Class Room Rules

We have discussed what rules we are going to use as a team.  I found a cute poster on pinterest that I had to reproduce and wanted to pass along.  Since I can save documents into a PDF and upload, I will be able to print in COLOR at school with my cutie-pa-tootie fonts!!!!  I am such a happy girl! 

It's the small things in life that keep me going!  Now if I could just sleep.  My mind is racing with everything I NEED to do and everything I WANT to do for my classroom!

CUPS Poster

I am preparing my Writing Center and want to introduce CUPS during one of the first lessons.  Of course I will need an anchor chart.  I made these super cute word posters that I am going to paste onto a Tea Cup made from poster board.

I am using a new site to upload PDF files.  Check it out if you need to upload files.  I always had so many problems uploading to googledocs since I do not have Chrome.  Do you have Chrome?  What is the big advantage (other than uploading to googledocs??).

Math Giveaway

Super Cute Blog with a givaway that would be Wonderful to own!

I LOVE Math... :)

Go check her out - 2nd Grade Shenanigans

Good BEEhavior Catalog

I spent the ENTIRE day in the classroom setting up and getting things prepared for Meet the Teacher!
I saw a super cute idea for rewarding good behavior.  It is a "catalog" that they can shop in.  I think the girls will love it!  I am going to laminate the pages and make it into a spiral in the media center.  I really felt bad last year that I did not reward them more often.  If I introduce them to the good BEEhavior catalog on the first day, maybe they we hold me accountable!

Classroom Helpers

I have been thinking about classroom helpers and DREADING it!  I am so bad about changing it out.  Today I came across a blog that has my solution...

They apply for the job by selecting their top two choices.  I make the decision and hire that student on for the next 9 weeks. 
I am going to retype her job descriptions, but use everything else!
WOW this is going to be a lifesaver!

Check out her super cute blog!!

Time to Decorate the Classroom

What does your classroom look like?  When I re-entered the building for the first time this year I felt like a school girl and not the teacher!  I love getting everything organized, the smell of new notebooks and the way a newly sharpened pencil feels!  New school supplies - it is a sick obsession I know, but I cannot help it.  I know I am going to log on one day to read my daily blogs and I am going to find another sick blogger with this crazy obsession.  I wanted to share a few photos with you!  I hope this works!

Here is the pic I saw and wanted to copy for my door...

The Help Is Coming To A Theater Near You

While I was on our family vacation going from city to city, I read so many blogs and books!
If you have not read the book, The Help by Kathryn Stockett  HURRY and read it so we can go to the movies together on August 10th when it comes out!  It was SO good!  I read it in two days!
I also read on Ms. Durnings Blog about the handbook she created about the Daily Five and CAFE.  I am sending you to her blog, but also attaching the handbook here.  She has taken all of the key points and made a handbook of each section.  It is very similar to the two books.



Hurry and Read it before the movie comes out!



Have you seen Pinterest?

I set up a Pinterest profile where I can share the things I like and I want you to follow me so you can see it! Once you join Pinterest, you'll be able to create your own collections and share your taste.
Click here to check it out!   Click here to see my Pinterest boards.  I luv this site!  I have so many things I want to try, but can never remember them all.  Now I pin it and I will have it forever!!!

Reading and learning with the Daily Five

I found a linky party for Daily 5.
Check it out! 
I am working on increasing my class library.  I am going to order the BIG order in August for the  5000 Bonus points!  I cannot wait to get that scholastic box full of books!

What Does Daily 5 Look Like In the 2nd Grade Classroom?

I am very excited to launch the Daily 5 this year.  I have read and read and read all about it this summer.  After trying to describe what I was going to do with several teachers, I decided it would be better to write about it.  But I remembered the site I was so inspired by and thought I would link you up to her!  I  love the visuals and she explains it beautifully!

While on vacation I made the family stop multiple times for a TARGET run!  Their dollar section for teachers is amazing.  If you have not stopped into a Target in a few weeks, NOW IS THE TIME!  I found the magazine boxes for $2.50 each.  They are similar to the ones at Really Good Stuff.  I wanted 25 of them in blue, green and yellow, so we stopped in Chicago, Louisville, Atlanta... until Mom had everything she was looking for!  I can't forget about my Stapes run on Sunday to get my penny pencils and highlighters...

A teacher has to do what a teacher has to do!!!  :)

Tagxedo - Oh What BIG Fun

I am so excited about a new website I found!  Tagxedo !!!! You will have to register, but it is free.

You can put any words in and pick the shape to make a different kind of WORDLE!  We are going to have fun with this one!  Look at the one I made for Jack and Annie and the Magic TreeHouse!  There are so many possibilities!

Birthday Party

I want to display birthdays differently this year.  I found a super cute blog with a giveaway and thought I would share!  Check it out!

The Daily 5

I have spent majority of the summer working on Math.  I have read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller and now The Daily Five by the Two Sisters and I am focused on reading.  I found a wonderful blog that has outline what the Daily Five is and thought I would share.  There are so many different ways to use this system in your classroom.  What I have read the most is you have to make it your own and do what is best for the children.  What works one year, may not work the next year.

Read Alouds

I am reading Daily 5 and working on my centers.  I just discovered Speakaboos and I am so excited.  I plan on using my teachers computer as the center with a pair of headphones.  I have four additional computers in the classroom, but I will use these for Lexia and Successmaker.
My first story will be Cinderella.  Click to see how simple it will be for them to use!

Folklore Unit is Complete

We have had a wonderfully productive summer!  I cannot wait to get  back into the classroom and start setting everything back up!  I was given a new title, "OCD teacher."  I am starting to think it is not such a small club with all of the blogs I have read this summer! 
Here are a few freebies that I have made over the past week!  Enjoy!
This graphic organizer covers the first six skills we teach in reading - predictions, author's purpose, characters, setting, retelling and nouns.
For Realistic Fiction we  have planned a week of Mr. Putter.  They are going to love this character.  After we read several books we are going to introduce poetry with an acrostic of his name.  I am so excited about this school year!  I took my girls to the dollar store with me and one of them said, "I feel sorry for your kids last year.  They did not have any fun."  Bless them...