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Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Getting ready and Cambridge Primary...

I have been so busy lately, I just haven't been able to fit blogging in! In the middle of taking 2 classes for my Reading Endorsement, I just found out that I will be teaching the 2nd Grade Cambridge class! I am super excited but it involves an online training class! Has anyone else had any experience with this program? I have googled but haven't come up with much other than the official site! I am thinking it will be interesting to blog about my experience as I go through this year! It should be so much fun to have a class full of motivated learners! I can't wait to see what depths we can go to!

I have also started getting my classroom ready,Yikes,we have to report on Monday July 30th! We are lucky that we actually got into our rooms a little early this year so I feel way ahead in that area! I've even fit in making some new products for my TPT store! I'd love for you to check out what I have so far and if you like, leave me some positive feedback!  I have a little activity that my kiddos always love to do the first week of school to share with you.  It's a "Find Someone Who" that I just added a little I-Pod to! I know my daughter is super attached to hers so I'm making up some things that I think will appeal to today's kiddos!  Enjoy!


Here's hoping I get a lot accomplished at school tomorrow!!  I'm almost done with my labels and now I'm thinking I need some new August calendar numbers =)
Have a good night ya'll!
Sandy


Tuesday, July 10, 2012

I'm so excited!

I was given an award! Me! I can hardly believe it! (I told you I was excited ;))  Teresa over at Fun Games 4 Learning just gave me this little award...
Thank you so much for checking out my blog and following me!
So here are the rules for this award which make it so much fun to win! I just love this way of sharing and discovering new blogs! =)

1. Follow the person who gave you the award (check)
2. Link back to the person that gave you the award (check)
3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers. (here they are...)

The blogs I've chosen are (drum roll please...)
Splish! Splash! Ms. Lander's Second Grade Class
2nd Grade Glance
Being The Queen Bee isn't easy!
Tales of an Elementary Teacher
Ms. A to Z
Common Core Kids
First Grade Bloomabilities
Classroom Snapshots

Wow, that was a lot harder than I ever thought it would be!  I did discover some awesome new blogs though!
Well, I have to get to work on my Reading class. :(  What time off? 

Have fun blog hoppin'!
Sandy

Friday, July 6, 2012

I hope its not too late to Follow the Yellow Brick Road...

Gosh, I've been wanting to do this for quite some time! I've FINALLY finished my Back to School Match unit and I want to share it with you!  This is my first attempt at making a unit of any size so please let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions for improvement.  I chose a few skills that I want to quickly assess prior knowledge of and made simple activities that my kiddos (and yours) can work on in small groups.  Sometimes, I have the groups fill out the recording sheet together to save paper.  Check it out in my new TPT store...
As you can see, I'm still learning all the nitty gritty details of this blogging thing, such as linking up my store ;)  Can anyone explain how I do this?  Anyhoo,the link is there so you can get to it!  If you like it and download it, I would love some feedback and a rating! Then you should go check out all the other cool free stuff at this awesome linky party!

Check it out here



Follow for Freebies

I hope ya'll have a great weekend!
Sandy =)

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Jello cake(huh?) and more sight words...

Oh boy, does Macy's do an extravagant awesome fireworks display or what?  We had thunderstorms with full on lightening in our town,so we ended up watching the fireworks on the t.v. while eating Jello cake!  Not my daughters idea of a fun 4th!  She did have fun however, when she helped me make the cake.  What is Jello cake you ask?  I'm gonna go ahead and share about this summer tradition in our family just in case you don't know what it is!  So simple, but so fresh and you can change it to taste by using different flavors of Jello.  You're probably thinking "who hasn't heard of Jello cake?",  but I'm sharing this because I had never had it until I met my hubby about 12 yrs ago.  Since then, I make it every summer.  So, all you need are these items...
I couldn't decide if I wanted red or blue so I got both but ended up using the blue. =)
First, you bake the cake and let it cool for and hour or so.
When the cake is cool, you want to poke holes in it with a toothpick. I poke them about an inch apart.
Next, you mix a small box of whatever flavor Jello you have chosen and pour it over the cake. Make sure you cover the whole surface of the cake.  Now, you want to put it in the fridge for a couple of hours so that the Jello can set.
So, once the Jello has set, you simply cover the cake with Cool Whip.  Most of the time, I leave the cake just like this...
However, I've totally been inspired by Pinterest and the blogging world so I decided to fancy it up this year.  I rinsed and cut the blueberries and strawberries...
and laid them over the cake in the shape of the flag!  I thought it came out nice,I got lots of compliments, and it was super yummy! =)
My whole family loves this cake and it sure doesn't last long,so if you need something simple to turn into a summer tradition...there ya go =)

 And speaking of traditions,I'm pretty sure that tracking mastery of sight word lists is a tradition in most K and 1st grade classes.  In my experience, it isn't done as regularly in 2nd grade.  I believe it should be and maybe in some places/schools it is.  Maybe my idea isn't nearly as creative as I think it is (lol).  My idea was a unit to go along with the monthly homework sheets I made up and plan to use this coming year.  So, I wanted to share a preview of the unit with you and hopefully get your feedback.  I am adding more as I go and hope to be finished by tomorrow.  I am going to print it all out and share my ideas for use this weekend.  So far I have this (and a little more ;))
I'm really happy with it and can't wait to put it to use this year.  I hope to see a big improvement in my kiddos reading with the added emphasis on sight words.  I think that the visual tracking of these sight words will motivate them to try harder.  You know they won't want their soccer ball to be the only one that didn't "Make the Goal"!  I also like that it will appeal to the boys,it seems that they are the ones who most often don't want to read!
So, tell me what you think,would you use a monthly unit such as this?  I'm fairly new to all this so I could use all the tips you have to share!  Thanks so much!

Its almost the weekend ya'll =)
Sandy

Monday, July 2, 2012

Currently, an update (with a freebie) and other randomness...

Wow, there are a lot of awesome teacher blogs!  I decided to link up with Farley's July Currently and couldn't believe how many already had!  I love her new "rules", especially the one about looking at and commenting on 3 other blogs! Everyone deserves some love...she is so right!  So without further ado, let me add my little name to the linky list and then you go add yours! =)  

 
and here are my thoughts...



Update to my sight word sheets...I am almost done with my monthly sheets.  After I posted the initial sheet I realized I really needed to increase my expectations in this area.  When I learned what other 2nd graders are doing in this area, I decided to increase the monthly words to 20.  I used the Dolch list and concentrated on grades 1 through 3.  I still like the way students will work at home with parents and how you can test right on the sheet.  I have a pocket page for each student in my data binder that I plan to keep these in.  I'm also going to add a monthly sight word mini wall so students can use these words during the day.  Anyhoo....here are the first 2 sheets for you, I'll add them as I go so keep checking back =)


September Sight Words





Now on to the random part of this post...

As I pointed out before,I LOVE LOVE LOVE SkippyJon Jones!  I don't know why, but he makes me happy.  I also loved the idea of getting the kiddos engaged in writing by having a class mascot.  Taking SkippyJon home and getting to read to him,play with him,or even take him to the beach will give students something authentic to write about.  I believe it will also build community as they get to compare what each did with SkippyJon.  And to make it even better, Kohls has an ABSOLUTELY unbeatable deal right now!  I got 2 of the books and was surprised to find they are even hardcover! for $5 bucks!  I also got a plush SkippyJon who is much larger than I anticipated, and I got the backpack.  Now my kiddos will be set to take home SkippyJon, one of his books and all the materials they will need to document their adventures contained and safe inside the backpack!
I got all this for $20 bucks + tax!
I am going to make up some sheets to go along with SkippyJon and when I do (looking for good graphics) I will be sure to share them.  I'll also share pics as the kids get going on this next year! Do you realize that "next year" is only 4 weeks away? Yikes....I'd better get out the laminator and get going!! =)

Have a great Monday =)
Sandy 

Sunday, July 1, 2012

So proud of myself :)

Well, it took me a couple of hours and quite a few replays of the tutorial but I did it!  I created my own button! I know I'm partial but I think its cute and it matches my current layout!

The cute little redhead is from Melonheadz Illustrating.  I love her stuff,she is so creative! I also watched the tutorials on Youtube by Ladybug's Teacher Files. She makes things really clear and easy to follow. So if you've been wanting to make your own button, I highly recommend her!
Happy Sunday ya'll :)
Sandy