Count Down to the End of 1st Giveaway

We are into the last days of my first giveaway! I am so excited to see who wins!

In other news.....My school computer got a little wet and well now it doesn't work. So I have been freaking out considering that computer housed all my TPT and TN items that I created and bought, my clip-art purchased and all my school documents. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting to see if the tech people can pull everything off my hard drive! Wish me LUCK!

Hope everyone has a great Friday and a relaxing weekend! Don't forget my giveaway on here and on TN end on  Sunday!!

Last Week to Enter!

LAST WEEK to ENTER!!!!

This is the last week to enter in my first giveaway! I am so excited to give away some great items from my TPT store! Make sure you enter in as many times as it allows. 

I have been loving all the comments that I have received so far! My blog gives me a place to talk about my success stories and my not so successful stories and have people who understand read them and then comment back. This blog also saves my husband from having to listen to all my teacher stories. 

Keep your eye out for new items that I post to pinterest and TPT. I will try and update on here when I load new items and when I have freebies. 

If you know of a great blog or pinterest board that is all about classroom organization please leave me a comment with the link! I am always looking for new ideas in this area. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!   

Research Report Time

It's report time in the 2nd grade!

 This year is the first year that second grade has to write a research report. When I first heard this my jaw hit the ground! I was thinking how am I going to get these students to write a research paper when I can barely get them to write a complete sentence? I was put to ease when I found out it was a whole group research report. 

  In two weeks we are going to start the process of learning to write a research based paper and then actually writing a report about the Moon as a class. I started to look ahead at the resources provided by the school district and what I found did not fit my needs and the needs of my students. So.... I did what I always do when I am faced with resources that just don't meet my standards. I created my OWN! 

Below are pictures of a couple of the pages that I created to aid in this long process. The entire 11 page packet is available on my TPT and TN stores. 

 This is the cover of the Packet. Click here to get it

This page is to be either filled out for a group paper or an individual. This is for picking a big topic and then narrowing it down to what will be discussed in the paper.

This pages teaches about what a sources is and deciding what makes a good source and why. 

There is a sheet that goes along with all the steps of writing a research report. I hope you all enjoy this item!

Great Way to Start a Week...Giveaways and a Game of Tag

Happy Monday! I am so excited because my Grand Opening Starts today. I have enjoyed meeting all my new followers so far. Everyone has left such nice and helpful comments. I love looking at everyone's blogs and gathering new ideas for m classroom. I only wish I had started this blog soon because the amount of knowledge out there on blogs is amazing.

Many childhood memories of playing tag came back to me when I saw I was TAGGED! I guess I am it today. Here is how it works.

Here Are The rules:

* Post these rules

* Answer the 10 questions that the tagger posted for you.

* Create 10 questions of your own to ask the people that you're about to tag

* Tag 10 people and link them with your post (and let them know they've been tagged!)

1.  What teacher inspired you most & why? I like to model myself after a teacher that I currently work with. She is a great example and also inspires me to do more and be a better teacher. She is caring and always willing to help other out even when she is swamped herself. My inspiration is Mrs. Harper!

2.  What has been the most challenging behavior problem you've had to deal with! I have a student that goes from happy to mad very quickly. This student does not take being wrong easy or getting in trouble well either. This student has problems not shouting out or telling other students what to do. It is a struggle on a daily basis.

3.  If you didn't teach, what would you be doing? This one is hard! I can't really see myself doing anything other than teach. If I had to pick I would have to say a party planner.

4.  What do you do in your summers off? I sleep in everyday! I go to the pool and I work on school items for the new years.

5.  School lunch or bring your own? It depends on when I wake up!

6.  What is one word that describes your teaching style? FUN

7.  Coffe or hot cocoa? Hot Cocoa all the way.

8.  What is the ideal # of students to have in a classroom? I don't know. I guess between 14 and 18. It has to be an even number though.

9.  What's the funniest thing a student has ever said to you or asked you about? I did have to laugh out loud when a student asked if my Mom and Dad let me put polka dots on my wall at home.

10.  If you could choose a celebrity to team teach with for a day, who would it be & why? Gerard Butler because who would not want to stare at him all day? He would not even have to do anything but sit there all day and grade papers! 

 

 Here are the ten people I am tagging:

Katie and Lisen of Second Grade Smartypants

Daphne & Jennifer of Playing with Pixie Dust

Jessica Stanford of Mrs. Stanford's Class 

Heather of Heather's Heart 

Stacy of 2nd Grade Paradise 

Denise: Sunny Days in Second Grade 

Tiffany of The Nest Effect 

Ms. Fiema and Ms. McDole of :Stories from Room 114 

Lynda of Curls and a Smile

Caitlin of Ms. Preppy 

 

1. Why did you become a teacher?

2. If you could have any piece of technology in your classroom what would it be?

3. Favorite Snack:

4. What are your plans for summer?

5. How do you get ready for a new school year?

6. Favorite project you do with your students:

7. Funniest thing a student has said to you or asked:

8. Favorite drink:

9. Best teaching memory:

10. What is your goal for next school year?:  

Giveaway

Don't forget to stop back by starting on April 9th for my grand opening giveaway! I am so excited to give away some great products to some great teachers!

New Writing Center

I saw a wonderful writing center on First Grade Fresh blog. I loved it so much that I have recreated in my classroom. Below are some pictures of my writing center. It is still under construction. I am working on getting another board installed next to the one that is there already. I want to be able to expand this center. I hope you enjoy this post.

This is what my center looks like. I have desks for students to work at, a storage bin to hold paper and dictionaries, a smaller container that has post-its in it for right now, and a place for highlighters and pencils.

Here is a close up of the board. I have a pocket that will hold the must do activity. This will help students stay on task during this center. This was such a great suggestion that I found on First Grade Fresh. The posters that run across the top were given to me by a fellow teacher. I finally found where they came from. Do you have a writer's eye? These are great posters to remind students how to write a sentence.

I created the types of writing labels and soon there will be examples of each type under the titles. These items will be available for free at my TPT store. I found the cute polka dot frames at School Box which is a teaching store near me in Knoxville.

I am very excited for my students to start using this center. I think it will really help them with their writing!

Grand Opening Giveaway

 GRAND OPENING GIVEAWAY.

April 9 to April 21