Monday Made It...

My Monday Made It, Week # 4

I am linking up this Monday with Tara's Monday Made It.

Next Monday we head back to work for Staff meetings and getting ready for the First Day of School on Wednesday, August 20th! I am soooo excited to meet my new 2nd grade kiddos! =)

This Monday I worked on adding my labels to the Save Folders that my kids will put any LA or Math work that needs to be finished. 

I also added labels to their Take Home Folders. They put their homework, school calendar, and any flyers/notes that need to go home in this folder that comes back every day.

My second Made It, were these cute goodie bags to give to each of my students on their First Day. I changed the little poem that I found on tpt by Miss Kindergarten's store for free. Click here for the link for her complete welcome back poem for free. 

Here are some pictures of my "Welcome Back" goodie bags:

Treats to go inside...eraser, bookmark, Smarties, pencil....

My shortened poem...

Welcome Back Goodie Bag...

26 Bags ready for the first day...=)

I added a little, black and white polka dot bow to my "Bucket Filling" Praise bucket, and made a new sign to hang up.

My kids can fill out a Praise Note, place it in the yellow bucket, and then we read them on Friday. Kids keep their Bucket Filling Praise Notes in their little envelope.

This week I have two Professional Development Days that I am attending. The one today was on Core Technologies to use with our 1:1 devices. It was AMAZING! I'm looking forward to receiving our Chrome books, and having my 2nd graders try some of the things I have been researching and learning about. 

On Thursday I'm attending a Math training day. I'm such a life long learner! =) I LOVE learning new things and trying them out. 

It's going to be a fun adventure this year. Enjoy the rest of your summer, or have a wonderful First Day if you are beginning soon. 

Leave a Comment Back to School Fun, Monday Made It, Welcome Back Poem and Treat Bag

Monday Made It...

My Monday Made It, Week #2.

Last week I had the opportunity to teach during our blended learning summer academy. It was the best week ever! I learned so many things to use in my classroom with my 2nd graders once we have our 1:1 devices. =)

"Kidblog" was a fun way to turn paper/pencil comprehension questions about a specific text that was read, into a living document where students can interact and comment back and forth with their peers. 

I also plan on using "Google Docs" as a resource for students to journal write to me, for creating writing projects, and much much more! 

During this week, we also used Edmodo for a lot of activities. Edmodo is a great resource for students to access in a blended learning environment. We posted videos, assigned questions for students to answer, created a quiz, and even had the whole class take a poll on their favorite "Rural" animal. It was amazing to see these kiddos and their enthusiasm to watch the video, pause it, take notes, and even rewind to go back to hear something again. =)

There were programs like ST Math and Imagine Learning that were excellent for them to access during the week too. The week went by so quickly, and I am thrilled that I had the chance to participate in this experience. I am excited to try out certain apps and programs with our 1:1 devices!

Technology Rules!!! =)

Anyway, on to my "Monday Made It" for today, since last Monday I was so busy with our summer academy.

I am linking up with Tara again...

I was finally able to get into my classroom, and really start unpacking things, organizing, and cleaning...but all I really wanted to do was to decorate it! =)

Here is the first thing I put together.

A cute little anchor chart that I found on tpt, made by Natalie's Nook.

I also found these baskets from Big Lots for $1.30 for 2.

I added little chalkboard tags with their student number. They will make great "Reading Book Baskets" to keep books, mini flash lights, and bookmarks inside. 

I LOVE how they make their cubbies colorful! 

From blah...

...to colorful! =)

And finally I worked on taping up the laminated pieces of card stock paper, that I hang a large paperclip on to display student work. Lots of taping! =)

Before...

After...

I printed and laminated the student numbers from Tara's Homework Club, but I used them for my cupboard doors instead! Thanks Tara! =) I am going to use some magnets that are smaller to make the Homework Club display that Tara made.  

Wow, that was a really long post, but I wanted to share a little of my wonderful experience in our blended learning summer academy. I am very excited to get our devices, and to begin this learning process with my 2nd grade kiddos. =)

2 comments Back to School Fun, Monday Made It, Reading Room Book Baskets

Love my 4th graders! "Surf Buddies" Art.

I am so thrilled with the 4th graders I have in my class!  They are all so smart, funny, and sweet.  It has been a busy start to the year...had some class changes, but now things are settling down.  I have 34 students in my class, and they are really becoming close friends. 

I haven't posted for so long, and I need to get back to it.  =)  We have done some fun projects: Personalized our Pencil Boxes, made posters to go with our Read Aloud by Stephen Krensky called "My Teacher's Secret Life," created our "Surf Buddies," Puzzle Races, etc...  

The Puzzle Races we did the first week of school.  I can't remember whose blog I saw the idea on, but it was a really fun activity that helped my students learn how to be a team player.   (If you know whose blog it was from, please leave me a comment, so I can link it back to them).  

Our "Surf Buddies" are so cute too; thanks to the idea from Corrina at Surfin' Through Second. 

Here are some pictures of my 4th graders Personalized Pencil Boxes, and "Our Way Cool Surf Buddies!"  Enjoy =)

I love how they made them so realistic!

So cute!

My Surf Buddy! =)

Hung them up in the windows...

 Pictures of some of their Personalized Pencil Boxes:

Ocean theme...

How their desks looked for "Back to School Night."

Pretty Flowers...

Space and the Solar System...

Furry Pets...

Cove's pencil box is "Ocean" themed too... =)

Some Angry Birds and Sponge Bob =)

 

I had this student when I taught 2nd grade.  He started the school year with a different 4th grade teacher, but now after all of our class reshuffling, he is in my class!  

Sweet little note from Julian...

Leave a Comment Art, Back to School Fun, Room 12

Personalized Pencil Boxes...

Pencil Boxes to Decorate...

I am so excited for my 4th graders to be able to color and design their own pencil boxes this year!

I found these heavy duty, foldable pencil boxes on Really Good Stuff's website.  I used zipper pouches last year, and they held up okay, but some zippers were breaking.  I don't really like how messy the plastic pencil boxes can get, so I decided to try these.  

I will encourage my students to decorate the sides with pictures that mean something to them and represent themselves in some way.  It will be a great "Welcome Back to School" Art project, and I think they will LOVE being able to take these little boxes home with them at the end of the school year.  

Here are some fun pictures of my decorated box...  =)

My attempt at drawing Skippyjon Jones.

Inside...lots of room for school supplies!  :)

 

4 comments Back to School Fun

50 Followers is a Sweet Thing...Thank You Everyone!

Sweet Little "Rolo" Candy Pencils...

I am so excited that I have 50 followers now!  I am glad that I started this blog this summer.  I have learned so many new things, and it is fun to be able to look back on the things I made or found on other teachers' fabulous blogs. =)

I wanted to share these Sweet little 'Rolo' Candy Pencils I made for my students on "Back to School Night."  I found the idea on Thrifty and Thriving, by Christy.  It was such a cute idea, and so easy.  

Here are the pictures of my Sweet Candy Pencils:

It was so easy...first I cut small pink pieces of paper and taped them around one end of the candy bar.  I also cut circles to tape on top to cover the end of the candy bar.  Then I glued on a hershey kiss.  
 






 

I folded yellow card stock to make the creases and taped that around the candy bar too.  I cut pieces of foil and taped that around to cover where the yellow and pink paper over lapped.  I wrote the #2 on with a sharpie, and tied on my little "Welcome to Back to School Night."  


 

I am going to have my 4th graders write a letter to their parents and leave it on their desk.  Then I will lay one of the candy pencils on top of their letters, to surprise them when they come to "Back to School Night."  

They are going to LOVE them, and they can eat them.  I think they are almost too cute to eat...I said almost...who can resist chocolate and caramel???  =) 

6 comments Back to School Fun, Home, Room 12