stations that are ready to download and use.  Worksheets are included to check for understanding of your students after completing the activity.  Be sure to at least look at the preview as it shows EVERYTHING in the unit.  These units can also be purchased individually in my store. 

Well, it's time to start getting ready for church where I play the piano.  I hope I'm not yawning during the service!  :-)

Cynthia

Only 2 more days this week!

Don't you love Wednesdays?  It always seems "downhill" once I get to Wednesdays.  For me, it's going to be another 4-day week as I'm taking a personal day off tomorrow to spend with my youngest daughter to celebrate her 19th birthday!

Have you heard about the broom trick?  I wanted to post you a picture, but alas, my camera is still not working.  I had a co-worker take a picture, but we forgot to get it to me before the end of the day.  Anyway, it is possible to stand a broom up.  Part of the people I've discussed it with says that it's a gravitational thing from now until March 21st.  However, naysayers tell me it can be done at anytime of the year.  In the meantime, try it out for yourself.  Any old broom will work.  I did it with my students this morning and it was still standing when I left this afternoon.  No matter what the explanation, it's a lot of fun to do with your students!

I posted my newest unit on TPT.  It's a 47-page unit full of games, literacy station activities, worksheets, task cards, and Common Core Standards for 1st and 2nd grade.  Go check it out here

One last thing for tonight...I've been given a blogging award!  Thanks to Mrs. Stapler over at Stapler's Strategies for giving this to me! 

Five months ago this award was created to encourage teachers who blog.

Since that time, there have been MANY new bloggers who deserve some high fives from the blogging community.

Click  here to get the info.

Are there certain blogs that you return to day after day that continually provide you with inspiration? Then why not give them an award to say a big thank you!   Here are my Top 10:

1)  Amy @ stepintosecondgrade

2)  Sara @ smilinginsecondgrade

3)  librarypatch

4)  Yvonne @ sassyinsecond

5)  Teresa @ 2ndgradepigpen

6)  Stacy @ 2ndgradeparadise

7)  Tammy @ 123teachwithme

8)  Emily @ secondgradesilliness

9)  Marcie @ 2ndgradewildabouteducation

10)  Leea @ gonnasetthiscircusdown

Time for bed! 

:-)

Cynthia

Here's your freebie!

I have uploaded a freebie to my TPT store to thank you for joining my blog.  I would LOVE for you to start following my store while you're over there.  Check it out here.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Antonyms-Opposites-Attract

Here is a few pictures I took of anchor posters I have in my classroom.  One of the best ideas I think I ever had was the day I started putting the 3m hooks on my wall to hang all of my charts.  Now, when it is time for standardized testing, rather than taking down or covering up, I simply turn around!  :-)

The nice thing about putting them on hooks, is that when I moved classrooms (and buildings) this past year, I just popped those hooks off and brought them with me!  :-)

Have a good evening! 

Cynthia

Whoo! Hoo!!!

I'm so excited and can't believe that I've finally hit 50 followers.  That just made my day (plus puts the pressure on me to bring my blog on up a few notches!)  I'm hoping to take some pictures this week to get posted on here.  My camera has not worked properly in awhile (and I must admit, I couldn't put my hands on it right now if my life depended on it), so I am depending on a couple of my sweet co-workers to help me out with the picture taking.  I have a freebie to give you.  The trouble is, I have no idea how to post it just on here without having to go through TPT.  I love my TPT, don't get me wrong, but I would prefer to pass this on to those of you that made this particular goal possible. Anyone out there with answers, please let me know.  I will try to find out and get it posted by tomorrow.  Here is my latest unit I am working on. I hope to finish and post it for sale on TPT in the next couple of days...

Have a great week everyone and once again a BIG THANK YOU!!!

Cynthia

I've received an award!

Thanks so much to Sara from Smiling in Second Grade for nominating me for an award!

 

There are a few rules for accepting this award:

1. Link back to the blogger who gave it to you.

2. Pass the award onto 5 other lovely bloggers.

3. Follow the person who sent it to you :)

Here are my nominees!

1.  Sunny Days in Second Grade

(I'm a huge fan.  I love the newsletters.  Be sure to sign up for it!)

2.  Buggy For Second Grade

(Kelley always has some great ideas to share.)

3.  2nd Grade Pig Pen

(Teresa is a fellow teacher.  We started this blogging journey together.  She's another newbie!)

4. Library Patch

(A new blog I just found a few days ago with some wonderful ideas.)

5.  Step Into Second Grade

(I can not say enough nice things about this wonderful lady!  Amy was so sweet to answer several questions for me in January and really got me started in TPT.  I always have to brag about what a nice person she is to everyone.  THANKS AMY!!!)

Cynthia

 

A Special Deal for my Followers!!!!

I'm having a special for my followers...
Visit my TPT store and purchase either my Wild About Informational Writing or my 3-weeks Needs Based Plans and become a follower on TPT AND Facebook. Last, comment on the item, and I will send you one of my UNDER $5 items free! Be sure you mention seeing it on my blog! (Don't forget to send your e-mail address to me along with the item of your choice as a freebie.)  This special will last until Monday, March 5th at midnight.


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Cynthia-Vautrot

www.facebook.com/2ndGradePad

Hope everyone is safe tonight if you are in the line of any of the bad storms.  It's almost time for them to roll in here.

Cynthia

Bad Day...NO! GOOD day!!!

I used to have a book I enjoyed reading to my students that would say, "That's Bad!  No, That's Good!" (Don't know what ever happened to it...hmmmm...)  Anyway, that about sums up my day.  I woke up at 4:30 with an unwanted gift from one of my little lovies...yes, the dreaded stomach bug.  The good news was, my former student teacher was available to sub.  Thank goodness, she knows my room inside and out, backwards and forwards.  I didn't even have to worry about lesson plans. 

My daughter has a horse that we've been having to board somewhere else.  That was no longer an option, so I got to see she and my husband put the finishing touches on a pasture they fenced in at our house and then bring the horse up to it.  (Where I also got to see them promptly chase him when he snuck out!  lol...)  Everything's good though.  He's back in and I'm hoping he stays in since they are both gone to work.  I just don't think I can catch him the way I feel!!!

Earlier, I happened to look out the window and saw a frog in the swimming pool.  When I got down to rescue him, it was actually a toad and he was already all puffed up and floating on his back.  The good news in once I dipped him out, took him to a nice sunny spot AWAY from the pool, he revived and after about 20 minutes hopped away.  So another good thing today.

BUT, the most important good thing is that I didn't feel like doing much except work on my newest unit for my TPT store (and reading a James Patterson book during breaks).  I am super excited about being able to share this informational writing unit with others.  My students do so well, when they do it in this format.  Go check it out here...
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wild-About-Informational-Writing

Please be sure to follow me while you're over there.  I've got to go keep an eye on that horse! 

;-)

Cynthia