WREATHS!!!!! & a Little Bit of Math Talk!

I've been working on making wreaths for a few weeks now...I've made two and I have a lot to learn! It is so much fun though!!! Before this, I made a ball ornament wreath for Christmas. I bought all the items for it, and sat at the table and stared at the stuff for a good while. I felt like I had no idea what to do- even though I watched like 20 You Tube tutorials! LOL. Finally my husband said..."What do you have to lose? Just do it!" So I started hot glueing like crazy and it turned out really cute!!!! I was super proud of myself! Here's a picture of that wreath!

My Christmas Ball Ornament Wreath

I bought a burlap wreath back in August to hang up on my classroom door and I LOVE it! So it inspired me to try making this type of wreath! So far, I've made two burlap wreaths and like before, I watched tutorial after tutorial and tried to learn all the tricks and errors beforehand! But I got the supplies and got going! It turned out to be very easy and I am too excited! I want to make more and get better! I started an ETSY store, but I know I need to get more products up before I can probably sell any! So I'm thinking of making a bunch of wreaths and putting them on there! We will see how that goes! 

Here's the two I created. One is for my front door at home, the dark green matches our house so perfectly! I love it! The other was made for a co-workers baby nursery! She picked the colors and I made it for her! :) 

Here's mine for my house! The pic is a little crooked b/c I was trying to get myself out of the pic!! 

Here's the one for my co-worker! She's going to write the baby's info after he/she is born on the chalkboard! :o)

I love the idea of my co-workers because they decided not to find out the sex of the baby, so we threw in some neutral colors- but the blue.....hmmmm I wonder if she has a hunch....! ;)


So, I can't wait to start making more! Maybe these will be great end of the year....or beginning of next year gifts for my teammates in our school colors! :) So fun! So here's my #mondaymadeit and my #teachertalk for this week! I can't wait to see what else I can come up with and if I can make this ETSY business go anywhere! I have many other things I am crafty with, so we shall see!



Now....Let's talk some teacher stuff! I have absolutely loved my year so far with my new school district. I have learned so many awesome teaching skills from this district and I couldn't be happier! One thing that I've really enjoyed is Math Review and Poster Method for math time.

Let's start with math review. Every day when we begin math, the students know the drill. They come in, take out their math review folders and get ready for me to put the review on the board. Every week I come up with 4 topics/ TEKS/standards I think my class needs help with or more practice with. For instance, this week my students have time, graphing, fractions and adding with 3digit numbers with and without regrouping! In the beginning of the year, I take topics from the grade my students are coming from).  Everyday, there is only 4 problems on the paper, one for each topic. I give the students 8 minutes to work out the problems. I set the timer, they flip over their papers and get started right away. The students can talk wit a partner if they need to. When a student is finished, he/she sits on the carpet. When the next student finishes, they partner up with that student who is already on the carpet.  (Eventually every student is on the carpet with a parter) They sit facing each other with their folder and paper in their lap. They must bring a pen with them to the carpet to show their corrections & mistakes. (When the timer goes off, every student must stop where they are and get on the carpet and join with a partner). While students are on the carpet, they are discussing their answers with their partner. This is the amazing part! I watch these students have amazing math talk conversations with each other! They understand how to help each other, explain why the other person is wrong or explain why they think their answer is right, and the students are accepting when they're wrong. They don't feel defeated or dumb- they enjoy being in this comfortable environment and learning from their peers. Me: I am either walking around listening to different conversations, sitting in my chair up front and listening, or sitting by my computer(which is next to the front of the room) and listening. I try to move around so I don't bother the students but I am always listening to how they're talking to each other. If students have been on the floor for a long time, they can tend to get off topic and start other conversations and that's usually my cue to start discussing the answers. But I love that the students talk with each other and reason with each other.
The next part is checking the answers and they love this part too. I project my typed up copy on the white board. I draw sticks for a student to answer number one. The student has to tell me their answer and fully explain how they got their answer. Example: If it's adding, the student tells me their answer, but they must walk me through the whole process starting from the ones place to how they ended up with that answer. This way, every student is seeing how this person got their answer. Sometimes students are wrong, and we have conversations about that too. The great thing is, these kids aren't ashamed of getting it wrong- I let them know it's ok, and we talk about other ways to get to the right answer.

After we have gone through all 4 problems, I start at the top and give my students checks or starts for putting things on their paper. Example: "Give yourself a check if you labeled your hour and minute hands. Give yourself a check if you showed me your skip counting by 5's on your clock. Give yourself a check if you got ____for your answer. " or "Give yourself a check if you circled your key on your graph. Give yourself a check if you labeled all the amounts on the graph. Give yourself a check if you circled how you knew to add or subtract from your graph." (Hope that makes since!)
So they get checks for all these steps they are doing, which are steps I want them doing when they're taking a test! In the end, I count up all of their checks and they can see how many they got wrong/right. They usually do some cheering if they are close and they ask me "Well, what if I got 7/12 , is that still good?" LOL. But I always tell them if they're trying and doing their best- then its great. At the end of their math review time, they have a few minutes to write on the bottom of their paper one thing they are great at. They can write I am awesome at adding or if they're struggling, they can write I am really good at labeling or even remembering to write my name!!! Anything that keeps it positive!! They love this part!

We do these 4 questions for 9 days (2 weeks) and then on that 10th day, a Friday, they have a quiz over the 4 topics. Each topic gets 2 questions and then there's 2 mental math questions on the end of the quiz totaling 10 questions for the quiz. It's a great way to see how your students are doing, who is still struggling with what topics. If everyone is getting it, you can move on, and if everyone is bombing it, you can put it back on your math review for the next week! I really enjoy math review. There's topics I put on my math review in the beginning of the year and I'm doing again currently just to make sure they aren't forgetting and they still got it! If anyone's interested, I can email you an example. Just leave a comment below!


I think that's enough math talk for now, I'll save poster method for my next post!!!

Ok, So here this goes! I'm sure my friends are getting sick of me, so I'm hoping y'all can help out too! I have been entered into a contest on Facebook and I REALLY want to win!!! Currently, I'm down by 62 votes with ONE other girl! There are 5 girls total but her and I have been neck and neck for a while and then she just shot up way past me!!! LOL! EEEEK!
So, The contest- It is held by a brand new Wedding Venue here close to my home in Texas!! I was chosen out of many girls down to the top 5. So I already feel super blessed and thankful!! The rest of the contest is up to votes only! The girl with the most votes on April 15th will be the winner! The girl will win free Bridal Portraits, a free Family Photo Shoot and I (Or the other girl, lol) will get to be the face for this brand new wedding venue. WHOA! Sounds crazy to me to think of it, but when I was married a year and a half ago- We didn't have the funds to do any pictures- So I never did any Engagements, Bridals or any extra photos. We were married in Jamaica!!!! It was amazing, we took a cruise with 5 of our best friends and sailed off! Our first stop was Jamaica and we were picked up and taken to this gorgeous venue site (that was all planned by email- so  I was SUPER stressed out!!!) But it was an amazing price and something I could afford at the time. The package came with 50 pictures taken by a photographer- so I do have some pictures of our wedding! BUT! The very last day of the cruise I lost my cell phone and it had the WHOLE wedding video on it and all the other 1000's of pictures I had taken the whole time. So I cried for a few weeks- I still don't think I'm over it though. Haha!
But, Winning this contest will mean a lot to me since I will get something back that I really wanted when/before we were married! They will do a full makeup and hair session for free and I get to keep ALL pictures taken of me in my own wedding dress!

I'm hoping you all can help out if you have a Facebook! The Venue is called Windsor Gardens and if you go to their page, you MUST like their page for your vote to count! Then, you will find me and like my photo for the extra likes towards my picture!!! Then- If you're feeling friendly......You should share with your friends too! Usually everyone who shares has gotten AT LEAST one friend to do the same for them- and EVERY vote counts!!!!

This is the picture of me!!!!!!! Click LIKE!!! =) =) 

Thanks for reading my post- and Please help me out!! If you do, Thank you SO MUCH!!!

It's greatly appreciated and I hope to win! If not, Everything Happens for a Reason and I'm a firm believer in that! 

Hello guys!!! It's been 8 months since we have posted ANYTHING (OOPS FACE) or have created and made any TPT products! I am on Spring Break this week!!! WOO-HOO!!!!!!! So I actually started to finish some things I started LAST SUMMER! Lol!! But I have a lot of ideas for products I've needed this year teaching 2nd grade that I haven't been able to find on TPT or had the time to make. So hopefully I will get some awesome new stuff out that you guys will like!!

Here's one I finished yesterday and I LOVE the Grey/Yellow theme in classrooms! My Work BFF has this theme in her room and it's gorgeous!! =)

Check out this product in TPT under 'Loving Life In Second'! 

I have also created some number posters to hang around your room- If you ever want something in a different color- just ask, usually it's very simple to change! =) 

These Chalkboard/Pink Posters are 1-20 and then skip by 10's to 100! Love the style  of these!!!

Ok, That's all I have for now! I am going to announce something I've been doing in my next post and hopefully you will be able to help me out!!!! (Fingers Crossed)

Hey there! I'm feeling like a slacker since I haven't posted anything since the last day of school- but hey, it is summer! I have been working at a summer camp for 4-8th graders learning about leadership skills and Texas history. It's a week long camp where the students come stay at the lodge and we travel in a charter bus all over Texas. It's awesome! There are 3 different camps- one is in Dallas/Fort Worth, one in Austin/ San Antonio and one in Houston/Galveston. I usually do the Houston camp but this summer I branched out and did the Austin camp, and wow was it fun! We traveled to the state capitol building where the kids got to meet their senator and representatives. We took a glass bottom boat tour on Spring Lake which is a natural spring fed lake- its BEAUTIFUL!!! We went to Natural Bridge Caverns and walked 180' underground and saw these gorgeous caverns, and then walked BACK UP 180'....whew. I wasn't sure if would make it! Haha.. But I really have just as much fun as the kids do. Highly recommend the camp! It's called Education in Action. :) 

Anywho, so while I've been off and being exceptionally lazy at home...I started playing around on my computer and decided I wanted to try to make something that I can use in my classroom and sell on TPT! I am super excited about the things I have been creating. It took a while to get the hang of making something, it is SO tedious, but now that I've been doing it for a few days...it's getting much easier! I'm in love with making things! Everything I have made so far is about the months of the year. I need to keep my creative juices flowing and start making other products- but I was just playing around with colors and fonts and fun stuff like that. So when I have more time, I will start making other things. For now, I have only one completed product but I couldn't wait to share! I have three others in the making, but it will be a while longer before I'm done. 

This product goes with my new theme for this coming school year. My teacher amiga Jennifer and I both LOVE the black look with pops of bright colors all around. It's a simple theme that hopefully will be more calming without all the hooplah of Dr. Seuss (I STILL LOVE DR. SEUSS!!) and other crazy themes. I want a sleek look that the students can feel comfortable around and well, who doesn't love bright colors? I'm already anxious to get into my new room and start planning and decorating- but I can def. wait another month or so..lol. But, like I was saying, this is more a simple look with not too much going on. This product will be FREE and you can get it HERE ! in TPT and I will be more than happy to change the blue background color and the pink banner color if anyone wants another color to fit their room. 

Calendar cards

This is what the product looks like! All the colors stay the same. There are Months of the Year posters to hang up and there are smaller versions that look exactly the same for calendar cards or for students to use. The posters I will hang up somewhere in my room as a reference for students. The calendar cards I will use on the calendar wall and use them for a song we sing during calendar time. This is my first year doing second grade, so I am not sure I will need these cards all year long, but they will definitely come in handy for the first semester! We shall see! :)

Well I am so thrilled to share my new product. I hope others like it too! Leave feedback on what you think- I will be updating and posting to TPT very soon! ;)

Font from http://www.kevinandamanda.com/

Teacher Talk Tuesday

Well school is over and it's summertime!! I've already enjoyed a few outings on the lake relaxing, getting some sun and practicing wakeboarding! My mind is still very much in teacher mode though and I guess it will never stop! I plan on making a few projects this summer for my new room and I can't wait to share them. But first, for my #teachertalktuesday, here are some thoughts from the last week of school:

We started inside for our Paper Airplane War!

Then we went outside for some real fun!



They were so excited!

 This was the last day I had with my students. It was a half day and I have literally packed up EVERYTHING in my room at this point, so I was tyring to scrounge up things to keep them entertained other than just drawing pictures. I didn't even have a computer to show them anything! SO- I decided what better way to end the year other than with a paper airplane war!!!!! Students are always wanting to make these bad boys, and of course, its not ok during the school year. But it is on the last day of school!!!! Haha, they were thrilled when I said I wanted them to make paper airplanes. A few boys in the room really knew how to make the "best ones", so all the ladies were headed over to them and asking if they would help make their airplane. It was precious. They all helped each other out and once they were all settled, we made two lines in the classroom. I counted down from 5 and let them throw them all around! Then, I realized this would be much more fun outside! I told them we would see who's airplane can go the FASTEST and the FARTHEST! They were jumping for joy at this point! We tip-toed down the hallway and to the fence outside, as quiet as we could be. Then, like we were on a battlefield, I screamed to ask if they were ready and they screamed back READY!!!!!! (it was so cute). I counted down again and we let 'em go! We did this twice, then I just let them throw them around and have fun. It was really perfect. Who would have thought paper was so exciting?! ;) I had a blast and I will miss these moments with this group of kids. I really had an amazing class this year and I already miss them so!


Another fun thing we did around the last day was a Spelling Bee! It was fun because these kiddos are so competitive! They all wanted to win so bad. They had such a great spirit too, if anyone got a word wrong, the whole class clapped for them and told them "good try"! I ended up doing a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Here are my cutie pies that won!

Monday Made It!

Today's Monday Made It is late but never fear there are 45 more minutes left on this Monday!  I started the day of  with our end of the year convocation.  After that my Kaitlyn and I went to get our toes and nails done.  We had a great time just the two of us.  It is rare I get time alone with the girls one on one so I really cherish the times that I do.

My favorite retired teacher Vicki came over to help me create my Monday Made It.  I want to
work on my writing center this year and decided to make cute clipboards for my students.  This is the end results after some scrapbook paper and mod podge!

Couldn't wait to take a picture the white on the black one is still drying!  Can't wait to get more clipboards and make one for each of my students!!!

Monday Made it!

I am really enjoying making my Monday Made It's currently focusing on organization.  With my classroom being in the process of getting packed and stored in my garage for my new classroom, I am feeling a bit lost.  So many emotions that go along with packing and moving.  Creating fun things for my classroom takes a little edge off.  I took the free TPT week day labels and again got my spray paint on.  I painted my white drawers black to make the colors stand out more!  After hours of searching for the font she used I pushed my OCD to the side and finished up my project! :)  I love it!!!

Bloglovin'

Tying to connect and claim our blog to bloglovin'.  It has an app and is an easy way to track your favorite blogs!

<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12359667/?claim=4374xkmc7fy">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Fun lesson around the end of the year

Hello world! We are going into our last week of school, hooray! (Not to mention my last week as a first grade teacher!!) This past week I had an offer from a friend to come and do a lesson with me for my kiddos! Um, yes please!!! Calling all the troops!! It turned out so stinking cute! 

She read them "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" by Laura Numeroff. Then she had pre-cut about 15 parts of the story on paper and the students had to put themselves in order of how it happened in the story. We put them in a circle and let them have at it! She prompted them a little but they had it together! 

Then after they lined up in the right order, they got to go decorate their own cookie! They get so happy when they have any kind of little snack! They added food coloring to their icing. Once it was mixed up nicely, they put it on their sugar cookie and topped it with chocolate chips! YUM! They had a blast and I had fun getting to watch them from the sidelines. These kiddos are too smart- and are SO ready for second grade. ;) I will miss their sweet faces so much next year! :'(  

Here's a few pictures from the afternoon! 

Thinking about who is going first!

After they got all lined up correctly!! TOO CUTE! 

Now some cookie decorating fun! 

And there's Ms. Terry!!

My first ever Monday Made It!!!!!

I keep seeing posts of different bloggers I follow talking about Monday Made It.  I am not sure what it is all about but I am enjoying the things they have made and decided I need Monday Made It as part of my routine.  I am sure I will not always complete it but I am at least going to attempt it!

Now, I know exactly what you are thinking....this lady is crazy it is time for summer!  Don't get me wrong I LOVE sumner and am looking forward to it very much!!  However, it never seems to fail as soon as I start making end of the year gifts I also start changing things in my room.  This year is especially different I am changing schools and grade levels!!!  This is very scary and exciting at the same time.  I am just super excited my blog partner and I am both starting our adventure in second grade together (even though we will be at different schools)!!!!

I am a very organized person however, this next year I am going to not only be organized but I am going to look good doing it!!  My goal is to change my room to black and bright colors no real theme just bright baskets and buckets.  I started out changing some things this year and I love the colors.  I have a ton of items on my to do list for the summer!!! Yikes!!  No fear there are a lot of Monday Made It's in my summer plans!

The first item I decided to make was a teacher toolbox.  I will admit I LOVE office supplies!  I began with a stack on 39 drawer organizer from Home Depot ($18).  There are smaller versions but I figure I may find new things and wish I had more room; bigger now to save I wish I would have later.  I then made some labels with the help of TPT (I couldn't live without it) that I laminated and placed in the drawers with double sided tape.  I wasn't thrilled about the gray color it came in so I ran out and bought some Krylon Fusion spray paint ($5) and got to work! Now you suppose to wait 7 days before using to ensure it is chip resistant but I had to put it all together and take a picture.  I am trying to use some willpower to not fill it up yet!

Here is the before picture.....

End product with a little paint, TPT, and excitement!!!