It's time to take my vitamins...

Every year I catch a cold at the beginning of the school year and every year my Mom reminds me that if I took vitamins I might not catch such a bad cold.  Well i've been sniffling for a day or two now so i guess I better take my vitamins!!! LOL
3 weeks down and I'm not loving my groups yet!!!  Again my mom reminds me that I never love them at first, but this group does seem a bit different.  They are so immature and I have so many behavior issues in both groups that it makes for a really long DAY!!!
I need to remind myself at the end of the year to take pics of my room - put together, because I am finding that i don't have everything unpacked that I need to have.  Somehow I forgot how we did homework last year and felt like an OLD lady asking my teamie what our procedure was   LOL!
1st round of homework came back to day and we only had about 4-5 out of 33 kids who forgot it or it wasn't complete. Next week should be better.  I HOPE!!!  LOL

Individual book baskets

Here are my kids individual book baskets

Since I have 2 groups of kids, I use 2 bookshelves to organize the two groups.

Right now I am super lucky to only have 16 kids per class, but there are extra baskets just waiting in case  :-)

time to blog hop

this looks like a lot of fun!!!  something to look forward to after my 1st day back with the kids tomm. 

Open House 2011

We had our Open House tonite.  I had 14 out of 15 familes show up!!  YAHOO!  I love get to meet so many of the kids ahead of time, makes day 1 go by a bit better.  Here are some pics.  The Smarty Pants were totally inspired by the awesome ladies of Pinterest!!!  I also saw the old typewriter idea online, not sure if it was on Pinterest or not.  I got the typewriter at a Flea Market last spring.  I loved putting my vintage tablecloth out for my Open House info table.  Funny thing is that one of my kids from last year came by to visit and commented on the table cloth, how much he liked it and wished that I had used it last year!!!(just got it this spring also).

Name tag clips giveaway

http://creatingandteaching.blogspot.com/2011/08/adorable-badge-clip-giveaway.html

these are too stinkin cute!!!

Let the fun begin - putting my room back together :-)

After much thought I decided to leave the basic layout of my room the same this year.
I had thought about moving my smartboard, library, teacher table etc., but the more I thought about it I pretty much like everything where it is!!  This year is so much better than last year because I am in the same room.  So i just have to unpack and find stuff that  I stuffed in to cabinets at the end of the year in June!  LOL

The books were all bought this summer at thrift shops/flea markets/garage sales.  I have become a bit more selective on the books that i buy.  I already had a basket for each of these except for Junie B, she will be new this year!! 

Classroom pics from last year :-)

I forgot that I had these on my disc.  Last year I had to move classrooms.  It was the 2nd time in 2 years. I was not a happy camper!

I've been teaching over 20 years so I have a bit of a collection!!!
Next post will be of this year's fun!!!

All about me posters!!!

If you live near a DOLLAR TREE, run don't walk there now!!!
They have All about me posters,  10 in a pack for $1!!!!!!  They look to be about 12x18.

I grabbed enough for my 2 classes, but now wish I had grabbed more cause they will go fast I'm sure!

smells like a great giveaway!!!

http://mysecondgradejournal.blogspot.com/2011/07/lets-celebrate.html
a bath and body works gc giveaway! Love that place!

Win Data folder download

http://primarygraffiti.blogspot.com/2011/07/data-notebook.html
Go here for a chance to win some awesome Data folder downloads!!!

Post its in my class

I use post its with my 2nd graders to use in their Just right reading books.  Each Monday they shop for new books from the class library.  anywhere from 6-10 books depending on their level.  During the week they put the Post its in their books where they need to remember a part to share, a part they had a question about, a part they made a prediction, a part they made a connection, etc.  On Fridays they transfer all the post its to a spiral notebook.  They write the name of the book and the date on the top of the page and then put the post its on the page.  At the end of the school year it was AWESOME for the kids to look back at their notes they had collected over the school year!!!


FUNNY-  near the end of the year we did a parent night and I was showing the parents the postit's and explaining how we used them.  One of the Mom's said now she understood why her daughter was constantly wanting her postits at home!!!

POST IT PARTY

http://mrsrojasteaches.blogspot.com/2011/07/its-post-it-party-and-giveaway.html

check out this blog for a Post it note give away plus tons of great ideas on how to use post its in the classroom!

Cootie catchers!!!!

OMG!!! CTP has made books of cootie catchers and this awesome teacher is giving them away!
http://brittmale.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-very-first-giveaway.html

I seriously need to buy them if I don't win!!!! :-)

OMG giveaway!!!

http://sunnydaysinsecondgrade.blogspot.com/2011/07/400-followers-celebration.html


I would SCREAM if i were to win this giveaway!!!!


:-)

portfolio giveaway!!!

http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/"> border="0" src="http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn113/doodlebugspaper/dbtbutton2.jpg"/>>

Doing the Happy Dance

Because:
a) I finally got a blog background to work, thanks to the great directions at cutest blog on the block.
b) my computer finally stopped saying javascript error everytime I try to post something
c) i should be getting a pinterest invite very soon!!!  I can't wait to start pinning my own stuff.!!!

testing

please work!!!

great teacher tote give away

http://gofourthwithowens.blogspot.com/2011/07/as-promised-100-follower-giveaway.html
Awesome chance to win a 31 tote! I seriously need one of them :)

Go here to get $25!!!!

http://lutton519.blogspot.com/2011/06/heads-up-its-giveaway.html

another great giveaway!!!

School post

This is a school post not crafting.
Found a great easy blog giveaway here
http://lessonplandiva.blogspot.com/2011/06/free-beginning-sounds-giveaway-for.html

so many creative people out there in blogville!!!