pirates, I AM, book bins + word work freebies

So far so good!  It has certainly been an adjustment getting back to full time teaching.  But it was a smart decision for me!  And once again I am a lucky lady to have the group of grade 2s I do!  They are full of potential and with a bit of encouragement, I can't wait to see how they do this year.

 

I thought I'd share a couple pics, a new bulletin board craftivity (I just added to my TpT store) and a couple freebies to go with my Words Rule! word work program.  So here goes!

 

We started off the year with a pirate themed bulletin board for our Open House.  I will be honest that it was quite the stretch to have them independently work on the I Am poems.  But I hope to work through this and teach them some stamina and patience this year during our writing time!  You can find my "Argh" You Ready To Learn! craftivity pack {here}.

One little guy wrote that he hoped he could work at Wendy's!  I sometimes forget how little these grade 2s are at the beginning of the year!

Next up word work.  I was a bit worried when I went through their BLAM folders the first week.  Reading levels from D to Q.  Yikes!  Though pretty average now a days to have such a range, it is still a bit of a shocker.  Needless to say when I tested them from the List 1 words, the average was about 10-12 / 32 words.  I have my work cut out for me this year!

I was so happy with the last 2 weeks of my word work program.  Not only are they picking up the word patterns, but they are recognizing them in the words around them.  Phew!

I whipped up a couple supplements to my program.  You can find the word searches {here}, my spelling quiz sheet {here} and a wh digraph sound sort {here}.  I only did 2 different sorts this time, so cut in strips before distributing!

 

 



And on to a couple pics.  Read to Self and Read to Someone are a hit!  Not only are they finding great spots to read, they are respectful of their peers, on task and they love it.  Which makes for a very happy teacher!

 

 
Honestly, check out all those sticky notes!  They even had to ask me to put another poster up because they had more visualization stickies to add!  Wa hoo!

Where has the summer gone? and a back to school sale!

I love summer!  But I will admit I also love getting ready for a new school year!  This year I have another move (10th school in 12 years).  Yikes!  But I am teaching grade 2 again so that is a bonus.  Back to full time, so I look forward to adding math resources to my TpT store!

Check out Krista Wallden for great graphics!

I have a few new resources I've worked on this summer to share.  Just in time for the big (28% off) sale at Teachers Pay Teachers!  Here are the descriptions.  Click on the pictures to take you to the products.  All resources included curriculum connections.  I Can statements connect to the Ontario Curriculum + Common Core!

Words Rule!  This is my 2nd + 3rd grade spelling program I created and used in my classroom for the last 2 years.  I have posted a Words Rule! Bundle which includes the program, posters and dictionary.  I have also posted the posters and dictionary separately to supplement your word work program.

September Word Work Booklet  This resource is perfect for independent work or pairs during word work, daily 5 or literacy centers.  I plan to add an October to this product, so it is a perfect time to purchase as you will receive the October update before the price increases :)

Daily Math Activities  I can't wait to use this resource!  I love my word work program and I wanted to create a 15 minute program for transition time after recess.  40 weeks of number of the week and survey of the week are provided.  I intend to copy the page back-to-back to keep it simple.  The best news is that it is editable!  Some activities are intended for independent work or pairs.  I have also included some small group or teacher-led activities.

Letters in the Classroom Set 2  I created this set using Melonheadz Kids.  Again I can't wait to use these letters this year for pen pals.  Perfect for teaching asking and answering questions as well as writing personal narratives.  A variety of page options are included so that you can differentiate for your students.

games in the classroom, mothers day and my ducklings leave home

Last week my ducklings hatched on my birthday.  Check out the cuties when their mommy came back the next day for the rest!  I didn't sleep very well worrying they were left behind.  I should have known better after watching her sit constantly on her nest for the last month.  They made the 5 floor drop and are now at the park.

 

One of my students wrote this sweet birthday note for me in his agenda.  Honestly how cool for a grade 3 kids to say: thanks for just being you.  Melt my heart!

 

 

I updated my choice board for my story writing / reading for fluency topics.  So of course it was time to create a new game!  To make your own you will need Jenga and a variety of characters, settings / times and plots.  I just taped them on front and back. 

 

To introduce, in a circle kids draw a block.  They share with the class and decided which story element it is. 

 

To use at the choice board, students play like jenga with a small group (or self) to pull a character + setting / time + plot then write a story in their writing notebook.  This could also be used as an oral storytelling activity.

With EQAO starting today, last week we practiced the multiple choice writing questions using Sorry!  It was a hit!

I didn't get a chance to post our Mother's Day art.  Take a peek below to see their book covers.  The kids loved it so much they asked if we could do it again for Father's Day.  Of course I said yes :)

Lastly, one of my kids loves the Origami Yoga books.  So I had him teach the class.  It was a great opportunity for this little one to recognize what it means to teach and listen to your peers!  By the end he was saying: "don't come up to me, just raise your hand."

Egg Experiments, Working with Suffixes and an Earth Day freebie

I don't often get a chance to add photos of my class but here are a couple that I just couldn't pass up!  Easter Eggs-ellent Eggs-periments were so much fun.  The look on the kids faces as they watched the volcano eggs erupt were priceless!  The skunk craftivites were super cute.  You can find these activities at my TpT store.  Check it out:

 

I also wanted to share a fantastic art activity that I found at: http://marymaking.blogspot.ca/. 

It is a follow-up to Lois Ehlert's Snowballs. Even though it is (hopefully) Spring, I still wanted to share it.  They were beautiful!

 

 

Last but not least, here are a couple new resources I've been working on.  Words Rule! A Working with Suffixes activities (check it out on my TpT store).

 

 

 

A freebie Earth Day writing for Kinder - gr1s.  Click on the picture below to download.

 

 





Best Experiment Ever!

I am a fan of anything volcano when it comes to experiment.  So when I read: The Easter Bunny's Assistant by Jan Thomas, I knew we were going to have some fun this week!

I just posted the package on my TpT store to recreate these fun experiments at home or at school.  Let's just say my classroom was quite popular this week :)

     

Happy March Break!

A whole week away at the cottage, could it get any better!  I also just posted 4 new resources.  So I thought why not celebrate with a little sale.  Enjoy 20% this week at my TpT store.

Take a peek at what I posted.  Click on the covers to find them at my TpT store.

 

 

Fairy Tale Companion Part 2: Princess Pen Pals

With Term 2 right around the corner, I got a brainwave when I found the book: Dear Cinderella by Marian Moore and Mary Jane Kensington.  Princess Pen Pals!  This resource is for my little girl on an IEP.  She loves princess and fairies (still working on this one).  Check it out at my TpT store.

Curriculum Connections:
R1.7  Analysing Texts (mod – Gr.3)

     I can identify the main character from fairy tales. 
     I can retell 2 events from the fairy tale.

R3.2  Reading Unfamiliar Words (mod – Gr.3)

     I can sort 6 words by ABC order.

     I can sort 5 words by number of syllables. 

     I can sort 5 words by common spelling patterns (short and long vowels).

W1.3  Research (mod – Gr.3)

     I can support my ideas for writing from teacher read-alouds, mentor texts and media texts.

W2.1  Form (mod – Gr.3)

     I can write a friendly letter from the point of view of a fairy tale princess.

W3.2 Spelling Unfamiliar Words (mod – Gr.3)

     I can change 5 base words by adding common endings (dance/dancing).

     I can choose 5 best adjectives - comparative or superlative (fair/fairest).

     I can find 3 common words within a word.

The Polar Express FREEBIE

Here is a little Polar Express booklet that I whipped up for Movie Monday!  The term was coined by one of my students.  Last week it was The Grinch.  This week Polar Express.  They are fantastic movies to explore character, sequencing and are just plain fun.  The quotes are from the movie.  Questions are from the Teacher's Guide for the picture book.  Enjoy!