2 Stars and a Wish for Back to School Time

Hello, Friends!

Today, I am linking up with Mandy from Mandy's Tips for Teachers to bring you 2 helpful hints to get your school year off to a great and smooth start.

Read below to learn 2 ideas that work great for that first week back to school and one wish that I have for the upcoming school year. 

First,I love using consensograms in my classroom.  I didn't take any pictures of my gallery walk last year.  So, thank you to Ginger from Ginger Snaps for having some great examples on her blog pictured below.  That first few days back is scary and awkard for both teacher and students.  By giving them a chance to get up and move the students begin to feel a little more relaxed.  As a teacher, you get some authentic data to learn about your kiddos.  It's so important to make good connections that first week back.  

So, decide on some questions to ask.  Write them on chart paper.  Give your students some stickers and have them walk around the room and answer the questions

Second, there's an old saying that food is the way to a man's heart.  I think food is the way to anyone's heart.  Food can be comforting.  What better way to get your students feeling a little less nervous than some food. I loved the idea of "Jitter Juice" and so did my students.   Once again, I didn't take any pictures of my students enjoying their jitter juice so thank you to the fabulous Cara from The First Grade Parade for the picture below.

All you have to do is read the book First Day Jitters. {LOVE this book} Then, make the Jitter Juice and enjoy.  I immediately saw my students "loosen up" and begin talking a little more. Their smiles at the end of the day are always worth it! 

Third, I have a confession to admit.  I am the world's worst person when it comes to organizing. My desk is always clean at the end of the day, but things are stuffed and crammed in cabinets and drawers.  Out of sight, out of mind. Right? Well, my wish is to be more organized this year. I'm getting rid of my teacher desk, so that should help.  I love the little e-card below.  I'm always more concerned with my little smarties and making sure they are engaged and learning.  Then, I clean like there is no tomorrow when I know there's a visitor coming.  

If you enjoyed these ideas make sure to follow me on Facebook or Instagram for some more great ideas.

For more star ideas more than 40 different bloggers, please browse through the link-up

below and choose a topic that interests you. Thanks for visiting!

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Lots of love,
Jeannie

Were You the Winner?

Hello, Friends!

I'm back today to announce the winners of my new Back to School Math Centers packet.

Drumroll.....

I have contacted you four either on Facebook or your post comment.  Make sure I get your emails so that I can send this out to you.

Thank you to everyone for entering.  I hope you all have a great rest of the summer whether you are gearing up to go back now or you have 40ish days left.  Thinking of those of you who have already went back...I hope your year is off to great start already!

If you are interested in purchasing this for your classroom, it's on sale until Friday half off.  Click the picture below to go and check it out.

Have a great day, friends!

Jeannie

Back to School Math Centers and a FREEBIE

Hello, Friends!

I have three weeks until I officially return to work, but I have already been busy thinking, creating, and shopping for my new classroom. I should be able to start decorating my room next week. Fingers crossed.  Since, I'm changing grade levels, I'll need all the time I can get to get prepared. 

Y'all know that I love centers, both reading and math.  So, I created my first ever product to use in my 3rd grade classroom.  I will be using this during those first few weeks of school to see just how much they remember about 2nd grade math.  

Centers included are:

So, how about a giveaway?!?! Comment below and tell me how many days you have left of summer for a chance to win.  I'll choose 2 winners sometime after Brayden takes his nap tomorrow, 12ish EST. Good luck!

Winners have been choosen.  Thanks to everyone for entering! :-)

Oh, here's a freebie from the packet. :-) Click below to download Sticky Regrouping.

Lots of love,

Jeannie

It's All About the Civil War...Loved that Lesson Linky

Hello, Friends!

I'm settling in more to the idea of teaching 3rd grade next year.  I actually have my long range plans ready to go.  Yay for being a little productive over the summer!! So, I thought I would link up with Meg from Fourth Grade Studio for her Loved that Lesson Linky.  This month, her linky is about lessons that you cannot wait to teach.  This is right up my ally since I'm already preparing for the upcoming school year.

The one thing that I am most looking forward to teaching my new smarties will be South Carolina history. The one thing that I disliked about 2nd grade was our social studies curriculum.  It's rather boring just learning about our community all year. We do branch out to the regions of the US which I ADORED teaching. I always made learning about our community interesting, but I cannot wait to dive in to some actual history. That's the one and only thing I missed about teaching 5th graders.  Love me some history! 

So, after looking through my new social studies standards.  I want to talk about the Civil War. I will be teaching South Carolina's role in the Civil War.  Fun, fun, fun!

I found the books below on Scholastic.  I plan to be studying historical fiction in reading during our Civil War unit and this book will fit right on it.  As a little girl, I loved reading books like this. {Actually, I still do!}. Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres.  I read this book when I student taught in 3rd grade years ago and my students loved it.  It is a great way to show my students what slaves went through during this time period through a fictional character. Of course, we will have to write journal entries as well. 

Another book that will help my smarties understand the hardships during the Civil War is Pink and Say.  Patricia Polacco is one of my favorite authors.  Her books are amazing and full of vivid details.  Love her!  Pink and Say is about two teen boys who have a brief friendship during the Civil War. Such a strong message throughout this book. 

Lastly, one of the field trips that we will be going on will be to a plantation.  Students will get to look at life in the 19th century.  They will get to till the soil and even pick some cotton.  This is one field trip that I cannot wait to go on. 

Look for some pictures in January as I begin to teach the Civil War! :-) Anyone have any other fun ideas for teaching the Civil War.  I'm all ears! 

Lots of love,

Jeannie

We Are Back From the Beach and July Currently

Hello, Friends!

We came back from the beach yesterday afternoon.  Why do I always feel like I need a vacation from my vacation.  Boy are we tired.  Brayden woke up around 8:30 and at 9:30 he told me he wanted to go night night.  Hoping we feel like ourselves by Friday!  At least, we get to relax and sleep in.  My poor husband had to get up and go back to work this morning.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our beach trip!

We had a BLAST.  Brayden LOVED the water this time.  Can't wait to go  back in September.

Now on to Currently. It has been FOREVER since I linked up with Farley.  And...how is it July already?!?!

Listening:

I'm listening to the news right now.  Exciting, right?  Well, Rachel Ray just went off and I need to catch up on the local news since I've been gone for a week.  

Loving:

I am absolutely loving summer.  I love the summer heat (to an extent).  I love sleeping in (ish).  I love getting to do whatever I want whenever I want.  Summer is the best!

Thinking:

While we were at the beach, Brayden accidentally dropped my iPhone in the toilet.  First, EWWWWW! Second, it is currently sitting in some rice.  We had to wait until we got home to do that.  Luckily, we were leaving that next morning anyway.  Praying that all of the water will be absorbed and I won't have to buy a new phone.  Those things are too expensive! 

Wanting:

Summer needs to slow on down.  It's July already.  While I do love July, it's my birthday month, it means one more month closer to school starting.  I have so much anxiety about teaching 3rd grade.  I have so much I need to do to prepare for a new grade level.  So, summer please so on down.  I'm not mentally ready to go back yet!

Needing:

I would love to have a nice tan! How does one go to the beach and come back just as white as she was? When you have a two year old, that's quite easy.  He gets bored so easily.  We were only out around 30 minutes at a time, if that.  He was ready to go back in. No time to lay out with a good book and work on my tan.  I get to chase a little one around.  But, that's okay.  I love being a mom! 

4th Plans:

My father-in-law bought a smoker and is planning on smoking some BBQ for the 4th.  Can you say YUMMY?!?!  The rest of us are in charge of bringing sides.  We still haven't decided what we are bringing.  Oh, I cannot wait.  I'm hoping my munchkin' can stay awake for the fireworks. We shall see...

Have a great day!

Lots of love,

Jeannie