Gingerbread Houses

Graham Cracker Fun!!

One of the highlights of second grade is the traditional decorating of the graham cracker houses. All second grade classes met in the gym and were given a house already assembled by one of our outstanding parent volunteers.  Christmas music played while parents and children enjoyed creating their Christmas delights.  As each student finished their house I took their picture to add to their memory book. This is definitely one masterpiece they will want to remember for a long time.

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Rock Hounds

Our class rock hounds turned out so cute! I was impressed with the rocks my students collected. We got the idea from a Mailbox teacher magazine. In it they ask each child to bring the following rocks in a bag to school along with an empty egg carton (for 12 eggs).  In class we colored and glued the rock hounds to the outside of the egg carton then filled the inside with the rocks. Inside the lid is a list of the names of the rocks in each hole. Here is the list of rocks my students were asked to find: a granite rock, a sandstone rock, a rock smaller than your fingernail, a round smooth rock, a rough rock, a rock with stripes, a rock with crystals, a rock that will make a mark on cement, a rock that has an interesting color, a rock with holes, a rock that makes you feel good, an unusual rock.
Happy rock collecting!

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My reading center this year has a ladybug theme. (I wish I would have gotten the words READ straight but oh well...) The kids seem to like sitting in the ladybug chairs and reading, the only problem is I went to all the time and trouble to organize the books by genre but the kids just put them in any basket without checking to see where they should go aargh! I think I should have spent some extra time explaining how the books were organized... rookie mistake.
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Getting Ready!

 

Are any of you starting to get ready for the new year? I've started gathering things and putting a few things together. I decided before the last school year was over that I wanted a new theme to go along with my new grade level.  The patriotic theme was great for fifth grade since we studied American History, now that I'm teaching second grade I'm really liking the black and white polka dot and ladybug theme. I made my own teacher lesson plan book so that I could have my schedule  just like I like it.  I found the ladybug birthday bags at "The Party Store" and filled them with small toys and snacks. I love my new notebook with my name on it, that is where I will keep all my important papers this year.  The pillows in the back are a few of the ones I've sewn for my reading center.  Fell in love with the cute ladybug stuffed animal and will probably use it for a class mascot or let a student have it on their desk, as a reward.  I'm not ready to be back and school yet because I LOVE sleeping in but it is fun to start gethering things at my leisure!! :)

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LOVING SUMMER!!

It always takes me about two weeks to unwind from the school year.  Its like I'm in some kind of trance and can't come out of it.  Now that I've caught up on sleep and can think clearly I'm looking forward to family reunions, reading good books, attending some workshops, and veggie out!



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Hi Everyone,
I've been so busy with end of the year testing and preparing for a grade change next year that I haven't had time to post. I will be teaching second grade next year, which is where I started twenty years ago. My teaching career has come full circle, what a journey it has been.  Luckily I got the opportunity to teach every grade I always wanted to.  When I first began in second grade I had my eye on Kindergarten.  I got to teach Kindergarten for five years and learned so much about how children start out in this world of education.  I then went to third grade (because we moved to a new state) and that was fun because I got to teach cursive writing and multiplication. Then a friend came to see me at my house one day and said they were going to open a new school with their principal that they love and would I want to go with them?  I thought about it and soon decided opening a new school would be a fun experience so I taught fourth grade with her for awhile.  I soon discovered fourth grade has a lot of field trips and I just don't enjoy those like most seem to.  Anyway, there was an opening in fifth grade (which I said I would never teach anything higher than third - ha!) so I decided to give that a try.  I really liked teaching American History and having my students participate in the Give Me Liberty Program.  I decorated my classroom in Patriotic stuff, it was cute.  Now our school is experiencing huge changes and we've pretty much played "Fruit bowl mix up".  I saw the opportunity to move back to second grade where I started out and decided that would be a great way to end my last ten years of teaching. So that's where I'm at right now.  That's what is so great about teaching, there is always room for growth and new things to try.  I love it!



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Hello!

This is my new blog, how do you like it?  The folks at Honey Bee Blog Design are amazing and so willing to help with any ideas you want to implement in your blog.

Thanks for logging on,



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Making DNA

We had so much fun studying DNA today.  The best part of the lesson was making DNA out of licorace and colored marshmellows. I got the idea from Pinterest. Fun times!

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Give Me Liberty

Hi Everyone,

Does your school participate in the Give Me Liberty program? We love it at our school.  Our students work hard to memorize important things like the states and capitals, a line from the Gettysburg address, the Preamble, etc.  At the end of the year we put on a huge patriotic program using songs and recitations from this program.

Right now my students are trying hard to pass off the states and capitals.  I have some huge puzzle pieces of the states for my students to practice with.

Do any of you participate in this program as well?

Joanne

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Belkin Rockstar Headphone Splitter

Absolutely LOVE this  Belkin Rockstar Multi Headphone Splitter!!  Had to order one after reading Ladybug Teacher files blog.  I'm hoping this will help with the bulkiness of my listening center. It drives me crazy to have wires going every which way. It's only $9.95 at Amazon.

Joanne

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Blog by State

 

I love these new buttons that Fifth in the Middle made so that we can meet bloggers from other states. I'm actually anxious to meet bloggers from my state of Utah.

We had conferences this week so school dismissed early every day. I'm ready to start the final trimester of school for this year though I have one of those amazing classes you get once in a blue moon.

Check out Fifth in the Middle's blog to grab your state blogger button.

Joanne

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Super Sale Sunday!

I'm joining the fun on Super Bowl Sunday by hosting a 10% sale on ALL of my products. Use the code "Super" to get this fun discount.

Joanne

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Electricity: Current and Static

Hello Everyone,

Here is my latest item for sale. It is a unit on Electricity. It has activities to do with current electricity as well as static electricity.  There is also an activity for insulators and conductors. Check it out at my store on  Teachers Pay Teachers.



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Health Lessons

I'm excited about the new Health lessons I've been working on!  This is one subject that doesn't have a lot of material available. It's been fun to create new material and try it out in my class before posting it. Check it out in my Teacher's Pay Teacher's store. 



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Love Teacher Work Days!

Don't you love teacher work days?!  In our district today was a teacher work day, students will come back Thursday and Friday. I love that my students will walk into the classroom tomorrow with their desks set with new school supplies ready to start the second half of the school year.  I think it sends a message that we are ready to get back to work. 

The paper on their desk is titled, Welcome Back! Do you remember the rules? I want to get them thinking right away about school, and plan to review classroom and school rules before diving into the curriculum.  (I promise I will ask them about their Christmas before cracking the whip) :)

Have a great short week!

Joanne

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Party's Over!

Well, we knew this day would come right?! Heading back to school tomorrow. I don't mind so much since we don't have students until Thursday and Friday.  I can get a lot done tomorrow and my head back in the game as well.  

One of the activities I have planned for Thursday is to make the guitars from dots-n-spots.com "Rockin' New Year's Resolutions".  It looks like something my fifth graders would LOVE to do with their writing.  Check it out.



               
Have a wonderful week back!

Joanne 

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