Talk About the Weather!

Last week we started our Weather Unit! We started with what the students know the most about: The 4 seasons. We discussed the sequence of the seasons, what the temperatures are like, which season is our favorite, and the different clothes we wear during each season.

The following pictures are of the students working on an activity where they sorted pictures of clothes based on the season they are worn.

And how bout the weather here recently!? B-E-A-UUUUUUtiful! I’d be lying if I said we haven’t had a little extra recess to enjoy the sunny days! I hope everyone had a beautiful weekend and is rested for this work/school week! I’ll be posting sometime later this week, so please, stop on by again!

Manic Monday!

I must admit, I was pretty exhausted this morning, but we’ve got no time for that in 2nd grade! This morning the students were SUPERB! They were quietly working on their morning work, enjoyed some independent reading, and were completely involved in our math lesson and game. Today the students learned how to play “Addition Top It.” Every student couldn’t get enough rounds of this card game! The objective is to pull two cards from the deck went it is your turn, find their sum and try to beat their partners cards’ sum. Here are a couple of pictures of a few students playing “Addition Top It…”

 

And to wrap up our exciting morning, our own Cody lost a tooth! I can still hear his giggle as he was literally twisting it around in its socket. A little too much for Mrs. Manley to handle, but remembers doing the same thing when I was in elementary school and pulling teeth! It was a proud moment for Mr. Cody…

My goal is to add a new post on the blog once a week, if not more. Especially if we do a special activity in the classroom! Parents, grandparents, and friends - If you have any suggestions or requests for what you’d like to see on our blog, please let me know! Make a comment or email me!

“The First Day Jitters”

Oh my goodness! What a whirlwind of a day! Like many other school days for a teacher, the first day is jam packed and pedal to the metal! I am so excited about this years’ class! They are smart, energetic, and just darn cute!

The first few days always consist of a lot of talking on my part… Going over rules, consequences, procedures, and our routines. But this class is so bright, they already knew most of what to do and how to do it!

I read aloud one of my all time favorites for the first day of school: First Day Jitters by Julia Danneberg.

The students and I shared our  jitters we might have had for the first day and even wrote about it!

Recess was a warm one today, but totally worth the fresh air and the running around the children got to do. With our new schedule this year, we’ll be having snack outside during recess time. Today I made a little something for the kids for snack, just to let them know I’m super blessed to have them in my class…

Dismissal was somewhat chaotic, like most first days, but we’ll get it done perfectly tomorrow! As a reminder for parents, now that your child is in 2nd grade, they need to be dropped off and picked up in the back of the school, near the cafeteria. The only reason they should be dropped off or picked up in the front is if they have a younger sibling in kindergarten or first grade. If there’s any questions or concerns about this, just let me know and we’ll get it straightened out!

Alright, its bedtime for this exhausted teacher. I’ve got to get some serious shut-eye to keep up with these 2nd graders!

I’m so excited about my classroom!

I just finished eating dinner and so excited to look at the pictures I took after working in my room today! I think this is my favorite classroom I’ve had so far. I pretty much have everything finished up, except for a few more things to laminate and put up. Anywho, here are today’s pics:

Busy at home!

It being the weekend, I didn’t want to go to my classroom for more than one reason… Its Saturday. I’m at home hanging out with my hubby. And I worked on a few fun things at home for my classroom! So here they are:

#1 – My “Be Quiet!” dinger got a makeover!

Classy, I know.

 

#2 – This one isn’t for my classroom but it went along with today’s crafty fun… Bzzzzzz!

 

#3 – My new and improved student birthday poster… I asked my husband, who was watching TV to help out and hold up the poster. This is his first attempt.  Not very enthusiastic.

Here’s a better picture when he was being serious about helping!

I don’t have any birthdays actually on there yet, but I want to get it laminated first. I’m pretty proud of it!

I know I said…

I wouldn’t be blogging until later, but I wanted to share a few things and attempt to put up some documents I made!

My latest classroom purchase is my Scotch laminator. LOVE this thing! I got mine from Wal-Mart; it was about $30. The laminate “pouches” can be bought in different sizes, but I get the largest ones (pack of 50). K-Mart has the cheapest price.

 

I’ve lamented all my book bin labels, math & ELA material labels, reading strategy posters, math vocab.. Anything on the smaller side! Again, totally love it and worth the money!

Ok, I’m trying to figure out this inserting a document thing, so I can share… But I may have to spend a little more time to solve this puzzle!

Latest Pics

I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve been working in my classroom. In fact, I was supposed to go today since its my last day to go before I leave for Charleston then FFA camp. But I need a resting day, or a SHOPPING day! I’m going to make a run to Michael’s & Hobby Lobby. YAY!

Anywho, these are the LATEST pics and what my room will look like when I get back to it in about a week.

It’s getting there! I’ve been working on a few things at home, printing, planning, and laminating. I’ll be visiting my parents for a few days, celebrating my Momma’s birthday, and back in my classroom on the 4th!

Day Four & Five:

Sunday in my classroom was good, but I didn’t feel like I got enough done… Here’s a picture of what it looked like when I first started:

And this is what it looked like when I left:

Not too terribly different, but I did get all my books organized and in their bins. My only to-do was to figure out how I wanted my bookshelves and where I was going to get a shorter shelf for behind my computers. Too many books!

I went home pretty frustrated until I got on Pinterest (best thing since sliced bread) and saw an idea my friend pinned!! She’d found a teacher who used the plastic “garage” shelves and only used the first two shelves. They fit perfectly under whiteboards and such!

I was revived and ready to work again on Wednesday… Which is when my hallway would be all dried and sparkling.

So that brings us to today… I was so pumped about how much I got done, but if you walked in my classroom, you might think other wise. Here are a few things I accomplished today:

 

Just missing a top shelf on that bookshelf in the corner, and I need one more plastic “garage” shelf.

Calendar/Morning Meeting area… New striped background is actually a twin sheet and the cute border is thanks to my awesome friend Christi Roberts!

Writing Workshop Materials… More to come!

And here’s the rest of the room:

Oh my! We’ll see where tomorrow leads us.

Day Two & Three:

OK. I don’t have any pictures to put up, but I worked in my room on Tuesday & Wednesday. I did just my classroom library, if you can believe it! I pretty much got all my books organized, in bins, and on a book shelf. This task is one that I actually enjoy, because I. Love. Children’s Books! It is a total obsession that has gotten worse now that I’ve taught 2nd grade and since this summer began. I ALWAYS look at the children’s books section of a store or thrift store. Even though I don’t really need anymore books. It’s just like collecting anything else... There’s always books I DON’T have.

I’ve got all my labels for my bins done, except the non-fiction book bins. That is what I pretty much did all Thursday morning. I’ve kind of had to take a break on school stuff due to my house being a wreck and my fellow teacher & dear friend getting married tomorrow! (I’m one of the bridesmaids!! YAY for marriages!)

I’ll be going up to school all day Sunday and hopefully everyday next week. I’m a little frustrated with my hallway not being waxed yet and foresee that mucking up my plans to work next week. We will see what happens!! I’m going to stay optimistic that other people will not keep me from doing my job! Besides, you know what they say… When God closes a door, He opens (or cracks) a window.     

Day One:

Today was my first day working in my classroom!! The floors are sparkling thanks to our custodians and all my furniture was back in my room from being out in the hallway. Thanks to Mrs. Groomes we got the bigger pieces of furniture moved around and it their proper places!

The set up of my room is mostly the same as last year, but I’m changing my library area and making more of a distinguished Word Study, Math, & Writing Workshop area. I’m very excited about it and hoping it will help out with the flow of my room.

Here are a few pictures of my room midway through my workday today…

 

I was at school for about 4 hours today and am very excited about tomorrow’s to-dos! Tomorrow we will start organizing my classroom library. Please hang around for the next 30 days to see the progression!I’m talking to you family!  

The count down begins…

There are 32 days before “Meet the Teacher” night. Which means I have a month to put my classroom together. For some, this may seem like plenty of time! But for me, the OCD perfectionist, that takes forever to set up and decorate any room, I need to start soon!

I am so excited about this coming up school year and my new batch of Loves! I have been buying books and other things for my classroom. And searching for creative ideas/activities all summer and I’m ready to start organizing it all! My plan is to try and get into my room in the next couple of days.

* This is going to be my attempt in keeping up with a classroom blog, mainly for my parents and students. But considering I can hardly keep up with my classroom website, I don’t know how this is going to go. But I am VERY optimistic! I’m trying to make positive and more creative changes ALL OVER my life!  

 

Here are some things I’ve bought for my classroom: