Take Me Back Tuesday!

Hey Friends! I'm linking up with Second Grade Shenanigans for Take Me Back Tuesday! I posted this last December and we were doing the water cycle and some fun holiday writing. Check it out below!


***Originally posted December 17, 2012***


Hey Y'all! I have not been able to post in 15 days, but who's counting? It's exhausting working all day and having a 12 week old baby! I looooove my job and I LOVE my son more than life itself, so any free second I have in the evenings has gone to one of the two above. The house, hubby and dog have been neglected...as well as my blog! But no use crying over spilled milk...here I go!

I thought since I'd been MIA so long I'd offer up some freebies that you can pick and choose from. In science this week we are learning about the water cycle. We did an experiment where we left a cup of water in a ziploc bag and taped it to the window. We observed what happened in the cup when it was left in the sun and recorded in our science notebooks. I created a water cycle wheel from some super cute Melon Headz illustrating graphics. You can get the water cycle wheel here. (I know the words "water cycle" are kind of cut out, but I couldn't get it to fit perfectly.) We used a brad to fasten it to the page so the kids could spin it.

We also created water cycle bracelets. I got this idea from a training in my district but I changed the color of beads based on the beads I had in my closet. :) It worked though! For this activity, I gave the kiddos black pipe cleaners and one bead at a time as we went through the water cycle. Yellow is for the sun, white is for the clouds, purple is for precipitation, green is for the plants, black is for soil and blue is for rivers, lakes and oceans. I don't have a pic of the bracelets, I left the iTouch I took pics with at school. But you can get the recording page here. (I added the arrows after the fact, I am going to have my kids draw them in tomorrow to emphasize the "cycle" part of the water cycle.)

Last week we reviewed parts of speech with a fun elf craftivity I created. The kids had to use adjectives to describe their elf as well as nouns (common and proper) and verbs to create a story about their elves. You can check it out at my TPT store here. I am also attaching a freebie writing page you can use. Grab it here.

And last but not least, we will work on a memory book page for December. I keep a writing sample from each month and compile them into books at the end of the year. I change them up each year so I don't have a whole year's ready, it really depends on what we are doing in class at the time. Here's one we are doing this week, grab it here. 

Ok, baby is getting fussy with daddy, mommy duty! Night y'all!

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Make sure you head over to Second Grade Shenanigans to checkout the other posts. Happy Tuesday!!

Thankful Thursday Linky Party & A Thanksgiving Freebie

Hey friends!! Today is kind of a big deal for me: It's my first time ever to host a linky party!! I'm really excited and a little nervous...eek! November is my favorite month of the year: my birthday, tons of college football and of course Thanksgiving! I find it an easy time of year to teach because the kids are in a routine and  excited (a little overly excited haha) about the upcoming holiday season. As long as I incorporate some fun and seasonal stuff into the curriculum, we are golden! 

This time of year also reminds me that I have so much to be thankful for. I thought it would be nice to spend the next three Thursdays giving thanks for all I have and sharing it with all of y'all. 

Today I'd like to say I'm thankful for my son. Jackson just turned one. He is the love of my life, seriously...I cannot imagine my life without him. I thank God every day that he brought such a handsome, fun, smart and energetic bundle of joy into my life. I am blessed beyond belief to have my baby boy. Yes, at times I want to pull my hair out because I cannot keep up with him!! But that's all part of being a mommy and having a toddler. I wouldn't have it any other way. 


Here's my little ode to Jackson! I cannot believe how much he's grown. *tear*

I'm also thankful for bloggers and blog readers! I made a special Thanksgiving booklet just for y'all. The title of the book is "Giving Thanks" and it's a booklet you can use with kids in first-fourth. It's a simple way to connect Thanksgiving and grammar by having your kids think of three nouns they are thankful for: a person, a place and a thing. I've added flaps on the side because flaps are just fun, aren't they!? 

To put the book together, kids cut out the pages and cut around the tabs. You'll have to model this, especially in first grade. If that's too hard, you can always have them cut off the tabs. You can pick the file up here.

Alright friends, I'd love to hear what you are thankful for! If you're not a blogger, you can leave a comment below. If you are a blogger, link up and share what you're thankful for with us!

Monster Mash Writing Flash Freebie!

Hey friends! I just finished my monster themed creative writing unit. I wanted to share some of the posters I created with my fabulous readers. I created writing process and 6+1 traits posters. I'm sharing the 6+1 traits posters for free until Thursday! I used Creative Clips clip art, LOOOOVE Krista's stuff, so adorable. 

These posters will be posted in my Google Docs until Thursday. Make sure to pick them up here. My Monster Mash writing unit will be on sale until Thursday too! Here's a preview of the file:

You can pick it up here. Ok I have to get outside and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL weather we are having today! Happy Fall y'all!! :)

Sight Word Linky Party, Rudolph Creative Writing Unit and almost to 100 Followers! Oh my!

Hey Friends! I'm on my last week of maternity leave but I am in no way sitting around! Today I am linking up with Katie at Teacher to the Core to share a sight word strategy. I teach second grade and I have several levels in my classroom. I do leveled spelling lists each week but all of my students have the same word wall words. We do a lot of word sorts in my room but one of their choices for word work is to do a buddy check. I posted about this in my blog before but I thought it was great to share for this linky party!

To do a buddy check, a student partners up with another student. It works like a buddy test. One buddy reads the word to the other buddy. That buddy writes the word down. The buddy who is the "teacher" checks the word. If it's right, they go to the next word, if it's not the "student" tries again. Then they check it and highlight the part/parts that they missed or parts they want to remember.

This activity can be used with any words you wish. You can grab a copy here:

On another note, I am so excited because I just finished my Rudolph Creative Writing Unit! I did this unit last year and my kids LOVED it. I jazzed it up with some cute fonts and graphics this year. I've also incorporated more of the six traits than I did last year. It's perfect for that after Thanksgiving before Christmas time when your students are going bananas about the holidays and you are pulling out all your tricks to keep them engaged and learning. 

The unit takes the kids through the writing process to create an imaginative story about Rudolph's nose. I incorporate the six traits in this unit as well. I made sure to make the unit TEKS and Common Core aligned. I teach second grade but this unit would be appropriate for first, second or third. Take a peek here!

And last but not least, I'm almost at 100 followers! I'm really excited about that. Be on the lookout for a give-a-way soon! :) Happy Wednesday!

Managing the Writing Process

Hi Friends!

This week was LONNNNNNG and HOOOOTTT. I'm so glad it's Saturday! I finally get to rest my super swollen feet and watch some Texas Longhorn football! :)

In my classroom this week we are working on revising our personal narratives. This is our sixth week of school so we've been at it for a while. I find that second graders have a really hard time revising at the beginning of the year. They are still in the mindset of, "Well I already wrote it, I'm done!" I'm trying to teach my tooshy off and show them what great writer's do to revise their stories.

We worked on "showing, not telling" this week. I used Kevin Henkes books like Chrysanthemum and Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse to teach them ways to show the reader what you're trying to say. We also looked at sensory words and created lists of sensory words to use to help show our readers what we want them to see.

This year I began using my old behavior chart as a writing process chart. The children each have a pocket will colored coded cards for each step of the writing process. I am so glad I made it because it matches my writing binders. (See my binders here.) So far it's really helped the children grasp the concept of a "process". Next week we will work on editing and finally some publishing!

Here's a pic of my writing process pocket chart. (The fish bowls at the bottom are part of my Daily 5 management system.)

Click on the picture above to see my writing process cards. I have brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. The last slide has several different ones on a page because I have 22 kids and it helped me save paper when I printed them out.
I'm due September 17th, so I may not be there to publish with them. However, my long term sub will make sure it gets done. The kids look forward to that part so much! I'd love to see what the writing process looks like in your classroom! Happy Saturday!

Newbie Blog Hop and Classroom Updates with Pictures!

I know I'm a little late, but I couldn't resist joining the "Newbie Blog Hop" at Grade Three is the Place for Me. I've had my blog for a little over a month now and I'm loving it! I think it's really helping me to be more of a self-reflective teacher. The ideas and inspiration I get from other teacher bloggers is absolutely amazing!

Here are the questions for the newbie blog hop:

1.  what state you are in: The Great State of Texas!

    2.  your current teaching position: 2nd Grade

    3.  your teaching experience: 3 years in Kinder, starting my 2nd year in 2nd

    4.  when you started blogging: June 2012

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource: Always join in on linkys when you can! It's a great way to meet other bloggers and get more traffic to your blog. :) Also, share as many freebies as you can, you know how teachers love free stuff!

Classroom Updates:

Alright friends, it has truly been a whirlwind of a week! We officially had to be back at school on Wednesday the 18th. Of course I had been up at the school a whole week and a half before that getting my room cleaned out and ready to go. You know what amazes me? Those teachers that only come the day they absolutely have to and seem to have things put together in just one day...I don't get it. Am I missing something?

So this being my second year in second grade, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what I liked about last year and what I didn't. I've come up with awesome materials to use throughout the year and I've completely revamped my spelling instruction after reading Words Their Way. I'm so excited!! :)

I've been working like a madwoman getting things ready for my fabulous new kiddos. Here are somethings I've been up to:

Writing Workshop Binders

I have been playing with the idea of a writing workshop organizational tool for second graders and then came across Mrs. Madden's writing notebooks. It was exactly what I had been looking for! It has all the components I want to include: writer's notebook for prewrites and drafts, folders for revising, editing and publishing as well as a folder for resources. Here's what my version looks like:

I came up with a cute template using the "smiley monsters" font that I adore and a chevron pattern. I printed them on regular paper, laminated and hot glued them to the binder covers. My school ordered the binders for me, I didn't get to pick the color and they didn't come with a clear plastic page cover. But I worked with what I had!

On the inside you'll see their writer's notebooks that they use for prewriting and drafting. I have the 1 inch binders, which I don't recommend because it's hard for the kids to turn the notebook to get to the binder. We may end up taking them out and storing them in the clear pocket on the left. Next year I'll ask for the 1 and 1/2 inch binder. Live and learn! :)

After the notebook, I put half of a green folder (revising), red folder (editing), purple (publishing) and orange (resources). To make the folders, I bought colored folders with no brass fasteners for 15 cents each at Walmart. I then cut them in half to save money. I made 3 holes on the left side of the folders that weren't facing the right way. I hot glued the pocket that was open after cutting. (Sounds confusing but see below.)

I will add labels to the different folders with my kiddos when school starts. I'll keep y'all updated!

I also made some back to school gifts for my students. I did not come up with this idea, I found it on another blog. I cannot for the life of me remember which one, I'm sorry! If it was you please comment below! This amazing teacher posted a PDF with these cute gift tags to place on addition cards. I'm sure many second grade teachers out there notice that their students come in a little rusty with the math facts at the beginning of the year. At our "Meet the Teacher" night I will give these cards to the parents and students and discuss how important math fluency is and how it will benefit them in 2nd grade. Here are pics of the addition flashcard gifts I made. I purchased the flashcards at the Dollar Tree and hot glued the gift tag to the front of the box.

And last but not least, I gave my dry erase board erasers a makeover. Well, actually my husband did. I'm 8 months pregnant and I didn't want to inhale fumes from the paint, so hubby helped me out! Thank you honey! :)

I have had these erasers for a good 3 years. I don't know who wrote all over them but after 3 classes using them...it's just bound to happen. I decided this year, they need a fresh start! Hopefully they will stay nice and clean.

Here are the erasers before...yuck!:

Here are the erasers after my husband added 2-3 coats of acrylic paint to them.

He is going to add a coat of Modge Podge to them later today. I'm a lucky gal, I know! Is it completely OCD of me that I wanted them color coded to match my tables? Naw.... ;)

Before I leave you, does anyone out there know how to add fonts to my blog? I'm tired of writing in "Georgia" font and have a ton of cute fonts on my laptop but I'm not sure how to add them to blogger...? Any helpful hints would be appreciated! Happy Sunday!