Back to School- Teacher Week Linky

I'm so excited to be joining Erica from Erica's Ed-Ventures over at Blog Hoppin for the Back to School-Teacher Weekly Linky!

Each day of this week, there will be a post over teaching topics and ideas.  Today is an introduction of who I am.  So here it goes:

1.  I teach first grade in Kansas and have 21 students this year.  Our first day of school was on August 14.

2.  This is my 17th year of teaching at the same school.  I started out teaching Special Education for 4 years and the remaining years was 1st and 2nd grade.

3.  I'm very excited because after 17 years of having the same building, we had a lot of construction at our school this last year and throughout the summer and I now have a brand new room!  YAY!  Our school had a lot of rooms added to it and many updates.....it didn't even look like the same school when it was all done.  

4.  I've been married for 14 years and we have 2 dogs and 2 cats.....which our like our children since we don't have any children.

5.  I started swimming this year and I am not a morning person, but I have been making myself get up at 5:00 a.m. to go and swim before school.....hope I can keep it up!

6.    I love to do home improvement projects and I could spend all day watching the hgtv/diy channels to get ideas of what I could do.  :-)

Remember to check back daily to see some teaching ideas and thoughts.  

Have a great day!

  

Five for Friday (last one before I go back)!!!

I did it again! Five pictures for the one who always forgets to snap pictures--amazing! 

I will admit that a couple of them were due to me trying my hand at Instagram...which by the way, you should follow me: @teachinglittlemiracles

(these things are more fun when you have followers and people to follow, you know)

I'm sure some day I will get it all figured out and be posting absolutely amazing things on there. Hee hee! 

By the way, I can see why so many bloggers are going that way. It is easy to snap one little photo with a short comment to keep in touch with followers...quicker than creating a blog post. Don't worry, we'll still be blogging though! In case you hadn't noticed, I can be a bit long winded and Instagram just won't work for that! :-)

I really wish I had a picture of what I did Monday! I met up at the school with my two teaching buddies (meaning the K and 1 teacher because there are only three of us in the building, you know--WOW, I'm writing you know a lot). We cleaned out the teachers lounge/work room and another work room by the office. It looks AWESOME! Although, if I had a picture I'm sure you would ask why our teachers' lounge has bright yellow walls and then I would have to explain that my principal and the janitor took their color inspiration from a yellow memo pad (without asking for a woman's opinion--just saying).

Anyway, on to the pictures for the week. This time my numbers come from (a cute alphabet and numbers pack I got during the big TPT sale):

Okay, it is not the best picture in the world, but... 

Those are Clarks--my favorite teaching shoes--and those are one of FOUR pairs that I snagged at Legends Outlet Mall in Kansas City last Friday. Yes, four pairs! I got them all for $100!

Now listen, I am NOT a shoe hoarder. Really. In fact, I have maybe 15 pairs total. BUT the sale was amazing! 40% off of already discounted prices, and all I could think was 40% off of COMFORTABLE shoes. Not to mention I never find SALE shoes in my 9 1/2 - 10 shoe size. There were tons just waiting for me...but my kids said four pairs was enough and it was time to go. Ha!

#2 and #3 go together--a before and after.

This is what my "workspace" has looked like for most of the summer...

This is what it looks like now.

I know it looks like I just piled things neatly, but I really did finish a lot of things and take them back to school. Also, the piles are really organized and I know what is in them!

I got the school calendar in the mail...this is February. Blue is my son's basketball games. Pink is my daughter's basketball games. January looks like this too. 

This is what I was talking about in my "embrace the day" post. I'm happy to say there was only once while writing it down that I thought, this will be so much easier when she is in high school. And I caught myself and said, "Embrace the day!"

And finally...probably the reason this post is a little loopy.

I'm sick. :-(

Drinking hot coffee to ease a sore throat yesterday...laid on the couch ALL day. Had NO energy. Today feeling a little better...and hoping I get well soon. I report back on Monday, kids Thursday. I'm certain this was the Lord's way of making me slow down before the big rush, so I'm obeying and trying to rest up!

Go link up with Doodle Bugs if you have five random pictures to share! 

Have a blessed day!

P.S. I really should be sleeping...I have had to edit this post twice already because I kept forgetting things for the link-up...LOOPY, I tell you!

Wisdom for Wednesday-Attitude

Welcome to a LATE early evening:

Sorry for the late post, but I have been working and preparing for those kiddos to come in for our first day tomorrow.  :-)  Instead of a quote, we heard this during one of our meetings at school and I wanted to share it.  I apologize because the video itself wouldn't come up on here so you will have to click on the internet site and it will take you there. 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtGNcPdQkyM

I believe that our attitude in the classroom will effect every child in there.  If we have a bad attitude about something we are teaching, the kids will have a bad attitude as well.  On the other hand, if you have a good attitude, the kids will tend to have a good attitude as well.  As we begin a new school year, this video reminded me how important my attitude is because I am a role model for all those little ones and I want them to pick up on a good attitude not a bad one.  

Have a great day!

First Official Day!

Today was our first official day back and I have to say that I am already exhausted physically and mentally.  I am thinking of the millions of things that I need to get done before those kiddos walk in that door on Thursday.  I decided that since I was feeling the stress (which I'm sure I'm not alone on that) I would share some cute no teacher ever said quotes.  Maybe if you are feeling stressed as well, this may give you a little laugh and relax you some.  Here they are:

There are many more of these out there but thought these were cute.  I hope if you are feeling stressed this helped a little.  :-)

On another note, we are so excited to be featured in the K-2 Back-to-School eBook! Thanks to Deanna Jump for putting it together! It is filled with back-to-school tips and links to freebies from each contributor. Be sure to check it out! 

Hope you have a stress free week!

A Triple Scoop of Second Grade (with freebies)!

Who doesn't love ice cream? Especially a triple scoop! Hee hee...

Some of my second grade bloggy friends and I have a "treat" for you today, and it is going to be "sweet!" 

Each blogger is highlighting three of their favorite activities they use in their classrooms.

My first scoop is a FREEBIE! You will definitely want to snatch it up if you use math timed tests or a similar fact practice in your room. 

Last year was my first year using sticker charts to let the kids track their progress, and they loved it! I made these this summer so I could see at a glance which facts the kids were working on (without having to check my records). There are charts for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division!

You can read more about how I use the sticker charts here.

Click the picture to snag this freebie!

For the next scoop, I'm highlighting our Second Grade Super Sight Words Pack. 

I use my sight word packs (and yes, I use more than second grade--either the lower levels for my lower readers or the third grade pack to challenge my higher readers) in a couple different ways. 

First I use the checklist included and test the kiddos. If they don't know the words in a snap (about 3 seconds or less), the word card goes on a ring in a baggie with their name. Students practice these words with me or a para every few days (ideally!).

The checklists are then placed in what I call fluency folders. You can read more about those here.

The words they struggled with are then checked each week to see if they are mastered. If so, they come out of the baggie.

The word work pages make great handwriting practice! 

We also like to play the games included in the pack--I Have...Who Has...? and Bang! :-)

While I think these packs are a steal at $5.00 (our I Have...Who Has...? games are $2.00 each by themselves), I decided to give you an even better deal on them during the blog hop. 

All our sight word packs will be marked down to $3.00 for this weekend only!

And if you decide to purchase a pack AND leave feedback, I'll send you a freebie from our store.

To get your freebie, you will need to:

1. Purchase a sight word pack.

2. Leave feedback.

3. Come back over here e-mail me (use the icon in the upper right corner) with your TPT user name.

4. Wait for your surprise freebie! :-)

The third scoop comes from Bex at Reading and Writing Redhead. I was so excited when I found this product, let me tell you! I've mentioned that I (okay, my son and daughter) have been hard at work on making samples of the Interactive Notebooks that I had purchased. I really wanted a 'complete' notebook for reading and language arts. The one I purchased was just for reading, so I was scrambling to find some things for grammar. Then I saw this from Bex...yes, please!

Click the picture to check it out in her store!

I got this thinking it would be exactly what I needed for the grammar part of my notebook--and it was. But I didn't realize the writing lessons/pages would be my favorite part of the pack! They are amazing! 

Check out a few pages I've already done in my notebook:

The pack starts with Lesson One: Nouns, but you can see I jumped right into sentences (because that is where I start in my reading series). I just know my kiddos are going to love this!

Here's a couple pictures of more pages (including some of the awesome writing ones):

If you're in the market for a complete language arts notebook, you will not be disappointed with this one from Bex!

Thanks for stopping by for a triple scoop! Don't forget to check out all the other bloggers to see more great activities geared toward 2nd grade!

An InLinkz Link-up

Guided Math in Action - Chapter 9

I can not believe we are at the end of our book study! I am so excited to implement Math Workshop and Guided Math into my math block this year, I can hardly stand it. Seriously!

I went to my room yesterday, and I came home excited! Oh,  the possibilities of a new school year... 

I report back on the 18th, kiddos come on the 21st. And because I was the K-2 music teacher last year (in addition to teaching 2nd), I already "know" my kids. It is going to be amazing!

Okay, on with the study!

I'm not going to summarize much here because it is only fair that you buy the book for this chapter! There is so much detail and the lesson plans shared to start math workshop are very thorough-- your focus questions, enduring understandings, skills, assessments, and activities are all laid out for you.

I will share a few quotes.

"Rolling out the first 20 days of math workshop in your own classroom will take time, persistence, and consistency (pg. 117)."

"Taking the time to establish the routines is well worth the energy and the effort (pg. 117)."

These two are a good reminder to take the time needed to train kiddos on how you want math workshop to run! I know this from Daily 5, but I admit sometimes I want to "move on" and get to the "meatier" teaching. Don't do it! Be patient! 

I'm yelling at myself here in case you weren't sure. :-)

"Math workshop is always a work in progress...evaluate your workshop...reflect on what went really well and what you will do differently (pg. 134)."

Reflect, reflect, reflect! I am really going to try and do a better job of writing my reflections this year. In the past, it has mostly been in my head. Then the next year, I'm thinking, I didn't like something about this lesson...What was it?

1

I have already been hard at work preparing for math workshop. I've got my math groups binder ready. An initial assessment plan to guide me in grouping the kids for the first unit. I have gathered some games I will be using and put thought into the actual schedule.

I've yet to set up my small group area with my math tool kit...MUST DO! My small group area has been traditionally for reading groups, so I have a lot of reading resources at hand. I'll need to somehow organize my math things back there as well.

I also need to finalize my workstations and get a rotation board planned out. Still trying to find space for that one!

2

The main thing I will be doing is transferring the training that happens for Daily 5 to math workshop. I'll be making a lot of anchor charts about the way I want workshop to run, look, and sound. I'll be doing a lot of modeling!

Okay, got to go. I'm going with the youth department from our church to Worlds of Fun today. I'm sure I will have "worlds of fun" and maybe even ride a roller coaster or two! :-)

If you missed the previous chapters (and you might have because I've been forgetting to link up!), you can see them by clicking below.

Chapters 1 and 2

Chapters 3 and 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Are you going to use Guided Math and/or Math Workshop this year?

An InLinkz Link-up

Wisdom for Wednesday (gets a face lift) - Muddled Thinking!

Can you believe it has been over a year since we started the Wisdom for Wednesday series? I knew the "anniversary" was coming this summer, but I didn't realize I had missed it! My plan was to give the series a new look on the anniversary, but a month late is okay, right?

Our first Wisdom for Wednesday post was on July 3, 2013. I remember posting it with a little fear and trepidation, unsure how it would be received. I'm so thankful for those of you who have followed along with us and been so kind to encourage us as we share a little wisdom each week--whether it is about faith or teaching. Each and every comment has warmed our hearts and confirmed to us that we're being an encouragement to you as well. 

Thank you!

Now, what do you think of the new button? The graphics are from Lovin' Lit--currently lovin' her stuff! ;-)

I couldn't resist using Creative Clips "Laugh Out Loud" font for muddled!

Anyone else feeling like they are doing some muddled thinking this time of year? I know I am! Too many things battling for attention as I prepare to head back to school.

Instead of trying to add my own "wisdom" to this one, I'm just going to share the rest of the quote which I believe says it all!

A simple and orderly life represents a clean and orderly mind. Muddled thinking inevitably results in muddled living. A house that is cluttered is usually lived in by people whose minds are also cluttered, who need to simplify their lives. This begins with simplifying and clarifying their thinking. Mind and life need to be freed from the "disorder of the unnecessary."

~Elisabeth Elliot

P.S. Did you notice the Facebook slide out and the new Scroll to Top button? That is the work of the fabulous Barb from Ruby Slippers Design. She is the designer of our blog, and when I decided I wanted the FB slide out (sorry, but I hate the annoying pop-ups) I contacted her about adding it. Reasonable rates and saved me the headache of trying to figure it out myself!