Choosing to Read, Multiplication, Seeds, and Birds in a Cage!

Happy Saturday!

I'm linking up with Kacey from Doodlebugs again this week to share some random things from my week. 

1

After seven months of coaching and getting home anywhere between 6:00-11:00 p.m., I am trying to make myself leave school at 4:00. I love coaching, but having time for simple pleasure is nice too.

2

I finally have some kiddos choosing to read!

In my room, there is a standing direction that when they complete an activity or assignment they always check their work folders and then move on to "choices." 

Our choices are MobyMax, math games, read to self, fluency games, and word work activities. 

This class always chooses math games and it was driving me nuts. Don't get me wrong, math games are great! But so many of my kids this year need to be practicing their reading!

Anyway, I started a friendly AR competition between the boys and girls and now many are choosing to read and excited about earning points for their team. I still wish they were doing it for the love of reading, but I'm not going to complain! 

 3

Our Birds in a Cage artwork turned out pretty cute.

 Click here for a tutorial.

4

After studying about plants, we planted some seeds. I was a little worried because I had these seeds in the freezer, but they showed signs of sprouting in TWO days! 

The kids are thrilled!

5

And finally, the most exciting thing happening in my room is The Great Multiplication Race! 

Let's face it...a lot of second grade math is building on what they have learned in first grade, but multiplication... 

Well, that is new and exciting!

This pack came from Teacher's Gumbo although I don't currently see it in their store.

My awesome para (remember her name is Jackie :-)) came up with the idea to bind the pages and turn it into a book. We love it! The first several pages are filled with the strategies we've learned and then it goes into practicing them. I didn't really turn it into a "race," but I am allowing them to work at their own pace.

Well, that wraps up my week--at least the parts I have pictures for! ;-) 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sick day, Subtraction with Regrouping, and Interesting Art...

Hey there!

My Friday blog post is later than usual...this explains it:

I actually did call in sick on Thursday. I like the idea of all those emergency sub plans that I see on TPT, but I hate to get off schedule. My sick day started with about two hours of getting things laid out, grading, and contacting parents to rearrange tutor times, etc. It was needed though because I could barely get off the couch the rest of the day! Ugh! I've laid low all weekend and still don't feel great. :-/

I did have a few things to share though, so...

These three came in all excited to be triplets, so I had to snap a picture. 

We have been working very hard on subtraction with regrouping. It was fun to hear my kids repeating parts of this chant as they worked. One little guy kept saying the part about "going next door" and was impressed with how fast his brain was working! Ha! Chants and songs are so helpful to students. I need to be better about using them and revisiting them!

 

 

 

Okay, this next part just cracks me up...

This is what happens when you leave an art project for a sub.

Or maybe not...at least a few of the students got the idea. :-)

 

 

 This catching snowflakes idea came from here. 

Last, but not least...we are still cooking our way through my updated cookbook.

Copycat P.F. Chang's lettuce wraps and General Tso's Chicken...success!

Tomorrow is an inservice day for me. 

Hope you have a great week!

 

Fall Art Projects

Hey there! 

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. 

I started off bright and early at basketball practice, and then I stopped by the school to try to tidy up my room after a rushed exit on Friday afternoon. It is crazy to me how quickly my neat and tidy room gets messy again!

I shouldn't be surprised though. 

This class of mine...they are very "rough" on things. Things are always breaking, misplaced, and ruined. It is not necessarily on purpose. More from a lack of carefulness that I can't even explain in writing. You would really just have to see it to believe it!

Funny story about that from this week...

I left early on Tuesday to go to the doctor.

When I came back Wednesday morning, one of my students' chairs was missing. Turns out it had been broken the day before--from leaning back to far. 

Really.

Sigh.

That day as we are doing math rotations, I'm watching as a student's desk suddenly collapses.

Seriously.

Once I knew everyone was okay, I just had to giggle...only this class!

Despite breaking things, this class has come up with some great looking fall art to decorate our hallways.

Check them out. 

I've included links if you're interested in giving them a try!

Scarecrows

 

 

 Pumpkins

 

Turkeys

I've got a full day on Monday. Half day Tuesday followed by inservice. I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

 

Johnny Appleseed Craft

We studied Johnny Appleseed this week and were very excited to do our first big art project of the year!    The kids were so excited when they were told that we would be doing an art project. 

We had a lot of little giggles in the classroom as they got their hands painted (they all thought they were a little ticklish LOL). 

This cute project was found at The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman http://jennwa.blogspot.com/2008/09/another-pre-school-apple-craft.html

The kids did a great job with it!  Check out the results:

 

 

Hope you have had a great week!  Kristi