Gearing up for serious writing!

We are ready to bring it in writer's workshop in room 103. My students have been collecting seed stories for weeks, learning about strong leads and story mountains. The most challenging skill for my students and most writers, besides writing, is revision!

"How can I see my story again Mrs. A!? I already wrote it!"

This is where our craft lessons come to fruition! I just posted lesson 1 in my Writer's Craft series! If you get a chance, check it out! In the mean time here is a little freebie to go along with lesson 1! ENJOY!

Click here to download! 

Five for Saturday?

Ok, so I am a bit late on this week...but better late than never! So here it goes!

Enjoyed watching the eldest play and get a Varsity goal under the lights then I prepped for open house, which was... Monday! Monday? Geeze, nothing like making more weekend work for a teacher!

I was inspired by Mrs. Lemon's place value centers and LOVED her place value pockets so much, designed a template you can print, fold and staple on card stock. Check them out here! They are the perfect size for "mini playing cards" found here for 5.99 a dozen at Party City or 4.00 a dozen at Oriental Trading. I tried the dollar store with no luck.

You can use those little cards with the Hat Trick Game too! My 2nd grade team said their kiddos LOVED it!  Here are the directions and link!

Tis the season here in upstate NY...for tart cider, powdery warm doughnuts, falling leaves, pumpkin soft serve and expanding waist lines. Oh so good, except for the waistline thing. La sigh...

Remind 101 app. LOVE it teacher friends! Send a quick text to your parents whenever you need! Support service is AWESOME, link it to your classroom site for parents to see your message banner and it is all free! Super convenient, and did I mention free? Totally anonymous numbers and parents sign up or remove themselves as they see fit. Check it out here! 

Well that's my 5, time to take 5! See you soon and have a great week everyone!

LINKY day!

Love linky days! There are so many fantastic education blogs out there! Great teachers with great ideas! I LOVE BEING A TEACHER and belonging to this fraternity of friends! So if you haven't blog hopped around a linky... now is the time! Check out what is going on in classrooms around this great big world and enjoy!

1. Words their way groups will be up and in full swing MONDAY! Yay! Still working on yours? Save time with FREEBIE assessment sheets here! 

2. The eldest had her first goal and assist of the season! Woot! Woot! All that hard work and conditioning has paid off! Love this little lady's hutspa! She's a great little snuggler too, but don't tell her I told you! 

3. Checked this amazing adventure off the bucket list...yep, The Eagles live, in concert! No words needed. 

4. Interactive math journals are a HIT! I am so pleased with the record of learning these little gems provide! A great resource for my kiddos to continually look back on when needed, parents love seeing a record of their child's learning and growth, awesome authentic assessment. Can you tell I am sold? 

5. Ready for reinforcing our learning with a "Hat trick!" Great little centers that can be used independently and in small groups. Materials? A deck of cards, a download, and a classroom of kiddos! 

Have a great weekend everyone! See you next linky! 

Vowel Sound Hound Freebie!

Life has been a whirlwind of second grade and soccer and professoring! Yes, I did just make up my own word! But I promised some freebies and I PROMISE I will be getting back into the blog of things...just gotta catch my breath! In the mean time, ENJOY this little freebie and have a great week!

Resting before the year begins!

Hi everyone! I am still around and well! My little family and I are getting our magic on in sunny Florida before the new year begins! I will be back next week to share some new freebies and new items! Sending sunny magic and dreams come true your way!

Freebie Friday

Don't forget to get your "Figure Me Out" freebie for freebie Friday!  Stop by my store  while it lasts!

Spelling snap shots freebie and TpT SALE!

 It is sale day! Get 20% off every product in my TpT store! While you are at it, you can download this little assessment sheet freebie! Happy Wednesday!

Are you ready for back to school?

Okay everyone! Drum roll...the room is DONE! Just a few finishing touches on Monday, just in time for Blog Hoppin's Teacher week! Here is a preview of my Friday Freebie, just in time for back to school fun! Six pages of fun and functional getting to know you! Can't wait for Freebie Friday? Stop by my store it's available now!  In the mean time grab a back to school button and join the fun!

Stop back Friday to get this product for free! 

Blog Hoppin!

Meet The Teacher Blogger! Linky Party!

Blogging is a TOTALLY new world for me, but since I am a firm believer in go big or go home, I am diving in head first with a {linky} party! Stephanie at Falling Into First is having a Meet the Teacher Blogger Linky Party. So, here we go! 

I was born in the early 70’s, which means when you fill in your birthday for online forms you have to scroll WAAAAYYYY down.  I love 70’s music and have been amused to see clothes my mother sewed for me, bell-bottomed jumpers being one of them, have made a comeback. 

I have two beautiful daughters, Zoe 14  

and Vasilia almost 2.

I married a wonderful, handsome man and father!

I have been teaching in New York for 17 years, 1 year in North Carolina, I have taught every grade level ek-6 and was a literacy specialist for 6 years. I have coached several sports, I am a professor at our local community college, and I currently teach 2nd grade!

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, basking in the glow of a lit Christmas tree, the first snow day of the school year, my girl’s laughter, any beach, and traveling abroad!

Q: IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

I’d be a travel journalist or traveling food network chef….besides being a teacher, who has a better job than THAT!

Q: THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

honest, little, compassionate

Q: FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!"

"Not another snow day!"

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?

My little family…I am a simple woman and easily pleased...it's the little things in life.

Q: IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?

Though she be small, she was fierce

Q: YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?

This one is tricky…so many powers seem to offer a blessing with a curse. Freezing time at will. To stop and enjoy a moment or stop so I can get some things done without missing a thing with my family.

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

"Those who do the work, learn the work!"

"Your actions are your only possessions." 

"Don't fall over before you've been pushed!"

Q: IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

First, I would need to have MAJOR vocal training, at which point I would want to sing 

Anything by Diana Ross, Olivia Newton John or Heart

Q: ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?

Morning! Cue Here Comes The Sun!

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?

I am so new to blogging and TpT that I can’t really say! I am working on some that I am very excited about and I have a couple little things out, but as you know the good stuff takes time to get just right! Plus I am hoping to get some feedback to help guide me along this new journey! Let me know! 

  

CLICK HERE

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!

I only eat folded potato chips…so I don’t devour the entire bag. That’s just one of my many little quirks…but that is what
makes us all unique, so I embrace it! 

Im so glad you stopped by and thanks be to Falling Into First, for hosting this little linky!  Be sure to visit other linkies and share the love!

Share the love here! 

The glue sticks!

The journals have bookmarks and the glue sticks! For now anyway. I decided to just put together one class set with the bookmarks to see how they hold up in the hands of 2nd graders! THAT will be the true test! They turned out great! Gotta love a clean notebook. Yes, the materials were on my Walmart, turn in your receipt and get 10% back list. 

I also cut out my "All about making numbers" mini book for my class to see a finished sample and it is SO cute! I LOVE it! I am going to use them as tickets out and staple them together when we are all done. Then have them placed into their Math Explorations journal. 

I am also looking forward to starting Mrs. Tunstall's iPad units! They are so well thought and thorough! I have some ideas to add to her unit, but they are AWESOME on their own too! Check her out! 

I am taking the wee one into school tomorrow to get my recording studio set up and put up some finishing touches! Woot! Woot!  

If you haven't had a chance to check out my TpT store lately, make sure you stop by to see what's new!