Flash Freebie! January 14

Happy Little Kindergarten is hosting her weekly 

Flash Freebie blog hop!

The beauty of this blog hop is that for 24 hours you can get some excellent resources for free- as in zero dinero, no Benjamins required!! All of the bloggers are offering items that you typically must purchase. In exchange for free, I'd really love it if you'd leave some feedback on the product so that other customers can see what you liked about the unit.

For the next 24 hours (or until I make it back to my computer sans children), I am offering my 102 at the Zoo: Celebrating the 102nd Day of Second Grade unit for free. This unit could actually be done by 3rd grade with no problem as just a zoo animal themed learning day!

Please check out my unit and then head on over to Happy Little Kindergarten to see what else you can get for nada thing! :)

Happy New Year Sale!

Thank you to Happy Little Kindergarten for the graphic!

New Year's Eve has arrived and my mind is torn between planning for the new year (resolutions, lesson plans, meal plans, etc. ).  And like most women I know, Christmas clearance and bargain shopping are on the list, too! Everything in my TpT Store is currently on sale 20% off! Click HERE to browse my shop.

If you teach 2nd grade, I'd recommend you check out the following unit for celebrating the 102nd Day of School! You can read all about how I used the unit and see it in action HERE.

I firmly believe that we are currently have developmentally inappropriate practices in place in the primary grades. You will see that I have included art activities that require students to utilize their fine motor skills. I believe that the shift to all academics all.the.time has left a large gap in students' skills. You can incorporate as many or as few of the crafts as you choose depending on your situation and your administration. I would encourage you to try to fit at least one into the unit. The animal cage is a particularly good one as it incorporates creativity, coloring, cutting, and threading the yarn through the holes.  Okay, I'm stepping off of my soap box now! #dontgetmestarted

Another fantastic resource for January is my Martin Luther King, Jr. lapbook. 

This lapbook allows older students to continue to practice fine motor skills (let's be real; all 2nd and 3rd graders are not proficient in this area). There are more activities than will realistically fit on the lapbook which means you get to decide which activities will be most beneficial for your class or for individual students. Students will research MLK to complete the vocabulary, timeline, character traits mini book, interesting facts, etc. As the teacher, you can structure these lessons to be independent, partner, small group, whole group, or any combination therein. Click HERE to check out this resource. 

Happy New Year friends! #clearanceshop #saleshoptilyoudrop!

Back to School Sale on TpT

Teachers Pay Teachers is hosting their back to school sale, and I am participating! When you use the code BTS15 you will receive a total of 28% off of everything in my shop!!

These are some of my top sellers in my store. Click on any of the pictures to head directly to my store. :)

This is a great unit to use for an animal study / research and includes math, reading / research, writing, and craftivities.  It can also be used to celebrate the 102nd Day of Second Grade.

If you teach 2nd grade in Georgia, this is a must have unit for you! This lapbook focuses on James Oglethorpe and his contributions to the founding of the state of Georgia. Check it out!

 Geometry Games Galore is a comprehensive unit that covers both plane and solid shapes. It has components that can be used from kindergarten through third grade. It was designed for 2nd grade, but because it is leveled for below grade level, on grade level, and above grade level it can be used in a multitude of settings! If you are looking for a unit that will help you get a Level 4 in TKES for differentiation, this is the unit for you!

Are you looking for a math center to teach place value that requires few materials and minimal time to prepare? If yes, then this is the center for you! Again, this center has differentiation built into it by having 3 different levels. All you need is the cards and clothespins. It will be one of the easiest centers you ever make!

Last but not least are decor items. I am using both in my media center this upcoming year and the colors coordinate very nicely!

     

There are so many fantastic resources for sale by fellow teachers. Head on over and see what you can't live without this year!

Five for Friday: June 26

It's hard to fathom, but another precious week of summer has slipped by...it can't be the end of June already!  On the upside, it's time for one of my favorite linky parties....

I love nothing better than finding a new blog to stalk! Well, Kristin over at A Teeny Tiny Teacher has mentioned her friend Shay on more than one occasion. I finally headed over to check her out. Oh.my.goodness.  So much fun happening over there....you should check it out....especially since her husband is seriously easy on the eyes!!

Shay also has another blog titled Mix and Match Mama. Obviously, the first blog focuses more on her family including fashion, recipes, decorating and hilarious stories about friends, family, and her 3 kiddos. Mix and Match Mama is primarily recipes that look delish!  I'll get you started with a post that had me snorting tea out my nose. If you have kids and have ever gone to the pool with them in swimmies, this is a must read! The good part is at the bottom....so.keep.reading.Friday Favorites.

Assorted beach necessities on the back of my husband's weekend racer.  Today is packing day. Excited.beyond.words! (about the beach-not the packing)

Tomorrow, this will be my view for an entire week....

This item is one of the most wish listed items in my store.  It will be on sale 30% off through the weekend or until I remember to wander in from my lounge chair on the beach to check the computer.  ;) I am also offering the opportunity to win your own copy!

I created this resource because I couldn't find anything on TpT to celebrate the 102nd day of school that hadn't already been done in kindergarten or first grade. Our first grade does a 101 Dalmatians theme, and I just couldn't do 102 Dalmatians...I could already hear the kiddos exclaiming, "But we already did that in firrrrrst grade!!" Oh.the.horror....

Although this unit was created around a theme, it could totally be used any time of the year because of the content. If you leave out the cutesy decorations, you have a thematic unit based around researching zoo animals.

This unit includes QR codes to make integrating technology a breeze, leveled graphic organizers and leveled writing responses which include a frame for students that need extra support. I used that piece with my special ed kiddos, but it would be equally useful for your ESOL friends.  Those features check the box for differentiation. Can I get a woo hoo? Leveled math practice is also included along with a graphing activity. There are a variety of art pieces included to choose from to help make displaying the report a snap. Don't forget that second graders still need to practice those fine motor skills and stretch their creative brains.  I particularly like the activity where they take the numbers 1, 0, and 2 and create a zoo animal. Take a look at that elephant....too.dang.cute!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I know this doesn't look like much...just a big ol' industrial metal door. But trust me when I say that The Bee Hive is teacher heaven!  I am fortunate in my county to have a teacher resource center that has a million and one (only a slight exaggeration) die cuts, colored card stock, construction paper, poster maker, laminator, glue sticks, et. al. This place is run by the most creative, kind woman on the planet! Terry is truly there to serve teachers and in turn to impact students. I'll be showing some of the really neat stuff I've made there this summer over on 4th Grade Frolics Made It Monday linky when I'm ready for

the big reveal! 

Here's a sneak peek...

Prepare yourselves for a moment of mama nostalgia. This is my oldest on the last day of school. It is incomprehensible to me, but next year he will be in middle school. The days of recess and tire swings will give way to a new season. And while he is ecstatic about it, I find myself growing misty-eyed and wishing that "let them be little" was more than just a cutesy saying on a t-shirt. Here's to the joy of childhood! It's time to find my 3 littles and get in a little summer fun before this day slips away! Have a great weekend!

Wish List Wednesday: June 24

I'm joining up with Teacher by the Beach for Wish List Wednesday. I have checked to see what you guys have on your wish lists from my TpT store, and I will be offering one of those items at a 30% discount until Friday!! You can also enter the giveaway for a chance to win the unit tonight. Today I am sharing one of my favorite resources - 102 at the Zoo! 

102 at the Zoo!

I created this resource because I couldn't find anything on TpT to celebrate the 102nd day of school that hadn't already been done in kindergarten or first grade. Our first grade does a 101 Dalmatians theme, and I just couldn't do 102 Dalmatians...I could already hear the kiddos exclaiming, "But we already did that in firrrrrst grade!!" Oh.the.horror....

Although this unit was created around a theme, it could totally be used any time of the year because of the content. If you leave out the cutesy decorations, you have a thematic unit based around researching zoo animals.

This unit includes QR codes to make integrating technology a breeze, leveled graphic organizers and leveled writing responses which include a frame for students that need extra support. I used that piece with my special ed kiddos, but it would be equally useful for your ESOL friends.  Those features check the box for differentiation. Can I get a woo hoo? Leveled math practice is also included along with a graphing activity. There are a variety of art pieces included to choose from to help make displaying the report a snap. Don't forget that second graders still need to practice those fine motor skills and stretch their creative brains.  I particularly like the activity where they take the numbers 1, 0, and 2 and create a zoo animal. Take a look at that elephant....too.dang.cute!

Researching with the tablet

Researching with the Chromebook

My students had a blast on the 102nd day of school! They enjoyed the collaboration with their partner and being more in charge of their own learning. They worked at their own pace, and I essentially facilitated the learning. Many of my students included it in their favorite activities section of their memory books. Oh.happy.day!

If you'd like a chance to win this unit, enter the Rafflecopter below. If this isn't the correct level for your students, please share the information with teacher friends that might be able to utilize it. Thank you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Memorial Day Sale

Don't be a hater....my last day with students was this past Friday.  I know, you want to throw rotten tomatoes at me, but just remember that I started in early August when you were still lazing your days away at the beach.  Did you put the rotten tomato down? Good. And if it makes you feel any better, I have work days all this week.

In celebration of my last day of school with students, I am throwing a little sale in my Teachers Pay Teachers shop.   My top three sellers are below. Please take a moment to check them out!

NUMBER 1 SELLER

on sale for $2.40!!

Actual Product Feedback:

On  April 28, 2015,  Kimberly S. said:

Thank you so much! I really used this product!

NUMBER 2 SELLER

on sale for $2.40!!

Actual Product Feedback:

Gina777  (TpT Seller)

I loved it! Lot of paper, but worth it! Students really enjoyed it and retained/learned a great deal.

May 3, 2015

Don't we all want products that we can actually use in our classrooms? I know that I have bought products that didn't live up to my expectations once I opened the file.  My lapbooks are products that you will use over and over again because they help students not only learn the content, but they also provide the opportunity to continue to develop fine motor skills which is still practice needed by many second graders!  I also have a lapbook for Martin Luther King, Jr. and a bundle at a discounted price with all three of these lapbooks included.  The price for the bundle is $5.60 - less than the price of a combo at your local burger joint!

NUMBER 3 SELLER

on sale for $4.00!!

I created this unit to coincide with the 102nd Day of Second Grade. The kindergartners celebrate the 100th day of school, and the first graders celebrate the 101st day of school with a Dalmatian theme. The only 102nd day of school theme I could find on TpT was Dalmatians, and let's face it. None of us wants to hear students say been there, done that!  Hence, this unit was born!  However, it is filled with zoo animal research, writing, and math that relates to second grade CCSS standards and could be used at any time during the year. It has technology built in through the use of QR codes and website addresses if you lack devices to utilize the QR codes. It is differentiated through the use of various graphic organizers, and it contains a report "frame" for your struggling writers.  In a nutshell, this is a TKES dream lesson!! Those are just some of the reasons this is one of my top selling units.

I hope you'll take the time to peek in my shop. It keeps growing all of the time!  I am working on a new geometry unit.

FREEBIE!!



If you made all the way to the bottom of this post, you deserve a reward! Click on the picture link above, and it will take you to my shop where you can pick up this freebie for plane and solid shapes.   It is currently my #1 freebie.  Enjoy!