Legend of the Poinsettia FREEBIE

I adore Tomie dePaola's books!  I am so lucky to not only have met this wonderful author, but also got to share in his birthday celebration...with him as the guest speaker...a few years ago in Reno at the IRA Conference.
Today, I shared The Legend of the Poinsettia with my class.  They loved this sweet book...as do I.  Then we created our story map for the book and created our own poinsettia Christmas ornaments.  This craft is cute and easy!  Students trace their hands on red and green construction paper.  They curl the fingers {by using a pencil to roll the fingers up}.  Glue together.  Then with their red scraps, they tear {not cut} small pieces.  They glue these pieces in the middle of the flower . . . this gives great texture!  Then they add a small handful of punched yellow paper to the center.  Add a hook, ribbon, or string to the back...and voila!  A really cute Christmas ornament! 
Grab the story map for this activity!
Hope you are enjoying Christmas in your classroom, as well! Many Blessings,

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

CHRISTMAS  in my classroom!
My kiddos are so excited, to say the least!  We find time each day {with the encouragement of our principal} to slow down, let something go, and have some FUN...so WE ARE!!!

These never get old!  Just a really cute craft!

Our Santas turned out SO cute on our tree!

FuN with Christmas Centers!!!

This Santa greets you at our classroom door.
So, is YOUR classroom starting to look like Christmas? Next week...POLAR EXPRESS...My FAV!  I'm just as excited, if not more, as the kids!
Christmas Blessings,

Halloween Parade and November Currently

Like a witch on her broom, October flew right past...and here we are in November! During the month of October, I had a two week fall break, missed three days of work due to a horrendous stomach thing, and got three new students! 

We ended the month with our Halloween Parade and party.  The kiddos enjoyed way to much sugary treats and parading in the gymnasium!  Teachers dressed for the occasion, as well!  Here's is our 2nd grade team...THE FOUR SEASONS...of course I was autumn! Now here we are in November.  And with that comes the November Currently.

So this is what I am currently doing...

Listening: to my dog snoozin' beside me.  She is a faithful companion! Loving:  Autumn is beautiful in the south right now! Thinking:  Even thought we gained an hour, I do NOT enjoy it getting dark so early!!! Wanting:  ÇHOCOLATE... 'nuf said! Needing:  I have got to get busy with my Christmas shopping!  Have you gotten much done??? A Yummy Pin... OH*EM*GEE This looks fabulous!!!

It comes from Katrina's Kitchen. I've pinned some other incredibly yummy sweets here. Thanks Farley for continuing to hosting this fun monthly event!!! Autumn Blessings,

Bad, Bad Blogger...and Playing Ketchup...

Yeah, I've been bad at blogging...September is flying by!  The good thing is....I have one more week until FALL BREAK!!!
So...here's what we've been doing...

My students are loving the Math Journals!!!

...and Drawing Conclusions...

by being Reading Detectives!

And me???

Apparently, I didn't get the memo that teachers only work 8-3!

Silly me!!!  I've been working on SATURDAYS!!!

BTW... Did you get that memo???

Ha!

Math Notebooking and Sept. Currently

Wow!  September already!   We've been in school since the end of July, so we are in full force in second grade! Something that I am trying with my second graders this year is Math Notebooking {Journaling}.  I have done this in the past with third graders but this is a first for me since moving to second grade.   As with anything else, model and practice is a must.  My students are starting to get the hang of it, and they are LOVING it!  So, I thought I'd share some pics of us journaling during Math in second grade!

Now Math isn't that dreaded time of the day for many students...my class can't wait to to do Math...and their journaling each day!  SCORE! Now...on to September Currently...

Listening:  Usually the tv is going in the background...and I'm not sure what is really on. Loving:  My hubby cooks dinner from time to time, and tonight it is Dirty Rice...it is amazing!  Thanks, honey! Thinking:  How blessed I am!  God is SO GOOD!  All the time! Wanting:  I love to skype with my precious grangirl since we don't get to see each other often. Needing:  Always...laundry...uggghhh!!! The last box is for three things we'd love to accomplish this month.  Mine are... 1.  To ride my bike three times each week...no matter what!  lol 2.  Lose at least 5 pounds...is that too much to ask?  hee hee 3.  Get to bed earlier...I stay up way to late on school nights!   Thanks again to Farley for always hosting this fun linky party! September Blessings,

Cute Clip Art Alert!!!

So, many of you know how much I ADORE cute clip art!!!  Well, I have such a wonderful announcement to make!  There is the MOST PRECIOUS CLIP ART SHOP that has opened at Teacher's Notebook!  A true artist!!!  I have been fortunate to know about this little gem...named Jen...for several years now!  During my "pixel days", she was the go-to for MANY of us!!!  Her pixel graphics are THE BEST...so precise...so incredibly awesome...just so darn CUTE!!!  I am SO HAPPY to announce that she is now doing clip art...and has opened a shop at Teacher's Notebook...and the name of her shop says it all... BUBBLY CUTE!!! 

Ok, so RUN...and I do mean RUN on over to check out her precious shop!  She is working on much more to add...so be sure to check back often...you will be SO HAPPY that you did!

So, I'm going to end this post here so you can RUN RIGHT OVER NOW to her most precious shop...and she has some cute FREEBIES too!!!

Waving from The Teacher's Chatterbox,

***REVISION***  I have just learned..and I'm happy to add...that Jen has extended her clip art to TpT now!  Visit her there too!  Yipppeee!!!  She IS the BEST!!!  :)

Teacher Week '13...Let's Talk About Me Monday!

I am super excited to join in on this awesome Blog Hop!  You really need to make sure you swing by there! So, the first day is to talk about me....not something I really like to do a lot...but here goes! I'm going to share ten things about me so you can get to know me better...

1.  FAMILY My family is so important to me!  My dear hubby, of almost 27 years, and I have two incredibly, awesome, talented sons...Brandon, age 31 and Blake, age 25.  We have a lovely daughter-in-love, Carrie and the most precious grangirl, Kennedy Grace, age 3, EVER!  I adore my kids, but WOW!  

There is just something different about being a Gramma!  It is THE BEST!!! Our oldest son isn't married yet, but has a girlfriend, who we adore!  We also have the smartest yellow lab, Maggie Bleu! 2.  GOD Our God is an awesome God, who we look to for daily guidance.  He knows what we need, and what He wants for our lives, and we are so blessed to know Him on a most personal level! 3.  PINK OMG, I  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE PINK!  I don't decorate in pink...except for our grangirl's room so she can have the princess room that she deserves when she comes to visit.  However, I dress in PINK...A LOT!!!!!!!!!  :) 4.  SHABBY CHIC I LOVE anything time-worn...or at least looks like it is...anything chippy or shabby has a good chance of coming home with me! 5.  CREATING Since we have an empty nest now, I spend much more time now {as if I didn't spend enough before} creating things for my classroom!!! 6.  GRAPHICS I adore cute clip art and graphics, so I draw a lot of my own!

7.  WINE Well, that should be enough said, but yeah....I love a good glass or two or three of wine! 8.  LONDON Since I visited London for ten days in 2003, I have become even more captivated with England...especially London, and the English countryside.  

I would LOVE to live in a cottage somewhere in the English countryside some day!!! 9.  MEXICAN...CHINESE... My favorite foods EVAH!!!

10.  IMPRACTICAL JOKERS OMG!  These guys are hilarious!  Since I saw them in person at Zanies nightclub in Nashville, I adore these guys even more!  I look forward to Thursday nights when I can get my laugh on!   I LOVE SAL, Q, JOE, and MURR!!! Ok, so there you go...these are 10 things that I adore in addition to teaching...which is my PASSION...my CALLING in life! Want to know more about other teachers...head on over to the linky party HERE!

Check back tomorrow for... my CLASSROOM DIGS...I'll give you a tour of my 2nd grade classroom! Waving from The Teacher's Chatterbox,