Reviewing Is So Much Fun!

Hello, friends! It's hump day! :-)

My smarties are having so much fun reviewing! They've loved using my task cards to review. I think they love laying in the floor and working with their friends the most! ;-)

My Duck Dynasty themed Fry game was a hit. They got into groups to play. I asked one of my kiddos if he recognized the ducks. He looked at me like I was crazy. Then, I said those ducks have beards. He shouted, Duck Dynasty with the biggest smile on his face. I'm going to miss these kiddos so much next year!

Check out our pictures!

This little boy just got the "Hey, Quack! Put them all back!" card. Loved his reaction!

It's so hard to believe that I only have 6 days left with these kiddos.  This year has flew by!  I hope you've had a great week so far. 

Lots of love,

Love Me Some Polka Dots and Chevron and a Quick Peek at My Week

Happy Sunday, friends!

As I was looking around my classroom this week and taking stuff down, I started to think about what I wanted to change about my room. School is out in 7 days and I'm thinking about next year already. I must be crazy!!

I have a pirate theme in my room this year. I bought red and black polka dotted fabric for my bulletin boards. I just love polka dots. I've fallen in love with chevron patterns. Who hasn't?

So, while Brayden has been napping this weekend I made me some new word wall words and headers for my classroom next year. Yep, they are polka dot and chevron themed. I can't wait to put them up. I'll definitely be making lots more stuff for my classroom this summer with polka dots and chevron to match my word wall. Super duper excited about my theme. Click the picture below to take a look! :-)

This is my last full week of school. I'm off tomorrow, but next week we have 3 half days. This is it. I've got a lot of fun stuff planned this week.

The game plan:

Writing:
I'm so excited to be using Sara Cooley's, First Grader At Last,  Hollywood themed packet. We will be making our memory books and I'll be having a Hollywood themed party filled with food as awards of Friday. Click the picture to check out her packet. Pictures of our party to come...

Math: 
We will be using my review packet for all the common core standards we have leaned this year. Click the picture to check it out. They sure have learned a lot. We took our math benchmark last week and my lowest score was a 75. I'm so proud of my little smarties!!

Reading:
We have been transitioning from centers to independent reading. They sit in their seat and read. They have a reading notebook where they have certain pages to fill out every day. I miss centers!!

Science:
I'm bringing out the play dough this week. My little monsters will be making habitats and animals and writing about it.

WORD: 
Lots and lots of games are planned this week as we review out word wall words. I'm finally getting to use my Duck Dynasty themed packet. That makes me happy, happy, happy! Click the picture to to check it out. 

Even though school is practically over, summer fever has set in for my students (and me), we are still reviewing and learning. 

Any fun activities planned for the end of the year in your classroom?  I'd love to hear about them.

Lots of love, 

Five For Friday

Happy Friday, friends!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs for her Five for Friday linky!  This week has flown by for me.  The countdown until the end of the year is on.  Today marks 8 days left.  Crazy how fast time flies!

Number 1: I saw this ADORABLE picture on Pinterest.  You have all seen it.  The one where your kiddos are holding up a sign telling your what they want to be when they grow up.  I've searched for the original link, but cannot find who started this cute idea.  So, if you know please let me know so I can give them credit.  Here are my kiddos.  The black line across the picture crosses out their names. I'm planning on giving this to them on the last day of school. 

Number 2: We have volunteers from the Junior Achievement program come and volunteer in our classrooms.  In 2nd grade, they review communities and government.  Below are a couple of pictures of my little monsters trying to create doughnuts using an "assembly line".  They LOVE this activity. 

Number 3: Yesterday I shared my summer reading promise that my kiddos made.  Here are some more examples of their finished crafts. I finished making a summer reading packet.  Click here is you are interested in learning more.  

Number 4: I've been beginning to take down stuff off of my walls.  It looks so weird   This is the first year that we've been able to keep stuff on our walls over the summer, but I want to change my room. So, everything is coming down!

Number 5: I'm off on Monday.  I'm so ready to spend some time with my munchkin'.  :-)

I hope everyone has had a great week!

Lots of love,

Summer Reading

Hello, friends!

Yesterday marked 10 days left of school.  It's hard to believe that it's over.  I'm ready for summer, but as the year begins to close I really am going to miss these kiddos.  They've learned and grown so much.

Our school is very lucky to work with a company who provided every children with 15 books to take home for summer.  They got to pick out "just right" books.  They get to take these books home after their awards day  (which isn't until next week).  They can't wait.  

I have really pushed summer reading my my little monsters.  I told them that if everyone is 2nd grade turns in their reading log that I will let some of them put a pie in my face.  I've never had anything thrown in my face, but if it gets them to read over the summer then I'm all for it.  Here's to hoping that I get a face full of pie...

I'm still working on a summer reading packet, but I wanted to share part that we did today. Here's what we did today. Today we made a pledge.  I called it a "promise". We have been reading 15 minutes every night for homework all year, so they thought 15 minutes every night during the summer sounded fair.  They put their promise on the bucket and colored it.  Then, they cut out their shovel and pail.

Here are some of the finished products. :-)

Here is what they look like right now hanging out in the hallway.  I'm not done, this is just the beginning. 

Does your school do anything to promote summer reading?  I'd love to hear about it.  I hope everyone has had a fantastic week.  Friday is right around the corner!!

Lots of love,

Field Day Fun

Happy Monday, friends!

I told y'all that I'd be back to share some of the fun and excitement from our annual Field Day.  I have a love and hate relationship with Field Day.  It's so much fun to see my students having fun and working together.  I also get out of lesson planning for a couple of hours.  Shhh....you didn't hear me say that.  Other than it being hot and lots and lots of walking, it really do enjoy it. Check out our pictures.

Potato Sack Race...Super Cute Jumpers

Roll a Tire Around the Cones...they thought this was so much fun!

Ball Hug...lots of laughs from my smarties here. 

This was probably my most favorite activity to watch them do.  They had to run and grab pizza boxes.  The catch was that each person on their team had to grab one while keeping all the other ones.  

See....it's a little harder than it sounds.  They LOVED this.  

Big Feet Anyone?  

My kiddos begged me to do Tug of War with them.  We were up against one of my teacher friends, so of course I said yes.  I only have 13 kids, so I thought it was only fair that I help.  My class won every time.  

So, enough about Field Day.  How about a little freebie for my favorite friends?

Yesterday, I posted about my love for Duck Dynasty.  I created a super cute and fun packet that you can see here using the Fry Words.  I just love these little ducks so much that I created another packet with them.  Click the picture below to download it.  It's a FREEBIE.  I hope your students enjoy!  I didn't get to take any pictures today since I am finishing up reading bench marking   Anyone hear a sarcastic yay???? 

I hope everyone had a terrific Monday!

Lots of love,

Duck Dynasty Fry Game

Happy Sunday Friends!

It's was such a busy week for me last week, that I haven't had time to do much of anything.  I'll be back tomorrow to share some of the fun stuff that we did last week.  

I had to write to tell you about my new product that I just posted.  I'm super, duper excited!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the show Duck Dynasty.  I don't know why, but it's easily become one of my favorites.  My students are obsessed with it too.  I had my friend Crystal, AKA The Library Fox, whip me up some ducks with beards.  They came out ADORABLE.  Click here to see her graphics.  

I made a Fry game with them that I cannot wait to show my students tomorrow.  They're gonna flip when they see these ducks.  Click the picture below to go check it out.  

So, do you like Duck Dynasty?  I've grown to love them all, but my favorite is Jase.  Jep is a cutie pie and Uncle Si is HILARIOUS, but Jase is my favorite. They all make me "happy, happy, happy" :-)

I'll choose two random people to win this packet.  Comment below telling me whether you like Duck Dynasty or not.  I'll choose a winner tomorrow night after Brayden is in bed. 

The winners are Jewel, Our Little Princess and Diving into Learning.  Ladies, please check your email.  :-)

Lots of love,

Let's Get Acquainted

Happy Monday, Friends!

I hope everyone has had a great day.  Monday is OVER!  It's been a fun day with my little monsters.  You can tell that summer is just around the corner.  Some of my kids have been acting just crazy lately.  

I'm linking up with Flying into First Grade for her Let's Get Acquainted Linky. 

Let the questions begin! 

1.  What made you decide to become a teacher?
Honestly, I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Teacher was on my list, but it wasn't high up on my list.  In high school, I knew that I wanted to work with kids.  I spent a lot of my time volunteering at a local children's home.  Those kids made me want to be in a profession with children.  I decided that I wanted to become a pediatrician. Then, during my senior year of high school I took Honors Spanish (it may have been an honors class, and I did well in it, but I cannot carry on a conversation). I had to tutor a Spanish speaking child for the year.  I fell in LOVE with teaching.  So, I applied to Clemson for both nursing and Elementary Education.  I decided that I would put it in God's hands.  I received my acceptance letter to Clemson University.  I was accepted into the Education department.  It was the right decision.  I haven't looked back.  I'm glad I'm a teacher.

2.  What has been your most rewarding experience as a teacher?
I have a student who was held back last year.  This has been my 2nd year with him.  It's been rewarding to watch him grow.  What is the most rewarding is the amount of love and compassion we have for one another.  He truly believes that I am the only person who loves and cares about him.  That makes my heart sad and happy at the same time.  It is such a reward that as teachers we are looked up to and make a difference every day.

3.  If you were not a teacher, what would you be?
I'd be a stay at home mommy!  I couldn't imagine doing any other job besides teaching. If I did, I would just be a mom.  It's my most favorite job of all! :-)

Lots of love,

Five for Friday...(Yes, I know It's Actually Saturday)

Happy Saturday, friends!

My weekends have been so busy lately that I haven't been able to link up with Kacey for Five for Friday.  Well, it's Saturday.  I found a little bit of time.  So, I'm linking up to share 5 random things about my week.

Number 1: My baby sister graduated college yesterday.  I'm so proud of her, but I feel so old.  We are 5 years apart, but I still cannot believe that my little sister is all grown up and ready to go out in the wide, wide, world.  

Number 2: Wreck it Ralph is such a great movie!  I downloaded it on my iPad and Brayden wouldn't give the iPad back to me.  Super cute movie!

Number 3: We have had so much fun with measurement this week.  Click here to see my post on what we did in my classroom this week.  This face was just priceless. We were measuring sour worms and ninjas! 

Number 4: I found an adorable packet from Across the Hall in 2nd Grade.  My students loved making this craft for their moms.  I left at 11:30 on Friday to watch my sister graduate, and didn't get to take more pictures of their final products.  They were looking ADORABLE though! I busted out laughing when one of my smarties wrote that his mommy is really good at shopping!  

Click on the picture to download this adorable craft!

Number 5: Don't forget about my giveaway.  It ends Sunday night.  Click the picture below to get your name entered for a $50 Gift Card to a place of your choice.

Lots of love,

Measurement Madness

Hello, friends!

What a week it has been in my classroom.  Our state had the PASS Test this week for 3-8th graders.  Even though my students didn't have to take the test, we were miserable.  The 3rd grade hall is right beside us, so we had to be QUIET.  Quiet for the WHOLE DAY!  Ugh! It's so hard to keep the little ones quiet.  I am wore out and utterly exhausted!

Even though we've had to be quiet, this week we've had lots of fun.  We've been learning about measurement for going on 3 weeks now.  This week, we made a measurement book, laughed at some ninjas, went on a measurement hunt, and even played with our food.  Check out my kiddos learning how fun measurement can be below!

First up, we made our books. 

Then, we learned that ninjas are so cool.

Note: These come in color, but I ran out of colored ink so we had black and white ninjas.  Blah!  They loved it anyway!

The measurement hunt wasn't as fun when you have to be completely quiet.  But, this little boy learned what a "widow" is. :-)

Last, we played with GUMMY WORMS.  We measured, stretched them, broke them in half, measured again, and then gobbled them all up!

I just LOVE this face.  He didn't know they were sour gummy worms. :-)

I used two different packets this week for math. One is my Measurement Ninjas packet. The other is a super cute packet from Mrs. Prince &Co.  Click the pictures of both packets to check them out.  

It's almost Friday.  One more day of PASS Testing.  I'm doing a happy dance right now!

Lots of love,