It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Hello, Friends!

First, it is CoLd here in the South.  I already miss my summer weather.  I believe that South Carolina decided to skip Fall this year.  I really think it went straight from the summer heat to the winter cold.  

Since it's all nice and cold outside, it made me realize that I need to finalize my next packet. My students are all ready for a little break.  After Thanksgiving, break I plan to bring out all of my behavior bag of tricks.  That sneak little elf will be making an appearance in my classroom.  

To help keep their behavior in check and to keep them engaged (you know teaching and reviewing is still going on) I created a Magic in the Classroom packet.  Click below to read more about it.  

 

Last, I am READY to get my eat on.  I love Thanksgiving food! This pregnant gal is beyond excited.  To keep my students engaged this week and next, I created a Turkey Poke game centered around multiplication facts.  My students LOVED it. Here's a couple of pictures of one of my groups in action.  

   

                 

Click HERE to grab this freebie for your students.

I hope you've all had a GREAT day.

Lots of love,

Shark Week Freebie

It's Shark Week, Friends! 

I am so excited to be a part of this fun freebie link up where there are tons of freebies related to sharks.  So exciting!  I LOVE Shark Week and my students do, too. What better way to spark interest than sharks?!?!

Today, a team of bloggers has come together to help your students take a BITE out of learning with this fun shark theme.  So, let's dive on in and get started! 

First, let's talk about student engagement. There are so many fun ways to engage your students as you teach.  I LOVE to bring learning to life.  For example to learn about matter this past year, we put Mentos in Coke, melted crayons, and made root beer floats. I can guarantee that this upcoming group of 3rd graders know all about matter. Below is a picture of one of my students enjoying a root beer float. 

It also helps to pick topics that your students are interested in as well. Hence this fun shark theme! 

My students LOVE to Roll and Graph.  I love to have themed roll and graphs in my classroom for early finisher activities and to reinforce graphing concepts. 

For Shark Week,  I created a Roll and Graph Freebie for y'all. 

All you need is scissors, glue/tape, and a tissue box.  Print out the cards and glue/tape them onto the sides of a tissue box. Then, your students are ready to roll and graph.  As students roll and graph, they will be learning the names of the most popular sharks.  This would be great to tie in with some shark research! 

Click the picture below to download. 

Be sure to go for a swim in the JAWSOME linky party below. Every blog in the Shark Week Blog Hop features a fishy freebie for you and your students- but hurry! Shark Week only lasts until Sunday, August 17th  : )

An InLinkz Link-up

Classroom Library Labels: A Little Freebie for You

Hello, Friends!

I was able to get into my classroom on Wednesday and Thursday.  I've been working and working.  Legs hurt....feet hurt...back hurts. Why do I always forget how much it hurts to go in and begin to decorate a classroom. I worked from 8-4 on Wednesday and 10-4 on Thursday.  I'm glad the school is closed today because my body needs it.

I'm not going in at all next week.  It's the last week of summer before I officially have to go back. So, I'm spending it with my munchkin'.  Hence the reason I worked so hard these last two days. 

I didn't take any before pictures. I immediately went in and started working.  I am more than halfway done.  I worked my butt off these last two days.  The big reveal will be coming the week of August 12th.  :-)

I have a little freebie for you today.  I made some library labels for my classroom.  If you can use them, click either button below and go grab them.  

Lots of love,

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

How I Manage Math Centers

Happy Saturday, Friends!

Today, I wanted to share how I teach math in my classroom. I've read different blogs, attended different workshops, and read more blogs until I was able to put the pieces together on how I wanted to teach math.

This year I finally found a routine that has worked for me. Math Centers are a wonderful way for students to learn and review math concepts while being engaged. However, I felt like I needed more than 50 minutes. I just couldn't get everything done that I wanted to in only 50 minutes. I decided to separate math throughout the day. 

From 9:20 to 9:50, I teach my math mini lesson. This has given me PLENTY of time to introduce and review concepts before breaking off into centers later in the day. My mini lessons look different depending on the day and concept. Here's what we did this week to learn about 2D and 3D shapes.

We studied shapes and their attributes using geoboards. Then, my students wrote down their findings in their little 2D and 3D Shape Booklets. If you are interested in this little booklet click here.  It's a little FREEBIE. 

We did this all while jamming to some geometry music. They LOVED listening to these songs and singing along.

I pick up with my math centers from 12:10 to 1:00. My centers last 15 minutes each and my students travel to 3 centers a day. I have this adorable little PowerPoint to help them rotate.

I have 6 centers up and running every day in my classroom.

I am a center. Students work with me every other day. This is the best way to differentiate. This week, we played Guess My Shape which comes from my Geometry packet. I differentiated by having by higher students dig deeper with the questions they had to ask. They absolutely LOVED this. 

Teachers have to have a little fun, too. Right?!?!

My other centers include a computer center, a review center, interactive math journals, and 2 centers to reinforce what I've been teaching in my mini lessons. Sometimes I use centers that I have made and sometimes I use centers that I have found from other lovely bloggers on Teachers Pay Teachers.  This week, they came from my Springing Into Math Centers packet. 

Here's what they looked like this week:

Computer Center: I always use IXL. My students LOVE it and I can go back and see how they are doing. 

Review Center: We were working on money. We spiral this skill all the time. Money is such a hard concept for little learners. 

Math Journals: Two words. Reagan Tunstall. Go look her up now if you don't know her. Love her stuff!

Geometry Themed Centers: I found a geoboard app. AMAZING! I gave them little cards telling them what shape(s) to make. The other center was a true or are shape sort. They said this was EASY. 

6 centers. Students Learning. Students Engaged. 

Happy Teacher

Thanks for stopping by!

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Snow Days are Productive

Hello, Friends!

I've thoroughly enjoyed my snow days this week.  We started Tuesday with a dismissal at noon. Wednesday and Thursday were snow days.  We have a 2 hour delay in the morning. 

What I like about living in the south is that the snow clears up pretty quickly and we don't have to miss too many days like my friends in the north.  However, what I hate about living in the south is that we don't have the equipment to handle snowstorms. When it snows here it quickly turns to ice which makes for awful driving conditions.  I'm sure that y'all heard on the news about all of the accidents.  It took my husband 3 hours (usually a 40 minute commute) to get home.  He actually got stuck.  His truck just wasn't doing its job.  My brother had to come and get him.  

What I enjoyed most about our snow days was that this was Brayden's first snow.  He LOVED it.  We had so much fun.   

These pictures were taken 3 hours later.  We got a good 2 inches of snow. 

Today, there was no snow to play in.  It's all melted an turned to slush.  We've just been silly all day. 

I have been a little productive despite being lazy.  ;-) I finished my Puzzlin' Prefixes and Suffixes. It's a freebie. Click either picture to download yourself this freebie. 




Last, I finished another product that I've been working on.  My students will fLiP when I show them this packet.  My teammates and I are going to figure out some lyrics to "What Does the Clock Say".  I'll share when they are all written.  Click the picture below to check this packet out. My students will be using a QR code scanner and finding the correct clock.  

I hope everyone has had a great week whether your had snow days or were at school all week. Friday is right around the corner. 

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Five for Friday

It's Friday, friends!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs today. 

When I say I've been LAZY, I mean I've been LAZY.  I've enjoyed every minute of it.  Today is my last day of Christmas break.  I am going to be TiReD come Monday morning.  We've been sleeping in until 9:00 every day for two weeks.  Yep, I think I will need some coffee Monday morning.

I'm ready to see my precious students again even though I'm going to miss my munchkin' like crazy.  I've been thinking how I can be a better teacher and how I can engage my students more than I already am.  These thoughts are keeping me up at night.  I've been blog stalking and going through Pinterest.  Hoping for a great rest of the school year.

So, ready to see how lazy I've been this week?!?  Here's my Friday Five. :-)

Number 1: 

We have been potty training all week.  Honestly, I figured it would be much easier than it has been.  He's doing well.  My only concern is that I have to send him to daycare on Monday without being "fully potty trained".  I'm hoping and praying that he does okay and has an occasional accident here and there.  We've got the hang of it at home. He only had 1 accident yesterday.  I keep reminding myself that it takes time.  

Number 2:

I feel like I am on "pee watch" 24/7 now.  This week I've had to keep a close eye on him and look for signs that he needs to go to the bathroom.  So, we've been playing and reading all week long.  The teacher in my smiles when he picks up a book willingly and reads it.  :-)

Number 3: 

I've spent time with my parents these last two weeks.  I don't get to see them as often during the school year.  So, I take every chance I get to see them while I am on break.  Brayden has enjoyed playing with his cousin and spending time with his grandma and grandpa.  The picture above you will see my daddy holding both of his "boys".

Number 4:

I finished up a packet that I can't wait to use when we return next week.  After I put Brayden to sleep and my husband turned on football, I got right to work.  It's amazing how much I can accomplish when I have "time".  I love that I can watch football and work on fun stuff for my classroom at the same time.  

Speaking of football, Clemson plays tonight.  GO TIGERS!

Number 5:

I am participating in a Facebook Freebie Hop hosted by Tori from Tori's Teaching Tips.  (Click on the picture to see her Facebook page to know where to start "hoppin') There will be SO many freebies for you this weekend.  You don't want to miss out! Make sure you hop on by my Facebook page to grab my freebie. It's already uploaded and ready to be downloaded. ;-)

I hope that you have a TERRIFIC Friday.  

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Thanksgiving Freebie

Friends,

It's been quite a week in my little ol' room.  My little ones took the ITBS test for three days this week and it just drains us.  I like to stick to a schedule, and felt off all week.  Two more days and then we can get back to our regular routine.  

First, I want to share that my niece arrived yesterday.  She is just perfect.  She was a week early and weighed a whopping 5 pounds 12 ounces.  TINY, TINY, TINY!  It's hard to believe that my little one was once little.  She seems huge compared to Brayden's weight of 6 pounds 11 ounces.  LOVE her to pieces already and can't wait to love her on some more.  

Here she is, friends.  Lindsay Hunter-Grace Mejia

I have some serious baby fever right now.  Hopefully, holding her will fix it.  We aren't quite ready for another one yet.  

I am so thankful to all of you.  November is the month where everyone shows how appreciate they are.  I don't just appreciate all of y'all in November.  I appreciate y'all all the time.  I've enjoyed meeting and making new friends.  I just love y'all to pieces.

I made a Thanksgiving Making Words Freebie for you.  Click below if you can use it in your room.  My little ones absolutely love making words out of bigger words.  So much fun! 

Getting ready to head back out and love on my new niece.  There's so football today, so she has all of my attention. :-)

Lots of love,

Jeannie

Back to School Custom Categories Plus a Freebie

Hello, Friends!

I've been up to a lot these last couple of weeks. I've been busy creating some back to school products that I cannot wait to use with my new group of kiddos. A new group of kiddos that I will meet in a month and a half. Holy cow...my summer is just about over!

First, I created some custom categories on Teachers Pay Teachers. All of my back to school packets are under this category. Easy, peasy for you to quickly find. 

Since I've made so many back to school packets, I thought I would make one free for all of my fabulous fiends.  This is a game centered around the first 100 Fry words. It will be a great assessment for my kiddos at the beginning of the year to see how many word they know. Click the picture to download this packet.

Other news...

I received lots of packages this week. My husband was shocked at the amount of school supplies I bought. I told him that I needed all of it. He can't say anything because he has spent a lot of money on golf related stuff. Only fair, right?!?! The sad thing is that I need more.  I think I have a slight addiction...

Lastly, I downloaded The Daily 5 yesterday on my iPad to read. I'm gonna make the switch from centers to The Daily 5. I'm only about a third of the way through with it, but it's fantastic. I've learned so much from the sisters. Any advice?

I hope everyone had a wonderful day. 

Lots of love,

Measurement Mania and a FREEBIE

Hello, friends!

We have dived head first into our last unit in math.  Yes, friends.  I said our LAST unit in math.  Summer is right around the corner.  My kiddos have been learning all about inches and feet for the last few days.  

We made our own homemade rulers so they can actually see what an inch looks like and how many it takes to reach a foot. Who would have thought that making rulers could be so much fun. Why I didn't take picture while we were making the rulers last week baffles me, but here are our finished products.

#MeasurementHunt

#FunFunFun

And...I whipped up a super cute measurement center that we will be using on Thursday and Friday.  Click the picture below to grab your copy. I hope your students can use it.  

Lots of love,