Measurement Fun with Christmas Trees

We completed the cutest activity today and the best part is that it incorporated measurement skills. AND it only took about 5 minutes to prepare.  A colleague of mine found it on Teaching Maddeness' blog.  CLICK HERE to view her original post, or keep reading to see what we did. If you've never read her blog and you teach 2nd grade, you've got to check it out.  Love her ideas.  

We created these adorable trees by cutting strips of construction paper into different lengths.  I simply cut the construction paper into strips that were about 1 1/2 inches wide and told my kiddos they needed to measure the strips into different lengths.  They used  a total of 8 strips and the smallest strip was 1 inch long while the longest was 8 inches long.  

I required my kiddos write the actual measurement on each strip so I could check for accuracy (this took a bit of the cuteness away, but helped me to know who knew how to measure and who didn't). 

When they were done measuring, cutting, and assembling the tree, I allowed them decorate it however they pleased.  As an extension, I had them answer the following question: 

If you have some extra time before your Christmas break, I highly suggest completing this activity.  And don't forget to check out Amanda's blog, Teaching Maddeness, too. 

Fun With Snowmen

This past week we had a lot of fun creating snowmen using a glyph and then we pretended that our snowmen ran away (they were cold and ran to the grocery store to buy hot cocoa, but on their way home, they took a wrong turn and got lost). We wrote descriptive 'Missing' flyers about our snowmen and then had our classmates read our flyers to figure out which snowman was ours. 

After we created our snowmen, we used this worksheet to write about and create a 'Missing' flyer.  

And then we pretended we were Snowmen Detectives and read our classmates' flyers and tried to figure out who's snowman was whose. 

If you're looking for a fun but still educational activity to complete this winter, I highly suggest checking out my product My Snowman is Missing. 

Not only does this product include the directions and materials needed to complete the glyph and 'Missing' flyer, but it also has extension activities to incorporate bar graphs, compound words, and using apostrophes.

I also have a similar product creating penguins.  CLICK HERE to be taken to it in my TpT STore.

Veterans Day Activities

Don't forget tomorrow is Veterans Day (Tuesday, Nov. 11). If you're in need of activities, check out my product Spend a Day Teaching About Veterans Day. It includes information that teaches about the holiday and also skill based activities that focus on ELA standards. Continue reading to take a look at all the goodies that are included. CLICK HERE to be taken directly to the product. 

Create a 4 page mini-book about the holiday.

Character Traits of Veterans:

Compare and Contrast: Veteran's Day and Memorial Day

Thank You Card

Fact and Opinion Sort

Word Problems

Exit Slips

All this for only $3.  CLICK HERE to be taken directly to the product. 

Falling Prices - $2 Tuesday

It's the last week for our Falling Prices Linky and I've marked some awesome products down to only $2.  Make sure you check them out soon, because these deals will be around for TODAY ONLY. 

The first product is a new one -- missing addend, minuend, and subtrahend task cards (or flashcards).  These cards are so much more beneficial for students because they require students to understand the properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction. 

The entire BUNDLE of all 4 sets is on sale for only $2 today.  CLICK HERE to be taken directly to the product. 

   

  

My second product is a narrative writing unit that includes everything you need to teach narratives (both personal and fictional).  CLICK HERE to check it out for yourself. 

If you're interested in seeing what other sellers have on sale today, head on over to the link-up at A Grace Filled Classroom. 

$2 Tuesday - Math Goodies

This Tuesday I'm linking up with Laura from A Grace Filled Classroom for our Falling Prices Linky.  Each Tuesday in October, each seller who links up will be setting two of their products for only $2.  Click on the image below to be taken to the linky to see the rest of the goodies for sale. 

  

My products this week are 2 of my best selling items for math.  

If you're in need of math centers that are quick and easy to implement, these centers are for you. Just copy, teach and play.  No worksheets to make or pieces to assemble.  It's usually $4, but today it's on sale for $2. CLICK HERE to be taken to it. 

If you need word problems for your second graders, look no further. I have included one word problem for each day of the school year. The first set starts out easy and then progressively harder throughout the year. My students math abilities have grown tremendously due to this product. CLICK HERE to check it out yourself. 

$2 Tuesday

Every Tuesday this month The Primary Peeps and I will be marking 2 of our products down to only $2. Remember, it's for one day only, so make sure to get the products while they're on sale.  

 

My first product is one of my favorites and it's on Christopher Columbus (coming up next Monday the 13). Students learn about Columbus and then use the information to create a lift-the-flap question and answer book.  They can then take the book home and quiz their family on Columbus facts. I've included additional activities as well.  CLICK HERE to be taken directly to the product. 

My second product for $2 is Create-a-Book About Fall. Your students will learn all about the season fall  (the weather, holidays, what animals do, and what happens in nature) while creating a non-fiction with the information.  This product is also great if you teach weather and why we have different seasons. CLICK HERE to be taken to this product. 

If you want to see all the other products that the rest of the Peeps have on sale today, CLICK HERE to be taken to the linky.  And if you're a TpT seller and blogger, we'd love for you to link-up.  

Looking for a Bargain?

Hey friends. I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged -- so sorry. This school year has kicked my butt. We have new administration at our school (they're FABULOUS -- we hit the jackpot) and they've implemented lots of new things (which are also fabulous, but it's soo time consuming implementing so many new things).  So I've been super busy with school and then I come home and play mommy until it's time to go to bed. I'm sure some of you can relate. 

Anyways, I just found out about a really cool linky from The Learning Highway.  It's called Super Saturday Sale and once a month different TpT sellers mark all 4 of their featured products HALF OFF.  How cool is that? 

Here's a rundown of my featured products that are HALF OFF for today (and tomorrow) ONLY. I'm having a sale on the rest of my products too. So make sure to stop by my store to pick up some awesome goodies at a great price. 

If you want to teach your students all about Fall (the weather, holidays, animals and nature) while creating a non-fiction text about the season,this product is for you.  Only $1.50 this weekend.  

Monday, October 13 is Columbus Day. After you teach your students about Columbus, you can use this product to have your kiddos create a question and answer book about the facts they learned.  I've also included an activity on character traits and an imaginative writing assignment if your students became explorers. Just $1.50 right now. 

If you teach narrative writing, check out this product. It includes everything you need to teach narratives -- daily lesson plans, lists of mentor texts, planning sheets, rubrics, checklists, and more! Only $3 this weekend. 

My last featured product, but probably my favorite, is a year's worth of math homework.  Each night students use a calendar and complete the listed activity. Each activity is simple but reinforces an important math concept they must know by the end of second grade. This has been a HIT with parents too.  Just $4 this weekend.

When you're done shopping with me, check out all the other stores that are having sales too. Click on the image below to be taken to the linkup.

Connect the Dots to Compare Numbers

I've always been confused with using the alligator or crocodile to compare numbers. I know he wants to eat the larger number, so does that mean he's already eaten the larger number and it's in his stomach or is he about to eat it and it's in front of his mouth? Do you know what I'm saying, or am I the only one with this problem?

Thankfully, I had an amazing colleague a few years back who taught me this amazing trick:

CLICK HERE to download it for FREE.

Of course I still require my students to say the equation out loud using 'greater than' or 'less than' so I know if they truly understand the mathematical skill of comparing.

Also, I've had some colleagues who have had difficulty with their students connecting their dots the correct way.  If that's the case, you might want to download these as reference sheets.

CLICK HERE to download them for FREE.

Open House Forms - Freebie

This week Amna, from Teach Two Reach, is sharing an awesome Open House freebie for the Primary Peeps Blog Hop. 

Amna has included so many purposeful forms for Open House.   If you use these forms for your Open House, getting prepared for the event will only take a few  minutes (rather than a few hours or your entire day).  

    

THIS ENTIRE PRODUCT IS FREE . . . CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

     

If you want to snag this amazing freebie, CLICK HERE to be taken to Amna's blog post where she explains more about each form included.  

And don't forget the Primary Peeps are having another giveaway.  Enter for your chance to win 1 of 6 $20 TpT gift cards.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Meet the Teacher

I've really enjoyed getting to know so many different teacher bloggers from Stephanie's Meet the Teacher Linky.  I decided it's about time for me to link up and let y'all learn a little bit more about me.  So here it goes...

Here's a pic of the people I love most.  My husband and I have been married for 6 years and as you can see, we have two kiddos. Wes thinks our kids look like him, but everyone says they look like me. What do you think?

(We haven't mastered the "perfect" family photo yet -- someone's hair or clothes are always messed up)

This will be my ninth year teaching 2nd grade and I love every minute of it.  Now don't get me wrong, I totally love being a wife and mommy, but being a teacher is definitely my calling in life. Teaching comes naturally and is very easy for me -- being a mommy, NOT AS EASY.  It's hard work but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I love this quote: being a mother is the highest calling but the most challenging blessing. Do you moms agree? 

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...

God. The Sun. The beach. The pool. Summer.  Fall. Coupons. Clothes. Exercising. French Fries. Bomb Pop Popsicles. Nicholas Sparks books and movies. Laughing.

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

I would love to be a house flipper. 

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.

Hard Working. Independent. Helpful.

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

"I just finished EVERYTHING on my to-do list"
 

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

My grandparents who passed away when I was just a toddler.

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

 She Knows What She Wants

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

 Ummm..... the ability to not need 8 hours (or more) of sleep every night? For me, that would be a super power! 

Q: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?

 

Proverbs 3: 5-6

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

It wouldn't happen! This is something I would NEVER do -- I seriously have the WORST singing voice. 

 

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

Always have been and always will be a morning person. I'm ready to get the day started shortly after the sun rises and ready to go to bed almost immediately as the sun sets.  Which is great in the summer, but not helpful in the winter -- I get nothing accomplished. 

 

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

 I absolutely LOVE my Math Activities for an Entire Year.  It's my newest product but I love it because it makes math homework meaningful each and every  night of the school year!   Plus, it's super simple and quick to implement.  The activities focus on a variety of skills and build on each other. 

   

Q: SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU.

We're expecting baby number 3.  I couldn't be more excited and can't wait until March 9 when our family will become complete. 

Thanks for taking the time to get to know me.  CLICK HERE to be taken to the linky to meet more than 200 other teacher bloggers.