Open House

Like many teachers in these last few weeks, I have been such an absent blogger! I'm so sorry!! I've been settling in and trying to get my ducks in a row for second grade curriculum. 

Tonight was Open House. I had 12 out of 21 parents and families show up, which actually is a phenomenal turn out for my population. It was so much fun! 

This was so much fun. The students got SO detailed with their illustrations. And when they came in that night, they were so eager to show their parents. 

On the desk:

-QR code that instantly saves my contact information to their phones

-Open House PowerPoint handout

-Curriculum Night invitation

-Letter to parents from student, stapled on top of letter for parent to write to student

-Questionnaire about student from parent's perspective 

I tried the apple tree that I saw on Pinterest. I teach in a very low income community, so I always feel guilty asking for these, but at the end of the night, all but four of them were gone!

And I combined my forms that I used into one document, which is available on my TPT Store (apple cut outs not included)...

Freebie Friday {Teacher Week}

One more link-up for Teacher Week over at Blog Hoppin'.

Today's theme is freebies! 

I am going to link up all my freebies from my store on this entry!

Enjoy the freebies!

Counting coins up to 30

Fact or Opinion Activity- ocean themed

A fun ice-breakers game

Story element cards that I give each child in their Daily 5 bin. 

For the Teacher Pay Teachers sellers:  

Glue into writing journals so students can double check their work 

Number cards 1-20 

Owl Book Bin Labels

Add your freebies to this link-up!

Theraputic Thursday {Teacher Week}

Here I am linking up again with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Party.

Today, we are talking about my FAVORITE thing!! Teacher Therapy!

As much as I hate coming home and working out after a long day at work, I ALWAYS feel better after it. I trained for a half-marathon last year and it was awful having to come home on a week night and run 8+ miles, but afterwards, I felt SO much better.

Click the box for a link to my half-marathon inspiration pinterest board.

On the opposite end of healthy workouts, we have chocolate therapy!!

Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fun Brownie can always put a smile on my face.

Usually I am doing lesson plans and TPTing all night, but the true relaxing comes when I get to sit down on the couch or in my bed and watch some good TV.

And of course... a bubble bath!
So cliche, I know, but it seriously does wonders- especially with a glass of Riesling.

 

Where I Teach Wednesday {Teacher Week}

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Teacher Week again! 

Today the link-up is for Where I Teach Wednesday. Now, if you are already a follower of mine, you've seen my classroom reveal, but for the sake of this amazing teacher week linky party, I'm going to post one last time. :-) 

If you're a new viewer, enjoy!

Here is the view inside from my front door. 

This is my student display wall above their cubbies.

The wall is too far hidden in the back corner of the room to put educational posters up, so I decided to display work there. Currently...

No, David! and David Learns the Rules were class favorites. 

Then, we have my library. I'll be doing Daily 5 this year, so hopefully the book bins can stay neat. 

This is my focus wall.

We will teach Genre units for the next few weeks.

Also seen in this picture are my book bins that I spray painted. I wasn't a fan of the funky colors before I sprayed them.

Calendar area

Targets

Homework

Rules

Behavior chart

Outside my classroom, this is my display wall.

Number wall 1-120. 

Overall view from back

Overall view from front

Most of my owl themed classroom products can be found at my store. 

Behavior Chart

Decor Pack

Hallway Display tags

Owl Class Points

Owl Number Cards 1-120

Table Signs that hang over tables

Technology Tip Tuesday {Teacher Week}

I am linking up with Blog Hoppin' for Technology Tip Tuesday. 

Here are a few things I find necessary in my classroom...

Some teachers may find this dangerously close to an Activ Classroom advertisement. 

Here is the ActivInspire notebook page. I am continuously writing on this throughout the day for students to copy, check their work, read for directions, etc. 

But one of the best parts of ActivInspire is Annotate Over Desktop, which allows me to write and draw and highlight on Internet sites, word documents, documents under my document camera, PowerPoints, etc. 

I LOVE my Activotes! These I use on daily mini-assessments instead of wasting ALL that paper! 

I suggest using these for a daily warm up, an exit slip, or even a 4 page multiple choice test that you don't feel like printing off or grading. Just like that, no more red pen! 

It will tell you which kiddo got the answer wrong and what they put.

And lastly, if you're a ActivClassroom follower, then you'll NEED to start using your ActivSlate! 

This allows you to control the computer while you walk around the classroom. So while you're giving your Activote assessment, you can walk around and make sure the students are not copying. 

Must-Have Monday! {Teacher Week}

I'm linking up with Blog' Hoppin for Teacher Week! 

Click the link above to add your entry. 

Monday is Must-Have Monday... here are mine. 

Here I am when I wake up every morning

So I MUST HAVE my caffeine. 

My amazing Keurig that my boyfriend got me for my birthday. Thanks Mitchell! :-) 

And the most fabulous K-Cups to go with my Keurig! Hazlenut and Donut Shop Coffee flavors. 

My document camera helps in almost all subjects and lessons!

My Monday-Friday paper sorters! 

These sorters + binder clips = life saver

I can't function without to-do lists... and of course with to-do lists, I need...

No better feeling than marking off a teacher to-do list than highlighting! 

I made a list over the summer of my must-haves... 

Click this link to find EVEN MORE must-haves on an older entry.